2013 Pro Wrestling Thread

Problem is, they've had Brock attack Punk so anything that takes us away from that match won't go over so well.

I wonder if it's time to tweak the MITB formula. Not the match, which is almost always excellent, but the suitcase stips. More often than not, a heel picks off a wounded champ for the win, or a face picks off a wounded champ for the win and, in at least two cases, immediately went heel. I don't know that anyone outside of Edge and Punk benefitted more than short-term from their cash-ins. Del Rio and Swagger certainly didn't.

 

I kind of like them keeping it as-is, since it usually leads to at least one great moment a year, like when Ziggler cashed it in, and you mentioned the past cash-ins of Edge and Punk as good ones. I don't have time to look at it now, but I imagine the success rate for the cash-in (in terms of the effect it has on the performer, or the excitement it generates) is better than .500.

Although, I am kind of worried about who wins this year. In the past, I feel like most of the guys who did the best with it were the workhorses, whereas someone like Cena or Ryback doesn't need the win. So then, who gets it? Curt Axel? Jericho? One of the aforementioned big guys, even if they don't need MitB for a title shot?

 

I want to see someone different win it this year. So no Ziggler, no ADR or anyone else who's held the briefcase.

But that doesn't leave many other possibilities, especially considering they have two MITB matches now. I could see Raw's being Jericho, Axel, RVD, Orton, Bryan and Kane -- unless the latter three are still feuding with the Shield. Or Jericho, Axel, RVD, Orton, Bryan and Ambrose.

The Smackdown match would be Christian, Cesaro, Cody Rhodes, Sandow, Sheamus and possibly Wade Barrett.

 

Edge's first cash-in elevated him greatly. CM Punk's second cash-in elevated him greatly, though that can be attributed to the glory of the straight edge heel character he finally got to unleash. Daniel Bryan's cash-in ha a similar story; he was really elevated by his new character.

Edge's second cash-in didn't help him because he was already white-hot. RVD's cash-in was a nice moment given where they were, but he lost both belts in pretty short order and never got close to that level again. CM Punk's first cash-in was cool, but he didn't really do much with it from there. Kane's cash-in was forgettable. Del Rio's cash-in was more defined by his aborted attemps, in particular Summerslam in Chicago when Punk was running out with the title. Swagger is ... Swagger. Miz wasn't even the second-most important person in his "Wrestlemania main event" and went right back down the shitter the moment he lost the title. Cena was the designated loser becuase it wouldn't affect him in the least. And Ziggler is hard to judge because the concussion probably cut his reign short, though he seemed like an afterthought champion after that magical cash-in night.

We can quibble on a couple of these guys, but ultimately, I think the success rate for the cash-in, as far as a direct and noticible impact, is quite a bit less than .500.

As for guys who could win it this year -- if they have two matches, they'll probably have a younger mid-carder and a veteran win like they have the last couple of years. Except I'm not sure who the veteran would be (Christian? RVD is probably there for nostalga more than a main-event push).

I feel fairly confident in saying Cesaro should get one of them now that they're trying to push him with Zeb.

As for the other? They could give Ambrose or Reigns one of them, but since they've already got titles, that complicates matters. Too early for Fandango, plus who's to say he'll even be cleared? Way too early for Bray Wyatt. Axel has the IC title and that should keep him occupied for a while. Barrett feels like damaged goods, which is a shame. Rhodes and Sandow appear firmly entrenched in the mid-card. Kofi will have a few spots but that's it. Kane's moment has gone. Ryback probably won't be in the matches, though I'm not sure what he'd be doing (had Mark Henry not fake-retired and stayed heel, he would have been a good face foil). They apparently really like Big E. Langston, but seems a year too early for him. Bryan and Orton seem destined to face off, so they're out. Sheamus will get a title shot at some point soon, without need of MITB.

My pick: Dolph. He fights gamely in his rematch but loses when AJ and Big E. turn on him and join Equipo de Del Rio, taking some additional head punishment along the way. Del Rio says he'll never get another shot at his belt. He's out for a week or two but insists on being added to the MITB WHC match, which he wins. He proceeds to stalk Del Rio for weeks if not months with the suitcase, watching his matches at ringside, acting like he's going to cash in at some point only to go psych! and blow him off. Eventually he decides to give Del Rio a fighting chance and challenges him to a TLC match at TLC, where he finally wins.

 

If they're going with a pair of six-man matches, I could see the WHC one being Orton, Bryan, Kane, and the Shield. Keeps that whole angle going, and gives either Bryan (if he's not hurt) or the Shield the chance to jump to the next level.
The WWE title match would be more random. RVD has got to be in there. Jericho gives star power and knows what he's doing. Beyond that, it's a crapshoot. There's a half-dozen guys you could throw in there and both have it work and be a great match.

Not sure Axel is ready for it yet, though. Giving him the IC belt this soon seems like a stretch. Give him another year and a healthy run with that, and we'll see later on.
Assuming he's OK, I wouldn't mind seeing Ziggler winning it. IIRC, he's never successfully defended the WHC the two times he's won it. It makes a nice sympathy and redemption story.
They could also do an idea I remember throwing out there a while back, where you have the two MITB winners stalking each other. Get them feuding with each other so that they're reluctant to cash in, for fear the other will screw up their chance. Could work beautifully with the Bryan-Orton-Kane trio.
In all reality, though, I don't see any way the Shield doesn't win at least one of these matches.

 

Loved the Henry stuff, and loved the F5. But to say this was one of the best Raws in a long time, when the McMahon family was ONCE AGAIN shoved down our throats, is a bit strong. It was instant channel-changing.

 

It was one of the best (non-night-after-Mania) Raw's in a long time ... McMahons or no McMahons. I'm not sure how anyone can argue that it wasn't, especially in the three-hour era.

 

Ziggs has only won the title once. Didn't Vicky give him the title, which he then lost to Edge that same night?

 

We get it. You don't like the family drama.

But to say this wasn't one of the best Raws in months is beyond silly.

 

True, but the point stands that he's 0-2 in World title defenses, which could play into the hype for his next first title defense.

I know Del Rio says he prefers playing the face and that's the role he had for most of his pre-WWE career, but he looks much more natural as a heel this week than he has at any point in the five months beforehand. Whereas the Miz could turn heel now and it wouldn't mean squat. His only hope of redemption is if they bring back John Morrison and resurrect The Dirt Sheet.

 

I wish they'd bring back the Mexican Aristocrat gimmick back, along with his original theme. They didn't need to spice it up; it was perfect the way it was.

 

The Car of the Week thing had run out of gas, but I do hope he intends to bring back the scarf.