2013 Pro Wrestling Thread

I don't think anyone wants to see those two square off yet again. But correct me if I'm wrong, don't most people feel like the last three or four "annual wheezes" have been one of the best matches of the year in their respective years?

 

Yes.

I look forward to Taker coming back every year for Mania because I've always been a mark for him. I don't care that he's not there much -- and in the past couple of years, rarely at all -- anymore because he still has this mystique about him. I know it's the not same it was when he debuted, but I just love knowing we'll get a pretty good to solid match from him each year at Mania.

I'd think they'll save Taker-Brock for next year's Mania, assuming Taker can go. They could have a slow build, with Taker filming some segments leading up to the show or have him just mess with Brock from time to time.

 

I like the Taker matches, but I do feel like we can tone down the pomp and circumstance a bit. Between him and Triple H last year, I believe there was literally 15 to 20 minutes of prematch shenanigans. I'm assuming he has to be involved in some way this year, whether it's with Punk or someone else.

One semi-neat idea I thought of - If he and Kane were dead set on retiring the same year, whether it's this year or next year, it would make sense to have them have a final program together culminating in a Mania match. Whether it's them one on one or them as a team, have them on the losing end of a casket match. Or if you want to maximize the storyline stuff, have Paul Bearer involved as well, putting the winner "to rest" as well after the match with an urn.

 

I would be on board with that. Kane is only 2 years younger than Taker, but physically seems about 15 years younger.

His run hasn't been decorated with title reigns, but there hasn't been a more durable figure over the past 15 years than Kane. Pretty remarkable since he wasn't a stranger to working matches that take a toll on the body.

 

I agree. If Taker is the Hank Aaron of wrestling, then Kane is something like a Fred McGriff or Harold Baines. I don't recall him ever taking that many breaks, and while he's not a five-star ring guy or anything, he's a capable and credible guy to have out there for various angles, or if you need an emergency guy to hold the belt for challenge for a title because of an injury.

 

I'd like to see Kane get a run with the WWE title sometime relatively soon. I think he deserves it and he's a far more entertaining character than most people would acknowledge.

 

They did that a couple of years ago. In fact, IIRC, it was Taker's last major non-Wrestlemania feud. Kane even had the Heavyweight Championship at the time, after winning MITB, and Paul Bearer was involved. They wrapped things up with a buried alive match that Kane won. It was pretty damn hokey even by Kane-Undertaker standards, but fun in a goofy old school way. Even at the time, it sort of felt like it was "one for old time's sake," which it's proven to be.

 

Well I guess if you have a year to train for the match and don't have to go through the grind week after week, you should. But then all this shows is they are doing a poor job positioning the talent they have that does bust their ass week in, week out.

 

Reportedly, Taker is still having health issues and is still a question mark for Wrestlemania.

Rock vs. Cena vs. Punk is the logical option if that's the case. Not ideal, but Punk can't be relegated into a match with Kofi Kingston after a 434-day title reign.

 

Having him be a third wheel in Rock-Cena: Once In A Lifetime II doesn't seem like it'd be much better.

Everyone presumes Triple H-Lesnar is etched in stone, but what if it isn't? Can we get to Punk-Lesnar from here? Perhaps have Shield working with Heyman and Lesnar but not Punk? Cena winning Royal Rumble really pins them in for options, unless they work a massive Shield-influenced schmozz at EC that results in the title being held up, and from that we get Lesnar vs. Cena for the held up title and another Punk-Rock match. But that'd be three straight PPVs with that match, so unless they do something dynamite, I can't see it at WM.

 

I would hate to see Punk-Lesnar so quickly, especially now that we get to see crazy heel Punk without the title. Punk would have to be the face in the scenario proposed above.

And as alluded to earlier, they've got Lesnar for 2 years, so there's really no need to hotshot to Punk yet. Maybe hint at tension in the Dangerous Alliance, but don't act on it just yet.

 

CM Punk would in no way be a third wheel in a Cena-Rock-Punk match. He'd carry the feud on the mic and in the ring. Honestly, that excites me a hell of a lot more than a straight Cena-Rock II.