Mrzfn

It sure would have changed my reaction. I was SO excited for that match at the time, it was one of the main reasons I ordered the show.

I'm sure it's at least partially subjective. I may have to watch it again but I mostly remember a lot of staring and scattered finisher kickouts.

I can't speak for everyone, but I remember being very hyped up for that match and being very let down by the actual content when it first aired, which was also before I was "in the know" on backstage happenings so I didn't have that context. It was just straight up not a good match. I'm not saying they couldn't have a good match, but the idea that they didn't phone it in the first time doesn't jive with my experience.

I was amazed by how well the "first man off his feet" stipulation worked here. I actually wouldn't mind seeing it come into play more often, if done well. Creates a really unique psychology.

Pillman? Could have been a nice wrap around for the feud they never got to properly hash out, plus as far as I can tell he wasn't busy or anything.

Just watched this match for the first time and didn't much care for it, the fact that Hogan takes so much of it despite coming directly from the hospital is just too much, but what nobody has mentioned yet is Sherri, god bless her, at one point does a full on Jeff Hardy double leg drop to Hogan's balls, in heels no less. Whether her pairing with Flair is perfect or not, I'm really enjoying Sherri in this period.

First season arc is a broken down Sean Waltman trying to uncover the real truth behind the nWo, which used him as a pawn and left him typecast in a role that destroyed his innocence and his career.

Something that high concept and story driven, in wrestling? I'd watch the hell out of it.

I feel like Roode didn't fully click as a singles guy until mid 2012, when he started pulling out consistently strong performances. Would be fascinated to see them match up today, to compare/contrast.

No no... he had FOUR short laps with the belt. Much, much better.

And, if he must tag again, I'd much rather he did it with Aries. They were much better together than the recent Roode/Storm pairing.

I don't mind if he goes to NXT but I'm praying they don't stick him with Roode. He's gone way beyond the limits of that tag team, that became very clear in the first part of the year, and Storm would never fit with all the "Glorious" stuff anyway.

God, I hope TNA did not spend a lot of money to get Storm back. I have liked him in the past but god knows he not worth much in 2016. Honestly I hope LU does not end up taking ADR back. I can't imagine who they would draw with him that they can't get with Mysterio on board, and even though he fits better there than he ever did in WWE, I feel they are better off developing further around people who actually want to be there and are invested in growing the brand.

I'll concede this to some extent, but Cena got cheered at the start of his super push too. You could argue that was the moment when his push changed from "we will push this guy you like" to "we will push this guy at the expense of those you like more", or at least the perception of it, same as Cena ran into when he started to go over Jericho and Angle and such and people started to see him as Undeserving.

I honestly feel like the Daniel Bryan factor is being overemphasized at this point, at least as far as it comes to Roman Reigns. The Bryan thing was bad timing, of course, but mostly the complaints I hear about Reigns are the same we heard about Cena in his early years. People don't like his wrestling style, or think it is limited. People think his push was overdone or inorganic. Even plenty of people who think he's ok but like others more and feel his push is costing others their spots. Cena was pretty consistently good by what, 2007? But he didn't win over that section of the audience until just a year or two ago (for many he still hasn't). I feel putting too much emphasis on the Bryan incident is very reductive.

Ask and you shall receive! I’ve included anyone who could be considered a top or significant WWE talent. Ratings are from WWE matches only, so I haven’t gone back to dig up all of Nakamura’s New Japan rankings for example. Started counting from the Shield’s first official match in December of 2012. Full total per rank is regular text, with singles match total in parantheses. Seth Rollins Total: 38 Singles: 17 4.75 – 1 4.5 – 7 (1) 4.25 – 5 (3) 4 – 12 (8) 3.75 – 7 (3) 3.5 – 6 (2) Roman Reigns Total: 37 Singles: 12 4.5 – 7 (2) 4.25 – 3 (1) 4 – 10 (3) 3.75 – 9 (5) 3.5 – 8 (1) John Cena Total: 35 Singles: 27 4.75 – 1 4.5 – 8 (7) 4.25 – 7 (7) 4 – 4 (3) 3.75 – 4 (2) 3.5 – 11 (8) Dean Ambrose Total: 33 Singles: 13 4.5 – 5 4.25 – 7 (3) 4 – 7 (3) 3.75 – 9 (4) 3.5 – 5 (3) Cesaro Total: 30 Singles: 12 4.5 – 1 4.25 – 8 (6) 4 – 4 (2) 3.75 – 7 (2) 3.5 – 10 (2) Randy Orton Total: 24 Singles: 12 4.5 – 3 4 – 9 (5) 3.75 – 4 (2) 3.5 – 8 (5) Daniel Bryan Total: 23 Singles: 12 4.5 – 5 (2) 4.25 – 3 (2) 4 – 6 (4) 3.75 – 5 (2) 3.5 – 4 (2) Kevin Owens Total: 22 Singles: 15 4.5 – 4 (3) 4.25 – 7 (4) 4 – 3 (1) 3.75 – 4 (3) 3.5 – 4 (4) Sami Zayn Total: 17 Singles: 11 4.75 – 1 (1) 4.5 – 4 (2) 4.25 – 3 (1) 4 – 3 (2) 3.5 – 6 (5) Sheamus Total: 17 Singles: 6 4.5 – 1 4 – 4 (2) 3.75 – 5 (2) 3.5 – 7 (2) Dolph Ziggler Total: 16 Singles: 8 4.5 – 2 4.25 – 2 4 – 2 (1) 3.75 – 3 (3) 3.5 – 7 (4) Bray Wyatt Total: 15 Singles: 7 4.5 – 2 (1) 4.25 – 2 4 – 4 (1) 3.75 – 4 (3) 3.5 – 3 (2) Chris Jericho Total: 14 Singles: 7 4.5 – 1 (1) 4.25 – 1 4 – 7 (3) 3.75 – 3 (3) 3.5 – 2 Luke Harper Total: 13 Singles: 1 4.5 – 2 4.25 – 3 4 – 3 3.75 – 3 (1) 3.5 – 2 Cody Rhodes Total: 13 Singles: 0 4.25 – 2 4 – 3 3.75 – 2 3.5 – 6 AJ Styles Total: 12 Singles: 9 4.5 – 2 (2) 4.25 – 1 (1) 4 – 3 (1) 3.75 – 5 (5) 3.5 – 1 Neville Total: 12 Singles: 9 4.75 – 1 (1) 4.5 – 1 4.25 – 1 (1) 4 – 4 (3) 3.5 – 5 (4) Finn Balor Total: 11 Singles: 10 4.25 – 3 (3) 4 – 3 (3) 3.75 – 1 3.5 – 4 (4) Brock Lesnar Total: 10 Singles: 6 4.75 – 1 4.5 – 3 (1) 4.25 – 2 (2) 4 – 3 (2) 3.5 – 1 (1) Kofi Kingston Total: 10 Singles: 2 4.5 – 1 4.25 – 2 (1) 4 – 1 3.75 – 2 (1) 3.5 – 4 CM Punk Total: 9 Singles: 6 4.5 – 5 (4) 4 – 1 (1) 3.75 – 1 3.5 – 2 (1) Kane Total: 9 Singles: 2 4.5 – 2 4 – 3 3.5 – 4 (2) Alberto Del Rio Total: 8 Singles: 4 4.25 – 1 4 – 2 3.5 – 5 (4) Ryback Total: 8 Singles: 1 4.5 – 2 4 – 1 3.75 – 2 3.5 – 3 (1) Triple H Total: 6 Singles: 3 4.5 – 1 4.25 – 2 (2) 4 – 3 (1) Rusev Total: 6 Singles: 3 4.5 – 1 4 – 1 3.75 – 1 3.5 – 3 (3) Christian Total: 5 Singles: 1 4.5 – 1 3.75 – 2 3.5 – 2 (1) Shinsuke Nakamura Total: 4 Singles: 4 4.5 – 1 (1) 4.25 – 1 (1) 4 – 1 (1) 3.75 – 1 (1) Samoa Joe Total: 4 Singles: 4 4.25 – 1 (1) 4 – 1 (1) 3.5 – 2 (2) The Big Show Total: 4 Singles: 1 4.5 – 1 4 – 2 (1) 3.5 – 1 Wade Barrett Total: 4 Singles: 1 4.25 – 1 3.75 – 1 3.5 – 2 (1) The Miz Total: 4 Singles: 0 4.5 – 1 4.25 – 1 4 – 1 3.5 – 1 Big E Total: 4 Singles: 0 4.25 – 1 3.75 – 1 3.5 – 2 The Undertaker Total: 3 Singles: 3 4.5 – 1 (1) 4.25 – 1 (1) 4 – 1 (1) The Rock Total: 3 Singles: 3 4 – 1 (1) 3.5 – 2 (2) Batista Total: 3 Singles: 0 4.5 – 2 4 – 1 Mark Henry Total: 3 Singles: 0 4.5 – 1 4 – 2 Rey Mysterio Total: 3 Singles: 0 3.5 – 3 Rob Van Dam Total: 2 Singles: 0 4.5 – 2 Austin Aries Total: 1 Singles: 1 3.75 – 1 (1) Apollo Crews Total: 1 Singles: 1 3.5 – 1 (1) Kalisto Total: 1 Singles: 0 4.25 – 1

Honestly you might have to push it back to the Christian feud. In a pinch, depending on your mileage, you could argue: vs. Bryan 6/24/13 vs. Bryan 12/16/13 vs. Bryan 2/3/14 vs. Cesaro 2/11/14 vs. Rollins WM31 But I think Christian is the last generally agreed upon one.

Well, damn. I psyched myself up about that one for nothing.

Any chance they are just going to straight up do Bryan/Miz? I don't think it would be that hard to structure a match where Bryan doesn't have to really take bumps. As a one off I think it could be a lot of fun.

True, not that many options currently. Could do a fourway thing that overlaps the new Aries/Itami feud and includes Roode. Elevates everyone and allows them to build Nak/Itami or Nak/Roode 1 on 1 afterwards.

Who would have bought Joe beating Nak in a rematch? Nak is probably gonna be on top regardless, but I think Roode's as good or better an option as any.

After tonight I honestly think you could fast track Roode and fans would accept it.

Honestly, they mostly seem to be pretty over the day they show up. Just a question of being in a place where people are more receptive to the good work they were already doing. Plus, it helps that Roode got a kickass new theme.

Wholeheartedly agree with any sincere recommendations for this match. Obviously it was rife with comedy moments meant to pop the crowd and/or put over Matt's evolving bizarro character, but in terms of basic structure, internally consistent storytelling, and pure entertainment this was a huge win for me, one of the most fun things to come out of 2016.

It also helps that Scott continued to do sporadic work that was liked by some pretty much all the way through the 00s, whereas Rick bottomed out pretty badly after the early 90s.