I've been watching all the Raw and PPVs of 1996(I just finished Mind Games) and Goldust is very well protected. He works mainly at the top of the card. I think his personal demons is what caused him not to get a quick run with the world title in late 96 or even in 97. Vince seemed to love the character but Dustin is the one that got in the way of his push I think. I'd say if he had a quick run with the title he'd most certainly be in consideration of the top U.S. workers of all time.

Shoo baby returns! Rhodes family entrance music mash up! Amazing.

I was delighted to see Shoobaby back. It almost feels as though the entire Los Matadores & El Torito trio was devised as a premise to bring back the bullwhip.

So is there any kind of final word on how much WWE scripts its promos nowadays compared to how they did it years ago? Because Bryan's reading off flashcards diction bugs the shit out of me.

Why are people convinced there will be a Screwjob at HIAC involving a heel turn by Shawn Michaels? Isn't this the same Shawn that refuses to turn heel & made peace with Bret Hart over the Montreal version? What am I missing here?

The dirtsheets were reporting a while back that Bryan/Orton was supposed to be blown off at HIAC and that Orton is supposed to be in the title picture through the Rumble.

Thanks. Are they still reporting that HHH and Steph will be off tv after HIAC? Because if all that comes to pass, it would be nearly impossible to transition Daniel Bryan into a different program without the peripheral presence of Triple H unless it is against the Big Show.

So I can't decide if Triple H is just really good at working the internet with his heel character or if he's being a petty, insecure bitch after that promo to end Raw. Burying guys who don't work for the company in a way that serves no storyline purpose is kind of a dick move, but his comments seem a little too on the nose (no pun intended) and come off like he's purposely trying to "werk the smarts".

So I can't decide if Triple H is just really good at working the internet with his heel character or if he's being a petty, insecure bitch after that promo to end Raw. Burying guys who don't work for the company in a way that serves no storyline purpose is kind of a dick move, but his comments seem a little too on the nose (no pun intended) and come off like he's purposely trying to "werk the smarts".

It's a brilliant work on his part. Even if he is being an insecure bitch, it plays perfectly in his character. He is probably the best heel non-wrestling character since Vince in his heyday.

So I can't decide if Triple H is just really good at working the internet with his heel character or if he's being a petty, insecure bitch after that promo to end Raw. Burying guys who don't work for the company in a way that serves no storyline purpose is kind of a dick move, but his comments seem a little too on the nose (no pun intended) and come off like he's purposely trying to "werk the smarts".

It's a brilliant work on his part. Even if he is being an insecure bitch, it plays perfectly in his character. He is probably the best heel non-wrestling character since Vince in his heyday.

 

I tend to prefer sleazebag Bischoff over current Authority HHH. Vickie had her moments too.

 

Seriously, what's the point of the PPV match? What's more important: The WWE title, or who is perceived as a star? Never mind that HHH's line is one that likely the majority of the audience won't get or care about. I think the line that bugged me was the one where HHH said (paraphrased), "Sure, Shawn, Bryan might win the title, but he'll never be a star." At least Vince was scared shitless of his company's biggest prize going to a beer-chugging violent redneck. Already, the idea of Bryan wanting to beat HHH is seeming more important (since, from Bryan's point of view, it might drill into HHH that he's an "A player" or whatever) than him beating Orton for the title on Sunday.

So I can't decide if Triple H is just really good at working the internet with his heel character or if he's being a petty, insecure bitch after that promo to end Raw. Burying guys who don't work for the company in a way that serves no storyline purpose is kind of a dick move, but his comments seem a little too on the nose (no pun intended) and come off like he's purposely trying to "werk the smarts".

It's a brilliant work on his part. Even if he is being an insecure bitch, it plays perfectly in his character. He is probably the best heel non-wrestling character since Vince in his heyday.

 

He mentioned RVD, Edge and Jericho because the modern fans know who they are, are connected to them emotionally and such comments would get under their skin.

If Edge could still work a match, I would wrongly predict that they were setting up a six-man for those guys against The Shield at Wrestlemania.

Already, the idea of Bryan wanting to beat HHH is seeming more important (since, from Bryan's point of view, it might drill into HHH that he's an "A player" or whatever) than him beating Orton for the title on Sunday.

Well yeah. I said it all along, beating Triple H has to be the endgame for Daniel Bryan's angle. They planted that seed by having Daniel Bryan challenge him to a match, to show him "what a solid B+ player can do". The only gripe I had with the segment, was while it makes sense for this legend (in his own mind, at least anyways) to only want to wrestle the big names at big shows, he should not have so explicitly spelled that out for the fans. Now they have a problem in that they booked themselves into a corner in terms of having to figure out a way that Daniel Bryan could goad Triple H into a match without losing the integrity of his character which is "the cool headed smarmy heel who thinks he knows what's best, and he can back it up in the ring if necessary". Having Daniel Bryan simply beating Randy Orton for the title wouldn't be enough justification considering Triple H had simply stripped him of the belt before and could do it again easily. They have to do something major to get Triple H to lose his cool in a major way and agree to the match. And what can they do, that follows the integrity of the Daniel Bryan character? It isn't like he can go out there and pull Stephanie's arm out of socket with the Yes Lock.

 

And no, it wouldn't work either for a suddenly turned babyface Vince McMahon to book his son in law in a match he doesn't want against Daniel Bryan. Part of the validation of the Daniel Bryan main event push is that Triple H has to WANT to wrestle and beat him.

It is interesting that since HHH has assumed power, the promos have become a lot more about focusing on everyone's weaknesses and humiliating them, much like the promos HHH delivered in his wrestling career.

For three hours every Monday night, you can hear about how much everyone sucks, is underachieving and is someone not worth caring about! Not really interested.

I don't think HHH has been particularly special, it just seems like his usual smug long winded promos meshed with the tired old authority figure gimmick. Vince is far more entertaining whenever he shows up. Sleazy Bischoff was a lot more fun.

 

I'm starting to think this all ends with HHH v Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania; Trips gets a great match at the big show, Bryan presumably gets a crowning moment. Probably blind optimism on my part though, we'll likely end up with Randy Orton vs Big Show for the strap whilst Cena/Taker closes the show.

Yeah, I'm not really sure how this is all going to play out. Lots of different ways they could go, which makes it interesting at least

 

- I wouldn't be shocked to see Shawn turn on Bryan and do "what's best for business"

 

- I wouldn't be shocked if Bryan vs. HBK happened at WM

 

- I wouldn't be shocked to see HBK vs. HHH be the endgame

 

I really wouldn't be shocked by any direction they'd take, but I have no idea what their plans are heading into WM season. I like this HHH character, I like the Stephanie character, and I hope that Daniel Bryan comes out of all this really strong. And I like that they've taken Big Show, who I'm a big fan of, and made him into a huge impact player again. I like the way they've booked The Shield in all this. I like what they've done with Cody Rhodes and Goldust. I like a lot of what they've been doing....there's been missteps.....but they're on the right track generally. I just have that feeling that they're going to screw up and not deliver what fans really want to see....that's been their track record in most cases

I think anything that involves Shawn wrestling again is pure fantasy booking. I fully believe he is done and won't wrestle again.

I think anything that involves Shawn wrestling again is pure fantasy booking. I fully believe he is done and won't wrestle again.

I would have thought that a few years ago.....but I'm not so sure now, and there's been enough speculation about him lacing up the boots again. If I had to bet I'd say he won't wrestle again....but there's that old wrestling retirement mantra.....

 

barring a career ending injury how many guys never do "one more match"

I think Shawn actually enjoys being able to say no to any proposed matches. I think he gets off on all the "ONE MORE MATCH!" chant he gets, which goes away if he does in fact wrestle again. I wouldn't be too opposed to him lacing up the boots one more time, but the circumstances really have to be perfect. Wrestling a semi-retired Triple H isn't it. Neither is wrestling Daniel Bryan, who he may have trained in storyline, but in reality he has as much connection to him as he does to El Torito.

Shawn vs El Torito would be awesome. He could put on camos and try to hunt him.

For three hours every Monday night, you can hear about how much everyone sucks, is underachieving and is someone not worth caring about! Not really interested.

Exactly!

 

I mean, when I was a kid just beginning to follow WWF, Koko B. Ware was a big deal to me, a fun character. Of course, when I realized he didn't win against anyone who mattered, those feelings were simmered, but even then, his strengths were talked about. Plus on occasion Hulk Hogan wanted to team with him, so he must've had some value, in my mind anyway. And Koko was a JTTS in the WWF, after all.

 

You're getting the opposite of that. Now we're told the current top hero isn't all that big of a deal.

But it's HHH and Steph saying it as the characters who we think have terrible opinions.

Who is stepping up to say "I disagree, you are completely wrong" and proving it repeatedly?

Bryan? Is that not the whole point of the angle?