Not that I'm familiar with the app or anything, but wouldn't people technically "see" those entrances via the app anyhow? That's how I've seen it used & treated so far, so that's why I ask. It's there to bridge the commercial gaps.

 

To be honest, I don't even notice who does & doesn't get a "proper" full-length entrance anymore. For a PPV - like the Andre Memorial Battle Royal at Mania - then yeah. It's noticeable. But it's not something I instantly spot and get irritated by on the weekly TV shows. All those intros with guys doing signature poses & whatnot gets repetitive anyway. So any time we can cut right back to the action? Well that's cool by me.

It mixes things up, and I don't see what it detracts from in the big scheme of things. Nobody loses luster from lack of a five-minute entrance. No one's value diminishes.

All substantial players still seem like stars. And, as you even pointed out, it's not even an indicator of who's going over or being featured anymore, to be honest. So - if anything - labeling it as a "jobber intro" seems out of context and almost outdated these days.

Pipe dream, but how crazy would that Chicago crowd get it Bryan showed up at Payback and handed the title to a returning Punk?

I really feel like the money in Punk is to have him be the jaded, jealous heel. Bryan took what he wanted, the Wrestlemania Main Event, being the face of the company, the best in the world, etc. I think that Punk doesn't want to play ball at all though, so it's moot.

I really feel like the money in Punk is to have him be the jaded, jealous heel. Bryan took what he wanted, the Wrestlemania Main Event, being the face of the company, the best in the world, etc. I think that Punk doesn't want to play ball at all though, so it's moot.

yeah if Punk ever does come back (hopefully in the not too distant future) I think him turning on Bryan and letting them feud for a while is the closest thing to a money feud that they have. It would be like the modern hipster "megapowers explode"

Is it wrong that the match I'm most looking forward to is El Torito vs. Hornswoggle? I'm pretty sure Cesaro/Sheamus is going to be the best match on the card but I have REALLY liked the Torito/Swoggle feud. Hopefully they bring in someone for El Torito to work with once they blow off the Hornswoggle feud.

 

But back to Sheamus, does anyone know if he was actually supposed to be turning heel? There were rumors that his heel turn was him winning the U.S. Title in the battle royal but it definitely feels like that was just some shit someone made up because they haven't done anything to position Sheamus as a heel since then. I think he would really benefit from a turn because he's really good in the ring but there is no reason to care about him.

I have no faith he will be a good heel either. Dylan brought it up earlier but the way they position their heels is horrendous.

So apparently Sami Zayn had an "unreal" match with Ziggler on tonight's dark match. Also, it seems BNB and Sheamus had a great brawl on SD!.

Am I the only one who finds JBL absolutely unbearable these days?

In everything but JBL and Cole show, which is the best thing WWE does every week.

 

And maybe how he comes out before smackdown tapings which we got to see due to the leak last week.

Not that I'm familiar with the app or anything, but wouldn't people technically "see" those entrances via the app anyhow? That's how I've seen it used & treated so far, so that's why I ask. It's there to bridge the commercial gaps.

 

To be honest, I don't even notice who does & doesn't get a "proper" full-length entrance anymore. For a PPV - like the Andre Memorial Battle Royal at Mania - then yeah. It's noticeable. But it's not something I instantly spot and get irritated by on the weekly TV shows. All those intros with guys doing signature poses & whatnot gets repetitive anyway. So any time we can cut right back to the action? Well that's cool by me.

 

It mixes things up, and I don't see what it detracts from in the big scheme of things. Nobody loses luster from lack of a five-minute entrance. No one's value diminishes.

 

All substantial players still seem like stars. And, as you even pointed out, it's not even an indicator of who's going over or being featured anymore, to be honest. So - if anything - labeling it as a "jobber intro" seems out of context and almost outdated these days.

 

Your first point does make sense. That's about the only logical way that you can expand Raw yet cut back on on-screen intros.

 

Maybe all this reminds me of the typical 80s/90s tv shows full of squash matches. Even if in-ring intros are repetitive, it helps pace the show and make matches mean something (or appear that way).

 

There was no reason for Cesaro to get no on-screen intro on Raw this week. He looked like Hardwork Bobby Walker with Teddy Long on a 1997 WCW Pro ep last night. This is a guy on the rise. If they can make time for Ryder to get his full intro, then Cesaro should as well.

At the SD tapings last night a female fan jumped the guard rail to get at the Shield. I can't imagine the life these guys are living on the road

At the SD tapings last night a female fan jumped the guard rail to get at the Shield. I can't imagine the life these guys are living on the road

 

That reminds me of this (brief, 55:10 mark if link doesn't take you there):

 

http://youtu.be/t74RSR6fqAk?t=55m10s

 

I thought I read something at the time that this lady was a legit stalker and was jailed, anyone remember the aftermath, if any?

There was a midde aged female Undertaker fan that attended a bunch of wwe shows in mid 90s. She wore a veil a few times and had the foam urn. She seemed like a shady character back then

 

Btw I hope they have something planned for Bryan on Sunday. The Chicago crowd will take a collective dump on the show if he simply hands over the titles. Something has to be up. A face authority figure to combat Hunter and Stephanie has to be in the plans, right? Anything else is going to be a disappointment. A Brie v Steph match won't be enough

There is a part of me that feels like they will use the Elimination trios to crown a new champ. Yes it would "give away" the fact that it will come down to one guy on each team left, but I could still see them doing it and putting the belt on HHH to set up HHH v. Bryan.

I hope they are aware that the Byan segment is gonna get "highjacked" by CM Punk chants unless they do something really good/special.

At the SD tapings last night a female fan jumped the guard rail to get at the Shield. I can't imagine the life these guys are living on the road

 

I love how the Shield function perfectly as both a workrate trios and a dreamy boyband faction.

On his new DVD, Batista will talk about the Royal Rumble disaster. I wonder how much he will disclose.

 

And man when Hunter talks about NXT it's really hard not to like the guy

The face authority figure is obviously going to be Flair, right? I know he wants to work with younger guys, and there is some value having him with Ziggler or someone else, but couldn't he help more guys get the rub by advocating for them from an authority position?

After his last few showings I can't see Flair getting on TV again at all let alone a big role like that.

I was thinking Sting, Hogan or even Austin. Again if they don't bring in a face authority figure it's going to be very disappointing. Something big has to go down

I feel like Brad Maddox as GM was a real wasted opportunity. There were a few weeks before SummerSlam where he was pretty much the only authority figure on Raw and it was a real refreshing take to have him be "inexperienced authority figure way over his head" instead of "heel authority figure take 10592"

Not been less psyched for a PPV in months. The whole card is just rematches or filler. The Shield vs Evolution is the only thing to look forward to from a wrestling standpoint. Cesaro/Sheamus doesn't interest me, as the build has been dire, Cesaro has lost his aura and Sheamus is a terrible face.

I'm interested for non-wrestling reasons, I suppose. Curious which direction they go with the World Title. Curious if anyone new (or returning) shows up. Curious what the crowd is going to be like.

 

The matches though, I'm pretty apathetic towards. But, well, I mean, I already get it for free 'cause of the Network, so it's not like I won't watch it.

for some reason I think this show is gonna be awesome

Some of these are fluff, but this Joey Mercury: Where are they now? WWE Article is well worth reading.

 

http://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/where-are-they-now-joey-mercury-26309214