April 12, 20187 yr comment_5842322 WIth her being so much taller than everyone, it looked like the Iconic Duo was beating up Big Bird. Jesus, dude. But to be honest, Charlotte being bigger actually added to the visuals of the Iconic Duo dragging her dead weight to the ring. Kind of like slaying a giant. On that matter, I'd say the beatdown started on the mic. They KILLED Charlotte's face promos to the point where if she does that again, she'll be proving the heels right. I mean, it was more about the ridiculous robe they had her wearing just to cut a promo when she's already nearly a foot taller than the rest of the women.
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842324 I've never once watched Asuka on TV or in person and thought "You know what? She's not really that over". It's not smoke and mirrors, she's over The Raw is Atlanta before Mania she was one of the most over people and her match was very late in the Show. She isnt just an indie darling.
April 13, 20187 yr Author comment_5842353 Y'know, the Iconic Duo (or IIconics, whatever WWE thinks is more marketable) being a superior version of KO/SZ in every possible way sure is something.
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842370 The reason they changed it to the IIconics is because Iconic Duo was already trademarked by another company. Iconic Duo LLC filed an opposition motion earlier this week.
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842383 WWE just announced Ronda will be working the European tour next month http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/article/ronda-rousey-wwe-live-europe-geneva-vienna-turin-paris-may-2018?utm_source=Direct
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842385 There are two I’s? Intensity and Intelligence, I think. They leave integrity at the door.
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842393 they've already announced a segment with Rousey and Steph for Monday so I guess Ronda is a weekly character unless they do a suspension angle here
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842400 No one has bothered to address my main point: Was Asuka's streak ever as big, organic, and over as Goldberg's streak? No, not even close. It felt like forced "history making" because it was. Even the Tatanka and Ludvig Borga streaks had more juice. Because it's two totally different things. Goldy's streak came in by beating JTTS every week on Nitro. It was a steady, conscious effort (past the faux-pas with McMichael at first) and was vital to Goldy's character. Sure, after a while he began to beat more names, but he was built as a squash-worker basically. Asuka's streak was that no-one could beat her in NXT, no challenger could take her and then no one on the main roster could take her down either. But it was not about squashing people, matches were always competitive. And it was only a part of her character, but not the entire character. Asuka was much more than her streak. For starters, she was a hell of a worker. And to deny she was over is, well, being in denial. She was over as fuck at Mania. I'd argue that Charlotte coming off her cold SD stint was the one was "wasn't that over", but she's such a great performer that it doesn't matter (add in the fabulous megastar intro she got too). Anyway the point is that of course it couldn't be the same as Goldy's streak. As far as Tatanka & Borga, the old 90's WWF fan in me is smiling, but honestly, this was a totally different era (so was Nitro, but it's still much closer in form to the current product). I don't remember when Tatanka being undeafeted began to really be a thing as part of his push, I do think it was important, although much more circumstancial. It's not like he was doing much after not getting the IC title from Michaels. Yes, Borga beating him seemed big at the time but really, when you look back at it, it was an angle to put Borga (and Yoko) over, Tatanka went nowhere after that point… Borga the Nazi didn't exactly set the world on fire at Survivor Series either after ending the streak. I doubt Asuka will suffer the same fate as Tatanka did, and Charlotte on the other hand looks like a big star again, which puts her on the way to a big match with Rousey, so really you can argue than yes, Asuka's streak was much more efficient. For me I felt Michaels refusing to drop the IC belt to Tatanka at Mania damaged his career. Kevin Nash mentioned something on a shoot interview about it.
April 13, 20187 yr comment_5842404 For me I felt Michaels refusing to drop the IC belt to Tatanka at Mania damaged his career. It was never the plan if you believe Bruce Prichard. The original plan for Mania was Micheals vs Jannetty, but Jannetty was fired just after the Rumble.
April 14, 20187 yr comment_5842535 The mentality that Asuka wouldnt be over without the streak is in my opinion the wrong mentality. Dont we want them creating pushes that highlight the strengths of each performer instead of dwelling on their weaknesses?
April 14, 20187 yr comment_5842546 The mentality that Asuka wouldnt be over without the streak is in my opinion the wrong mentality. Dont we want them creating pushes that highlight the strengths of each performer instead of dwelling on their weaknesses? I agree. I actually had no problem with her losing, per se, just that she seemed so invulnerable going in that it didn’t click for me in the crowd that she could actually lose. Obviously that is partly my fault but the build was so meager that I didn’t think she’d lose.
April 14, 20187 yr comment_5842553 The build would've been fine if it had felt like two forces colliding. Charlotte didn't need a streak of her own going or anything, but she was coming in with one of the coldest, dullest calendar years of any champion. I had a similar issue with Reigns challenging Lesnar. The guy was just losing left & right to the Miz on a weekly basis back in January. He lost to Rollins like it was nothing special in the Gauntlet match. Roman had next to no momentum before that one win in the Chamber. Just awful, nonsensical booking. People like to pretend these guys appeared to be on a collision course for 3 years. Hell, it wasn't even 3 months. That's a fantasy narrative that existed in fans' minds. Nowhere - at any time - was that presented as the case on TV with any sense of consistency or continuity. At all.
April 15, 20187 yr comment_5842771 For me I felt Michaels refusing to drop the IC belt to Tatanka at Mania damaged his career. It was never the plan if you believe Bruce Prichard. The original plan for Mania was Micheals vs Jannetty, but Jannetty was fired just after the Rumble. No I mean when Tatanka got 2 victories over Michaels and they went for Tatanka/Michaels at Mania. The general thought was Shawn been the champ since October so hes dropping the belt for Tatanka to get a good push with a singles title. Im sure HBK/Jannetty would have been a great match for Wrestlemania but why do the match at the Rumble? If that was the plan save it for Mania.
April 15, 20187 yr comment_5842774 No I mean when Tatanka got 2 victories over Michaels and they went for Tatanka/Michaels at Mania. The general thought was Shawn been the champ since October so hes dropping the belt for Tatanka to get a good push with a singles title. Like I said, it was never the plan. Maybe Jannetty would have won the title at Mania after failing at the Rumble, but since he got fired, Tatanka was just a replacement who wasn't supposed to win the title. You should listen to Bruce's podcast about Michaels in 92/93.
April 15, 20187 yr comment_5842776 No I mean when Tatanka got 2 victories over Michaels and they went for Tatanka/Michaels at Mania. The general thought was Shawn been the champ since October so hes dropping the belt for Tatanka to get a good push with a singles title. Like I said, it was never the plan. Maybe Jannetty would have won the title at Mania after failing at the Rumble, but since he got fired, Tatanka was just a replacement who wasn't supposed to win the title. You should listen to Bruce's podcast about Michaels in 92/93. I saw a podcast about 90s WWF ppv with Bruce but the interviewer was such a asshole kept butting in calling bullshit when something was explained. Bruce deserved more respect than that.
April 15, 20187 yr comment_5842856 The build would've been fine if it had felt like two forces colliding. Charlotte didn't need a streak of her own going or anything, but she was coming in with one of the coldest, dullest calendar years of any champion. I had a similar issue with Reigns challenging Lesnar. The guy was just losing left & right to the Miz on a weekly basis back in January. He lost to Rollins like it was nothing special in the Gauntlet match. Roman had next to no momentum before that one win in the Chamber. Just awful, nonsensical booking. People like to pretend these guys appeared to be on a collision course for 3 years. Hell, it wasn't even 3 months. That's a fantasy narrative that existed in fans' minds. Nowhere - at any time - was that presented as the case on TV with any sense of consistency or continuity. At all. Charlotte is the most protected talent on the roster even if this past year was her most uneventful. Even Stowman as over as he is has taken unnecessary losses even if its a multi person match. The only thing Roman had going for him leading up to Mania was that we all knew Vince was going with he and Lesnar. I Believe that the only reason Reigns wasnt protected going in to Mania was fear of the fans turning on him even more.
April 16, 20187 yr comment_5842892 No I mean when Tatanka got 2 victories over Michaels and they went for Tatanka/Michaels at Mania. The general thought was Shawn been the champ since October so hes dropping the belt for Tatanka to get a good push with a singles title. Like I said, it was never the plan. Maybe Jannetty would have won the title at Mania after failing at the Rumble, but since he got fired, Tatanka was just a replacement who wasn't supposed to win the title. You should listen to Bruce's podcast about Michaels in 92/93. I saw a podcast about 90s WWF ppv with Bruce but the interviewer was such a asshole kept butting in calling bullshit when something was explained. Bruce deserved more respect than that. I've listened to a few of Bruce's podcast, Conrad usually only calls bullshit when it's bullshit. If Bruce is spouting bullshit, why shouldn't he be called out on it?
April 19, 20187 yr comment_5843701 No I mean when Tatanka got 2 victories over Michaels and they went for Tatanka/Michaels at Mania. The general thought was Shawn been the champ since October so hes dropping the belt for Tatanka to get a good push with a singles title. Like I said, it was never the plan. Maybe Jannetty would have won the title at Mania after failing at the Rumble, but since he got fired, Tatanka was just a replacement who wasn't supposed to win the title. You should listen to Bruce's podcast about Michaels in 92/93. I saw a podcast about 90s WWF ppv with Bruce but the interviewer was such a asshole kept butting in calling bullshit when something was explained. Bruce deserved more respect than that. I've listened to a few of Bruce's podcast, Conrad usually only calls bullshit when it's bullshit. If Bruce is spouting bullshit, why shouldn't he be called out on it? I dont think it was conrad the one I saw. But to have a guest and call him a idiot just seemed wrong.
April 19, 20187 yr comment_5843753 Charlotte is the most protected talent on the roster even if this past year was her most uneventful. Even Stowman as over as he is has taken unnecessary losses even if its a multi person match. I feel like that was true at one point back when they had her 'undefeated on PPVs' streak but then they had her jobbing left and right to Bayley over and over again just last year before getting her away to SDL.
April 20, 20187 yr comment_5843864 Booker T announced on a radio show that he's returning to commentary on Raw Monday. Hopefully this mercifully brings an end to the Coach experiment
April 20, 20187 yr comment_5843901 It speaks to how terrible Coach is that people are excited to have Booker T back.
April 20, 20187 yr comment_5843906 I love Booker on commentary. If they're going to do three man teams, I like having a former World Champ on it, even if he's wacky.
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