Official WWE/ECW/WCW/TNA talk, or whatever v2

[SuperMatt18]

I honestly kind of forgot about Okada since he hasn't been featured much since winning the continental classic again.

Then I went to see what he's done and he's had two under 9 minute matches and both were on Collision.

I can't believe how badly they've used the guy widely regarded as the best wrestler in the world before he went to AEW. He should have went to WWE.

[SuperMatt18]

Also I've put on my "Captain Crunch" fantasy booker hat and figured out how they should book Cena for his 17th title.

Cody vs Cena actually feels a bit forced right now IMO and think it could have a better build to that match. Here is how I'd book it:

- Elimination Chamber: Cena gets eliminated early in this match, creates a bit of shock and even more "frustration" for Cena after his Rumble loss.

- Road to Mania: Cena wants his 17th title and is willing to do anything to get it, and will challenge any World Champion...Joe Hendry answers the call.

- WrestleMania: Cena looks overly cocky and confident going into the match, doesn't take Hendry seriously and loses the match. Punk beats Cody at WrestleMania. Jey beats Gunthier.

- Raw After Mania: Cena comes out and challenges new World Champion Jey Uso to his first title defense, but loses that match too.

- Now Cena is in a crisis of confidence, and it takes rivals from his past (Orton, JBL, Punk, HHH), and a defeated Cody Rhodes, to make him realize that he's not being John Cena, he's trying to take the easy way out.

- So then Cena spends a couple months in Rocky style montages and matches where he tries to earn his title shot and prove he's still worthy. He qualifies for Money in the Bank, wins the title shot, and then challenges CM Punk for the title at Summerslam, where he wins his 17th title.

- Cena defends the title for a couple months, which leads to a title defense vs Cody at Survivor Series. Cody wins the title sending Cena into retirement, and as the new "Face" of the WWE.

[trackercowe]

Lol Tony Khan is part of the Cult of Cornette. I guess I'm not surprised considering TK does have a passion for the business (and tried to hire Cornette). I wonder why he never sought out hiring other experienced bookers. Although thankfully not Russo or Bischoff. A story from previous road agent Jimmy Jacobs:

Tony and I would listen to Jim Cornette’s podcasts during those drives, and it became a thing—sometimes we’d agree, sometimes we’d disagree. But what was most important was the passion behind what Cornette said. It was always about respecting the history of wrestling and understanding what makes the business work. Cornette’s a polarizing figure, but you can’t deny that he knows wrestling. Tony would often ask me, ‘Do you agree with Jim on this?’ It wasn’t about agreeing with him necessarily, but more about understanding where he was coming from and applying that knowledge to what we were doing in AEW.”

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Also I've put on my "Captain Crunch" fantasy booker hat and figured out how they should book Cena for his 17th title.

Cody vs Cena actually feels a bit forced right now IMO and think it could have a better build to that match. Here is how I'd book it:

- Elimination Chamber: Cena gets eliminated early in this match, creates a bit of shock and even more "frustration" for Cena after his Rumble loss.

- Road to Mania: Cena wants his 17th title and is willing to do anything to get it, and will challenge any World Champion...Joe Hendry answers the call.

- WrestleMania: Cena looks overly cocky and confident going into the match, doesn't take Hendry seriously and loses the match. Punk beats Cody at WrestleMania. Jey beats Gunthier.

- Raw After Mania: Cena comes out and challenges new World Champion Jey Uso to his first title defense, but loses that match too.

- Now Cena is in a crisis of confidence, and it takes rivals from his past (Orton, JBL, Punk, HHH), and a defeated Cody Rhodes, to make him realize that he's not being John Cena, he's trying to take the easy way out.

- So then Cena spends a couple months in Rocky style montages and matches where he tries to earn his title shot and prove he's still worthy. He qualifies for Money in the Bank, wins the title shot, and then challenges CM Punk for the title at Summerslam, where he wins his 17th title.

- Cena defends the title for a couple months, which leads to a title defense vs Cody at Survivor Series. Cody wins the title sending Cena into retirement, and as the new "Face" of the WWE.

I like it for the most part of giving Cena a rocky ending with struggles and triumphs. However I just wish that WWE had that young midcarder that Cena could hand the torch and world title to at the end of his run. Having Cena passing his torch off to Cody seems like a missed opportunity.

[Inferno]

It sounds like WWE is planning a PLE in Boston in December called "Ruthless Aggression" which will be Cena's last match.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I like it for the most part of giving Cena a rocky ending with struggles and triumphs. However I just wish that WWE had that young midcarder that Cena could hand the torch and world title to at the end of his run. Having Cena passing his torch off to Cody seems like a missed opportunity.

Bron Breakker would be good

[CaptainCrunch]

Breakker would be the best choice, though it would be sad in Cena's last match to see him sawed in half.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Breakker would be the best choice, though it would be sad in Cena's last match to see him sawed in half.

I think Cena's last match should be against Orton. If anything he should lose the title to Breakker earlier in the year... Fatu would be a strong contender as well. The problem with Bronn winning is will people boo him? He's a heel today, and the crowd still loves him. Jacob Fatu is the best heel in the making right now. He'll be one of the pillars of the company for years to come. Put Fatu with Heyman and lets go!

[dammage79]

Bronn Breakers spear on Reins was maybe top three highlights of the men's rumble.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Bronn Breakers spear on Reins was maybe top three highlights of the men's rumble.

Bronn should be the only wrestler on the roster that's allowed to use the spear. That move has been spammed in both companies. Other than Goldberg no one else should be using it (Christian and Jimmy Uso... C'mon man!). Although Bronn retiring Goldberg then Cena in the same year has a nice ring to it...

[dammage79]

Yeah I never seen the spear before Goldberg mainstreamed it. Then it went away for a while and then Edge used it and then Reins. It's a good power move/ set up for the finisher (A La Goldberg and the Jackhammer) but yeah, the spears kind of lost its hutzpah.

[Inferno]

I guess it's release day in WWE. AOP, Blair Davenport, and Sonya Deville have all been released.

Cedric Alexander also announce he's no longer with WWE but it's unclear it was a release or if they just let his contract run out.

[CaptainCrunch]

Sonya Deville is a surprise to me, she's actually a very good in ring worker. Maybe TNA will pick her up.

[trackercowe]

I wonder if that means Paul Ellering is gone as well. He had the easiest job in the company. He hardly had a role within The Final Testament. Just stand there and look menacing, and say the occasional line.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I wonder if that means Paul Ellering is gone as well. He had the easiest job in the company. He hardly had a role within The Final Testament. Just stand there and look menacing, and say the occasional line.

Yes, he’s gone too.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Yeah I never seen the spear before Goldberg mainstreamed it. Then it went away for a while and then Edge used it and then Reins. It's a good power move/ set up for the finisher (A La Goldberg and the Jackhammer) but yeah, the spears kind of lost its hutzpah.

The spear and the super kick both have lost a lot of their oomph.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The spear and the super kick both have lost a lot of their oomph.

A few years back Heyman was on the Austin bodcast, and he talked about finishers and how wrestling has stopped protecting them.

We see these devastating looking finishing moves that people are kicking out left right and enter. Kicking out of a finisher should be sold like a nuke being dropped, and rarely kicked out of.

Remember nobody ever kicked out of Jake's DDT, they would counter it, but I think it was kicked out on a small handful of occasions.

DDT's, Superkicks, and Spears for example aren't really finishers anymore because everyone does them and every one kicks out of them.


Heyman talked about how the sleeper used to be a finishing move, and you looked at the psychology of it, that nobody ever got out of it.

In Stampede Wrestling, not only would the finishing move end you, but they really upped it, that if you succumbed to the sleeper, your opponent had to wake you up, or you wouldn't wake up and brain damage would occur. It was so awesomely well done.

Heyman also stated that the wrestlers would be really protective of their finishing move. refusing requests to kick out or escape from them, and not letting anyone use their finisher as a finisher.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Heyman talked about how the sleeper used to be a finishing move, and you looked at the psychology of it, that nobody ever got out of it.

Samoa Joe definitely hasn't won hundreds of matches with what is essentially a sleeper. Neither has Shayna Baszler.

And their wins are as boring as sleeper wins have always been.

[Inferno]

Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Giovanni Vinci, and Isla Dawn have also been released.

[trackercowe]

No major losses there, or at least no surprises. I wonder if they'll be making cuts in NXT next? That roster has always felt rather bloated.