VWWE Universe

34 Search Results for "blog"

• The road I walk... companions

  • From: Primal
  • Description:

    AHHHH nothing like a night backstage with the guys.

     

    We have just finished off another houseshow and I have been sitting around with Hardy, Shane, Cena and Joe, having a very interesting conversation about all from Lord of the Rings to a tournament of death involving Barney.

    Its been a long time since I last spend this much time backstage with the other guys, Ive been a bit stressed out with both keeping up with the houseshows and keeping some personal projects alive as well, but it was a great feeling being back.

    Like I have mentioned in an earlier blog I tend to go nostalgic at this time of the year and so Ill do again lol

    I remember back when I started in WWE, actually a couple of months before, when I first walked into the locker. Back then I was working for XFW and Scott Neaman had invited me down to a houseshow WWE was doing in the area.

    The locker was filled with the stars and I nearly shit myself as Neaman suddenly pulled me over and introduced me to the crowd, the first one to react was Vince, who took a long look at me and told me to call him the next day before rushing off. I stayed close to Scott for about half an hour where I didnt dare talking to anyone, I mean all these guys were the big names, Hunter, Ryan Simmons, Michael Shane, James Steele and The Undertaker, believe me I was scared stiff.

    After a while Hunter came up to me and we started talking, we had met earlier at some of SFW's shows where I had wrestled a couple of dark matches, but without any success and I didnt actually think he rememberred me. as the night went on I started to talk with some of the others, I got the hint from Shane that Vince probely would love to book me for some dark matches, due to my size. Sadly the Boogeyman heard that and quickly jumped into the conversation. Marty wasnt happy with the direction of his character at that point and was trying to find a partner to form a tagteam, first off I thought this is my big chance and we started brainstorming on ideas right there. Luckily Ryan, Michael and some of the others could see where it all was headed and they quickly jumped in to safe me.

    Following that night I became a regular backstage, I also got to wrestle a few dark matches and eventually signing a contract which I still have lol

    During my time here I made a lot of good friends, some better than others.

    When I first arrived I remember I was terrified of James Steele, I was sure he hated me or something, then one day I walked into the locker and noone else was there but him, no need to say that the first few minutes were tence, but suddenly we started talking and to this day I think that this guy is one of my favorite persons in the business.

    Around the same time as me, Adult Viewing signed with WWE and Butch and Romeo alongside James and I started hanging out backstage, often joined by Michael Shane and Hunter, we would spend very much time together both entertaining and annoying people with our own brand of humor (Im not totally sure if Butch and Romeo actually took it serious lol) later Min Sing joined the group and became somekind of running joke, who never had a momments piece.

    A year or so later a veteran came back in the shape of Doomsday, I didnt know if I should run or pass out when I first met him, but he actually turned out to be an awesome person, Nik and I spend a lot of time working together off screen, he thought me how to be more than a generic big man in the ring, training with me develaoping new moves and facets of my ring work, but also taught me a lot about how to act in front of the camera in generel. when he wasnt in work mode, he was just one crazy sob who I loved hanging out withcause it was never boring.

    Many others have passed through my live like that, people like Goldberg, Scorpio, and in newer days Jeff, Assasin, Tatanka and many more, I keep learning from them and I hope some of them learn something from me, but the one I learned the most from and who never learned anything from me (despite my efforts to teach him) was the Boogeyman, this guy taught everything I needed to know on how not to act in this business.

    Well I better head off and grab a beer with the others before this turns into a dirtsheet rant on Marty.

     

    Hygge All 

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
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• Locked Out

  • From: Assassin
  • Description:

    Well here I am once more, sitting on the laptop typing up a blog. I can't say I'm very comfortable at the moment as I'm sitting outside waiting for someone to open the doors so I can get into the arena we are meant to be wrestling in. So now I'm stuck outside on a hard bench, which really isn't helping my back. See what we do for you WWE Universe? Anyway I decided to log on to the computer to keep myself occupied whilst I wait for the door to be unlocked and I saw that you fans have been treated to quite a few blogs lately. So I decided not to feel left out and to do a blog of my own to tell the WWE Universe about what has been going on lately in the WWE.

    At the moment I'm alone and sometimes this is how I like it...I can see Jeff Hardy every now and then looking quite serious so I presume he is doing something important but beside that it is just me at the moment. I have to say the anticipation has been gradually building for Wrestlemania and were are now only 12 days away from what should be one of the greatest Wrestling moments ever. I certainly can't wait and I'm getting butterflies just thinking about it and I've spoken to several other guys and they seem like they feel exactly the same. Yesterday I had the opportunity to catch up with a recent signee, Jason Cooper who finally has broken into the WWE after spending alot of time in the Indies. I know it has been said earlier by Jeff in his blog but this guy is going to be a star and he has all the credentials to become one. The other day I got to see him cut a quick promo whilst doing a house show and he was fantastic on the mic for a new guy (far better than me I must add, after looking at some tapes of my earlier stuff). He is also a good guy to talk to outside the ring and yesterday we got talking about video games (What? WWE Superstars can't play video games?) and eventually it led to the new Smackdown vs Raw Video Game which brings me to the next thing I would like to talk about.

    Just this last Saturday a bunch of us WWE Superstars, myself, Cooper, Jeff and Chavo to name a few, got to go to a big press conference thing about the new Smackdown vs Raw video game. First we got a run down by some dude, Corey I think his name was...wasn't paying much attention to tell the truth and after that we got the opportunity to roam around, get interviewed by some internet nerds (they said they were from Gamingfling...or was it Gamingring? Again I can't remember) and the main reason I went and I presume the others, to play the game. Jeff and I got to have the first go and when we first got on to the game it lead you to some sort of tutorial screen which we skipped right past. After that the main menu appeared and whilst some things were blacked out, there was still a fair amount of things we could chose from. Jeff persisted that we have a look at the new Create a Diving Finisher first (Typical) but I managed to convince him to play a First Blood Match first. I chose to be myself in the game and so did he and then we were into it.

    At first glance I could've sworn it was real life the graphics are that good and everything was so detailed, like my tattoo's and scar and Jeff's face paint and arm bands. It then got me thinking about the time that we had to go into THQ and get scanned and speak lines and even grunts into a microphone a few months back. I suppose that payed off as everything looks great. We then got into the actual match and whilst Jeff was trying his hardest to beat me I was more testing out the new things you can do in the game like moves on the apron and leapfrogging an opponent. The one new thing that I didn't like however was the new momentum halo instead of a HUD which got a bit annoying at times. At the end of the match I made Jeff bleed after two Assassinations (which look great!) and a chair shot to the head.

    We then took a quick look at two of the new Create modes - Create a Diving Finisher where we ended up creating a move that consisted of several flips and then the Story Mode Designer. The Story Mode Designer was very in depth and you could do a tonne of cool cutscenes (there was even a Michael Jackson based cutscene, maybe based off the time Cena and Shane entered to his music on Raw) as well as making matches and who will win and lose them. Our time was stopped short however as Chavo and MVP kicked us off claiming we had been on it for too long.

    Overall it was good fun seeing the new game and seeing myself in Video Game form and I will certainly be buying it when it gets released! I even tried enquiring whether I could get it early but that idea was turned down fairly quickly. Anyway I think someone just arrived with a key so I better be off or I'll be in trouble. I'll hopefully get to speak to you in another blog soon but I'm making no promises as Wrestlemania week I'm sure will be very hectic!

    Until then, farewell and I urge you to buy the new Smackdown vs Raw 2010 Video Game (Yes I was told by THQ to plug it lol).

    Yours truly, Assassin.

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
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• The road I walk

  • From: Primal
  • Description:

    The road stretches ahead of us as we travel towards Wrestlemania.

     

    Im sitting in a car with Hardy and some others.... read his blog he has told everything about my current company and whereabouts, so I dont want to waste time on that.

    It feels strange once again moving closer to Mania and taking another step down the path, that we as wrestlers have choosen. Everyone is looking forward to this, but still there is the fear of the day after, when its all over and the road again branches out filling our world with options, choices and challenges that we will have to conquer to get on our way to the next Wrestlemania.

    I know I shouldnt think of the future, but live in the moment, but in my world Wrestlemania is the defining moment of my career, its where I prove, why I deserve to be in the spot where I am and why I should be in WWE all together. Now this may sound like I dont do anything else during the year, but its actually the direct opposit. The time between Mania's is what I defiened as the road to Wrestlemania, its in this time you earn yourself the privelidge to wretle at Mania, its in this time you prepare to go that extra mile when you enter the ring at Mania.

    I remember descriping the road to Mania in my first Wrestlemania promo, it was back in 2006 and I was new crowned European Champion, management giving both me and my opponent (Roberto Rossi) a big chance here, as we both only had been in WWE for a few months, but had already started a heated feud. back to the promo I remember it being a video package, where I was walking down a dusty road, talking about, the blood sweat and tears I shed to be there, mentioning the people who helped me to get there as my then manager A.A Estrada joined me and in the end standing in front of the crossroad that is Wrestlemania, depending on what happens there you will choose what way to go, You can choose to go back to where you came from, stay where you are, take the high or low road, all this is how I experience Wrestlemania and is how I look at my road to Wrestlemania or rather to being a wrestler in the WWE.

    Well Sergio is starting to yell out for a pit stop thanks to Jeff's healthy taco thingy, so I might as well head off and get some beers for the rest of the ride

     

    see ya around 

     

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 29
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• A Day Off

  • From: JeffHardy
  • Description:

    Hello there WWE Universe, been too long since my last blog so I thought I'd update all of you on the goings on in the WWE. Right about now I'm sitting on my plush hotel room bed eating a nice healthy wrap having a very rare day off between shows and promotional appearences leading up to Wrestlemania so I'm going to use my time wisely and blog. 

    I've been working with Suffering, Flair and Shane more often than not during these house shows which has been a blessing indeed, I've worked with Joe so much this past year that we can put on a good match with our eyes closed and Shane.....well, he can put on a "5 Star Match" with Munk...'nuff said. Flair on the other hand is a lot more difficult to work with. Our personal differences haven't always been kayfabe but I have a lot of respect for Naitch and he's never taken liberties with me in the ring or acted in any way unprofessional, our differences come from our different styles of working. When I started in this business, especially in the indies, 90% of the action was called in the ring we only ever planned our the finish. Sometimes that can make for a great match but sometimes, especially for today's standards, it can be clunky and awkward. When I work with guys like Shane we prepare some spots before we even go out there and then we let some of the magic play itself out, same with Suffering. Flair is an older style worker, he likes to improvise in the ring.

    We've only worked tag matches leading up to 'Mania but we're still trying to feel each other out, he's still getting used to some of my spots and I'm still getting used to calling it all in the ring. It's been hard adapting to the other's style of working but at this stage I have no doubt whatsoever that come Wrestlemenia Flair and I can put on one of the best matches of the night. Y'know what? Even at 60 I think Flair and I could quite possibly steal the show, you heard it here first.

    I'd like to offer my congratulations to Assassin, today marks his first full year on the active roster. I can't say I liked Assassin from the beginning....he was hella green and (somewhat) impatient, though I was still on the lower-midcard so I said nothing. Within a month however, Assassin calmed down, became a very respectful and talented kid who I knew once he paid his dues that he was going to become something. It took a long time, months in fact, but at the Royal Rumble this year it all paid off for the kid, he joined Legacy and started his first major push into the midcard. I'm proud to call Assassin a friend of mine, I'm proud to see a young kid who actually reminds me a bit of myself at his age getting the push and attention he deserves. Ladies and gentlemen, this kid has yet to hold gold in the WWE but mark my words, he will be the Intercontinental Champion before the year is out. Despite his less than reputable father, this kid Assassin is going to be huge.

    My plan tonight is to take the kid out tonight and perhaps even buy him his first beer but I fear he'd much rather stay in and watch a DVD......sigh, Shane and I have our work cut out for us.

    Speaking of Shane, as many of you have probably read on the dirt sheets there's been some trouble backstage at WWE events....involving the always controversial Mickie James. Man, you all know my opinion of Mickie but.....this just takes the cake, the girl needs help, lots of it. It's probably best if I leave it at that.

    I'm actually a bit nervous at present, I'm not usually a promotional tool for the WWE to use but apparently all of that has changed....they've booked me and Ric to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live. If you want me to perform in front of 80,000 plus fans I can do it no problem, if you want me to get on the mic and whip out a promo I can do it, if you want me to dive off a twenty foot ladder onto a stack of tables, I can do it.....but outside the wrestling ring? I dunno. Some guys like Cena can do all that, some guys like Shane can extend their characters beyond the ring but I've never done it before....thankfully Ric is the best in the biz so I've got someone to hide behind but I suppose if I want to progress and climb further up the ladder I need to put up or shut up.

    It's been a tough week for me, things outside the wrestling business have been weighing heavily on my mind. I've been feeling increasingly isolated, depressed and burned out for reasons unknown to me, there are certain things I'm sure are contributing and it may be the fact I'm ignoring the problems as best as I can but I remain unsure on this road to wrestlemania.

    You've heard me vow to steal 'Mania, you've heard me make proclamations and you've heard me moan and complain, now it's time for me to get into the hotel's jacuzzi and rest this tired body before I inflict more pain and anguish on it tomorrow night.

    Until then,

    Jeff Hardy

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 47
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• One Year Down

  • From: Assassin
  • Description:

    Well, here I am. Sitting in the lockeroom here in Texas, preparing for Wrestlemania 25...exactly a year after I joined the WWE. We are currently doing a house show here in San Antonio which is scheduled to begin in less than twenty hours. Lately everything has been very frantic getting ready for the big one - Wrestlemania 25 and as I look back a year ago I wouldn't know how I would cope. But I have grown over the past year...immensely. My first match, in a 6 man tag team match, teaming with AKM and Kofi against Sphere, Showtime and Psycho Joe was a real big test, I was worried I would blow it all by botching a move or forgeting what I was meant to do but after hitting that first punch on Sphere...I never turned back.

    I've worked with many different wrestlers over the past year, some good, some bad and some who taught me a whole lot. I've seen many wrestlers come and go, TNA rise...TNA fall and I've also made some great friendships along the way. It has been tough at times but through help and the will to keep keeping on...I have gotten through them. 

    There have been a lot of defining moments in the short career of mine so far...from when I teamed with Ric Flair at Survivor Series and being the last man standing for our team to working with Roddy Piper at Cyber Sunday but none, in my opinion, have been as defining as this years Royal Rumble. Going in to the event I had lost three straight to William Regal and a couple more at house shows. At the time I was working as a face and I hadn't really been getting over with the crowd much. After the win against Regal I felt over the moon. I thought I did well and the final Punt at the end I believe to be the turning point in my career. Later in the night I stood alongside my new mentor, Randy Orton in the newly formed Legacy.

    Since that moment I have felt like I have developed well as a superstar and I hope that I continue to do so at Wrestlemania and then after it. Speaking of Wrestlemania, it is only a short period of time away and I can't believe I am going to be performing on the Grandest Stage of All against Mick Foley. I am a tiny bit dissapointed that it has been fairly quiet lately backstage and there hasn't been a real "buzz" like at the Royal Rumble but I'm sure that will come over time and until then I have to keep preparing and to make sure everything that I am involved with at Wrestlemania goes according to plan.

    Well I think it is about time that I end my blog as I have a few things I have to attend to and prepare for the upcoming house show. So one year down and hopefully many more to come, many more moments to remember and more friendships to be made...I'll see y'all at Wrestlemania.

    Have a nice day :D

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 45
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• THEE BLOG 4:46am

  • From: THEE_RYAN_SIMMONS
  • Description:

    God im fucked lol

    just spent the night in a sport bar that was airing some Indy wrestling shit in the company of jeff hardy,michael shane , the three hart kids and mvp.

    we just spent the night chatting about wrestling in general and watching the stuff on tv , michael shane was constantly in and out of the bar on his phone and jeff dissapeared early on which is unlike him , usually im the one having an early night,

    some indy wrestler named jackson healy??? introduced himself to us and tried to join us for a drink which was met with a stern look.

    montel was so smashed he fell asleep and woke up with half an hour to closing time so i basically was on my own with my thoughts and my diet coke untill a bleary eyed mickie james fell in the door just as i was heading off, did nobody bother to give her a wake up call? lol

    ill probably have one last drink with mickie and head back too the hotel and my bed

     

    untill then

    Im Ryan Simmons and Your Not!!!!!

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 39
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• THEE BLOG

  • From: THEE_RYAN_SIMMONS
  • Description:

    Here i am sitting at the arena in Amarillo with a glass of Semi-Skimmed milk watching the goings on around me,i see suffering in one corner his head stuck in a laptop and a big angry dane in the other shouting in danish at his laptop, i havent posted a blog in ages but since my life has changed in recent weeks ill update yall , i was recently diagnosed as diabetic, i havd been feeling extremely tired after matches and training and majority of the time i was sleeping whilst going between events, it was put down to `burn out` but im thankfull ive ben diagnosed tbh ive felt a lot better than ive ever been even though ive had to cut a lot of my favourite things out of my life.

    Anyhoo onto other things, my feud with Morten Hansen has been going well ,plenty of sick bumps for me and morten and more surprisingly for kelly who is very resillient for a girl of her stature. talking of Morten i can see him across the room screaming in danish at his laptop again which appears to have died on him lol

    after Wrestlemania im hoping to head in a new direction with my on screen persona, during my feud i feel ive been helped along by the big dane because i havent been totally in the game due to my illnes. i wont say too much at the moment untill things are finalised and ill sign off here as i have a big dane breathing down my neck eyeing up my laptop.

     

    untill then

    LATERS!

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 40
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• The Road Stretches On

  • From: JeffHardy
  • Description:

    Hey all, been a while since I updated my great fans on the Universe, too long in fact. Vince recently approached me and asked me to upload some more blogs and keep you guys up to date with the goings on at the shows, on the road and the like as we travel down this figurative and litteral road to Wrestlemania 25. 

    Currently I'm typing this blog post up in the back of a rental car next to Michael Shane, Simmons up front and the lovable Morten Hansen up front. At my behest we're currently blasting out Springsteen's Working On A Dream, my new obsession.

    Things have been relatively quiet backstage, Saturday Night's Main Event went off without a hitch though. From start to end it felt like a Wrestlemania go-home show, both in the ring and in the back. My own angle finally reached boiling point and seemed to go down really well with the crowd, they're really split down the middle. Since my return from suspension everyone has welcomed me back into the fold, there's still some tension between Mickie and I despite my best efforts but hey....I ain't the only one on that front. Flair wasn't as welcoming as the rest of the roster though. 

    He's not come right out and told me but I know he's disappointed with me, the looks he's giving me tell me more than words ever could. I can't say I blame him, he agreed to work an angle with me, him a sixteen time World Heavyweight Champion....me, the scrawny kid from Cameron and I screwed up again, affecting him as much as I have affected myself. I can dig that, I don't make any excuses for the way I live my life and I'm not ashamed to hit a few bumps on the road but I heard he wanted to cut a shoot promo on me at SNME.....something he went straight to Vince with, didn't even think to talk to me about first. Ain't that a great way to get me over. I respect Ric Flair as much as if not more than the next guy, he's bigger than the Beatles in my hometown but this rivalry extends past what you see in the ring. 

    I think our segment went really well though, when we're in the ring together cutting a promo we just seem to gel, the intensity, the animosity,  the emotions that we run through in the space of ten minutes surpass anything I think I've done with anyone else. The one thing that seemed to add everything over the last few months was definitely the finish. For the first time in over a year the WWE allowed me to perform a highspot. This was hardly the most highrisk or innovative highspot I've ever done but it got over HUGE with the crowd and the thrill of standing atop the turnbuckle, leapfrogging over a fifteen foot ladder, hearing the collective gasp from the capacity crowd as I soar only to explode and leap to their feet when I come crashing to the canvas......nothing....NOTHING over the past twelve months has made me feel as alive as that single moment......though my ass is STILL hurting. (Make all the jokes you want, boys.) 

    The backstage atmosphere is much the sameas it's ever been really, Shane and I have kissed and made up (keep that image in mind, folks) and our backstage antics are once again reaching you from headlines of the local dirstsheets. These headlines couldn't be further from the truth. We're all actually getting along for once! 

    The only person that seems to be being ribbed these days is the little Assassin....for obvious reasons of course. I won't reveal his newest nick nam-....who am I kidding, the twink can't do anything.  

    I've kept myself rather composed backstage, hanging out with the likes of Mort and the new tag on the scene in The Hart Dynasty, two really cool guys who I've had the pleasure of getting to know better over the last couple of weeks, they have such an intense passion and respect for this business, it's so refreshing to have these two laid back guys in the locker, they have a calming effect on myself and others no doubt. 

    Currently I'm tossing some jokes Simmon's way, lighthearted stuff about his (lackluster) career.....but I'm glad by the look on his face that he's in the front and I've got a large Dane barking at him to sit still!

    We're about to pull in and grab some bagels (at Shane's request and to Mort's chagrin) so I'd better post this now.

    Look for another blog from me each day in the run up to 'Mania!

     

    Jeff Nero Hardy

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 40
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• Title? Who needs a Title?

  • From: Assassin
  • Description:

    Fuck...it's been along time since I did one of these. Well anyways I was just wondering by and saw that new kid...what's his name...the one with the funny lookin' hair...oh thats right, TJ Wilson, on his laptop writing a blog so I thought I may as well do one in my spare time...But before I begin I have to say, the New Hart Foundation has really impressed me so far and they've only appeared twice. I saw them on FCW a few weeks back but I think they really shone last night on Raw. There promo was very proffesional and some are even calling it one of the best first promo's ever. These guys are the future of the business and I hope they don't stuff it up somewhere along the line like so many other Superstars have.

    Now, on to business, so to speak. It's been a while since I've done one of these as I mentioned before...I think the last time was around the Royal Rumble...jeez that seems so long ago now I think about it. So much has happened since then backstage and in the ring. I was also just looking then at the amount of blogs being done recently and I have to say I'm a bit dissapointed...yes I know I am partly to blame for this but I still think that it is a bit dissapointing. I have to admit that around the time of the Royal Rumble when everyone was blogging I really enjoyed it. It added that little extra to the occasion and I think I speak for quite a few of the other superstars when I say it was most of all...fun. That's why whilst I am writing this I hope that I can send the message through to other superstars backstage to start blogging again and get this Universe active once more.

    Now that that is out of the way with I would like to start with the situation that has been spoken about quite a bit backstage, that being the recent Suspension of Jeff Hardy. Now I won't go into too much depth here or I may get in trouble lol. I consider Jeff to be one of my close mates backstage and he has really taught me quite a lot during my time so far in the WWE. Now, I still respect him but I do think that he may have gone a bit over the top in recent times but I also agree with alot of what he said. I won't go into any details but I will say that I think what Mickie James said at certain times were not "the right things to say" and I see why Jeff reacted to them.

    Anyways, that is all behind us now and we all have to move on and do our jobs to produce the best Raw we can every week. So that brings me to last nights Raw, as most of you would know I am currently in a Feud with none other than Mick Foley. At the moment I am really enjoying where we are taking this and I believe that it is good for me and my future. Hopefully we can continue to put on a good show for the fans and perform to the best of our abilities. I also got to meet with Ultimate Warrior earlier and I was suprised that he is back after a fairly long time away from the ring. The rumours going around are that him and Steph have had a talk so I'm keen to know what will happen with him in the future. May I also add that he is a great bloke to speak to and I hope that he sticks around with us for as long as possible.

    The last thing I would like to add is the current situation with the Third member of Legacy, I'm loving how he (or she lol) is being kept a mystery because it really does build up to the moment where the mask comes off and his (or her lol) identity is revealed. I am still unsure on when that time is but I'm sure that Steph has a plan and that it is a good one. Well I better be off, just saw Foley hobbling past and there is something I need to discuss with him regarding Smackdown this week.

    Until next time.

    Assassin.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 58
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• Characters Welcome

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    There were a few posts today in the chat about what makes a good created character and I've a few views on this that I've brought up in the past in creative meetings. Good characterization and character development is one of the key facets of good drama and good television and as owner and head writer, I probably have a good perspective on this... so here goes, my two cents.
    
    When VWWE started (as VWWF) it was very simple and very basic, plot depth was virtually none existent, same with characterization. What we basically looked for back then was somebody exciting, with something to say and a cool name, which was still far more than our rivals looked for who basically hired anybody, no matter how absurd. A wrestling monkey for instance.
    
    Out of these days came VWWE characters such as Silent Assassin, Mr Showtime, Sphere and Nightmare and while Nightmare has evolved through the years, technical master to Ric Flairs protege to wrestling obsessed franchise ala Triple H and latterly the veteran of VWWE, some of those other characters did not. Mr Showtime has forever been "like RVD/Y2J" and that's the sum extent of his character and background.
    
    One character that would never find a home in the VWWE of 2009 is Silent Assassin, one of the two characters I'll be using for this blog as two ends of a single spectrum. SA debuted in that simple world of 2002 and had little characterization. He had no history, his look was taken from Spike out of Buffy the Vampire slayer and personality laying like a cross between Sting and William Regal. Never was any of this explained and worst of all was that he was allowed to put himself over in promos and actions against his opponents with now giving back. Sadly, this was somewhat atypical in those days.
    
    But lets look at each aspect and compare it with a modern created character - Michael Shane. I've picked simply because I know most about him and frankly, he's brilliant. History, look/moves, character development.
    
    SA never had any history, like so many characters, he just seemingly arrived in FWC like magic. We knew he was English.. but that was it. No background. Later when he was in VWWE we managed, under protest from Jon (his handler, not OUR Jon), to construct a history where he'd started out in the Allstar Promotions in the UK in the 80's alongside the likes of Finlay and Regal and moved to the States when the NWA were looking for their answer to the WWF's British Bulldogs. Assassin then went to the WWF, WCW etc etc, I'm not reciting it all lol, but now he HAD a history, he had events that shaped him. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. Look was never expanded on, he looked the same and wore the same stuff for 5 years and kept the same moves. Character development.... well that's difficult because I'm tempted to say fuck all. SA saw himself as top dog and always wanted to be it, he did NOT put people over or show ass, I really cannot honestly think how he changed a single bit in 5 years.
    
    Characters don't need prearranged targets of where they're going to go as a character or a big master plan. What the need is the room for them to develop, they need places to potentially go.
    
    Michael Shane was a character that was developed in the space between the "old VWWE" and the "new VWWE" in mid-2005 just before our comeback and I think he was genuinely one of the first characters that was thought about as WWE would think about a character. In the era of James Steele, John Cupbord and Michael Steven Northmore, he was a new thing. After that we saw great characters such as Ryan Simmons, Primal, Adan Reyes, Joey Nebraska and the new Suffering, plus the all new generation of Assassin and Sergio Griffon.
    
    WWE always say that the best characters are the ones who are en extension of the real personality behind the character such as John Cena, Steve Austin, Badass Undertaker, The Rock, MVP, exaggerated forms of reality. Shane is no different, he is Mick in exaggerated form... some may even say not too exaggerated. He even started as a Republican and became a Democrat lol
    
    Arrogant to the point of being obnoxious but deeply respectful of the business, he loves wrestling but loves being controversial. He loves being the center of attention and is clearly a genius. He knows it. Snappy dresser, ladies man. Sadistic streak.
    
    That's a basic MO... then around that, you can fit a look. Would that gimmick and attitude fit a 7 foot Indian? no. It suits a smaller man, a good looking man, somebody akin to Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels or John Morrison. Again, his look is inspired by myself, long hair, unshaven.
    
    Once you have a look, you have a move set. Again, power moves would never have suited... so why would he do them? the times ive seen requests that 7 footers do Luchadore moves or cruiserweights use Powerbombs etc is countless. Also, get a WELL ROUNDED move set, don't fill it with finishers.
    
    In the beginning, Shane was far more influenced by Lucha-Libre than today where the Ric Flair influence is more paramount. I was a big fan at that point and it was about 6 or so months before Eddie passed, he was massive at the time and I was a huge Eddie mark. The moveset was heavily influenced by Eddie and HBK so from Eddie came the Mexican influence and the suggestion he'd worked in Mexico, been trained by Gory, the Gory Bomb finisher.
    
    Once you have all that, you've a character, a history can be created from what you have by answering questions - whys he arrogant, what reason? whys he have the lucha moves? whys he get into wrestling?
    
    Also, id suggest giving him backstage gimmicks. Shane, being an arrogant prick, was also said to be trouble backstage in those days... shitting in bags and taking drugs etc (now in 2009, long gone as he's grown up and is respected by his peers, having won that over the past 4 years). So on day one you have this drug taking prick who was arrogant... but he was hugely talented and had great potential, he'd been trained in Mexico and had friends high in WWE with the likes of HBK. He was a rebel and potentially trouble... but also potentially a future legend. Which way would he go? giving him the arrogance and the drug abuse, these are character flaws that are ESSENTIAL. SA never had a single flw, he m,ay as well have been an automation. Theres no need to make a character a failure or a loser, but having a few things in a characters life that are wrong or they're not proud of makes them human.
    
    Now... this is the key thing for me - character development, both in terms of gimmick and emotion.
    
    Shane started off there and started in the tag division, he developed from being a tag team wrestler into the singles star. He grew in confidence and stature, bringing in the whole hip-hop styling with the new Kanye West theme and attitude, being a bit of a playboy, obsessed with money and women. But that started to get old and he rediscovered his love of wrestling during his feud with Flair. It was really this feud that marked a change again. Shane started to "grow up" around WrestleMania 24. He became serious in his wrestling talent and desire to win championships, his feud with Flair led to the New Generation attitude, the hip-hop styling's starting to vanish as he found Ashley and became a one women man. The controversial nature of their relationship with the "Rated R" segments later becoming a genuine relationship between the characters, developing over time. In 2009, Shane had his belief in wrestling tested with the Suffering incident and will have his relationship with Ashley tested. Two weeks ago there was the darker Shane in the black with the leather jacket, this we'll see again, this is the consequence of the actions and scenarios he's been put in. His mental state one that's depressed, bitter and angry. It wouldn't work if he remained an arrogant pretty boy. Its the exact same principle WWE used for Triple H after Orton RKOd Stephanie, if Trips had feuded with Randy with his DX joker gimmick.. then would truly have been no buys.
    
    A lot of where Shane had been and gone does come from myself and I really cant urge enough people to do likewise, insert yourself into the characters, change them as you change and grow. If you're a Goth... make a gothic character, emo? go emo. If you're a chav, create Ryan Simmons lol.
    
    Characters need to develop and change to stop becoming stale, they need their beliefs tested as Shane has had his belief in wrestling tested and will have his relationships tested. These tests of character create drama and emotional growth, they allow the character to develop from one thing to another and become more multi-faceted and deep.
    
    Three dimensional characters are what VWWE requires and in fact expects in 2009 and I think we have, the likes of Suffering, Joey Nebraska and Ryan Simmons have developed just as well and have just as deep histories, they are a world away from the likes of Plinny, Kohl and AWO that graced feds in 2002 when we started. In 2009 I think the majority of VWWE understand the fact that VWWE is about far more than winning and losing - its about the show. We all pull together to make a great show each week for each others enjoyment, we write promos for others to enjoy and collectively make absolute greatness. If we win... that's awesome, the titles being the highest achievement and also a fantastic feeling to win... but VWWE is so much more. Now in 2009 I think many realize that telling a story is what this game is really all about.... juts like with the WWE Superstars our job is to entertain, to tell a story. And nobody tells a story quite like VWWE :D

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• WrestleMania Memories

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    As I take a (well deserved) break from writing Raw, I thought I'd blog on WWE matters and what else could I possibly talk about other than WrestleMania?
    
    I'm going to do two pieces, one on my personal memories of WrestleMania (that's this one), and secondly, my predictions and hopes for this years event.
    
    In the beginning... Vince created WrestleMania.
    
    WrestleMania at the beginning really wasn't seen as "the Superbowl of professional wrestling", it really wasn't as grand as all that. The NWA had already promoted their Starrcade supercards and WWE had produced Showdown at Shea, make no mistake, WrestleMania was the answer to Starrcade.
    
    Vince McMahon is the kind of man, much like myself lol, who has to do everything bigger, better and badder than the opposition. Vince will have looked at Starrcade and thought - how can we blow that out of the water. At this time Vince was at the forefront of new innovation and technology, something WWE is NOT in 2009. Vince looked at cable and MTV in particular, he looked at the 1980's political landscape and gave us Hogan, Volkoff etc... he looked to pay-per-view.
    
    PPV was the single invention that changed wrestling forever, talking it out of local arenas and barns and into the front room, the revenue allowed companies to suddenly become major TV players and increase production values and wages tenfold. People like Hulk Hogan became mainstream celebrities, all from this one event. Vince apparently figuratively stakes the family jewels on this being a success... and it was. The celebrity endorsement brought in new fans and exposure and WrestleMania, in one night, made the WWF the hottest thing in America, burying the NWA in the process.
    
    My first WrestleMania was apparently WrestleMania III though I remember nothing of it. My father was allegedly something of a fan in the 1980's and literally everybody watched WrestleMania 3, I was allowed to stay up for it. Even though I don't remember it, maybe it left a subconscious memory that led me to VWWE some 15 years later lol. What follows next is my own memories of the events I saw live at the time. Many of these I, in truth, haven't watched fully again since then, so I'm just remembering off the top of my head what I can (I nearly forgot the ladder match at WM16 for one lol, so sorry if I miss anything really important out)
    
    My first actual memory of a WrestleMania is WrestleMania IX at Caesars Palace with those absurd toga costumes. All I remember remembering is how much Hulk Hogan sucked and at that time I'd wished Bret Hart had left with the title lol. In truth I probably still believe that, Hulk Hogan winning the title at WM9 being the moment Hogan Jumped the Shark in the WWF, it was one of the most shameful power plays ever seen. Bret should have left WM9 as champion and although it didn't hurt his career, it could easily have done.
    
    WrestleMania X I remember a lot more, by this point I was watching the WWF regularly with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon etc being my favorites (even Bret Hart). WrestleMania X is still one of my favorite PPV's and one of the best ever WrestleMania's with Owen Hart going over Bret and the infamous Ladder Match. This was imo the PPV where the New Generation really came into their own. The main event, like last year and next year was forgettable however - Bret vs Yokozuna and I don't think imo that WrestleMania had really reached its "Superbowl" status yet and wouldn't for a long time.
    
    WrestleMania XI and the involvement of Lawrence Taylor I remember, funnily it's really only the celebrities I remembered from this PPV, Pamala Anderson of course being there with Jenny McCarthy. I didn't remember a thing about any of the matches which says everything about the quality of the show. This was a PPV where they tried to mask the lameness of the card with the celebs. Did it work? nope.
    
    WrestleMania 12 was the Ironman match and of course the Warrior vs Helmsley, losing in 12 seconds which is hilarious now... but I was pissed back then. Not for Helmsley who I hated but if there was one person I hated more it was the Warrior. I was a total New Generation freak at the time and ANYBODY who I saw as being from the 80's I hated - Hogan, Warrior, Slaughter. An Ultimate Warrior return filled me with dread, luckily it didn't last. I haven't seen the Ironman match in ages but it's always been one of my favorite matches.. yet thinking back to it, I really think HBK has had better matches since. Id certainly rather watch his Flair match or Jericho matches. Maybe I've just forgotten how great it was, I'll have to rewatch sometime.
    
    WrestleMania 13 came at a time I was becoming exasperated, for want of another word, with the WWF. I'd been watching WCW a lot in the latter half of 1996 and it was on fire, the WWF was in transition but mostly lame and WrestleMania 13 didn't buck the trend. I remember little of it and haven't seen it since first broadcast I don't think. I really had little interest in it. The only match that stands out is Bret Hart vs Steve Austin... and i'm gunna leave my thoughts on that for my 1997 history blogs lol.
    
    What a difference a year made... WrestleMania 14 and it could have been a whole different company. This was the "official" start of attitude with Tyson, Austin and Michaels being so memorable. Throughout that match it really felt like the end of an era but HBK was in such visible pain its still amazing they had the match they did. The final punch by Tyson and the 3:16 T-Shirt over the face were absolute perfect. There was much more to this PPV though, the DX Band murdering America the Beautiful was perfect for this era, LOD and Sunny was great, the dumpster match... great PPV and at this point, my favorite of them all.
    
    A year later and the WWF was now trouncing WCW... but in my own opinion, WrestleMania 15 wasn't as memorable as the year befores and all that stands out is the very poor Hell in a Cell match and the main event. The HIAC really was a snooze fest from a feud undeserving of the stipulation, it seemed tacked on and there simply to build on the reputation of the Taker/Mankind HIAC. The main event however was, like last year, genuinely the best two guys in the company and the hottest acts in wrestling. The right result with Austin again being champion led to the main event for the second year in a row being particularly memorable.
    
    WrestleMania 2000, XVI, 16, whatever you call it... it was shoite. Possibly the biggest disappointment in WrestleMania history for me, WrestleMania 16 should have been so much more. With the roster they had, the total domination... they decided for some reason to simply stick as many people as they could on the card. I'm struggling to remember much about the event, its another I haven't seen in a long time despite buying the DVD a few weeks back. Ice T I remember of course and there was the Angle/Benoit/Jericho match that was very good but could have been more. Plans I've always presumed originally featured the Undertaker who'd been scheduled to return at the 2000 Royal Rumble but in the end they had the four way that was excellent all told. Mick Foley's return however was lame and he should never have been in the match. Mick's career ending so close to WrestleMania was a perfect tragic ending to a career, it told a story. Coming back for this one match ruined that and would only have worked had Mick won the title for the fairytale ending. In the end we broke with tradition and Triple H won when many were expecting the Rock to do so. The ONLY great thing on the show as the triple threat ladder match, that's all that saved this card from being a disaster. That alone and the fact that all the matches, while not stellar, were good ranks it over WM15. Not my favorite event though....
    
    But the next one was.
    
    WrestleMania 17 from the Houston Astrodome was simply the greatest night in the history of wrestling, I'll not hear otherwise. This show was the final act in the attitude era, the last hurrah before the onset of a dark period. From top to bottom the card was utter quality. I remember watching this one live with some mates from college as everybody was still into wrestling at this point, something unthinkable just a year later. This night for me personally was the peak of wrestling's popularity even though ratings had already started to fall, but in terms of quality, passion from the fans, productions, talent, everything on this night was aligned.
    
    We had the TLC match, the gimmick battle royal, that awesome Limp Bizkit theme song, Undertaker and Triple H, the great garage brawl with Kane, Show and Raven, Angle and Benoit.
    
    McMahon vs McMahon for me at the time was just absolutely brilliant, it had been built perfectly with Shane buying WCW and on the night it was amazing storytelling with Linda rising up and kicking Vince in the balls, Shane going coast to coast - it was a fine start to the Alliance feud that sadly never lived up to these heights.
    
    The match of the evening however was Austin vs The Rock and frankly, this was one of the best built matches of all time. Austin and The Roc in the run up to this contest put in some of their finest ever performances, from Austin's NEED to be champion to the Rocks quest to actually win the belt from Kurt Angle, it was all brilliant and on the night they gave us one of the greatest WrestleMania main events ever. I loved them stealing each others finishers lol, you never seen that these days.... but the finish was what always made this special. I knew very little of backstage happenings at this point so it was a complete shock, Austin turning heel was the greatest swerve of all time, that image of Austin shaking hands with McMahon was one of the great pictures in wrestling history, played perfectly by JR and Paul Heyman. As much as I'd loved King, this event wouldn't have been quite as good without Heyman imo. It was a perfect end to a perfect show. The greatest WrestleMania of em all.
    
    For me, WrestleMania 17 was the moment that WrestleMania became WWE's answer to the Superbowl. Unlike other recent Manias, the crowd was huge, over 70,000, I cant remember the exact number. Every match on the card was fantastically built and a huge collision, the performances were off the chat as was the production. WrestleMania 17 heralded a new dawn for WrestleMania.
    
    WrestleMania 18 the year after was the first of the VWWE era, for many of our younger members, that must seem an age ago lol. The problem with WrestleMania 18 is that it followed 17 and could never live up to the previous years event despite the fact that WWE followed exactly the same formula almost. There was the big arena and crowd, the massive set, a live band... the problem? the matches.
    
    I'm as big a Chris Jericho fan as anybody but the decision to put the belt on Jericho at Vengeance in December 2001 was one of the biggest mistakes in WWE history. Following what happened at WrestleMania 17, the logical and poetic finale to the year 2001 was The Rock vs Steve Austin for the Undisputed Championship with The Rock winning and avenging his loss at WM17, possibly going on to WM18 to face Triple H. However... WWE threw us a swerve and had Jericho win and the had him hook up with Stephanie McMahon. In just a year WWE had gone from some of the greatest TV ever seen... to shoite. Jericho was a poor champion, a weak champion.. and there was never any doubt in anybodys mind that Triple H would roll over him at WM. That said, Triple H's return at the Rumble had been awesome.. but the whole fake pregnancy? not so. And Steph really looks a slut at this point as a side note lol.
    
    Steve Austin was completely wasted on this show and I've never understood why. From being the biggest draw in wrestling just 6 months previously, Austin was reduced to facing Scott Hall (no disrespect to him) in an undercard match... why? Personally, I'd have gone for - Nash and Hall challenge for the tag titles, Hogan faces The Rock, Austin faces Triple H, Undertaker faces Ric Flair. THAT would have been a challenger to WrestleMania 17.
    
    But the show wasn't a complete disaster, The Rock and Hulk Hogan was as well built as Austin/Rock had been the year previously. Who can forget "Yes.... or no?", one of the great promos of the decade? the match was absolutely electric, a magnificent example of psychology and working a crowd. This was the final answer to the idiots who believe that the likes of American Dragon have what it takes to be stars. These two men held the crowd in their palm and, frankly, out of an average match in the ring, gave us an ICONIC match through the manipulation of the crowd and the audience. The told a story and THAT is what this business is all about.
    
    Often forgotten on the card tragically is the Undertaker vs Ric Flair. Another fantastically built match, I LOVED this heel Undertaker, demanding respect and taking it if he didn't get it. Taker was awesome in the run up to this match with his beat down of David Flair for example. The match is a great street fight, another example of great storytelling but in truth, also the best actual match on the card. I MARKED for the run-in of Arn Anderson in the match, that was a WrestleMania moment for me.
    
    The main event as I mentioned... was crap. The crowd burned themselves out with Hogan/Rock which should have main evented, but besides that.. it just wasn't a good match. I never believed Jericho stood a change and frankly... his ring attire was vile. This match really marked a MASSIVE downturn in the quality of the main events in WWE for about the next six months. We had the atrocious Triple H/Hogan and Hogan/Undertaker in the moths that followed and ratings plummeted.
    
    Over all.. a letdown of a WrestleMania, but maybe not as bad as many people remember.
    
    WrestleMania XIX the year later was a return to form and a big improvement all round. WWE once again were following that formula of the past two events - big arena, live music, even Limp Bizkit returned this time.
    
    Matt Hardy vs Rey Mysterio started us off if I remember and it was a great opening match, Limp Bizkit played Taker to the ring.. Fred Durst looking an absolute midget next to Taker.
    
    This was the first WWE branded PPV and the first with the two titles. The WWE Championship match was poorly and offensively built with a vaguely racist Angle built around Triple H and Booker T which I thought was beneath Triple H and Ric Flair and even if they'd gone there, Booker T had to win the blow off... which of course he didn't. This match really held little interest for me or anybody else as I remember, there were three other matches on the card of prime importance - Michaels vs Jericho, Lesnar vs Angle and Hogan vs McMahon.
    
    There was always a sense in the early days of HBK's return, as far up to this match at WM19 that we should expect too much from him, his back could give out at any moment and going into the event, although we expected a good match, we didn't think it'd be a classic as this was. This was the moment we realized "Michaels is truly back" The ending where Jericho kicked him in the balls was great storytelling again and really got Jericho over as a heel at that point.
    
    Lesnar vs Angle was a match where Lesnar had to step up, it was make or break for him. Luckily he and Angle had a great match but what everybody talks about is that final moment where Lesnar was supposed to win with the Shooting Star Press and botched it. There was complete shock both in chat and the arena, a moment of silence where the whole world thought "he's dead". Luckily he wasn't and recovered enough, Angle has the intelligence to work a finish on the fly and all was well, but that was nearly the worst possible moment in WrestleMania history.
    
    The big match promoted here however was McMahon vs Hogan, twenty years in the making. In one way, it would have been cool had they held this off to WM20 but as it was this was built fantastically with a lot of great promos from both Hogan and McMahon on who was really responsible for the success of WrestleMania. In WWE, few people really are as good at this type of street fight as Vince McMahon, he's really pretty much mastered it over the years. The ladder and bloody Vince with the pipe were both great moments but the return of Roddy Piper was just brilliant. Very similarly booked to Undertaker vs Flair the year before in many ways.
    
    One year later and the WWE was really up shit creek. Raw had been poor, SmackDown had descended into shit central and VWWE was closed nearly, my own interest in WWE was dwindling a little, one of the few saving graces WrestleMania XX on the horizon from the iconic Madison Square Garden.... but WWE really dropped the ball here. WrestleMania 20 should have been the greatest card of all time, yet like at WrestleMania 16 WWE decided to simply cram the card with as many people as possible. There were a few saving graces going in - Evolution vs Rock/Sock, Angle vs Eddie, The Triple Threat and Christian vs Jericho.
    
    Christian vs Chris Jericho had been one of WWE's better booked programs going into the event with Christian playing the Creepy Little Bastard to perfection, perving after Trish Stratus. It was an excellent match with a great swerve finish with Trish turning on Jericho... and watch this space for VWWE ripping that Angle off soon enough :)
    
    The Rock and Sock Connection vs Evolution was a match that let me down on a lot of levels and I know many in VWWE were angry about the match and in particular by the performance of The Rock and Mick Foley that was just not up to standard. A lot of backlash went against The Rock after this in some quarters while Mick salvaged a lot with his excellent match against Orton at Backlash. However, watching iMPACT this week and Mick's words about WrestleMania... fuck him. And talking of TNA wastes... Kurt Angle. In seriousness, Angle and Eddie were on top of their games at this point, it was the height of both men's careers and after the euphoria of Eddie Guerrero winning the title at No Way Out, I think a lot was expected of this match... and for me... it failed to deliver. The match was excellent and certainly one of the best on the card... but it wasn't quite the 5 star match we were expecting and it was something of a letdown as well. After 5 hours almost, I was tired and exhausted by the main event but what happened next certainly kept me awake.
    
    The triple threat WAS a 5/5 star match. I remember the early talk in the locker was about how awesome Triple H's combination of white boots and black trunks was... which gives you an idea how "Queer Eye" Sam was back in those days lol. The match was another masterclass and an answer to the critics who'd been out in force for Triple H for well over a year. What happened after the match however is something that has changed since then. When Eddie came out to congratulate Chris Benoit in 2004, it was a poetic finale to the show, the two friends who were like brothers after all these years, champions together at last. Now it's a symbol of tragedy, the two friends locked together by a fateful future. What was once the most joyous end to a WrestleMania, is now the saddest.
    
    WrestleMania 21 had a theme - Hollywood, despite not actually being held in Hollywood. The commercials for this WrestleMania were probably the best thing about it with the "You lookin a me" one actually helping to build up Batista's character at the time I think. My personnel favorite was Austin's Gladiator one, being a big fan of that film but the Braveheart one with Flair falling off the donkey was hilarious. The event itself really marked the beginning of a new generation in WWE with Randy Orton, John Cena and Batista all in prominent singles matches for the first time.
    
    The build before the show was all about Batista, it had been going on for about six months and was the best turn WWE probably ever did. It was so subtle and Batista and Triple H played it to perfection, each week Tista got a little bit further away from Evolution. When he finally turned and powerbombed Triple H through that table, a viewing audience cheered in unison. It really seemed that Batista was the next big thing at this point, everybody was behind him. Unfortunately after his 3-0 winning streak over Triple H he got sent to SmackDown and was found out very quickly, he never reached these heights again which says a lot about Triple H's fantastic ability and is the final word to people who believe Helmsley wont do what's right for the business.
    
    Batista's victory was met with a massive response.. but on the undercard, Cena's wasn't. At this time Cena was over as a face, not to Batista's level at that time but certainly over. His win over JBL was more expected I think, the program was nowhere near as good, the crowd were bored of JBL as champion, the match was atrocious for a World title match at WrestleMania and Cole completely, as usual, failed to get the moment and its significance across. The Cena era started with a whimper.
    
    Elsewhere on the card Undertaker downed Randy Orton in a great match that's started their excellent feud and Shawn Michaels faced Kurt Angle in the match of the night, Shawn against stealing the show. To be honest though, I cant remember off the top of my head who won here, I'm pretty certain it was Angle but I wouldn't bet on it. I could go and look it up on Wiki... but I'll leave it lol.
    
    WrestleMania 21 marked a move back away from the big arenas that had made WrestleMania's 17 to 19 so great, 20 being excepted due to it being MSG and WrestleMania 21 to me always seems far smaller and less grand than many other manias, even WrestleMania 22 which was at just a small arena.
    
    WrestleMania 22 marked WWE with the Cena era in full swing and again, this isn't one of my favorite WrestleMania's. The Edge vs Mick Foley match was the highlight and an excellent match as Mick always manages in that environment, nothing less was expected. There were some great touches with the barbed wire, fire and Lita and it probably stole the show. However, there was some crap here too - the Boogeyman's involvement, Undertaker being landed with Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio winning the World title. Cena vs Triple H was excellent and I remember everybody was rooting for Triple H, having turned on Cena in the proceeding year... yet Cena won. Shawn Michaels vs Vince McMahon was another excellent match.. yet with two street fights on the card, it may have been overbooking in retrospect. Though the elbow off the ladder onto the trash canned Vince = WrestleMania moment. At the time I was caught in the atmosphere of WrestleMania and the good points outweighed the bad... but in retrospect, this was an average WrestleMania I'm sad to now say. The theme song rawked though, it was also the first web era WrestleMania for VWWE.
    
    WrestleMania 23 felt somewhat different to WrestleMania 22 to me, it was nearer WrestleMania's 17 -19 in terms of scale. WWE went back to the big arenas for it and the build up was brilliant. I've always put over the three months of Raw prior to WrestleMania 23 as some of the best Raw's ever and I still think that. With Cena, Orton, Edge and Michaels, the four of them gave us great match after great match in the build to Mania that year, coupling that with The Donald and you already had a great lineup and in truth, I was a little disappointed when Orton and Edge were put in the MITB as I thought they deserved to be in singles action after their awesome performances.
    
    Undertaker vs Batista was again, very well built on SmackDown.. even if nobody believed for a moment Batista stood a chance. Undertaker winning the title was an added bonus. Much of the build however surrounded that hair vs hair match. The less said about Bobby Lashley the better but the match was decent enough, an enjoyable clusterfuck and the crowd got what they wanted with Vince being shaved, a nice added epilogue to the McMahon/Austin feud.
    
    Much like WrestleMania 22 the main event featured John Cena, as a face, squaring off against a man who most people wanted to beat him, this time Shawn Michaels. Original plan seemed to be Triple H vs John Cena again but Helmsley of course got injured. This was really the best opportunity WWE had to put the belt on Michaels at a time most fans believed he deserved it, a lot of people thought he'd win... but no. Excellent match however and the trend of great main events continued. WrestleMania 23 was overall an excellent PPV... the feel and format of which WWE's again followed last year at WrestleMania 24 and again tonight for WrestleMania 25.
    
    WrestleMania 24 is probably my favorite WrestleMania since WrestleMania 17. The outdoors nature gave it a unique look and the set looked absolutely awesome as well. Those great images of the pyro,  a lot of the entrances couldn't have been done indoors. A decent opener from Finlay and JBL, nothing spectacular but it warmed the crowd up. The MITB, which I haven't mentioned at all this blog, was fucking amazing. Remember that Morrison bump? and Kennedy with the Green Bay Plunge to Hornswoggle? Batista vs Umaga = passable and Kane defeating Chavo, while disrespectful possibly to Chavo... was funny as hell.
    
    But now it was down to serious business - namely Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels. When thinking of my favorite match of all time... I can't think of anything better than this. Is it either mans best match? no. Was it the best ACTUAL wrestling match of 2008? no. Was it probably the best wrestling match of the decade? oh yes. This was about spectacle, about that storytelling and that psychology. That image of Ric Flair getting up, begging Michaels to finish it and Shawn telling Ric he loved him before pulling the trigger was THEE most memorable moment in the history of WrestleMania for me personally. For most its probably Hogan slamming Andre or some huge moment... this was so different. Subtle almost, quiet.. but just as emotional. It was the death of a career and an era, Michaels and Flair told the perfect story, the perfect ending to a perfect career and no true wrestling fan can have watched that without a mix of emotions. Delight that Flair had gone out in such style, sadness that it was all over and so much more. A rollercoaster and in my humble opinion, the greatest 30 minutes in WrestleMania history and why these two men are and were peerless in this industry.
    
    The Triple Threat was excellent and somewhat unexpected as I think many believed Orton would lose the title, The Undertaker and Edge giving us a hell of a main event, definitely deserving of the spot after Taker got bumped last year, winning the title for the second year in a row.
    
    Like WrestleMania 23, much of the hype and advertising centered on the celebrity involvement - this year being Floyd Mayweather Jnr. I'd always been a fan of Floyd, getting even bigger when he beat the crap out of the annoying Ricky Hatton. Mayweather and Big Show were excellent in the run up to the event I thought, building it like they would a boxing contest. Celebrities either "get" it.. or they don't, Pete Rose for example "got it" as did Kevin Federline and Mike Tyson all those years ago, while other celebrities remain aloof backstage and believe they're above the business. Mayweather luckily "got it" and was said to be very willing to learn and very sociable. Mayweather totally performed above my expectations and his match may actually be my favorite celebrity match of them all.
    
    So... there ya go, my memories of WrestleMania. I expect WrestleMania 25 will follow the format of the past two years and I think we've seen that already - big arena, big set, celebrity, big matches, well built. The event is fitting into a predefined template almost and now at the 25th anniversary, is truly... the Superbowl of Wrestling.

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  • 7 months ago
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• WWF History: January 13, 1997

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    Welcome back to my review of WWE history which started last week on January 6, 1997. I wount recap any of that... you can read it below :)
    
    We are now however just one week away from the Royal Rumble so this is the go home show. In the world outside wrestling, the past week we saw the TV debut of King of the Hill, the box office hits were The Relic... which i mentioned last week, still haven't seen if it was any good or not, Scream and Jerry McGuire still being big. For a quick link to 2009, Bruce Springsteen also sang an awesome song on the soundtrack to Jerry McGuire as he did The Wrestler called Secret Garden. An awesome song. Your billboard number one was still Unbreak My Heart while in the UK... no change either, still the Spice Girls and 2 become 1.
    
    Random fact for January 97.. the biggest selling video game in the US was Super Mario 64 while the SNES was still shifting units, Donkey Kong Country 2 one of the top games in the charts.
    
    On with the show.
    
    We start with a recap from last week of Sycho Sids attack on Jose Lotharios son last week and a look at Superstars where Stone Cold attacked Bret Hart, apparently Shawn will join us live from San Antonio. Not much of a preview but as we kick off the show Hunter Herst Helmsley is entering the ring... his theme rawked :D
    
    Honky Tonk Man is on commentary, still looking for a protege.... sigh. Like it was ever gunna be Triple H lol (the business would have been quite different if it had been) his opponent will be Marc Mero. Sable gets the pop. She didn't look as slutty in these early days lol.
    
    We now notice that Jerry Lawler is prepped to fight at ringside. There's no explanation for this but it appears this is in fact a tag match as Goldusts coming out (no pun intended). So our match is in fact Jerry Lawler and Helmsley vs Goldust and Marc Mero. Its quite shocking this isn't made clear by Vince on commentary to be honest.
     
    Goldust pairs off with Trips, Lawler with Mero and the faces clean house, King telling the crowd to shut up. Honkey is decent on color commentary, i'm surprised he was never offered a perminant spot. Vince plugs Shawn being live from San Antonio and tonights matches - Undertaker vs Crush (that'll draw...) and somebody called Rocky Maivia versus The British Bulldog.
    
    "Shades of Sugar Ray Leonard" - Vince on Marc Mero. That's almost Michael Cole like lol
    
    I actually liked Mero in his early WCW days as Johnny B. Badd, the Mero character i always found bland and colorless, it was only Sable that kept him employed so long. Vince plugs whats coming up once more and this is one of the problems i have with the commentary on this show and last weeks, Vince, King and now Honky don't talk about the action in the ring half as much as they should do. They're either off topic, talking about whats coming or recapping whats been. Its fantastic watching the early days of Triple H, there's no way i'd believe this man would in 2009 be giving performances like he has been doing alongside Randy orton or become as successful as he has been. Just think thouigh, this was 12 years ago... just imagine how good Randy Orton will be in 12 years? its a staggering thought.
    
    Commercials. So far... i'd have turned to Nitro. This is a poor match to kick off Raw with. Nitro always started their show usually with a lucha match to excite the crowd, smart booking. This match would only have served to turn me over to TNT. Once again, the attitude era ideas are here but not fully here yet. Goldust was DQd and he's facing Trips on Sunday at the Rumble allegedly. Triple H is also Intercontinental Champion apparently, this fact not being mentioned until the match is over. This show in January 1997 is completely frustrating.
    
    Shawn is in San Antonio, we go live, there's a hot chick behind him. He is in high spirits.
    
    Rather worryingly at this point, we go to Sycho Sid who's in the empty Alamo Dome. Sid uses the exact same quote Michael Shane used on VWWE Raw this week from Neitziche about "he who fights monsters". Now thats just a weird coincidence. Sid gives his quietly mad promo, a very good one. Sid was underestimated on the mic, a lot of the time he could cut a very good heel promo as he does here, coming across as genuinely dangerous and unbalanced... which he probably was. Sid mentions HBK's family being at ringside and watching as Sid destroys HBK. Excellent go home promo from Sid.
    
    Back to Shawn for a second before we get a Taker/Crush graphic, commercials, back to Shawn amidst fans somewhere in San Antonio, fans mob Shawn. We get another replay of Sid/Lothario last week. 
    
    Shawn gives a equally good promo, putting over San Antonio and Texas. One thing that strikes me again here is how natural all the promos are compared with today, these are neither not scripted at all or the Superstars have just been given vague instructions, they barely seem scripted at all. In one way, thats good as its far more natural but equally you probably would never be able to have gotten highly scripted segments like Orton/Triple H at this point in time. It really did mean that you had to get by on your own talent and not the talent of a Hollywood writer though.
    
    HBK namechecks Stalin... possibly his only ever reference on WWE TV lol, gives the old favorite teeth down the throat line and adds that Sid will see them next morning in his stool sample... classic. Shawn directly talks to Vince as the Chairman which wasn't being acknowledged at this time.
    
    Back live we get the screech and beats - it's Bret, limping out after Steve Austins attack yesterday on Superstars. Steve is still been treated as a full blown heel at this point which seems odd to watch to be honest.
    
    Commercials. Quick flick back to Shawn, that cute chick pressed against him, fans everywhere, some have beer and HBK puts up the Hook-em Horns. Can there be any doubt that HBK was THEE man in 1997? lol
    
    In the arena, the Bulldog is in the ring. One of the first things you really notice is that physique which was essentially the death of him, its rare to see somebody that size now but was pretty common back then pre-Attitude when look became secondary.
    
    "I think Rocky has shown more promise than any wrestler i've ever seen in the World Wrestling Federation" - Bret Hart... see, he did once talk sense. Rocks haircut was a farce though, very mid-90s. Rocky had only been in the WWF two months at this point, it'll be a treat watching his career progress over this blog series. We get a recap from Shotgun Saturday of an altercation between Rocky and Marc Mero. Rocky looks bigger than the image we're all more familiar with at this point.
    
    Bret on commentary is a classic example of why the double turn at WrestleMania 13 happened. Bret is complaining that guys like Steve Austin are trying to end his career and it comes across as very whiny. In the 80s and early 90s it would have been a fine face interview, but from this point on when you have the tough Steve Austin, coupled with the change in attitude i mentioned in my Attitude blog, this isn't what the fans wated to hear.
    
    Bret makes a few references to Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia, always nice to see history referenced, guess this is history within history. Honky Tonk Man suggests Bret could be his new protege... which is plainly absurd. The fact this angles getting so much air time is as well considering who eventually he selects. Waste of time imo.
    
    We get a ringside shot.. wonder where Raw was tonight, they look rather inbred. Here comes Owen Hart with his slammys to boos which his puts on the announce desk in front of Bret.... break.
     
    The Bulldog is in control, of this match, some of those nice arm drags from Rocky. Some nice near falls for Maivia.... here's Austin - Stunner to the Bulldog, fingers to Bret, Owen chases after him. Rocky wins via countout. Probably the first time The Rock and Stone Cold ever appeared together on TV.
    
    There's a Rocky chant and frankly... it sounds fake lol
    
    The Nation is backstage, Faarooq was fucking brilliant in this role as the leader of the Nation. Crush... really didn't fit.... here's Taker, an entrance that was just as awesome then as now. We cut back to Shawn in San Antonio, go to commercials.
    
    Back live, the Nation are coming out, the rappers rawked, this is pure attitude era here as was the Crush character that played on his real life jail time. Taker attacks Crush in the aisle, the Nation scatter, Faarooq looks pissed.
    
    The Undertaker had that ginger beard he has now back then, his costume very much the Phenom also, has that tear on the cheek... which is emo well before it's time. Vader suddenly appears on stage looking on at the match.. and that's our que for another break.
    
    After the break we get a Starburst sponsored rewind showing us Austins attack earlier. Live however, Crush is in control of Taker. Taker fails to Tombstone Crush... but hits the Chokeslam and the Nation storm the ring to mob the Underatker, Vader runs in and its a beat down on the Deadman, the Nation move Taker to the ropes and Vader hits the Vader Bomb on the Deadman. The bell rings frantically as Vader goes up again... second Vader Bomb.... and here's AHmed Johnson with a 2x4, stolen by Faarooq... and down goes Johnson. Faarooq smashes Ahmed in the back with the wood... and that's your show. A decent ending that promoted the Vader/Undertaker match and the Johnson/Faarooq feud, i think they'll fight at the Rumble, i'm not sure, not watching or reviewing Superstars or Shotgun Saturday obviously a slight issue. I think in these days Raw really wasn't seen as the flagship as it is today, that really didn't come in until Raw is War and the two hour format, so angles are spread out over the three shows.
    
    Although it was a strong ending.. again, i don't think highly of this episode. The oepning match was a bore. Sid and HBK gave strong go home promos however.. yet i don't see why they kept going back to Shawn after he'd said his piece, again, like last week, it seems a waste of time on a show that can't afford to be doing it. Austin was underutilized again but Rocky Maivia got his first run out of the year in a decent encounter with Bulldog. Feuds were advanced certainly.. but there's wasn't much to get excited about and i doubt this show would have persuaded me to buy the Rumble - 6/10.
    
    Next time... i'll be reviewing the Royal Rumble 1997, the first PPV of the year that will lead us to WrestleMania 13 :D

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  • 8 months ago
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• Attitude: The Great American R

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    This blog started life as a single paragraph in my next Raw 1997 review but i got writing so much i couldn't conceivably put it in... so here's a whole new blog.
    
    This one off blog looks at the reasons, causes, rise and fall of the WWF Attitude era. I intended it to be a little background initially but i think it may be interesting for those who don't remember these years. Much of it is just my opinion and thoughts. You'll probably also get a little insight into me and my own booking style as well cause this is where i came from lol
    
    To understand why the attitude era happened and why it was a success you need to look at 90's youth culture in America.
    
    The ultra-patriotism and successful capitalism of the 80s had given way to nationwide scorn of the American political landscape, the continual scandal of the Clinton administration, in particular the resurfacing of the Jennifer Flowers allegations and the national outrage and feelings of injustice over OJ Simpson, in 1995 and 1996 respectively, the Monica Lewinsky scandal following in early 1998, led to a feeling of complete failure in Americas institutions.
    
    Americans, particularly the youth, lost their faith in the America that their parents had known in the 1980s that promoted saying your prayers and eating your vitamins and increasingly turned to alternative culture.
    
    The Grunge scene of the early 1990s with bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana gave way to seemingly newly rebellious sounds like Rage Against The Machine, new punk like Green Day and  The Offspring and a resurgent metal with the likes of Marilyn Manson (who would heavily influence the attitude era and had released Antichrist Superstar in 1996 to great morale furor) and bands such as Korn, Slipknot and The Nine Inch Nails. The rebellion even broke onto TV with networks pushing the envelope as far as they could, starting with one show that probably influenced WWE far more than will ever be realized - The Jerry Springer Show.
    
    The Jerry Springer Show by 1997/1998 was a phenomenon, seemingly well adjusted Americans would tune in to "trash TV" in their millions to see what "trailer trash" were doing this week. The nation was gripped by tales of midgets, incest, affairs, rednecks, alien abduction, transvestites and sexual depravity. It was a modern day freak show, a car crash that didn't take itself seriously and became beloved for it as the worst excess of American bad taste.
    
    The envelope was being pushed... and soon others followed suit. South Park debuted in 1997, the tale of four foul mouthed high school kids that took bad taste to whole new levels. Shock Jocks like Howard Stern ruled the airwaves and there wasn't a day gone by that some moral guardian like the PTC wasn't up in arms about some new outrage, laying the blame for the nations moral corruption at the feet of Marilyn Manson, Tupac Shakur or Bill Clinton.
    
    The WWF however, was still stuck very much in the 1980s still. Cartoon characters, traditional faces and 80s presentation. While the World around them changed, the WWF remained the same. The WWF was uncool.
    
    One company however had managed to tap into the 1990s counterculture - ECW. Paul Heyman had seen what the WWF had done in the 80s and applied the same principle in the 1990s. In the 80s, the WWF tapped into popular culture with the Rock and Wrestling era, they tapped into the Cold War with anti-American heels, they tapped into the wave of ultra patriotism and gave us Hulk Hogan, into the new generation of TV viewers - the MTV generation. Wrestlers helds their heads high alongside the rock stars of the day... but not in the 1990s.
    
    In the 1990s, ECW tapped into popular culture just as Vince had done. They carved out a niche, promoted an adult product and gained a loyal following. While i don't believe ECW was as influential in the WWF Attitude era as some internet marks do, there's no doubt that the WWF and Vince Russo and McMahon looks toward ECW for ideas.  
    
    Russo, who was appointed to the creative team in late 1996 realized exactly what Heyman had realized - that to survive the WWF had to tap into popular culture. With Vince controlling his wilder ideas, the two made a perfect team.
    
    Russo gave the rebellious American youth their anti-hero face in Steve Austin, rebelling against authority, the obnoxious punk rebels in DX, the gang wars and angles straight off Springer. The closet homosexual pervert in Goldust, transvestites with Mark Henry, Satan worshiping with the Ministry and so much more. The WWF was cool again, the viewers flocked in droves and the rest is history.
    
    By 2000 and 2001 however, the public's appetite for trash TV had been worn out, the ratings for shows such as South Park and Jerry Springer began to fall and in the place of this crash TV we saw the rise of reality TV, shows such as American Idol capturing the public's attention anew. The onset of the Bush Administration meant that what was previously acceptable on TV was no longer going to happen. Two particular incidents however put paid to "attitude" forever.
    
    The September 11th terror attacks quashed the public's appetite for trash TV forever as the nation "lost its innocence", things such as South Park didn't seem funny anymore, the time for rebelling was over, the nation was united. An era of introspection had begun.
    
    On February 1, 2004 at the Super Bowl half time show, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were involved in a controversy when Jackson's right breast was exposed following a dance routine.. the infamous "wardrobe malfunction."
    
    The Bush era will possibly be remembered politically for the rise of the Religious-Right in politics and public life, individuals such as Rush Limburgh promoting a conservative mob agenda. The reaction to this incident was just that - a mob reaction. A conservative powerbase, in power four years and feeling confident, just waiting for the excuse to go on a moral crusade to clean up the TV that had been spiraling out of control since those heady days of South Park, Raw is War and Springer. No longer would TV be allowed to get away with what they had been doing for the past 8 years, new standards were in place and attitude slipped into a fading memory.
    
    Once i believed that WWE needed to go back to the attitude era, to produce crash TV the like of which TNA iMPACT often does these days. This was more to do with fond memories of the era than common sense. While it was fun while it lasted, this era was a unique point in time just like Rock and Wrestling, it wouldn't work in 2009, American and the viewing audience is a whole different place.
    
    To truly become a force in the ratings again, WWE need to once again tap into popular culture, to promote angles and characters relevant to their target audiences in 2009, to promote an adult product that doesn't talk down to the audience but doesn't descend into trash TV. Going off the quality of Raw over the past few weeks, maybe... just maybe... WWE are starting to do just that.

     

    WWF Attitude: 1997 - 2001, RIP

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  • 8 months ago
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• The Ramblings Of An Odd Enigma

  • From: JeffHardy
  • Description:

    So begins another blog, another glimpse into the mind of an individual commonly refered to as an enigma. Yes, the WWE Universe get to strap themselves in for a thril ride, a quick preview of what goes on in the head of one Jeff Hardy. Delightful.

    In all honesty, I'm only doing this because management told me to. Something about getting more hits or some such nonsense, life was so much easier before I became a sex symbol. 

    I don't really have a particular topic to discuss in this blog so I'll just offer some random thoughts from Raw and some general feelings going around the backstage.

    Just how good of a heel is Suffering? It's not even funny just how damned good this guy is, he is coming dangerously close to Randy Orton's top spot and I think it's time that Orton step up if he wants to remain the WWE's top heel. Fortunately for you WWE fans, I have no doubt in my mind that Orton not only can step up, but will step up in a way nobody has stepped up before! Pardon the grammar, a night out on the town with the "usual suspects" takes it out of you.

    This is one thing I've noticed in the WWE recently, we obviously have our "top guys" and then a "top face" and a "top heel", that is normal. What isn't normal is the fact that these possitions are regularly changing, look at for example Suffering at the moment, he's well on his way to became the top heel, but Orton is obviously going to step up, prompting Joe to do so also. What we get is a weekly attempt at oneupmanship, the top guys each trying to out dothe others and steal the show every week. That makes for fantastic television and is only going to benefit the boys in the back and you fans each and every week.

    One other person that shone on Raw was an unlikely candidate, Little Assassin as he's affectionately known. I'll admit, it was an odd visual, having HBK,  Orton, Cena, 'Taker, all former (and current for Cena) WWE Champions.......and Assassin, a guy who's yet to wear gold here in the WWE. While it was a hell of a rub (and a well deserved one in this blogger's opinion), Assassin's ultimate push will come when he enters the midcard and faces people in his own league as opposed to enhancing the Main-Eventers. I have full confidence we'll be seeing that in the coming weeks, he's a hell of a talented kid....kind of reminds me of a younger version of myself, whether or not he lives up to his potential remains to be seen but for now he's been given the ball, I  think he's gonna run with it, having the guidance of the greatest heel in the business is a great way to start.

    This brings me nicely along to Mr. Orton himself, while we're well known for our differing opinions on anything and everything, I like to think we have a mutual respect for one another, I certainly consider this guy to be a friend. Randy is currently on a holiday interestingly enough, McMahon excused him from the house shows this week to allow him some rest and relaxation with his family, a well deserved break. 

    This guy has shone in 2007, he's shone in 2008 and if his Royal Rumble victory is anything to judge by he's going to shine brighter than ever in 2009. 

    It'llbe interesting to see who eventually goes on to face who at Wrestlemania, I assume it'll obviously be two of the four we saw on Raw or perhaps all four will take part? Interesting days lay ahead on the road to Wrestlemania.

    Speaking of The Road to Wrestlemania, I'm extremely pleased with my own path towards the 25th anniversary. I suggested this angle a number of months ago to Vince and he seemed to like it, even thought of a way to stretch it out for a huge 'Mania blowoff. Unfortunately the original 'Mania angle didn't fall into place but I have to say, the alternative angle is going to be just as big as the original. It's hard to think that just a year ago I was a burned out, drug addicted nobody with no aspirations, no future and no passion. True, minus the drug addiction that is being played out on TV as part of my angle every week but that is so completely the opposite of me now, man. I'm clean, I'm excited and I'm so close to making all of my dreams come true, I think this angle is going to be tha makings of my career. 

    What I love about it, above the conflicting emotions, above the chord it has seemed to strike with the fans, above the general storyline is that nobody sees where this is all going, nobody has put it all together, they don't have a clue what they're going to see from me at Wrestlemania....some rightfully wonder if they'll even see me perform at Wrestlemania. The whole angle has been kept completely under wraps by Vince, as far as I know only myself, Paul E., Vince and another individual know where everything is leading.

    This is what keeps me interested in professional wrestling, I like to keep everybody guessing, I like to get people to suspend disbelief, to even for a split second get them to forget everything else, get them to question just what is fiction and what is reality, have them hanging at our every work, our every movement, our every emotion. 

    That is what I hope to achieve on my road to wrestlemania, to bring out all of these emotions in people, to have them second guess me, root for me or perhaps indeed, boo me. Just what does The Road to Wrestlemania have in store for Jeff Hardy? All I'll say is that I'll keep all of you guessing until the night itself rolls around.

    That's it from me tonight I'm afraid folks, I hope the ramblings of a rather tipsy, very tired, extremely odd man have been of some insight for you. I think all of you are in for a treat in the coming weeks and I guarantee you I'll be enjoying this period in our sport just as much as of you. 

    Until next time my friends,

    Jeffrey Nero Hardy

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  • 8 months ago
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• Michael Shane: On The Road To

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    Michael Shane here, been a while since i blogged... hell, been a while since anybody blogged. Attention spans of mice some people :( 
    
    Anyway, guess y'all saw me on Raw this week.
    
    In one way i did think it would have been wise to stay away from TV to sell the injuries but as two weeks had passed, it was kinda irrelevant anyway but as the angle was so hot coming out of the Rumble Vince, rightly i think, decided we needed to follow up on it straight away.
    
    Joe was brilliant with JR, giving a truly well rounded portrayal of a sociopath, certainly far better than certain other superstars who shout a lot, beat people up and get called psychotic. My own two promos i hope got over my own character, the former idealist who's had his world shattered, who's only one thing left in his own World, questioning everything he's believed up to this point but with the strut at the end of the show, still with that New Generation Nature Boy inside him underneath the raw emotion.
    
    I don't think it's any secret that Joe is aping Heath Ledgers excellent portrayal of the Joker in Batman: The Dark Knight and i think the creative team will certainly take element from that "feud" between Batman and the Joker. Look for Shane to certainly be darker and start losing his own grip. By WrestleMania 25, some fans may just be question who the face and who the heel is.
    
    And no, Shane hasn't gone emo or become Sting!
    
    It's nice to add a new facet to the character, show a new side instead of a one dimensional guy.. no names mentioned. I think in 2009, people want real characters, real emotions and character development. They don't want flat characters, cardboard cutouts and cartoon gimmicks. I hope I'm doing that on Raw, i know Joe certainly is.
    
    It wa salso nice to see the Intercontinental Championship given such respect in the main event, i think that's something WWE have always done so well. The Intercontinental Championship is a prestigious title in WWE and a true step on the road to the WWE Championship.
    
    Anyway, we're on the way to Cameron at the moment, the heart of Flair country. The Charlotte crowd are in for a treat next Monday with that hug tag match and Shawn facing Taker but for me? that Ric Flair vs Suffering match could be one for the ages. Ric, like Shawn, thrives on the big match and i know a lot of people are saying he's past his prime... don't believe it for a second. He won't disappoint next week and i think it'll be a hell of a match.
    
    Vince apparently flew the entire creative team down to Boca Raton for a meeting, part of which was gunna be about what my role will be in that match... but he wasn't there and they had to fly back. Paul E missed his flight and subsequently half of Raw last night so i still don't know what exactly i'll be doing next week... but i can guarantee... this feud is only just getting warm :)
    
    Catch ya soon.

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  • 8 months ago
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• What We Hold To Be True

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    Often i'm asked by VWWE members, or problems arise from the issue - just what is canon in VWWE?
    
    For those who don't know, the canon is simply what is recognized as the true set of facts in an ongoing series of media, novels, movies, TV shows. For example, what is understood to be recognized as the true overall story of the Harry Potter franchise or the James Bond franchise? 
    
    Taking Bond as an example, many purists only acknowledge the original Ian Fleming novels as the true Bond canon, ignoring anything from the movies. Yet Sean Connery's portrayal of Bond influenced Fleming to give Bond a Scottish ancestry in his next novel following the release of Dr No in 1962. If you take only the movies as canon, then how do you explain the fact that Bond appears differently on six separate occasions - Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan and Craig. And for that matter how can you possibly reconcile the fact that Bond only achieves his Double-O status in Casino Royale? 
    
    Reconciling these differences is part of what canon is and the end product is a sort of history book, a definitive account of what happened to who and when and why. Some things are set in canon and connect be changed, while others can be retconned. Retconning is the art of changing established facts to fit the overall canon.
    
    VWWE's problems with canon are wide raging but i believe over the past seven years we've managed to reconcile most of them.. all be it, sometimes in wild circumstances.
    
    Lets take a look first at life and death.
    
    VWWE has employed over the years several characters who were deceased in the real World at the time and on one occasion, resurrected a character we'd claimed had died.
    
    In 2003 Andre The Giant teamed with The Iron Sheik at the height of the Iraq war to face Hulk Hogan, shades somewhat of Sgt Slaughters role in the WWF during the first conflict. Of course this means that in VWWE, Andre The Giant was alive and well. The solution to this is simple, after a storied career in the 1980s, including the famous WrestleMania III match - Andre The Giant retired home to France where he lived happily in retirement until in 2003 Vince McMahon made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Taking the big pay check, Andre fought Hogan but sadly passed away later that year. Andre the Giant died in VWWE in 2003.
    
    The British Bulldogs alive/deceased status has been a matter of some controversy but he was confirmed to be alive after appearing on SmackDown in 2004. The Bulldog was in ill health and did not last long before being released from the company, he died the same year.
    
    Eddie Guerrero died in 2005 as in real life, VWWE posted tribute the week after on Raw and despite a suggested return on a VWWE show, he never did and therefore there is no conflict in Eddies status in the VWWE world.
    
    In 2007, Chris Benoit, while under contract to VWWE's ECW brand killed Nancy and Daniel Benoit and himself, for the same reasons as WWE, this tragedy has never been referenced on the product.
    
    Love Machine Art Barr is a wrestler who's status is a matter of controversy also. While not that famous in America, Barr was a star in Mexico in the mid-90s as Los Gringos Locos, teaming with Eddie, Louie Spicolli and Konnan in AAA. He died in 94 just before he was scheduled to leave for ECW with Eddie. However in 2003, Barr was brought into VWWE to team with Guerrero. Easy to reconcile...? not so. VWWE declared Barr dead in 2004 before he returned to the company for that years WrestleMania. What we say happened was, that Barr, who didnt die in 94 but in fact went on to have a great career in ECW and then WCW in the 90s, faked his own death, a crime for which is was imprisoned following his WWE release. Art Barr in VWWE's world died in 2005, a matter of weeks before Eddie, while awaiting trial on this charge. Both members of VWWE's Los Gringos Locos tag team who had my favorite ever tag match in VWWE... are therefore deceased.
    
    All other deceased wrestlers died as in real life and Diddy, former owner of the WWW fed is also dead.
    
    Also, what of those stars who debuted in VWWE as midcard wrestlers having been major real life stars?
    
    In 2002, Hulk Hogan debuted in such a scenario as did Bret Hart later that year, as did Randy Savage and others
    
    In the case of Hulk Hogan, i would suggest that after signing with the WWE to be a part of the debuting nWo with Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, Hogan unfortunately suffered an injury, forcing a change in plans. Hogan had a few matches with the likes of Pimp while he recovered simply as a way to keep him on TV, he then moved into that feud with Randy Savage, Vince seeing money in a resumption of the famous 80s feud. The original plan of Hogan being a part of the nWo then took place following that feud.
    
    In Bret Harts case he was simply being punished. 2002 was the year of the Kliq led by Sahwn Michaels, they made sure Hart was buried in the midcard.
    
    Onto more plesent matters... how about shows? what of all those great events pre-VWWE.. did they happen?
    
    Yes is the simple answer. Hogan did slam Andre, Mr T did main event a WrestleMania, Bret and Shawn did have the Ironman match and Montreal happened just at it was supposed to. Of course the likes of Nightmare etc also appeared on these shows, for example it's quite possible taht at WrestleMania 17 Nightmare faced Chris Jericho on that card or some such. This however has not been revealed and its likely that the cards for pre-VWWE shows never will be referenced unless it's a match between two real stars eg Rock vs Austin at that same event.
    
    The two companies seperate on March 4, 2002 and here's the scenario:
    
    Fresh off winning the 5 on 5 match at Survivor Series 2001 agaisnt the WCW/ECW Alliance, Vince thinks his world is back at peace... not so. Ric Flair is revealed the next night as the new co-owner of the WWF an proceeds to drive Vince round the bend. McMahon is at his wits end and goes as far as to suggest he's going to inject the poision - the nWo into the WWF. Rumors of the return of Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall from FWC as the nWo run rampant and Flair begs McMahon not to do it - no luck. McMahon declares that he'd rather destroy the WWF than let Flair have it. On the last Raw of February - McMahon snaps and declares that next week, March 3, 2002 - he's taring the WWF down - a rebranding will take place. All titles up for grabs... and the nWo are coming. Vince decalres war on Ric, raw will truly be war again, the new name is in place, the figures are in place.... and VWWF is about to be born.
    
    Thats the origins :)
    
    Finally, what about titles... if we recognize all the PPVs, do we recognize all the prior title holders prior to VWWE? what about other E-Fed titles?
    
    Firstly, lets deal with E-Feds
    
    VWWE does NOT recognize ANY titles outside of the VWWE led community. Web feds are an irrelevance.
    
    We recognize the following as world titles:
    
    The WCW World Heavyweight Championship
    The FWC Championship
    The ECW Championship
    The TNA Championship
    
    We do not recognize any other titles as World Titles. Simply calling a title a "World Title" is not good enough, the Fed in question has to achieve a relative amount of exposure and fame to have this distinction.
    
    Onto real life... what do we count?
    
    All WWE Royal Rumble and KOTR winners up to 2002 are recognized however, no other title holders are. For example, we do NOT recognize HBK as having won three WWE Championships prior to VWWE.
     
    However, we recognize the following
    
    The complete run of all ECW and WCW Championships up to 2001
    The NWA Championship from 1900 to 2009, including its run in TNA
    We recognize all Mexican and Japanese belts
    We recognize Ring of Honor
    
    We do NOT recognize the current TNA Championships due to conflict with Virtual TNA. We partially recognize OVW and FCW but will change their title histories to build up new stars.
    
    And thats about it....
    
    Next time, i'll blog on another factor in TV terminology - the fabled Jumping The Shark.

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  • 8 months ago
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• Michael Shane: No Line on the

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    Hey, Michael Shane here, public enemy number two according to the PTC.
    
    This is one of those times i really haven't any one particular thing to say but feel the need to blog anyway. As it currently is I'm here in Tampa with everybody else as we get set for a live event tonight.. a house show as they used to be known.
    
    I'm feeling pretty under the weather to be honest as a few of the boys seem to have been over the past few days.... maybe it was something i ate. Jeff Hardy looks into my screen and tries to write "HAHA" but it's very probably true, when you're stuck in a car in the Florida heat with The Big Show, Suffering and CM Punk like i was yesterday, show filling the car with a mixture of the vile smell of McDonalds and methane gas.... you're bound to catch something.
    
    Anyway, the show must go on and although I'll be "selling" my injuries on TV and not having another match on Raw till No Way Out, I'll still be on all the house shows, giving the fans what they came to see - me lol. My opponent tonight will be none other than Punk, the man who i pretty much made my name against 7 years ago in Ring of Honor. We've both come a long way since those days and its a great pleasure to get back in the ring with him. As an added little bonus a certain Samoan TNA star has made the short trip up from Orlando and will be in the front row.... I'd best watch that guy, he's still sulking about what happened at Genesis.
    
    The long trip down here though gave me a chance to listen to the new album by U2. Any longtime Michael Shane fans will probably know of my love for the band which is why i was a little disappointed on first listen of No Line on the Horizon. I think with all the hype that the band had given the album, i was expecting classic U2 and another Joshua Tree when after one listen i was convinced this was another Zooropa and nothing but a disaster.... however... this is one of those albums that NEEDs a second, third and fourth listen because every time i listen to it, it seems to get better and better. Don't get me wrong, this is far from being the Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby or even as good as All The You Cant Leave Behind or How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, but this IS classic U2. There's no real standout track, no big epic song like Beautiful Day but personally, i think there's a lot to be said for the title track - No Line on the Horizon which kicks off a fine opening trio of songs, following it with Magnificent and Moment of Surrender. I love Unknown Caller as well even though it's a very different sound to what you usually expect from U2 i think. A worthy 8/10 or two and three quarters of a thumb up.
    
    I hope it's true about us trying to get U2 for WrestleMania 25 as I'd just mark the fuck out for that. And if they made a second appearance for us... surely U2 would be a dead cert for the Hall of Fame? lol
    
    Last and certainly least i really need to address something that i read online this week. I had the great misfortune to read on WWE.com that L Brent Bozell, the leader (Fuhrer) of the Parents Television Council had issued complains to the company and advertisers concerning the angle between Suffering/The Gathering and myself at the Royal Rumble. His claim being that the angle was violent, unnecessary and a step beyond the bounds of decency. That children and those of a sensitive nature could be hurt by what they saw. You know the deal.
    
    Idiot.
    
    Mr Bozell unfortunately is from the section of our society who are arrogant enough to believe that they can dictate to the rest of us what is and what is not morally acceptable. The kind of people who believe that our minds need to be controlled by religion and dreams of sweet salvation or we'll all descend into barbarism. In short, Mr Bozell is a religious nut.  
    
    Ignoring the fact that religion kills hundreds of thousands around the world every year, i continue...
    
    I firmly believe that the biggest threat to the United States in 2009 is not the threat posed by outside forces such as those of Islamic extremism or Communist China, rather the biggest threat to the peace, security and democracy that all out forefathers fought and died for is from within out own borders. For too long not the religious right, a group to which this man belongs, has been gaining a foothold in public life. The Presidency of George W Bush, who for the record i believe at heart to have been a good man, however allowed individuals like Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin to so nearly ascend to the highest position in the land. When individuals such as these, Rush Limburgh and Bozell are allowed to actively encourage the curtailing of our freedoms and repeal of civil rights, what hope can we possibly have of extending democracy outside our own borders?
    
    The right to freedom of expression, what this company engages in EVERY week, is one that is written in our constitution and one for which i would proudly defend to my death. I believe that the people of this great nation want to stand as free citizens, free to choose what is morally acceptable for them themselves without people like the PTC telling them they are wrong. In the case of children watching... quite frankly we were on PPV with a TV-14 rating, it is not our responsibility to act as a guardian. Its the parents responsibility to make sure that their children are not watching something unsuitable.
    
    WWE is an art form, but its a violent one. Blood, sweat and tears are shed every week, bones are broken, egos run rampant. Its not always pretty. Why should this company tone down its product and be forced to talk down to an adult audience simply because a small number of people complain or because parents cannot take responsibility for their product? WWE is adult entertainment and i would suggest to anybody that is offended by the Royal Rumble that they stop watching because having spoken to Vince McMahon, he has no intention of toning down his product and rightly so.
    
    Well, rant over. Think i'm getting roid rage? lol
    
    Anyway, here's Punk, better dash, he'll need every spot laying out as usual :)
    
    Laters peeps
    
    Oh and PS....
    
    Fuck you Vince Russo, you're a disgrace to my city and my profession.

  • Audio blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• Assassin's Royal Rumble 2009,

  • From: Assassin
  • Description:

    Ok first just to clear things up this blog is going to be semi-kayfabe, more to the side of non-kayfabe

    ---------------

    Welcome all Assassin Lovers....or should I say haters? That doesn't really matter lol, so welcome everyone to my second blog as a WWE Superstar. Last time I blogged it was just before the biggest and best night of my career in the WWE, the Royal Rumble. So I think we will pick up from where we last left of...

    After finishing my last blog I had to go meet with Randy briefly to talk about a few of the things we would be doing that night and quickly going over our promo. Our meeting was then cut short as he had something else to go to...man, I thought I was busy but Randy seemed to be going non-stop. After meeting with Randy I decided to head back to my lockeroom and finally prepare for the Rumble itself. I decided to watch the first Match by myself, pleased that Ted and Cody lost because that would mean Orton wouldn't see them being good enough for his "stable" and I wasn't to keen on working with those two, no offense but I just think they need more time in the business to learn the basics. A few minutes later just as the Primal and Jeff Hardy promo was about to begin Sergio entered the room and chucked me a Powerade, which I took with a "thanks" and started to take several sips of as he took a seat and we begun to watch the Hardy/Primal promo. Wow what can I say, a brilliant performance from both guys ending in a great Promo early on in the show. We then started to watch the Simmons vs. Rey match and both looked on in horror as Ryan botched his moonsault and landed nastily on his neck. After Simmons had been carried backstage, Sergio left to check on him as I had to get ready for my up coming promo. I got changed into some more suitable clothes and then headed of to were the segment was going to be...

    I arrived at the area to see Evan Bourne waiting there for me already as we shook hands and then turned to see Orton come into view, we finalised a few things and then "got into positions" as we got the good to go, we were live on air. My nerves are tingling as the promo begins ut as it goes on they cease and i am "in the zone." After the promo finishes, all running smoothly, Randy heads of and I have to rush to the gorilla position ready for my match, as I arrive Regal is already heading out to the ring. I try and mentally prepare myself for the match ahead but get cut short as my music blares and I step out from behind the curtain. All nerves go as the crowd cheer me and I realize this is a wonder of wrestling, going out doing what you love and getting cheered on by the crowd. Unfortunately I doubt Ill be getting any more cheers for a while lol but still being jeered at is good in its own way.

    After my match with William Regal I arrive backstage and get quite a few congratulations from fellow starts, including Jeff Hardy, Primal and Randy Orton. I was stoked at all the praises I was recieving and I didn't expect all of it. I then headed to the medical room to get some treatment on a small cut I recieved in the match and then got the all clear. On my way out I met briefly with Regal and congratulated him on putting on a great performance. After that I headed back to my lockeroom to have a quick shower before my next segment...

    I now have to go as I just go an important call about something, I will update this as soon as possible,

    Assassin.

    -----

    Had to cut it short as I have to leave i'll do a part 2 asap, feed back please guys

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• Heyman Hustle

  • From: JeffHardy
  • Description:

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first edition of the Heyman Hustle. I'm at a loss as to where to begin, after an event the caliber of the 2009 Royal Rumble it can become hard to process everything that went down. Let's start with the most memorable moment, shall we? Suffering and Shane.

    It's not everyday that a guy who returned from banishment shoots straight to the top of our industry but that is exactly what Joe did last night at the Royal Rumble. Joe had a shaky start upon his return, a strong first couple of weeks before he was thrown into the Primal/Hardy feud. Sure Suffering impressed everyone during that feud but it was ultimately aimed at furthering the rise of Jeff Hardy as opposed to building up Joe. 

    It's amazing how one night can change an entire career, the visual of Shane being hung, Suffering bathing in Shane's blood, soaking it up like it was a sweet nectar, Shane's life source seaping into Joe's hair, his skin, his entire being....that was the most shocking incident since Foley was thrown from the cell in my opinion and told more of a story than any mere high spot could ever tell. 

    Right now Suffering has completely over taken Jeff Hardy in becoming the single hottest property in the entire WWE, there is nobody moving higher, faster or on his level at the moment. Except Michael Shane. To me, Shane is more than just "the new HBK" or "the new Flair" he's a seperate entity that hasn't carved a niche for himself, he's ripped one open and forced his way inside (poor Ashley), he's that cocky prick one day and the savior of the fans the next day, not many men can claim to be as versatile as Shane is. 

    With Suffering fearing the wrath of not only the fans but the entire locker room it's obvious that Shane/Suffering is going to steal the show at Wrestlemania, there is no feud more personal, more telling or more innovative than this feud right here ladies and gentlemen. These two men represent everything the New Generation in the WWE should be, everyone else should look at this feud and learn from it, this is the future.

    Also on the Royal Rumble card was the Elimination Chamber, a hellish gimmick match that truly rivals the Hell in a Cell in terms of brutality and hype. You should all know that I don't do super-babyfaces, show up save the day, kiss the babies and suck up to the crowd but Vince McMahon disagrees with me and is pushing our WWE Champion in this fashion. Don't get me wrong at all, John is perfectly placed at the top, the right man retained, the right man is heading to 'Mania and John can pick up any ball and run a mile with it, a fantastic talent and a helluva guy. I just don't like this gimmick at all. In a world where heels are pure evil and unstable like Orton and Suffering, where men with attitudes like Ryan Simmons are respected, where babyfaces like Jeff Hardy show that they're human, that they have flaws, where guys like Morten Hansen show that they have emotions, where the babyfaces don't always make the right choices, I don't think there's room for Super Cena, the perfect wrestler. Obviously Cena is needed as a face but I for one am hoping that he'll adopt an edgier gimmick post-'Mania, where I'm sure he WILL tear the house down, Super Cena or not. 

    Let's move swiftly on to young Assassin, the kid who FINALLY made an impact in the WWE. It's been no secret that I've seen potential in him from day one and like Vince have been a huge advocate to give him a large push and a large rub. However, never did I think he'd run with the ball like he did this Sunday. The look in his eyes, the sneer on his face, the expression as his boot connected with the temple, the sound as his foot smashed into Regal's skull, the intensity shown by Assassin truly rivaled his new mentor Randy Orton in this man's personal opinion.  Everything just went right for this young Aussie native, he proved more than one of his critics wrong. 

    My personal problem with Assassin is holding myself back from demanding he be pushed faster than is smart to do, if it were up to me he'd be Intercontinental Champion by the end of the week....but this would do more damage than good to his career, all of that glory can come later on down the line. He's nearly there in the words of a colleague of mine, but he's not there yet. He is definitely going to be to 2009 what Jeff Hardy was to 2008 or what John Cena was to 2007, he's going to leave his mark in the WWE whether the fans like it or not. I just hope Orton will truly take him under his wing and teach him the ins and outs, that's what he needs right now and Orton is just the man to help him, this is a match made in heaven.

    Finally I move on to the man himself, the be all and end all of villainy in our sport, the man who has transcended past any heel we've ever seen in the past, the 2009 Royal Rumble winner, Randy Orton. I've said it during my interviews with the Sun, this guy is on a completely different level than all of the other heels currently in the WWE and formerly in the WWE, never before has a villain performed such dispicable acts, relished in them, basked in the jeers the crowd give him while also being almost shocked at how far he will go to achieve his goals, just how low and dispicable he can become, there's no heel that can currently match Orton in the WWE or the wrestling industry as a whole. 

    Without a doubt, be it Orton/'Taker, Orton/Cena, Orton/HBK or a mixture of all of them, Orton will deliver the goods at Wrestlemania and will be the main draw at what is quickly turning out to be the largest, the most hyped and what I'm positive will be the most successful Wrestlemania of all time. Look for a special wing in the Hall of Fame to be prepared for Orton after this event, nothing less will be acceptable. 

    That brings our first Heyman Hustle to an end, I'll endeaver to bring more of my thoughts, opinions and ideas as often as I can produce them with my hectic Creative Team schedule. Next time I'll be doing the easiest blog imaginable, I'll be poking holes and critisizing every aspect of the Creative product and looking at where we're dropping the ball and where we need to step up. Until then, enoy the Road to Wrestlemania.

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• Vince Russo: The voice from TN

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    Yeah, yeah, the Royal Rumble was great, really really great.
    
    Marks.
    
    Let me tell ya something, before the powers that be remove this blog, the Royal Rumble was NOTHING but a poorly constructed ass kissing of the marks that make up "Vince Mcmahon TV"s little audience.
    
    Injury angle, let me guess, that chick at ringside is gunna be stolen by Primal while Ryans recouperating... PURLEASE.
    
    Mysterio... he cant speak English can he? whatever, Mexicans have no place on TV, people want to see AMERICANS. Buy American, watch American. Japanese and Mexican crap has no place on my TV. Stars like Kurt Angle and Sting are what people want to see.
    
    What was next? i cant even remenber because my mind was NUMB by this point.... oh yeah, that's right.... Assassin does a Mick Foley impression. Was the punt supposed to be "smart", to show psychology? it was lame. People dont just change their lives like that like a switch going on and off. Nobody wants to see evil heels and perfect babyfaces, its such a dead concept. So 80s.
    
    Regal is worthless. So he can "wrestle" .. whats THAT supposed to mean? so can Bryan danielson and he looks like he has AIDs. NOT ON MY TV,THANK YOU!
    
    Jeff Hardy... this is WWE trying to be "cool" and present an emo character
    
    Primal... WOAH, THE WARRIOR WANTS HIS GIMMICK BACK
    
    And now we come to the bullshit amongst bullshit, something for all the mark kids to try out tomorrow, to say "heeey, dat wuz so coolz!!!"
    
    Michael "i wish i was Flair" Shane and Suffering, a Raven wannabe, engaged in something that had i done it, id have bee vilified for. Im just WAITING for the first kid to be found dangling with his head cut open, for some pathetic prick to try this shit out. Learn responsibility.
    
    Nebraska and Morrison, standard fare, usual arrogant gimmick. Cheap heat. Heat went out of this PPV with the Gathering angle. Steamboat... he still alive then? get these VETERANS off your show Vince.
    
    Primal/Rey, whatever.
    
    Eliminaation Chamber, stupid idea they ripped off MY idea for Hell in a Cell, MY creation, though do i get credit? nope. Anyway, we got the crap 80s babyface Cena and the stale Shawn Michaels battling for what seemed an eternity. Nobody wants to sit though a match that lasts 30/40 minutes, more matches, quicker paced, unique finishes, thats what matters. I dont think we had a single run in at this event.
    
    And the Royal Rumble... well was that a mistake? Orton vs Cena again?
    
    Well at least you're giving TNA a chance to beat you again this year like when we BEAT your ECW show last year. This PPV was nothing but a series of spots and incidents to please the WWE fanboys.
    
    Thats my opinion.
    
    Peace
    
    Vince Russo (New Yoik)

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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