The "All Things Wrestling" Thread...

Ok...I may be wrong but I can't think of the last time I saw Wrestling (like WWE; you know, the fake stuff) mentioned on here.  So I am taking a stab in the dark here and wondering if anyone else is a fan like me.  I hope so, otherwise this thread is going to sink quicker than my Star Trek threads...
 
Been an on again/off again fan since I was a teen in the late 90's but recently I have really gotten back into the WWE hardcore...it helps that my GF is totally on board and is almost more into it than me...
 
couple things I'll state from the start:
 
-Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler are two of the best "technical" wrestlers in the company; they are a joy to watch.
-I generally enjoy "silent" Kane over "chatty" Kane...this new mix of the two is kinda falling flat for me.
-I LOVE Chris Jericho; probably my favorite wrestler and am very psyched to see him back!
 
Ok...I'm letting this one go here...hopefully this isn't on page 3 when I get home tonight
 
 
 

-ziggler is one of the best sellers out there. the way he takes bumps is insane!!
-i agree on silent kane. his voice just doesn't do anything for me. actually, i'd rather him go back to that electrolarynx he used back in the day. CREEPY!!
-i don't get the connection between the jericho vignettes and his lack of talking. yes, i'm impatient
-TNA related: velvet sky is the only reason i watch. holy HAWT!!!
 
ps: anyone that wants to argue the authenticity of wrestling needs to realize that everything that comes out of hollywood is just as choreographed...

I know there was a little winky emoticon attached when you said "fake stuff", but I will counter your 'fake' by saying "Professional wrestling is not fake. It's ENGINEERED."
 
Hollywoood is choreographed. Wrestling is as live and improvised as any GOOD rock band out there. They know the song, they know the ending, they even know where to stand when the flash pots go off, but reacting to the crowd, and creating a story/solo ON THE FLY? Same thing.
 
Having said that, Punk needs to get in a good program again. I know it seems to make sense that he's bucking one of the suits, but it's just not going anywhere. Sadly, not much of anything is going anywhere in the last month or so. I LOVE reading reports that Michael Cole's ability to bury talent on the air is probably affecting ratings. Maybe he can get back to commentating. OR, if you actually want people to watch the show, bring JR back.
 
It feels like they're in the middle of a shift right now. The different champs were the start, but now you've got a few injuries happening and the writers are trying to figure out how to get the remaining roster to carry the show. Maybe you should get the talent to carry the show instead of having the writers try to figure it out.

Ziggler- Awesome push for someone who is ready to take it. We just need BA Billy Gunn to come back for a feud with him. It'll be just like the Underfaker run in the early/mid 90's.
Everyone else - scrambling to find some storyline to hold on to.

Dynna
Hollywoood is choreographed. Wrestling is as live and improvised as any GOOD rock band out there. They know the song, they know the ending, they even know where to stand when the flash pots go off, but reacting to the crowd, and creating a story/solo ON THE FLY? Same thing.

This.  Been watching wrestling since around the time of WM4.  When people look at or talk to me as though I must be an uneducated slob to be into wrestling, and give me that, "You know it's fake...right?" spiel, what Dynna said is basically what I usually say.   I love to wait until those same people are getting into a good movie and give it back to them... "You know it's not real, right?"  
 
Hellz yeah, Jericho is back (although, it's probably temporary).  But they need to start pushing some of these guys who have all the talent in the world, but aren't given the opportunity.  John Morrison, who just left the company, waste utterly wasted there, in my opinion.  Kofi Kingston is another one that needs to either move up or move out.  Just personal taste, I guess, and I certainly have nothing against the established superstars (other than Cena... who I can't stand, but I refuse to give him any sort of reaction now that they're turning the fan hatred into a "thing"), but I really feel they need to push some of the smaller guys.

Except in wrestling, the blood is real. They just usually don't start bleeding from the chair shot you saw them take a second ago. "The wonders of illusion"- Doug Henning

Everything in professional wrestling is meant to MAXIMIZE visual & audible impact while MINIMIZING physical impact. My other go to example is "why does the wrestler get hit on the BACK with the chair FLAT, instead of in the RIBS with the EDGE of the chair?" That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Lord knows I'm not taking ANY of the chair shots UT & HHH traded at WrestleMania 27. Ever. (you could see the blood vessels bursting on UT's back everytime HHH hit him of those 8 shots) Those were bad. But nobody's going to the hospital over a back shot (at least on purpose).
 
I'm waiting for the company to get past the Rumble in a couple of weeks and see what picks up from there. Maybe the Funkasaurus can make his mark soon.

Yes...I was totally tongue in cheek with my "fake" comment...I have soooo much respect for wrestlers...it is insane how talented, tough, and skilled the best of the best are.
 
Dolph is an amazing seller...love that he is from my neck of the woods...
 
The Miz has really grown on me too...took a while though...
 
I feel like the show has been really going a good direction latley...I'm kinda over the whole Big Show/Henry thing though...
 
Have a funny feeling that the Jericho thing will be awesome when they get it going...just my gut speaking here.

I miss Macho Man, Ultimate Warrior, The Bushwhackers, Brutus the Barber Beefcake, The Million Dollar Man, The British Bulldog, Bret Hart, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Roddy Piper, Texas Tornado, Razor Ramon, Deisel, Sid Vicious, Mr. Perfect, Sgt. Slaughter, The Legion of Doom, etc.
 
Those were the days. Haven't watched any wrestling at all since '99.
 
 
My intent is not to poop on the thread, but rather discuss with the folks that do watch nowadays as to how it compares to the days of old. So, Mr. Munny, which era do you prefer?

@Goldenfoxx...I LOVED John Morrison...the dude was criminally underutilized...I hear he may be back this spring/summer and I hope he gets a harder push if he does come back.

the stuff nowadays is too watered down and safe. none of it really appeals to me anymore, save for when CM punk is let loose on the mic. i miss the days of ric flair vs terry funk. holy insane matches...

phentalmyst


the stuff nowadays is too watered down and safe. none of it really appeals to me anymore, save for when CM punk is let loose on the mic. i miss the days of ric flair vs terry funk. holy insane matches...

Yeah...there is always this...I fell off of it for a long time myself...but if you can give it a little bit of a chance and take it for what it is (now) there is actually some good talent right now.
 
I, myself had to let go of my bias to the "attitude" era and remember that those times are gone...but that dosen't mean I can't enjoy what's happening now...
 
Agree with you on Punk...love that guy.

Like some other people on the forum who are around the same age, I started watching as a kid around 1989. I remember staying up to watch Prime Time wrestling on USA with Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon. For a while I remember Piper being on the show too, and Heenan being banished to another studio while the did the show. All this is pre-pharmacy so my source of information is watching Superstars on Saturday and going to the local drug store and asking my mom to buy me the WWF Magazine. I still remember and have the first one I ever bought/got - it's the November 1989 issue with the Warrior holding the IC strap. I had every magazine (with the exception of the one following Wrestlemana 6 with the Warrior holding both belts - the pharmacy never got it in; the weird things you remember) through probably mid 1993. Then, as a new teenager, I got out of it for all of the mid-90s
 
My favorite wrestler was Bret Hart, and I liked the Hart Foundation. Mr. Perfect, Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase - all those guys were my favorites. I've always gravitated towards the 'heel' wrestler, and just enjoyed being entertained.
 
My buddy had a satellite dish back in the day and I got to watch Wrestlemania 7 live when he ordered it. I remember my dad coming out to pick me up right before the Hogan/Slaughter match so I missed it live (school night and you're 12). He took the tape in to school the next day and we pretended to be sick at recess to stay indoors because it was cold out and tried to get the vcr in the classroom to work but never figured it out (again, the strange things you remember as a kid but hadn't though of that memory in who knows how long until just now).
 
I also got to see the 1992 Royal Rumble that Flair won on satellite and even ended up with the vhs tape which I still have. A couple years ago I put the tape in, and never recalled that there was a live intermission in the middle of it. They just displayed a clock in the corner which counted down and you heard the audience noise. The coolest part about rediscovering that tape is that they used to show credits at the conclusion of a ppv. As the credits rolled and they flash up different stills of the night's best shots, to my amazement Where's My Thing by Rush is the playing instrumental track.I also have the dvd set of rumbles from that ear and I busted out the dvd and that whole aspect is missing. So for some Rush trivia, a Roll the Bones track was played during that rumble and I've got it on tape for proof.
 
I was totally out of in the 90s just being a kid I guess. Around 1997 I got back into it and even caught a few live shows at the Huntington Civic Center in West Virginia. Shortly thereafter and I went to college (same college as Nick Nemeth - Dolph Ziggler actually, we were here at the same time while I was in grad school). Everybody in my freshman year residence hall was a huge Nitro fan, and would all have a Nitro party to watch together. I would stay in my year and watched Raw and then get teased (I obviously got the last laugh in the end). That year when Raw was interrupted for Westminster I watched the dog show out of protest to not watch Nitro (I would have preferred Nitro but it was fun tobe the stubborn guy).
 
I catch Raw/Smackdown now maybe once or twice a year. I'll read the reports online to get a sense of what's going occasionally, but I think the "smart mark" concept has taken a lot of the fun out of watching it. Truly not knowing what was going to happen was what made it so much fun as a kid. I think I last watched it for a bit when catching the Rumble Edge wonnd I remember not having a clue who Alberto Del Rio even was at the time.
 
I'll always have soft spot, but it doesn't hold my attention like it once did. I love the history of it, and the History of Wrestlemania dvds are all very good (thank you Vince). I still have a lot of stuff from when I was younger, like Wrestlemania III trading cards, some old Classic cards, the big rubber LJN figures (probably have 20 or so) and a buttload of the earlier 90 Hasbro ones (they were my favorite).

Just found out Raw is coming to Cleveland in March!!!!!!
 
The shows right before Wrestlemania always rule!

I've been watching since before WM1. I clearly remember Mr T coming to do promos & stuff. All of the Piper, Orndorff, Cowboy Bob Orton with the cast. I know that I've had some periods over the (many) years where I didn't faithfully watch, but I've always tried to keep up with storylines. Having said that, the only REAL differences I see are that the performances are much better nowadays, as far as working tight, and the gimmicks are nowhere near as cartoonie. There will always be room in the WWE for silliness. The product itself doesn't work if it's not fun, but I like that the whole premise has made an effort to become more 'real'. As in, 'this is what we do. You know it. We know it. But if you don't mind, we're just going to entertain you under the premise that you know that we've worked out some spots, some engineered things, and even if we get legitimately hurt, we can still perform and have every intention to finish our bit."
 
I've been watching for the last number of years and enjoyed analyzing the physical performances. Just the sheer physiology of it. How they pull the moves off withOUT people getting hurt. Sometimes you can't avoid it, but it's fun to see how they get around that most of the time. Then there's the way they carry the matches when it's obvious someone IS hurt. Anyways, I'm not excusing myself for or from enjoying it, but I enjoy the whole thing as a technical entertainment exercise as well.

Wrestling sucks. It was great up until 2001. Was mediocre up until 2008 and now it totally sucks.

I was always more into the colorful larger than life personalities that the athleticism although if you got to watch somebody like Shawn Michaels the athleticism was also great.

Now the colorful personalities are gone and everybody is bland and dull. John Cena is a watered down version of the rock minus the attitude and the cool factor.

This entire Wrestlemania is relying on names from the past in their 40's like Undertaker, Triple H, rock, jericho

The only guy thats somewhat new that interests me is CM Punk. I usually buy royal rumble and wrestlemania and thats it. I dont watch raw or smackdown because it sucks and is boring

Wrestling always had and will have a soft spot for me in my life.  I remember back in '79/'80 being 5 years old and watching 'the matches' with my great-grandmother.  Watching guys like Andre, Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Backlund, Iron Sheik, then the guys like Hogan, Valentine, Tito Santana, Muraco, Snuka, the list goes on and on.  Eventually got into the NWA but they didn't come to the Baltimore area more often until the mid to latter 80s.  My area was strictly a WWF/E town.
 
Watching those matches every Saturday morning was a treat.  Then they started in with Prime Time Wrestling with Jesse, then Jesse and Gorilla, and finally Gorilla and Bobby Heenan until they utterly trashed the show turning it into a roundtable.
 
I remember going to the movie theater to watch the 'closed circuit' broadcast of Wrestlemania I.  The theater was PACKED and you thought you were in the arena watching the matches.  Did that for WMII and III until we were able to get the PPVs.   Also did this for the early Starrcades.
 
Speaking of PPVs, this is when wrestling was lost on me.  When they switched the damn things to a monthly thing.  Gone were the days of when they would be able to build fueds.  You'd have a feud brewing after Survivor Series.  It would bleed into the Royal Rumble in the form of a wrestler causing another to lose in the main event, etc.  Then it would culminate in a match that you'd sell your soul to see in Wrestlemania.
 
Now I get the fact that the business is different and people cannot wait that long nowadays as main event matches are littered on RAW every week....but I missed that aspect.  Also miss the cutting of interviews like Ric Flair would do. 
 
Wrestling is much different for me nowadays and alot of it has to do with what you remember wrestling as.  If you just got into it in the past 10 years chances are you'll have no idea what I am talking about.  I will say that I proudly own every Wrestlemania on DVD and treasure those damn things.  I enjoy watching the guys talk about the business on the HoF and watching the WM matches, no matter how atrocious they can get. 
 
That's about all I watch these days, the WM's.  I might catch a RAW or two, but that's it.  Splitting up the roster and having two shows a week was also a really dumb move IMO.  But then again I am not at the helm making millions of advertising and what not.

Hey...mostly-lurker with an inconsistent and insignificant post-history here.
 
Just wanted to point you guys to The Shining Wizards.  They do a podcast and thought you may be interested.  I'm at work and can't link you directly to the podcasts (Episode 9 just came out...) but here's their Facebook page which is a nice jumping off point:  https://www.facebook.com/shiningwizards?sk=info
 
Honestly, I can't stand wrestling but I know these guys definitely know their stuff; whenever they get together all I want to do is get up and leave the room because the conversation turns to wrestling for the remainder of the night.
 
So....enjoy and I hope you guys get a kick out of these guys.

I used to watch it religiously from the late 80s thru the early 90s. Lost interest when the whole NWA vs. WWF thing heated up. A lot of my favorite characters had moved on too. Demolition was always my favorite tag team.
 
But my wrestling roots started back in the early 70s...the old AWA. Yeah, I'm so old I remember watching Bobby Heenan wrestle. Always remembered him being paired up with Nick Bockwinkle and Ray "The Cripler" Stevens. Dirty Dusty Rhodes, Black Jack Lanza, Crusher, Dick the Bruiser, Baron Von Raschke, Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon, George "The Animal" Steele...oh yeah, good times!! And you had the guys that were the "career chumps"...dudes like Angel Herrara and George "Scrap Iron" Kodaski.
 
Stumbled across the making/breaking of Ultimate Warrior video a few months ago. That was a real eye opener. That dude is REALLY out there, but he had a great character.
 
 - Brian

Oh snap, a rasslin' thread.
 
On the federation side, we're treated to some pretty great programming:
The bastardisation of Brodus Clay into Funkasaurus
What appears to be Jericho setting up for another douchebag heel gimmick run, gonna be great
Santino's endless dopey charm
Screen time for Hornswoggle again
The ever entertaining Oxana/Teddy Long sketches
Dolph Ziggler is more than happy to sell any move you throw on him
CM Punk, the man who promised us the return of ice cream bars
The underutilised Uso brothers
And Johnny fucking Ace trying to convince us he's not evil
 
As for the tits n ass:
Breaking the hearts of fans, Sting tones down the joker gimmick and becomes a great authority figure
The X Division. Seriously, all of these guys are spectacular.
Abyss isn't afraid to get into a barbed wire sandwich
Samoa Joe finally escapes jobbing via wildcard tag tournament, forges impressive team with Magnus
AJ Styles has no friends, Christopher Daniels is a boss
How is Scott Steiner still alive with so many roids in his system?
ODB, the single most entertaining female wrestler I've seen in a long ass time, and the hopefully continuing plot of her/Eric Young's love affair
Cringeworthy Pope/Devon feud seems to be over and done with
Garret Bischoff shows that he's not a total douchebag like his ol' man.
 

Wrestlemania thoughts?

Taker/HHH and Rock/Cena DELIVERED! Big style, was so so hyped and marking out continually through them. The rest had its ups and downs but the big 2 were both incredible so Im happy! 

Taker/HHH was the match of the night, followed by Punk/Jericho. Cena/Rock just didn't live up to the hype for me.

UT & HHH were EASILY the highlight of the night. Sort of the prime example of working a story & physicality into each other. The finish was not unfamiliar, but the way they worked around & through repeating various spots from the last few years all while pushing the current story was simply amazing. At least from where I sat.

The Rock & Cena finish just sort of reminded me of everything the Rock has been doing for the last year...Looks good, sounds good, & means NOTHING. Vapid 'entertainment'.
 
WAY more interesting to me is how Brock plays into this. I thought he would show up tonight for sure. We'll see where it all goes now that Rock is off with another movie.

I will give Taker/HHH the match of the night as well...
 
Punk/Jericho gets a solid A from me and was my second favorite match.
 
Cena/Rock gets a B and was sort of a letdown but it was going to be hard to live up to all that hype...basically echoing others here...
 
I am a huge Daniel Bryan fan and think Sheamus is a great talent as well...kinda bummed that their match got three seconds while I had to sit through twenty minutes of Diva garbage...but that's just my take.
 
It was pretty good though as far as PPV's go.

Another echo of the comments already posted about WM, but basically:
 
Definitely Undertaker/HHH/Sean Michaels the match of the night.  Sean Michaels MADE the match though - at least for me.  His selling of the undertaker as an unstoppable force and the psychology was phenomenal.  Wish Cena/Rock could have had that kind of skill and intensity in their match storytelling.
 
I actually loved the Daniel Bryan/Seamus squash - it really hit the gas on what was a stupid feud to begin with, and I think it will have a good payoff down the road.
 
Divas = boring.  Too bad, too.  Beth Phoenix is really talented, but when you got nobody to work with... 
 
I was pretty disappointed with Jericho/CM Punk.   It was a very Japanese-style match, but without the giant spot at the end - just seemed like they were taking it easy since Jericho's hitting the road.  No real major impact, kind of a lame blowoff of the feud.  When they finally went home, I was thinking 'my god, can I have those 25 minutes back?'
 
Rock/Cena was good, and had some MAJOR high spots, but also some pretty boring spots.  I'm starting to questing whether Cena is really in the same class as Rock/Austin/etc.  I think he (or they) totally botched the timing on the finish, there was a closeup and I couldnt' tell what we were supposed to think what he was thinking.  Incredulity that he couldn't pin Rock? Exhaustion and the working man's work ethic at odds?  Fear?  Self-Doubt?  He just looked confused.  Somebody should have mapped that out with him better, because it completely lost the impact of the match finish.  Now what?  I can only imagine they repackage him and do a building block story when he comes back.   
 
As others have said, no way they could live up to the hype.  Amazing ... AMAZING that the Rock can work the crowd and make it look to effortless.  I really felt for Cena with all the boos though - even though I'm sure he's come to expect it, it's pretty confusing.  I wish they had played up more about how the Rock used to get booed when he was the all-american good guy like Cena is now, and it took him becoming a big asshole to get over.  
 
still, not the best WM I've ever seen but it was good, and I liked it a HELL of a lot more than Elimination Chamber! (haha)

I really think that styles make matches; but a the best wrestlers are chameleons.  Undertaker and Shawn Michael's could literally wrestle  with anyone and they would look like they belonged there.
 
Cena is a great wrestler in a lot of ways; but he is limited in the ring and I really think the Rock was helping him a ton last night.
 
The Rock really earned my respect (which he already had)...in a lot of ways he used to have Cena's game.  Lots of ropes and not a lot of technical wrestling....but boy did he add it to his bag of tricks.  The dude was pulling out a "mat" game that he has NEVER used before....very impressed Rock!

My thoughts on WM28 are that Vince really needs to start building up his young guys. I got back into wrestling this past year after falling out of it for a few years because of this current crop of talent now. Guys like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, and Dolph Ziggler should be the future of the company. We don't need to bring in the "old guard" so often when you're already working with talent like that.
 
CM Punk is best on the mic because he can command an audience. Cody Rhodes is best at playing "Cocky Heel" because even though I liked him, I wanted to see him squashed. Dolph Ziggler is bar none the best in the world at selling, because only he could make the Cobra look like he just got hit by fucking lightning. Daniel Bryan is the best at technical wrestling, and though some may just want more entertainment value, he can put on a wrestling clinic anytime.
 
So my thoughts on the matches were:
 
Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus - This was a match that I was really looking forward to seeing. As it happened, it wasn't even a "match" and I'm disappointed that Vince felt the need to bury someone who was busting their ass and just wanted to get his Wrestlemania moment so hard. Kind of like the opposite of the Shawn Michaels "boyhood dream" storyline from 1996.
 
Randy Orton vs. Kane - This was better than I expected, considering how weak the lead-up storyline was. I think the best part of the match for me was the "Daniel Bryan" chants from the crowd. This crowd was really hot for the guy are were deflated by the first "match"
 
Kelly Kelly/Maria Menounous vs. Beth Phoenix/Eve - This happened, and the celebrity won. Move along, nothing to see here. (Maria M looked very attractive though, I must say)
 
Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show - This match went pretty much the way everyone was expecting. Hopefully this frees up Rhodes to build a match with someone else on the card, maybe Punk (please). He HAS to remain heel though, because holy shit he was perfect leading up to WM.
 
Taker vs. HHH - Well, I'm glad that this match was much better than its lead-up. Very violent, very satisfying. Two older guys who can still go all out and have a great match. My personal bias was hoping that it would set up a HHH vs. HBK match, but that's just because I hate HBK to be reduced to the role of "Friend of HHH" and I think he could still put on a great match at WM.
 
Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy - If Team Teddy won, with THAT team, then I would be certain Vince is just fucking with the Internet. In all honesty, I loved that John Laurinitis will be "in charge" of both shows, because they needed a smarmy, corporate prick type of guy running the show. And Big Johnny is GREAT at it. Even just after the match, he made a "if you get DQ'd you lose the title" stipulation on Punk's match, something that was a completely sensical, even-headed move, and everyone thought he was a douche. Welcome back, Johnny. Also, DOLPH ZIGGLER MONKEY FLIP HOLY SHIT.
 
CM Punk vs. Jericho - This was my personal favorite match of the night. It may not have been as emotionally charged as the HHH/Taker match (my no. 2 of the night), but damn, the actual wrestling in this match was stellar. The pre-match stip didn't really factor into the match much after the first few minutes, but it didn't really matter. Some of Jericho's reversals were just mindblowing. In the end, this is the type of stuff that I'd love to see more of.
 
John Cena vs. The Rock - ...And here we are. I thought this was a very disappointing match, and not just because the end didn't turn out quite the way I had hoped. I was rooting for Cena, despite not actually liking Cena. But leading up to this match, I greatly preferred what Cena was bringing to the table, that is valid criticisms repeated over and over, to what The Rock was bringing, that is catchphrases, dick jokes, and saying your own name over and over. Despite this, the crowd wanted Rocky, so Vince gave them Rocky. For him, the old guard will always come out on top over the new guard.
 
There it is. My thoughts. Here's a picture of Dolph Ziggler with Billy Gunn for whoever finishes my post haha:

Holy receding hairline, Batman!
 
Great post.  Totally agree that they need to put more effort into the younger guys.  The guys are great in the ring, but their mic skills are just awful.  Ziggler is definitely the standout guy - you can always tell a very solid wrestler by how well he sells somebody else's moves, and 'Holy shit monkey flip' basically sums that up!  The ONLY standout of that ridiculous Team Teddy match was that move.  Even the end was basically the same as the damn Daniel Bryan match! I didn't think about that until afterwards, but that's pretty bad.
 
Interesting that I seem to be the only one who wasn't that satisfied with the Jericho match - i might have to go back and watch that again to see what i missed.  He REALLY looks rusty in the ring every time I see him, and I just havent' felt that CM Punk can really go the distance and carry guys who don't keep up with him (like say, the Rock clearly can).
 
Still, I know I sound like I'm complaining - this was a pretty solid WM.  And man was the set awesome or what!?

I totally agree with you on Dolph...he is the man!
 
anyone want to re-cap RAW for me...just got home from a meeting and missed the whole damn thing...sigh

Brock is back!

haven't seen RAW, but here's an interesting summary:
 
http://bleacherreport.com...restlemania-28-fallout
 
i don't like the idea of Brock being back. i know the main objektive is to sell the PPVs, but i don't think you necessarily need returning big names, like Brock or the Rock. WWE creatives just have to do their homework and McMahon just needs to give the younger ones more opportunities. with Brock added to the roster, there's less time for another mid-/undercard wrestler again.
 
here's what i would love to see the coming weeks/months:
- a D. Bryan - Sheamus rematch. i was hoping for one on RAW or SD, but sadly they went a different direction and gave Del Rio a match on SD. hope we see a big rematch at Summerslam, but i expect DB to either be out of the title picture completely or in a triple threat situation with ADR maybe.
- a Ziggler face turn. i think the majority of fans recognize his great wrestling abilities. he doesn't need Swagger or Guerrero, he's a great talker for himself and i believe he would get over in no time as a face.
- include the Miz in a title picture. does not have to be the Heavyweight or WWE title, but all men's titles are held by faces, which won't last long i guess. have him feud with Big Show or Santino, Miz is just too good to not wear a belt for a longer period.
- give Jericho the WWE title. right now he only looks weak and old, and his submission on WM 28 didn't do his push as a top heel any favor. adding Henry to this feud might be interesting, but Jericho has to win a title or else he loses all credibility - maybe at Extreme Rules?
- make Randy Orton relevant again. i see him going nowhere in his feud with Kane, especially if the can't beat him. i hope they only wait for Wade Barrett to re-start that feud.
- start that Goldust - Cody Rhodes feud. could be an interesting match on Summerslam if they build it the right way. maybe after the June PPV.
 

Anyone who missed last night missed the best Raw that I've seen since I started watching again about a year ago. The crowd had a lot to do with it. The Bryan squash at WM looked bad, but it might've been the best thing because that guy is so OVER with the fans. They were chanting "YES! YES! YES!" and "DAN-IEL BRY-AN!" throughout the entire show. Alberto Del Rio came back, and the crowd chanted "SI! SI! SI!" and whenever Sheamus did anything, they chanted "NO! NO! NO!". There was nothing really bad about anything on that show, Brock Lesnar returned, Albert returned, it was all good. The pop when Lesnar's music hit was incredible.

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

Is all I have to add. Amazing crowd last night, made that show what it was! Surely they cant make Brock feud with a face Cena? Brock is going to get insane reactions, I dont think it matters how heelish he acts once again Cena will be heavily booed against him. 

I saw a video of the dark match after the show went off the air, and holy shit the place was on fire whenever Bryan was in the ring, and his promo afterwords was just the definition of over. I don't know if its ok to post so I won't, but it could probably be found by searching for raw 4-2-12 dark match

I don't get why people are chanting YES to Daniel Bryan and NO to Sheamus...

Since Bryan won the World Heavyweight Championship, he began yelling "YES! YES! YES!" whenever he'd win and on the way down to the ring. It sort of became his catchphrase, like Stone Cold and "What?". It's the crowd that started the variations last night with "NO!" and "SI!". Bryan is clearly really over in Miami, so the crowd chants "NO!" for Sheamus because he squashed their guy.

I could've sworn I saw Adam Jones from Tool in the crowd last night at the corner by the stairs to the ring. The crowd was so into it last night, wish I could have been there.

sarcophage
I was pretty disappointed with Jericho/CM Punk. It was a very Japanese-style match, but without the giant spot at the end - just seemed like they were taking it easy since Jericho's hitting the road. No real major impact, kind of a lame blowoff of the feud. When they finally went home, I was thinking 'my god, can I have those 25 minutes back?'

 
..except that huge suplex to the outside and the whole finishing sequence...
The problem with that match was it's place on the card, the crowd were just dead after the Taker match (Although I heard it came off alot better live)
Johnny setting the stipulation before the match had me worried for a false finish but it really played well into the story telling in the match. Definitely match of the night.
 
The Taker match was very good from a story telling aspect, other than that I've never been a fan of 20 finishers at the end of a match (Takers last 4 Manias) nor anoooother Taker/HHH/Michaels Mania match what is this the 5th time now?
 
Bryan/Sheamus was a kick in the teeth for them for the 2nd year in a row, noone has gained from this(intentionally) and the world title looks completely worthless. The cheers Daniel Bryanson has been getting are clear indication that WWE need to use him properly...and not kill his momentum like they've done with Ryder.
 
The Rock looked gassed in the main event and wtf was that sharpshooter? He's really gone cold on me over the last year, he's just the not the Rock we know and love...he's Dwayne the actor/wrestler/singer/dancer/model/twitter king Johnson. Still glad he went over though, neither of them would have lost anything by loosing.
 
Lesnar being back only proves Overeem right when he said he'd kick him back to WWE. Although I'm not complaining Overeem has been my favorite heavyweight for a good couple of years now. If Paul Heyman has any involvement with what Lesnar does in WWE we are in for a gooood year.
 
Also the Miami crowd for Raw was amazing.

Bryan/Sheamus was a kick in the teeth for them for the 2nd year in a row, noone has gained from this(intentionally) and the world title looks completely worthless. The cheers Daniel Bryanson has been getting are clear indication that WWE need to use him properly...and not kill his momentum like they've done with Ryder.

 
This!  My confusion is that neither wrestler really gained anything from the match....and bc of their match only lasting 18 seconds we get a 20 minutes Divas match?!?!?!?

The Dunce of Eternity


I could've sworn I saw Adam Jones from Tool in the crowd last night at the corner by the stairs to the ring. The crowd was so into it last night, wish I could have been there.

I KNOW that I saw my friend Adam Jones in the crowd on Sunday. He was sitting halfway down the walkway camera-side. Completely different guy than the one you're referring to.