Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[Andrew]

So at the moment it looks like Edge/Big Show at Wrestlemania though I suppose they could change it up. A bit of an ordinary matchup but I'm guessing HHH/Orton will be the main event anyway.

Also, Taker/HBK is official, which could very well steal the show.

[Lean]

Unexpected turn of events on the WHC match though I believe they'd insert Cena in there to make it a Triple Threat. The match I'm looking forward into is the HBK-'Taker match. That will be uber-cool.

Like the ending of the 2007 Rumble.

[Andrew]

The intensity of the HHH/Orton feud is great but I still think it's a bad idea when wrestling tries to bring realism in the picture with fake lawyers/police etc. The Hardy feud is a good example of blurring the lines between wrestling and reality because it's pretty straightforward; they really are brothers which is openly acknowledged on-screen (and always has been) and it's a simple jealousy/bitterness angle. However, with HHH/Orton, there's a lot that we're supposed to disregard, including:

1. Despite being revealed as a McMahon (well, an in-law and part of the family) on-screen, HHH's character doesn't have any power.
2. Despite taking out "all the McMahons", Linda McMahon - her on-screen character also having been established as having all kinds of veto power and whatnot like the rest of her family - has not appeared nor been taken out.
3. Orton basically having immunity because of "Intermittent Explosive Disorder" seems highly unlikely. I doubt it would protect him against assault charges and the like, which if they were really going for realism is what would be happening right now.

Now, I guess the obvious answer is "Well duh, it's wrestling. You're not supposed to overanalyse these things!" but my point is if the WWE is trying to make the product more realistic and blur some lines here then there's only so much you can ask of your audience, especially given the suspension of disbelief that a smark already employs while watching the product. The problem with bringing the reality of the real world laws and legal system into play is that there's too many inconsistencies. For example, it's established that it would be illegal for Orton to be fired because of his IED but it was perfectly legal for him to assault his bosses and in the past, attempt to burn the Undertaker alive and then claim to have killed him in a promo. It doesn't exactly line up.

Similarly, The Undertaker was stripped of the title last year because chokeholds are dangerous, banned and unsanctioned, but the Powers that Be can sanction a match like Hell in a Cell or the Elimination Chamber, or even an Inferno Match. And don't get me started on what happened at No Way Out with Edge attacking Kofi Kingston and getting into the match. If a wrestler can do that, why doesn't it happen before every title match. I know, I know, we're just not supposed to think of it and whatever it takes to get the heel wrestler/authority figure over but it's a bit contrived all the same.

Just got to go with the flow I guess.

[Al Ka Pwn]

but you liked the hbk is broke angle?

[Andrew]

I never said that I was a huge fan of it, but that's not the kind of angle I was talking about as it was really more of traditional wrestling angle (somewhat similar Ted Dibiase/Virgil many, many years ago).

[Drex]

You have to turn off your brain when you watch wrestling these days.

[Andrew]

I guess so. It's not all that bad though, so long as they draw it out and make it somewhat of a recurring theme as they did with Bret and Owen Hart back in the day, the fued between the Hardys could be really good for a while.

[Null17]

I wish they could give Jericho something else to do. Bagging on hasbeens is getting tiring week after week. And his segments take too much time.

[Andrew]

Depends what the payoff at Wrestlemania will be. If it's a match, fair enough, but if it's just Austin coming out and giving him a stunner - cool as that would still be - it will be a bit of a letdown. I'm kind of glad they're not doing Jericho/Rourke though, if he's not going to be in MITB or a title match then having him square off against a legendary wrestler sounds good enough to me.

[Null17]

That legend better be someone who can work decently instead of just having the match rely on the reputation of the said legend.

[buzzy]

the fued between the Hardys could be really good for a while.

Maybe, but I am the only one who can't stand hearing Jeff speak? IMO he's incredibly weak on the mic, and everytime I hear him doing a promo I want to laugh and cry at the same time. Matt's way better in that regard.

And I completely agree with you Andrew, we're not allowed to think of all that.

Orton basically having immunity because of "Intermittent Explosive Disorder" seems highly unlikely. I doubt it would protect him against assault charges and the like, which if they were really going for realism is what would be happening right now.

Agree, that's some bullshit right there. If it was your wrestling company, would you hire soembody with that disease in the first place? Somebody who's on the verge of killing somebody every day?
(Of course Orton does the punt to the head safely, but if someone with the strenght of him really wants to kick somebody in the head, I think it's not impossible that the person could die from it.)

But to get back to the immunity thing. Imagine I had some kind of mental disorder and walked on the streets and would assault random people, I doubt policemen would watch me and would say "Ah don't worry, he's got IED".
If they want to add some realism, then do something with Orton as well. I don't think somebody with that disorder belongs in a wrestling company. Or in any fighting federation for that matter.

[Al Ka Pwn]

wwe is beyond logic. until vince dies, it will be bullshit.

[Null17]

wwe is beyond logic. until vince dies, it will be bullshit.

So, Vince dies and all WWE storylines suddenly become logical?

[Lean]

That's some point.

[Al Ka Pwn]

well take santino marella for instance. he's probably the one of the more entertaining guys in the wwe right now. and all he does is loose because vince doesn't think he is big enough. I never said that if vince died all storylines will improve, but maybe some people, like marella, get more of a chance to show us what they got.

[Andrew]

Maybe, but I am the only one who can't stand hearing Jeff speak? IMO he's incredibly weak on the mic, and everytime I hear him doing a promo I want to laugh and cry at the same time. Matt's way better in that regard.

I wouldn't say he's terrible to the point of being useless on the mike (like Khali, for example) but I agree that it's his weakest area. I think it can work though as Matt is the aggressor in the feud so he's the one who should be cutting the long promos to garner heat, Jeff being a bit hesitant on the mike kind of works for the angle. I think at some point in the feud Jeff has to snap so that the conflict comes to a head and he's competent enough to shout his way through a "You want a fight? You've got a fight!" style promo.

Agree, that's some bullshit right there. If it was your wrestling company, would you hire soembody with that disease in the first place? Somebody who's on the verge of killing somebody every day?
(Of course Orton does the punt to the head safely, but if someone with the strenght of him really wants to kick somebody in the head, I think it's not impossible that the person could die from it.)

But to get back to the immunity thing. Imagine I had some kind of mental disorder and walked on the streets and would assault random people, I doubt policemen would watch me and would say "Ah don't worry, he's got IED".
If they want to add some realism, then do something with Orton as well. I don't think somebody with that disorder belongs in a wrestling company. Or in any fighting federation for that matter.

Exactly. We're not supposed to think about it but if the aim is to have more real/gritty storylines to make staged fights seem real - obviously to compete with MMA events which are doing better in PPV sales - then you've got to lose a touch of the corniness and nonsensical double standards and "Ah, but you're not supposed to think about that" brand of logic. To that end, I think they should be careful where they blur the lines and bring in elements from the real world such as mental disorders, lawyers, police and the law in general.

[Al Ka Pwn]

best smackdown of the year? yup.

[Lean]

That's what I like when WrestleMania comes closer, the brands seem not to exist and the storylines carryover to another show.

[Null17]

well take santino marella for instance. he's probably the one of the more entertaining guys in the wwe right now. and all he does is loose because vince doesn't think he is big enough. I never said that if vince died all storylines will improve, but maybe some people, like marella, get more of a chance to show us what they got.

He is entertaining as a comedic heel. That's all that has been proven right now. And the main purpose of a comedic heel is to lose.

[Al Ka Pwn]

you don't think he could be more than he is now?

[Null17]

you don't think he could be more than he is now?

Didn't say that. But you did say is that he is one of the entertaining guys right now and that is because he is good at portraying the comedic heel character which is there to lose to faces to build them up. So you can't really blame the writers for making him lose because that's the purpose of that type of character that he entertainingly portrays.

[Andrew]

I think he's fine in the role that he's in, at least as long as he's playing the character he is right now. That kind of character isn't really a main event gimmick or even the upper midcard. His ability to remain over despite losing, cut an entertaining comedic heel promo and the fact he's not a stellar worker make him perfect for the role he's in, no need to change that anytime soon.

[Al Ka Pwn]

you have a guy who can talk and all you want to do is watch him get squashed?

[Null17]

you have a guy who can talk and all you want to do is watch him get squashed?

You want him to be like Cena? He's only proven that he can play the comedic heel and that is entertaining you. Comedic heels are meant to lose. There are far better examples of wrestlers who were held back.

[Al Ka Pwn]

where did you get the cena part from? I'd be very interested in finding that out.

you can only find out peoples worth if they are given a chance. as far as I am concerned santino earned the chance to show me what he can do other then getting squashed and smiling about it. they gave chris masters more of an opportunity and all he had was his roided body.