Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[[Q]]

personally, i liked the face y2J but a heel Y2J would make more sense to go against Punk

[Andrew]

He'd probably get a face reaction upon his return, as most people do. Jericho can pull off a face or heel character but I think he's ultimately a little more suited to the latter.

[koberulz]

Apparently WWE is panicking about the ratings, because Punk/Bryan/Ryder/Miz/Ziggler/etc aren't drawing. One of the possible reasons they're considering for this is Michael Cole burying everyone week in and week out.

Gee, I wonder if that might be it?

[Andrew]

No doubt. As we've discussed before, Cole's heel character does nothing but get himself over, which is the exact opposite of what an announcer's role is supposed to be. I'm sure the blame will fall on the workers but I'd say it's absolutely Cole's character. I won't say Cole himself because he was at least a competent announcer before the heel turn and he's just following direction here, but in short their plan for him sucks and is getting to the point where it's actively damaging the product.

[koberulz]

It's not even the heel character that's the problem, it's the execution. King, Heenan, Ventura, and JBL were fine. The problem is that he spends more time burying babyfaces than pushing heels. Would Miz be as big a deal as he is without Cole? There's actually a debate to be had there. Undoubtedly, though, Bryan and Ryder would be far better off.

Speaking of Bryan, his exit after the '45 seconds' comment to Big Show on this week's SmackDown was hilarious.

And Zeke needs to work on his legs. He's basically triangular.

[Andrew]

That's what I mean. I don't think a heel play-by-play announcer works well at the best of times but Cole's particular heel character really doesn't work at all, whether he's doing play-by-play or somewhere in between play-by-play and colour as he does on Smackdown. I wasn't a big fan of JBL on commentary but I would still agree that all those guys were entertaining as heel announcers because they found ways to a) be entertaining and b) put the guys in the ring over. They'd cheer for the heels but in their own way they'd still put the faces over and get them sympathy in the process. Cole's character doesn't accomplish that, like you said he just buries the faces and distracts from the in-ring action.

I'm sure it puzzles Vince McMahon because he loves the Cole character and since it's his idea it must be genius, but Cole's heel run has to be one of the main factors, if not the main factor, in the company's inability to create and solidify new stars.

[Lean]

From this past Smackdown.

[[Q]]

in conjunction with the MMA thread, I would have to say Brock Lesnar's loss would put him in a good spot for a WM storyline? Brock vs. Taker???

[Andrew]

It certainly would and there's obviously a lot of speculation about that running rampant right now but like I said in the MMA thread, I'm not too sure about the chances of it happening just yet. Jericho's seemingly working fans on Twitter claiming that Lesnar is the person being hinted at in the January 2nd videos but if it's not Jericho, it's got to be Undertaker. Dana White was strictly against letting Lesnar wrestle while he's under UFC contract and even if his contract is no more upon his retirement as White suggested after the PPV, there'd be no WWE agreement in place with only a couple of days left before that return angle culminates.

Still, perhaps they get a deal done in time for Wrestlemania.

[[Q]]

well, with rock & supposedly hbk/y2j showing up i think they can postpone brock/taker for the next wm, although i dunno how much longer taker will last.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if this year is Taker's last WM and a possible retirement tour. If they could get Lesnar I think they'd happily stack the card though; I'd want Taker to get the win, mostly because I'm a fan of him and I feel he's earned the right to retire with the streak unbroken but since Lesnar would likely be a one shot deal, having him end the streak wouldn't accomplish much in the long run.

[deihatein]

If they want to stack the card why not have Austin in there as well for a "one more match" thing? Austin said in interviews that he still can wrestle one match.

[JaoSming]

Thanks to several WZ readers, including Nick Jaworski, for sending this in: In what could potentially be a spoiler for tonight's Raw, the following is a photo of former WWE star Chris Jericho arriving at the airport in Nashville, TN, and Raw takes place tonight in Memphis:

[Andrew]

If they want to stack the card why not have Austin in there as well for a "one more match" thing? Austin said in interviews that he still can wrestle one match.

I'd be for it and I think they'd do it if Austin was keen enough to go. His neck is in pretty rough shape though, I read those comments as well but supposedly he's not really in a hurry to have that one last match.

[[Q]]

omg it's so hard not to click on those spoilers or read dirtsheets on Mondays. I don't usually even click on days of ppvs so i don't get spoiler'd

[Lean]

I clicked it. Looking forward to read the results. (I do that every week)

[JaoSming]

So, titles can change hands over count outs now?

[JaoSming]

well, forget that shit, I'm happy now

[Lean]

OMFG. Will get Raw tomorrow.

[JaoSming]

well, it was a pretty terrible promo

[Lean]

Yeah, I pretty much read the comments. Some if not most were disappointed.

[JaoSming]

he must be going heel, that is my only explanation of that

[deihatein]

Who is Y2J going to feud with?

Ugh, how did Ziggler get into the feud with Punk? And I thought Mark Henry is injured?

[[Q]]

pretty sure Y2J is feuding/will feud with Punk. they've traded quips over twitter and Punk did "borrow" Jericho's "Best in the world at what I do" and shortened it. zigg's already in a title match at the Rumble with Johnny Ace as the ref. pretty sure CM Punk will still prevail and Y2J will win the Rumble to set up a WM match.

[Lean]

Who is Y2J going to feud with?

Pretty sure it's Punk too. But I hope the Ziggler-Punk feud will go on until after the Rumble.