Low PPV Buys

I recently saw a post stating WWE PPV's were down in buys. I posted a quick response I'll share here.

The PPV's don't get buys because:

1 - Matches aren't announced. Buying a PPV is partially because of the matches and when half of them aren't announced til the day before or the day of, why should anyone care?

2 - Feuds aren't developed. Why are people fighting? A belt? For fun? We need to care about the feud as the story is more interesting than the match half the time. Orton punting Stephanie? Stone Cold being fired? The rock turning corporate? The closest thing we have to a story now is John Cena being fired where he isn't really fired and then rehired in 2 weeks. Who writes this stuff?

3 - UFC. They may not be the same, but it is similar. Nobody wants to see a scripted slugfest when we can just watch UFC. Hence, two big guys who used to be huge draws simply aren't anymore. Taker vs Kane is a perfect example. Put them in a different type of match and it can be cool, but them boxing for 20 minutes isn't.

4 - Stories don't go anywhere. Check Survivor Series. Now check TLC. How many storylines continued or even evolved. Just Jomo vs Sheamus. The rest of the matches or feuds were dropped.


WWE is losing viewers because of their writers and view on the product, plain and simple.

Current WWE angles

Recent pay per views have been pretty good. Survivor Series put on some amazing matches as did TLC. I applaud the superstars for stepping it up and delivering some amazing matches. Unfortunately the writing has gone the other direction. Storylines are uninteresting and change randomly. I will illustrate this following each match from Survivor Series to the superstars’ current roles in WWE.

Match 1 – Daniel Bryan vs. Ted Dibiase

This was arguably the match of the night. Why weren’t matches for either of these superstars made for TLC? Bryan has been stealing the show since he won the US title. He has been in a weird angle with the Bellas and left off of the TLC card. Dibiase can put on a pretty good match himself. Even a rematch would have been better. I read they had one as the dark match, but why? This could have easily filled the time the Big Show and Cody Rhodes segment had.

Match 2 – John Morrison vs. Sheamus

Arguably the only feud that has progressed since SS. One does have to wonder though, why book Sheamus to win the King of the Ring if they weren’t going to use that immediately. Having him lose his first PPV after winning makes him look weak. I approve of the Morrison vs. Miz fight for the Rumble, but Sheamus has once again been lost in the mix. I would have been fine with the feud ending if Sheamus could have used his crown.

Match 3 – Dolph vs. Kaval

Another amazing match. Rumors are that Kaval was injured, which would explain his absence. Kaval though has had an interesting run in WWE. He has won a total of one match and wasted his NXT title match. Fans enjoy his matches. I hope he returns soon and could see a great match vs. Rey Mysterio when both are recovered. As for Dolph, his TLC match was good. The ending was weird. I would have liked to see it turn into just a regular match when the belt fell, maybe with Dolph having the sleeper on Swagger while Kofi was in the ankle lock. Again, a decent match, but writing was kind of weird.

Match 4 – Survivor Series Match!

In this match Big Show and Rey Mysterio were the survivors. Surely something good would happen for them right? Well, partially. Mysterio did get put into a title match, but only because writers had botched the writing of the Edge vs. Kane feud. Big Show got to dress up like Santa and beat up Cody Rhodes. Why wasn’t Survivor Series used to push someone? Have these two get a tag title shot. Have these two in the world title match instead of Del Rio. Have

Fake a Firing

With all the recent releases by WWE, an interesting idea came up. WWE should supposedly release someone only to bring them back at the Royal Rumble. The likely conclusion being they win the rumble. This idea came about from the actual release of MVP. Obviously if he was willing to come back and get this push, I’d welcome it. Assuming he won’t though, I see a great candidate in Christian. This would work for multiple reasons.

First, Christian is injured so he’s already out of action. He won’t miss any TV time. He has tweeted that he will be able to return around the Rumble. Many fans would love to see him back then. A simple return was done by Edge last year and the fans loved it. I see no reason it wouldn’t work with Christian. Adding the fake firing would make it that much more epic.

Next, a return from a firing helps create a star. I was at Summer Slam. When Cena said the mystery partner was Daniel Bryan I was amazed. Bryan was supposed to be gone. If the return can be kept secret, every fan will be standing in the arena and those at home will have their jaws drop. The fact the WWE would bring a superstar back after termination makes the fans think he has talent.

His former tag partner Edge is in the title hunt. An Edge vs. Christian match at Wrestlemania would be epic. Every fan would want to see this, even if it isn’t for the belt. Add the world title and it’s an instant selling point.

Both the firing and return would generate a huge buzz on the internet. People would be talking about it until the Rumble. When lesser stars are released there is a buzz. Someone of Christian’s caliber would generate discussion bigger than when Miz won the title. Raw and Smackdown after his return would guarantee huge ratings. It would be a huge talking point and watching point.

Finally, Christian has always been over with fans. Winning the Rumble and a title would do wonders for his career and bring another person to the top tier. Top tier stars are lacking now and having more would never hurt. This could finally be Christian’s time and this angle, if done properly, could turn out amazing.

Late PPV Builds

Something has been bugging about recent WWE PPV’s. A pay per view is supposed to be approximately three hours. Assume that about 30 minutes of that PPV will be advertisements, promos, or highlights, that leaves you with 150 minutes of wrestling. That leaves seven 20+ minute matches or eight 18 minute matches. 15-20 minutes for a match is probably average. Some go longer, but many (especially diva’s matches) go shorter. There is plenty of room for eight matches on a PPV card, yet two weeks before any pay per view the average card only has two to three. Three matches on a card that should hold eight. The question then becomes…why?

Why are there so few advertised matches? I feel it comes down to laziness on creative’s part. Writing feuds early you then have to come up with reasons for the feud to extend two to three weeks. It takes work to keep it fresh. Writing feuds the Raw or Smackdown before a PPV, you can create it and end it in one fell swoop. Setting them up weeks ahead of time you have to be sure of your storylines. You don’t have much room to change the angles. You have to have confidence the storyline will work and build it up.

Do people enjoy seeing matches created the Saturday before a PPV and only announced on wwe.com? I don’t know. I don’t have any statistics on buy rates. Personally I don’t like it. If a match didn’t have any relevance the entire month preceding the PPV, why should anyone shell out money to buy the match? How often do people considering buying PPV’s check wwe.com compared to watching a weekly show? I’d wager the shows reach more potential buyers.

Sometimes the late added matches steal the shows. Take for example the Daniel Bryan vs. Ted Dibiase match at Survivor Series. It was hinted at the Raw before the PPV but not added until a few hours before the show. It was arguably the best match. Bryan has consistently been putting on quality matches and WWE should have known this. Almost anyone could have started a feud with him. A feud for the title would have been a major selling point.

Granted, Bryan isn’t the best on the microphone. But with a contender for the title set early, a few good matches on a Raw, and proper build up this match could have easily been a top selling point for the PPV. We would want to see the match for the wrestling. We would be interested in who wins the title. We would want some finality to the feud. Instead the WWE universe hears about it online the day of the PPV and the feud expired before the next Raw. That isn’t worth $50 to most people.

Even looking at wwe.com now, there is little on the site for TLC. The PPV is two weeks away, and until today there were no advertised matches. There are now two matches set, Edge vs. Kane and Rey vs. Del Rio. Even understanding Randy Orton is likely considered the #1 contender for the WWE title and he might be injured, there is no reason other matches couldn’t be added. I made a full card weeks ago. The biggest things to change are Miz winning the title, Sheamus winning KOTR, and MVP leaving the company. None of these change a great card extremely. The WWE title match could be changed to Miz vs. Sheamus and a replacement could be found for the TLC elimination match. There are always options and replacements. Even if Orton vs. Sheamus were set for TLC at Survivor Series, it could have easily been swapped to Miz vs. Sheamus.

One vital thing now is the economy. A set card gives people something to expect and look forward to. It lets them budget PPV funds for the week. They might be short funded for the weekend, but expecting a good PPV they can save $50 dollars for Sunday that they might spend at a bar on Saturday. They could also plan a party with their friends a week in advance. If a PPV has no hype, people will just go out for the weekend and be unable to buy a show on Sunday.

To conclude, matches for the following PPV should be set the Raw or Smackdown following a PPV, two shows away at most. Fans will purchase more PPV’s knowing they can look forward to an entertaining card on Sunday. With no hype, there is nothing to buy. Nothing to buy means no bottom line for WWE.

The Miz Move-Set

After the Miz won the WWE title there has been lots of controversy. Everyone agrees Miz is amazing on the microphone. Most question his ability in the ring. I think the biggest issue is Miz hasn’t been put into good matches recently. This is partially because he couldn’t lose (WWE was building him up to be champ), and partially because it was hard to write a story that didn’t leave someone in a bad spot.

I believe Miz actually has a vast move set. Looking back at some old videos, he has a ton of moves that aren’t seen anymore. These wrestling moves are impressive and should definitely be brought back. A vast arsenal would leave haters no room to argue. Just bringing back a few he has used in the past would give him a move-set larger than that of John Cena. Below are moves Miz should revive –

Knee to the face into the swinging neck breaker – Otherwise known as the Reality Check. This used to be used every match, now is hardly seen. He should practice getting the motion into one fluid motion for extra effect.

Running clothes-line through the ropes at turnbuckle – Another former staple. There is no other move like this in wrestling. It looks impressive, looks painful, and looks awesome. Use it more

Bull-dog through the ropes at turnbuckles – Similar to the clothes line, only he starts with a headlock on his opponent. This is a totally unique move and looks amazing. It can be done on anybody and should be brought back. This is doubly great to weaken an opponent in a tag match.

Clothesline from hell – Flipping opponent – This move can only be done on the lighter individuals. It’s impressive none the less. Anytime he gets a high flyer opponent he should use it. It makes him look stronger and bigger.

Guillotine to ropes while Miz jumps over – The opponent either lands on the top or middle rope. Miz runs and either just jumps the top rope or actually uses the opponent to step on and jump over. On the way down he grabs the opponent’s neck and hits the guillotine. This is impressive athletically and looks painful.

2^nd rope leg drop – Miz springs off the second rope and drops the leg on the neck of his opponent. It’s a great display of athleticism and gives his move a balanced range. He has a lot of strength moves, but this shows agility.

Submission hold – arm pull camel clutch – Every wrestler is scarier with a good submission. This was used infrequently in the past, but nobody else is using it. He doesn’t have to win often with it, but would be good to weaken his opponents and sometimes win.

Double Underhook Side Slam – This is harder to hit on big guys, but again balances the range of the Miz’s move set. This looks impressive and rarely used. This would be nice if a feud with CM Punk ever developed as Punk has a similar backbreaker move.

The hat and bent walk to ring – Ok, this last one isn’t a move. The entrance walk and outfit can help define a wrestler. This would be a throwback to his ECW days, but they show a smugness that fits his heel persona. Every great had a distinct entrance. Mr. McMahon has the flapping arm walk. Cena has his salute and run. Goldberg had the guards and smoke. Austin had the breaking glass. Morrison has slow motion. Melina has the red carpet. The list goes on. As for props, take the Hitman’s glasses, Cena’s armbands, or Cowboy Bob’s cast as perfect examples. Both could be used well and it wouldn’t hurt to bring back one or the other.

So you see, Miz has a huge arsenal at his disposal, maybe an even bigger one than other wrestler on the roster. While a lot of these moves are from the ECW days, they can easily be brought back. If he does, the universe will see Miz isn’t a one trick pony. Miz has the potential to one of the best and I hope WWE capitalizes.

Who Should Win the 2010 KOTR?

The King of the Ring tournament has always been a way to push a talent from the mid-card up to the main event quickly. In one night, one superstar will go from average to King. This push usually results in a road to a title. Assuming we want to make the most of this push, who should win?

Personally, I think it should either be Drew McIntyre or John Morrison. I will go through each superstar below.

Sheamus – Sheamus already has a huge heel persona. He is a former 2x WWE champion. While his reigns were short and forgettable, he is already considered by most to be a main eventer. He simply doesn’t need the push and losing would help get the winner over with the fans.

Ezekiel Jackson – You can see my article on Jackson to know why he first needs a character revamp. He’s big, strong, and has been fairly dominant as of late. He’s not ready for a big push. Turn him into a monster and then push him later. Winning KOTR will leave most fans thinking…what?

Daniel Bryan – Bryan has had the best match on the past three PPV’s. Fans enjoy watching him. He isn’t the greatest on the microphone, but is arguably one of the best wrestlers in WWE today. Since he is already the US champion, a higher push would necessitate him dropping that belt in the near future. He carries the belt well and helps elevate the mid card. He should be kept there for now as it helps the company the most.

Kofi Kingston – Kofi is super over with the fans. He can potentially win, but I worry his push here would fizzle out. I’m not sure if he is ready for the World Heavyweight title, but if he was pushed to be the next IC title holder, I could see that. He needs some work on the microphone. Since Dolph and Kaval will likely have another match at TLC (and Edge and Kane), it doesn’t make sense to have Kofi win.

Alberto Del Rio – Being king doesn’t fit his character. He is already one of the top villains on Smackdown and pretty hated. His promos don’t need a king feel. While a win would help his push, it doesn’t fit and doesn’t make sense for his personality. He could easily make it to the finals, but should not win.

Cody Rhodes – Cody Rhodes is still hard to take seriously. He’s trying for a sexy boy gimmick. While that’s working to a degree, being king doesn’t fit. He is arguably not even mid-card yet. I think his character needs a lot more work before he gets this push.

John Morrison – Morrison has been winning a lot recently. He has a unique look and move set. All the while though, he has been floundering around with no direction. A win would let him evolve his character. Not only would it show his abilities and dominance, he could mold a gimmick around it. It would let him turn heel or stay face. Also, his former tag partner the Miz is now champion. Winning KOTR would easily set up a title match which would draw fans like none other. Morrison would have insane benefits to both his career and the WWE should he win.

Drew McIntyre – McIntyre would be considered a long shot to most. I think he has real potential. The “chosen one” hasn’t made the impact promised. He has won the IC title and tag titles, but both were fairly uneventful. McIntyre has two big things going for him. First he simply has the heel persona. He looks like a heel and sounds like a heel. Being king could build his heel persona up even further. Second, and most importantly, he has Mr. McMahon in his pocket. A win here could easily take him from a floundering mid carder up to main event in a week. At worst, his character would be helped. Edge vs. McIntyre at the Royal Rumble would be interesting.

As for the matches, the first round should be made all Smackdown vs. Raw. This gives fans a different perspective and the second round matches could then be anything. Let’s hope they make the most of this Raw. Someone could easily be pushed to the main even tonight, and if done well, someone’s career will never be the same!

Juan Cena

Recently on the internet rumors of a character called Juan Cena have been floating around. Please WWE, do not do this. I cannot think of one character that has ever had success with a masked gimmick after being fired. Even some of the best in the world have had bad masked gimmicks. Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan, Owen Hart are just a few on the list of terrible masked gimmicks.

None of them worked. In fact they end up hurting the character more than helping. Fans take it as an insult that the WWE can possibly think we would fall for it. Hogan’s voice was obvious, as was Dusty Rhodes body. Owen Hart had the least defined body so this actually lead to a decent angle where Owen was seen fighting the Blue Blazer. Nevertheless, it ended up being him and being a huge let down.

Cena has a very unique look. It would be nearly impossible to find someone of Cena’s size to play Juan. Now if they could find someone with a similar body, this gimmick MIGHT actually be interesting. If it is actually John Cena in a mask, it’s terrible. Cena was fired. Let him sit in the crowds and maybe interfere now and then. When he interferes, have security and police drag him to the back and “arrest him.” Have a segment from a jail cell. Hype it up. Make the kids and some fans believe he really is fired. If he is going to play a part in the WWE legitimately, why even have a free or fired match?

Juan Cena…Please don’t do it. It won’t end well.

Ezekiel Jackson - Heel vs. Face

For the most part, a superstar is defined as a heel or a face. Heel’s obviously antagonizing the crowd and faces playing the role of a super hero. Every star is booked as one or the other. Switching roles isn’t always easy and can often times not make sense. Edge has switch back and forth at least four times this year. I understand that the rolls can help feuds, but there is one role that isn’t being used at the moment.

The role we haven’t seen in a while is the roll of the neutral, dominant person. He doesn’t antagonize fans, but he doesn’t pander to them either. He simply goes out there, puts on a show, and you either like him or hate him because his opponent is your enemy or your favorite. It’s a tough role to play and takes a big guy who can be dominant in most matches.

The perfect person to try this on is Ezekiel Jackson. He has the look. He was a heel before he left ECW, yet they are trying to make him a face right now. We haven’t heard him talk much. All we get is to see him smiling. He has been dominant in many of his recent matches, so the push wouldn’t even be too hard to implement.

Step 1: Drop the smiling routine. We’re going for intimidation here.

Step 2: Put him in squash matches every Raw. It doesn’t matter if his opponents are former Nexus members or random up and comers from Florida. He needs to win. More importantly, he needs to destroy his opponents.

Step 3: Keep the matches short at first. Since he’s fighting lower tier opponents, he should win.

Step 4: Move up to higher ranking opponents and extend the matches. Once he gets up to the higher mid-card level, he should keep winning, but not as dominant as he was.

Step 5: Don’t put him in the title hunt right away. He won’t need it. Fans will enjoy him just as much without a title.

Step 6: Have him in a fatal four way or larger title match where he loses. This lets fans and creative see how he acts in a title match and whether the fans want him to win.

Step 7: Win! Eventually he will be ready to win a title. It doesn’t have to be the WWE title. It can be a US or IC title. Just really get him over with the fans as the kick ass, no-nonsense guy.

CM Punk as an Announcer

CM Punk initially commentated a few weeks back during a Daniel Bryan match. It seemed like a feud for the US Title was inevitable. Due to an injury, Punk is now sidelined for a few months. Since he shined in his brief segment commentating he was brought back last night as a member of the announce team. I have to say, brilliant move.

Punk brings something missing from the announcers, the in ring knowledge. I know Jerry Lawler was a wrestler, but that was long ago. Punk has insider knowledge on all of the wrestlers and personal anecdotes from recent matches. He helps keep the conversation flowing and has a passion for the business that really shows. Having three announcers was also fairly refreshing.

Punk’s most memorable quotes of the night were his inside poke at Alex Riley, his commentating on beating Morrison for the ECW title, and his mocking of John Cena when they were promoting the DVD. “Irony, since John Cena is FIRED the only way you’ll get to see him now is on this DVD!”

When Punk is healed, he an easy way back into the title picture. Once recovered, Punk can simply stand up and attack the champion. He could then cut a promo and challenge for the title. It wouldn’t seem out of place, we will literally see more of CM Punk over the next few months than any other wrestler. The question is will Punk return as a face or heel? He will definitely get over with the fans, so turning him face would probably be the smart thing to do.

Punk has a great wrestling career ahead of him. When it comes time to hang up the boots, he can pick up the microphone. Keep him out there every week until he is fully recovered. Good job CM Punk and smart move WWE.

WWE TLC 2010 Card - Predictions

Before last PPV I posted a suggested card for Survivor Series. My card was eerily similar to the one WWE used. Maybe they are reading! My only doubt is I posted that 1.5 weeks before Survivor Series so we probably saw some of the writing on the wall. Now, the day after our last PPV, I will try to create a card for TLC and see how well it plays out.

As a disclaimer, there are a couple things that will inevitably skew predictions. I can’t tell what the plan is with John Cena and when he’s coming back. I don’t know if someone is leaving for a break or injury. I don’t know if anyone is returning in the near future. I also don’t know if the Raw GM will finally be revealed. Because of that, I am leaving people out of this card (such as Cena), even though he most likely will return to WWE before TLC. Based on outsider information here is a card I would like to see!

WWE Title – Sheamus vs. Randy Orton – Tables Match

Sheamus won his first title last year. He could easily earn a title match here. With Cena out, Barret losing three title chances, and Jericho on tour, there aren’t many main eventers left. Sheamus is an obvious choice as a dominant heel, especially in a tables match. A round robin or tournament to determine a #1 contender would be great with Sheamus obviously coming out on top. Sheamus needs to rebuild his mean streak and dominance. Kicking Santino won’t accomplish this, but a title run just might!

World Heavyweight Title – Edge vs. Kane – Chairs match

With their lackluster finish at Survivor Series as a tie, a rematch is obvious. There’s also the fact that Edge still has Paul Bearer. This match writes itself. Edge could trade Paul Bearer to pick the type of match. Edge should finally get a title run and carry the belt until Wrestlemania.

IC Title Match – Kaval vs. Dolph Ziggler – Ladder Match

This match showed some high flying and some great spots. The crowd wasn’t super into this match, so Kaval needs a lot of air time up until TLC. Give him a match every week on Smackdown. Judging from the tight pulling at the end, Kaval will get his rematch. With the amount of air (hang time) Kaval got in his match at Survivor Series, I could only imagine what he could do with a ladder. This could easily be a show stealer.

US Title Match – John Morrison vs. Daniel Bryan

I decided to make this a normal match. Bryan has stolen the show for the last few PPV’s. There is little reason to add weaponry. Morrison can also put on a crazy high flying match. They don’t need tables, ladders, or chairs, so just let them go at it. This match will most likely be the best of the night. Morrison could argue he earned it by beating Sheamus and the GM could set it up. One thing I like from this match is it is two faces. That’s typically not kosher, but I would love to see them have a match based on respect, maybe even shaking hands afterwards.

Diva’s Title – Layla vs. Natalya

This isn’t Natalya vs. Laycool, it’s a one on one versus Layla. I assume McCool will be at ringside. Perhaps we’ll finally see some tension between Laycool. Layla could be upset that McCool tapped out last PPV. To be really daring, WWE could make this a ladder match. Diva’s never do any wild matches, but this could be a good way to add something to the division. The match could be short, Natalya getting the sharpshooter after 3-5 minutes and then climbing for the win. It would be good for the Diva’s division. Make it a short but intense match. It’s not the length of the match, it’s the quality.

Grudge Match for Nexus Control– Wade Barret vs. David Otunga – Tables Match

WWE’s been teasing a Nexus division for some time now. Barret is definitely out of the title picture until elimination chamber. Otunga is ripe for a coup. I see a feud starting soon. The only thing Nexus has going for them is the tag titles which Otunga helped bring to them. Barret had what should be an easy match at Survivor Series and still lost. There could be a stipulation; if Otunga wins he leads Nexus. If Barret wins, Otunga is out. I made this a tables match since both are big guys. A ladder doesn’t work. Both of their finishers are slams which could easily go through a table and look good. Nexus is already the biggest thing in WWE at the moment, building this match should be easy. A John Cena return here and AA’ing both of them through a table at once would be an interesting result…

Big Show and Rey Mysterio vs. Gabriel and Slater – Tag Title Match

This one makes sense to me. Show and Mysterio don’t have much going on until Elimination Chamber. Mysterio had his feud with Del Rio, but that fizzled out at Survivor Series. I don’t understand the angle with Del Rio not being eliminated, but that’s another topic. Show and Mysterio were the two survivors. They could easily feud for the title. This match could be any type of match, a normal one, a tables, a ladders, or a chairs match. I would simply leave it as normal and have some Nexus interference to help keep the belts retained.

6 person TLC Elimination Match – Winner Gets as a spot at Elimination Chamber or #30 at the Rumble

Kofi Kingston, MVP, Alberto Del Rio, Swagger, McIntyre, Rhodes

This match might seem illogical at first. Why would we have an elimination match two PPV’s before Elimination Chamber? Simply put, it builds up a story that can be carried through two PPV’s and gives a ton of stars a chance to shine. Whoever wins this match will have momentum through the Rumble and into Elimination Chamber, but have to deal with two tons of steel in two month. It makes the winner seem like a real threat and can really build somebody. The quality of this match will be like a Money in the Bank match. It will have tons of high spots with this group and has show stealer potential. The match should eliminate someone by pinfall, submission, or going through a table. Also recognized is that WWE doesn’t typically like to build PPV’s this early, so it could just as easily be worth #30 in the rumble.

Well, that leaves us with 8 matches but a pretty good card. I would love to see all these matches and would imagine any fan would as well. I hope someone sees this and starts the storyline ASAP! Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated!

The biggest downside to this card – No Miz! But, a brutal table’s match could be the perfect opportunity for him to cash in MITB. I’m not saying he should, but a really strong hinting could go on for weeks. I would even love another attempted cash in but someone taking him out before the bell rings. The eight matches should fill up three hours pretty easily, but if another match is needed

Possible Fight – Miz vs. Dibiase

Dibiase can shine and Miz needs a match to stay credible. He missed Survivor Series and just cut a promo. It doesn’t make sense having Miz feud for a belt while he still has MITB. These two can put on a good match and the addition of each having a valet at ringside could open up interesting angles. They could also be added to the TLC Elimination Match, though that was only Smackdown stars. I could see removing Rhodes and adding Ezekiel Jackson to have a more balanced Raw to Smackdown ratio.

Michael Cole's Heel Gimmick

Something really bugged me tonight. Yes, the card was mediocre and the endings were not the best, but it wasn’t that. It was Michael Cole’s character. There are numerous things Cole does to draw heat. “Vintage.” “And I quote.” “Wow, Look at Vicky tonight.” The list goes on. The problem is those are tolerable as they serve their purpose. His heel persona shines. What bugged me today was after Cena got fired, Michael Cole said he loves Cena and will miss him.

I understand Cena’s the poster boy of WWE. I understand you might not want someone constantly talking down on the face of the company. Michael Cole though is supposed to be the heel announcer. He roots for every heel besides Cena and sometimes Orton. It’s an obvious fault in his character. How can he cheer for the likes of Miz and Dolph Ziggler and then root for Cena later in the night?

Cole doesn’t have to trash Cena as intensely as he does with other superstars. He could simply be neutral on Cena fights and call it as he sees it. Cole’s persona would be more balanced. Cole plays the heel well, so he needs to stay in character all the time. With a few small changes Cole could take his gimmick to the next level and really get over with the fans.

Survivor Series - Predictions

This post will be predictions of who should win. I will also try to provide a potential plan of action for each participant after the match. Of course if I was on creative I would help make it so! The card is as follows:

Kane vs. Edge – World Heavyweight Title

Orton vs. Barret – WWE title

Natalya vs. Laycool – Diva’s title

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov vs. Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater

Survivor Series Match
Team Rey Mysterio, (Big Show, MVP, Kofi Kingston and Chris Masters) vs. Team Alberto Del Rio, (Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes and Tyler Reks)

Ted Dibiase vs. Daniel Bryan (prospective) – US Title

Dolph Ziggler vs. Kaval – Intercontinental Title

Sheamus vs. John Morrison

Let’s start with the lesser matches and work up to the title matches. So first…

Sheamus vs. John Morrison – Winner: Sheamus

I think Morrison has the potential to rise up through the ranks and be a world champion soon. Right now isn’t the time though. I have a whole article on why Morrison has to lose here:

http://hiremewwe.blogspot.com/2010/11/john-morrison-shouldnt-win.html

To sum it up, Morrison has been growing while Sheamus has been fading. Sheamus needs a part in TLC and will not be able to have a credible one with a loss to Morrison. This will be a good match, but expect Sheamus to win.

After the match – Sheamus should feud for the WWE title. He won his first title at TLC last year, so a story would be easy to write. He might not earn a championship match at TLC, but could easily ask for it. He could earn a spot at Elimination Chamber with a clear win at TLC. Morrison should enter into a feud for the US championship. A triple threat match between Bryan, Morrison, and Dibiase would be good, or just a 1 on 1 between any of the three.

Survivor Series Match – Team Mysterio vs. Team Del Rio – Winner: Team Del Rio

I think this match could go either way. I look at who needs the push right now. It is a really close call between Kofi and MVP or McIntyre, Rhodes, and Del Rio. Del Rio has gotten such a push lately I don’t think he should lose cleanly. I think team Del Rio should win with both Del Rio and McIntyre remaining.

Option Two – Depending on the interest in a tag team division, McIntyre and Rhodes are both left alive. Seeing that they won a Survivor Series match they decide to team again and challenge the champs for another tag title reign. To preserve Del Rio’s character, he could either just brawl with Mysterio for a double count out or abandon his team as he has done in the past.

After the match – Del Rio needs to keep a mean streak going. People need to fear him. He can keep building up his heel character and keep winning matches. I could see a real match with Mysterio at a PPV in what would be a #1 contender match.

Natalya vs. Laycool – Diva’s title – Winner: Natalya

This is the one that needs to help the diva’s division. Natalya has the power that hasn’t been seen in a diva since Beth Phoenix left. The fact that she got destroyed on Raw is a scary thought that will be hard to overcome. I expect Laycool to dominate for the most part. At the end they will get over confident, maybe take a picture, and Natalya will knock one out of the ring and score a pin fall on the other. With the dissolution of the Hart Dynasty, Natalya has no where to go should she lose here. She’s already lost three times so another rematch is unlikely.

After the match – A rematch is in order. The next pay per view is TLC, which isn’t often used for women’s matches. A ladder match might actually be really interesting. I wouldn’t mind a really short match, but involving ladders. If they hit some cool moves, the fans might get more into the women’s division. The simple fact that women are doing a ladder match will generate buzz. Keep it short, but spectacular.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Kaval – Intercontinental Title – Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Kaval just won his first match. Granted it was against Dolph Ziggler, but Dolph has shown he is capable of putting on a world class match. Kaval needs to prove himself. Regardless of what the internet says, he hasn’t earned his spot in WWE for the gold yet. If this match can steal the show, then Kaval can get a rematch. I foresee the ending involving Vicky and maybe Kaitlin. Kaval will get shafted, but set up a great rematch for TLC.

After the match – Keep the feud going. If they put on a good match, no reason not to have another. This match had no build-up, no hype. A follow up match could have a lot of interest if they shine here. I would like to see Drew McIntyre rejoin the IC title hunt at some point, probably at the Rumble.

Ted Dibiase vs. Daniel Bryan – US Title – Winner: Daniel Bryan

There is no reason to take the belt off of him yet. He has put on the best match at the last three PPV’s and has more draw power than Dibiase. This match can help let Dibiase shine, but he should lose. I wish I could say more, but this match has zero build up.

After the match – A #1 contender match is set for the title on Raw between Dibiase and Morrison. I see Bryan defending against John Morrison. Set up a big match for him at TLC where he might finally drop the title, setting up a rematch for the Rumble. Dibiase needs a feud. Perhaps he and Dashing Cody Rhodes challenge for the tag titles. Neither has that much going for him.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match -
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov vs. Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater

Winners: Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater

Gabriel and Slater have never had a real match. They didn’t even win the belts in a real match. Dropping the belts here would be an incredibly bad business decision. I think Santino and Kozlov should get the tag belts eventually, just not here. Give Nexus a clean win. Kozlov should dominate most of the match, Santino gets tagged in, goes for the Cobra, Nexus counters and Gabriel hits the 450 splash.

After the match – Santino/Kozlov’s mic skills will help Nexus. Have a rematch at TLC and constant feuding until then. Every Raw there should be a promo by Santino and Kozlov. They should even have an in ring interview similar to the Sheamus one.

Kane vs. Edge – World Heavyweight Title – Winner: Edge, but not new champion

I like Edge, I don’t think he should win the title just yet. The ending of this match can’t be clean, either via interference, preferably from Paul Bearer, or from an Undertaker reference. A really good ending would be Kane hitting a tombstone on Edge. The lights go dark, the gong rings. When the lights come back up Kane is unconscious outside of the ring. Edge slowly stirs at 8 or 9, but it’s too late. Edge wins, but Kane is still champion.

After the match – Edge would in fact be the winner of the match. He gets his rematch at TLC. There should be a match next Smackdown to determine who gets to pick the type of match at TLC. Edge wins the challenge and picks a chairs match(obviously). Edge should win the title at TLC and carry the belt until Wrestlemania.

Orton vs. Barret – WWE title – Winner: Nobody

For those of you who haven’t seen it, I have a list of endings for this match here:

http://hiremewwe.blogspot.com/2010/11/orton-vs-barret-potential-endings.html

I don’t think Cena can screw Orton and I don’t think Miz should actually cash in Money in the Bank here. Therefore, I like the Cena walking out angle the best. This would lead to numerous amazing results. First, Cena keeps face. He doesn’t have to screw anyone. Second, we can finally find out who the GM is. A Cena crusade to find the GM would be appreciated even by the Cena haters. I don’t necessarily root for Cena, but if he was trying to end the anonymous GM angle, I would definitely be part of the Cenation. Last, it potentially sets up a radical match at TLC where Barret can finally win a championship.

After the match – Barret and Orton rematch at TLC where Barret finally gets the championship. He could win due to interference or due to Cena still rampaging looking for the GM. In fact, Cena finding the GM at TLC would be amazing. Orton should regain it at the Rumble or Chamber, leading to an epic Cena vs. Orton match at Wrestlemania. Barret can keep in the title hunt at Elimination Chamber, and maybe do something with the Smackdown roster at Wrestlemania since there is supposed to be a master plan involving both brands.

Survivor Series – My Card vs. Actual

You may recall I posted a card for Survivor Series I would like to see. You may review it here:

http://hiremewwe.blogspot.com/2010/11/survivor-series-plans-for-card.html

Now obviously they couldn’t follow that exactly, so I will try to provide a fair analysis of who’s match would have been better. The actual card looks as follows:

Kane vs. Edge – World Heavyweight Title

Orton vs. Barret – WWE title

Natalya vs. Laycool – Diva’s title

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov vs. Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater

Survivor Series Match
Team Rey Mysterio, (Big Show, MVP, Kofi Kingston and Chris Masters) vs. Team Alberto Del Rio, (Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes and Tyler Reks)

Sheamus vs. John Morrison

Ted Dibiase vs. Daniel Bryan (prospective) – US Title

Dolph Ziggler vs. Kaval – Intercontinental Title

The first three were planned weeks in advance, so obviously I can’t comment on those. As for the others, I will break them down into individual matches that are comparable.

My Match: Nexus versus the Harts and Uso’s – 4 on 4 Survivor Series style match. Survivors are guaranteed a title shot.

WWE’s: Nexus members Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater versus Vladamir Kozlov and Santino Marella

Verdict: This one goes to me. This match seems too random. Up until recently Santino has been feuding with Sheamus. All of a sudden he is thrown into a tag title match. Why? I understand that Gabriel and Slater have not yet defended their belts. They don’t have any real teams to defend them against sadly. My match added a Survivor Series style match to the card and gave Nexus a chance to shine as a team. Santino and Kozlov have proven themselves on the mic but not in the ring. I mentioned in my article on Santino that he is being underused and could very easily be a tag title holder with Kozlov. I don’t know however if this is the right time to give him the title. They could very easily be given a match on a Raw, or after a few wins against various teams, one at the Royal Rumble. For the WWE, there must have been a reason to break up the Hart Dynasty. What it is…I don’t know. Keeping them together one more week wouldn’t have hurt. A break up at a PPV might even have been better. +1 for me.

My Match: US Title Match – Daniel Bryan vs. John Morrison vs. Sheamus

WWE’s: US Title Match – Daniel Bryan vs. Ted Dibiase AND Morrison vs. Sheamus

Verdict: It would be tough to give me points for this one. My match can provide a different type of wrestling. Any time you have three wrestlers in a match they can play off each other in different ways than are possible in a 1 on 1 match. However, we have a 1 on 1 match also occurring. Bryan and Morrison have shown they can put on a good triple threat match via their recent one including the Miz. There is no doubt in my mind Sheamus could have been great in a triple threat as well. It even made sense given the past few Raw’s. The matches WWE set will likely be good. Dibiase and Bryan are great in ring performers. There is little doubt this match will be pretty good. It just seems out of place. Dibiase was feuding with Goldust and Bryan was roaming, mostly aiding Raw teams. If they can put on a great match, fans will probably forgive the terrible build up. As for Sheamus vs. Morrison, again there is no build up. I also think this match should be pretty good. Morrison has a move set than can easily steal the show and Sheamus can generate some real heat from the fans. In a recent post I suggested that Sheamus has to win this one. I would really like this match if it didn’t feel detrimental to either opponent’s career. A good storyline after the match might save them, but I’m unsure. Again, it will come down to the quality of the match. If it is a good match that the fans love we can partially ignore the lack of build up. I rule this one equal. The two matches WWE created can be great, but we can’t tell until they happen. My triple threat match would have undoubtedly been a show stealer.

My Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. MVP

WWE’s: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kaval

Verdict: Again, WWE’s match came out of nowhere. Dolph and Kaval had a pretty good match on Smackdown. It wasn’t show stealing, but it wasn’t a really long match. I believe Dolph has show stealing potential from the matches he and Bryan put on. I hear Kaval has the same potential but he has yet to shine in the WWE. This could be his chance to shine. If given appropriate time at Survivor Series I think this match could steal the show. That is of course if Kaval lives up to the hype. MVP is one of my favorites. I know he isn’t a decorated champion. I know he isn’t the most over with the fans. I think he REALLY has potential that isn’t being used (perhaps an article on him later). Given a similar time in a match, he and Dolph could put on a showstopper. As for what the majority of fans want…I think they would prefer Kaval. Therefore, even though I love my match, +1 for the WWE.

Survivor Series Match – Both are Team Del Rio vs. Team Mysterio.

My teams: Del Rio, Rex, McIntyre, Rhodes, Swagger vs. Mysterio, Kaval, Show, Kingston, Masters

WWE’s teams: Del Rio, Rex McIntyre, Rhodes, Swagger vs. Mysterio, MVP, Show, Kingston, Masters

Verdict: Nobody gets a point. Maybe I get a point for picking the teams almost perfectly. The only variance in my choice is MVP for Kaval, but that ties into my choice for the Intercontinental title. If MVP was given a title shot, I’d wager Kaval was in this match. With such similar teams, it’s not fair to give anyone a point. As for the Smackdown hype, it was good to see the individuals face each other in one on one matches. I was disappointed there weren’t team interviews on Smackdown. But I’m not on creative (yet) so they missed that from me. No points awarded.

My Match: Divas #1 Contender Survivor Series Match

WWE’s: Nothing

This was to be added if time permitted. Perhaps it won’t fit since WWE garnered an extra match by expanding my US title match. The main focus was to give more diva’s exposure and to add another Survivor Series Style match. I’ll give myself +1 here for adding a match and trying to build a Survivor Series match with relevance.

Judging from my rankings, I’m ahead two to one. Both cards are fairly similar. It is the subtle changes that make the PPV. My matches seemed more meaningful and helped set up future matches and PPV’s. I think people would be more willing spend money on my card. While that may be because I created it, I think my matches help guide the WWE down a better road. WWE’s matches are decent, but don’t lead anywhere. Creative can’t simply look at each show as “This looks decent for now.” There needs to be a basic blueprint for the next four PPV’s. Feuds need to be planned and started early. We can’t randomly have Kaval challenging Ziggler two days before a PPV. Where is the build up? Where is the hype?

I will be posting something detailing example plans in the near future regarding the title belts. Be sure to read it!

Building Top Stars - What Should be Done

There is a youth movement going on in the WWE currently. Whether it’s working or not is a tough call. On one hand we have new superstars in the title hunt. On the other, they don’t last long there or don’t feel like true main eventers. Clearly the youth movement needs to keep going. But we need to make stars, not just have new challengers for the WWE title.

To emphasize how important this is, we need to look no further than the Raw roster. In terms of top tier stars that can draw crowds and sell massive amount of merchandise, there are very few on the active roster. Raw has John Cena, Randy Orton, and…Who? The Miz is getting there, as is Wade Barret. Sheamus can be a good heel but his character keeps lacking definition. He has clean wins over HHH, but his title wins are all sketchy and he doesn’t hold the belt for long.

The Raw roster clearly doesn’t have a huge number of main eventers. Two people I left off were CM Punk and Christian. I think both are possible main eventers, but both are side lined with injury. Here in lies the problem. What happens if both Cena and Orton get injured in the near future? There would be very little left in terms of a main event scene. Couple with the fact the quasi-main eventers are all heels, and the product would get bland really fast.

While there are numerous mid-card wrestlers, the youth movement needs to make main eventers. This process takes at least one full year, maybe more. Even winning the title once or twice does make you a top star. Wrestlers have to earn it and get over with the fans. This won’t be accomplished simply by putting them in the title hunt. The older stars can help, but can’t be expected to give the younger stars everything.

I think there is an easy way to help build stars. It starts with the two biggest stars at the time stepping out of the title hunt for a few months. Cena and Orton are clearly the top two draws. They don’t need the title to get fans interested. Fans want them to win regardless of who they are fighting, they remain draws regardless of their opponents, and getting back on top is not only entertaining, but makes when they do make it back up that much more memorable.

Two perfect examples of this in practice are Chris Jericho and Kane. Jericho has been a main eventer since his win of the undisputed title. He is arguably the best mic worker in the business today. There is no question he is a top level main eventer. But he had dropped to tag team champion for a year and has helped put over people on NXT and Raw. He is a great example of what a true main eventer can do. Kane hadn’t won a title in ten years. Yet even with this much time between reigns, his recent win didn’t seem out of place. He has always been a dominant force. Maybe he isn’t as big a draw as Jericho, but it would be hard not to see him as a valuable asset.

Back to the WWE title and creating future stars, we need to have our two big faces step out of the spotlight for just a little. I would take one of them and let one of the most promising mid carders score a win. A clean pin fall or submission would do wonders for their careers. I’m not talking Cena falling through a table or Nexus interfering and giving Barret a win. I’m not even talking about Miz cashing in money in the bank. It would be in the best interest for a rising star to score a clean, legitimate win over Cena or Orton.

This instantly sets the tone whoever wins is clearly a great wrestler. After all, he beat one of the best cleanly and is now the champion. The most likely candidates would be the ones who have the skills, but need work on the mic and more recognition. I could see Morrison, Dibiase, R-Truth, Miz, Barret, or Ezekiel Jackson all pulling this off.

Their first opponent after winning the title should NOT be a rematch. It should be one of the other people from the list above, with Sheamus added since he has been a past champion. Now the obvious question is, who is going to buy a PPV featuring a WWE title match between Morrison and Miz? Well that one has obvious selling points…so say even Ezekiel Jackson versus Sheamus. Well the two are powerhouses. They would have a strong, intense match. The fact that they are not the top level stars makes the match that much more interesting as they would both have tons to prove. Both would be fighters and want to win badly.

We don’t have to completely ignore Cena or Orton this whole time. Cena and Orton can still have feuds and big ticket matches. The Cena and Barret angle would be interesting regardless of a title in the picture. Cena or Orton could feud for the US title. This would help another mid carder and make that title seem more prestigious. Bryan vs Orton would be a great match and a win for Bryan would push his career. Mathematically, following the idea above, we now have four mid-level stars getting a huge push. This is much better than the current one getting a push from Cena and Orton. We have three awesome matches fans want to see and buy on PPV. We have a better product and more stars.

Obviously there will be some hesitation from management and the top stars. Company executives might worry sales would dwindle unless Cena or Orton is the champion or in the title hunt. I argue they wouldn’t. The fan base won’t turn on a star simply because they aren’t champion. Edge is still arguably the most popular star on Smackdown and hasn’t had a title run in a long while. This wouldn’t change for Raw. Future profits would go up as there are now more stars. More stars equates to more PPV buys and more people to make merchandise for.

As for the stars, yes, they have worked their way up to the level they are at. They are definitely entitled to being in the spotlight. However, there needs to always be someone to fight for the spotlight. Nobody would care about Cena if his competition every PPV was Zach Ryder. He just isn’t a threat. No threats, no interest. It is also necessary due to potential injuries. Injuries happen in wrestling, there is no way to prevent them 100%. If one gets injured they need to have people hold that spot light until they recover.

So in summation, let a mid carder get a legit title win. Have his next opponent be another mid carder. Put the two biggest stars in feuds with other mid carders. Everyone grows. I realize this is all difficult currently since Wrestlemania is coming up. The perfect time for this to start would be after Wrestlemania. Fans would have their fill of the top level and their would be plenty of time to build for Summerslam and next Wrestlemania. Remember, even Orton and Cena started as mid-carders!

John Morrison Shouldn’t Win

Going into Survivor Series, Sheamus versus John Morrison was recently added to the card. Most people would argue John Morrison needs a push. I feel this match is not the one to push him. His opponent also needs a push. Sheamus has been a WWE champion twice (a feat Morrison has yet to accomplish), but both of his wins weren’t legitimate and his reigns were short. After losing the belt, he has been drifting, occasionally beating up someone. He has become less of a threat and seen as a fluke of a champion. He is on a slippery slope down and a loss could bury him.

Both are at similar standing in the company. Both are mid level super stars at the moment. Both have the capacity to put on top tier matches. Both have huge star power and will no doubt go on to better things. So why then if they seem so similar does Morrison have to lose this match?

Simply put, Morrison’s career can handle a loss better than Sheamus’s. Morrison has a few huge things going for him. First, he has the look. He looks like a star. No amount of wins or losses will change that. Second, he has a unique move set. Fans love his matches and will keep enjoying his matches win or lose. Finally, we don’t expect him to win 100% of the time. He is often like Rey Mysterio, an underdog. I sure as hell see him as one against a beast like Sheamus. Everyone knows he can win a match on any given day. We don’t always expect him to, but we know he can. Losing and bouncing back from this will keep his fighter image alive. He won’t lose any fans and his push can continue even on Raw the next night.

If Sheamus were to lose, he would definitely fall further down the totem pole. As I mentioned above, his title wins were cheesy. His first saw Cena fall through a table in a tables match. His only defenses during this reign ended in DQ. His second title win involved Nexus interference. His only non disqualification win came against Cena, though also with interference form Nexus. Nobody can honestly look at that and say he is a legitimate champion. Two screw job wins and zero legit defenses as champion is hardly an impressive resume.

TLC is the next pay per view after Survivor Series. One year ago Sheamus won his first title here. He should play a significant role at this PPV. All fans will have a hard time taking him seriously in a match should he lose to Morrison. A loss takes him out of the title hunt almost completely. I believe he could get back there with the right push. A win at Survivor Series would be a great start.

One reason this match will be great is either Morrison or Sheamus could come away the winner. Sure, many would love to see the Guru of Greatness rise through the ranks, but Sheamus is not the one to start his rise. Sheamus needs it more. Morrison has been slowly evolving. He can take a minor setback. Sheamus has been devolving. If he loses Sunday it will take the resurgence of HHH and their feud to give him an interesting match.