OK so moreso than things I simply liked or didn't like from Survivor Series or Raw, I came out with the same feeling from both shows - WWE is trying a different direction; has been for a little bit now in terms of experimenting, and I finally feel like they've made some decisions and are 'going there'. Good or bad? Don't know and will have to see how the above plays out. But I will say this; I have a real feeling of 'make or break' going on. It will either be fantastic, or it will suck totally. Some examples:
- The 'Jeff Hardy found unconscious' storyline leading up to Survivor Series: offensive, in terms of playing on someone's reputation, and real demons? Yes - not that this is new (see: Hawk, Scott Hall). Would it have been less offensive had they clarified he'd been 'attacked' in the stairwell where he was found? Yes. However, would that have been less cutting-edge, intriguging, and created less buzz? Yes. The mainstream media was had, in terms of their witch hunt looking for WWE pillers, and the "E" succeeded in minimizing any REAL story of this ilk going forward, and creating caution in the media for trusting 'wrestler OD'd stories'. Is this good for wrestlers? Um ... :P Good for business in one sense, bad in another - we'll see if THIS brand of worked shoot becomes a regular feature or is a 'pop a rating' anomalie.
- The resulting Edge title win: great in that Adam Copeland is an awesome performer and it's always great to see him on top. Suckitudinous in that here's another 'undeserved' run for Edge with the title, and after they pulled a similar bait and switch with CM Punk a few months ago, with him being yoinked out of the World Heavyweight Title scramble in favour of Chris Jericho, it doesn't even feel that creative. And Vicki's support of him after their marriage was in shambles when they were last seen together? It's all very interesting - especially champion Edge - but the consistency problems etc. have to be addressed for me to really get behind this.
- John Cena as champ and his performance last night can be seen in two ways: Jason Powell at http://www.prowrestling.net saw Cena's title win as hitting a 'fast forward button' when he could have 'chased' Jericho right to Royal Rumble; his promo last night was pandering and sucking up to the fans. And a fair case can be made. But the 100% positive reaction Cena got in his hometown made it inevitable he'd win the belt; and I think personally he deftly tied in Chris Jericho's disrespect of the WWE, to his disrespect for the fans, and issued his support of both, and judging from the crowd reaction, he succeeded in what he, and the WWE more in particular, wanted him to do - the WWE fans appreciated his support, and sympathized with the WWE being looked down upon by Jericho. In one fell swoop, for that moment or two of magic, Cena got the fans behind him, and the flagging WWE product. Will it last? Again - we will see.
- IC Title Tournament: I feel about this the way I feel about every tournament; the quality of competition, and the final match, will say a lot about where it goes. Last night, was not particularly inspiring.
- A huge technical screwup blew Melina's surprise return in the Diva's six-woman tag match; her music played during Candice Michelle's entrance, before she was due to come out. Bad. On the other hand - I have never respected the King and Michael Cole - particularly the King- more than their commentary thereafter. Was it cheezy, and obviously trying to cover up for something? Of course. Did it make me laugh? Yes. Did point A cause point B? You bet your bippy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment