Jumpin said:
I think No Escape/Elimination Chamber will see whoever will face Seth.
I think Rock is basically slotted in where CM Punk would have been in the story. Replace Rock’s corporate role with the high profile CM Punk contract. Replace the Bloodline connection with the Paul Heyman connection. And note CM Punk was already starting down the slow heel turn arc until he got injured. Punk getting injured was a massive setback, but The Rock, luckily, was a great (probably better) fit into that same slot since Rock is a trained actor on top of his already existing promo skills, on top of having one of the greatest presences ofin pro-wrestling history.
The whole segment was diamonds. How they set the whole thing up, with how Roman followed the Rock, and Rock’s slap to Cody, the rising anger, and the nervous looks on Triple H and the other execs faces, that created crazy tension on levels very rarely seen in sports, I’m thinking Tyson Lewis stare down level.
Thank fucking God Vince McMahon is out of the picture for this alone. With RAW going to Netflix, we’re probably going to see a much more adult oriented show with coarser language, higher tension, and higher depictions of violence. Triple H said something along the lines of being near the Dawn of a new Attitude era. Right now, we’re in early 1997. The Netflix deal will bring us into 1998. Perhaps this could be a lot better than the Attitude era, we’ll have to see. There are a load of promising stars in WWE right now. What will Steiner turn into within two years? Will MJF be our new Jericho? (At least mic-wise, being the somewhat whiny yet high attitude smart-mouth type that fans love) Etc… I’m just rambling here.
The main thing about the Attitude era is that thought that anything can happen on top having a ton of things to look forward to. Constant tension in the storylines. And the WWE is so much better produced now than it was in 1997/98. The segments are (right now) as consistent as 2000. If it isn’t apparent, I’m really excited about pro-wrestling right now :D |
Eh? I'm not sure how Punk would have fit into the spot. Having lost to Cody at the Rumble he really had no legitimate claim to the match, and it wouldn't have made sense for Cody to give him the title shot. Feel like Punk would have faced Rollins at mania.
But yeah, the segment was great. I didn't think this whole thing was going to work because I didn't think heel Rock was an option. And, again, it doesn't make sense considering how they started this, but it is a great decision. Otherwise they would have had to come up with some kind of compromise to try and make both matches happen, and I don't think it would have worked at all. Rock being in the mix now actually makes this so much better. Cody just winning the Royal Rumble and challenging Roman in a rematch... Well it would have been like vanilla ice cream. Vanilla ice cream is delicious and satisfying, and you're never unhappy with it. Now, threw some whip cream and hot fudge on top. Credit where credit is due, whether this was the plan all along, or whether he read the room and turned heel like he did with Hogan, the Rock does indeed seem to be saving Wrestlemania.
Whether it's due to Vince McMahon stepping down or not, I've been enjoying the product much more than I have probably since Wrestlemania 30 with the yes movement. They've been doing a good job with giving characters actual motivations, connecting storylines instead of each being in its own little world, and building up to things... That being said, they've really been delaying gratification and blueballing the fans. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Part of wrestling is disappointing the fans, dangling what they want in front of them, and yanking it away. If you do it right, it makes it all the better when they finally get what they want. If you do it wrong though, they just give up.
