Random Royal Rumble Rumblings

[Big Pete]

I'm still not seeing how he ruined wrestling for you...what was it in particular?

 

[Mr Saab]

When Edge was pushed and Cena was made a top notch star. Just got boring for me. Added to that the death of Benoit and Eddie and the retirement of Stone Cold and the Rock.....the new breed just lacked that x factor.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

The RR for me is better then all the other main events. Every year I buy it, sure some sucked but the majority have been great. I'm probably one of the few but i thought last rumble was pretty awesome. But my all time favorite is 94? Both hbk and Bret hart starting from 1 and 2.

 

[RedVDave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ_jLpFOzk4

Does this ever get old?

:lol: Botchamania special!

 

[Big Pete]

When Edge was pushed and Cena was made a top notch star. Just got boring for me. Added to that the death of Benoit and Eddie and the retirement of Stone Cold and the Rock.....the new breed just lacked that x factor.

I understand that, but Lawler?

Guy has been with the company since '92 and nothing has really changed between then and now. I'm not having a go, just curious.

 

[Whos Ya Daddy]

I saw him, didnt think much of him. As a commentator - pathetic.
No one tops Jesse the Body, Monsoon, or Heenaa

Joey Styles is the best play by play caller I've heard.

Granted there is not much competition because I don't know if anyone else knows the technical name of more than ten moves but he used to call a great match with enough flair to make a color commentator redundant.

It's a real shame the WWE has beaten him down to the point where he no longer has any interest in commentating.

It's even worse when you look at the imposters they have at the commentating booths.

JR calls a good match but he really has nothing on Styles.

 

[Whos Ya Daddy]

I understand that, but Lawler?

Guy has been with the company since '92 and nothing has really changed between then and now. I'm not having a go, just curious.

Somethings changed alright...

He used to add something as a heel on color commentary.

Now he just flat out sucks and only turns up for his paycheck.

He couldn't name the smackdown rooster if his life dependent on it.

Adds nothing.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't rate Lawler on commentary anymore, but I could think of at least 20 things to turn you off the WWE before his mediocre commentary.

Nobody captured the emotion of a match like JR. Some of his calls are just legendary.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Lawler himself has admitted that he couldnt shine JR's shoes. However, it was never his job to be the playbyplay caller. He is the colour commentator. more recently he hasnt added colour, because the heel commentator has also been the playbyplay caller. What the WWE really need to do is put JR on Raw with Lawler again, and perhaps put Joey Styles as the playbyplay with a heel Cole as colour on smackdown.

 

[Mr Saab]

I understand that, but Lawler?

Guy has been with the company since '92 and nothing has really changed between then and now. I'm not having a go, just curious.

Ok, it was not just Lawler, but more so with what i said above re Rock. Stone Cold, Edge and Cena....plus the deaths of Eddie and Benoit.
Lawler has always been a rubbish commentator since i first heard him....i guess i am living in the past, but nothing beats Monsoon or Jesse from WM1 to WM6

 

[Big Pete]

Monsoon and Heenan is my favourite team, Heenan just had that timeless humour about him that set him apart and his bickering with the other commentators was first class. The WWE have been trying to emulate it recently, but it doesn't even compare.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

To be fair though, Heenan and Monsoon and Lawler and JR had fantastic talent to commentate about.

 

[Big Pete]

Hm, not so much talent but better booking.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Heenan/Monsoon:

Hogan
Savage
Dibiase
Andre
Warrior
Steamboat
Road Warriors
Demolition
Hart Foundation
British Bulldogs
Roberts

JR/Lawler:

Austin
Rock
Triple H
DX
Foley
Jericho
Benoit
Undertaker
Edge/Christian/Damn Dudleyz/Hardyz

Cole/Lawler:

Cena
Triple H
Punk
Batista
Umaga
Miz
Orton
DX II

Bit of a discrepency dude

 

[Big Pete]

And I'd say the majority of those 'stars' were aided by better booking. The current WWE locker room has a lot of talent, but it's seldom promoted properly.

Let's count it...

Cole-Lawler (2009-now)
John Cena
Randy Orton
Batista
Shawn Michaels
Triple H
The Undertaker
Edge
Chris Jericho
Rey Mysterio
CM Punk
Daniel Bryan
Cody Rhodes
Dolph Ziggler
The Miz
Mark Henry - At least for this monster run, plenty to sink your teeth into
Jack Swagger
Evan Bourne
Sheamus
Sin Cara
Shelton Benjamin
Montel Vontavious Porter
Christian
Jeff Hardy

etc. etc.

There's plenty of talent there, the problem is, the WWE simply don't use them. I don't really care to see an Attitude era revival (at least, Russo era Attitude) but I'd like to see them adopt a similar television structure that era had, where they made use of every segment. Right now, the biggest problem with the WWE is how they essentially use the mid-card guys as filler designed to space out the main event segments. It's nearly impossible for wrestlers such as Kingston, Ziggler and Bryan without granting them mic. time and involving them with storylines that hooks fans and opens up more markets for the company other than those who like Cena, Punk, Orton or Sheamus.

So to bring this around to what I was saying, I wouldn't blame those talents I listed, at least the majority of them, I just don't think the WWE pays them enough attention and in a lot of ways their promotion of certain stars reminds me of South Park's interpretations of trailers for those weak as piss comedies.

 

[Moffo]

They don't have the personality dude. Most of them look like hardcore gym junkies without any concept of how to entertain a crowd

WWE is at a low point, let's face facts

 

[Big Pete]

You wouldn't know if they did or if they didn't, they're never given a chance to express themselves.

 

[bender]

Ok, it was not just Lawler, but more so with what i said above re Rock. Stone Cold, Edge and Cena....plus the deaths of Eddie and Benoit.
Lawler has always been a rubbish commentator since i first heard him....i guess i am living in the past, but nothing beats Monsoon or Jesse from WM1 to WM6

I dont actually think for one minute that Lawler was any good. He was just the right guy... in the right place.... at the right time!


Jesse the Body Ventura and Gorilla were the all time Legends.

But for sheer nostalgia, you cant go past the team of:

Jesse Ventura, Vince McMahon, and Bruno Sammartino.

With of course a Special Update by Lord Alfred Hayes and guest interview by Mean Gene Okerlund.

Bobby the Brain was always a better manager than commentator which he only took over Much later on when Vince was desperate and more in WCW than WWE anyway.

I actually think you are right about Jerry Lawler. He changed the way fights are commentated. Lord Alfred, Bruno, Gorilla, used to talk about the sport as a match or sport (and pretend it was a real fight). Lawler is about poor commentary, spots and storyline (usually not the one that is actually in the ring). and it affects everything else also, even the wrestling product is not as good. You know that a match is going to drag on for ages with the same spots, the same wrestlers swapping wins each week, every man and his dog getting to win titles etc. Everything is shock value and it worked at first, but it has wrecked the product, imo.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

They don't have the personality dude. Most of them look like hardcore gym junkies without any concept of how to entertain a crowd

WWE is at a low point, let's face facts

This is about it, seriously zero personality in the place.

I cant get through more then 15 mins of RAW or SMACKDOWN! these days.

 

[RedVDave]

John Cena
Randy Orton = No Personality
Batista = No Personality
Shawn Michaels
Triple H
The Undertaker
Edge
Chris Jericho
Rey Mysterio = No Personality
CM Punk
Daniel Bryan
Cody Rhodes
Dolph Ziggler = No Personality
The Miz
Mark Henry = No Personality
Jack Swagger = No Personality
Evan Bourne = No Personality
Sheamus = No Personality
Sin Cara = No Personality
Shelton Benjamin = No Personality
Montel Vontavious Porter
Christian
Jeff Hardy = No Personality

Have to agree with Mof this is a HUGE difference between talking and interacting with the crowd everyone on this planet can talk it's all about the way you do it with the highlighted people can you honestly tell me on promo where you were in awe? Or really stood out? no! Because they don't have it it's simple! The Rock, Austin, Savage, Falir, Hogan hell even Val Venis were great talkers on the mic. Most promos these days are the typical underdog promo or the i'm gonna berate you and kick your arse type promos the only bloke who is head and shoulders above everyone right now is CM Punk then daylight Santino Marella is a very good talker Christian would probably be the other right now.