Bleacher Report - Articles by Eric Ryals

Christian's Comeback May Save the WWE

Eric Ryals — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:17:55 -0500

Since 2005 (I'll give WWE a little credit since it was really 2003), the world of WWE has hit a rock-bottom slump (no pun intended). We have witnessed the demise of Ric Flair, the death of Extreme, cheesy gimmicks, unnecessary story lines, and talent wasted.

World Wrestling Entertainment, as we know it today, has lost its moxy recently. The action, the racy story lines, and big names from days of old have long since passed away. We have nothing to looking forward to. We went from RAW being the mainstay of the company to a B-rate show that panders to the current wrestling fanbase, who has been tricked into thinking "superstars" like Brian Kendrick are main-event status.

When the "federation" was replaced with "entertainment," the question quickly arose: Where is the entertainment at?

The period from 2003-08 was pretty bad for the "E", as scandal, rants, and rumors took the company by storm. Story lines suffered (Katie Vick for instance), key superstars were released or quit, and main events were replaced by stupid gimmick matches.

Towards the end of 2008, it seemed like the "E" in WWE was finally starting to mean actual entertainment. We saw the arrival of stars like Evan Bourne, Ricky Ortiz, Ted Debiasi, just to name a few.

At the end of 2008, and into early 2009, wrestling fans got word of a man coming back into the picture, a man that was a crucial part of putting the late 90s, early 2000s on the map.

Some may know him as a Creepy Little Bastard, but maybe you know him as Captain Charisma. With word of Christian coming back to WWE, it seemed that all was right in sports entertainment once again.

This may be bias, but I feel like story lines are about to pick up and some young guys are about to get the spotlight.

Now, I'm not putting the fate of the WWE on Christian's back (not that he can't do that; look what he did for TNA), but with his return it seems like a lot of new talent and young guys can get a push.

Christian Cage (Possible) Return Angle (Leaked)

Eric Ryals — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:19:20 -0500

Leaked Via No DQ.com (direct Quote)

Posted by Randy Gordon on 01/07/2009 at 03:53 PM

As noted earlier, WWE will likely be inserting a storyline into the Jan. 9 SmackDown where Jeff Hardy and his fiance Beth will be involved in a hit-and-run accident in Cameron, NC.

The angle will be ran like a shoot with Edge again denying he had anything to do with it and Jim Ross and Taz also spend some time talking about it. In the angle, Jeff will be okay so he doesn’t have to miss any events.

However, Beth will be injured and the current plan is to have Christian as the driver of the other car, provided he still signs with WWE, which still isn't confirmed.

Where Have All the Cruiserweights Gone???

Eric Ryals — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:42:45 -0500

Where have all the cruiserweights gone? Remember the days when we
had guys like Taka, Essa Rios, X-PAc, Christian, Funaki (when he was good), and Crash HOlly(RIP). The days where the cruiserweight (or light heavyweight)
meant something.

Or in WCW with Juvi "The Juice", Kidman, ALex Wright, Psycosis
La Parka, or Liz Mark Jr. When places like WCW had enough cruiserweights to
start their own tag division with groups like 2 Count, Jung Dragons, Air Raid, and
The Filthy Animals.

Have we come to a point where non-stop Lucha style wrestling is dead. (No disrespect, but the X-Divison has nothing on the old crusierweight division of WCW).

Have we come so far in wrestling where gimmick overpower a fast-paced, nonstop match. The only shining light that has been with the cruiserweight division and light-heavyweight division in WWE is when Gregory Helms had the strap and that because he came in WWF(E) with it.

Me, I miss pioneers like Eddie, Rey Mysterio (JR.), Mil Mascares, Chavo, LionHeart Chris Jericho, and Dean Melenko. You don't have to answer, because I know the answer but feel free to give some feed back.

What happened to the Raven's, Billy Kidmans, Kienti's, Dean Malenko's, X-Pac's, "Suger" Shane, Evan Karagious', Lash Leroux's, and the Essa Rios of the business...I feel bad because this generation of wrestling fan has to look forward to champions like HOrnswaggle...I also feel bad for Evan Bourne (Matt Sydel) because he'll never hold a dignified cruiserweight title...

I'm gonna close with this question: Has the cruiserweight title become a once-in-a-while gimmick belt?

Is the Draft Killing the Tag Divison?

Eric Ryals — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:44:27 -0500

Since the start of the WWF(E) draft in 2002, the tag team division, or now divisions, has been shaken up every year. Teams are split, superstars are not used or fired. My question is, is the draft killing the tag team division?

My personal opinion is YES!!!! Kendrick and London, Edge and Christian, the Hardys (2x in the same night), DX, Big Daddy V and Henry, etc. what do you all think?

Props, Flops, and Forget Me Nots (Premiere Edition)

Eric Ryals — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:05:33 -0500

Remember the glory days of wrestling, when feuds meant something, when tag team titles had class....Times when we had 20-man cruiserweight battle royals for a title that wasn't defunct every three months. When teams wern't just thrown together......

We have come to the point where for a long time we'll go without a cruiserweight champion, tag teams who just met yesterday (lol), Jobbers getting pushed in main event title matches, and Tag team champions who are none- existent...

My Props:

WWE

Edge: I've been an Edge-head since the days of entering through the crowd and sitting in the arena watching his "brother" in matches. The Man keeps on re-inventing himself. The most watched Champion of the Century has had amazing matches since The Rated R era has begun....I see greater things for Edge if they let him keep the title for more than three months.

Mickie & Melina: Now I may be bias but oh well. The only good thing about WWE that has been constant has been these two...Mickie has been such a dominating force and a huge draw for WWE...She is one of the superstars who they didn't weather down with retarded angles and gimmicks pure wrestler....Melina Perez...what more can I say...in my opinion the most improved wrestler overall....her transition from heel to face was amazing....She is pure talent who like Edge continues to re-invent herself....Title run for the "Superstar" Diva

The Hardys: I'm sure in everyone's opinion all that is needed to be said is..... FINALLY. I can say Matt has been faithful to WWE throughout some retarded stuff..that whole him and Edge angle was stupid (f Amy Dumas), he deserves the strap. Jeff has put his butt on the line every match he's ever been in....forget the whole drug thing, Jeff is a true asset to the company.

TNA

New Blood Angle: The concept was great, but yeah from there...no....no....no

Knockouts:With the new addition of SOJO (Sojourner Bolt) the knockouts are for me the mainstay of TNA. Roxxi, Shantell Taylor (Taylor Wilde), Rhaka Khan, ODB, Cheerleader Melissa (Riesha Saeed), and Kong....WOW!!! divas with Talent being used..on a regular basis

CHRISTIAN CAGE:Smart move...he was so under used in TNA towards the end of his run....Welcome Home Christian...welcome home

Feast or Fired: Oh yes it was great..kept TNA fun this year

My Flops

WWE

Dolph Ziggler: Enough Said.....

HBK and JBL "Your my B---- now":Um the angle make no sense to me, too many holes. HBK is set for life...its called reparations lol

WWE writing team: I mean really whats good, what are we thinking here

Hurricane Helms: Granted i love Gregory but D!!! he came back terrible

TNA

Corperate Office:yall lost Christian Cage, the man who singlehandlely got TNA on the market (before Angle and Booker T).

Superstar Hype:Where is it at in TNA it seems like the only star they hype is Kurt Angle

Forget me '

WWE

Melina's Return:What a huge "shocker" lol thank you Jerry Lawler for ruining it for us all

Edge's Return: though he looked a mess. Edge came back without missing a beat.

TNA

Foley is Good: The best part of TNA was Foley

Randy Orton: A Legacy down the Drain

Eric Ryals — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:09:14 -0500

Recently I have been getting very interested in the "Legacy" angle but there are a few things that have thrown me off and a few things that could use some improvement...

The angle is good as an angle but timing in my opinion is really bad. Where is this thing going?

Randy Orton for me did a great thing in kicking out Manu..He didn't fit the build and that's where it stops for me. I understand Debiasi is out for a while but to punt him made no sense to me. He fits so perfectly with what the angle stands for regardless...for this point and time he's Perfect....

Sim Snuka....Ummm yeah why was he kicked out....Cody freakin' Rhodes....why is he being pushed...granted I like where its going but it makes no sense...

Where is John Hennig at? Point blank, that would make everything fit perfectly for me at least...

The future of the Legacy I do see as strong regardless of where it head just because Orton draws fan. It looks like when Ted does come back Manu (if he lasts in the company), Snuka, and himself will strike up something vs the Legacy.....

I would like to end with this...Why has Cody Rhodes been getting pushed EVER SINCE he signed his contract...he freakin started out in a feud with Orton that just ended out of nowhere......WTF!!!