Ring Remarks: The Rock, Daniel Bryan, Royal Rumble, The Miz, Jerry Lawler & WCW
It's been quite a while now, but Ring Remarks is back!
If you've never read one of these before, it's basically a mailbag where I answer your questions and post some of the more interesting ones right here on Bleacher Report.
You can ask the questions here, and you don't even need an account to do it.
Nothing is off limits as long as the fine people here at B/R will let me put it on the site.
Alright, enough with the rambling.
It's another edition of Ring Remarks, so in the words of Chris Jericho: Just shut up and read it!
25. Is Wrestling Running Out Of Ideas?
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Yeah, that's a really good comparison. I like to compare it to movies because you see directors doing remakes of classics, and I think it's mostly because they just don't have any more ideas.
That's the problem for wrestlers today. Even if a gimmick is pretty original, most people will associate it with a past wrestler (like comparing "Dashing" Cody Rhodes to "Ravishing" Rick Rude).
I agree that we've seen almost every gimmick there is. That's what makes the biggest stars so special, though, because they're unlike anyone else.
24. The Rock and The Hall Of Fame
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The WWE is running out of big names to induct, and they only want to do a couple of huge stars per year.
If I had to guess, I think it'll be HBK this year, Undertaker next year, The Rock the following year, then Triple H in 2014.
You don't wanna put two of the biggest stars in wrestling history in the same class, then have a weak group of Hall of Fame inductees the next year.
You've gotta have a selling point for the audience.
23. The Future Of Ryder, Hawkins and Barretta
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Honestly, I think they'll end up like Kenny Dykstra--remember him?--and get released within a year or two.
But of the three, I think Zack Ryder has the brightest future, if and only if he gets repacked with a new gimmick.
He's pretty charismatic and underrated in the ring, with a good look, too.
22. Is Daniel Bryan The Next Chris Benoit?
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No, he was not meant to replace Chris Benoit because Benoit has been erased from WWE history.
That being said, the similarities are there for sure.
As you pointed out, they have a similar finisher and move sets, they're even both small, and they both earned the respect of fans mainly with their in-ring ability.
In fact, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bryan have a similar career, where he doesn't win a World title until he's been around the company for a while.
21. Laoch?
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It means "warrior" in Irish, as in Celtic Warrior.
20. My Thoughts on Alex Riley
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I don't understand what's in that briefcase. Haha. But I like Riley for the most part.
He's got a look, he's decent in the ring, and he's really charismatic for someone who hasn't been around long.
I don't think Riley will ever be a bona fide superstar, but he'll get his chances. I see him in that US Championship picture whenever he splits from The Miz.
19. What's The Deal With The Miz and Jerry Lawler?
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I don't hate it, but I don't like it either.
The reason Miz has been "feuding" with Jerry Lawler is because it allows Miz to beat a big-time face (Lawler's still hugely over with the crowd) without killing the momentum of an actual full-time wrestler.
Lawler can sell a beating and get the crowd going more than most faces on the Raw roster, which is why he's been so involved with The Miz.
I think that's the only reason we've been seeing so much of him.
18. Will Daniel Bryan's Lack of Size Hurt Him?
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Hmm. I've thought about this a lot, but I think he'll get there eventually.
Not within the next year or anything like that, but maybe a couple of years down the road.
The thing with him right now is not really his lack of size, but his lack of character.
That geeky ladies' man gimmick is a bit too ridiculous for a main eventer (even though he's the company's best wrestler).
If he gets repackaged with a better gimmick--American Dragon maybe?--he'll win a world title.
If not, he'll always stay in that US/IC title picture.
17. The Royal Rumble Favorite
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Kofi: Probably like 1 percent, considering he's IC Champion and has basically been de-pushed over the last year and a half.
Christian: Very good chance if the company wants to do Edge-Christian at Mania. I think he's probably the No. 3 choice right now unless Vince is an idiot.
Jericho: I heard he's not returning in time for Wrestlemania, so the chances are slim now. But if he does, he'd probably win it.
Still, my three favorites are, in order:
1. Cena: to face Miz at Mania.
2. Punk: He's getting a huge push.
3. Christian: So he can face Edge.
16. CM Punk Is Jesus?
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Yeah, he's definitely got this whole "I'm a 21st century Jesus" thing going.
I mean, I'm Catholic, and it doesn't piss me off or anything. But I could see how it would piss off a lot of my fellow Catholics or Christians.
McGillicutty definitely looked like he was being carried on a crucifix on Raw, and beating Husky Harris with the belts was also reminiscent of Jesus...there's no denying that.
It's probably a little creepy for some, but it's also edgy, which is why I really like it.
It reminds me of the Attitude Era.
15. The Best Years Of WCW
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Probably 1996-1997 for me.
The years right before that probably had better wrestling, but 1996 is when the NWO was formed.
It was one of my favorite periods in wrestling history, but it took a turn for the worse when like half the WCW roster was in the group.
Keep in mind that I was eight years old at the time, though, so I'm far from an expert on that period in wrestling history. Haha.
14. WWE Global
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we now have an englishman, irishman and a scot in WWE is it about time they started looking in wales
Sure. Why Not?
Reigning FCW Champion Mason Ryan is actually from Wales, and he's nearing a call-up to the main roster.
So there you go!
13. Matt Hardy In TNA
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I was a Matt Hardy fan before he started going crazy.
He's well past his prime, he's never been as good as his brother, and he's not going to make a difference in TNA.
Jeff Hardy, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, RVD, etc...they've all gone to TNA and done basically nothing for the ratings.
I think TNA is a better place to be for Hardy than WWE, but the company isn't really gaining anything by getting him.
The only thing I think people will want to see out of him in TNA is a TLC match between the Hardys and Team 3D.
12. Top 10 Overall WWE Wrestlers
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I like your list, especially the Punk part. Haha.
Excluding injured wrestlers, I'd probably go with:
1. Punk
2. Orton
3. Edge
4. The Miz
5. Morrison
6. Del Rio
7. Ziggler
8. Cena
9. Barrett
10. Bryan
But I change my opinions on stuff like this all the time, so don't hold me to this list.
11. Undertaker Wrestlemania Opponent
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If Undertaker is healthy enough for a singles match, I think he'll face Wade Barrett at Wrestlemania.
That's mainly why Barrett was moved to Smackdown.
His feud with Big Show is just to bide the time until Taker returns.
10. Promos
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No, they stick to the script.
I'm sure they don't say everything exactly word for word, but they don't just say whatever they want either.
The only recent feud where I know that the wrestlers ad-libbed their promos was the HBK-Jericho feud back in 2008.
Other than that, the promos are precisely written out like 99 percent of the time.
9. CM Punk in The Attitude Era
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Agree for sure.
I think he would have been on the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold.
Like I've said before, he can play a heel or face, he can actually WRESTLE, he's got a good gimmick, and he's probably the best actor of all the wrestlers on the current roster.
8. Diva Mic Workers
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I'll be honest. I don't think the Divas talk enough to really rate them.
I mean, how often do they actually get on the mic? Haha.
That being said, I think LayCool are pretty good on the mic, even though they're REALLY annoying.
Melina, Beth Phoenix, and Natalya are solid, too. And Eve isn't all that bad.
The rest of the Divas never talk.
7. Worst Finishers
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Currently in the WWE? I'll go with:
1. The Cobra (although I love Santino!)
2. Khali's Vice Grip (or his big chop thing for that matter)
3. R-Truth's Lie Detector
4. Attitude Adjustment
5. Masterlock
6. Drew McIntyre
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Yeah, I think he'll get there sooner or later.
He's got a really good look, he's a pretty good wrestler (even though many people don't think so), he's decent on the mic, and he's only 25 or 26 years old.
He kinda reminds me of a younger Triple H.
McIntyre won't be as good as him, but I'd guess he'll be in the World Championship scene by the end of 2012 if he gets the right push.
5. The Miz's Title Reign
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Yes, he'll retain. The current plan is to have him defend the WWE Championship against John Cena at Wrestlemania.
And yes, I think he's deserving. He put in a ton of hard work to get where he is today.
But you don't think he can wrestle? He just put on the best TV match we've seen in the last year and a half or so.
4. Worst Wrestlers
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Here's my list, one being the worst:
1. Great Khali
2. David Otunga
3. Mark Henry
4. Darren Young
5. Chris Masters
Michael Tarver would be No. 2 if he was still in Nexus.
3. Best Finishers and Entrance Music
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Finishers:
1. GTS
2. 450 Splash
3. Shooting Star Press
4. RKO
5. Cross Rhodes (I know people hate this one!)
Music:
1. Orton
2. Edge
3. Punk
4. Miz
5. Triple H
2. My Thoughts On The Members of Nexus
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Yeah, I like Justin Gabriel as an in-ring worker. I think he would benefit from a Cruiserweight division for sure, but he can be a solid mid-card guy if the company pushes him.
He definitely has to improve his mic skills, though, which are shaky to say the least.
If I had to guess, I'd say Gabriel will be in that IC/US Championship picture within a year after the Nexus breaks up.
Slater: He's better than people realize. He was a star in developmental, he's decent on the mic, and he's not bad in the ring. Like Gabriel, I see him as a solid mid-carder.
McGillicutty: Can't cut a promo to save his life, but is pretty good in the ring. I think he'll get more of a chance than the others because his dad was Mr. Perfect.
Harris: He moves really well for a big guy and is surprisingly good in the ring. I think he needs to lose some weight and tone up a bit, but I think he could be a very good heel down the road.
Otunga: Overrated mic skills. Terrible in the ring. Good look, though. He'd be better suited as a manager/enforcer.
Sheffield: Underrated. Could be a bodyguard type too down the road. Needs to improve in the ring.
Tarver: Decent on the mic. HORRIBLE wrestler, though. He'll be released.
Young: I thought he sucked at first, but he's improving. I'll give him a chance, but I think he'll be a jobber before getting released.
Barrett: A star. The total package. He's already a main eventer.
Did I cover everyone?
1. The "Big Plans" For Evan Bourne
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Well, he got "put on the shelf" by Punk, so I think Bourne could get involved with the entire Punk/Cena/Nexus storyline.
That seems like the likeliest option, considering the history between Bourne and Cena (who is a big Bourne supporter) and Bourne and Punk (both from ROH).
Conclusion
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Where's my rubber ducky? I feel like I could use a bath right about now.
Sorry for the interruption, but I do have an announcement on the next slide.
The Start Of My Wrestling Blog
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I am currently in the middle of a six-month internship with Bleacher Report that ends at the end of March.
Afterward, I plan on focusing on my own blog that's devoted purely to wrestling.
I've already started assembling the site, and here's the gist:
I want to have reviews for all the weekly WWE shows (Raw, NXT, Superstars and Smackdown), TNA Impact and TNA/WWE pay-per-views.
I'm looking for four or five writers who are interested in contributing to the site (one article per week usually), and I'm hoping some of you guys want to do it.
I will probably do the Raw or Smackdown review each week while the rest are up for grabs.
Continued on the next slide...
Contact Me
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Here is the type of review I'll be doing.
I'd like the writers at the site to do something similar, but obviously you can take your own approach, use your own style/format and have your own take on the WWE.
I plan on posting the articles both here on Bleacher Report and on the site, which will be like a one-stop shop for anything and everything wrestling.
Again, I myself won't be able to do full reviews until the end of March, but I would like to start putting this thing together right now (and posting reviews as soon as possible).
If anyone has any interest in doing this, hit me up on Twitter at http://twitter.com/B_Oestriecher, email me at boestriecher@gmail.com or send me a private message on B/R.
Hope to hear from you guys soon.
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