From: edwardsdv | #168 I just think of the other submission specialists like Bret and Flair and Benoit and all of their movesets did a lot more to wear down the opponent, including "lesser" submissions and more focused attack. Bryan kicks dudes in the shins and in the head. It doesnt feel like it sets up the LeBell Lock really, which hampers the psychology with his matches. Why not just go for the LeBell lock at every opportunity if youre not going to set it up really.
Kicking someone in the head is a good setup for ANY submission. The less coherent you are, the harder time you'll have countering.
Kicking the shins is something small guys like Bryan and Rey have to do to expand upon their speed advantage, which is a large part in how they hang with bigger guys.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
Lance Storm @Storm_Wrestling Tomorrow's lesson at SWA: Big guys shouldn't charge at people who are standing against the ropes in Battle Royals #WrestlingTips
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
It's arguable. Dude ****ed up the whole world and killed damn near everyone. I don't know if you can call what the main cast ended up pulling off victory.
Kefka absolutely failed. Just because he caused buttloads of damage doesn't mean he won. His goals were torn asunder by the party.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
In other big storyline news, Billy and Chuck were set to be wed on SmackDown, but Eric Bischoff attacked with his new tag team 3 Minute Warning and revealed their entire relationship as a publicity stunt. Rico sold them out.
In response to this, their characters were turned hyper-straight. <_<
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
The next night on Raw, Bischoff held a match between Triple H and Undertaker to determine the next #1 Contender to the Undisputed TItle. Triple H won, but the show closed with a monumental announcement: Brock Lesnar has signed exclusively with SmackDown and he is taking the Undisputed Title brand-exclusive!
I'm still not really sure how Steph had the authority to do that.
Anyway, that week on SD, Undertaker also made the leap to the blue brand on the final night of open contracts to go where the title is. He has never officially left the SmackDown roster since that day.
The next week on Raw, Bischoff was determined to not be a brand without a title, so he brought back the Big Gold Belt and declared Triple H the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion by virtue of being the #1 Contender to the Undisputed Title (which was thusly renamed the WWE Championship since it was now disputed).
Also during this period, there was a title unification match between Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam and Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer. Much like what happened with the European Title, RVD won and is recognized as the final Hardcore Champion. The title was then deactivated.
On a later episode of Raw, Chris Jericho defeated RVD to become only the second-ever 5-time Intercontinental Champion.
Also during this period, the Women's Championship became exclusive to Raw. I think. I don't remember the exact date and neither does Wikipedia, but it makes sense that it would happen alongside the Undisputed Title going single-brand.
World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H Tag Team Champions: Lance Storm/Christian Intercontinental Champion: Chris Jericho Women's Champion: Molly Holly
WWE Champion: Brock Lesnar Cruiserweight Champion: Jamie Noble
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
UPDATE: Sammartino's rep, Sal Correnete, has issued the following statement:
It has come to our attention that someone has claimed that Bruno was unimpressed with Triple H. That is an absolutely false statement Bruno had no issue what so ever with Triple H. He liked Triple H and enjoyed their conversation but for reasons personal to Bruno he has decided not to accept the induction in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM IS THE REFUSAL A REFLECTION ON TRIPLE H or his presentation or conversations with Bruno.
Well okay then
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
From: Tom Bombadil | #038 -I'm...curious how exactly this is going to "tie in" to the main universe. I think it just more or less establishes the question of whether or not the wrestling in the WRP universe is "fake" like it is in our universe or not. Clearly it's not.
The Underground in that sense firmly establishes that in that universe, when elite fighters fight, the end result looks a lot like what we would consider a pro wrestling match.
-Announcer couldn't make up his mind whether Shana was about to turn heel or whether they're a sweet couple. C'mon now. Since this was filmed she's been signed to FCW, btw.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
To compare it to another sport, take two famous Celtics.
Larry Bird is certainly more famous these days than Bill Russell, but if neither was in the Hall of Fame, it would be somewhat more outrageous that Russell was excluded, even though both guys are first ballot material.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
From: EmDubyaSee | #025 All I need to know is this, was he still ACTUALLY VP of Talent Relations when he fired that sack of **** John Morrison on Raw?
They made the changeover at some point in 2011. Not sure when.
Morrison left on his own terms anyway, his firing was kayfabe.
From: EmDubyaSee | #027 He doesn't get PPV Residuals unless he is on though, right? Cause if not, god, **** this man. And I can't think he moves any good number of merch.
He's been on every PPV this year!
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
It's kinda funny to me that his bio talks about his career and all his nicknames but never mentions "Triple H" or "Hunter Hearst Helmsley" except in his book title.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
I thought it was because he wasn't included in the first full class (not counting Andre going in solo to start the Hall, I don't think he has beef with that.)
He's kinda resentful that they want to make money off of his legacy.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
- As was reported yesterday, WWE tried to get Bruno Sammartino to agree to be inducted into next year's WWE Hall of Fame as a headliner, only to have Sammartino's people issue a statement denying it once news broke.
According to reports, Triple H actually called Sammartino to convince him to accept the offer. Sammartino has serious and long-standing issues with Vince McMahon so Triple H contacted him and told him not to worry about Vince, and to think about his legacy and educating today's audience about his career instead. Bruno was said to be "not impressed."
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Maybe he thinks it's kinda pandering to have someone who was too young to appreciate what Bruno did while it was happening trying to butter him up.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
- As was reported yesterday, WWE tried to get Bruno Sammartino to agree to be inducted into next year's WWE Hall of Fame as a headliner, only to have Sammartino's people issue a statement denying it once news broke.
According to reports, Triple H actually called Sammartino to convince him to accept the offer. Sammartino has serious and long-standing issues with Vince McMahon so Triple H contacted him and told him not to worry about Vince, and to think about his legacy and educating today's audience about his career instead. Bruno was said to be "not impressed."
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
How dare he blow off Triple H!
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
Since the money is up front, I assume the penalty for missing eventually would just be an automatic deduction of $10,000 from your assets to take the money back.
So the obvious loophole here is to accept the $10K, go to church every Sunday until you can turn that $10K into $20K and then stop.
With smart investing that would take how long?
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
Yeah, they've said that if they were to do a season two it would definitely be set in the same universe but would probably feature a completely different cast of characters.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg
Here's some supplemental material for the WRP universe ("universe" in the comic book sense of the term, not WWE Universe <_<) they've just started releasing. Doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the actual WRP show directly, and it's a completely different tone style-wise, but it's fleshing out the world a bit.
"The Underground" Episode 1
"The Underground" Episode 2
Who knew Nick Jackson was a better actor than Matt Jackson? I can't say I would have called that.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg