BRM Reviews the 2/24/2014 Raw

[Big Red Machine]

HOGAN PROMO- Tons of Hulk Hogan signs, but not a single one saying “They’re here!” I’m very disappointed, Green Bay.
Heheheheh. Hulk said that with the WWE Network, he “can watch The Rock Jack.” Yeah, I know what he meant, but it’s 4:30 am and my mind is completely in the gutter.
I was pretty impressed here. Hulk was (mostly) concise and totally on message. Probably because he gives a sh*t. Compare that to his time in TNA. I had assumed he was just being old, senile, and stroking his own ego, but apparently his crappinesss in TNA was because he just didn’t give a crap. I kind of feel bad for TNA.

ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. BATISTA- 4/10
“Dueling” chants of “You can’t wrestle!” and “Boo-tista.”
They have and eh match until Orton comers out (actually getting a HUGE pop), distracting Batista so Del Rio can roll him up. Orton then acknowledges the heat Batista is getting and says that he thinks Batista is sorry he came back. Big Dave responds by saying “You couldn’t be more wrong. Everybody get this through your head: I. Love. This. Business.” The crowd boos.
Batista says that he loves that the crowd “has a voice.” “If they cheer me, I cheer them back. If they boo me, I boo them back.” (basically ripping off Nigel McGuinness’ amazing promo from Final Battle 2007.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. CESARO (w/Zeb Coulter & Jack Swagger)- 6.5/10
Good match ruined by a blatant DQ because of Swagger. Cesaro seemed pretty pissed about, though, so this is leading somewhere. To emphasize Zeb's disappointment, Lawler said that it looks like "someone sucked the jelly out of his doughnut." Would that make Zeb happy?

JOHN CENA PROMO- good, though I have to wonder why Cena cares about losing a title match this month when he didn’t seem to care at all that the Wyatts screwed him out of the same title at the Royal Rumble. Then Bray Wyatt came out and cut an awesome promo. Cena dared them to fight him, so they did and Cena got beaten up. Apparently Cena did a stretcher-job during the commercial.

CHRISTIAN vs. SHEAMUS- 7/10
This match was set up by some confrontation these two had on the pre-show... which airs on the WW Network. See what you'll miss if you don't have the WWE Network? So everyone should go out and buy it right now.

FOOTAGE FROM EARLIER TONIGHT: Daniel Bryan confronts Steph & Hunter- AWESOME!
Dragon challenges Hunter to a match at Mania. Hunter b lows this challenge off and says he isn't sure whether Dragon will even be on the card. Steph says that Dragon should be focusing on his match with Kane tonight.

THE SHIELD BACKSTAGE- good stuff. Ambrose walks off angrily, then the Wyatts show up. Reigns challenges Bray to a one-on-one match, and Bray accepts.

DANIEL BRYAN vs. KANE- 7/10
After the match, Dragon cut a promo calling Hunter a coward, saying that he ignores the fans, and once again challenges Hunter to a match at Mania.

EMMA (w/Santino Marella) vs. SUMMER RAE (w/Fandango)- 3/10
Summer Rae was being an awesome heel here (as usual), and Santino was being Santino, answering her taunting, rhetorical questions with simple answers, but in a VERY angry voice. JBL also kicked ass on commentary during this match. My favorite part was when he referred to Natalya as "the Hart child" instead of addressing her by name like he had done with the other Total Divas.
Santino was not ready for Emma's giant running, jumping victory hug, so said hug accidentally became a Thesz press. Cole actually takes the time to plug NXT Arrival, which I was surprised they haven't been doing a lot more often.

THE USOS vs. THE NEW AGE OUTLAWS- DUD!
The Usos attack was borderline heelish and the fans totally turned on the Usos because of it.

ROMAN REIGNS vs. BRAY WYATT-
They did stuff. Then the lights went out and the Wyatts magically teleported to the ringside area, but Rollins came out to fight them, followed by Amrbose, then Ambrose hit Bray, causing a DQ. They brawled more, with the Shield getting the best of the Wyatts. This was decent for what it was, but Dragon vs. Kane really should have been the main event instead of this.

They have a commercial specifically advertising Dragon's gear. That seems like a good sign.

CLOSING SEGMENT-
Heyman and Lesnar come out and Heyman says that Brock deserves to be the #1 contender and to main event Wrestlemania. Hunter & Steph apparently said “no” and have offered Brock a contract to face anyone he wants at Mania instead. Heyman says that this is a “consolation prize” and cuts a freakin’ awesome promo about how much history Brock has “conquered.” He then says that if they don’t give Borck history to conquer, Brock won’t be at Mania.

DONG!
Lights go out.
DONG!

Yeah… I’m marking out like a toddler in Disneyland right now.

Brock signs the contract…
WHAT THE F*CK?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taker just STABBED BROCK IN THE HAND WITH THE PEN!
CHOKESLAM THROUGH THE TABLE!


Overall, a great Raw, but I’m really not digging the Taker’s heelishness. NOT cool, Deadman.

[cero2k]

HOGAN PROMO- Tons of Hulk Hogan signs, but not a single one saying “They’re here!” I’m very disappointed, Green Bay.
Heheheheh. Hulk said that with the WWE Network, he “can watch The Rock Jack.” Yeah, I know what he meant, but it’s 4:30 am and my mind is completely in the gutter.
I was pretty impressed here. Hulk was (mostly) concise and totally on message. Probably because he gives a sh*t. Compare that to his time in TNA. I had assumed he was just being old, senile, and stroking his own ego, but apparently his crappinesss in TNA was because he just didn’t give a crap. I kind of feel bad for TNA.

"today is the launch of the WWE Universe" yeap, same old senile.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. CESARO (w/Zeb Coulter & Jack Swagger)- 6.5/10
Lawler said that it looks like "someone sucked the jelly out of his doughnut." Would that make Zeb happy?

this is lawler, by doughnut he meant penis

JOHN CENA PROMO- good, though I have to wonder why Cena cares about losing a title match this month when he didn’t seem to care at all that the Wyatts screwed him out of the same title at the Royal Rumble. Then Bray Wyatt came out and cut an awesome promo. Cena dared them to fight him, so they did and Cena got beaten up. Apparently Cena did a stretcher-job during the commercial.

apparently he injured his knee, or that is the rumor out there

CHRISTIAN vs. SHEAMUS- 7/10
This match was set up by some confrontation these two had on the pre-show... which airs on the WW Network. See what you'll miss if you don't have the WWE Network? So everyone should go out and buy it right now.

nope, not enough

CLOSING SEGMENT-
Heyman and Lesnar come out and Heyman says that Brock deserves to be the #1 contender and to main event Wrestlemania. Hunter & Steph apparently said “no” and have offered Brock a contract to face anyone he wants at Mania instead. Heyman says that this is a “consolation prize” and cuts a freakin’ awesome promo about how much history Brock has “conquered.” He then says that if they don’t give Borck history to conquer, Brock won’t be at Mania.

DONG!
Lights go out.
DONG!

Yeah… I’m marking out like a toddler in Disneyland right now.

Brock signs the contract…
WHAT THE F*CK?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taker just STABBED BROCK IN THE HAND WITH THE PEN!
CHOKESLAM THROUGH THE TABLE!

old man taker looked like he came from square dancing night at Westeros. like the beard tho, Ministry of Darkness like.
I liked Heyman's promo, it felt like he was channeling the state of WWE heading to WM. We're all just getting consolation prices and not a single match that we actually want to watch.

at this point, we can't help it. we get
batista/orton (snore)
Taker/Lesnar (30 minutes of praying Lesnar doesn't break Taker's back)
Hunter/Dragon (just like sheamus, punk, booker t, brock lesnar, kill dragon while he's red hot. cash in WM paycheck)
Cena vs Wyatt (should be good, but storyline meeh)
Real American's break up? NO!
Usos get yet another shot? NO!
Shield break up? NO!

wrestling was good, show kinda sucked.

[Big Red Machine]

HOGAN PROMO- Tons of Hulk Hogan signs, but not a single one saying “They’re here!” I’m very disappointed, Green Bay.
Heheheheh. Hulk said that with the WWE Network, he “can watch The Rock Jack.” Yeah, I know what he meant, but it’s 4:30 am and my mind is completely in the gutter.
I was pretty impressed here. Hulk was (mostly) concise and totally on message. Probably because he gives a sh*t. Compare that to his time in TNA. I had assumed he was just being old, senile, and stroking his own ego, but apparently his crappinesss in TNA was because he just didn’t give a crap. I kind of feel bad for TNA.

"today is the launch of the WWE Universe" yeap, same old senile.

I thought he said "network." Maybe I misheard.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. CESARO (w/Zeb Coulter & Jack Swagger)- 6.5/10
Lawler said that it looks like "someone sucked the jelly out of his doughnut." Would that make Zeb happy?

this is lawler, by doughnut he meant penis

Thank you for clarifying, but f*ck you for putting that visual in my head. I will never be able to un-think that!

CHRISTIAN vs. SHEAMUS- 7/10
This match was set up by some confrontation these two had on the pre-show... which airs on the WW Network. See what you'll miss if you don't have the WWE Network? So everyone should go out and buy it right now.

nope, not enough

But Cero! Think of all of the exciting important segments that you'll miss. Of course they'll replay all of the important runs on Raw anyway, like they did right here, so that only leaves the mediocre (or worse) ones, but don't you want to see those, too? I mean, who wouldn't want to sit through hours of extra mediocre backstage skits?

CLOSING SEGMENT-
Heyman and Lesnar come out and Heyman says that Brock deserves to be the #1 contender and to main event Wrestlemania. Hunter & Steph apparently said “no” and have offered Brock a contract to face anyone he wants at Mania instead. Heyman says that this is a “consolation prize” and cuts a freakin’ awesome promo about how much history Brock has “conquered.” He then says that if they don’t give Borck history to conquer, Brock won’t be at Mania.

DONG!
Lights go out.
DONG!

Yeah… I’m marking out like a toddler in Disneyland right now.

Brock signs the contract…
WHAT THE F*CK?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taker just STABBED BROCK IN THE HAND WITH THE PEN!
CHOKESLAM THROUGH THE TABLE!

old man taker looked like he came from square dancing night at Westeros. like the beard tho, Ministry of Darkness like.
I liked Heyman's promo, it felt like he was channeling the state of WWE heading to WM. We're all just getting consolation prices and not a single match that we actually want to watch.

at this point, we can't help it. we get
batista/orton (snore)
Taker/Lesnar (30 minutes of praying Lesnar doesn't break Taker's back)
Hunter/Dragon (just like sheamus, punk, booker t, brock lesnar, kill dragon while he's red hot. cash in WM paycheck)
Cena vs Wyatt (should be good, but storyline meeh)
Real American's break up? NO!
Usos get yet another shot? NO!
Shield break up? NO!

wrestling was good, show kinda sucked.

If you think Hunter is going over here, you are f*cking crazy.
How do you not want to see Claudio go babyface or the Usos win the tag belts?!

[cero2k]

"today is the launch of the WWE Universe" yeap, same old senile.

I thought he said "network." Maybe I misheard.

he did fix it after the first screw up

If you think Hunter is going over here, you are f*cking crazy.
How do you not want to see Claudio go babyface or the Usos win the tag belts?!

i actually do, but i feel Real American's could still be good for a while, i'd love for them to have a run with the titles (even as faces, tho almost impossible to do)

and usos, i've been waiting for that title run since the Hart Dynasty had the titles, i just don't know what to expect anymore, EC should have been their night so that WM could be a 3way or 4way

[Big Red Machine]

and usos, i've been waiting for that title run since the Hart Dynasty had the titles, i just don't know what to expect anymore, EC should have been their night so that WM could be a 3way or 4way

I think the logic with this was "why make Elimination Chamber their night when MANIA could be their night. It is a bit of a conundrum, but it makes sense if no other babyfaces are going to be winning titles at Mania (and I don't think they count Batista as a babyface anymore).

[Chris Everlast]

I thought he said "network." Maybe I misheard.

That's definitely what he said. "The launch of the WWE Network".

[Bob-O]

If you think Hunter is going over here, you are f*cking crazy.

Then I'm crazy, because I said the same thing about Hunter/Punk. I foresee them going for the same type of thing they did with Lesnar/Punk at Summerslam. Bryan's gonna look strong, Bryan's gonna beat the shit out of him and get many visual wins, but YOU'RE crazy if you think there isn't an overwhelming possibility that Triple H's hand will be raised at the end of it. History doesn't lie, man!

I was pretty impressed here. Hulk was (mostly) concise and totally on message.

Maybe it's me, but I was really underwhelmed by The Hulkster tonight. He botched his first fucking line, the whole point to the promo. I did lol at the "turning point of my career" comment, slightly because of the subtle shot at TNA - but more because it's the first point in his career he's been under a contract with NO CHANCE of him getting into the ring. That's not a good turning point, Hulk... :ymsigh:

Compare that to his time in TNA. I had assumed he was just being old, senile, and stroking his own ego, but apparently his crappinesss in TNA was because he just didn’t give a crap. I kind of feel bad for TNA.

I think the difference is that he called his shots in TNA and he's under Vince's thumb in WWE. Vince isn't going to greenlight any of Hulk's ideas, they're not going to him for advice... they don't need him. Show up... Hulkamania... Cash Check... Repeat, it's that simple and Vince knows it. I don't think he didn't care in TNA, he was just in over his head.

Overall, a great Raw, but I’m really not digging the Taker’s heelishness. NOT cool, Deadman.

The action was heelish, but after Heyman's promo I think it was the perfect way to say 'You might have done all that, but you've got your hands full this time..."

Not gonna lie, I've been outspoken about Undie on the forum the last few weeks, and I popped for the pen-stab.

at this point, we can't help it. we get
batista/orton (snore)

They've all but pulled the trigger on Hunter/Bryan, the wheels are in motion, and my conspiracy theory is falling into place. They didn't even TRY to get people interested in Orton/Batista Monday Night. There's nothing there for anyone to sink their teeth into, it's not even trying to be compelling... it didn't progress a bit this week, and that's weird because this is the week it should have taken the next step... because it's WM30... and they're trying to sell the Network... it's almost like they're waiting for something...

...what's weirder is that Raw is in Chicago next week...

[Chris Everlast]

...what's weirder is that Raw is in Chicago next week...

Oh God, don't let CM Punk come back.

[kirbs2002]

...what's weirder is that Raw is in Chicago next week...

Oh God, don't let CM Punk come back.

My initial reaction to CM Punk just "walking out" was that it was a work...

[Chris Everlast]

...what's weirder is that Raw is in Chicago next week...

Oh God, don't let CM Punk come back.

My initial reaction to CM Punk just "walking out" was that it was a work...

I prayed by the grace of a higher power that Punk would finally go back to the indies.

[Big Red Machine]

If you think Hunter is going over here, you are f*cking crazy.

Then I'm crazy, because I said the same thing about Hunter/Punk. I foresee them going for the same type of thing they did with Lesnar/Punk at Summerslam. Bryan's gonna look strong, Bryan's gonna beat the s**t out of him and get many visual wins, but YOU'RE crazy if you think there isn't an overwhelming possibility that Triple H's hand will be raised at the end of it. History doesn't lie, man!

With Punk it made sense for Heyman to cost him the win because Punk was feuding with Heyman. Here, the story they have been trying to tell is that Dragon is an A+ player but the Authority don't view him as one. This is Wresltemania, where things pay off, and the only logical payoff to this angle is Dragon proving to Triple H firsthand that he is an A+ player by beating Hunter clean.

I was pretty impressed here. Hulk was (mostly) concise and totally on message.

Maybe it's me, but I was really underwhelmed by The Hulkster tonight. He botched his first f***ing line, the whole point to the promo. I did lol at the "turning point of my career" comment, slightly because of the subtle shot at TNA - but more because it's the first point in his career he's been under a contract with NO CHANCE of him getting into the ring. That's not a good turning point, Hulk... :ymsigh:

So thenit is a turning point becuase we 100% KNOW that he won't wrestle again.

Compare that to his time in TNA. I had assumed he was just being old, senile, and stroking his own ego, but apparently his crappinesss in TNA was because he just didn’t give a crap. I kind of feel bad for TNA.

I think the difference is that he called his shots in TNA and he's under Vince's thumb in WWE. Vince isn't going to greenlight any of Hulk's ideas, they're not going to him for advice... they don't need him. Show up... Hulkamania... Cash Check... Repeat, it's that simple and Vince knows it. I don't think he didn't care in TNA, he was just in over his head.[/quote]
The issue with Hulk in TNA wasn't just creative. Whenever he would cut a promo he would ramble on, waste time, skip important words, get important terms wrong ("the Enigmatic Enigma, Jeff Hardy, brother!"), and all of this rambling would inevitably lead to him saying things which contradicted the angles or made no sense (or both) and it just killed the product even more. He didn't do that (or much of that) here.

Overall, a great Raw, but I’m really not digging the Taker’s heelishness. NOT cool, Deadman.

The action was heelish, but after Heyman's promo I think it was the perfect way to say 'You might have done all that, but you've got your hands full this time..."

Not gonna lie, I've been outspoken about Undie on the forum the last few weeks, and I popped for the pen-stab.

It was just so out of nowhere. It would have worked if Brock had called Taker a washed-up old man or something like that which would require Taker to do something to prove that he is dangerous to Brock, but that didn't happen. Brock wanted the match. He signed the contract... then Taker STABBED HIM WITH A PEN!

at this point, we can't help it. we get
batista/orton (snore)

They've all but pulled the trigger on Hunter/Bryan, the wheels are in motion, and my conspiracy theory is falling into place. They didn't even TRY to get people interested in Orton/Batista Monday Night. There's nothing there for anyone to sink their teeth into, it's not even trying to be compelling... it didn't progress a bit this week, and that's weird because this is the week it should have taken the next step... because it's WM30... and they're trying to sell the Network... it's almost like they're waiting for something...

No. It definitely progressed. They have now started to incorporate the negative crowd reaction Batista has gotten. He is apparently going to address the situation of Smackdown this week, so we'll see what happens then, but they seem to be laying the groundwork for Batista turning on the crowd, setting up matches with Bryan and (depending how long Dave stays around) maybe Cena, too.

[Big Red Machine]

...what's weirder is that Raw is in Chicago next week...

Oh God, don't let CM Punk come back.

My initial reaction to CM Punk just "walking out" was that it was a work...

Everyone thought that at first, too, and the pieces seem to be in place (back in the summer they seemed to be building to some feud between Vince and Hunter, and all of the reports about this thing have said that Punk was unhappy with Hunter & Steph and that Vince is the one talking to Punk and trying to get him to come back), but now that they have started moving towards Dragon vs. Hunter, it seems a lot more likely that this is a shoot.

[Big Red Machine]

Oh God, don't let CM Punk come back.

My initial reaction to CM Punk just "walking out" was that it was a work...

I prayed by the grace of a higher power that Punk would finally go back to the indies.

From what I have heard, it is unlikely. Punk was kind of teasing that he would retire earlier than anyone expected him to, so it is possible that he is just done. I have also heard (not from any real source, though), that it is more likely that Punk would go to Japan instead of the indies. Still, one can dream about seeing him in ROH again. Not that I think there is really a snowball's chance of it happening, but the idea of AJ, Joe, Daniels, Hero, and Punk all returning to ROH in 2014 is borderline orgasmic.

[Bob-O]

...what's weirder is that Raw is in Chicago next week...

Oh God, don't let CM Punk come back.

Think about it...

-Punk is still on the payroll. But they've gone through great lengths to get him out of sight and out of mind, which doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense that EVERYONE is being so quiet about it.

-Punk was banged up, and had been wanting time off for a while.

-The company's top babyface is locked into a match on the undercard. The company's most over babayface is also locked into a match on the undercard.

-One of Punk's last unmet goals is to Main Event Wrestlemania

-Early on, he was penciled in to face Orton on the card - the same time it was leaked that Cena was penciled in to face Wyatt

-Punk likes to recycle his ROH stuff, and in this promo:

he strikes a chord at 3:15, "...I know for a fact, there wouldn't be a Ring Of Honor for AJ Styles or Christopher Daniels to come crawling back to if it wasn't for me." "AJ Styles and Chris Daniels and even Low Ki turned their backs on this company - but I stood tall, and I stayed here, and what did I get for it huh? You people shit all over me."

-Recycle THAT promo, but replace "AJ Styles" and "Christopher Daniels" with The Rock and Batista, and "You People" with Vince McMahon (who's supposed to be involved this year at some point), now put it in front of a Chicago crowd and suddenly Wrestlemania becomes A LOT more interesting...

-I say he takes out Batista this monday and cuts that promo, he quit because his rightfull spot in the Wrestlemania main event was given away... once again... to a returning star, and that's the angle they run with to eventually make the match a Triple Threat.

[cero2k]

-I say he takes out Batista this monday and cuts that promo, he quit because his rightfull spot in the Wrestlemania main event was given away... once again... to a returning star, and that's the angle they run with to eventually make the match a Triple Threat.

I say he returns to save Dragon from a Triple H/DX/Orton/Kane beat up and tells Bryan to go to the main event, he'll take care of Triple H.

or Best and the Beard vs DX

[Bob-O]

With Punk it made sense for Heyman to cost him the win because Punk was feuding with Heyman. Here, the story they have been trying to tell is that Dragon is an A+ player but the Authority don't view him as one. This is Wresltemania, where things pay off, and the only logical payoff to this angle is Dragon proving to Triple H firsthand that he is an A+ player by beating Hunter clean.

Or losing in a fashion that makes Hunter a believer... a handshake is all it'd take.

It was just so out of nowhere. It would have worked if Brock had called Taker a washed-up old man or something like that which would require Taker to do something to prove that he is dangerous to Brock, but that didn't happen. Brock wanted the match. He signed the contract... then Taker STABBED HIM WITH A PEN!

Right! We're gonna see some American Badass this year! I'm starting to look forward to it!

No. It definitely progressed. They have now started to incorporate the negative crowd reaction Batista has gotten. He is apparently going to address the situation of Smackdown this week, so we'll see what happens then, but they seem to be laying the groundwork for Batista turning on the crowd, setting up matches with Bryan and (depending how long Dave stays around) maybe Cena, too.

Dave signed a two year deal, so there's definitely no rush on getting matches out of the way.

While the groundwork is set for Dave to turn, where's is leave the MAIN EVENT TO WRESTLEMANIA 30!? Orton is the established #1 Heel, and unified champion. Batista is getting crapped on by the fans, and they're acknowledging it. While it technically is "progression", it's a funny way to sell the main event of the biggest show of the year.

He does address it on Smackdown

Hidden text.

by issuing an open challenge and squashing Dolph Ziggler

and I remain convinced that if they're not putting Daniel Bryan in that title match, it's because they've got plans for Punk. Moving forward with that match as-is in any capacity would be a disaster, and they all but admitted that Monday by bringing up the crowd... yes, our Wrestlemania 30 Main Event will be Heel Champion Randy Orton vs Somebody We Hoped You'd Like But Have Acknowledged That You Don't...

[Bob-O]

-I say he takes out Batista this monday and cuts that promo, he quit because his rightfull spot in the Wrestlemania main event was given away... once again... to a returning star, and that's the angle they run with to eventually make the match a Triple Threat.

I say he returns to save Dragon from a Triple H/DX/Orton/Kane beat up and tells Bryan to go to the main event, he'll take care of Triple H.

or Best and the Beard vs DX

Best and the Beard vs DX doesn't solve the Orton/Batista issue they've got.

I don't know man, I think Bryan needs that match with Triple H before he wins the title. That'll erase any of that "pity reign" stuff we're all afraid of.

[Big Red Machine]

Think about it...

-Punk is still on the payroll. But they've gone through great lengths to get him out of sight and out of mind, which doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense that EVERYONE is being so quiet about it.

-Punk was banged up, and had been wanting time off for a while.

-The company's top babyface is locked into a match on the undercard. The company's most over babayface is also locked into a match on the undercard.

-One of Punk's last unmet goals is to Main Event Wrestlemania

-Early on, he was penciled in to face Orton on the card - the same time it was leaked that Cena was penciled in to face Wyatt

-Punk likes to recycle his ROH stuff, and in this promo:

he strikes a chord at 3:15, "...I know for a fact, there wouldn't be a Ring Of Honor for AJ Styles or Christopher Daniels to come crawling back to if it wasn't for me." "AJ Styles and Chris Daniels and even Low Ki turned their backs on this company - but I stood tall, and I stayed here, and what did I get for it huh? You people s**t all over me."

-Recycle THAT promo, but replace "AJ Styles" and "Christopher Daniels" with The Rock and Batista, and "You People" with Vince McMahon (who's supposed to be involved this year at some point), now put it in front of a Chicago crowd and suddenly Wrestlemania becomes A LOT more interesting...

-I say he takes out Batista this monday and cuts that promo, he quit because his rightfull spot in the Wrestlemania main event was given away... once again... to a returning star, and that's the angle they run with to eventually make the match a Triple Threat.

It could work, though Punk whining and complaining instead of actually earning the spot wouldn't feel right for Punk. Maybe if they have Vince book him against Randy and Dave in singles matches and have him win clean and use that as justification.

Either way, I don't think that match will be the main event. Not over Brock vs. Taker.

[Big Red Machine]

With Punk it made sense for Heyman to cost him the win because Punk was feuding with Heyman. Here, the story they have been trying to tell is that Dragon is an A+ player but the Authority don't view him as one. This is Wresltemania, where things pay off, and the only logical payoff to this angle is Dragon proving to Triple H firsthand that he is an A+ player by beating Hunter clean.

Or losing in a fashion that makes Hunter a believer... a handshake is all it'd take.

But that would 1) turn Hunter babyface, and 2) not be anywhere near as satisfying for the fans.

No. It definitely progressed. They have now started to incorporate the negative crowd reaction Batista has gotten. He is apparently going to address the situation of Smackdown this week, so we'll see what happens then, but they seem to be laying the groundwork for Batista turning on the crowd, setting up matches with Bryan and (depending how long Dave stays around) maybe Cena, too.

Dave signed a two year deal, so there's definitely no rush on getting matches out of the way.

While the groundwork is set for Dave to turn, where's is leave the MAIN EVENT TO WRESTLEMANIA 30!? Orton is the established #1 Heel, and unified champion. Batista is getting crapped on by the fans, and they're acknowledging it. While it technically is "progression", it's a funny way to sell the main event of the biggest show of the year.

He does address it on Smackdown

Hidden text.

by issuing an open challenge and squashing Dolph Ziggler

and I remain convinced that if they're not putting Daniel Bryan in that title match, it's because they've got plans for Punk. Moving forward with that match as-is in any capacity would be a disaster, and they all but admitted that Monday by bringing up the crowd... yes, our Wrestlemania 30 Main Event will be Heel Champion Randy Orton vs Somebody We Hoped You'd Like But Have Acknowledged That You Don't...

It leaves the WM 30 main event in one of two places:
1) not the real main event because of Taker vs. Brock, and thus it is okay to use it to set up Bryan vs. Dave after Mania
or
2) they really go all out with Bryana and have the stip for Bryan vs. Hunter be that if Bryan wins he gets added to the title match, then have him beat Hunter and win the title in the main event.

#1 seems a lot more likely because I have heard that the Royal Rumble win and WWE Title win at Mania were both guaranteed in Dave's contract, which was idiotic on WWE's part.

[kirbs2002]

-I say he takes out Batista this monday and cuts that promo, he quit because his rightfull spot in the Wrestlemania main event was given away... once again... to a returning star, and that's the angle they run with to eventually make the match a Triple Threat.

Damn, that's brilliant.

It could work, though Punk whining and complaining instead of actually earning the spot wouldn't feel right for Punk. Maybe if they have Vince book him against Randy and Dave in singles matches and have him win clean and use that as justification.

This is more sensible, though.

Either way, I don't think that match will be the main event. Not over Brock vs. Taker.

As prestigious as "The Streak" is, I have my doubts that this is locked in.