At 1/12/09 11:18 PM, Random-Her03 wrote: if he ends up on smackdown, smackdown will have the perfect roster!
and i doubt he'll turn face anytime soon, when he delivered that whole "Y2J is dead" promo when he first turned heel, i reckon that was the wwe cementing him as a permanent heel.. or at least having him a heel for a very long time

Remember that Jericho turned face when he came back after he got fired for the first time. Plus, if you checked wrestlezone.com a few weeks ago, there was an article mentioning the potential face turn of him in the near future.
As much as I love Edge as a heel, I would not mind him seeing him as a face. Edge was an awesome face back in the early 2000's. Remember the "pictures" segment when he was feuding with Kurt Angle?

Wow, Matt Hardy dropped the ECW title in a regular show? I thought that he would keep the belt until WM at least, not sure if Swagger is ready for the title run even though the ECW title is not what it was nowdays.

At 1/13/09 09:31 PM, Dream-of-Duke wrote: Wow, Matt Hardy dropped the ECW title in a regular show? I thought that he would keep the belt until WM at least, not sure if Swagger is ready for the title run even though the ECW title is not what it was nowdays.

I wonder why they didn't have the match at the Rumble. I think they could have held out a little longer before giving Swagger the title. Hopefully Matt can get moved during the draft, if not sooner, and start a main event run there?

So what do you guys think of the Tommy Dreamer ultimatum? Do you know if he has any actual plans to retire, or is the WWE finally ready to give him something?

*******SMACKDOWN SPOILERS*******
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MVP finally won a match!
thanks to HHH

At 1/13/09 10:52 PM, Random-Her03 wrote: *******SMACKDOWN SPOILERS*******
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MVP finally won a match!
thanks to HHH

also Victoria retired...

At 1/13/09 10:46 PM, boloneyman wrote: I wonder why they didn't have the match at the Rumble. I think they could have held out a little longer before giving Swagger the title. Hopefully Matt can get moved during the draft, if not sooner, and start a main event run there?

The ECW title is a mid-level low pressure belt at this point, and it theoretically gets Swagger at least the opening match on PPV. I'm fine with the swap in the same way I was fine with the IC title on Kofi. Because to me they're at about the same level of importance.

So what do you guys think of the Tommy Dreamer ultimatum? Do you know if he has any actual plans to retire, or is the WWE finally ready to give him something?

I have not heard of Tommy wanting to imminently retire. He gave up a great job in Talent Relations to get back into the ring. I do know Tommy was blogging that he had pitched a similar storyline last year to management but they did not pull the trigger on it. With Swagger holding the belt at present I think it could be good learning for him to continue working a program with a vet like Dreamer who the company has no problem laying down for Swagger here. Plus I think it'll be very interesting to watch what is essentially the story of Rocky Balboa (the sixth movie, not just the character himself), the grizzled veteran trying to get one last shot at glory by taking down the cocky young champion.

At 1/13/09 10:52 PM, Random-Her03 wrote: MVP finally won a match!
thanks to HHH

Thank God, the losing streak is finally over. Start pushing him NOW!!!

At 1/14/09 01:14 AM, aviewaskewed wrote: The ECW title is a mid-level low pressure belt at this point, and it theoretically gets Swagger at least the opening match on PPV. I'm fine with the swap in the same way I was fine with the IC title on Kofi. Because to me they're at about the same level of importance.

as i recall last years royal rumble, had Chavo Guerrero in it, who i believe was ECW champ at the time
so who knows he could be in the rumble

Though I agree with what Avie said about the ECW title, I still think its too soon to give Swagger the belt. He can go in the ring, and despite his lisp, he's pretty damn good on the mic. I just think this title run is coming way too fast for him.

As for Tommy Dreamer, last night's promo was very good, and the crowd reacted positively to it. I think (And hope) that it will end in a Dreamer title run. No, he might not be the most polished wrestler in the world, but he at least deserves a title win, even if its as a thank you of sorts for his career.

Dreamer said that his contract was up in June so his quest for the title could take him all the way to One Night Stand if that PPV is still going to be used. I hope Tommy isn't going to retire yet, despite him being the resident jobber on ECW, I like the guy.

Damn, Swagger won the title. I hope Matt either reclaimes it on PPV down the road or gets moved to either Raw or SD to compete in the main event.

At 1/14/09 02:11 PM, Outlaw88 wrote: Damn, Swagger won the title. I hope Matt either reclaimes it on PPV down the road or gets moved to either Raw or SD to compete in the main event.

There will be better things waiting for Matt. Maybe he will win the MITB ladder match and win a major title at some point this year.

source: PWInsider.com

WWE has cut two more individuals.

Sgt. Slaughter, who has been working as a producer for WWE for the past several years, has been released from the company.

Ron Simmons has also been released. He has made sporadic appearances on television for his "Damn!" gimmick and done some promotional work for the company in the last year or so. This is the second time in which Simmons has been released from WWE, the other time taking place in March 2004.

Slaughter being let go is a suprise. He's been with the company for a long long time. I wonder how this effects the morale of the rest of the staff?

I know WWE is in "Spring Cleaning" mode but the releases of these long time workers is not a good sign. Do you think they would fire Funaki? My bet is Jamie Noble will get fired this year.

Matt Cappotelli has been released from his WWE contract. Cappotelli was the co-winner of Tough Enough III alongside John Hennigan (a.k.a. current WWE Superstar "John Morrison"). Cappotelli was developing his talent further in the WWE development territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, but was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2005, forcing him to step away from wrestling and relinquish his OVW Championship. The tumor was removed in May 2007 and he had hoped to return to the ring at some point. Of the seven winners in the history of Tough Enough, only Hennigan remains under contract to WWE. Cappotelli's departure from WWE follows Maven Huffman, Nidia Guenard, Linda "Shaniqua" Miles, Jackie Gayda and Daniel Puder as all of them have since been released from the company.

-- In a separate note, PWInsider.com has also confirmed the release of referee Mickie Henson.

-- This month, WWE has released a total of 15 superstars, referees and agents. Here's an updated list of released names:

Superstars: D-Lo Brown, Val Venis, Bam Neely, Gavin Spears, Kevin Thorn, Mike Kruel and Matt Cappotelli.

Agents: Ron Simmons, Sgt. Slaughter and Tim White.

Referees: Jim Korderas, Mike Posey, Kevin Keenan and Mickie Henson.

Reportedly, "several other names" were given from various sources saying they have also been let go, but the names in question have yet to be 100% confirmed. WWE still has yet to announce the departures of Gavin Spears, Ron Simmons and Mickie Henson as their respective profiles still remain on the company website. Jimmy Korderas' profile was quietly removed from the website without an announcement regarding his departure from WWE.

At 1/14/09 02:11 PM, Outlaw88 wrote: Dreamer said that his contract was up in June so his quest for the title could take him all the way to One Night Stand if that PPV is still going to be used. I hope Tommy isn't going to retire yet, despite him being the resident jobber on ECW, I like the guy.

I think we all like Tommy. If his contract does expire on the sixth (and this is from what I'm hearing a situation of a shoot being made into a storyline) he would actually finish BEFORE the ONS PPV. There is some thought that this may be Tommy's exit storyline from the company here as it is being said he's considering leaving, and honestly he can probably make really good money doing a mix of indies, TNA, and ROH. But if I were him, I'd probably skip TNA because I'd be eyeing getting my old talent relations job back when I'm done in the ring. We'll see how this plays out. If Tommy does go, he's the last Original off the ship, and the last guy from the 2006 "relaunch" of ECW. Once again it seems it'll fall to Tommy to turn the lights out on any semblance of "our" version of ECW.

Damn, Swagger won the title. I hope Matt either reclaimes it on PPV down the road or gets moved to either Raw or SD to compete in the main event.

I'm fine with this move. Matt is in a good spot in that he's helping to build up new stars while probably raising his own stock. I also disagree that the switch was a mistake, look, being the ECW champion means practically nothing now. It's the lowest rated show, and it's a good way to figure out whether or not Swagger will be ready any time soon to be switched to one of the bigger shows. ECW is another step in the whole developmental process for a lot of guys, and Swagger has shown a lot of potential. If they're going to develop the guy, then he needs to be in a featured position where he can work with guys the fans see as stars, and who can help him reach that potential. So to my mind, this was a good call. The worst thing they could do here is take the belt right back off and hurt him by making him look like a "fluke"

I'm ok with the title change to give Swagger a chance, I just hope they let Matt move up the ranks and get on another show. I understand his role on the show as a veteran performer to work with the up and coming talent, I just think its his time to shine.

At 1/15/09 06:19 PM, Outlaw88 wrote: I'm ok with the title change to give Swagger a chance, I just hope they let Matt move up the ranks and get on another show. I understand his role on the show as a veteran performer to work with the up and coming talent, I just think its his time to shine.

Well, since Jeff is the WWE champion, I cannot see why they should not give matt a major title in the near future.

At 1/15/09 09:54 PM, Dream-of-Duke wrote: Well, since Jeff is the WWE champion, I cannot see why they should not give matt a major title in the near future.

Honestly, I've not really been sold on Matt as a headline guy. I know he's got the work, he cuts a good promo, but I just don't feel like he's got that break out ability. Maybe it's because I've never really been big on the Hardyz, and I could easily see the justification of moving him up because the Hardy's move merch and could probably put some asses in seats (especially young female asses), they've just never really been big for me. I do believe Jeff has shown hella improvement though, and I think Matt has too, he carried himself well as ECW champion, I guess I'm just personally not all the way sold the guy should now ascend to the main events.

matt could do it
he has the wrestling skills and mic skills (well he's better on the mic than jeff)

also on smackdown they announced that The Brian Kendrick & R-Truth are in the rumble

Personally, I'm hoping that Matt is put into the Jeff hit-and-run storyline. Even if he isn't put in as the driver they could have him involved in some way, perhaps with Christian if he returns. Either way, I would love to see Matt move to SD because with him, Jeff, Edge, and perhaps Christian, now that they are all more popular than their ladder match days, can probably get one hell of a storyline going on.

Now that Hardy (Matt) has lost the ECW championship, I thought it would be pretty cool for him to win the rumble. Have Matt take on Orton (who beats Cena at No Way Out) for the World Championship, and Jeff take on Trips/Edge to retain his WWE championship. Then go for the Matt/Jeff Edge/Christian angle for a few months. After that you could have a match between the both of them, possibly turning one heel in the process. I seem to remember on there DVD them talking about something like this (obviously without all the backstory).

At 1/16/09 09:02 AM, Shoopufzilla wrote: Personally, I'm hoping that Matt is put into the Jeff hit-and-run storyline. Even if he isn't put in as the driver they could have him involved in some way, perhaps with Christian if he returns. Either way, I would love to see Matt move to SD because with him, Jeff, Edge, and perhaps Christian, now that they are all more popular than their ladder match days, can probably get one hell of a storyline going on.

Christian should be the driver, and then screw Jeff out of the belt at the Rumble. Then Matt comes over to help his brother out and maybe we can get a four way at Mania and you can slowly plant the seeds for a Hardy vs. Hardy match down the line.

At 1/16/09 02:34 PM, aviewaskewed wrote: Christian should be the driver, and then screw Jeff out of the belt at the Rumble. Then Matt comes over to help his brother out and maybe we can get a four way at Mania and you can slowly plant the seeds for a Hardy vs. Hardy match down the line.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the only possible scenario. It would bring the Edge and Christian vs Hardys rivalry full circle, it would have more hype than any other possible WM match-up (These guys have a history that goes back almost 10 years), and you just know all 4 men would bust ass and put on a great show.

By the way, former ROH/TNA wrestler Low-Ki is currently down in FCW wrestling under the name Kawal... Meh, at least its not Braden Walker.

Hardcore Holly just got released.

At 1/16/09 08:52 PM, LordKooler wrote: Hardcore Holly just got released.

Woah he is one of the last people i expected to be released.

At 1/16/09 08:52 PM, LordKooler wrote: Hardcore Holly just got released.

good, he was a lame wrestler and from what i heard, an asshole backstage.

they seem to be releasing alot of the veteran wrestlers, pack your bags Funaki...

At 1/16/09 08:54 PM, idiot-buster wrote: Woah he is one of the last people i expected to be released.

I actually had heard he committed some kind of unpardonable sin backstage (which THAT to me seemed insane since Holly was always considered one of the locker room sheriffs) and that was the big reason why he not only got turned on and whipped by Cody and Teddy, but why he never got to go get a partner and work a return bout. What goes around does eventually come around.

At 1/16/09 08:52 PM, LordKooler wrote: Hardcore Holly just got released.

Tim White, Sgt. Slaughter, Hardcore Holly. Who's next? (No Goldberg pun intended.)

now that Victoria has retired there are no more divas from the attitude era, and before you guys say anything technically she was around in the attitude era, though she only played one of the godfathers hos.

well maybe not, if lillian garcia is counted as a diva then she'd still be representing the attitude erai guess..

At 1/17/09 05:20 AM, Random-Her03 wrote: well maybe not, if lillian garcia is counted as a diva then she'd still be representing the attitude erai guess..

If you wanna go there then I'll stand up and say Stephanie McMahon. But that's a given considering she's the boss's daughter. But she was an active wrestler during the Attitude Era and was even Women's Champion.