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CALDWELL'S TUESDAY CHAT w/GREG PARKS: Buy or Sell - Sheamus's push, DX back to normal, SD's top feuds, Jeff Hardy DVD plug
Nov 24, 2009 - 5:54:23 PM |
James Caldwell: This is Torch assistant editor James Caldwell joined by Torch specialist Greg Parks talking some Raw, Survivor Series, and Smackdown last Friday. Let's start with Raw - a big three-hour show after a three-hour PPV. I'm just glad for a one-hour ECW tonight, but what was your impression of last night's Raw, especially Jesse Ventura hosting and Sheamus's big push?
Greg Parks: Well, obviously, it was a big, newsworthy show last night, on several fronts. I thought Ventura did a fine job, as one would expect. I'm a fan of his and enjoy seeing him around, but it really struck me how old he looks now. I guess that's what being out of the spotlight for a few years will do to you. As for Sheamus...we asked for it (the pushing of new guys), and we certainly got it. But will the casual fans (and some hardcore fans) accept him as a main-eventer this soon?
JC: I thought Jesse Ventura did a good job bringing the combination of energy, knowledge, and authority to the guest-hosting role. I don't think he would be up for this, but a regular role for Ventura as a Raw GM would be just fine in my book.
GP: Yeah, Ventura brought authority, until he went back on the only promise he made and allowed Orton in the battle royal.
JC: That seemed really silly. As for Sheamus, I know we've been clamoring for weeks, months, and years for some fresh blood in the main event situation, but my gut tells me this is too soon and not the right guy. Jack Swagger four months ago coming from ECW was the right guy. The Miz two months ago was the right guy. MVP six months ago was the right guy. Ted DiBiase last month was the right guy. I think it's too soon for Sheamus, but we need more time to see if the audience will buy into him as a legit act. It looks like WWE is going to heavily stack the TLC PPV with big stars in undercard matches to support Cena vs. Sheamus on top because no one is going to buy a PPV for Sheamus right now. Do you think Sheamus will be successful in the "big boy" boots as a PPV main eventer?
GP: I really don't think it's anything he needs to do as far as in-ring work or anything; obviously, he really hasn't worked a long, full match yet, so that may be a challenge. But I think it's more that WWE needed about two more months to book him as a credible threat before throwing him into the fire.
JC: It's a tough call to make. Sheamus's only real long-form match on WWE TV was against Goldust a few months ago. I thought he looked good, but needed some polish. It's almost like they want to put him in this position to give viewers a sense of mystery without having seen him "exposed" like Koslov in a long-form match on TV. Ya know, how dangerous is he in the big pond or is he just dangerous as a big fish in a small pond beating up Noble and Lawler? I don't think WWE should put him in a long-form match before the PPV unless they feel absolutely positively certain they have a can't-miss match-up that won't kill that "mystery" to a match against Cena at the PPV.
GP: The nice thing is, if it's a tables match where one must go through a table to lose, then he can lose to Cena without being pinned. Isn't that how tables matches work, or am I thinking of something else?
JC: No, you're right. TNA has corrupted you on the excessive gimmicks, Greg. And WWE is emplying backwards booking going to the gimmick match before the standard match, but perhaps WWE just wants to get one main event match out of him when no one has seen him in a long-form match thus far. If he bombs, at least they tried. If he's great, then they can continue the push. I think it's a win/win situation.
GP: That's the problem with all these gimmick PPVs though, you inevitably have to book backwards at some points because there are so many of them.
JC: It is very problematic. It's like TNA's booking skipping several chapters to get to the gimmick match. On Raw, WWE did the qualifiers, the finals, and the contract signing on one night. Sheamus puts Cena through a contract table, so let's have a tables match! Whoa, slow down, there. The three-week gaps in-between PPVs are not conducive to solid, fundamentally-sound booking. ... Let's change subjects here. The DX follow-up was pretty much "let's brush this off and move on." What did you think of how they handled the possible dissension - ignoring it completely for good or put it off for another time down the road?
GP: I think put it off for down the road- they're not going to stay together forever (God willing). I think it could come as soon as the next PPV, when they face Jerishow. But yeah, I guess it was foolish of us to expect the follow-up to be anything less than joking around, which has been their m.o. Just look at the build for the three-way they were involved in for proof.
JC: Yeah, the tone remained the same on TV, which we should expect until this Hornswoggle bit plays out. It's so frustrating when you see at Survivor Series the great Shawn Michaels we saw in the Chris Jericho and JBL programs, then on Raw, we see the insecure, looney sidekick. Chris Jericho might be the perfect foil to bring that strong Michaels character out of him. I like the DX vs. JeriShow program going into TLC. Do you see a title change or does it depend on Show's condition?
JC: I guess it depends on Show's condition; the worst thing that could happen is DX wins the titles, and gets to go on BOTH shows (which I doubt Michaels will do, save for a special appearance). Plus, I don't see them adding a lot of credibility to the already near-worthless tag titles.
GP: I don't think Triple H will sniff Smackdown again after his "hey, I took one for the team" run last year and earlier this year. Just saying. Besides DX, if you had to pick a tag team out of a hat to be next in line for a run the belts, who would you pick?
GP: (d) none of the above. Seriously, they don't have any tag teams that are really "worthy" or even ready to hold the belts and do double duty.
JC: Haha, fair enough. Yeah, I would say Hart Dynasty, but they can't even get past Cryme Tyme, much less be booked to hang five minutes with DX. ... Let's talk Survivor Series from the Smackdown perspective to combine the two. First off, Smackdown was squashed on Raw last night, which isn't surprising. At the PPV, though, Drew McIntyre stood out, The Undertaker slogged through another PPV title victory, and Batista sent Rey to the sidelines until 2010. Are we looking at Taker-Batista and Morrison-McIntyre as the top two feuds going forward? Or, where does the X Factor Kane fit into this mix?
GP: I hope Kane is on the sidelines for this; It'll take all I can stomach to sit through him vs. Batista on Friday night. I assume it'll be Taker-Batista, unless they fit Punk in there somewhere once his mini-feud with R-Truth is over with. Morrison vs. McIntyre could be interesting, but I think the lack of Dolph Ziggler is distressing; he comes up short every time for the IC Title, was eliminated first at Survivor Series and loses last night. Who did he tick off?
JC: I have no idea what happened to Ziggler's push. It's like WWE has shelved "phase one" of the young talent being pushed, which includes Ziggler, Swagger, MVP, and Bourne. As for Taker-Batista, how about a Taker-Kane-Batista three-way at TLC where Batista pins Kane to win the title, Taker leaves for a while to heal, and they have a built-in return match for Batista vs. Taker?
GP: With the condition Taker is in, plus the fact that it'll have to be some type of hardcore match at TLC, you almost have to put him in a three-way to prevent further injury. I'd really rather not see Kane in there, but he's the one that makes sense thus far, with the way they're booking it for this Friday.
JC: I am nervous about anyone on the WWE roster being in a tables, ladder, or chairs match right now. It's too much risk with top names so banged up after that grueling European Tour. At least WWE could be forced to move Punk back to the top of the line-up. That's a good thing for everyone. ... Final two thoughts I want to touch on from the DVD department on Raw. WWE quietly offers a video trailer for Ted DiBiase's new movie with zero hype. WWE also hypes a Jeff Hardy DVD while he's still facing serious legal charges. What's going on here?
GP: Well, they do have a few more weeks to put the Marine 2 hype into overdrive. I think they know Jeff Hardy's DVD will sell well if they push it hard, because there were so many Hardy fans, and it is right around Christmas time. They know where their bread is buttered, and they'd be likely to sell more Hady DVDs than DiBiase Marine DVDs, especially the way they've been booking Legacy in the last few weeks.
JC: Good take. Legacy does seem to be part of the shelved "Phase One" talent initiative. At least they're still on TV and their "push" is subject to change, of course, but I'm surprised by the de-emphasis on Cody and Ted. Thanks for the chat today, Greg! Good talk as always.
GP: No problem, James.
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