Tom Servo
Nittany Beavers
Imagine Stephanie McMahon, a dope who has never held a real job, offering critique of commentary.
Imagine Stephanie McMahon, a dope who has never held a real job, offering critique of commentary.
Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Brian Gewirtz, who has been with WWE as one of the head writers for around 15 years, gave his notice to the company a few weeks ago.
Gewirtz was at the June 29th edition of RAW in Washington, D.C. saying his “goodbyes” to everyone in the company.
For years, Gewirtz was the head writer of RAW, and remained with the creative team until October of 2012, when Eric Pankowski, the head of WWE creative at the time, sent him home.
Gewirtz had remained under contract as a consultant working from home, and also did some work for the WWE Network.
When The Rock would come in from time-to-time, he would specifically ask for Gewirtz to be there to be his writer. Gewirtz was the main writer for The Rock during the last few years of Rock’s full-time career in WWE.
Love this. Sasha Banks might end up being the best thing to ever happen to the women's division. She's got it all. The way she stands with her hip out...Peak said:Looks like Charlotte and Sasha Banks are gonna be movin' on up to the main roster soon!
NXT Backstage Report
Source: Pwinsider.com
WWE NXT Diva Charlotte is set to make her main roster debut at SummerSlam next month. Charlotte and another NXT Diva, likely to be Sasha Banks, will debut together to provide help forPaige against the Bella Twins and Alicia Fox.
There was talk about bringing Bayley up for the storyline, but since she is out due to a broken hand calling up Sasha is the current plan.
Charlotte is very good as well. Not as attractive as most divas, but looks legitimate and of course has the pedigree.
who are all either catty or crazy.While I agree Billy Gunn has never drawn a dime, I don't see ZZ as anything more than a really good reality show participant. He'd do fine as a wrestler at the county fair, but he's got a long way to go to be a WWE superstar. I feel like he'd need to go through wrestling "boot camp" 6 or 7 times just to catch up to the others. There might be something there, but...Just watched new Tough Enough episode. That character challenge shows EVERYTHING that's wrong with WWE today and why frankly the product sucks.
ZZ's CHARACTER was hilarious. Then you have Billy Gunn, who never ever ever ever ever ever ever put an ### (no pun intended) in a seat on his own, telling him it was a joke. No Billy, what was a joke was your ###### gimmick with Chuck Palumbo. Road Dogg was the reason New Age Outlaws ever got over. Gunn was heavily pushed as a singles guy and was a collossal flop like Lex Luger. It's just hilarious this company is branded as ENTERTAINMENT and there's not a single entertaining regular CHARACTER on their programming.
Tanner is heads and shoulders above all the other guys. ZZ isn't going to win but he's more entertaining than everyone on the show. The black idiot Patrick needs to go. Zero potential. He's a waste of time on the show like the first 2 eliminated guys.
ZZ (19 years old....whatever he is) has a better mind for what WWE should be in 2015 than 'head trainer' Billy Gunn. And that's pretty ####### sad for WWE as a company. I'll never understand why you hire the likes of Albert and Billy Gunn -- 2 guys that never made a dime as singles -- to lead your developing talent.
I don't see ZZ losing a fan vote save for perhaps against Tanner. Sara Lee should have went home 2nite. Too plain jane. AJ Lee she isn't.
Cycling downward? lol ya think? I read recently that the Raw ~2 weeks ago had its lowest non-holiday edition rating in almost 20 years!! Really bad considering no NFL/NBA etc... right now. I think the bottom is gonna fall out eventually. When you brand yourself as 'entertainment' & nothing is entertaining (writing sucks), does it come as a surprise the ratings continue to plummet?It is awesome, but I think I liked English's prior gimmick even more. For those who don't know, he used to be a theater singer who would sing about how awful his opponent was and how great he was on the way to the ring, then, when he won, the crowd would demand an encore, so he'd sing the last couple lines again while the NXT crowd(and William Regal a few times) threw roses at him.I'm dying to know who came up with the Vaudevillains gimmick. It's more awesome every time I see it. So unique and creative. English and Gotch are perfect too.
Finally watched the episode. I'm surprised that Daria is gone. I thought she'd stick around longer. I don't have a problem with Patrick. I think he's got some potential turn this competition into something, if not at least a broadcast analyst like Josh Mathews turned out to be from Season 1. I'm again really bothered that they have showed very little in-ring activity and unless you count entrances, this week provided zero. Are these guys still training to be wrestlers, or what? Terrible show that keeps getting worse.While I agree Billy Gunn has never drawn a dime, I don't see ZZ as anything more than a really good reality show participant. He'd do fine as a wrestler at the county fair, but he's got a long way to go to be a WWE superstar. I feel like he'd need to go through wrestling "boot camp" 6 or 7 times just to catch up to the others. There might be something there, but...Just watched new Tough Enough episode. That character challenge shows EVERYTHING that's wrong with WWE today and why frankly the product sucks.
ZZ's CHARACTER was hilarious. Then you have Billy Gunn, who never ever ever ever ever ever ever put an ### (no pun intended) in a seat on his own, telling him it was a joke. No Billy, what was a joke was your ###### gimmick with Chuck Palumbo. Road Dogg was the reason New Age Outlaws ever got over. Gunn was heavily pushed as a singles guy and was a collossal flop like Lex Luger. It's just hilarious this company is branded as ENTERTAINMENT and there's not a single entertaining regular CHARACTER on their programming.
Tanner is heads and shoulders above all the other guys. ZZ isn't going to win but he's more entertaining than everyone on the show. The black idiot Patrick needs to go. Zero potential. He's a waste of time on the show like the first 2 eliminated guys.
ZZ (19 years old....whatever he is) has a better mind for what WWE should be in 2015 than 'head trainer' Billy Gunn. And that's pretty ####### sad for WWE as a company. I'll never understand why you hire the likes of Albert and Billy Gunn -- 2 guys that never made a dime as singles -- to lead your developing talent.
I don't see ZZ losing a fan vote save for perhaps against Tanner. Sara Lee should have went home 2nite. Too plain jane. AJ Lee she isn't.
Sara Lee is really cute, but it doesn't appear she's going to make it much farther. I root for her a little because she seems nice, doesn't look plastic, and she's not interested in participating in all the drama. Of course that doesn't make for great TV I suppose.
Nobody on the show is really catching my attention at this point. It's the first one of these I've watched since the original that Maven won. Paige certainly comes off #####y. I suppose they want her to be the Simon Cowell of the group.
Big AndyGottabesweet said:Josh or Tanner makes the most sense for me but WWE never really liked the MMA people. Andy Leavine made no sense over the guy he beat (the smaller Randy Orton looking guy, I forget.
Dude showed nothing the whole entire show but somehow won. Then flunked a Wellness test soon after and gone.
on the Hart family stories. I just got to the part where they are talking about Owen being so cheap that he relied on random fans giving him rides and free places to stay wherever he went.
This is pretty lame if true. The podcast era of Steve Austin has been a pretty likable guy. This sounds more like the uptight doushey version of Austin during the Attitude era.Piper had Will Sasso on his show pretending to be Steve Austin. Was quite funny. One of the funnier wrestling podcast episodes I've listened to. Just watched it this weekend on Piper's new spot on SoundCloud.
Apparently threw a hissy fit after hearing about the impersonation & had the podcast pulled within 6 hours. Piper went to PodcastOne and said he wouldn't stick around PodcastOne to be censored. Apparently Austin #####ed to WWE and had Piper's Legends deal terminated as well.
Austin needs to grow a set.
Agreed, just watched the video of the intro's online and Steph just comes across as an attention #####. Sasha Banks should haveGreat to see the ladies but they definitely botched it. Steph didn't need to be involved and Paige should have brought them out after getting beaten down by all the divas.
And don't like that Sasha is with Naomi who just sucks in every way.
And the saddest part of all this is WWE had Alicia Fox align with them to protect them (and let her take all the losses).I'd buy something for my wife from her.Brie Bella should be working a jewelry counter at JcPenneys or something. And nowhere near any wrestling or entertainment business
Steph was clearly using them for the rub...which is mind boggling when a part time NON WRESTLER uses the rookies to get over.... talk about the ultimate Dusty tribute!Great to see the ladies but they definitely botched it. Steph didn't need to be involved and Paige should have brought them out after getting beaten down by all the divas.
And don't like that Sasha is with Naomi who just sucks in every way.
I liked seeing the arrival of Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha very much. But Steph did not need to get involved at all - this could have happened much more organically.Huh. I guess I'm in the minority that I really liked the Diva's segment. I love how Stephanie framed it by bringing up how hot women's sports is right now with Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, and the US women's soccer team. And now the previously blah "divas" division is about to get a jolt of new excitement as well! I was marking out in my living room, especially when Sasha came out. That was probably my favorite segment in an outstanding show last night.
right now (and I say right now only because only recently has he been given the opportunity) and is the savior of RAW. That three-way was all kinds of fun. Give me a 15+ minute Cesaro match every week and I'll gladly put up with the opening talking segments, Cena's rah-rah promos and anything else they feel compelled to shoehorn in with it.I think it's important to remember that most of the viewing audience had no idea who Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha were until last night. If you don't watch NXT, you're not familiar with them. I think they put Stephanie out there to emphasize to the crowd that these aren't your average run of the mill "divas". Maybe another way might have been better, but I enjoyed it a lot.I liked seeing the arrival of Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha very much. But Steph did not need to get involved at all - this could have happened much more organically.Huh. I guess I'm in the minority that I really liked the Diva's segment. I love how Stephanie framed it by bringing up how hot women's sports is right now with Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, and the US women's soccer team. And now the previously blah "divas" division is about to get a jolt of new excitement as well! I was marking out in my living room, especially when Sasha came out. That was probably my favorite segment in an outstanding show last night.
On the plus side, Cesaro is![]()
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right now (and I say right now only because only recently has he been given the opportunity) and is the savior of RAW. That three-way was all kinds of fun. Give me a 15+ minute Cesaro match every week and I'll gladly put up with the opening talking segments, Cena's rah-rah promos and anything else they feel compelled to shoehorn in with it.
Dare I hope that Cesaro defeats new US Champ Kevin Owens for the title next week? I know that's asking a whole lot. Maybe defeating new IC Champ The Miz for that title makes more sense (albeit with a less compelling match in the process).
Wow, you guys are a bunch of haters. I'm excited to see Banks and Charlotte work on the main roster, but that doesn't mean there isn't talent there already. Don't let the fact that there hasn't been a decent storyline with the Divas in over a year fool you into thinking that the Bellas, Naomi and Alicia aren't good workers (in addition to Nattie and Paige, obviously). It's tough to look good when you are only given 5 minutes a match and never have a story to tell.They can't have these girls become a threat right away. Gotta make sure Nikki Bella's epic title run (where her and her useless sister switch face/heel every other week because they can't get over as either) bests AJ Lee's title reign duration.And the saddest part of all this is WWE had Alicia Fox align with them to protect them (and let her take all the losses).
Brie Bella should be working a jewelry counter at JcPenneys or something. And nowhere near any wrestling or entertainment business
I agree with the bolded, but it would have been just as easy and more organic if Charlotte and Sasha came out as a favor to Paige. Then if they run roughshod over the Bellas faction and Naomi's faction.....either one of them could have added Sasha in the next week or two. To me, putting Stephanie in it is nothing more than her trying to get in front of and take (a modicum of) credit for the Give Divas a Chance movement as she set herself up as the catalyst for bringing these girls up.Jeremy said:I think it's important to remember that most of the viewing audience had no idea who Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha were until last night. If you don't watch NXT, you're not familiar with them. I think they put Stephanie out there to emphasize to the crowd that these aren't your average run of the mill "divas". Maybe another way might have been better, but I enjoyed it a lot.Keith R said:I liked seeing the arrival of Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha very much. But Steph did not need to get involved at all - this could have happened much more organically.Jeremy said:Huh. I guess I'm in the minority that I really liked the Diva's segment. I love how Stephanie framed it by bringing up how hot women's sports is right now with Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, and the US women's soccer team. And now the previously blah "divas" division is about to get a jolt of new excitement as well! I was marking out in my living room, especially when Sasha came out. That was probably my favorite segment in an outstanding show last night.
On the plus side, Cesaro is![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
right now (and I say right now only because only recently has he been given the opportunity) and is the savior of RAW. That three-way was all kinds of fun. Give me a 15+ minute Cesaro match every week and I'll gladly put up with the opening talking segments, Cena's rah-rah promos and anything else they feel compelled to shoehorn in with it.
Dare I hope that Cesaro defeats new US Champ Kevin Owens for the title next week? I know that's asking a whole lot. Maybe defeating new IC Champ The Miz for that title makes more sense (albeit with a less compelling match in the process).![]()
I think a lot of people are assuming Owens is winning the U.S. Title on Sunday. I'm not sure that's a foregone conclusion.
Speaking of which, it sure looks more and more like Rusev is getting gently moved a little more toward babyface. Cena almost worked as the cocky heel last night with Rusev overcoming all odds as the underdog. This after he looked somewhat sympathetic in his promo with Ziggler last week. Maybe it's not deliberate. I don't know.![]()
The Bellas only piss me off when they don't do their little spin before their match. Other than that, I have no real beef with them. I don't think though for a second that the hyping of this "championship run" isn't nothing more than politics; a combination of rewarding the Bellas for faithful service/rewarding Cena in a bankhand way/ taking a jab at and reducing the legacy oft Punk/AJ......and it very much comes across as petty.OC Zed said:Wow, you guys are a bunch of haters. I'm excited to see Banks and Charlotte work on the main roster, but that doesn't mean there isn't talent there already. Don't let the fact that there hasn't been a decent storyline with the Divas in over a year fool you into thinking that the Bellas, Naomi and Alicia aren't good workers (in addition to Nattie and Paige, obviously). It's tough to look good when you are only given 5 minutes a match and never have a story to tell.Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub said:They can't have these girls become a threat right away. Gotta make sure Nikki Bella's epic title run (where her and her useless sister switch face/heel every other week because they can't get over as either) bests AJ Lee's title reign duration.And the saddest part of all this is WWE had Alicia Fox align with them to protect them (and let her take all the losses).
Brie Bella should be working a jewelry counter at JcPenneys or something. And nowhere near any wrestling or entertainment business
Ironically, if there was an authority figure who deserved the rub of bringing these girls in, it's Triple H, not Steph. Those girls all credit him with their success and he's the guy fueling the awesome ladies stuff on NXT.I agree with the bolded, but it would have been just as easy and more organic if Charlotte and Sasha came out as a favor to Paige. Then if they run roughshod over the Bellas faction and Naomi's faction.....either one of them could have added Sasha in the next week or two. To me, putting Stephanie in it is nothing more than her trying to get in front of and take (a modicum of) credit for the Give Divas a Chance movement as she set herself up as the catalyst for bringing these girls up.Jeremy said:I think it's important to remember that most of the viewing audience had no idea who Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha were until last night. If you don't watch NXT, you're not familiar with them. I think they put Stephanie out there to emphasize to the crowd that these aren't your average run of the mill "divas". Maybe another way might have been better, but I enjoyed it a lot.Keith R said:I liked seeing the arrival of Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha very much. But Steph did not need to get involved at all - this could have happened much more organically.Jeremy said:Huh. I guess I'm in the minority that I really liked the Diva's segment. I love how Stephanie framed it by bringing up how hot women's sports is right now with Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, and the US women's soccer team. And now the previously blah "divas" division is about to get a jolt of new excitement as well! I was marking out in my living room, especially when Sasha came out. That was probably my favorite segment in an outstanding show last night.
On the plus side, Cesaro is![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
right now (and I say right now only because only recently has he been given the opportunity) and is the savior of RAW. That three-way was all kinds of fun. Give me a 15+ minute Cesaro match every week and I'll gladly put up with the opening talking segments, Cena's rah-rah promos and anything else they feel compelled to shoehorn in with it.
Dare I hope that Cesaro defeats new US Champ Kevin Owens for the title next week? I know that's asking a whole lot. Maybe defeating new IC Champ The Miz for that title makes more sense (albeit with a less compelling match in the process).![]()
I think a lot of people are assuming Owens is winning the U.S. Title on Sunday. I'm not sure that's a foregone conclusion.
Speaking of which, it sure looks more and more like Rusev is getting gently moved a little more toward babyface. Cena almost worked as the cocky heel last night with Rusev overcoming all odds as the underdog. This after he looked somewhat sympathetic in his promo with Ziggler last week. Maybe it's not deliberate. I don't know.![]()
There's no business in putting that heat on Stephanie... You could have used it to get the new girls OR Paige over by bringing her out there. Steph had nothing to do with this angle, other than when she abandoned the face/heel Bella situation in storyline and so did the "blood is thicker than water" girls.Jeremy said:Huh. I guess I'm in the minority that I really liked the Diva's segment. I love how Stephanie framed it by bringing up how hot women's sports is right now with Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, and the US women's soccer team. And now the previously blah "divas" division is about to get a jolt of new excitement as well! I was marking out in my living room, especially when Sasha came out. That was probably my favorite segment in an outstanding show last night.
Looked like her dad.Not surprised at all.I know a guy who runs a gym in Milwaukee, and word on the street is that he's looked terrible in training.for those of you who are CM Punk fans:
http://www.mmamania.com/2015/7/7/8906105/video-fox-has-sneak-peek-cm-punk-training-ufc-he-looks-huge-ripped-mma
A new "WWE Insider" has popped up on Reddit, and says the following for Battleground:
The Undertaker is showing up, interfering in the main event, which leads to Seth Rollins retaining the title. This sets up an Authority/revenge angle.
Makes sense, Seth keeps the belt, Brock doesn't lose heat, you get UT doing some TV without working matches, and gives you a rematch possibility down the road. The WWE needs eyeballs on RAW/Smackdown and on the Network, so I'm sure they are paying Mean Mark some mean cash to dust off the boots.
That's why I'm not going. He's got a bad history of no-showing.I hope he shows up.Scott Hall will be making an appearance in my neck of the woods tomorrow. An article in a local paper talked about the show; the promoter says the venue - which used to be East Brady HS - has been dubbed by fans "the FSW Arena".Somehow, I think not...
Harper is back with Wyatt. Helped him get the win over Reigns.Wyatt is directionless but it's really sad what's happened to Luke Harper. Does this guy even appear on cards anymore?
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Why they ever broke the 3 of them up is beyond me, they were really good but I find Bray himself very boring.Harper is back with Wyatt. Helped him get the win over Reigns.Wyatt is directionless but it's really sad what's happened to Luke Harper. Does this guy even appear on cards anymore?
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Yes! The Big Show! #StuffNobodySaysI was worried we wouldn't get to see Big Show tonight... YES! YES! YES!![]()
lol.....That was amusing. Miz gave one of his better heel promos and Big Show didn't say a word. Perfect.I was worried we wouldn't get to see Big Show tonight... YES! YES! YES!![]()
Too bad about Rowan. Wyatt family was a great heel faction. I hope they can recapture that magic. Wyatt Family vs The Shield was not explored enough IMO.Why they ever broke the 3 of them up is beyond me, they were really good but I find Bray himself very boring.Harper is back with Wyatt. Helped him get the win over Reigns.Wyatt is directionless but it's really sad what's happened to Luke Harper. Does this guy even appear on cards anymore?
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My buddy told me Rowan has a really bad shoulder injury so that explains why it was just Harper.