WWE

[Guy M]

Embargo definitely lifted then!

I thought it was a really good PPV and think the decision to go with 90 seconds must have been made relatively late on. In the build-up to it, all references were to entrants "every 2 minutes" and I think that would explain Miz and MVP's match being added at late notice.

I thought the Mickie-McCool match was really good. Yeah it was short, but the crowd were hot for it and it got the pop and reaction they'd have hoped for and Team LayCool get the kicking they deserved.

Bit annoyed Orton got shafted, but I think you might be right Tim when it comes to DiBiase turning face being a swerve. They could definitely make Orton the Austin of 2010 right now as long as they keep him away from Cena. Him versus Legacy could easily run to Elimination Chamber before moving into 3way with Cena and Sheamus at WM.

I don't want to see HBK - Taker again. But that's because I'm worried he's one of the few people Taker would be wiling to drop the streak to.

I think Christian should have dropped to Ezekiel. The bloke's a monster in the making and could have been put over, but he could always win it in the Chamber before dropping it at WM.

I really enjoyed the Rumble. I just wish it had been longer. CM Punk got a chance to introduce those who might not watch a lot of SmackDown to what he's been doing. Bit surprised they've let Edge go straight past Jericho for the title, but maybe there's something to happen there at EC.

REALLY happy to see HHH go out early. Predictable that it was to Shawn tho. Heel Shawn vs Face Hunter (with Hornswoggle) would work right now tho, especially if HBK was to start to lose it.

All in all, I wasn't disappointed.

[OCD]

Pretty clear to me that it will be Taker-HBK, Orton-DiBiase and Bret-Vince. Not sure what they're going to do with Cena and HHH.

[bobcat]

I think HBK will face Batista at WM after Batista was the one to throw him out. They wont go with HBK-Taker 2 years in a row.

The RAW elimination chamber will be for the title but the Smackdown EC will be to decide the number one contender to face Taker at WM.

Sheamus will drop the title in the EC to set up Edge vs ?

[Guy M]

Didn't get chance to watch SmackDown before the Rumble and just watched it this afternoon. Great GREAT pre-Rumble build show: CM Punk's Straight Edge Society on mic with DX and Rey, Mysterio vs HBK main event with story-developing ending. Loved it.

Just watched this week's RAW as well. Shatner's vocal interpretation of Shawn and Rey's entrance themes was awesome. As was his 'negotiator' / freeze frame stupidity.

Won't say any more in case others haven't seen it yet, but was quite a wrestling heavy show for a change with a view to the RAW Elimination Chamber and some pretty good plot development. No Santino this week tho :o(

[TheTimVilla]

Raw was good this week. I loved Edge on it. Heel/face...? I guess face. TJ Hooker was good. ;o)

I see they set up DX losing their belts next week...

[Guy M]

So, you've seen it too then!

Interesting to see how the heel returning from injury didn't get the sort of face-reaction they probably hoped for like Angle and HHH did. I guess that's partly down to him not having been out for "that long". Crowd started to turn more once Sheamus came out. Still think he'll draw better as heel so will be interesting to see where they go with him.

I'd like to see DX lose each set of belts separately and for those to start being used properly again. Wishful thinking I guess.

Just been catching up on gossip on what else has happened this week. Interesting development as far as ECW is concerned.

[TheTimVilla]

I think that's why it's a three way tag match? Punk & Gallows take the SD belts, Miz/Show the Raw ones. HBK will walk out on HHH or perhaps even give him some Sweet Chin Music.

I'd prefer Edge (& Christian!) as face.

[OCD]

Looks like Cena-Batista will be fighting on behalf of Bret and McMahon respectively.

[TheTimVilla]

Sounds a bit too similar to McMahon v Trump, hair v hair. I think they should be kept as two separate storylines.

[Hazz]

Sounds a bit too similar to McMahon v Trump, hair v hair. I think they should be kept as two separate storylines.

Bret/Vince would be horrific/impossible, though.

[Guy M]

Sounds a bit too similar to McMahon v Trump, hair v hair. I think they should be kept as two separate storylines.

Bret/Vince would be horrific/impossible, though.

I think that's partly why Bret mentioned the stroke and the wheelchair. Sadly, him and Vince just wouldn't work. Shame Shane's gone because I think he could have made a match with Bret work. Some showboating, the old Shane shuffle, miss a coast-to-coast...

Cena w/ Bret vs Batista w/ McMahon doesn't fill me with joy, but it works in terms of the WWE's current direction and as one of the main events, it's got the guys Vince would want involved when it comes to mainstream media appeal.

[greenwichvilla]

We've seen the end of the Survivor Series. The event will not be repeated as a result of poor buyrates in the US. I must admit, I didn't actually order it in 09 either. The poor buyrate I'd imagine were down to no promotion, UFC on PPV that night and the NFL being in full swing.

Shame cause there have been some great SS events in the past.

No doubt it will be replaced with some sort of themed PPV. Triple Threat? Fatal Four Way? The mind boggles....

[TheTimVilla]

I read that too. After WM and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series was my favourite. The rest are all too similar.

How about a PPV where all the matches are in a six-sided ring...?!

[greenwichvilla]

Haha! Not a bad idea there Tim!

I do agree with you, the 'Big 4' PPVs are massivley superior too the so called lesser ones. I do enjoy Backlash and Night of Champion's but that's about it. They should bring back King of the Ring. Enjoyable because it was different and felt like an event. Too much emphasis on Cena, HHH, Orton etc in the spotlight and far too much overkill on TV and PPV have taken away a lot of the enjoyment of following WWE.

[Guy M]

Been in Vegas for a week and my brother texted me the bad news about Survivor Series while I was out there.

In the days before weekly wrestling programming, Survivor Series was an integral part of the wrestling calendar, allowed feuds to be brought to a close, new ones to start and gave fans the opportunity to see wrestlers face other wrestlers they wouldn't usually come into contact with. And I loved it. Rumble first, Survivor Series 2nd, Mania etc followed thereafter in importance for me.

Both Taker and Rocky Maivia made their debuts at SS off the top of my head. I suspect a few more. It was a great way to bring someone straight in as important in the days before weekly live programming.

With mishmash tag-teams on RAW and SmackDown every week and nothing like the time spent on any feuds apart from those involving the main eventers, the PPV isn't relevant but that's nobody's fault but the WWE creatives' own and I for one am gutted to see an end to what SHOULD have still been one of the cornerstones of the WWE.