WWE: WWE TV - Raw & Smackdown Part 3

[Emperoreddy]

There was some solid camera work here. One was Rock slowly walking into frame and blocking Roman out when he dressed Cody down and slapped him.

Another was Punk going off and you could see Rock on stage staring a hole through his head.

Punk's presence adds another story they can tell down the line depending on how often the Rock is around.

 

[TD Charlie]

That was incredibly lame, and they are very clearly flying by the seat of their pants with all of this, but I’m glad they seem to have sorted out the true main event

Still no idea what they’re doing with Seth, and how he factors in if at all. Also no idea how the rock plays a part in this.

A tag match makes sense but when? The Chamber doesn’t work because I don’t think Seth is ready to go by then, and it’s unwise to risk injury to Roman and Cody with all that’s happened this year already. Sure they could tag night 1, but the injury risk is still staring them in the face. On top of that, would Seth defend the title night two? And if so, does his opponent night 2 walk in fresh or would he also compete somewhere night 1.

Still a lot of work to be done. But they lined up the proper main event at the very least.

There was some solid camera work here. One was Rock slowly walking into frame and blocking Roman out when he dressed Cody down and slapped him.

Another was Punk going off and you could see Rock on stage staring a hole through his head.

Punk's presence adds another story they can tell down the line depending on how often the Rock is around.

The Punk v Rock tension might have been my favorite part of that whole thing. It’s absolutely worth revisiting in the not so distant future.

 

[GKJ]

At this point, WWE should just go full on crazy. Have Cody beat Roman at WM, and as he’s celebrating with tears in his eyes, boom! Mami with some brass knucks and Priest cashes in.

I will mark so hard for this that I might pass out

 

[Emperoreddy]

Well, he was dragged into it with Roman talking so much shit about his title. And they have established at Cody and Seth are friends.

They won't do a tag match for winner taking all though.

Remember, Roman didn't beat Seth in their title match.

Yeah, Roman little broing Seth was very intentional and is meant to build a storyline there.

Same as Rock little Broing Roman at the end as well where he stepped up to Cody and Roman basically turned into Jimmy or Solo.

Hell Rock and HHH getting into it sets shit up too.

We are in worked shoot land and it's working because everyone seems to be trying to guess where the story ends and reality begins. Was it a work all along. Was it a pivot.

It's chaotic, it's messy, but it seems pretty effective as they have added a ton of spice to a Cody/Roman II build that no one thought or expected would be there.

 

[sansabri]

can't wait for Roman to beat Cody again

 

[EverettMike]

Yeah, Roman little broing Seth was very intentional and is meant to build a storyline there.

Same as Rock little Broing Roman at the end as well where he stepped up to Cody and Roman basically turned into Jimmy or Solo.

Hell Rock and HHH getting into it sets shit up too.

We are in worked shoot land and it's working because everyone seems to be trying to guess where the story ends and reality begins. Was it a work all along. Was it a pivot.

It's chaotic, it's messy, but it seems pretty effective as they have added a ton of spice to a Cody/Roman II build that no one thought or expected would be there.

I think anytime you're discussing booking and business decisions rather than the story it's boring. I thought it was interesting only because it was so bad.

Obviously not everyone feels that way, but seeing them try and make sense of something dumb they did because of the stock price is inherently lame to me.

 

[Troublesome 85]

Idk I find the rock cringe now

This all felt blah

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

Idk I find the rock cringe now

This all felt blah

To me Dwayne jumped the shark somewhere in the midst of requiring his own versions of American Gladiators and Young Sheldon.

 

[hamzarocks]

can't wait for Roman to beat Cody again

Reigns drops the title or leafs win the cup

Stay tuned to find out

 

[KCC]

Idk I find the rock cringe now

This all felt blah

Disagree. When he went heel Rock I loved it. It definitely was not cheesy and he did his best work as a heel back in the day. Now face Rock with the "finally" and the "candy ass" stuff is absolutely cringe. It's outdated and has been played to death by now. lol

 

[Emperoreddy]

Wish there was some way for Dustin to get involved too

 

[CupofOil]

The storytelling might be a mess but this is the most invested I've been in WWE in years. The uncertainty of where this is going leading up to Wrestlemania and now Rock going heel, seemingly, makes it all the more intriguing. One thing about this storyline is that it has a lot more people talking now especially with the controversial aspect of it, that's undeniable.

 

[BostonBob]

Reigns drops the title or leafs win the cup

Alex - I'll take " Name something that might happen this year and something that definitely will not happen this year " for $1,000

 

[CokenoPepsi]

I stopped watching full time during HHHs reign of terror, I've popped in here and there but I'm not at all familiar with today's product.

But this whole thing has me intrigued as much of a mess as it seems.

So Rock turns heel just like that? I guess he costs Roman the title setting up a match with Roman at Backlash?

 

[Lunatik]

Rock turns heel just like that?

I wouldn't say it was "just like that". Fans turned on him already, on Raw Monday night there were Rocky sucks chants and he wasn't even in the building.

The Rock has played this perfectly IMO. It's rumored he's been pushing the "we want Cody" angle hard, immediately making him the heel. Now he goes on about Cody Crybabies, gets more heat.

Then at the end of the presser Thursday they had him in the tunnel with Triple H, furious about Cody disrespecting the Samoan dynasty... And he's in a position being on the board that he's Triple H's boss, so he can force his way into that WM match, which will make the heat nuclear.

Now if Cody wins, not only is he finishing his story and taking down Roman's reign of terror, but now he's taking down big bad corporate Rock that abused his power to get in the main event and the entire Samoan bloodline.

Cody could be over like Stone Cold if they play this right.

 

[Jussi]

 

[BruinDust]

Cody could be over like Stone Cold if they play this right.

That's what they are going for. Remains to be seen if it works but that is the end goal.

I still absolutely do not buy that Rock would ever agree to knowingly put himself in a position where the fans turned on him.

This isn't quite the same as playing a villain in a movie. He's literally coming off as a backstage politicking douchebag who stole a day to day guy's moment in real life.

So much for that theory.

A tag match makes sense but when?

They aren't doing a tag match.

They aren't tying up two men's world titles for a two-night WM into one main event for essentially bragging rights. Heck, they did Rock + Cena vs. Awesome Truth at Survivor Series one year and it didn't exactly blow the doors off the box office.

Seth and Punk would of been the Night 1 ME had it not been for Punk's tri-cep tear. Clearly promised to Punk as a condition of his return to the company. I doubt he returns otherwise. Punk was never considered to win the Rumble.

Calling it a work implies this was the plan all along, but I don't think that's even remotely true.

Go watch Rock's interview on the Pat McAfee show back in September if you have the time. This has been in the works really since early 2022. There was always a Plan B to just go Cody vs. Roman if Rock couldn't participate. We are getting plan A.

Cody still chooses Roman.

From Monday. I never even watched the press conference. Didn't need to. WWE is the most predictable shit on TV. Your getting a Triple Threat between Rock/Rhodes/Roman and it was obvious since The Rock first appeared at Day 1. What wasn't obvious was The Rock changing up his character to fit the narrative they are trying to tell. A blend of his Corporate Champ and Hollywood Rock characters. I just hope they go back to his Hollywood Rock theme song. That theme hits so hard.

 

[Jussi]

Almost 2 million views after 9 hours!



Over a million views also. It's working. PUN INTENDED!

Edit: the full stream also has over 2 million views.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

So...finally just watched the full segment for the first time.

I don't understand the "total mess" criticism. That presser was fantastic. This has already surpassed the Sami/Bloodline story for me, and it just started. Rock turns heal and aligns with Roman?? Count me in. Rock plays the new corporate heal and is already in the face of HHH? Count me in. Wrestlemania has me hooked and 90% of the matches aren't even announced yet.

Next, have Balor win the EC, win the belt, and have Priest cash in.

 

[TD Charlie]

That's what they are going for. Remains to be seen if it works but that is the end goal.


So much for that theory.


They aren't doing a tag match.

They aren't tying up two men's world titles for a two-night WM into one main event for essentially bragging rights. Heck, they did Rock + Cena vs. Awesome Truth at Survivor Series one year and it didn't exactly blow the doors off the box office.

Seth and Punk would of been the Night 1 ME had it not been for Punk's tri-cep tear. Clearly promised to Punk as a condition of his return to the company. I doubt he returns otherwise. Punk was never considered to win the Rumble.



Go watch Rock's interview on the Pat McAfee show back in September if you have the time. This has been in the works really since early 2022. There was always a Plan B to just go Cody vs. Roman if Rock couldn't participate. We are getting plan A.



From Monday. I never even watched the press conference. Didn't need to. WWE is the most predictable shit on TV. Your getting a Triple Threat between Rock/Rhodes/Roman and it was obvious since The Rock first appeared at Day 1. What wasn't obvious was The Rock changing up his character to fit the narrative they are trying to tell. A blend of his Corporate Champ and Hollywood Rock characters. I just hope they go back to his Hollywood Rock theme song. That theme hits so hard.

So what are they doing with The Rock now? He just made two appearances for the purpose of getting Cody over? Doubtful.

 

[The Gongshow]

The storytelling might be a mess but this is the most invested I've been in WWE in years. The uncertainty of where this is going leading up to Wrestlemania and now Rock going heel, seemingly, makes it all the more intriguing. One thing about this storyline is that it has a lot more people talking now especially with the controversial aspect of it, that's undeniable.

I'm in the same boat. I'll typically kinda skim through the PLE's, if a storyline is hot I'll watxh YouTube highlights of SD or Raw, but I'm quite interested in this civil war storyline.

I was completely tuned out of Rock vs Roman just due to how they had to shoehorn it in without a proper build and not getting to finish the story but now I'm quote intrigued on where this could go

 

[TD Charlie]

I wouldn't say it was "just like that". Fans turned on him already, on Raw Monday night there were Rocky sucks chants and he wasn't even in the building.

The Rock has played this perfectly IMO. It's rumored he's been pushing the "we want Cody" angle hard, immediately making him the heel. Now he goes on about Cody Crybabies, gets more heat.

Then at the end of the presser Thursday they had him in the tunnel with Triple H, furious about Cody disrespecting the Samoan dynasty... And he's in a position being on the board that he's Triple H's boss, so he can force his way into that WM match, which will make the heat nuclear.

Now if Cody wins, not only is he finishing his story and taking down Roman's reign of terror, but now he's taking down big bad corporate Rock that abused his power to get in the main event and the entire Samoan bloodline.

Cody could be over like Stone Cold if they play this right.

Cody's chase doesn't involve the rock, it's strictly for Roman. I would only like the triple threat if the rock has VERY little to do with it. They'd have to quick build some tension between Roman and Rock prior to the match. As soon as the match starts, Roman goes after the rock. Within 5 minutes the rock should be out cold on the floor, and he can stay there for minimum 10 minutes. Let Cody and Roman do their thing for a while. When the rock inevitably gets back up for a rally, Cody puts him down very quickly, then the focus goes right back to Cody v Roman.

They don't need the rock for this build, or for this match. Not at all. The problem is they are semi-stuck with him now that they've brought him in a couple times

 

[Ezpz]

I wouldn't say it was "just like that". Fans turned on him already, on Raw Monday night there were Rocky sucks chants and he wasn't even in the building.

The Rock has played this perfectly IMO. It's rumored he's been pushing the "we want Cody" angle hard, immediately making him the heel. Now he goes on about Cody Crybabies, gets more heat.

Then at the end of the presser Thursday they had him in the tunnel with Triple H, furious about Cody disrespecting the Samoan dynasty... And he's in a position being on the board that he's Triple H's boss, so he can force his way into that WM match, which will make the heat nuclear.

Now if Cody wins, not only is he finishing his story and taking down Roman's reign of terror, but now he's taking down big bad corporate Rock that abused his power to get in the main event and the entire Samoan bloodline.

Cody could be over like Stone Cold if they play this right.

I think they could do 1v1. Have Cody win then Rock immediately come out and say as a board member he's creating one more match, then comes out and pins Cody. It would be the most Dusty/sting thing to have Cody immediately get screwed and have to continue the chase. It also lets rocky become the high chief and make roman fall in line and eventually turn face.

Everyone knows the money is in the chase and long face runs don't do well in the tv era. Nobody wants to see Bruno/backlund/Hogan style reigns.

This angle has been very sports entertaining for me. I don't watch much but I've kept up with clips and occasionally watching ppvs. WWE has been very hot since Vince stepped down the first time and it seems like they're turning it up again. I can't remember the last time they had this many over guys on the roster. It really would have been right at the beginning of the ruthless aggression era when the last of the WCW draws came in like Nash returning from injury, Steiner, Goldberg, while still having Triple H, Austin, Rock, Hogan, taker etc.

The last time they had this many over midcarders has to be the attitude era. LA knight gets huge reactions and is probably not even in their top 5 right now. They've got guys like Owens and Zayn in bit roles.

 

[Sheppy]

I can’t believe people think this was the plan all along

 

[Fro]

I can’t believe people think this was the plan all along

Yeah, if it were, we would have got heelish rock from start...