Saturday Night's Main Event

[Airfixx]

WWE.com says:

"With just weeks before the Biggest Blockbuster of the Summer, WWE will rock network television with the return of a broadcast with a 20-year legacy: Saturday Night's Main Event. This Saturday on NBC, Superstars from Raw, SmackDown and ECW collide in the squared circle with the entire nation watching – and their SummerSlam opponents looking on very closely as well.

Representing Monday nights, John Cena and Batista team with Cryme Tyme to collide with the formidable tandem of JBL, Kane & World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase. Cena and The Animal are on the brink of their first-time singles encounter at SummerSlam while the Longhorn Loudmouth and the Big Red Machine seem intent on stalking World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk.

And of course, Raw's Robbin' Hoods would like nothing more than to earn yet another victory over the World Tag Team titleholders, en route to a possible future championship match. Which eight-man squad will seize the day?

Also scheduled for battle is a hunted soul by the name of Edge, who meets Jeff Hardy one-on-one. With The Deadman's imminent return casting a broad shadow over the Rated-R Superstar, can he exact the ultimate opportunity on NBC against SmackDown's high-flyer?

Plus, see Jenny McCarthy make a live appearance as WWE and Generation Rescue team to fight autism. Show your support and donate now!

Catch this action and much more this Saturday at 9/8 CT, only on NBC."


The 8-man tag should be fun, but as for Edge/Hardy.... Is this not yet another fan pleasing match/fued being wasting in order to fill gaps in their booking (also see Edge/HHH & Cena/Batista)... Seems like WWE are all too eager to 'shoot their load' right now and aren't giving some big confrontations the build up they deserve.


Maybe it's just me, but the prospect of Cena & Batista @ WM only works as the mega-match it could be if when they stand-off, face to face, 1-on-1 ready to rumble, it is for the very first time (See the classic mega-ME's such as WM3, WM6...)... It's all about building to that moment.


This isn't gonna be like Rock V Austin, i.e. The kind of match peeps will want to see time and time again.... (See Cena V Orton for that particular parallel.)



Any thoughts?

 

[Jerry]

saturdays nights main event hopefully this time will be better than the previous attempts.

 

[McLovin]

Having read reports on the event, I wouldn't hold your breath Jerry.

 

[Airfixx]

^^^It's already taped then? I guessed it was live....

PLEASE DON'T SPOIL. THANKS.


Just a thought, but isn't it about time they did a decent best of SNME DVD?

 

[McLovin]

I haven't given any results.

And a Best of SNME DVD? Not sure about that to be honest, although there is a lot more DVDs they could do before they do a best of SNME DVD, such as Best of Smackdown, another ECW Match Compilation, WCW Documentary, etc.

 

[Airfixx]

I haven't given any results.

No-one has accused you of doing so, but can you please avoid talking about it if you've read spoliers (or at least start a *spoiler* thread in the news section).

And a Best of SNME DVD? Not sure about that to be honest, although there is a lot more DVDs they could do before they do a best of SNME DVD, such as Best of Smackdown, another ECW Match Compilation, WCW Documentary, etc.

What's there not to be sure about?

..SNME goes a hell of a long way to joining the dots during the 80's (Hogan V Andre 2, Savage injuring Steamboat, MegaPowers forming & splitting and so much other stuff!) - When it started they hadn't even done a WM yet!

I'd guess a 10th anniversary SD will drop some time next year, but old ECW or WCW stuff being a more pressing matter? ...From a pro-WWE viewpoint, I doubt that.

(Then again, what do I care, I have all the original episodes in full anyway! LOL ...Just think it'd be a great DVD.)

 

[MikeRaw]

I gues sif they have them have a match at SS, and then drop the feud, they can do it again at Wrestlemania, so Im fine with it happening.
But, anyways, I also would like a SNME dvd. I've always liked SNME, and I would buy it most likely...

And also, you say this isn't a match (Batista vs Cena) people would want to see more than once? Why?

From a wrestling aspect, it will be better than Rock/Austin. Rock and Austin were two of the WORST in the ring ever for main eventers, but they still put on a good match. So Cena/Batista in ring wise will be just as good, probably better than Rock/Austin...

And as for the actual atmosphere, hype, etc... It is stilla dream match. It won't be as big as Rock/Austin, but it will be pretty close (if they do it at Wrestlemania that is) and I don't see why people wouldn't want to see it. These two guys havebeen wwe's two main draws for this era, and have two huge fanbases, carrying this era, so obviously them going head to head would only increase that. People would definately want to see this again, form the in ring (better than Austin/Rock) to the atmosphere (not quite as big as Austin/Rock, but still HUGE)

 

[Airfixx]

Need to keep this concise somehow.... Put simply:

1. If it's that big a deal (which I concede it is) and the dream match it is perceived to be I think they should face off one-on one for the first time @ WM (The biggest event of them all blah blah). Nothing will convince me otherwise. It's all about that "Never been seen", "anything could happen" etc. psychology.

2. You've got X% of the crowd that aren't gonna be behind either of them.

IMO a big diff. between this and Rock/Austin was that between the two of them the had pretty much every fan behind one or the other of them for WM17 and that was 2 years after their previous encounter. Cena & Batista aren't over THAT strongly (in comparrison... Even if you were to argue that they were a couple of years ago) and I think their popularity will begin to dip further once more new stars start to filter into the ME scene.

3. Chemistry.... Austin & Rock had it.... Do Cena & 'Tista?

4. You mention the in ring ability and work-rate of Rock & Austin being bad, but c'mon we're talking about Cena & Batista here... That's the weakest aspect of both Cena & Batista's game! Whilst I give Cena the edge, I don't think he is good enough in-the-ring to carry Batista though multiple matches whilst achieving enough variety from match to match. The fans will eventually get bored unless at least one of them improves greatly on a that level.


Ultimately my concern is that they'll try and slow burn their fued to peak at WM but the fans will have tired of it long before then.

Start at WM and THEN see if the fued has still has legs.... Makes sense to me anyway.

 

[MikeRaw]

Need to keep this concise somehow.... Put simply:

1. If it's that big a deal (which I concede it is) and the dream match it is perceived to be I think they should face off one-on one for the first time @ WM (The biggest event of them all blah blah). Nothing will convince me otherwise. It's all about that "Never been seen", "anything could happen" etc. psychology.

2. You've got X% of the crowd that aren't gonna be behind either of them.

IMO a big diff. between this and Rock/Austin was that between the two of them the had pretty much every fan behind one or the other of them for WM17 and that was 2 years after their previous encounter. Cena & Batista aren't over THAT strongly (in comparrison... Even if you were to argue that they were a couple of years ago) and I think their popularity will begin to dip further once more new stars start to filter into the ME scene.

3. You mention the in ring ability and work-rate of Rock & Austin being bad, but c'mon we're talking about Cena & Batista here... That's the weakest aspect of both Cena & Batista's game! Whilst I give Cena the edge, I don't think he is good enough in-the-ring to carry Batista though multiple matches whilst achieving enough variety from match to match. The fans will eventually get bored unless at least one of them improves greatly on a that level.

Ultimately my concern is that they'll try and slow burn their fued to peak at WM but the fans will have tired of it long before then.

Ok, Ill do this one point at a time. As far as the in ring work... WQhat i said is true. Cena and Batista are MUCH better in the ring than Austin and Rock, no doubt about it. That doesn't mean they're good. It means they're better than Austin and Rock. Ya, people can say Cena uses the same moves, but even if he does, the moves he uses, are way more than Austin and Rock.... So I'm not saying this feud is betetr at any time than Austin/Rock, but I'm saying it's close to... It's the next best thing, it's this era's version, and it's MUCH better than nothing. But again, as for the actual in ring match, it will be a better MATCH than Austin/Rock. Austin and Rock basically used basic moves, like clotheslines, punches, and kicks. Cena and Batista, if needed can use more. Again, that doesn't mean Austi/Rock was 0 stars, and this will be 5. That just means IN RING wise, it will be better for a match...

As for the crowd, it comes down to this. Just because it isn't as big as Ausrtin/Rock, doesn't mean this match shouldn't be done. it'll be a LONG time before we see gusy like Rock and Austin again, so we use what wee have, and what we have as the two biggest guys isn't bad at all. They have huge fanbases, so I don't see how noone would be behind certain guys. Like everything, there will be some fans who won't have a favorite, or who won't like either, but the majority will.

And finally, yes, it's a big deal, everyone, including yourself (hopefully) knows that. So there is no reason the match shouldn't happen. But I also would have liked it to wait until WM, and that was my first reaction (see my Cena/Batista thread if you don't remember). But now I realise they can do it again at WM, and it will be even better.

So in conclusion, ya, it won't be as big as Austin/Rock, but it should still be good, and most fans will enjoy it.

 

[Airfixx]

I think you've held far to much weight in my mentioning Rock & Austin... I don't wanna get into the pro's and cons of each of their individual 4's move-sets etc.

You've mentioned how you can't see why part of the crowd would be behind neither guys...? Well, I assume you've heard the anti-cena and anti-batista boos @ PPVs just as much as any of us... I'd bet a hefty amount of money that it from the same (kind of) fans.

I'm not saying this feud is better at any time than Austin/Rock, but I'm saying it's close to...

The focus of my point was Cena/Batista - To be honest, you're talking about it like their 1st match has already happened and the fued's now on the up and up.

...yes, [the fued is] a big deal, everyone, including yourself (hopefully) knows that.

Why the implied doubt? ...I've acknowledged as much already!

So there is no reason the match shouldn't happen

C'mon, stay with me here dude - I'm not saying it shouldn't happen, just that they should wait and not fritter away their first match just to beef up SSLam. Once we've seen them 'go' it may become clear they haven't captured the crowd's imagination enough to sustain a drawn out fued OR they may find that they just don't have any chemistry (which is why I mentioned Rock & Austin cos that fued is an example of chemistry elevating a fued to being more than the sum of it's parts). Either way they (WWE) will have fucked up this generations "dream WM match".

I also would have liked it to wait until WM, and that was my first reaction (see my Cena/Batista thread if you don't remember). But now I realise they can do it again at WM, and it will be even better.

The realisation you speak of.... What's happened to change your mind? How do you know it will be even better all of a sudden?

 

[MikeRaw]

I think you've held far to much weight in my mentioning Rock & Austin... I don't wanna get into the pro's and cons of each of their individual 4's move-sets etc.

You've mentioned how you can't see why part of the crowd would be behind neither guys...? Well, I assume you've heard the anti-cena and anti-batista boos @ PPVs just as much as any of us... I'd bet a hefty amount of money that it from the same (kind of) fans.

Of course I've heard them. BUT, I hardly ever hear anti-Batista ones. Only really when he was against Undertaker, but that was because he was acting tweener. So it's more Cena. BUT, honestly, if you listen, in 2008, I can only recall a few times he was booed heftily. Royal Rumble (against HHH) and NOC (against HHH). But other than that, many of the people have been fine with him now, and it's aonly a small percentage of the crowd that boos him now.

The focus of my point was Cena/Batista - To be honest, you're talking about it like their 1st match has already happened and the fued's now on the up and up.

No, but it will be. their first match will be happening at Sumemrslam, and I'm saying that after that, I can imagine it getting bigger once WM comes around. And it will, because you know wwe will want to build that feud up HUGE by wrestlemania.

Why the implied doubt? ...I've acknowledged as much already!

it wasn't doubt, it was a figure of speech. I didn't want to put words in your mouth, even though youu already said them, I was making sure that was indeed what you meant.

C'mon, stay with me here dude - I'm not saying it shouldn't happen, just that they should wait and not fritter away their first match just to beef up SSLam. Once we've seen them 'go' it may become clear they haven't captured the crowd's imagination enough to sustain a drawn out fued OR they may find that they just don't have any chemistry (which is why I mentioned Rock & Austin cos that fued is an example of chemistry elevating a fued to being more than the sum of it's parts). Either way they (WWE) will have fucked up this generations "dream WM match".

Fucked up is a bit strong. As I said before, I would much rather wait until wrestlemania, and I think most people would rather as well. But I've realised, it's happening now, and it's not that bad. It won't be as good a build u p or match as wrestlemania, but it can still be good, so I'd much rather just watch it and enjoy than bitch about it... No, Im not saying your bitching, I'm saying I dont want to, just to be clear, lol.
But again, I wouldn't sya they fucked it up. it can still be good at WM, hopefully.

The realisation you speak of.... What's happened to change your mind? How do you know it will be even better all of a sudden?

I'm hoping it will be better, and from watching wwe for 10+ years, I am sure it will be. I know they will make the WM backstory better (if there is a wm match between the two), and the match will probably stay the same level of quality, so no complaints...

Basically, again, I'm fine with it this way, and I have no problem with it being built as a dream match.
It IS a dream match, just not as big of one as Rock/Hogan or Rock/Austin or HBK/Hogan, etc. But it's still a dream match, from the two biggest stars of this era (arguably). So I'm not too bothered tat they are using it now, because I'm sure they will do it again in the future, and this is just filler.

Besides, I see Orton ggetting involved for Batista anyways, which will make it interesting.

 

[Moonlight Drive]

The only thing 'm going to say is....

Mike, there is NO WAY Batista is better than Austin in the ring, or Rock for that matter. Cena is a maybe, but Austin is like Hogan, a great wrestler, but people wanted to see him brawl, so he brawed

 

[THE Brian Kendrick's Biceps]

Mike Cena is alright. But both Rock and Austin kill Batista in terms of in ring ability. Something tells me you are just basing this assesment on The Rock off the fact that one of his big moves was an unbelievable move like the People's Elbow. That doesn't matter. Both are better at seeling than Batista, both have more charisma, and both can put on a better series of moves in a sequnce. Batista struggles to do some basic things right.

On the subject of SNME, the card looks alright I guess, but all of the new SNME's have sucked pretty damn hard. At least Jeff vs Edge will be an entertaining match. Nothing being confirmed from ECW just rubs in the fact that they are the C brand.

 

[Airfixx]

@ Mike: No offense dude but half of your post refers to your REALISATION about this, that and the other, when it's in fact ASSUMPTION.

If you think WWE haven't got it in them to fuck up a potentially massive fued after "10years+ of watching wrestling" then fair do's but my view of them isn't so rose-tinted.


One last thing on the overemphasised comparison to Rock & Austin... BOTH were gold on the mic... Cena's got the skills, but big Dave? :snigg.ers:

Seriously, I think Cena's got a LOT of weight to carry given how big this match-up is to the 'E and although I rate his overall ability, I'm not convinced he is THAT good.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

Just putting my opinion, a I see good points from both of you.

Mike, I agree with Airfixx. This is the type of match you save for Wrestlemania. There are some first timers than you can throw at Summerslam, like Randy Orton vs John Cena, but Cena vs Batista is the biggest match WWE can put at this moment(except Cena vs Taker), and even if I agree that there will be a rematch build upon probably a no finish or screw ending in SS, the first match with epic face off and stuff had to happen at Wrestlemania.


Now Airfixx, first of all, Batista is a great seller, for the type of wrestler he is. Batista could go out, and just squash people for his mere size. Goldberg did it, and it worked for him. However, you see Batista even selling punches as it actually hurt him. That's good for a wrestler of his type.

As for Cena, saying he cannot carry Batista. Well, you are talking about the Batista that needed to be carried, the one of early 2007, but I cant recall a match in this year in which Batista was carried. Maybe, outperformed, but not carried. In fact, in ONS, he carried that match against HBK.

The promos and build up will not be as fun or big as Austin vs Stone Cold, but seriously, if you are going to compare every big feud with that, then you will never find one that lives up(depends on how well MVP vs Kennedy is build in the near future). However, Batista has also come a long way on the microphone, especially on his sarcastic remarks and stuff, and Cena, he's on the same league as Austin and Rock.


And lol, Cena carried Khali into a a *** match. What makes you think Batista will be more difficult?