i thought stacy was entertaining in the playboy match.. Miss jackie and torrie weren't bad either.. how come sable didn't do anything?? she just made her little announcement at the beginning and then disappeared till the match was over!

and back to my original question - since when did Stacey pose for playboy?? i did a search but coulnd't find anything..

I heard Sable is having a problem with her implants. I guess one of them is leaking and they didn't want to agitate it. Stacy never posed for playboy

Was I the only one disappointed that nobody got fully stripped in a match with the Playboy label on it? True, the match was decent, but I was expecting alot more...like boobs, for example. :)

what a shame.. i think she should. =D

Don't we all, Qazwsxedc?

Spleens take on the lottery -

1) Its going to be fixed. I mean seriously, there is no way that VinnieMac is going to risk his product by having a purely random lottery to decide where each wrestler goes. The rosters are probably already finalized, and they are just using the lottery as a way to make it look interesting, while at the same time giving an answer as to why each wrestler was placed on which show.

2) Be only concerned with the major players (big shmo included), and about half of the mid-card talent. For the most part, people don't care what show Spike Dudley, or Test will be on. They just don't matter. They will both probably remain on RAW, because the writers don't have anything to do with them on either show.

The main-eventers will be split up, and regrouped, to even out the 'star' power on the brands. Mid-carders will be brought up, to fill in the holes.

3) I expect the major stables/storylines to remain TOGETHER, although they might end up on different shows. Evolution won't be split up, because VinnieMac and HHH has too much riding on its success. However, due to recent news (Flair major injury, HHH off to do some more movie work, leaving only Batista and Orton), there is a good chance that the Evolution tag will be reformed. Bring some new people in and make a new story.

Say good bye to the FBI.

Trish/Y2J/Christian, is arguably, the most entertaining storyline in the WWE at the moment. The company brass most likely realize this, and will not split up the three.

4) Don't expect to many changes in the womans division, and the cruiserweight division. There isn't enought to spread around.

5) I feel the biggest changes will occur in the Tag division. All the teams have feuded with their respective brands rivals, and are in dire need of new competition. I want to see The Worlds Greatest Tag Team take on some new teams, like Rene Dupree vs Shelton Benjamin (with Charlie Haas and Rob Conway/Sylvan Grenier doing whatever they do)

Thats about it... pretty much all I can think of for now. I kind of wish that the Womans division would be switched to Smackdown and the Cruiserweights to go onto RAW. SD! editing would make the womans matches more entertaining by removing some of the boring spots (although it would also edit out any chances of me seeing a Victoria boob slip). I'm sure by now the Cruiserweights can hold their own in a Live taping. Besides... if the women get switched to SD, then V1 Hardy will go there as well (Lita) and he'll have some more airtime and a storyline. Something he's been missing ever since he got put on RAW.

Are they excluding the current champions on each brand, or are they up for the lottery as well?

It would totally suck to have Benoit moved back to Smackdown, and stripped of his title. ::shudder::

Of course, the lottery's going to be as random as the Raw Roulette.

The Current Champions are up for the lottery, but most likely the champions will keep their respective titles, and some how stay on their current brands. The only thing I can see POSSIBLY happening to the current champions, is to just switch their show. Benoit to Smackdown, Eddie to Raw, or something like that.

It just isn't good business to strip the current champions and have handouts/battle royals/misc title matches.

The first rule of wrestling--with the rare exception of a legit injury-- if it is on TV it is a work...it is all fixed.

That said, I agree with much of what you say about the lottery.

My biggest concerns are losing some of the cruiserweihghts from that mix and a bad mix of women wherever the belt resides [last thing I want is a Stacy vs. Tori championship match while Molly, Victoria, Trish and Ivory sit on the side].

I think the best thing that will come of this is tht fact that some of the mid- and high-mid carders will start getting legit shots at main eventing.

Here's a really interesting-yet-unlikely event about the champions...imagine that; what if they ended up on the same show? They've been in the same promo and celebrated together at WM20, so that could make for the start of something. Plus, champion VS champion and both champions are loved by many...there's a chance that they could wind up on the same show. The only thing that'd be wrong is that it would screw up the other show pretty bad.

One thing I have noticed: The champs have YJ Stinger commercials (Guererro, Cena, Triple H until he lost). And Jericho just had one on tonight...maybe they're starting to push him again.

BTW, Heyman officially announced Brock was gone tonight, in case someone didn't know. ;)

Maybe there is gonna be a title match to combine the 2 titles again! Like they did earlier with the "undisputed" or what ever it was that Jericho won?

That would be cool to see if they actually did it right`

I was just thinking it would be cool if Jericho would win the "undisputed" title again. Even if for only a short time.

I wished that they kept the Undisputed Championship and the Champion "brand-less," and have him fight both Raw and Smackdown challengers. That way the winner of the Royal Rumble would fight for the Ultimate title at Wrestlemania, and there would be one true main event instead of 2. They had it right in the beginning, but when they demoted it down to the "WWE title," it was just another hunk of leather and gold.

I mean, I understand the reasoning for having the two brand champions, but I think they missed out on something truly unique.

Oh, fo' sho'. It's a daggum shame it's not like that anymore.

You do realize that RAW is taped on Mondays, and Smackdown is taped on Tuesdays, right? So the champion has less that 24 hours to prepare for 2 main event-ish matches. It is kind of a strain on the wrestler. Includes travel time.

Besides, he has to carry 2 storylines. In the case of HHH, its hard enough for him to carry one.

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Edit: Reread your post. I just realized that you knew all this. :D

I think that is why there is talk of bringing back the WCW and ECW brands. To loosen up the belt problem, so that WCW and ECW would be "minor league champs" yet have strength to them and the WWE would be the "major league" where the WCW and ECW champs would aspire to.

What I see happening Monday is Steph and Bischoff conspiring to form their own WCW. They'll interupt the "lottery" and offer wrestlers a "true choice" and we'll see some leave and go with them. I think some true big names of course but some will go that will totally shock people, like maybe Benoit and HBK.

This will fire McMahon up and we'll see a "Monday Night War: part 2" which is what they need to inspire some freshness into the whole industry. (Perhaps even TNT, TBS or USA will be involved)


Paul E and Shane eventually will do the same with ECW.

Let's face it wrestling's glory days were during the Monday night wars. The new DVD/PPV that rehashes it shows how vividly alive the shows were. Vinny's not stupid he is a marketing genius, so I think even he knows that something like this is needed. Because there's no competition and the people aren't getting into it like they did.

What would be better than seeing the old Monday night wars take over again. Each show trying to out do the other. Each trying to sign and convert the others talent.

Then again McMahon's ego is such he would never let WCW or ECW truly get anywhere.

Farrooq or however you spell it has been released from his WWE contract, for all of you that may care.

I'll miss Farrooq; I never cared for his wrestling talent, but there was always an attitude about him that screamed out "bad-ass". Plus, I respect the years he's put into the sport...it's a shame Bradshaw got to shine more than Farrooq though.

Damn.

I thought it was all a work. :(

Man, that's a damn shame that Farooq's gone! I'll miss the APA.
I'm especially curious to see what goes down on Raw tomorrow night. It would be great to see a return of the WCW and ECW brands, but I doubt it will happen.

It is a shame he's gone. The rumors currently floating around say he was fired b/c of a drug problem.

Drug problem? In the word of Farrooq..."damn". WAY too many wrestlers have been involved with drugs.

Would be cool if Farooq was the 1st new wrestler in the "new WCW" that I think should get developed tonight after the "draft"

What are some of your thoughts on the draft so far? I guess with Heyman "quitting," that leaves it open for Steph to come back on tv (oh yay). To me the biggest shock had to be Shelton Benjamin. I'm not sure how well Hass will do on his own. And what was the point of puting Edge in the draft, when they already announced that he was coming back to RAW during Wrestlemania?

Because you are expected to return to the same brand that you were on when you got injured. By being put into the draft, and making the change public, people won't be confused.

=====

Happy about these moves:
1) Shelton Benjamin - Cmon, you know why. Its his time to shine.
2) Rene Dupree - Lets see him in some singles action as well. He's a great talent.
3) HHH - I think he's better suited for Smackdown.

=====

Remember, the shows can still make trades, so nothing is definite yet.

=====

You know... after watching the SD! and RAW brawl, I could only think of TWO things.

1) OMG. THE GANGS OF NEW YORK.

-and-

2) OMG. THE CRIPS AND THE BLOODS ARE FIGHTING AGAIN.

Well the WWE is saying a new GM will be named for Smackdown tomorrow. Perhaps it's Steph, perhaps it's Shane, hell they may even give it to Teddy Long for a while, lol.

meh... this RAW was a dissapointment to me. Almost fell asleep a few times.

I enjoyed it. Looks like Heyman will be freed up to start up the new ECW now. Lots of tag teams broken up too, should make for interesting new pairings and some new flavor in the singles division. Loved the brawl too, would have liked to see more.

I'm sure SD will have added highlights of the brawl after Raw went dark.

I was wrong about WCW but Boba pointed out with Heyman leaving like he did and calling SD "Paul Heyman's SD", it does leave an opening for Heyman doing something.

I honestly believe there will be another Monday night or Thursday night show (albeit for a short time perhaps) running against the WWE program. There just are just so many possibilities with that scenario, I would be disappointed not to see it happen.

mmmm..Steph. Can't wait to see what the plastic surgeons done this time... ;)

The draft itself was kind of boring. One interesting part (IMHO) was putting HHH on SmackDown. With the ongoing story line of him and Shawn Michaels, mabey they're trying to increase the cross promotional stuff again? The end of show brawl kinda runs in that direction too (RAW vs. SmackDown).

After the brawl was cleared, Big Show and Kane were left standing in the ring and Stone Cold stunned them both. Then Stone Cold and Benoit drank some beers. So nothing too exciting.

Did anyone see the fan jump in the ring during the HHH and Guerrero match?

Only because WWE.com told me so:

1) KURT ANGLE is the new (most likely interim) GM of Smackdown.

2) HHH is BACK on RAW.

3) Chuck Palumbo and A-Train are on Raw. Jackie and Rico are on Smackdown.

4) Dudley Boyz and Booker T are on Smackdown (as part of the HHH trade).

=====

My thoughts -
BLAH. Screw it.

I must say though, HHH's spit-take on RAW when his name was announced was one of the best I've seen. :D ;)

Do they just enjoy jerking us around?

Why have HHH jump to Smackdown....for 24 hours? What's the point?

I like the draft to give other people opportunities and start new fueds, but a change of scenery is just what HHH needs.

Why tease us with a good thing?

I'm just relieved to hear that Steph wasn't put back in charge of Smackdown with HHH as the champ. Anything is better than that.

I was upset that RVD got traded away and that HHH is back on RAW, but other than that I was pretty happy with the draft.

So you know, I can't get UPN, so RAW's the show I'm rooting for here.

I think having the HHH tease was just a way to have an Eddie Guerrero vs. HHH match. If he wasn't branded for SD!, the match probably never would have happened. Especially when/if Eddie loses the belt and, due to WWE's typical writing team, he falls back into the Mid-Card.

My thoughts on the draft....snooze.

Really, who the hell cares about Theodore Long, or which side Spike is on? Only six picks per side? That hardly changes anything. Sure they can keep some current fueds going, but they could have created a whole lot more interesting ones with more changes.

And they needed to break up Evolution. Having HHH back to RAW right away is terrible.

Keeping HHH on Raw leaves the option of the Orton vs HHH match still in the works for later :) (Still I was shocked when he got drafted in the first place)

As for the ECW thing, i'm betting Paul Heyman gets a role as a manger for a while just to leave the door open for the ECW spin off later. Everything I've read so far says the ECW idea is still on the back burner and Vince can't choose where he wants to have the spin off or not.

I think someone from Evolution should have been brought to Smackdown. Most notible, take away their powerhouse Batista and let him flourish or fail on Smackdown on his own.

HHH's reaction when he was picked was PRICELESS though. :lol: