Mixed Bag

Question
Hi Dave,

Submitting these questions again, caz I didn't receive the mail first time.

Hope you are doing well.

1. Howcome Dolph is having 2 matches at pay-per-views? He has 2 at Survivor Series and had 2 at Vengeance. I know he is a great talent, but why not have a real heated angle and match for US title. I mean the kind of rivalries that Shawn-Razor or Stonecold-Rock had for Intercontinental title, and the heat and excitement that was generated isn't seen anymore. I mean both Cody and Dolph are excellent wrestlers but the rivalries and build up to the matches are not just exciting.

2. Why are they having only 1 "Classic" Survivor series match at its 25th Anniversary? They are always fun to watch with momentum shifting with numbers game.

3. How did they break the ring in Big Show-Mark Henry match? They also broke it the same way during Lesnar and Big Show match years ago. Is that automated, and somebody presses some button from the control room to do it?

4. Last night I saw Raw Gets Rocked. Is it just me or Rock did not receive the same response that he used to get before retiremed?So, has the audience lost some charm for Rock. I remember back in the 90's, it used to be deafening and crowd just won't stop chanting his name. Infact, the response that CM Punk got at Money in the Bank reminded me of those times.

5. One question around Rock returning to WWE(this as well as forthcoming year). As much as I love it, can't help to think that neither WWE (with its current talent pool which I believe now has much more talented young wrestlers than few years ago), nor Rock (with his somewhat successful movie career) need each other.

6. Last week at Raw, when John Cena said that his tag-team partner for the night is a future hall of famer, did he do it on purpose or was it a slip of tongue? Having asked this question (and no offence to Zack Ryder, I hope he goes on to become a Hall of Famer)I hope they turn this into some storyline, but I guess some league as such should be considered sacred and talked about very carefully. For e.g., when Michael Cole calls himself future Hall of Famer, that is understandable that he is trying to generate heat.

Regards,
Varun

Answer
Hi Varun.  Thanks for the question.  I apologize for the delay.  I thought I had adjusted my settings to not receive any questions for a while, as I have been really busy at work, but I must have forgot to do it.

1. I think it's just more of a gimmick thing for Dolph right now, in a sense that he is so good that he can work multiple matches a night, and still be successful.  

It would make sense to have a real heated rivalry for the U.S. Title, but the problem is that WWE doesn't push the secondary titles like they have in the past.  I won't say the title is an afterthought, but there are times we don't have the U.S. or IC titles defended on PPV's.  

2.  From what I have heard in the past, WWE just felt that the traditional Survivor Series format had run it's course, and the event wasn't selling as many PPV's as they would have liked.  They just felt a format change needed to take place.

3.  The ring is just rigged up to collapse.  I read an event report from someone who had attended the show, and they said before the match happened, the lights went out while showing a promo on the big screen, and the reporter was able to see people working around the ring getting it set up for the match.  He said you could tell the ring looked different then in previous matches.

4.  Honestly, I did not get to see much of the show, so I don't really now what kind of response the Rock received.  It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't get quite the response he usually does, especially since the crowd knew he wasn't going to be wrestling.  Even his promos get old after a while if he isn't wrestling.

5.  I don't think they need each other either.  If the Rock was coming back on a more permanent basis, it's one thing.  But how long is going to be sticking around after WrestleMania?  To me, it's just a money thing for WWE.  Obviously, WrestleMania is the biggest selling PPV of the year, and WWE is hoping the Rock will make it even bigger.

6.  I think Cena, and a lot of others, are just having fun with Ryder and trying to get him over.  He was basically an Internet sensation, but WWE seemed to be reluctant to put him on TV, even though the fans, and the wrestlers themselves were pushing for it.  

Thanks again for the question.  Sorry again for the delay.  Let me know if you have anything else.

Have a great day!

Dave