http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/blog.php?6056-ChrisMasterpiece Wrestling News and Discussion - eWrestlingNews.com Community en Mon, 20 May 2013 17:53:24 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/blog.php?6056-ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41887-My-WWE-13-Wish-List Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:54:12 GMT Hey folks. I'm pretty sure the title speaks for itself, so let's get to it. These are the features I'm hopin' and prayin' will be added to WWE '13

1. Midcard Superstars

Now let me first say that I believe THQ did a great job with the WWE '12 roster. With that said, I was a little bit disappointed with the lack of midcard talent in the game. Now I understand that people are probably more interested in the top guys like Cena, Orton, Sheamus, and Punk, but I personally believe that the lower-card guys are every bit as exciting as the A-listers (if not more so). So I'm hoping that the following stars are added:

Trent Barreta
Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins
The Usos
Darren Young and Titus O'Neil
Hunico and Camacho
Damien Sandow
Antonio Cesaro
Primo y Epico
Jinder Mahal
JTG
Ryback
Percy Watson

I understand that's a lot to ask for, but having a strong midcard opens up more match opportunities, which obviously increases replayability.

2. More Matches in WWE Universe
I understand that each major show got 4 matches a night, but I felt that with, say, 5 or even 6 matches a night, there would have been more opportunities for rivalries and feuds on each show. In my WWE Universe Mode for WWE '12, I had three real rivalries per show: One for the major belt, one for the second-tier belt, and some random Orton vs Undertaker thing. It gets a little bit stale, so having the chance to create more rivalries would be a fun way to shake things up. Also, who wouldn't want a chance to contest more matches?
3. New Match Types
Again, WWE '12 did a great job with its variety of match types. But there are a few that haven't appeared yet that I'd love to see. For instance, how about some three or four-team tag matches? Having a fatal-four-way tag team match would be an incredible addition to the game, and would be a great new game type. A couple others I'd like to see:
Buried Alive Match
Three Stages of Hell Match
"I Quit" Match
Four Corners Elimination Tag Match

Among many others. Adding new match types to each game really helps distinguish it from its past entities, and gives the game an entirely new flair.

Well that's all I've got for now. Questions? Concerns? Arguments? Tell me below. ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41887-My-WWE-13-Wish-List http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41616-Top-Ten-Young-WWE-Superstars-Who-Will-Define-The-Future Sat, 05 May 2012 07:25:52 GMT So obviously the title speaks for itself: this is a list of the young WWE stars that are the future of the company. Here are the rules: -they... So obviously the title speaks for itself: this is a list of the young WWE stars that are the future of the company. Here are the rules:

-they cannot be Divas, obviously

-they have to have been in WWE for less than 5 years

-they cannot have held either the WWE or World title

-tag teams count as one spot

-FCW stars can be used

Hon​orable mentions:
We all know Dolph Ziggler is the greatest young competitor in WWE. This is a moot point, so I won't talk about him. The same goes for Jack Swagger.

On with the list!

10. The Usos
There aren't a lot of tag teams with the flow that these guys have, and I'm sure that's partly due to them being brothers. I really enjoy the throwback Samoan entrance, and their in-ring work is very impressive for their young age. Why these two have yet to hold the tag team titles escapes me.

9. Alex Riley
After Kaval, I picked Riley to win NXT from the first episode. His mic work is great, and though I was unimpressed with his in-ring work early on, he's improved tremendously from his start. I think that with the right feud opponent with plenty of promo time, he could be the next Cena (minus the superhero thing).

8. Heath Slater
People are very split on Slater; he's either loved or hated. I personally don't think he's all that great in the squared circle, but I'm a huge fan of his mic skills. Though this thing with Flo-Rida obviously went nowhere, his interesting gimmick of "Southern without the cowboy hat" is new and fresh. Used correctly, he could be a strong midcarder, not unlike Cody Rhodes is now.

7. Titus O'Neil and Darren Young
I'm sure I'll get heat for this one, but hear me out. I'm not going to excuse their dodgy ring work, specifically almost ruining Yoshi Tatsu on Smackdown. With that said, I believe that they bring a young vibe to the tag team scene (or what's left of it). With these two, the tag team division seems to be revitalizing a little bit more, and I think that with a little work, these two could have a fun and interesting feud with another team, like The Usos or Kofi-Truth.

6. Antonio Cesaro
Okay, I'm cheating a little bit because the former Claudio Castagnoli has been a force on the independent scene for years (but it's my blog, so deal with it). After seeing his match with Tyson Kidd on Smackdown, it's easy to see that he adapted to the WWE style well. He could easily be a title contender soon, as those of you who have seen his ROH promos know that his charisma and personality are second to none.

5. Justin Gabriel
I know that Gabriel hasn't really cut any promos since graduating from NXT, but I'm pretty sure I speak for everyone when I say that he is the leader of the cruiserweight class in WWE. His South-African style is unlike any other competitor's, and we all know that his 450 splash is art. What needs to be done with Gabriel is a feud. Because he's had so little mic time, even putting him on this list is a gamble. The rivalry he had with Slater could have been great, but it fizzled instead of sparked. Another confrontation with Slater or Rhodes could shoot Gabriel to stardom.

4. Seth Rollins
Tyler Black is a name all independent wrestling fans know. He's probably got the best grapple finisher I've ever seen in his small package driver, God's Last Gift. He hasn't been brought up to the main roster, and I really can't wait until he is. Rollins has got that X factor to become a huge star in a short amount of time, a la Daniel Bryan. In fact, seeing those two feud would be a wrestling purist's dream.


3. Curt Hawkins* and Tyler Reks
*La Familia doesn't count; I'm talking about his split from Ryder
Hawkins and Reks is my favorite tag team in the WWE. I've always been a fan of teams that utilize the time-tested formula of one big bruiser and one small flyer. I also really enjoy their "whiny midcarders" gimmick; it hasn't been used in a while, and I think that they utilize in a way that's fun and imaginative. It's too bad Midcard Mafia was pulled, because that would have been a good way to get them over. I actually think that they're more over now than they're given credit for, and I believe these two could be huge if used correctly.

2. Dean Ambrose
Oh man, Dean Ambrose. Rather than listen to me talk about him, you should really go look at his absolutely flooring promos from FCW. I know next to nothing about this guy, but every time I watch FCW TV I pray for him to be on. He's the new breed of WWE heel: smaller, meaner, and darker. He goes to a place in his promos that's honestly kind of scary, and his intensity is completely real. I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that he has acting experience, because he is the most believable star in WWE (yep, I said it). I wait with baited breath for his entrance to the main roster.

1. Santino Marella
And this is where the angry comments will come in. I know he's a joke character. I know his promo work is silly. I know he's a false-champion. But dammit folks, he is over like the sun. People pop for him more than almost any other Superstar, and he plays the crowd like a champ. Whether he's teaming with Brodus Clay, Hornswoggle, Cena, or whoever else, people want him in the ring. Here's the reason: He is different. With so many "serious" competitors in WWE, a joke character done right is huge. And Santino's done right. His promos are hilarious, his ring work is great, and he captivates the crowd. I see Santino being a large force in the WWE for a long time.

Well, that's it! Hope you enjoyed the read. Leave a comment about how wrong I am, how I don't know anything, yada yada. I'll see you all next blog! ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41616-Top-Ten-Young-WWE-Superstars-Who-Will-Define-The-Future http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41571-The-Term-quot-Mark-quot-Have-We-Been-Using-It-Wrong Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:41:50 GMT Hey again folks. Here we go with yet another chapter of the most sporadic writer of all time, Chris Masterpiece.

Let's get right to it. Brock Lesnar's return is big. Hell, it's huge. And everyone's talking about it, both the good and the bad. And here's where we find our topic.

I was watching some highlights from this past RAW and saw that one of the comments said something along these lines:

"Look that these marks booing Lesnar. He should be cheered, because he's a badass legend!"

That got me thinking: Does booing a respected and over heel make you a mark?

Let's think about this. I'm not going to deny for a second that Lesnar isn't a great athlete, because let's face it - he is. Going from dominating the WWE to dominating UFC is no small feat. Dana White took a big chance signing him, and (at least in my opinion) it paid off big time. Lesnar was a huge draw in every fight he competed in, win or lose. Now he's back in the 'E, and he's no less of an attraction. People want to see him, for better or worse. It's this mindset that leads some "insiders" to believe that booing him is a "mark move." But that's not it at all.

I'm going to say it right out, I'm not a Lesnar fan. I think he's cocky and kind of an ass (this isn't some super-professional blog, whaddaya want?). And I boo him. Do I want to see him on tv? Absolutely. Do I like to see him feud? Hell yes. Do I enjoy seeing him lose, as rare as that is? Definitely. And does that make me a mark? Sure, maybe I mark-out a bit, but I still understand what I'm watching. How many of us marked-out when they announced Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania 28? Does that make you a chump? Not at all.

I think that there's a negative connotation with the whole "mark" thing that's a little bit undeserved. Rather than looking at it like "Oh well this guy's a mark, he must have no idea what's he really watching," we should take it more at face value. For instance, "I know my shit, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun watching it." My little brothers (9, 13) really enjoy watching WWE and have their favorite Superstars, some face and some heel. And they have fun watching RAW and Smackdown, even Superstars and NXT. Not because they want to see how guys are going to be buried or pushed, or to see how feuds are going to progress, but because they just plain like wrestling.

Here's the bottom line, guys: It's fine to know the insides-and-out of the biz, but let's not forget to just sit back and have some fun with it too.

That's all for now, see ya guys next time! ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41571-The-Term-quot-Mark-quot-Have-We-Been-Using-It-Wrong http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?39757-A-Change-In-The-Product-Part-1-The-New-School Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:02:53 GMT After a hiatus, don't worry folks, ChristMasterPiece has returned. Be jealous.

Alright, so, here's the deal: I'm gonna be doing a four-part series on ways the WWE could change their product for the better (in my opinion, of course). So this is Part 1: The New School. Let's get to it.

I guess the first thing you're wondering is, who in the bluest of blue hells is the New School? It's the newbies. It's all of the guys who have yet to "pay their dues," the guys who've yet to main event, the guys that are lucky to have a spot on the PPV card, and who are being underutilized. I'm talking about the Trent Barreta's, the Alex Riley's, the Uso's...s....
Well these guys are just treading water. There's really no reason John Morrison shouldn't be main-eventing a show, if not a PPV. I think that rather have him job like Colin Delaney (who gets THAT reference?), Johnny-M needs to mix it up with Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, and Alex Riley in a four-way feud for the IC title. I like Wade as the Champ, because I think it's about time for Cody to drop it and either 1. Get into the world title hunt or B. Take Super Orton down a peg.

I feel more or less the same way about Dolph. He needs to give Ryder the US title, and move on up to the main event with Punk and Del Rio. I think that this Vickie Guerrero angle has run its course (NOT that I'm disrespecting her - she's the top heel in WWE!), and there's nothing wrong with her sticking to Swagger. Speaking of that weird "conspiracy" stable, I'm a little bit confused as to why Otunga is on TV and not McGillicutty. I personally liked these two as a team, and we are all aware of the serious lack of tag teams in WWE (hint hint Part 2 hint hint).

I think DiBiase, Kidd, Primo, and McIntyre should form sort of team of "unappreciated" hell Superstars. They don't have to main-event or anything, just something to watch rather than a Michael Cole vs Jim Ross segment (seriously, announcers? I mean, come on...).

Alright, that's all for Part 1. I know I didn't get everybody, and I'm sure that some people are gonna get mad at me, but ya know, ya'll can just....I dunno...be nice? Anyway, go ahead and leave a comment as I start on Part 2 (tomorrow)!! ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?39757-A-Change-In-The-Product-Part-1-The-New-School http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?39603-Top-Five-Tag-Teams-I-d-Like-To-See-in-the-WWE Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:02:38 GMT Hey guys! My third-ever blog. Throw a party.
Okay, here are ten teams that I'd love to see in the WWE.

5. Skip Sheffield and Mason Ryan
I think these two would be a really interesting duo, because it's been a while since we've seen a team of purely strength-based competitors. I also think Sheffield's charisma could take him far in the 'E once he returns from that ankle injury, and Ryan has already competed in high-profile matches. That said, I don't think they could be tag champs because Mason's as charismatic as my dead cat.
Win the Tag Titles: No


4. Trent Barreta and Justin Gabriel
Think of the high-flying action we'd see if these two locked up with Air Boom. I believe Barreta is totally underused right now, so it'd be great to see him and Gabriel get some exposure, and maybe even a title run. The spot possibilities with these two would be endless, and it'd be a great way to get these two noticed, even if they're not main-eventers (yet).
Win the Tag Titles: Possibly

3. Heath Slater and Johnny Curtis
I kinda like the southern gimmick with these two. Now I know Curtis isn't southern, but his entrance theme is so hokey it could easily work with Slater's rock band thing. These two are both solid in the ring, and I like Curtis' mic work as well. Now I do think Slater lacks in that department, but it's nothing time can't fix.
Win the Tag Titles: Possibly

2. Alex Riley, Ted DiBiase, and Michael McGillicutty
Okay, I'm cheating. But still, these three could run a "fortunate son" gimmick lick Mike did with Ted's brother in FCW. I think that Riley's got the makings of a future main-eventer, and Mike and Ted are solid but have gotten lost in the mix as of late. As far as a tag title run, I give it a yes, because everyone likes a good Freebird Rule team. Or maybe that's just me...
Win the Tag Titles: Yes

1. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
I know, I'm cheating again because this team already existed. But let's be honest; are the Edgeheads the same Zack and Curt they are now? No, of course not. I think Curt's improved tremendously since he was put in FCW, and we all know about Ryder's recent spotlight. I understand that Reks is with Hawkins now, but I really see him more a singles competitor chasing the World Title. Ryder and Hawkins are incredibly charismatic, have great chemistry, and wouldn't need a gimmick change to get over. I could easily see them as tag champions for a long time.
Win the Tag Titles: Definitely

Okay, that's all folks, go ahead and leave a comment! ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?39603-Top-Five-Tag-Teams-I-d-Like-To-See-in-the-WWE http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?38647-The-Reality-Era-What-Does-It-Mean Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:53:33 GMT Hello and welcome to my second-ever blog! Woot.

Okay, let's just get right down to it. CM Punk has coined this the "Reality Era." Now, I'm a huge Punk fan; in fact, he's my favorite Superstar on the roster, for various reasons (I could write about why he's my favorite, but let's save that for another blog). Now I pose my question: Is the Reality Era just a one-time thing, a little comment Punk put in to get the fans riled up? Or is it the actual face-change of the WWE that so many of us have been longing for?

I really don't know - you guys tell me what you think. But here's why I believe he might have been foreshadowing the truth:

1. Change in Leadership
As I'm sure many of you are more than aware now, not much longer than a month after Punk had his fantastic shoot promo, Vince McMahon was succeeded by Triple H as the on-screen COO. Now obviously Vincey-boy is still in the picture behind the scenes, but even so, HHH has more power now in the 'E than anyone before him. And though I've heard rumors of a McMahon comeback, that doesn't mean that Triple H still doesn't have plenty of authority in the back.

2. Change in the Match Content
RAW Supershow is here to replace the old Monday Night RAW. I personally love the change, because having all the Superstars on the same brand allows for some very creative matchups and feuds. Not only that, but Triple H promised to bring back the tag team division, and who did the WWE just acquire? Claudio Castagnoli, one of the hottest indy guys out there. Now I've heard they're also interested in Chris Hero, but don't hold me to that. I really appreciate seeing a tag match every night featuring Air Boom vs whoever (by the way, go back and check out Air Boom vs The Usos from Smackdown 9/23/11. It was epic). They're also starting to push less established stars, like Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, and even Sin Cara. That's a blast of fresh air to someone who appreciates the hard work of Cena and Orton, but is tired of watching them do the same thing every night.

3. Change in... Believability?
Mark Henry just became the World Champion. Now to some, this was just a matter of time. But others, me included, were very surprised to see him finally appear as a title contender. If you look back over the last few years with Henry, you'll see a rather uneventful ECW Championship run, followed by a lackluster tag team with MVP, then Evan Bourne, then Yoshi Tatsu, then the Shockmaster, then Mr. T, then Jesus, then your mom, then...
I keed. But seriously, he was basically lost in lower-midcard obscurity, the same fate that many young stars face today (See Trent Baretta, Curt Hawkins, The Usos, Tyler Reks, Drew McIntyre...). But seemingly out of nowhere, he begins breaking the Big Show and Kane, then winning a battle royal, and pinning Orton for the title. Why?
Because it makes sense. Henry's a huge dude that no one on the roster could hope to fight, and the crushing attacks he's given to Orton recently add to that. For the first time in a long, long, [I]long[I] time, Orton is actually the underdog, and people buy it.
Then again, you've got Super Cena winning the big one from Del Rio after a month. Seriously? One month? I really like Cena; his mic skills are superb, his in-ring is decent, the man sells. This is fact. But come on, what's the point of there even being title matches if Cena's just going to win all of them all the time? I think they need to fix this mistake quickly; have Del Rio win the title clean off of Cena at HIAC, and move him onto a different, non-title feud. Maybe help Punk out with the whole "conspiracy" thing? I really don't know. But [I]something[I] to get our minds off of this "Cena is unbeatable" thing.

That's all I got. So what do you think; Reality Era or no? Leave a comment, but please... be gentle. Thanks folks! ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?38647-The-Reality-Era-What-Does-It-Mean http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?1509-Basic-Thoughts-on-the-State-of-The-WWE Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:23:04 GMT My first blog! Exciting. First of all, I just want to say that I'm not biased for or against any company. I like TNA and WWE, but for different reasons. Just want to get that out of the way.

Okay, so. Here's my two cents: I think a lot of what the 'E is doing is fine, and I think there are things they need to improve on. While I could go on about how well they're doing with some things, that wouldn't be very interesting, so here are a few things they need to fix (in my opinion):

1. Lack of pushes for deserving Superstars
Zack Ryder, Chris Masters, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre (although after that nasty bump last night he may or may not be hurt), Trent Barreta, Daniel Bryan, and Sin Cara (to name a few) are young stars that aren't just more or less treading water on their respective brands. Now I know that each one of them lacks a certain something: for instance, Barreta hasn't really been tested on the mic, so there's no way of knowing whether or not he can talk. And I don't mean a WWE or World title push; just something to give them more airtime. A feud, a second-tier title, something to get them out there more.

2. Feuds that are going on are, well, a little stale
I love the CM Punk-Cena angle right now. That's a great idea, and a fantastic way to send Punk off. However, while Ziggler as the US Champ is fine, I wish they'd do more with it. What I mean is, we already saw Dolph and Kofi battle for the IC title, and while that was very entertaining, seeing it again is a little less exciting. It's like Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels; at Wrestlemania 25, it was unbelievably unexpected and it was an insane match (personally my favorite ever). But with the same match the very next year (albeit with a stip), it was less impressive. That said, props to Smackdown for keeping the title feuds interesting. Randy vs Christian is hot, and it's working out very well!

3. The Tag Team Scene
What tag team scene? We've got the Usos, Gabriel and Slater, McGillicutty and Otunga, Big Show and Kane (occasionally), and...well, yeah. I'm not saying we need like ten new teams, but can we have like 4? I am personally a huge fan of tag team wrestling, and would be more than happy to see some new teams challenging these established ones. The current "tag team division" is really light, and I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping to see more groups.

That's all I've got, so feel free to write a scathing comment BELOW (Ray William Johnson represent, yo). So thanks for reading and, uh, yeah! ]]> ChrisMasterpiece http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?1509-Basic-Thoughts-on-the-State-of-The-WWE