OORick
You and what army? 
Posts 2105
Registered 12-27-2001 Location - The Birthplace of Aviation Member Is Offline Mood: Foo'd
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| posted on 8-22-2011 at 09:51 PM |
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OOfficial Ratings/Discussion Thread for: RAW (August 22, 2011)
OO Nation: All discussion pertaining to RAW (airing August 22, 2011) should be done in this thread. It will remain pinned at the top of the
Current Events section for the remainder of the week. In discussing the program, we'd love it if you shared your numerical rating for
the show (from a low of 0.0 to a high of 5.0, in any increment of one-tenth of a point). For full details on the ratings scale and how to join in on
this informal "Battle of the Brands," please be sure to check out the OOfficial
Guidelines for TV Ratings/Discussion Threads.
Tonight on RAW: WWE will try to regain its recent top-shelf form, despite getting greedy by trying to split its hottest act (Punk vs. Cena)
into to two equally hot acts (Cena vs. del Rio, and Punk vs. Nash/HHH/Mystery Texter)... complicating matters is that WWE didn't hit the right
notes last week when trying to launch those two new programs: (1) Cena's post-main event confrontation with del Rio was a return to his crappy,
illogical, petulant mic work that is convincing to children, and nobody else; on top of that, having Cena vault back into the title picture while Punk
got the secondary problem rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way, seeing as how it *was* Punk who freshened things up in the first place... and (2) Kevin
Nash, despite being a genuinely bright and clever guy, seemed just as genuinely unprepared and out of his element trying to verbally battle Punk,
which took the luster off what could otherwise be a compelling enough issue (even including a cliffhanger/mystery in the form of "Who
Texted?")...
If it helps you feel better about the chances of WWE rectifying these issues, I'll report that last week's RAW taping included a post-show
bonus for the live crowd: CM Punk returned, and he and Cena lit it up again with some fun promo work where they pretty much agreed that the both of
them have a better claim to the WWE Title than del Rio, and then they double-teamed del Rio much to the delight of the fans... so I don't think
WWE's forgetting Punk at all, in the big picture; they might just be giving him something to do while they sort out the fact that he's now
officially a babyface.... also, no less than Stone Cold Steve Austin himself did a recent interview where he lauded the Rise of Punk, but subtly
hinted that he wasn't so sure about last week's happenings (saying it was "interesting, but we'll have to see where it goes from
here")... perhaps we fans are supposed to "shut up and enjoy it," but I'm pretty sure if Stone Cold's all "I liked it better before
SummerSlam," somebody would listen...
Those are the big two issues for tonight, and it'll be interesting indeed to see if they build up to two PPV matches, or if we de-emphasize
Nash-the-wrestler, and turn this into one PPV match (del Rio vs. Cena vs. Punk) with the Nash/Mystery Text thing simmering in the background... I
prefer the latter scenario, as there's really no reason to treat Nash-as-wrestler as a "regular" thing, and saving it up/building to a
Punk/Nash Survivor Series match kinda feels like a better "Special Attraction" than doing Punk/Nash at Night of Champions (especially since neither
one is a champion)... that leaves the Nash/Mystery Text thing to play out in soap opera fashion, though I suspect the candidates for Mystery Texter
pretty much come down to Stephanie or Johnny Funkhouser (either of which present ample, interesting possibilities)... somebody who enjoys sending
orders via txt msg then obviously forces one to ponder the suddenly-silent RAW Virtual GM, and you could tie those two things together to give closure
to the GM identity issue, too...
As expected, Rey Mysterio will be gone for a while, due to knee surgery, so the promising upper-mid-card mess will have to be reorganized with that in
mind... the biggest loser in that would appear to be Miz, who as of last week was feuding with Jared the Subway Guy as a stopgap measure; just
spitballing, but given that Miz has lost out on the Rey feud, and Punk's essentially a babyface now, would there be anything to be gained from
trying to install Miz as Nash's ring-capable avatar so that you can mix and match Miz/del Rio and Punk/Cena on free TV, while setting up the
bigger one-on-one PPV matches? Or would that just needlessly complicate whatever Nash's role is with HHH/Steph/Ace/Whoever? Like I said: just
spitballing, not fully thought-out...
The rest of the show: after seemingly being blown off in abrupt fashion, it seems like Morrison/Truth is back on after Morrison finally scored a
pinfall win in the feud last Monday; more gimmick matches to showcase Morrison's spotasticness and more whackjob promos to showcase
Truth's insanity would be fine by me... I'm really fired up by the prospects of a tag division that means something, and last week's
Kofi/Bourne vs. NotNexus non-title match was a tasty sample of what could be when you get two guys who put effort into working together as a team,
instead of two guys who look like two guys doing their own thing in a tag match; it's probably a bit of a "demotion" for Kofi, but he seems
enthusiastic about the new gig (he even changed his colors to match Bourne's), and there's no denying that he and Bourne have enough zazz
to make fans care about a match with David Otunga in it... Jack Swagger's on a one-match winning streak, but only thanks to Vickie Guerrero;
Swagger then proposed that Vickie start a full-on stable of wrestlers, rather than just working with one man at a time, so we'll have to see
where that goes; I happen to think it's a great way to expand Vickie's charater beyond its current one-dimensionality; I further happen to
think that once Kofi/Evan are tag champs, Swagger/Ziggler would be great challengers, as it'd be a much better use for Ziggler than having him
carting around the US Title despite having no real crediblity with the fans... Kelly Kelly is still the women's champion, and one has to assume
Beth Phoenix is still not happy about it (Beth's pal Natalya's probably not too happy, either, but last week seemed to introduce us to the
notion that Natalya will be focusing her attention on SD, where she's got her hands full with shitty tag team partners like Alicia Fox and with
staunch opposition from Team Sweet Sweet Ass)...
That is all. End communication...
The flOOr is yours, OO Nation. Let your voice be heard and your thoughts on Brand Supremacy be known. Don't wait till after 11pm to post,
either. Pre-show previewing and prognosticating is certainly welcome. So discuss, debate, and rate!
"He's from Mars, Officer; whiskey does not affect alien beings."
-- Venus Flytrap speaking on The Rick
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Hootie McBoob
rOOkie 
Posts 32
Registered 5-14-2010 Location Deepest Darkest Africa Member Is Offline Mood: Vintage
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 12:11 AM |
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I started to get excited about Raw tonight, but then I realized we have Giants/Bears on MNF. It might be preseason, but I fear for Jay Cutler's
life. With that sieve like Bears O-line having given up 9 sacks last season, I think this one has the potential to play out like a crazy NWA
80's era scaffold match. In other words, it will probably suck but I will still watch the train wreck. Sadly, I am not sure that Raw can
promise that.
Unless, we get some stunt book to please the IWC which fit the "epic" banner they are using to promote tonight's Raw. Sadly, I suspect
Hornswoggle and a stolen cell phone. And we all know that won't be "epic" unless Nash gets to hit him with a Jackknife or to recreate the
classic Rey-Rey javellin spot from Nitro. Hey, a man can dream right?
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MayhemNX
Showstopper
Posts 860
Registered 11-18-2006 Location Web City Member Is OnlineMood: Disproportional
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 01:18 AM |
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Out of curiosity does anyone know what Triple H's little ring image says? I made out the word Vomare and than couldn't read the rest...
Quantum Fetish Mechanics: The act of thinking up a new type of fetish causes that fetish to exist. Someone probably has a website dedicated to it.
Schrodinger's cat is not only neither dead nor alive, but might also be sexually aroused by peanut butter and elbows.
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JB KING
 
Posts 794
Registered 12-4-2009 Location Oxnard, CA Member Is Offline Mood: Jamming
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 01:24 AM |
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King of kings maybe?
Two time Winner for 2010 Breakthrough Poster of the Year Award. You read that right.
XBL Gamertag: JB KING
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OORick
You and what army?
Posts 2105
Registered 12-27-2001 Location - The Birthplace of Aviation Member Is Offline Mood: Foo'd
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 01:37 AM |
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Isn't it "Vocare" and "Regnum"? If so, I think that's "voice" and "royalty," or close to it.
At least, that's what I told myself when I noticed it the first time, and sort of hoped it was a proper interpretation and that somebody was
thinking ahead so that, some day, HHH is the anti-"Voice of the Voiceless"...
Rick
[Edited on 8-23-2011 by OORick]
"He's from Mars, Officer; whiskey does not affect alien beings."
-- Venus Flytrap speaking on The Rick
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C.MontgomeryPunk
Man of a Thousand Holds 
Posts 1700
Registered 1-6-2010 Member Is OnlineMood: ButtViper-y
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 01:49 AM |
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It's a bastardization of "Call to Power" - http://www.wweshop.com/item/triple-h-call-to-power-authentic-t-shirt/carsousel1/01-14609
"To call to the kingdom" would be the more literal.
(Is it just me or does this shirt scream neo-nazi/white power type of design)
[Edited on 8-23-2011 by C.MontgomeryPunk]
I remember Eddie Guerrero.
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gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2 
Posts 6075
Registered 12-17-2002 Location Charlotte, NC Member Is Offline Mood: Opus Eponymous
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 02:19 AM |
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I enjoyed that HHH-Nash-Punk promo more than the opening ADR-Punk-Cena promo, which I thought was oddly stilted and never really found it's
flow.
And I really think Punk in a "going against The Man" storyline against some combination of HHH/Nash/Steph/Funkhouser would be really fun. As long
as Punk ultimately went over, of course.
Correction - That Miz-Truth promo blew everything else promo-related on this show out of the fucking water.
[Edited on 8-23-2011 by gobbledygooker]
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
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JB KING
Posts 794
Registered 12-4-2009 Location Oxnard, CA Member Is Offline Mood: Jamming
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 02:41 AM |
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I officially take back anything negative I have ever said or thought about R-Truth. Gold.
Two time Winner for 2010 Breakthrough Poster of the Year Award. You read that right.
XBL Gamertag: JB KING
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Hootie McBoob
rOOkie
Posts 32
Registered 5-14-2010 Location Deepest Darkest Africa Member Is Offline Mood: Vintage
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:05 AM |
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Miz and Truth brought their A+ games to RAW tonight. The rest stepped up, but not to that level of fire and promotion.
Still, RAW appears fresher that it has is years!
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Warrior
Showstopper
Posts 522
Registered 1-4-2002 Location Bishop, CA Member Is Offline Mood: What mood?
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:06 AM |
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That anvil hurt my head when Ace told HHH Nash was in an accident.
Never buy a keyboard from a Ferengi.
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BC
Man of a Thousand Holds
Posts 1682
Registered 3-30-2002 Location on the Silver Covered Road Member Is Offline Mood: Offensive
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:07 AM |
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Raw? Fresh? Did they do something original? Did Cena lose? Did Punk not get pushed into midcard obscurity? Were they not predictable as hell?
No? Not fresh.
Dan Wheldon (June 22, 1978-October 16, 2011)
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gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
Posts 6075
Registered 12-17-2002 Location Charlotte, NC Member Is Offline Mood: Opus Eponymous
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:10 AM |
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I've got to say, that main event finish didn't go down the way I thought it would. I was expecting Johnny Ace to get involved and cost
Punk the match (the one given was that there was no way in Hell Punk was going to get win #3 over Cena) but I didn't think Nash would show back
up.
I really love the way they're playing this, with HHH "seemingly" on the up-and-up and now the added gray area of Nash helping Cena to a win
(though that may just be my wishful thinking in reading more into it).
Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can't see their ears means they don't wash. If they don't wash, they
stink, and if they stink, I don't want the son-of-a-bitch around me.
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TommyD420
Man of a Thousand Holds 
Posts 1655
Registered 12-30-2005 Location Worcester, MA Member Is Offline Mood: Smurfy
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:22 AM |
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NY Giants - 41
Chicago - 13
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C.MontgomeryPunk
Man of a Thousand Holds
Posts 1700
Registered 1-6-2010 Member Is OnlineMood: ButtViper-y
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:27 AM |
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Supposedly this Nash-HHH-Punk storyline will last until Survivor Series. Good news is that Punk might look "outside" the company for his teammates.
Why did John Laryngitis retire? Was it an injury or could he end up wrestling down the line.
You knew Kofi and Bourne were winning the tag straps when they had matching gear.
Miz and Truth their first feud for the tag titles?
Could the beatdown of Santino lead to a much more serious Santino and a push?
I wish the wrestlers would no-sell the "what" chants and the wwe would mute them - gawd damn is that annoying.
Del Rio's beatdown was lacking, though I found him amusing in the opening. He doesn't need to be amusing, he needs to be a threat. I
think the closing segment needed more referees holding him back.
Punk is over-exposed something fierce.
Yeah the show sucked.
I remember Eddie Guerrero.
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OORick
You and what army?
Posts 2105
Registered 12-27-2001 Location - The Birthplace of Aviation Member Is Offline Mood: Foo'd
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:27 AM |
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In a word: nice improvement over last week.
In more words: unless I'm completely mis-reading things, I think I am genuinely aroused by the tag division again. Bring on Kofi/Bourne vs.
Miz/Truth!
Rick
PS: also, their new name should be "Air Dread." But don't tell anyone. Pyro has the week off, and I'll be debuting that in the Recap
later tonight.
"He's from Mars, Officer; whiskey does not affect alien beings."
-- Venus Flytrap speaking on The Rick
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salmonjunkie
American Dream 
Posts 8338
Registered 6-25-2002 Location Sunny Seattle, WA Member Is OnlineMood: charged
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:39 AM |
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At first I wasn't cool with them bringing back R-Truth's music, but now I see that the genius behind it.
Personally, I think he�s a [freaking homosexual].
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salmonjunkie
American Dream
Posts 8338
Registered 6-25-2002 Location Sunny Seattle, WA Member Is OnlineMood: charged
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 03:39 AM |
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At first I wasn't cool with them bringing back R-Truth's music, but now I see that the genius behind it.
Personally, I think he�s a [freaking homosexual].
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DudeLove721
Showstopper
Posts 504
Registered 2-19-2003 Location Canada Member Is Offline Mood: Confused
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 04:11 AM |
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I was intrigued by Cena's comment that he was tired of "making mediocre look awesome." I'm sure it will lead to nothing but it had a
heelish tone to it, like he thought he was better than anyone he faces and carries all the wrestlers on his back -- which really is an
arrogant/dickish thing to say.
You know how reliable that coked-up sack of gay is.
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chewey
And I am AWESOME 
Posts 138
Registered 6-17-2008 Location Washington, DC Member Is Offline Mood: Marchie Archie!
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 04:25 AM |
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I really hope the Miz-Truth promo is the start of a dominant JeriShow tag team that revitalizes the tag division and makes use of these two on both
shows...
"Don't matter how many times you get burnt, you just keep doin' the same."
--Bodie, HBO's The Wire
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DevilSoprano
Pee Wee's Plaything 
Posts 5024
Registered 11-16-2002 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 04:29 AM |
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Cena had a few good lines, but that first promo was actually bad which is nothing new for an ADR promo, but was shocking when it comes to Punk and
Cena but I feel like they were forced to use the word cash a lot when it came to their rematches so HHH could get his lines in.
The Punk/HHH/Nash segment was a lot better, but it's still leading to a Punk/Nash story and that's the worst idea imaginable.
I like Kofi/Bourne as a tag team. I don't like Kofi/Bourne winning the titles in their 2nd match. I get that Otunga/notHennig aren't
really all that great but would it have been so hard to use the Usos as a team to build Kofi/Bourne for a few weeks and give Otunga/notHennig some
wins over teams like Santino/Ryder, Baretta/Hawkins, random jobber team and then actually made it seem like a build instead of a random singles
makeshift team winning the title again. And Truth/Miz could slowly build themselves as a credible tag team taking out lower card guys so when
Kofi/Bourne win the belts, they make sense as a challenger. And then bring in Kings and holy fuck...there's an actual tag division and not just
a bunch of midcarders they had no plans for tagging up.
The Beth/Nattie stuff better have a good payoff and soon otherwise it's dumb.
Yes, Truth/Miz was the best segment of the night.
The main event played out as predictably as possible with CM Punk nowhere to be seen as the true focus of Raw took over. Destiny motherfuckers.
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Chris Is Good517
Posts 10712
Registered 1-10-2002 Location Little Rock, AR Member Is Offline Mood: punchy
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 04:49 AM |
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It wasn't that bad. It wasn't especially great or anything but it was a pretty big step up from a week ago.
Yeah, ADR was really out of place in that opening promo. Y'know, at least when Miz got his first title run when people thought he wasn't
ready, at least he could keep up on the mic. ADR just looked way out of his element there.
Gee, I wish I was still alive- LuckyLopez R.I.P.
Bachmann: "I haven't had a gaffe... when it comes to the best Republican who take
on Barack Obama and not have any clunker in my record to be able to take him on, it's me."
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cardscott5
Fella
Posts 422
Registered 6-28-2007 Location wherever god takes me Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 05:05 AM |
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I thought the show was better than last week. Johnny Ace being the texter and his alliance with Kevin Nash doesn't do it for me though, or
anyone I suppose.
I am happy Kingston and Bourne won the gold. Mainly so Lawler would stop with his Michael Cole like burial of Otunga and McGillicutty. I know they
aren't the best in the world, but he was going out of his way to say the tag straps are worthless and they were the worst people in the world.
Even if it's true, the announcers shouldn't be saying it. Their job is to make the talent seem good right? I exclude Michael Cole from
that. Lawler made me feel bad for them, because they haven't gotten a chance since the Nexus vanished around Wrestlemania, and they have come a
ways as a team. They weren't the LOD, but they have had watchable matches on Raw the last two weeks and on superstars occasionally.
Then again, Lawler isn't impressed with 5 time world champion CM Punk, so what does he know?
Visit my site: www.BearcatsBlog.com. Pretend to care.
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mark markham
M4M - Looking 2 Meet Texan 5
Posts 586
Registered 6-24-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: Neo Reich rules
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 05:50 AM |
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Could it be that the tag titles will mean something again. It might give their mid-carders something to do . It's a novel idea. What's
next? Letting the mid-card and divas belts mean something too? It makes the stories better when there is a reason for the guys and girls doing what
they do...besides the bigger share at the "pay winda"
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Jumbie
And I am AWESOME
Posts 105
Registered 9-22-2010 Member Is Offline Mood: Hopeful
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 06:10 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by OORick
Pyro has the week off, and I'll be debuting that in the Recap later tonight.
At the moment, the recap is broken.
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Ultimate GCS
And I am AWESOME
Posts 108
Registered 9-25-2007 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 8-23-2011 at 06:19 AM |
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Above.
Side.
Body.
RICK SCAIA
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