15-Superstar Trade (RAW Spoilers)

[MrCanada]

Gone? Absolutely. Forgotten? Not so fast.

Donald Trump’s brief tenure as the owner of Raw may have ended, but his actions taken at that time continue to reverberate throughout the WWE landscape.

On Monday’s episode of Raw, the WWE Universe learned that, before selling Raw back to Mr. McMahon, “The Donald” had orchestrated more than a dozen Superstar trades, extending through all three WWE brands and including the following:

Moving to the Raw roster:
Gail Kim
Alicia Fox
Jack Swagger
Evan Bourne
Mark Henry

Moving to the SmackDown roster:
Matt Hardy
Finlay
The Hart Dynasty - David Hart Smith, Tyson Kidd & Natalya

Moving to the ECW roster:
Shelton Benjamin
Goldust
William Regal
Brie & Nikki Bella

The man who prides himself on having mastered the “art of the deal” has made a career out of getting the last laugh in the business world. And now the same can be said of Trump’s interactions with Mr. McMahon, the fellow billionaire who so publicly fired him. After all, Trump not only slapped The Chairman after the firing, he also walked away with twice the amount he had paid for Raw upon selling it back to Mr. McMahon. And now, a full week after his departure, the effects of Trump’s tenure are just now bubbling to the surface.

Could there be more earth-shaking revelations in store? We can’t be certain, but stay tuned!

SmackDown! finally didnt get raped with a trade/draft... ECW did instead!

My breakdown:

SmackDown
-Hart Dynasty- love them going to SmackDown, you allow Harry & TJ to get big brand exposure (Tag titles damnit) and Natalya can finally start working again. I cant wait for the Edge/Jericho/Hart Dynasty interplay which will be cool.
-Finlay- isnt going to do much there, I see maybe a feud with Ziggler. As much as people want to talk about HBK or Taker's career's winding down, one has to think Finlay is about to hang them up soon. So one last work around to get Zigger, The Hart Dynasty, John Morrison, CM Punk, all those young guys more ready is all I think he's going to do.
-Matt Hardy- will hang out in Matt Hardy-limbo.

RAW
-Alicia Fox- Uhm... She's very attractive, like a chocalate Stacy Keibler (look at her and that will make sense) so it seems the WWE really dosnt want to fire her. But she's so far been a Wedding Planner/Home Wrecker, British Dance Clubber, Protege to a girl who was never mentored, and now what? I'm assuming her moving to RAW will either see her get released, or Jillian is on the way out. Maybe she'll suprise us all.
-Gail Kim- Well WWE has yet to use her. She came back to WWE for the steadier/heathier paycheck and what has she done? I guess I skip a lot of Diva matches anyway. But whatever, between Mickie/Beth/Gail there should be some good stuff I might actually not watch sports over.
-Jack Swagger- I have super mixed emotions over this. I dont see them putting him in there with Triple H or John Cena.... well I do, but I see HHH beating him in under 10 minutes. Moving into some sort of feud with Kofi for the US belt seems like a step down. They better handle this guy right. Best prospect in years.
-Evan Bourne- And so was the possibility of a little guy proving they can be important in the WWE. I see Bourne jobbing out a lot, bumping a lot, all in an effort to make Big Show/Triple H/John Cena/Batista/Mark Henry look good. Damn damn damn. Him on SmackDown! would of been WAY better.
-Mark Henry- I dont see him fitting in. I see Him vs. John Cena, but he seemed to turn face. But you know within 2 months John Cena will have to FU him. I have a feeling he might be on his way out. And where does this leave Tony Atlas? Unemployed? or maybe moving into a GM role on ECW or SmackDown?

ECW:
-Shelton Benjamin- Shelton takes another step back I guess. Obviously can become the centre of a weak ECW now. Shelton/Dreamer/Christian/Kozlov/Regal are now the centre of the show. Talk about a step down work-rate wise. Kozlov is rubbish and I dont know what he's going to do. So more Christian/Dreamer now add a Shelton interplay? Maybe Ryder gets involved? Still sad either way.
-Goldust- So Goldust starts to finally get over again, he's working REALLY well in the ring, he has a good thing going with a new WrestleCrap stable with Festus & Hornswoggle, so lets send him to ECW where he can do what? Like honestly... What is he possibly going to do on ECW?
-William Regal- See Hardy, Matt. However he might also maybe move into a GM role. His in-ring work is slipping and I know WWE dosnt have much faith in that Tiffany girl. ECW now has a bunch of guys who would make sense as GM's or managers (Striker/Regal/Atlas/Tiffany) yet that spot in the WWE seems to be fazing out.
-Bella Twins- What are they POSSIBLY going to do? Wrestle each other over and over and over? I'm guessing back to FCW for them. They might hang around in a managerial role I guess. But for who? Maybe turn on each other (again?) with one managing Zack Ryder one managing someone else and having THEM wrestle? I dunno. Seems to be a waste.


I think the big problem in WWE right now and it only became apparent to me after writing all that, is there seems to be a changing of the guards slowly happening or slowly needing to happen. But the problem is for every Swagger/Bourne/Matt Hardy/Ziggler/Ryder/Hart Dynasty (I realize some need more elevating then others) that needs to get elevated there is a Finlay/William Regal/Mark Henry/Kane/Great Khali/Kozlov who are still around after either overstaying their welcome or just becoming stale. Or for these guys to remain looking strong they have to win feuds and matches, so they keep beating the young guys. It seems to me the Glass Ceiling is back with a vengeance and lower than ever.

[TracyBrooksFan]

oh yes please Gail vs Mickie

[Eisen-verse]

-Mark Henry- I dont see him fitting in. I see Him vs. John Cena, but he seemed to turn face. But you know within 2 months John Cena will have to FU him. I have a feeling he might be on his way out. And where does this leave Tony Atlas? Unemployed? or maybe moving into a GM role on ECW or SmackDown?

The WWE doesn't seem to think so. He got a clean pinfall over Orton. Granted, it was after he faced one other guy before him. However, it was still a pretty big moment for the WWE to actually give someone a chance at a potential new Main Eventer on RAW.

[MrCanada]

Originally Posted by Eisen-verse

The WWE doesn't seem to think so. He got a clean pinfall over Orton. Granted, it was after he faced one other guy before him. However, it was still a pretty big moment for the WWE to actually give someone a chance at a potential new Main Eventer on RAW.

Its also not past WWE to make someone look strong only so when the DO job out it still means something. See Kane... he picks up meaningless victories over top people (CM Punk is a good recent example). Sure he might look strong for a month or two, until HHH or Cena beats him in 10 minutes allowing Michael Cole to say in his overly "Did you know, even though you just saw it" way "TRIPLE H JUST BEAT MARK HENRY! THATS THE MAN WHO BEAT RANDY ORTON IN HIS RAW DEBUT! VINTAGE TRIPLE H FIGHTING THE ODDS!"

[Hyde Hill]

Well you do need those upermidcard stepping stone guys mainly for the mark fans only there seem to be too many atm and apart from Kane they are not all that talented. Kane I see sticking around Khozlov and Henry not so much. And you know who the real loser in all this is? (apart from the fans o course) Charlie Haas! This guy can wrestle and has some charisma/mic skill and was getting back on tv with TWGTT and now Benjamin is of to ECW land again dammit.

[Hyde Hill]

Well their midcard has a lot potential/skills but they never give them enough time or put enough effort into them they rather rerun what you might have missed on last weeks/episode raw/smackdown in the ongoing fued that was going on 3 years ago then give them more time. Main reason I stopped watching is that I had to skip threw 70 percent of the shows because it was reruns or the E posting useless or false carbage about how great they are. Much rather watch Cody Deaner work with ODB.

[Remianen]

Uhh, have you ever actually SEEN Victoria Crawford wrestle? I have. She can go. Put her in programs with the other "divas" who can actually work (Beth, Mickie, Gail) and you've got a divas division that isn't an absolute joke.

Natalya's not going to get any actual work with a heel holding the strap (a ****ty heel, at that).

These trades do largely nothing, which makes me think Vince will find a way to reverse them or there are more trades coming. A face Mark Henry could do a program with the Big Show but that would be about as interesting as doing your taxes.

They're really running out of people to use, given how much they're riding the same feuds from 3-5 years ago (really, how many times does Randy Orton have to face Triple H or John Cena?). I was watching the Macho Madness DVD and something hit me real hard. How long's it been since people cared (I mean really cared) about the Intercontinental title? Who do they have on the roster who hasn't already main evented who could make people care about that title like they did when Savage held it? Their midcard is in such a shambles, they have to put main event level matches at the beginning and middle of the show because people don't care about anyone else. These trades do nothing to change that, that I can see.

[Comradebot]

Ya know, I was just starting to get REALLY into ECW. Mark Henry and Jack Swagger leaving... meh, probably time. But the Hart Dynasty and Evan Bourne? I wouldn't be shocked to see them (especially Evan) get lost in the shuffle despite some solid talent on all parts. Shame, since I really like Evan Bourne, and I'm not typically a fan of high fliers.

But I have to disagree with your statement on Kozlov. He's far from rubbish... but they way the WWE books him is. He's not perfect, but for a big man who's been in the business for as short of a period as he's been he's made great strides. In fact, he's alot more interesting to watch in the ring than, say, Mark Henry. Not to hate on Henry (which I frequently do), though, as I'll grudgingly admit he isn't bad in the ring these days. And, okay, the headbutt sucked as a finisher. I think it'd be a great signature move, but a finisher it is not. His new slam thing isn't all that bad though.

But the WWE? They have no clue how to book him. None. He went undefeated for how long? But in that winning streak he won... what titles? Oh, that's right, a big steaming pile of none. I think there's plenty the WWE could do with him. Everything from having him as a cold, calculating badass who systemmatically annihilates anyone in his path with no remorse (I'd say have him toy with his victims at times) to even a comedic fun Russian gimmick (he's been oddly smiling recently, and the fans have actually been cheering him!). Alas, the WWE's best idea is "hey, let's have him beat ANOTHER local talent jobber!"

And, as pointed out, another step back by Shelton Benjamin. Wonderful worker to watch wrestle, but again the WWE just doesn't seem to know how to use him. Maybe ECW will give him a chance to shine.

Finally, Goldust... as someone else already said, there was great potential for a WrestleCrappish stable lead by him. Goldust doesn't make a terrific singles star, but is EXCELLENT when he's got other people to play off of in angles. I'd like to cite his tag team with Booker T. Definetely some of the most entertaining promos during the period.

[MrCanada]

My issue with Kozlov stems from just what he must do to stay over. I hate how now in the modern WWE they build up guys like Kozlov by just having them win... alot. Destory people, so they can have 10,000 different shots of every move they do that they can cut together with some audioclips to make a music video about how dominant someone is. Then that said someone loses a match and is never the same again. They dont do interesting feuds or stuff anymore. Back in the hey-day it didnt really matter if The Rock won or lost, it was the progession of things. Sure Kozlov can be impressive, he's stiff, has some power and unique moves, but what else is there? What programs can he do? He'll eventually have to lose, then he's no longer unstopable and the only thing left for him to do is go to the C show and begin squashing jobbers again so the WWE can get 20,000 shots of all his moves to cut together into a video package.

[Tha Black Phenom]

It's not a step back for Shelton, because honestly... the only title he can be seen winning as of now is the ECW title. And that's much better than being squandered in the midcard of SmackDown!, jobbing to Jeff and Rey and even Morrison. A Shelton run is due, I was surprised they sent him back to SD! in the first place, but I guess that was to land him a successful lengthy US reign.

[fatallylost]

Originally Posted by MrCanada

My issue with Kozlov stems from just what he must do to stay over. I hate how now in the modern WWE they build up guys like Kozlov by just having them win... alot. Destory people, so they can have 10,000 different shots of every move they do that they can cut together with some audioclips to make a music video about how dominant someone is. Then that said someone loses a match and is never the same again. They dont do interesting feuds or stuff anymore. Back in the hey-day it didnt really matter if The Rock won or lost, it was the progession of things. Sure Kozlov can be impressive, he's stiff, has some power and unique moves, but what else is there? What programs can he do? He'll eventually have to lose, then he's no longer unstopable and the only thing left for him to do is go to the C show and begin squashing jobbers again so the WWE can get 20,000 shots of all his moves to cut together into a video package.

Don't forget the "let's break out a 1970's Cold War era Russian Guard idea" which makes damn near no sense in 2009.

[Tha Black Phenom]

Forgot to point, SmackDown! just got turned up on the scale of Canadian-ism. First the unified tag team champions, and now the freakin' Hart Dynasty all they're missing now is Christian and Santino(even though he isn't billed from Canada). Aw heck yeah.

[Comradebot]

Originally Posted by MrCanada

My issue with Kozlov stems from just what he must do to stay over. I hate how now in the modern WWE they build up guys like Kozlov by just having them win... alot. Destory people, so they can have 10,000 different shots of every move they do that they can cut together with some audioclips to make a music video about how dominant someone is. Then that said someone loses a match and is never the same again. They dont do interesting feuds or stuff anymore. Back in the hey-day it didnt really matter if The Rock won or lost, it was the progession of things. Sure Kozlov can be impressive, he's stiff, has some power and unique moves, but what else is there? What programs can he do? He'll eventually have to lose, then he's no longer unstopable and the only thing left for him to do is go to the C show and begin squashing jobbers again so the WWE can get 20,000 shots of all his moves to cut together into a video package.

I think we're... actually kinda on the same page.

And I meant to state this in my last post, so here it is now... Kozlov is one of the most "legitimate" looking workers in the ring. Heck, 30 years ago he would've been hailed as one of the most exciting workers in the ring. But the times, they are a changin', and now if you can't do things like Jeff Hardy or Tyler Black then your bound to get on the badside of more than a handful of smart mark types.

But yeah, I agree: the 20000 move domination video is a dead end road. At the same time, you have to make big guys look dominant in the ring. But with a few tweaks, I think it can work. A few points on my mind:

1. Kozlov's first loss was poorly done. Okay, atleast it was Shawn Michaels (well, 1vs1). But it was on RAW. Over the CHANCE to compete for a title. And didn't that lead to the Michaels/Undertaker match at WM? Okay, so we got an EXCELLENT match out of it... Sounds like the WWE wrote themselves into a corner with that one. Maybe Kozlov should've been after another belt.

2. As his streak grew, they should've put him over better opponents. Instead we ended up with alot of his real challenges ending with crap like DQs. WWE was hesitant to actually put him over real competition and that makes the guy who is suppossed to be built as a (nearly) unstoppable force look very, very weak.

3. Unless they're Andre the Giant, big guys should NEVER be viewed as completely invincible. However, they should be dominant. Give them the win streaks, have them beat real competition... but at the same time, have them lose just often enough to remind us they're mortal. And by that, I do NOT mean the "OMG, John Cena beat The Big Show in 10 minutes for the umpteenth time again!" sorta loss. Beating someone like Kozlov (well, my idea of what Kozlov should be) shouldn't be impossible, but rare enough that any worker who accomplishes it should be taken note of, and the match should never, ever, appear remotely easy. Again, none of that John Cena makes The Big Show his bitch sorta thing.

And there were some other things in my head... but... they're fleeting. I'll try and recapture them and post them in a bit.

But, my love of badass Eastern Europeans and big men wrestlers aside, with a few tweaks in booking I feel Kozlov could be extremely popular in the WWE. In all honesty, I think he's biggest downside is getting into the business so late in life.

[Prophet]

One more thing to your first point, C-bot. If I recall correctly, that loss to Shawn Michaels was a week or so after Kozlov beat `taker on Smackdown. That being said, I agree fully about Vladimir. There's so much potential stored up there, and they refuse to tap into it, for whatever reason. Like a guy who looks dominant in the ring doesn't go over well. Baffles me.

As for the trades themselves, some of them baffle me. Bourne going to Raw makes sense in that he's exciting to watch, and with Raw being viewed as the flagship, he bolsters ratings. Not like Bourne's gonna feud with Kofi, so he'll probably get lost.

Swagger's move, I like. Swagger held his own in a good match with Cena, has been the guy in ECW, and with Orton being the only real main event heel on Raw, Swagger could easily slide into the upper ranks. Or so I hope.

The Dynastys move also makes sense, in that they were the only tag team on ECW. Granted, not a whole lot of teams throughout, but this will give them some semblance of competition.

And I know people are thinking this might be a chance for Shelton to shine, but I think it's possible that it's actually Regal's. Regal goes to ECW, takes Fit's place as that bridgegap, but unlike Finlay, Regal is given a moment of glory, holding the ECW title. Or, at least I hope so. I was so crushed when he got suspended on the doorstep of a main event feud with Hunter.

[jwt13]

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