So what's been going on in WWE lately? Need help!

[handOFfate]

About a year and a half ago I stopped watching wrestling. I simply wasn't enjoying it, especially Triple H. I watched Wrestlemania 21 a few months back and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I was shocked to see Batista win the title. Last I saw him he was a rarely-used musclehead in Evolution. And Shelton Benjamin as the Intercontinental champion? The biggest shock I got was seeing Bradshow, with a new name and gimmick, as the Smackdown champ. Plus there were some new guys that I've never seen before.
So anyway, I haven't watched WWE since then and im considering going back to it. But I've got a few questions that will probably decide whether I do or not. I was hoping you wrestling fans out there could help me. Here goes...

1. How do the rosters compare in Smackdown and Raw? From what I saw on the PPV Raw seems to have a stronger cast of characters.
2. What's happened to the major players in the last year? Guys like Triple H, Rock, Benoit, Jericho, Undertaker, Kane, Angle, ect.ect. Are they still in prime form, or have they taken a step back?
3. Have any new wrestlers jumped up and grabbed the spotlight? I saw that Batista, Orton, and Shelton obviously have. Any noted youngsters with potential?
4. What new wrestlers have come into WWE lately? Are they entertaining?
5. Have any noted wrestlers been fired or quit in the last year?
6. What are the major storylines going on right now? Are they fun to watch?
7. And the most important question I have: What is the quality of WWE programming nowadays? Has it gotten better from two years ago?
Thanks!

[SUPERECWFAN1]

1. How do the rosters compare in Smackdown and Raw? From what I saw on the PPV Raw seems to have a stronger cast of characters.


RAW has had a better roster since the split began. Matt Hardy , Jericho and Benoit all started on Smackdown and were pulled to give RAW better matches. The end result has seen Smackdown trying to develope better younger stars and having some success. But not as good as RAW though.


2. What's happened to the major players in the last year? Guys like Triple H, Rock, Benoit, Jericho, Undertaker, Kane, Angle, ect.ect. Are they still in prime form, or have they taken a step back?

The Rock has made a few appearances and doesn't have a new WWE Deal yet. The WWE let his contract run out and Vince McMahon went completely nuts on Ace and Ross for letting that happen. TNA has made overtures to Rocky , but Rocky wants TNA to get a Primetime Cable deal 1st...before evn thinking of doing an appearance there.


HHH has been pretty good this past year. He's helped elevate Benoit and Batista. The matches with those 2 have been very good and the storylines clicked. He still Is a TV Hog but his ring work has Improved a lot since they've put the title on Batista and let the youth of RAW carry that show.


Kurt Angle has pretty much...2 years left and he's gone. His neck Is acting up and he's done whatever management has wanted.


Taker Is used at some times. He's no longer a Main Eventer on eithor show like Kane. The WWE uses Taker as a special attraction type draw and Its worked a bit for Smackdown.

Jericho hasn't done really anything since he fueded against Christian last year. The WWE Is trying to lure jaded fans to boo Jericho as a cocky heel who's more Interested In his Hollywood and singing career than wrestling. But Its not clicking at all and fans cheer him reagradless. Maybe Its the fact Shelton Benjimen hasn't had many IC Title fueds where he could show his mic skills.

3. Have any new wrestlers jumped up and grabbed the spotlight? I saw that Batista, Orton, and Shelton obviously have. Any noted youngsters with potential?

John Cena as well Is also someone who's grabbed that potential. I think Robert Conway and Christian will be pretty good stars. In fact Christian Is someone who has pretty much delieverd greatly on the mic promo's he's done ( he's taunted John Cena since Feb. ! ) and can wrestle good matches.

4. What new wrestlers have come into WWE lately? Are they entertaining? Paul London debuted last year In the company and finally Is on Smackdown. He's pretty much the best young kid they have there now. If they turned him totally loose Imagine what he could do.


Gene Snitskey Is a funny goofy charactor who's the new version of the charactor off Cape Fear. Good charactor..lousy wrestler.

Chris Masters......Horrible gimmick and horrible wrestler. He gets time on RAW to do these Masterlock challenges and they suck. He's so bad he nearly crushed Steven Richards face ! This Is true..he nearly killed Steve and broke bones In his nose and eye.


Muhammad Hassan and Diavaria. Remember that promise where Vince said he wouldn't exploit a horrible tradgady like 9/11 ? Well that lasted 2 years and he forgot he ever made It. Hassan claims the US Is raciest after 9/11 towards his people.

5. Have any noted wrestlers been fired or quit in the last year?Heres a few:


Scott Steiner , Test , Jamie Knoble ,Gail Kim , Molly , Jazz , Rodney Mack , Rhyno and Lance Storm.....there are others but these are on my mind at the moment.

6. What are the major storylines going on right now? Are they fun to watch?

No Idea about Smackdown but the RAW/Smackdown Draft Is going on for the next month as roster shakeups happen. As well as the InVasion of ECW. Theres an ECW PPV June 12th and thus far critics and fans have agreed at how great It Is.


Batista vs HHH Is fued thats winding down. Odds are HHH will be on Smackdown soon.


John Cena and Christian looks to be starting up as Christian Interupted his debut on RAW and made fun of him.


Edge has grew Into a great Main Event heel and Is now paired with Lita. Edge vs Batista seems to be the Summerslam match thats being debated at the moment.

7. And the most important question I have: What is the quality of WWE programming nowadays? Has it gotten better from two years ago?
Thanks!

Its went up. The WWE has really started putting out a great show now with Batista and Cena as Champions. Plus with ECW around Its pretty cool. I'm shocked you haven't been watching....that ECW Revival Is kickin some ass. ( Its how WWE should have done InVasion and Heyman's handling the writing for the most part of It and the PPV .)

[lboinyamouf4sho]

1. How do the rosters compare in Smackdown and Raw? From what I saw on the PPV Raw seems to have a stronger cast of characters.




2. What's happened to the major players in the last year? Guys like Triple H, Rock, Benoit, Jericho, Undertaker, Kane, Angle, ect.ect. Are they still in prime form, or have they taken a step back?


Kurt Angle has pretty much...2 years left and he's gone. His neck Is acting up and he's done whatever management has wanted.


3. Have any new wrestlers jumped up and grabbed the spotlight? I saw that Batista, Orton, and Shelton obviously have. Any noted youngsters with potential?

John Cena as well Is also someone who's grabbed that potential. I think Robert Conway and Christian will be pretty good stars. In fact Christian Is someone who has pretty much delieverd greatly on the mic promo's he's done ( he's taunted John Cena since Feb. ! ) and can wrestle good matches.

4. What new wrestlers have come into WWE lately? Are they entertaining? Paul London debuted last year In the company and finally Is on Smackdown. He's pretty much the best young kid they have there now. If they turned him totally loose Imagine what he could do.


Gene Snitskey Is a funny goofy charactor who's the new version of the charactor off Cape Fear. Good charactor..lousy wrestler.

Chris Masters......Horrible gimmick and horrible wrestler. He gets time on RAW to do these Masterlock challenges and they suck. He's so bad he nearly crushed Steven Richards face ! This Is true..he nearly killed Steve and broke bones In his nose and eye.


Muhammad Hassan and Diavaria. Remember that promise where Vince said he wouldn't exploit a horrible tradgady like 9/11 ? Well that lasted 2 years and he forgot he ever made It. Hassan claims the US Is raciest after 9/11 towards his people.

5. Have any noted wrestlers been fired or quit in the last year?Heres a few:


Scott Steiner , Test , Jamie Knoble ,Gail Kim , Molly , Jazz , Rodney Mack , Rhyno and Lance Storm.....there are others but these are on my mind at the moment.

6. What are the major storylines going on right now? Are they fun to watch?

No Idea about Smackdown but the RAW/Smackdown Draft Is going on for the next month as roster shakeups happen. As well as the InVasion of ECW. Theres an ECW PPV June 12th and thus far critics and fans have agreed at how great It Is.


Batista vs HHH Is fued thats winding down. Odds are HHH will be on Smackdown soon.


John Cena and Christian looks to be starting up as Christian Interupted his debut on RAW and made fun of him.


Edge has grew Into a great Main Event heel and Is now paired with Lita. Edge vs Batista seems to be the Summerslam match thats being debated at the moment.

7. And the most important question I have: What is the quality of WWE programming nowadays? Has it gotten better from two years ago?
Thanks!

Its went up. The WWE has really started putting out a great show now with Batista and Cena as Champions. Plus with ECW around Its pretty cool. I'm shocked you haven't been watching....that ECW Revival Is kickin some ass. ( Its how WWE should have done InVasion and Heyman's handling the writing for the most part of It and the PPV .)

1 is irelevant because the draft just started

2[b i think you were too brief, angle despite being able to wrestle as much has been on fire the past 6 months, well cooling off a bit since starting his fued with booker T. angles been putting on great matches every ppv, and imo had the best match at WM21

[marshal99]

[B]
The Rock has made a few appearances and doesn't have a new WWE Deal yet. The WWE let his contract run out and Vince McMahon went completely nuts on Ace and Ross for letting that happen. TNA has made overtures to Rocky , but Rocky wants TNA to get a Primetime Cable deal 1st...before evn thinking of doing an appearance there.


C'mon , u really think the Rock is seriously thinking about going to TNA ? It's just leverage for the Rock to use to get some sort of deal from WWE.

Just so u know , it has been reported that the Rock and Vince have already patched up their differences at the post wrestlemania party hence why u can again see the Rock's bio back up at WWE.com. The Rock will again appear in WWE programming as and when his schedule permits.

[Convoy]

Smackdown's storylines haven't been really great so far. They also have the ECW invasion angle last night with Benoit being drafted over.

Kurt Angle just ended (hopefully) a feud with Booker T that involved a perverted Angle who is obsesses with Booker's wife.

Eddie Guerrero is still feuding with Mysterio.

That's pretty much it. I'm hoping for a feud between Benoit and Eddie or Kurt.

[GremlinClr]

If I'm losing Benoit then it's only fair for SD to give up Angle. I mean really, we get Marky Mark and SD gets a great wrestler like Benoit?! Hardly fair.

And if Angle moves to RAW he and HBK can continue their feud. That can only be good. :)

[handOFfate]

Thank you, SUPRERECWFAN. That was a great, detailed answer for my questions. Does anybody else have any opinions?

[clayholio]

ECWfan covered things pretty well. I'd disagree on Angle, he's been healthy and putting on good/great matches when he has a quality opponent over the last six months. But they've also been having the Kurt Angle Invitational (aka squash match of the week) in order to keep him from having to go all out all the time.

And new stars: Cena, Shelton Benjamin, and Christian are all on the rise. If you've missed the last year or so, you'd also have missed Randy Orton's run including a great match with Cactus Jack at last year's Backlash, winning the world title from Benoit, a largely botched face turn, and then a pretty good match with 'Taker from WM21. He's out injured right now, and should return sooner rather than later.

Paul London is great to watch. MNM (Joey Matthews and Johnny Nitro) is a good tag team that just debuted on SD. And I'm still holding out hope that Charlie Haas will catch on with the fans.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

And I'm still holding out hope that Charlie Haas will catch on with the fans.


i'm hoping that charlie and shelton benjamin end up on the same show and start up a fued.