theFRANCHISE

Jim Cornette isn't what he used to be. In recent years, Cornette's been embroiled in a lot of pettiness that's affected his booking style. His commentary style, while old-school, is a bit dated; it's not as "classic" as, say, Jim Ross. Additionally, he doesn't have the same creativity that he did in his prime; he doesn't know how to adjust to today's audience, although he definitely knows how to evaluate talent. It was because of Cornette and Jeff Jarrett's combined efforts that TNA Wrestling had so much potential prior to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff destroying it. Cornette also collaborated with Jim Ross in bringing in all of the stars that would propel the World Wrestling Federation to the top of the industry during the Attitude Era.

I was thinking about it last night and, honestly, there's really no resolution to SummerSlam that would satisfy me, with the exception of things that are unlikely to happen. I'm really hoping they pull something out of their sleeves that we don't expect, but I'm not holding my breath.

Miz needs to be on the team!!! Make it happen and I'll actually WATCH the PPV just for Miz!!

Weird as it sounds, this wasn't a bad Divas match, either. I mean, the one with Alicia Fox and Melina was much better, but there was a good effort from all six women involved. And only Gail Kim could find a way to innovate, even with something as silly as an inner-tube. Tamina, meanwhile, looks great. She kinda has that dangerous thing going for her. I'm just glad she doesn't resemble her daddy, Jimmy Snuka...

Maryse's entrance music always gets my blood pumping. Song is just plain sexy. Maryse knows how to make a one-piece look amazing...

For a show that's been promo-heavy thus far, there's also been a lot of action, and decent action at that. I'm liking the direction that WWE has taken lately on both shows, minus RAW's poor main event build to SummerSlam.

Whoa, Edge name-dropping The Rock and Stone Cold and mentioning how he and Jericho outlasted them all?????? I know it'll be impossible to get BOTH to return to the ring for this match...but to get even one of them, mannnnnn!!!!!

Man, that was a really good Divas match between Melina and Alicia Fox! The match further vindicated my belief that Alicia Fox is a decent worker; she sold really well for Melina in her comeback match. Melina showed no real signs of ring rust. I appreciated all that aggression between both women. That was how a Divas match should be, and I'm glad they gave the match proper time.

I'm fine with Evan Bourne getting a push, but can someone please teach him some mat skills? He doesn't know how to work a real match at all. Insanely athletic and creative, but no storytelling skills.

John Cena's acting is atrocious...I'm reminded of it every time he opens his mouth...

Damn, I wouldn't have minded the Hart Dynasty being named as the two replacements! I completely forgot about them. They could've used the main event rub. Well, I guess that beatdown rules them out...

Shoot, you're right, Sunday's match is an elimination match. I have no clue then what they'll do to end the angle lol.

And I am not looking forward to it because his rapping skills are horrible. I'd rather see John Cena record a new entrance theme because I'm getting sick of "The Time is Now" even though I loved it when he first started using it. Entrance themes just aren't what they used to be. I can see this Nexus angle going on until Survivor Series. It would be fitting for it to end with a traditional Survivor Series elimination match.

Vince is notorious for stereotyping his gimmicks. Shoot, that's probably why he's still held back Gail Kim. Ultimo Dragon also never got a fair shake even though he would've been a great Cruiserweight Champion. And, of course, there was Cryme Tyme, who could've helped rebuild the tag team division with the Hart Dynasty and the Legacy, but they were never legitimate threats to the tag titles. I'll give him a pass on R-Truth, mainly because Ron Killings does rap on the side. He's just not particularly good at it...Mystikal rip-off, and no one realizes it because Mystikal was no longer relevant after he went to jail...

That match will be atrocious if Hart sees any ring time whatsoever. The man is just not what he used to be, and not really his own fault. He's had a lot of medical issues in the years since his prime. I have a feeling the match will happen at the top of the hour and then the real main event will be announced because the match is interrupted or cut short.

If something "big" is supposed to happen tonight (which it better!), I'm hoping there's big-name replacements to Edge and Jericho, and I can see those two interfering in the SummerSlam main event as a swerve and helping Team RAW get the win, rather than helping the Nexus. I'm always, always holding out hope for something involving The Rock, though. OR a Cena heel turn being hinted again. Something. Anything! I have zero interest in SummerSlam at all this year.

Definite rental if you can't see it in theaters, yes. Rock and Sam only have 10 minutes screen time, but their last scene is unexpectedly hilarious; I almost died laughing because it was so out of left-field but so appropriate.

I'll mark out for anything Dwayne does. Heck, I went to see The Other Guys partly because he was in it, and his 10 minutes of screen time aside, it was well worth the price of admission, IMO. This movie will probably be crap like the last one, but I don't care, it's Dwayne being B.A.!

...don't you question my judgment! I'll smite you!! I'll smite you good! Go break me off a switch, son!... (lol)

I must be practically all-knowing, because I had a feeling someone posted this and changed the title of the thread before I even saw the post.

I think it's entirely possible that WWE would give him a decent push. Although there are plenty of examples of Vince burying well-known stars that he didn't build up himself (most of WCW, Gail Kim, Christian to an extent, Bryan Danielson, Low-Ki, Monty Brown), he's also shown a willingness to embrace stars from outside promotions if given the right situation (CM Punk, R-Truth, Booker T, Rey Mysterio). It can't be all ego with Vince; otherwise, the company wouldn't be making any money right now since most of the stars have worked for outside promotions before, especially during the Attitude Era when both WWF and WCW were poaching talent from ECW and each other.

Actually, that is pretty much my list. I'd also like to see LAX and Chris Daniels, even though Daniels is no longer under contract. I think Samoa Joe's character has been revamped so many times, I don't even know what he really is anymore. He just needs to go back to basics and be a no-nonsense machine, with no alliances and no regard to anyone around him. Sure, that's been done to death and is pretty bland, but look at the man himself: he's in below-average shape but has above-average skills. If anyone can take "average" and make it phenomenal (no AJ Styles reference intended), Joe could probably get it done. The triple threat match for the world title with Joe, Kurt Angle, and Daniels still stands as one of the few TNA matches that I've thoroughly enjoyed and found no fault in. On a separate but related note, I'd love to see Kurt Angle return home to WWE. He still has a reasonably good professional relationship with Vince McMahon and hasn't burned his bridges with the company, even when Vince Russo asked him to. McMahon would be a fool not to take Angle back and push him like the star he's always been. I'd also like to see Rhino get another shot at midcard glory; I never thought he was main event material, but he's a serviceable worker and does the monster gimmick better than most.

Consider how much money is being wasted, probably paying extra for some of the bigger ECW names they're bringing in, just for one appearance, not to mention having to put storylines on the backburner. On top of that, for the profit they'll be making from this one pay-per-view, they're risking the loss of some of their own talent because of their frustration with their lack of appearances -- and not just the guys who are on a pay-per-appearance deal. The only reason TNA is able to turn any sort of profit is because they don't travel much, they have small production values, and they produce fewer shows than the competition. That said, they can't be cheap and stop limiting their guaranteed contracts to only the marquee names; they need to give financial security to the guys who are the future of the company. I'm not just talking about an A.J. Styles, but a guy like a Jay Lethal or an Eric Young or anyone else who has any mediocum of talent and could potentially be a star if given the right opportunity. You always need insurance in case a top guy like Styles or Kurt Angle goes down.

I loved it as a teenager, lost interest once college started, then got back into it because I still love the science behind it.

It's been announced via Dixie Carter's Twitter feed that the main event for Hardcore Justice will now be RVD vs. Sabu, at RVD's request. Not a bad replacement at all, but I feel as if that match-up is more for the casual fans than the ones who don't mind chain-wrestling. Jerry Lynn brings out the best in RVD in terms of his mat skills. I expect this match with Sabu to be a spotfest.