ARN - Survivor Series 2010 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Survivor Series 2010 

Survivor Series 2010 was a Raw and Smackdown brand pay-per-view event held on November 21, 2010 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. 8,000 were reported in attendance that night, with well-under that number having actually paid. And this was in an arena that can seat around 15,000 when properly configured.

Meltzer wrote that All the Florida crowds this past week were disappointments. Survivor Series on 11/21 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami drew 8,000 total in the building, and well under that figure paid. It was one of the few times in history where at ringside in front of the hard camera, you saw empty seats all night. Some in the company attributed the disappointing crowd that night to a NASCAR race in the market, but others laughed at the suggestion. The crowd was also on the dead side, with most of the matches not getting much heat.

Why do you think the attendance was so bad during this run?

Survivor Series as an event had 244,000 PPV buys. That’s up from the previous year’s 225,000 - but the previous year was massively down from the year before that, in the 300s.

It was the 24th Survivor Series and the one with Wade Barreett of Nexus on the promotional poster.

Why put him on the poster if the company wouldn’t put the belt on him and run with him at the top?

Here’s a background of the main storylines going into the event:

The main rivalry from Raw involved The Nexus leader Wade Barrett against champion Randy Orton for his WWE Championship with Nexus member John Cena as the special guest referee. At Hell in a Cell, two months earlier, Cena lost a match against Barrett, forcing Cena to join Nexus. His main priority as a member of Nexus was to help Barrett secure the WWE Championship from Randy Orton, having Cena help Barrett during a Battle Royale to name a number one contender and forcing Cena to help him during his match against Orton at Bragging Rights. At that match, if Barrett did not win the match, he would have Cena fired for breaking their stipulation from their match at Hell in a Cell. However, Cena attacked Barrett during the match giving him the win via disqualification, though Orton still retained the title. The next day on Raw, when Cena won a match against Orton, Barrett named Cena the special guest referee for their match at Survivor Series. This time, if Barrett did not win the title, then he would have Cena fired, but as an incentive for Cena to perform his duty, if Barrett did win the title, Barrett would relieve Cena from his obligation to Nexus. On the November 8th episode of Raw, the General Manager made the stipulation that the match can only be won via pinfall or submission; in addition, the other members of The Nexus were banned from ringside.

We’ve talked about a lot of this in the archives. For fans who missed those episodes, did you like what the company had done up until this point with Nexus?

The main rivalry from SmackDown involved the World Heavyweight Champion Kane against Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship. After defeating his half-brother The Undertaker last month at Bragging Rights after their three-month war, Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio and Edge all interfered in Kane's "funeral" for the Undertaker. Afterwards, all three competed in a match against each other for a number one contender spot. At the end of the match, Edge came out victorious and thus became the number one contender against Kane at Survivor Series. Over the next weeks, Edge kidnapped and psychologically tormented Kane's storyline father Paul Bearer.

Give us your thoughts on the angle with Kane’s run that year?

NEWS

WWE held a round of cuts on 11/19, releasing several wrestlers that they hadn’t been using of late, and a few members of the writing team, the best known being Christopher DeJoseph, Big Dick Johnson, who had spent many years with the company and of late had been Michael Hayes’ chief assistant on the Smackdown writing team.

The source noted that the DeJoseph dismissal is interpreted as a warning shot by some to Hayes, since the two were close, but also noted that is puzzling because Hayes is the last of the wrestling minds in the creative process except for Vince himself, and to a degree, HHH.

Did you see it that way?

The other television characters released were Drew Hankinson (Luke Gallows), Shad Gaspard, Aaron Davis (referee Goose Mahoney), Jillian Fletcher (Jillian Hall), Taryn Terrell (Tiffany), Lance Hoyt (Vance Archer) and Kris Pavone (Caylen Croft). Most, if not all, were told they were part of budget cuts across the company.

Any memories or thoughts of these guys you want to share?

Terrell, 25, had been suspended since shortly after an 8/8 incident where she was arrested on a domestic dispute at a Los Angeles hotel on a domestic assault charge. This stemmed from an alleged violent argument with husband Drew Galloway (Drew McIntyre) got loud and hotel security was called, and eventually the police came. Although the charges were dropped on 9/26, she wasn’t brought back. Part of the heat was because not only did she get arrested, but neither she nor her husband told the company about it for more than a day, and also in the hours before the arrest, they went to a Playboy Mansion party where they had photos taken. The company was unaware they were attending the party and would not have approved it if it was brought up because of the PG directive.

She claimed the entire incident was because somebody had an ax to grind with her husband.

“If that had a part in me losing my job with WWE, it’s really sad that somebody did that to us,” she said. “I just want people to know my husband and I are great and we have a wonderful relationship and nothing bad has ever happened between the two of us.”

They would divorce in 2011.

Probably a wise move for everyone involved, agreed?

Matt Hyson, 40, best known as Spike Dudley in ECW, officially announced his retirement at a Top Rope Promotions show in Fall River, MA after a 17 year career. Hyson was a classic overachiever who would have been considered too small to be a wrestler–when he started training in California it was to be a manager, but was a good worker on the indies and got his big break from Paul Heyman in ECW in the late 90s. After ECW folded, he lasted until 2005 in WWE until he was cut. He worked on occasion in TNA as Brother Runt because WWE claimed ownership of the Spike Dudley name when it bought out the ECW intellectual property in bankruptcy court.

Spike Dudley is an unlikely success story in wrestling. Did you ever see him in the ring?

The Philadelphia Spectrum, the home to WWE from 1974 to 1996 in the city, was demolished on 11/23. The decision was made a long time ago. The building had been largely obsolete since they have a more modern Core States Center next door to the Spectrum.

Any memories of performing there during your WWF run or other periods?

Sean Waltman on Twitter said WWE should have two brands, one aimed at intelligent adults and the other aimed for children. He also said they should drop the marijuana policy and steroid policy. At the time, the company was still punishing wrestlers for testing positive for weed.

Did you think that was a silly policy and also should have been dropped?

The return of “Tough Enough” as a USA Network reality show was now official, the Observer reported in November. They are going to do the show similar to its original incarnations, in the sense that the people in the house will not be WWE contracted performers. This leads to an inherent problem in the sense that even if the show delivers ratings, it’s hard to capitalize on any momentum the winner has unless it’s a female competitor where the standards for in-ring aren’t high. Someone with a short period of training, unless they are someone like Kurt Angle, aren’t going to be leagues close to ready and the gimmick is the winner gets a contract. With developmental talent, at least you can make sure that the guy who wins is at close to having a fighting chance of then getting a contract and not flopping. The show is scheduled to start filming in February and the USA Network has posted casting calls, and the first season would likely start late spring or early summer. The casting call lists they are looking for men and women with charisma, personality, athleticism, agility, stamina, strength and intense desire to be the next WWE superstar.

Did you like the Tough Enough concept or did you think it was a waste of time?

Vince McMahon signed a new three-year contract as Chairman and CEO of WWE, as well as with the official title of Creative Director, as well as a writer for the company and as a performer of the company. The deal gives McMahon a base salary of $1.1 million per year as well as incentive bonuses based on the company reaching a certain level of profitability each year. If the company reaches profitability goals he gets an annual bonus of $1.1 million. He also gets four weeks of paid vacation per year (like I doubt he’s taking four days of paid vacation per year unless he gets ill) and he has the right to use the company plane for personal travel with members of his immediate family and any guests if the plane doesn’t have a business priority for it to be used. For any of this use, the company can bill McMahon at rates applicable to the cost of the aircraft. If he is terminated from the company (well, that’s not happening either, but it looks to be part of the standard executive contract), he would receive a cash amount equal to double the base annual salary within 30 days and two years worth of performance bonuses, and he would continue to be on the company benefits plan for two years after termination. If he is terminated he would own the intellectual property rights to both Vince McMahon and Mr. McMahon, although the company could in perpetuity market those names.

That’s a pretty good deal, right? :)

Vince McMahon didn’t go to England for TVs, the Observer reported in November, and this was HHH’s first time basically being in charge in his new role as Vince’s top adviser. The only thing we heard is that things were very different, said in a positive manner.

Do you recall any impressions of Hunter taking the reigns from Vince for the first time and what that might have been like?

EVENT:

WWE SURVIVOR SERIES PPV POLL RESULTS

Thumbs up 55 (35.3%)

Thumbs down 51 (32.7%)

In the middle 50 (32.1%)

A. R-Truth, managed by Eve Torres, pinned Zack Ryder. Truth came out to his original theme music so they cut bait on the new song that had cut his crowd reactions down 95%.

We open the show with what fans of the Observer thought was the best match on the card!

1. Daniel Bryan retained the U.S. title beating Ted DiBiase in 9:55. Striker didn’t have a lot dumb to say this show, although reports were that both his co-announcers were mad at him again and apparently Michael Cole at one point between matches took off his headset and gave him a tongue lashing. Striker pushed DiBiase as a master of submissions, even though he never uses any in his matches. He noted he was taught submissions by Harley Race, who also rarely used submissions in his career. DiBiase suplexed Bryan over the top rope to the floor. He then came off the middle rope with a double sledge. Bryan did a tope, which DiBiase missed catching him and he crashed his shoulder into the barricades. This was planned since he heavily sold his right shoulder the rest of the match. But Bryan used lots of kicks to the chest and a great jump out of DiBiase’s single leg attempt into a small package. DiBiase clotheslined the hell out of him. Bryan used a backward superplex, but on landing, Bryan once again sold his right shoulder. DiBiase then monkey flipped him into the post, but Bryan kicked out of the pin attempt. Bryan won clean with the LeBell lock. Very good start of the show. ***½

How did you like the match? Also, what did you hear or think about the heat Matt Striker was receiving? Was he annoying on commentary to you as well?

Miz and Alex Riley came out. Miz cut a promo comparing the Miami Heat with Nexus, saying both were overrated, despised by most people in the league and hopelessly mediocre. He compared LeBron James to Wade Barrett. He pushed being from Cleveland, where James played, and said he was a traitor for leaving the city and said LeBron would never be champion with the Heat. He also said he was tired of carrying the briefcase around and was about to cash it in.

2. John Morrison pinned Sheamus in 11:11. Another good match. Morrison used a hurricanrana, a dropkick and a running corkscrew dive as his opening sequence in the first minute. Sheamus came back throwing Morrison into the barricades and pounded on him outside the ring. Crowd quiet for this match. Sheamus pounded on him. Big spot was Morrison off the top with a crossbody, but Sheamus rolled through on the pin attempt, dead lifted Morrison from the ground and hit a powerslam. But he missed the Brogue kick. Morrison monkey flipped Sheamus into the corner, exactly like in the first match. Definite agent communication issues. Morrison got a near fall with a Russian leg sweep. Traded big moves. The finish saw Sheamus try his Razor’s Edge, but Morrison got out. Sheamus came in with another Brogue kick and Morrison side stepped it, hit a flying kick followed by the shining wizard for the pin. Striker would have been the only one of the announcers who would have likely known the move, but he chose to stay out of it. They pushed in commentary the idea of the bully getting his. ***¼

Thoughts on the match and on the work of these two? What do you think about John Morrison?

R-Truth told John Cena he had a solution to his problem. He noted Nexus was banned from ringside, but he wasn’t. He said he could come down, accidentally do something to Orton and Cena could count Orton’s shoulders down. Truth told him that he could keep his job and be out of Nexus, getting what he wanted, and because Truth would cause it, Cena could be guilt free. Cena yelled at him over it, saying he couldn’t live with himself if he did it, and that he wasn’t going to give the title to Barrett because it would disrespect the legends of wrestling that he grew up idolizing. Cena said he was calling it down the middle, and Truth got mad at him saying that, saying he would believe it when he sees it.

3. Dolph Ziggler pinned Kaval in 9:31 to keep the IC title. Kaval dedicated the match to the Roughhouse Rider platoon. And then he lost. Kaval talked about his cousin Steve and best friend Nelson (referring in code to Homicide, his trainer). Cole then turned into Striker, blaming the Internet for someone like Kaval winning. He talked about how their were nine billion people on the Internet, which would be quite a trick since there are less than seven billion people on the entire planet. Good match but crowd wasn’t much into it. Striker asked Kaitlyn to marry him. Vickie Guerrero, at ringside, distracted Kaval, allowing Ziggler to take over. Cole claimed Kaval deserved it because he was staring at Vickie. Striker than compared Vickie to Tyne Daly of the TV show Cagney & Lacey from the 80s. Cole made fun of him for being so behind the times. Kaval did a springboard moonsault block, and followed with a handspring kick to the face, which landed far too solid. Ziggler ended up with a bloody nose and at one point there was fear he had a concussion. He said he was fine, but originally these two were supposed to be rematched on TV in King of the Ring, and instead, Ziggler didn’t wrestle on the show at all. Ziggler put on a sleeper while standing on the middle rope. Kaval used elbows and head-butts, but then missed a Phoenix splash off the top. Ziggler used a famouser for a near fall, but Cole called it the Zig Zag. Striker, who recognized the hold, just said Ziggler was trying to make him famous. A cool spot saw Kaval thrown in the air, but landed on the top rope and came off with an enzuigiri for a near fall. More near falls, but the crowd wasn’t into it, ending with a cradle by Kaval reversed by Ziggler who also held the tights. ***¼

Some pretty fair matches so far in the card. Did you like these two?

There were real high hopes for Kaval/Low Ki in the WWE and as we all know, they never materialized into what the fans had wanted. Why was that in your opinion?

Swagger was mad the Smackdown team in the match shouldn’t be Del Rio’s team, but his team, which he wanted to call “Team Swagger’s All-American American.” Swagger also said this show wasn’t taking place in the U.S., but in Little Cuba.

4. Team Mysterio (Rey Mysterio & Big Show & Kofi Kingston & MVP & Chris Masters) vs. Team Del Rio (Alberto Del Rio & Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase & Tyler Reks & Jack Swagger in 18:12 in a traditional Survivor Series elimination tag. MVP got a big hometown pop. Nobody knew Reks. Cole called the heel team here the best groomed team in Survivor Series history. Cole claimed the Survivor Series made stars out of Rock, Orton and Miz. Del Rio avoided Mysterio early. Striker compared Mysterio to Ricky Henderson. Striker then claimed Henderson was the greatest baseball player of all-time. Cole laughed at the suggestion. Cole called Team Del Rio the best groomed team in Survivor Series history. MVP was the most popular guy in the match and one or two on the show. So naturally, in his home city, he was out first. He went to suplex McIntyre from the apron into the ring. Del Rio tripped MVP, and McIntyre fell on him for the pin and first elimination in 5:34. Loud “MVP” chants from a furious crowd when he was the first gone. How hard is it to allow the most over guy in the match a chance to at least do something before dumping him? Masters used a jackhammer on Del Rio for a near fall. He went for the Masterlock, but Del Rio ducked out of it, did a drop down on the shoulder, followed by moving quickly into the armbar on Masters for the tap in 6:43. Show tagged in and Del Rio tagged Swagger in to avoid facing Show. Swagger did a spear to Show’s knee and then tagged Del Rio. Show came back and KO’d Del Rio with the big punch but it was after Del Rio had tagged back out to McIntyre. They used smelling salts to revive Del Rio. He was never pinned, but was helped to the back. Most probably figured he’d come back “fine” and screw the faces at the finish. But it didn’t happen. Show pinned Rhodes with the KO punch in 10:56. Swagger used the ankle lock on both Show and Mysterio. Kingston pinned Reks with a kick to the face, a high crossbody, another kick to the face and Trouble in Paradise in 15:10. Swagger then put Kingston in the ankle lock for the submission in 15:54. This left Show & Mysterio vs. Swagger & McIntyre. Mysterio hit the 619 on Swagger and then climbed on Show’s shoulders and jumped off with a splash on Swagger at 17:33. Mysterio then used the 619 on McIntyre and Show choke slammed and pinned him in 18:12. Good match, but a little anti-climactic finish. Surprising since Show and Mysterio combined to win the TV Battle Royal, and then did the same here. The negative is that no new stars were allowed to look good and there were no upsets giving people new pushes in the eliminations. ***¼

Did you like or dislike the match?

How do you feel about the traditional Survivor Series match concept? You need at least one every year...right?

5. Natalya won the Divas title in a handicap match over co-champions Michelle McCool & Layla in 3:15. Nothing match, but still better than most women’s matches because no blown spots or awkward bad wrestling. LayCool made fun of Natalya acting like she had a beard like Jim Neidhart. Layla got no local star pop at all, but I don’t think they push she’s from Miami on television. Natalya suplexed both at the same time. The spot didn’t get nearly the reaction it usually gets. Natalya with a sharpshooter out of nowhere. Then after the match, McCool & Layla attacked her until Beth Phoenix’s music played and she ran in for the save, giving Layla the Glam slam. Phoenix put Natalya on her shoulders and carried her around the ring while she held the belt. You can tell by Natalya almost breaking down upon getting the belt that winning the title meant something to her. *

Is the best part of this match getting to see Natalya earn a win that she really did work hard for?

6. Kane retained the World title going to a double pin draw with Edge in 12:47. Edge came out with an empty wheelchair and Kane was going crazy. Basically the idea was that Edge, the babyface, was going to beat Kane by outsmarting him because he couldn’t beat him physically. Dull match. Kane mostly beat on Edge and screamed for Paul, or for Edge to tell him where Paul was. He just should have guessed and said catering. This story is so backwards which led to a no heat match. Edge, a natural heel kidnapped Bearer like a heel would do. But he’s the face, even though the crowd doesn’t trust him and believes he’s turning. Kane, the heel, usually gets a face reaction from the crowd just based on tenure. Kane came off the top but Edge dropkicked him. Edge tried a superplex but Kane threw him off the turnbuckle and Edge landed crotching himself on the top. Kane did a clothesline off the top on Edge, who fell into the ring for a near fall. Edge went for a spear but got kicked in the head. Kane used a choke slam, but Edge kicked out. Edge then gave Kane a spear and both men collapsed. The ref counted three on both of them. It was announced that Edge had won the title, but then the ref explained both had their shoulders down and the match was a “tie.” He gave the belt to Kane. Edge attacked Kane after, knocked him into the wheelchair and ran the wheelchair into a gimmicked part of the barricade which Kane went through. Match had little heat. *½

Meltzer wasn’t a big fan of the match and neither were fans of the Observer, who voted the worst match on the card.

How does Double A feel about the match?

7. Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel retained the tag titles beating Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov in 5:08. Crowd was super into Marella. This match got good reactions even though put in what was supposed to be the death spot, designed to take the crowd down after a hot match. Of course, the match before was below zero. Finish saw Marella get a hot tag, as they used Kozlov to sell. He went for the cobra, but David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty jumped on the apron. Marella was distracted and Slater used the neck tie for the pin. 3/4*

Santino has taken a lot of heat from certain tennis racquet wielding personalities on the internet for being too much of a comedy gimmick. Do you agree? Do you think it was okay and entertained the fans without any problems? Did you have have problems with the gimmick?

Why don’t we see Kozlov anymore, from your perspective?

8. Randy Orton pinned Wade Barrett to retain the WWE title with John Cena as referee in 15:14. Match story started with Orton pounding Barrett in the corner and Cena pulled him off. Barrett gave the distracted Orton a high kick, and smiled at Cena, who told Barrett he was calling it straight. Barrett then attacked Orton and Cena pulled Barrett off and then Orton dropkicked the distracted Barrett and began pounding him. Orton then pounded on Barrett with punches on the ground and Cena just watched. Barrett came back driving Orton’s back into the apron twice and whipping him into the steps. Orton made a comeback, which ended when Barrett rammed him into the ringpost. Barrett used an elbow off the middle rope but Orton kicked out. Barrett got mad at Cena for not counting three. Barrett then used a black hole slam on Orton. Striker even called it a black hole slam. Thank God Vince had no idea what he was saying or there would have been immediate hell to pay. While the guys were trading big moves and working to the climax of the match, the crowd got into a “Let’s Go Cena” and “Cena sucks” argument, showing they weren’t even into the match that was doing near falls. Orton did the draping DDT, but Barrett rolled to the floor to avoid being pinned. Orton clotheslined Barrett on the floor. There was a light RKO chant. As Orton came in the ring, Barrett caught him with a knee to the head, and hit the Wasteland. Orton got his hand on the ropes at the count of two and Cena stopped counting. Barrett started yelling at Cena and Cena again told him he was calling it straight. Barrett shoved Cena. Cena shoved Barrett right into an RKO by Orton and Orton got the pin. Striker then was acting like this was a big win for Cena because he gets out of Nexus and Cole had to remind everyone that Cena was fired. Nexus hit the ring after Cena & Orton, but the two together cleaned house and Cena grabbed the belt, handed it to Orton, and they hugged. Cena then took his wrist bands off and placed them in the middle of the ring, like the amateurs taking off their boots and leaving them in the center. There was a Cena chant but you could tell the crowd didn’t buy Cena was really leaving, nor should they have. Cena hugged Michael Cole, as well as Rick the Sign Guy from Texas, who is in the front row all the time, as well as a few others, and then walked away. Fans did react to his standing on the stage and saluting the audience, but not nearly at the level you’d hope for. Cena then went into the crowd as the show ended. **½

What were your reactions to the match?

This whole angle feels like it was building up to a Wade Barrett championship win. Even the poster had Wade on it. Was he supposed to win here?

How would you have rebooked this to make fans believe Cena really had lost his career, here? Could it be done?

BEST MATCH POLL

Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase 98

Dolph Ziggler vs. Kaval 21

Team Mysterio vs. Team Del Rio 19

WORST MATCH POLL

Kane vs. Edge 61

Natalya vs. LayCool 39

Gabriel & Slater vs. Kozlov & Marella 20

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett 17

AFTERMATH:

The next night, on Raw at the Amway Center in Orlando before a barely half-full arena, Cena thanked the WWE Universe and was given an ovation by other wrestlers backstage as he exited the arena. Barrett taunted him on his way out. Wade Barrett demanded a rematch against Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. During the match, John Cena attacked Barrett, costing him the match.

Immediately after this match, The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and defeated Orton to become the new WWE Champion. At WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2010, The Miz successfully defended his title against Randy Orton in a Tables match.

Was the time right for the Miz to win the WWE championship? Would you like to have seen Barrett get it for a few seconds before Miz?

With The Nexus having assaulted security, John Cena was free to enter the arena and attack any and all members of The Nexus. Eventually a mutiny formed within The Nexus, and they threatened to kick Wade Barrett out unless he rehired John Cena. Along with that, the rehiring of Cena was met under the condition that Barrett would face him in a Chairs match at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. Cena would go on to win the match at the pay-per-view.

Was the Nexus angle dead at this point?

On the following episode of SmackDown, Kane granted Edge a rematch for the championship in return that his storyline father Paul Bearer would be released from being hostage by Edge. Edge took the opportunity; however, Bearer would still be held hostage. Before the pay-per-view, Kane pushed what he thought was another dummy off of a ladder, only to discover it was actually Paul Bearer himself. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Kane was scheduled to defend his title in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match against Edge; However, Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio, who were in a feud of their own, were added to the match courtesy of SmackDown GM Theodore Long, thus making it a fatal four-way. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Edge would go on to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

Did you like Kane’s run as World Champ in 2010?

Natalya and Beth Phoenix's feud with LayCool led to a tag team tables match at TLC, which Natalya and Phoenix won.

After Survivor Series, the 2010 King of the Ring tournament took place, with John Morrison and Sheamus making their way to the finals. Sheamus would win, becoming the 2010 King of the Ring; he and Morrison would wrestle at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in a ladder match to determine the #1 contender for the WWE Championship, which Morrison would win.

Should the King of the Ring be part of a bigger show or get its own show?

Meltzer was critical that the company wouldn't’ even sell the firing stipulation for Cena.

Of course, Cena won’t even be selling the “firing” for a week. He’s already been announced for the 11/29 three-hour Raw with the angle he’s buying a ticket to sit at ringside. On the Raw television show in all the markets where Raw house shows were upcoming, even though “fired,” the ads all listed Cena in every main event. The current plan is for Cena to work all the house shows and upcoming TVs under a mask, as Juan Cena, John’s Mexican cousin, constantly harassing Barrett, until Barrett opts to allow John Cena to return. That angle has been done a million times with the top babyface, with them losing a loser leaves town match and coming back with a mask. At times it has worked and at times it has flopped miserably. The last time WWE did it, with Hulk Hogan as Mr. America, you ended up with a babyface about 60% as over as Hulk Hogan would be, and not meaning anything.

To me, the best thing would have been for Cena to leave for at least a few weeks so people believe in the stip. They are so afraid ratings will get hurt without him, and they won’t, that they can’t play out an angle without giving people another reason not to buy extreme stip PPVs because they know they’re all bullshit. Plus, if he’s actually gone for a few weeks, people will miss him and actually want him back and his return may mean a little. Instead, they perfectly set up his departure meaning something with a great promo on Raw, and then none of it means anything because he doesn’t leave for at least a little while. He could at least just not appear on TV and still work the house shows with the idea he has to appear where he’s been advertised for a certain length of time.

Do you agree with his assessment?

FAN QUESTIONS

Fernando asks...If WWE had given Barrett a title run, hypothetically how long would nexus have gone as a stable? #AskArn

Nick asks...Was not giving Wade the title here a killer for the Nexus angle, and what was the reasoning given for not pushing Wade as the top heel? #AskArn

Francis asks...Did you think that kaval did not enjoy his time in the wwe during this era? #AskArn

Francis also asked...Do you think there should have been more survivor series type matches on this card? #AskArn

Mike asks...#AskArn with the amazing work being done today by @The305MVP on the mic with #TheHurtBusiness #RAW @fightbobby @Sheltyb803 @CedricAlexander did Arn see MVP from his performance here #SurvivorSeries2010 transitioning into his current role in 2020 as a manager/wrestler ? #Arn

Jeremy asks...Man I love Wade Barrett. Fantastic wrestler. Glad nxt brought him back. Do you think he will wrestle again soon, or do you think he will stay at the announce table? #AskArn

Ray asks..Where there any plans for a longer run for Paul Bearer or was this just more for nostalgia? #AskArn

Adam asks...How much does the enforcer hate retirement/fired angles? Nobody believed for a minute did John Cena was fired He didn’t go 24 hours without appearing on WWE TV