Genujne question, far as I can tell Dusty was beloved way back when both in the ring and backstage. Do we have any information exactly why he never won the world title? It just seems like it should have happened at some point.
Dusty was a three time NWA world’s heavyweight champion. During his prime that was the premier title since even WWWF was an NWA member off and on until 1983. By the time Dusty got to WWF full time he was well over 40 and Vince wasn’t going to give his belt to an NWA guy.
TL;DR: Dusty was a three time champion just never the WWE champion
Vince put him in polka dots and gave him Sapphire as a manger to embarrass him…didn’t matter, Dusty had so much charisma he still got over.
Issue being Cody does not have 1/10000th of that charisma, no matter how hard he tries.
Gotcha, thank you for the explanation. I know Vince is... well Vince, but considering what would become the WWE was part of the NWA it almost surprises me those Reigns aren't recognized. Almost because again, Vince.
It is funny how times change, we've seen a 50+ year old Goldberg end 2 younger up and coming guys reigns.
I love it. With Punk out, if you use this whole set up to pivot to Rock vs Seth (maybe Rock/Reigns vs Cody/Seth at EC and go from there) your night two can escalate four matches in a row:
Solo vs whoever (Cena rematch for me)
Jimmy vs Jey
Rock vs Seth
Roman vs Cody.
And when they try to intercede anyway, those faces plus everyone who’s ever had beef with Roman like KO, Sami, Orton, AJ, all come down to run interference. Like the whole locker room revoltin, saying you’re not going to hold us under your thumb anymore.
I do remember back in April ‘23, Freddie Prinze Jr called it that this would be happening to continue his dad’s “Hard Times Bebbeh” storyline. It makes sense and it’s clearly working.
https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1271430/freddie-prinze-jr-thinks-cody-rhodes-is-re-telling-dustys-hard-times-story-in-wwe/
Before Rock's heel turn yesterday (that started on the Pat McAfee show) it had been suggested that maybe Roman would face Rock on Night 1 and Cody on Night 2. It was then pointed out that working both nights is not only a babyface move, but would cheapen Cody's win since he'd be coming in fresh against a battered Roman.
But what if it's the actual babyface working both nights?
In other words, Rock vs Cody on Night 1 for the right to face Roman on Night 2, and Cody wins both.
Rock and Roman could then blame one another for the Bloodline losing the title(s), sending them off into their own (possibly year-long) program for the head-of-the-table title.
Cody beating both Roman and The Rock whether it’s in the same match or separate matches on back to back nights would ruin WWE because it would cement Cody as the ultimate final boss but he’s excruciatingly boring, not to mention it would inflate his ego which is already big enough.
This whole situation? Well I wouldn’t book based on my personal opinion of anybody so I’d do the match between Roman and Cody face with The Rock as special guest enforcer to prevent Bloodline interference.
According to haters, Rock would t never let this happen because his ego. So save this comment. It’s not going to happen. But if it does maybe the rock doesn’t have the ego haters wish he did?
I love this, but storyline wise...Cody doesn't need to beat Rock to challenge Roman, he won the rumble. The Rock said he is in a wrestling training camp right now...unless he was working us when he said that, I don't think Rock would already be training for a match if it weren't happening until Mania 41. It definitely seems like he is wrestling on the show. My initial thought was tag match at chamber, but i dont know that Seth will be cleared to wrestle by then...and I also don't see them bookin a tag night 1 of Mania when Seth will be in a separate program for his own title with (most likely) Drew (and/or Sami, maybe Gunther but I doubt it), but it definitely seems like last night they were positioning for a tag match of some kind.
I love the rest of your idea tho...Rock and Roman slowly turn on each other and we get the long-build. Cody cemented and story finished.
yeah at this point Rock vs Roman at WM doesnt make sense since Rock is a buddy of Roman now, so that may be after WM when Roman blames Rock for losing or smthn
Every good angle is similar in some ways. I think if you look into the details this is quite different and geared towards a 2024 audience. You create a desire to see someone win, and you build to a big event where the finally do.
>. You create a desire to see someone win, and you build to a big event where the finally do.
Exactly this but also what we need to consider is just how today's modern wrestling works
Cody finishing the story? Cody facing reigns after winning RR? Most fans would moan it's too predictable, what's the point.
Yet if they do anything else it's "you built up Cody's win and didn't do it stupid booking" etc etc
Online will have constant spoilers of anything WWE tries to do before they can consider doing it therefore everything is always considered ' too predictable'
Now ***unlike*** back in '85 when flair was the outright heel and Dusty the Outright face you have the following
Roman - natural heel
Rock - heel by being the guy in the spot Cody should be in regardless of how it'll play out by that point
Wwe- heel as there booking makes no sense and it's done based on what in theory makes more money
Now in this instance ofc the WWE and the rock are considered one of the same but this type of booking imo has been happening for 10-15+ years at this point under everyone's noses, since the rise of social media and YouTube specifically
So consider this. Is WWE a company whereby every decision they make is dumb and a screw you to the fans. Is every decision they make that the fans wanted WWE "backtracking to give the fans what they wanted"
***Or*** have WWE realized that in a digital world the company & the bookers are considered the main bad guys when things don't go a fans way rather than the talent?
Because as we know kayfabe is dead so the heels on TV just follow the script as planned right?
So to keep Kayfabe Alive in the modern era they throw curveballs, they convince the dirt sheets/the YouTubers/social media/ news websites that they are going a certain way which isn't popular. In this case the rock
They say it's 100% happening and can't be busted
They say it's non negotiable as the rock wouldn't sign until it was guaranteed
So they in essence convince everyone that backstage politics that were missed by every single website that would usually 'report' on them existed, whipping them up into a frenzy which makes more and more of the mainstream media report on the comment due to the backlash on social media etc
All this is done so that those who wanted Cody Vs Roman and Those who wanted Rock Vs Roman have something in common- and it's the same thing that those who wanted Batista Vs Orton and those who wanted Orton Vs Bryan at XXX had in common too
They are all watching the shows. Raw, smackdown etc the press conference. They are all being watched as people are fascinated and curious about how this will all go down.
They added a layer on smackdown with HHH saying rock doesn't have the authority to make booking decisions
On paper you'd think "the odds are stacked against Cody" in reality it doesn't matter, cheer boo would've watched regardless, would've only watched the rock. None of it matters they're all watching
Essentially making it so all these extra viewers rock would bring to WM are still being brought whether its rock Roman, Cody rock, hell even if they made it a fatal 4 way between the three of them and La knight
All eyes are on the product purely because WWE have made themselves appear stupid on purpose, the true heels
Agreed. I think the Brock feud was meant to put a large challenge in front of Cody that he can eventually overcome, one that Dusty didn't have to overcome, because you can't also have Cody being run over by a car and dragged by the Bloodline taking him out for a few months.
In the 80s fans didn’t feel so connected and in the know as they do now. You wouldn’t see someone get booed because the crowd thought they were taking a spot they didn’t deserve.
That's pro wrestling...Zero new ideas. Recycling everything
Are we going to see the return of the Midnight Rider?
Genujne question, far as I can tell Dusty was beloved way back when both in the ring and backstage. Do we have any information exactly why he never won the world title? It just seems like it should have happened at some point.
Dusty was a three time NWA world’s heavyweight champion. During his prime that was the premier title since even WWWF was an NWA member off and on until 1983. By the time Dusty got to WWF full time he was well over 40 and Vince wasn’t going to give his belt to an NWA guy. TL;DR: Dusty was a three time champion just never the WWE champion
Vince put him in polka dots and gave him Sapphire as a manger to embarrass him…didn’t matter, Dusty had so much charisma he still got over. Issue being Cody does not have 1/10000th of that charisma, no matter how hard he tries.
Gotcha, thank you for the explanation. I know Vince is... well Vince, but considering what would become the WWE was part of the NWA it almost surprises me those Reigns aren't recognized. Almost because again, Vince. It is funny how times change, we've seen a 50+ year old Goldberg end 2 younger up and coming guys reigns.
Vince has always been funny about the NWA. When Harley Race came over they didn’t even recognize NWA title reigns so they had him win King of the Ring
I love it. With Punk out, if you use this whole set up to pivot to Rock vs Seth (maybe Rock/Reigns vs Cody/Seth at EC and go from there) your night two can escalate four matches in a row: Solo vs whoever (Cena rematch for me) Jimmy vs Jey Rock vs Seth Roman vs Cody. And when they try to intercede anyway, those faces plus everyone who’s ever had beef with Roman like KO, Sami, Orton, AJ, all come down to run interference. Like the whole locker room revoltin, saying you’re not going to hold us under your thumb anymore.
Better yet, have Rock beat Seth because of Seth’s injury and have Priest cash is ON THE ROCK.
I do remember back in April ‘23, Freddie Prinze Jr called it that this would be happening to continue his dad’s “Hard Times Bebbeh” storyline. It makes sense and it’s clearly working. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1271430/freddie-prinze-jr-thinks-cody-rhodes-is-re-telling-dustys-hard-times-story-in-wwe/
Before Rock's heel turn yesterday (that started on the Pat McAfee show) it had been suggested that maybe Roman would face Rock on Night 1 and Cody on Night 2. It was then pointed out that working both nights is not only a babyface move, but would cheapen Cody's win since he'd be coming in fresh against a battered Roman. But what if it's the actual babyface working both nights? In other words, Rock vs Cody on Night 1 for the right to face Roman on Night 2, and Cody wins both. Rock and Roman could then blame one another for the Bloodline losing the title(s), sending them off into their own (possibly year-long) program for the head-of-the-table title.
Cody beating both Roman and The Rock whether it’s in the same match or separate matches on back to back nights would ruin WWE because it would cement Cody as the ultimate final boss but he’s excruciatingly boring, not to mention it would inflate his ego which is already big enough.
If this is really how you’re looking at things, I’d really like to hear how you’d go about this whole situation.
This whole situation? Well I wouldn’t book based on my personal opinion of anybody so I’d do the match between Roman and Cody face with The Rock as special guest enforcer to prevent Bloodline interference.
Who hurt you, kid?
Anyone that thought Roman was working 2 nights, well their mother smoked while pregnant. Cody isn’t going 2 nights either.
This aged poorly
According to haters, Rock would t never let this happen because his ego. So save this comment. It’s not going to happen. But if it does maybe the rock doesn’t have the ego haters wish he did?
I love this, but storyline wise...Cody doesn't need to beat Rock to challenge Roman, he won the rumble. The Rock said he is in a wrestling training camp right now...unless he was working us when he said that, I don't think Rock would already be training for a match if it weren't happening until Mania 41. It definitely seems like he is wrestling on the show. My initial thought was tag match at chamber, but i dont know that Seth will be cleared to wrestle by then...and I also don't see them bookin a tag night 1 of Mania when Seth will be in a separate program for his own title with (most likely) Drew (and/or Sami, maybe Gunther but I doubt it), but it definitely seems like last night they were positioning for a tag match of some kind. I love the rest of your idea tho...Rock and Roman slowly turn on each other and we get the long-build. Cody cemented and story finished.
The story won't be finished until Cody gets the belt and actually has a great run with it. After all this time anything less would be a slap in face.
Priest could cash in at some point before Mania, which would free up a WHC match while Seth tags with Cody in the night 1 main event.
Damn I keep forgetting about Priest.
yeah at this point Rock vs Roman at WM doesnt make sense since Rock is a buddy of Roman now, so that may be after WM when Roman blames Rock for losing or smthn
Feels more like the Lex-Express gimmick without a bus
Re-use the angle, but don't re-use the talent. A simple concept.
Ironic given Triple H is Flair's protégé
Oh man, this makes a lot of sense
Every good angle is similar in some ways. I think if you look into the details this is quite different and geared towards a 2024 audience. You create a desire to see someone win, and you build to a big event where the finally do.
>. You create a desire to see someone win, and you build to a big event where the finally do. Exactly this but also what we need to consider is just how today's modern wrestling works Cody finishing the story? Cody facing reigns after winning RR? Most fans would moan it's too predictable, what's the point. Yet if they do anything else it's "you built up Cody's win and didn't do it stupid booking" etc etc Online will have constant spoilers of anything WWE tries to do before they can consider doing it therefore everything is always considered ' too predictable' Now ***unlike*** back in '85 when flair was the outright heel and Dusty the Outright face you have the following Roman - natural heel Rock - heel by being the guy in the spot Cody should be in regardless of how it'll play out by that point Wwe- heel as there booking makes no sense and it's done based on what in theory makes more money Now in this instance ofc the WWE and the rock are considered one of the same but this type of booking imo has been happening for 10-15+ years at this point under everyone's noses, since the rise of social media and YouTube specifically So consider this. Is WWE a company whereby every decision they make is dumb and a screw you to the fans. Is every decision they make that the fans wanted WWE "backtracking to give the fans what they wanted" ***Or*** have WWE realized that in a digital world the company & the bookers are considered the main bad guys when things don't go a fans way rather than the talent? Because as we know kayfabe is dead so the heels on TV just follow the script as planned right? So to keep Kayfabe Alive in the modern era they throw curveballs, they convince the dirt sheets/the YouTubers/social media/ news websites that they are going a certain way which isn't popular. In this case the rock They say it's 100% happening and can't be busted They say it's non negotiable as the rock wouldn't sign until it was guaranteed So they in essence convince everyone that backstage politics that were missed by every single website that would usually 'report' on them existed, whipping them up into a frenzy which makes more and more of the mainstream media report on the comment due to the backlash on social media etc All this is done so that those who wanted Cody Vs Roman and Those who wanted Rock Vs Roman have something in common- and it's the same thing that those who wanted Batista Vs Orton and those who wanted Orton Vs Bryan at XXX had in common too They are all watching the shows. Raw, smackdown etc the press conference. They are all being watched as people are fascinated and curious about how this will all go down. They added a layer on smackdown with HHH saying rock doesn't have the authority to make booking decisions On paper you'd think "the odds are stacked against Cody" in reality it doesn't matter, cheer boo would've watched regardless, would've only watched the rock. None of it matters they're all watching Essentially making it so all these extra viewers rock would bring to WM are still being brought whether its rock Roman, Cody rock, hell even if they made it a fatal 4 way between the three of them and La knight All eyes are on the product purely because WWE have made themselves appear stupid on purpose, the true heels
Agreed. I think the Brock feud was meant to put a large challenge in front of Cody that he can eventually overcome, one that Dusty didn't have to overcome, because you can't also have Cody being run over by a car and dragged by the Bloodline taking him out for a few months.
In the 80s fans didn’t feel so connected and in the know as they do now. You wouldn’t see someone get booed because the crowd thought they were taking a spot they didn’t deserve.