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Backstage Update on WWE Veterans

10K views 77 replies 63 participants last post by  Ralph Wiggum 
#1 · (Edited)
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Mark Henry is still under contract to WWE, and despite him being open about wanting to retire in the near future, he is not yet retired.
As for why Henry is not being used on TV, the belief is that WWE is amidst a “rebuilding phase” right now, and officials are concentrating on new talent and building new stars right now, so creative hasn’t had anything for Henry.

This could also be the reason why talents like Kane and Big Show haven’t been seen on TV in awhile despite them working live events.
Source: http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/705...t-wwe-status-and-why-he-isnt-being-used-on-tv

Personally it's a shame that WWE aren't using these three guys, they could even be more focused on "Smackdown" if WWE are using "Raw" to make new talent shine. I know it's a shame if Henry doesn't get one last time to shine before he rides into the sunset, surely he won't just retire without WWE even making a big deal out of it? As for Show well he is still moving pretty well in the ring, for the size of the guy I think he's still going alright and can still pull off a decent feud with any of the new guys. When Show was working with Reigns last year that was pretty cool. As for Kane, well he's always worked well with whatever he's given to work with, personally for me right now Kane would be ideal in the Tag Team division helping some of the younger guys. Kane would be pretty interesting if he's paired with Finn Balor (when he eventually debuts) as obviously both of them share the "Demon" Gimmick and it would be kind of cool to see how they pair together? Could even eventually get the Tag Titles?

Not sure what WWE are going to do with these guys in the coming weeks/months??
 
#2 ·
I know I should feel bad considering that they are veterans and did contribute quite a bit earlier in their careers, but considering how packed the roster is getting and how much these three superstars have contributed to the creative bankruptcy with their characters...

I can't complain, I really can't, every time one of these three appear on screen, excitement immediately must drop.
 
#38 ·
Hmmmmm, let's see. 3 certifiable Giants, 2 standing 7 feet tall, the other the former strongest man in the world, with almost 60 years of wrestling experience combined between the 3 of them. With a roster filled with younger and/or newer guys who have yet to make their mark in the WWE.

What could WWE POSSIBLY do with these 3 future HoFers....

Oh, I know, why not team them up? We need great tag teams, the newer teams are all great but most are woefully inexperienced.

I mean, wouldn't YOU all be up for a New Day vs Kane/Show/Henry feud?

They could work Freebird style for the standard tags, with one standing outside doing the trash talking and interference. These guys have all individually been top heels and world champs. They could be GREAT as a top heel tag team.

I'd team them up now, give them two months worth of TV wins, one per week on either Raw or Smackdown, then bang them over whoever is tag champs, preferably the New Day after they've had a good run. They could do 3 months worth of tags between those two teams easily as long as they don't blow their load and book it on free Tv every week. At the same time I'm picking one baby face team to be that divisions future. Either Enzo and Kass or American Alpha.

Then a book a prolonged chase feud, where the baby face team chases these 3 monster heels, only each time they have them dead to rights the big brutes cheat their way out, or something tragic happens and they can't win the title.

Then, once you get to WM 33, book the final blowoff and have the Babyfaces win clean. Then Henry/Kane/Show can retire and ride off into the sunset, you've just had this new baby face team beat 3 former world champs and hall of famers so that's a big deal that can be repeated every time they wrestle.

The new team will be set, and it'll give these 3 legends a great send off feud.

The WWE should've phased out the veterans years ago. New stars have to be made.
Read what I wrote above. You wouldn't be up for that?
 
#40 · (Edited)
Hmmmmm, let's see. 3 certifiable Giants, 2 standing 7 feet tall, the other the former strongest man in the world, with almost 60 years of wrestling experience combined between the 3 of them. With a roster filled with younger and/or newer guys who have yet to make their mark in the WWE.

What could WWE POSSIBLY do with these 3 future HoFers....

Oh, I know, why not team them up? We need great tag teams, the newer teams are all great but most are woefully inexperienced.

I mean, wouldn't YOU all be up for a New Day vs Kane/Show/Henry feud?

They could work Freebird style for the standard tags, with one standing outside doing the trash talking and interference. These guys have all individually been top heels and world champs. They could be GREAT as a top heel tag team.

I'd team them up now, give them two months worth of TV wins, one per week on either Raw or Smackdown, then bang them over whoever is tag champs, preferably the New Day after they've had a good run. They could do 3 months worth of tags between those two teams easily as long as they don't blow their load and book it on free Tv every week. At the same time I'm picking one baby face team to be that divisions future. Either Enzo and Kass or American Alpha.

Then a book a prolonged chase feud, where the baby face team chases these 3 monster heels, only each time they have them dead to rights the big brutes cheat their way out, or something tragic happens and they can't win the title.

Then, once you get to WM 33, book the final blowoff and have the Babyfaces win clean. Then Henry/Kane/Show can retire and ride off into the sunset, you've just had this new baby face team beat 3 former world champs and hall of famers so that's a big deal that can be repeated every time they wrestle.

The new team will be set, and it'll give these 3 legends a great send off feud.



Read what I wrote above. You wouldn't be up for that?
I would say I'd be up for that except haven't they already tried that on a number of different occasions? If I remember correctly the last time something like that worked was when Big Show and Kane won the tag titles back in 2011, so maybe they could at least team up Show and Kane again, as far as Henry, everything I've read about that up to this point pretty much says Henry is done, he even said he didn't know how Vince managed to convince him into agreeing to this contract cause he wanted to retire then too, but as far as teaming up Show and Kane, that I'd be all for
 
#47 ·
I did find it a bit weird how Kane and Big Show just randomly resurfaced around Wrestlemania time. Not hating, but had a little chuckle at how they showed up for the Mania spot after months of inactivity. As someone said, they've earned the right at this stage in their careers to pick their spots. Whether you're a fan or not, whether you think they're great talents, whether or not you think they're stale, they've been throwing their bodies around the squared circle for 20+ years for our entertainment. Besides, using them as special attractions at this stage is better for us as fans, who have watched them for a long, long time. Big Show turned up for the Shaq moment, and Kane was there to put over Corbin.

On that note, whoever decided Mark Henry should be a complete jobber a couple of years ago should be shot. Sure, scale back his appearances, but a former world champion should never be below upper midcard. Certainly not losing in 2 minute matches on Raw, which Henry almost made habit. Now, beating Mark Henry means absolutely nothing.
 
#53 ·
Those 3 are the exact opposite of politicians. Watch that "Thank You Daniel" video on the Network. Bryan talks about how when he came to WWE, he had never in his life met Mark Henry. Never even spoke to him. Yet he found out by the time MITB 2011 came around, when he was scheduled to win his briefcase, that Henry had been going to Vince and the rest of the creative guys and saying "You guys need to do something with Bryan. This kids got it. This kid is special you need to push him."

That's how the Henry-Show-Bryan angle happened. Henry and Show went to bat for Bryan, got him his MITB win, and got him booked in the main event, world title program on SD!. Henry desperately wanted to work a match at WM 28 against Bryan where he'd put him over clean with the Yes! Lock but unfortunately he got injured and then the whole debacle with Sheamus happened. Guess it's actually a good thing Henry got injured because 18 seconds was as important to Bryan's Ascension as anything.

Kane did almost the same thing when it came to Hell No! He'd try to take the pinfalls as much as possible and try to look out for and protect Bryan, for no other reason than he thought he was special. Plus, come on, it's Kane. He and Show have put over everyone on the roster a dozen times or more.

Those 3 guys get a bad rap. They are professionals in the truest sense of the word. They deserve the unanimous respect of the fans, they don't deserve to be shit on, they don't deserve to have "PLEASE RETIRE" chanted at them, and they absolutely deserve to go out in a memorable angle/feud/storyline that will remind the fans why they were all once World Champs, and all will be Hall of Famers. Henry especially, dude put up with 15 years of jobbing and kept at it, kept getting better, and became one of the best heels I've ever seen in his Hall of Pain run from 2011-2013. He earned his respect the hard way, he shouldn't lose it because he gets booked like a joke these days.
 
#70 ·
Always thought The Wyatt Family destroying the vets as a means of "clearing room for the new monsters of the roster" would of been an ideal situation, considering The Wyatt's pretty much have nothing left to do as heels.
 
#8 ·
At the moment I cant think of anyone outside those 3 on the full time roster with veteran status, for the new blood to learn "fighting giants" with.

Might be a bit boring for us now we've seen it but House shows with Kane is an ideal learning curve.
 
#51 ·
Ive said all along WWE would be wise to keep around Kane to give advice/NXT seminars to the crop of people officials know are heading to the main roster before they head there. Guy if Im not mistaken has wrestled the most matches in company history, while not the caliber ring work of a Taker or Vader a very safe worker, given his 19 year consistent run very healthy, great physical shape minus a few years and in my opinion of the most underrated at character playing/acting the company has had.

Apparently the man is renowned for his attitude too and is in a good spot to give advice on etiquette considering he remained that way when you can make an easy argument he has been through the worst composite list of storylines all time (it has to be him or Show and I'd go Kane).
 
#30 ·
Those guys have a lot more value and carry a more rich wrestling history than Sandow can ever have. Yes it sucks that his not around, but guys like Henry, Kane and Big Show are irreplaceable. Also WWE is keeping them around to market live events and give it some star power.
 
#14 ·
These guys have earned the right to stick around in a limited capacity if they want to. I say kudos to the company for allowing them to do so. I am highly upset that Sandow was released but to get rid of guys like these three instead is not the right fix to that problem.
 
#15 ·
I noticed this as well over the past month. I think Henry was retiring anyways. As for Kane and Big Show, as much respect as these guys should get for how good they still are at their size and age, don’t need to have big roles in 2016. It’s time to move on, and this comes from a huge Kane fan.

All 3 men deserve proper send offs but their time as regular characters to me should be done.
 
#17 ·
Is that why Bod squashed Wyatts at Ss? Lol. If they were building new stars WYatt should of gone over. I. Any case im sure Show well return any day now for his billionth heel turn.
 
#19 ·
Kane should slip back into the old Kane outfit for one last go before he retires, doubt it would actually happen but it would be epic to see, used to scare the shit out of me as a kid when they panned up to the catwalk and all you saw was his masked face staring down
 
#20 · (Edited)
Well, WWE always misses chances to capitalize. I'm as sick as anyone of these guys, Henry and Big Show especially. I stepped away from wrestling in 2001 and just recently came back, and I was sick of Big Show back then. With that being said, with the fact that they all know retirement is imminent, they should be built up enough to have a retirement match that has meaning. Plus, Kane is so good on the mic, that once he's retired, he could easily be a face commissioner or something onscreen. Either that or he and Big Show could be great trainers for big men that come in. Someone like Corbin could say that Big Show is irrelevant and that he is the new Big Man of the WWE and could retire Show. I've always been a proponent of Bray retiring both Kane and Taker...but that will never happen.
 
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