Dot Net TV reporters Rich Twilling and Chris Shore meet up at the water cooler and discuss the hot topics in professional wrestling.

Today's topic: WWE's One Night Stand and what's missing from WWE pay-per-views.

Chris: I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m bored with the matches they have announced. From a wrestling stand point, the matches should be pretty good seeing as how everybody knows the person they’re working with so well. But that’s the point, it’s the same matches we’ve had for two months, only with different rules. Right now the only match I’m hyped about is the Divas "I Quit" match.

Rich: For me, it is not only the familiar matches, it is the multiple PPVs. It really is a catch-22. If they rush new programs, people will complain. If they throw out the same matches, people will complain. The card looks solid, but it is a secondary PPV. The women’s match doesn’t interest me that much, although I applaud it.

Chris: The women’s match interests me only in that it is new. I understand the need to carry feuds for a couple of months, but like you said, the number of PPVs has made this seem like it has been going on forever. We have the Hardys, Chris Jericho, MVP, C.M. Punk, hell even Big Show would be different at this point. For the record, I dig Triple H's work more than most people, but even I grow tired of him headlining everything.

Rich: I loved Triple H in the late '90s when he was the Intercontinental champion and leader of DX. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve his spot and I haven’t appreciated his work since then, but he is the epitome of routine. Nothing seems to change with him, even when he tries to.

Chris: Agreed. Ric Flair kept the same shtick for 30 years and I think Hunter thinks he’s the next Flair. He’s good, but come on. There will never be another Flair. That being said, I don’t mind him being involved with the title hunt. I just want to see new matches, even if the storyline isn’t fully developed yet. Paying another $40 for this PPV is asking a lot. Especially when my wife looks at the card and says, “Didn’t you just order this last week?” Ouch!

Rich: Well, the fact that you are still married and a wrestling fan proves she is understanding! It is the same cycle. Going into a PPV, if the feud is new, we know we are going to get more PPV matches in the future, so what is the incentive to buy this PPV? WWE is so storyline based, but they want us to buy the PPVs for the in-ring product. Major happenings do not occur on every PPV and that is what is missing.

Chris: I agree. WCW pay-per-views sucked because there was always a swerve at the end. Give the devil his due, though, you knew something was going to happen on the PPV, even if it stunk up the joint. The PPVs now give us better than average matches with storylines culminating on the next TV show. I like to watch wrestling, but for $40 I better be in an arena if all I’m going to get is slightly better matches.

Rich: I think the only possible surprise they could give us on Sunday is actually having The Undertaker lose. Of course, that would lead to his inevitable return and three or four more PPV matches with Edge. Triple H is going to retain.

Chris: Are we expecting any title changes to occur in the next few months? I mean the World Heavyweight Championship is vacant, but everyone expects Taker to win. Triple H is almost a lock to retain. The mid-card titles are not being defended and the tag team division on every show is dead. That’s why ratings and PPV buys are down. WWE has no competition and therefore no need to be daring. We need the return of the Monday Night Wars to spice things up.

Rich: Competition fuels creativity, or at least forces it. They need guys in each division gunning for each title. Jericho is a main eventer; he should not have the IC title. They should put it on a heat magnet like Santino Marella. Miz and Morrison are a popular act right now, so they should find them some legitimate challengers.

Chris: And yet it never seems like they do the right thing. Jeff Hardy mentioned the IC belt upon his return. Seriously? He needs a title reign. WWE needs for him to have a title reign, even if they don’t know it yet. It’s time to put over the younger talent before we all grow tired of the product and it’s too late.

Rich: I agree with that. Randy Orton was a nice change but they need to create plausible main event level talents and be willing to take chances with them.

Check back soon for another round of Dot Net Water Cooler discussion. Rich and Chris welcome your email feedback. Rich Twilling can be reached at dotnetrich@gmail.com. Chris Shore can be reached at cshore10@triad.rr.com. Thanks for reading.

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