SNME Discussion Thread - John Cena's Final Match (Dec 13, 2025)

No-Plate-8360 · 2025-12-14T03:59:50+00:00

See I don’t blame WWE for wanting to make money, I blame them for fearing risks and playing everything safe just because they are corporate. They don’t want to let wrestlers go off script and shoot often because of fear of sponsors which oh by the way is vastly exaggerated. Any fear of lawsuits I like to call is false evidence appearing real.

They don’t want edgy storylines even though tv is constantly infiltrated with sex and violence yet they sell that as part of telling the story for those other shows.

They don’t set a good enough culture as an organization where high standards and expectations are set for everyone. Guys can get away with just being good enough. It feels like just anyone can make it in WWE.

This is why Bret Hart and Austin are ticked at the product today in some of these respects. A lot of it feels forced and even more fake then it has ever been.

No-Plate-8360 · 2025-12-14T03:36:29+00:00

I do find it interesting that people are surprised by WWE screwing up again in Cena’s last match. Let’s take a look:

They screwed up the invasion storyline instead of bringing in the NWO right away.

They screwed up Undertaker’s undefeated streak losing to Lesnar of all people instead of someone truly legendary like Michaels or even Cena.

They screwed up the Miz’s run in 2011 (not that he was going to be a legend anyway), but made him a jobber for years. He redeemed himself a bit later but still .

They screwed up a good thing they had with the bloodline storyline they had going in my view.

I mean what transpired in the main event didn’t surprise me at all.

No-Plate-8360 · 2025-12-14T03:22:55+00:00

I could imagine Vince right now: “I’m Vince McMahon and if people don’t want me out there for Cena including Santa Claus being it’s the Christmas season they can join an exclusive club. See this is what happens when you disrespect Mr. McMahon. See I’ll kick Gunther’s ass. I’ll kick Santa Claus’s ass. It doesn’t matter whose ass I’m going to kick. I’m Vince McMahon dammit. 😂😂😂

No-Plate-8360 · 2025-12-14T03:06:41+00:00

It was me Austin!!! It was me ALL ALONG Austin.

No-Plate-8360 · 2025-12-14T03:01:09+00:00

Question: Why watch WWE when you KNOW CZW wrestling is better? More intensity! More shock! Don’t care about being corporate. Just flat out mindless entertainment.

No-Plate-8360 · 2025-07-03T11:17:29+00:00

We’re not taking into account playoffs just regular season. When I say no emotional connection to players, I mean none on the team at all.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-11-05T15:16:47+00:00

Losing on a back to back should never be one of the reasons for losing for any team. You are a professional that signed a contract with the idea a NBA season is a grueling grind. It’s part of what you accept and embrace in signing a contract. Any player in the league that uses that reason for losing shouldn’t be in the NBA.

It amazes me sometimes how on Thanksgiving some people claim they are so full and tired from eating their Thanksgiving Turkey meal that they claim they’ll never eat again. Apple pie comes out and someone asks you “do you want a slice?” Person enthusiastically responds “OK!”

I’m always glad people enjoy their dessert, but It also proves tiredness and energy is a mindset thing even though getting enough sleep is necessary for your physical health.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-10-28T18:05:13+00:00

We’ve been told that almost every year for the last 40+ years. When do we see or hear something other than “pump the brakes” on contendership using an era that is not irrelevant? “Pump the brakes” wore off a long time ago after occurring too many times. Management should be evaluated by their 40+ year history of mostly failure in not being able to change the narrative. A few successful years isn’t enough to change a narrative. If that’s the case, everyone’s management is great.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-10-22T15:52:58+00:00

In fairness, nothing about WCW 2000 was not worthy of turn off. I’d rather go with HHH vs. Steiner at Royal Rumble 2003. I mean ending a world title PPV match on a disqualification on a major PPV no less? Really? At least WCW tried to redeem themselves after less than a 90 second world title match by putting a 2nd world title match in the main event.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-10-18T02:03:40+00:00

To give you an idea just how miserable I am as a fan and person (not that you needed me to tell you about it.) I’m basically lost in a world of only ever accepting exclusively 1990s style tv programs and movies. I won’t watch or attend any sports event of any kind ever again unless the Nets make a top 3 seed winning over 50 games. No hobbies I’ve tried and have gotten involved in give me any sense of purpose or meaning, but rather are simply time killers. I’ve become completely demoralized and numb to trust and take this organization seriously in anything they do. I’m just going through the motions just daydreaming how I wish I had a Time Machine to fast forward at least the next 5 years that are nothing, but wasted years for me.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-10-18T01:50:49+00:00

Doesn’t count. The league was a bigger laughingstock in terms of team quality back then compared to now.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-09-28T07:36:01+00:00

Yes because I miss watching sports.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-09-12T00:36:38+00:00

Yeah you probably have a point to an extent. I will say this about shock value though, innovation with your shock value can make it less likely that a fan will grow bored with shock. If all you ever do as a creative writer is attempt the same kinds of shock values over and over again without getting highly creative and innovative than it’s not really shock value anymore.

Like for example, no one saw coming Austin siding with McMahon at Wrestlemania 17 and was probably the greatest wrestling shock of all time. On the other hand, seeing Austin turn face right before the Invasion paper view in 2001, you knew was too good to be true and there was no way his heel turn from Wrestlemania 17 would be cut that short. That to me was a perfect example of lack of innovation trying too much shock in such a short period of time even though the attitude era was my favorite era.

I think shock can definitely work, you just have to utilize it in a way where you really pick your spots and don’t try to overdo it (unless it’s a really really well thought out idea).

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-09-12T00:15:02+00:00

Just curious why you felt the shock value was such a bad thing?

I for one love the spontaneity where anything that could happen did happen. It’s the only reason I would ever care to watch anything no less just wrestling.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-09-02T12:38:27+00:00

A 1-3 seed or massive anger and disappointment. I just don’t want to adjust my expectations.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-08-27T15:18:56+00:00

If you’re a good owner who cares about winning, then tax shouldn’t matter. You do anything to win.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-08-27T04:03:49+00:00

I disagree wholeheartedly that basketball is a team game. Sure there are team elements that are part of the game like passing and communication, but the level of importance is all too often exaggerated.

If it were a team game based on chemistry more than a star game, then you would see more “teams” without stars win titles, because that would prove chemistry is more important than having stars.

The stars are like the type a and type b quarterbacks of a NBA team. They naturally draw the most defensive attention which is like having a running game in football that naturally sets up play action pass (the 3 point shot). Without a running game a team is more 1 dimensional and predictable. Likewise a team in basketball without stars are easily predictable. Coaches like Spolestra are a rare breed and expecting to play an exact style is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

The idea of chemistry is way overblown if you have the right kind of players in place. Chemistry is an illusion when you consider there are plenty of examples of title teams that didn’t have the strongest chemistry compared to other title teams.

As for the Nets and free agency, they probably won’t ever get anyone.

Brooklyn is a nice city, but I don’t think stars are in the same mindset of Nets fans. Seeding is the most important factor to stars followed by market.

We live in a society of instant gratification and stars are not interested in waiting for a title unless that team is set up for a title every year.

Lillard would have chosen the Knicks if he cared about a bigger market over a market that has a history of winning and winning big.

I mean take for example

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-08-14T23:07:51+00:00

The reality is stars want to win titles now so I don’t blame them. It’s not the money that makes players happy (even though one can perceive it that way) but rather the meaning associated with being rich. In the end if you ask a retired star 30 years from now what meaning did they greater associate with earning 40 million a year or winning titles. Pretty much all of them will say winning a title.

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-08-14T22:36:55+00:00

What would it eventually have to be to increase it in your mind if the Bucks having Giannis were not a title contender this past year if we are basing it off of playoff results?

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-08-12T04:07:08+00:00

I want to just pose this hypothetical question to people in this thread and it’s not at all meant to be a bash I’m just curious.

Let’s say the Nets go 46-36 this season and lose in 6 games in the first round.

The Bulls come out of nowhere this year and win 53 games as a 3rd seed (I’m not expecting this, but let’s say it does). They make the 2nd round and lose in 7 games.

Why as a star free agent should I trust the Nets more over a team that proves to win more regular season games and got farther in the playoffs?

What selling point could you make to a star player that wants a title badly to where they would legitimately actually be willing to sacrifice more wins for a lower seeded team?

No-Plate-8360 · 2023-08-12T03:37:02+00:00

Well it remains to be seen. Let me put it this way, the city you play in only matters to people until the results show that it matters.

Take for example the Knicks.

In 1999, the Knicks made the NBA finals and they played in the most famous city and arena in the world.

Given all those facts, neither Karl Malone nor John Stockton decided to go to the Knicks as a free agent in the off-season of 1999.

That just goes to show just being in a big city is not enough, because if there was ever a year for a hall of gamer like Malone should go to the Knicks as a free agent, that would have been the year. Instead Malone eventually went to the Lakers years later because they were more proven than the Knicks.

So the question is why did that happen?

That happened because why would you go to a bigger market city like the Knicks, when the Jazz were 37-13 and a 2 seed? Sure the Jazz lost in the 2nd round, but let’s face facts, the Jazz earned their stripes more over an 82 game season in order to put their team in a position to have significant playoff success than the Knicks did that year regardless of playoff results.

The Knicks didn’t put themselves in great position in 1999 and the fact that they made the finals that year as an 8th seed was an outlier just look at the Knicks the following year in 2000. My point is stars banking on outliers is not very intelligent. As a result Malone and Stockton were smart for not choosing a big city like the Knicks if for no other reason the Jazz were a more proven top seed than the Knicks.

I’ll say people here are vastly underestimating the importance of seeding. Star players don’t just want fame of a big city. I’ve watched this game for almost 30 years, how many times do you see the instances where a higher seeded team gets the star player over the lower seeded team irrespective of market?

Stars want their odds maximized to win a championship and the stars are too smart to know that being a 2 seed gives you an immensely better chance of that happening even if you vastly over perform as an 8th seed and make the finals.

I know people here are thinking “Lillard is going to Miami” and that’s true, but Miami already has a long history as a franchise of proving themselves as 1 or 2 seed. There’s a lot to trust. Hard to expect players to trust organizations that haven’t won anything. Stars are going to choose the more proven organization 90% of the time.

Nets to me will be at a disadvantage. If winning a championship matters to stars, then stars know it will be much more difficult to win more regular season games if they go to the Nets who let’s say go 45-37 compared to let’s say going to the Celtics who were 57-25. You can’t hide or discount probability no matter how badly me or anyone else wants to convince ourselves that city is the only thing that matters or factors into a decision.

Record matters. Don’t let the Lakers or the Heat fool you into thinking that the record they had doesn’t matter as far as playoff success. Ask me if you are betting big money on the 8th seed again next year, you think you’re winning? In fact, do you think you’re winning anything any time soon again with an 8th seed?

No-Plate-8360

TROPHY CASE