Re: WWE Snark-Free Zone
Hm. Let's take this one point at a time.
First, in the old Monday Night Wars, I do remember the WWE doing the Turner skits, and every once in a while taking a veiled verbal poke at WCW. Usually it was something about age. But they rarely come right out and copied something the competition did... a week later. And to call it a spoof... well, that just does not work either. A spoof is funny. And tongue in cheek... well, it seems like a lot of fans didn't take it that way. This was just trying to capitalize on the WWE success with the 2-21-11 video. And the TNA fans responded with a lot of anger at it. if some of the tweets and posts are any indication.
CM Punk could have easily been talking about Shane McMahon. He jumped off the Titan Tron as well. Was he referring to Hardy? Probably. Now if he had painted his face and dressed up in tight colorful shirts with watered down hair when he did the routine, then that would be similar to 3-3-11.
Now, as for NXT... they called Daniel Bryan an "Internet" darling more than "Indy" darling. And the losing streak to start his WWE career? Who cares? That meant nothing. He was a star at the end of NXT, thanks to his "feud" with Michael Cole. If there wasn't the unfortunately silly "tie" issue, he'd be farther along. Even now, Bryan was listed as the company's 2nd biggest new star for the coming year behind ADR. As for ROH, I don't think the WWE spends any time thinking about them.
And the Undertaker not being a shock... well, that is true. The first promo was very uncertain. Each week it became more and more clear that it was the Undertaker. And yet they provided a huge moment when HHH interrupted the return and had a face off with Taker. Plus, the announcers or the owner never tweeted that this was the most shocking moment of the year. In fact, the WWE announcers never even made a single comment about the 2-21-11 videos.
So in the end, I agree that the WWE does make some remarks veiled toward the other companies. But you have to be a "smart" to realize them. How many times have the words WWE, Vince or up north been used on TNA? Heck, they did a whole angle around the WWE Hall of Fame. All I said is that TNA should stop thinking about, worrying about, imitating, trying to be the WWE and they should be themselves. Until they do, they will never be successful. And that would be a shame, because they have a lot of great performers.