The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Lewis]

I said to my rasslin' nerd friend that there has never been a well-worked ladies match involving more than three of them, and he said to watch Survivor Series 1987. Can anybody think of a more recent one?

[Gray Fox]

The GM-Yes Man apparently cleared to wrestle but not from WWE :D

This is why he retired. His Dr said "YES!" but the WWE hired counterpart said no. He sought out a 3rd opinion and got told to stop straight away.

[Shindig]

To be honest, my lasting image of him wrestling is the headbutt ladder spot that did him in. Such a dumb thing to do and you can't really gimp that.

[Ian]

Had already forgotten that Big Cass was in the fatal fourway for the Universal title tonight.

Do we assume that Rollins gets the nod? No idea who he feuds if he does. Probably Reigns.

[Shindig]

Cass will win it because Vince.

[Ian]

If it's up to Vince then the Great Khali will return as a surprise and it gets made into a 6-pack challenge (Khali counts as two because he's so great.)

[Browning]

I'm guessing Owens goes over tonight and eventually feuds with Jericho.

[Disco]

You'd think they'll milk the Enzo & Cass tag gimmick to death (hi there New Day) before giving Cass a push.

[Shindig]

But the little fella has all the catchphrases, ergo he'll work with anyone.

[Gray Fox]

But Cass is 7ft tall. That's enough.

[Pleb]

To be fair you can't teach that.

How you doing?

[7om]

I'll be shocked if it's not Rollins.

[7om]

2hr 55 mins of shit but I popped for Haitch's appearance. Quality ending, that.

[bruhnaldo]

i liked Cass' appearance

ending was actually really good

intriguing show for once

[Browning]

Called it. :cool:

Owens was the only choice that made sense. Cass is too new and Rollins/Reigns would have been "same old shit", not that that's stopped them before, but you'd think they wont follow Balor with one of those two.

[wullie]

Mr Fuji nooooooooooooo

[Gray Fox]

I'm wondering if this is going to be some kind of angle where HHH wants one of his NXT guys with the belt.

Awesome to see KO with the belt though.

[SvN]

Seth was in NXT too though, so I think it has to be more than that.

I wonder if he turned on Seth for injuring Balor, his biggest NXT star.

[Browning]

Seth's been porking Steph, obviously.

[Lewis]

The angle will be that he thinks he should be General Manager, which probably sets Team Foley vs Team Triple Haitch up for Survivor Series.

[Waffdon]

Wait, is Seth Rollins face now and Kevin Owens is a heel champions?!

I'm wet

[Disco]

Straw Boatmans' trousers make it look like he's wet himself.

[Lewis]

Team Foley: Seth Rollin[g]s, Terry Funk, Kevin Sullivan, and the Usos (with a 'Sorry I couldn't be there' note from The Rock)
Team Triple Haitch: Kevi Nowens, Kevin Nash, Road Dogg, X-Pac, and Henry Godwinn

Rollin[g]s to put in a 2003 Shawn Michaels performance, only to lose when Godwinn comes back out, Slop Drops the cunt, and pulls Nowens over for the pin. :drool:

[7om]

Which Godwin turned into Mideon? Henry or Phineas?

[Disco]

Phineas.

[Disco]

The end of Raw must be a record for Trips, he's managed to devalue a champion before he's even got the belt.

[Pleb]

In before another title merge...

Owens :cool:

[Shindig]

Seth was in NXT too though, so I think it has to be more than that.

I wonder if he turned on Seth for injuring Balor, his biggest NXT star.

Maybe. I mean, he knacked him on the first spot and then repeated it later in the match. Could've been a double-shoulder pop.

[Ian]

Good match and Owens sold the Triple H turn beautifully. Rollins face. :drool: Fuck the fans and their "You deserve this!" shit. Stop being clever and just play along you fucking awful cunts.

[Disco]

Owens should have power bombed him. Did anyone else notice Trips now has a fat scalp, it was unnerving.

[Lewis]

If you go back to Randy Orton cashing in on Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam 2013, Triple Haitch has not only been involved in the main event/title programme for basically all of those three years, but he has personally crowned three of the four heel champions (Seth Rollin[g]s being the exception, who he was affiliated with anyway). What a legend.

[wullie]

Having Mick Foley stood there watching as HHH physically booked the match in front of him must be WWE staying on top of cultural trends and going with a cuck gimmick.

[Shindig]

Well, Mick's got bigger problems with his reality show. "Daughter, you can't go out looking like that." <not pictured, Mick's other three sons>

[Browning]

If you go back to Randy Orton cashing in on Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam 2013, Triple Haitch has not only been involved in the main event/title programme for basically all of those three years, but he has personally crowned three of the four heel champions (Seth Rollin[g]s being the exception, who he was affiliated with anyway). What a legend.

Really? But Michael Cole has NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

[Gray Fox]

In 20 years!

[Pleb]

So apparently Del Rio handed in his notice the same time as he got suspended...amazing :D

Orton-Lesner II happening at a house show before the RAW PPV which really is lol.

[7om]

So the wife has been nagging me for a while about going back to 90's to watch the WWF/WCW rivalry so we started tonight: Survivor Series 1997 :drool:

[Shindig]

That's ... not where it started.

[Disco]

At least go back and see the start of the NWO.

[7om]

That's ... not where it started.

I know, but where do I start? I would say for WWE that would probably be the start. When we go back to WCW it will probably be Bash at a the Beach 1996.

[Disco]

If it's WWF only then at least go back to before Razor & Diesel left. Watch the Razor/Michaels ladder match too because it's great.

[wullie]

1992 Royal Rumble, an hour of Flair and Heenan magic.

[SvN]

1992 Rumble was the first wrestling event I ever watched, and I don't think it's been topped.

[Shindig]

If you want WCW finding it's feet with Ted's money, I'd suggest picking some trash like Halloween Havoc '95

For the wars, start from the first Nitro. Luger turns up in his frilly shirt. Then it's ...

- 18th December '95 Nitro: Alundra Blaze binning the WWF women's title.
- Memorial Day '96 Nitro: Scott Hall's double-denim showing up, followed by Nash a week later.
- Bash at the Beach '96: Hogan is the third man. Featuring GENUINE ANGER.
- October 21st 1996 Nitro: Sting's first terrible facepaint.

Then WWF ditch PG-13:

- November 4th 1996 Raw: Pillman's got a gun!

Then you can go to the screwjob and time-travelling Rick Rude. And 1997 is all about Sting.

[Ian]

That Reigns vs. Owens match is really going to get the crowd aligned how the WWE want, isn't it? I reckon Jericho costs Reigns and those two have a match at Clash of Champions. Though that may be way too obvious. It would make Owens look like a bit of a gimp though which is right up the WWE's alley when they want a heel champion.

That said I am enjoying this Jericho/Owens stuff more than I expected to.

[Disco]

Chris Jericho is the best thing in the company at the moment, the look on his face when put into a match with Rollings was priceless.

[Ian]

His disgust when Owens was speaking to Stephanie and Foley was ace too.

It's a bit shit that Cesaro's going to start his comeback in a house show, mind.

[five time]

Interested to see what Raw does with the cruiserweights in a couple of weeks. Jack Gallagher being confirmed was the best part of yesterday's show.

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/og_image/public/all/2016/07/CWC_ENGLAND_JackGallagher--255b96b384a0ea59687ac5315efbefbe.jpg

:drool:

[Ian]

Loved him in the Cruiserweight Classic so I'm pleased they've got him in.

[Disco]

Does make we wonder what the point of the CWC is now seeing as most of them are seemingly on their way to Raw, it certainly shits on things like Brian Kendricks reaction to losing if people already out are getting called up.

[Ian]

Well the winner is the champ right off the bat but you would think they should have made some pretence at the others getting signed up after the fact.

[Disco]

Or mentioned the title as the prize.

Still, I'll take Gallagher, Tozawa, Ibushi, and Dar right off the bat. I haven't see any of Sabre Jr yet but I'm told he's pretty good too. Round it off by nicking Will Ospreay and they'll have a decent division, now let's watch them bury it behind Titus O'Neil and Jinder Mahal.

[Ian]

Sabre Jr was really good in what I saw. I'm just catching up on more CWC now as I'm two episodes behind.

It's nice seeing somebody get floored on the outside and knowing it's not going to lead to "Raw continues, LIVE!" *WWE 2K17 advert*

[Disco]

Kendrick/Ibushi is definitely worth a watch.

[Ian]

I've watched all the matches up to that (and now Swann vs. that Lucha fellow) and after a slow start the quality has been fairly consistent. Actually enjoying most of them so I can't wait for Raw to ruin it by cutting the matches short to three minutes so they can have more Nia Jax squashes.

Speaking of which, what the fuck was having Bo Dallas job some nobody all about?

[Ian]

American Alpha squash the Usos leading to a belated heel turn. Top booking.

[Disco]

Smackdown was shit, and what the hell is up with their current testicle obsession?

[Ian]

AJ being incapaciated for about an hour by being dropped onto the top rope was typical of the WWE.

Still, I think my pet hate at the moment (well, after the fans who think they're bigger than the matches) is the suicide dive. Do we need to see it in every single fucking match? That and the amount of moves that are absurdly situational. I'm sure it never used to be this bad on that front.

[Browning]

American Alpha squash the Usos leading to a belated heel turn. Top booking.

And one of them's injured anyway.

[wullie]

The Usos needed to do something, I like it. Even their promo afterwards was better than anything they've done for a few years.

[Disco]

Sensible, now AA don't have to kill their momentum by losing to Heath & Rhino who either have to win or get cheated by a heel team.

[Ian]

Watched last week's CWC. Both matches were good but Kendrick/Ibushi in particular. It's a pity they didn't find a way to have Kendrick go an extra round because his matches (or his performances) were possibly the most unique. WWE haven't signed him, have they?


The Usos needed to do something, I like it. Even their promo afterwards was better than anything they've done for a few years.

It's been needed for a while (I really thought WWE were actually going to do the sensible thing at one point and have them turn with Reigns) it just took them far too long to do it. Still, if they can get me to care about an Usos match again at some point in the future I'll consider it a job well done.

EDIT: Oh, and I finally got round to watching The Final Deletion last night. What a load of what the what, what?

[Shindig]

Ian, you have some catching up to do. Jeff is now also broken and it seems to be a ploy from Matt to stop Jeff being a spotmonkey. They're feuding with fellow crazies The Decay. You might remember The Decay from such fellow stupid TNA stables as The Menagerie which was basically a circus act. They had a guy called Crazy Steve. They are now managed (?) by Abyss who has decided to be a Z-list Bray Wyatt. Come back to law school, Joseph.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeWEMKMV1Ko

TNA. Soon featuring Cody Rhodes. Also Maria Kinellis is a heel for some reason. She looks like Mae Young in a time machine.

[Weaver]

The BBC reckon Batista is going to be at West Ham's stadium for whoever they are playing this weekend, because they filmed some of the movie he's doing at the minute there. I hope he's forced to hold up a West Ham scarf.

Will anyone be watching CM Punk's UFC fight this weekend? I'm not a UFC fan really, but I'll check it out.

[John]

His UFC fight is likely to be abysmal, ending in him being quickly biffed by the nobody he's fighting. He's looked terrible in the sparring videos he's posted.

[five time]

It basically looks like a showcase of "how well can a (old, beat up) guy who trains MMA for two years do".

Do UFC do weigh ins the day before similar to boxing? It'll be interesting to see what he looks like at 170 considering he apparently walks around at closer to 220. In the documentary stuff I've seen it doesn't look like he's bothered to shift that much weight up to now.

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIYlUUBNsvM

[Gray Fox]

WCPW have already got Del Rio appearing at their next show. I assume Paige will end up going along too. Although there's been no official word on her quitting has there?

[Shindig]

She'd make more money staying put.

[Browning]

Was that Orton's quickest walk down the ramp to date?

[Pleb]

Is Backlash worth watching?

I only saw the women's match last night which was a bit shite.

[SvN]

I enjoyed it.

[Browning]

It's very average, but not a bad watch, and it's not insanely long like so many of their PPVs. Nothing has blown me away (but the main event is yet to come) but nothing has been awful. Quite liked the Tag Title match.

[wullie]

The start of the IC match is meant to be a dig at Punk. If so it's the most subtle thing the company has ever done in their history.

[John]

It basically looks like a showcase of "how well can a (old, beat up) guy who trains MMA for two years do".

Do UFC do weigh ins the day before similar to boxing? It'll be interesting to see what he looks like at 170 considering he apparently walks around at closer to 220. In the documentary stuff I've seen it doesn't look like he's bothered to shift that much weight up to now.

They weigh in the day before, but it's not as regimented as it used to be. They can turn up to weigh in at any point from the morning to the start of the weigh in event, where they stand on scales for show and their weight from earlier in the day is read out.

Presumably that 220 is a 'billed weight', which the WWE have always exaggerated in a big way. There's no chance someone is cutting fifty pounds before a fight, particularly since IV hydration was banned. Anthony Johnson used to cut thirty five to fight at Welter and at one point missed the Middleweight limit by twelve pounds.

At a guess I'd say he was about 185-190, maybe less.

[Browning]

To go back on my earlier post, I forgot about that Women's 6 pack match. That was fucking dire, with 90% of the moves being "throw her out the ring, even though I should try and eliminate her". Pointless shit. Should have limited it to a Triple Threat or something.

Rest of the card was alright, with the Tag Titles being the highlight for me because it actually made me care. Styles Vs Ambrose could have been a 5 star match (it wasn't) and I don't know if I'd have cared. Just such a bland feud.

[Ian]

Yeah Backlash wasn't terrible by any means, just a solid if totally unremarkable show. At least Styles won.

Also the selection of belts currently is so, so boring. The four men and womens world titles are just reskins of each other, the tag titles they've done the same thing. What a load of shit. Did enjoy the tag stuff on the show, though.

EDIT: Oh, and interference or not what the fuck is Kane doing beating Bray Wyatt? I've never hidden my love for a bit of Kane but these days what's the point? Surely they're not planning to actually do anything with him?

[bruhnaldo]

Bray Wyatt, king of jobbers.

[Browning]

Another massive victory for me and Lewis there.

[wullie]

Ryback's legal first name is now Ryback.

[Browning]

The RAW main event was really good I thought. Well booked finish too.

Shame the women's stuff continues to be shit. I really don't rate Sasha Banks. Her Mark Henry rip off promo was so laughable too.

[Disco]

Banks is great in the ring, promos etc are hard to judge because almost everyone gets fed such piss poor stuff.

[Disco]

I'm watching an episode of Raw where the ropes make an almost inaudible creaking sound when someone runs into them and it's legitimately worse than waterboarding. Still, it could be worse, the last episode was the one where the tag team of Rikishi and Showkishi debuted.

[Ian]

The RAW main event was really good I thought. Well booked finish too.

I enjoyed the match but I didn't think the finish was much different to many another WWE matches in recent times. The Rollins interference was inevitable of course but at least it gives Foley something to do other than walking around having a beard.

[Browning]

I agree, the finish was cliche, but it made a lot of sense, which is a rarity for WWE these days. Rollins actually doing the smart thing and attacking KO rather than Reigns was nice, and then the Rusev run in actually made the inevitable Rusev/Reigns rematch somewhat interesting. It wasn't ground breaking, but it was good for what it was.

[Ian]

Oh I see, yes I agree with you in that sense. It also meant that Owens actually got to finish off the match himself which was good.

So what's the score next week then, do we think? Foley makes Rollins earn his shot or some sort of stipulation to the match?

[Lewis]

That Nia Jax is atrocious.

[Disco]

I found you a new favourite wrestler Lewis, he even gets 'You shagged Thatcher' chants.

https://youtu.be/hFE_ZazJtX0?t=2m42s

[Lewis]

I'll wait and see whether it infringes on my British Wrestler gimmick.

[SvN]

Alexa Bliss is probably the best bit of arse there's ever been in wrestling. I can't think of anyone better, anyway.

[wullie]

Has to be Billy Gunn, they gave him a song about it and everything.

[Disco]

AJ Lee of course.

[Shindig]

Nah, those documentaries about her battered husband make her look like a boring person to be around. I can only assume teenage hormones were the thing that got me into Sunny. She (circa 1993) does nowt for me now.

[Smiffy]

.....

[wullie]

Stacy Keibler was always my favourite, one of the few who didn't strap on a wazzo pair of jugs.

[Weaver]

So is TJ Perkins the Cruiserweight Champion then? I thought it was just a tournament and then the divison turning up on Raw, but I suppose he's been identified as the best Cruiserweight so they might as well give him the belt as well.

I haven't watched anything of the Cruiserweight tournament after the first week or two, so is it worth watching the finale?

[SvN]

Yeah I think having the winner be the inaugural champion makes sense.

[wullie]

He was given a lovely purple belt that looks more prestigious than the red supernova championship

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/86/WWE_Cruiserweight_Championship.png

[Disco]

It's the only thing that makes sense since they started announcing beaten contestants were being signed to Raw.

Anyone know if Ibushi and Sabre are signing on as well?

[SvN]

The best thing about that belt is that it's not another replica of the World/Universal/Womens title

[7om]

That is absolutely hideous.

[Disco]

The idea that any wrestling belt has ever looked 'good' is pretty laughable. They're all gaudy bits of tat with shiny on, of course they look shit.

[wullie]

It's obviously paving the way for Smackdown's Light Heavyweight division, headed by Jeff Hardy who'll bring his belt in with him

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/16800000/New-TNA-World-Title-jeff-hardy-16899991-600-268.jpg

[bruhnaldo]

Nah, those documentaries about her battered husband make her look like a boring person to be around. I can only assume teenage hormones were the thing that got me into Sunny. She (circa 1993) does nowt for me now.

I'll never forget I was doodling in my 3rd grade class and I wrote down "Sunny makes my day Sunny" with a little happy cartoon sun next to it and my mom found it in my binder lollololoolol.

[7om]

The idea that any wrestling belt has ever looked 'good' is pretty laughable. They're all gaudy bits of tat with shiny on, of course they look shit.

There's 'tat' and then there's silver on purple.

[SvN]

I don't hate it. It's better than the recent new titles they've had. Nothing beats the IC title though.

[Ian]

I'm sure I'd read Sabre Jr. saying he wouldn't be signing with WWE yet which could be lies but had me assuming Perkins would win.

And I'd say it's pretty much all worth watching Weaver. You've got through the first round it improved all the time from there. Or if you can't be arsed with all of it then at least anything with Sabre Jr., Ibushi, Gallagher or Kendrick in.

A guy at work has lent me PWG BOLA 15. It'll be the first low-rent wrestling I've watched a full show of. Doesn't have many people I've seen before but has a couple WWE have signed.

[Disco]

This year's BOLA has Marty Scurll, Wil Ospreay, Cody Rhodes plus several people who were in the CWC and a tag match from the Young Bucks who I've only seen clips of but look rather good.

[Lewis]

That belt looks like a pleb made it at school.

[Disco]

Good lord the Undertakers biker gimmick was shit, which is saying something given it was just after he was a magic voodoo wizard for a bit.

[Shindig]

I thought it was cool at the time but then that was the 2 weeks where I though Kid Rock was cooler than he deserved.

[Ian]

Has the Undertaker really had a gimmick anybody cared about the Undertaker having a gimmick anybody cared about since 1999 other than Being The Undertaker? At one point BIG EVIL just twatting little guys. Other than that brief moment when he held up Brother Nero's hand.

[Disco]

The simple dead guy gimmick (preferably with Paul Bearer) was the best one even if he did end up taking a year to get the ring.

[Ian]

Watching an old RAW while eating a disgusting takeaway dinner. I think I said this when I first started watching the Raws from 2000 after they were added but Commissioner Foley was so much fun. It's a pity he's such an overly-hairy waste of space on Raw at the moment.

[Ian]

I'm catching up on CWC and I've fucking well had enough of any sort of dive outside the ring. Every single one is an overdone sack of piss now. Having thirty of them per match obviously doesn't help but all the mugging to the camera/crowd before half of them is irritating and most times it looks safer than half the moves that take place in the ring because their opponent is clearly jst catching them.

This is almost certainly not worth the level of seethe I'm currently displaying but I'm getting so completely bored of them.

[John]

Has the Undertaker really had a gimmick anybody cared about the Undertaker having a gimmick anybody cared about since 1999 other than Being The Undertaker?

That dinner must have been more than disgusting. Have you checked it for Ergot?

[Ian]

Crikey, that was a bit of special typing.

[Disco]

King of the Ring now and it's Kur Tangle (sorry, Kirk Angel) vs Chris Jericho up next. :drool:

There's an awful lot of rose tinted nostalgia around the Attitude Era but when you see the mid-card is Benoit, Guerrero, Angle, Jericho, Hardys, Edge & Christian and the Dudleys then it's no surprise.

Edit: Also a fat Teddy Long (before he discovered a penchant for truly enormous jackets) as a referee.

[wullie]

Limp Bizkit Undertaker had that weird heel turn where he battered JR for not kissing Vince McMahon's arse.

[Shindig]

Well, y'know, he is Vince's bitch.

[Disco]

Ibushi v Perkins CWC semifinal was brilliant, overshadowed the rest of the show. A shame Ibushi didn't want to sign as he's been the best thing about the tournament, although I'm somewhat shocked Dribble H didn't end up going over.

[Spammer]

I just watched Royal Rumble 2001 a few days ago where Haku turns up towards the end.

Kane was pretty dominant, and was in the ring for nearly an hour ffs before he got done in by Stone Cold. Drew Carey was one of the people too, for some reason.

[Gray Fox]

I just watched Royal Rumble 2001 a few days ago where Haku turns up towards the end.

Kane was pretty dominant, and was in the ring for nearly an hour ffs before he got done in by Stone Cold. Drew Carey was one of the people too, for some reason.

Literally turned up for his paid appearance, admitted he didn't watch the show and left later to never be mentioned again. Just wanted to promote his new show.

[Browning]

That's the best rumble of all time.

[Ian]

Yeah Rumble '01 was absolutely superb.

Kane donning it, probably the best of Big Show's return-and-chokeslam-everybody moments, loads of proper big names involved,

Even though I knew it wasn't going to happen I wanted Kane to win so much at the time. :(

[SvN]

92 was the best rumble.

[Jeet]

Vince makes a bid for TNA

http://www.inquisitr.com/3518230/wwe-news-wwe-reportedly-put-in-a-bid-to-buy-tna-wrestling-recently/

[Shindig]

Hmmmm. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

[Disco]

Beyond content going up online what would they get out of it? And while it might be good to have some Sting/AJ/Joe stuff is anyone going to sign up (how much is it again?) just for that?

[Lewis]

It's surely just a mental case ego thing. They should know their place; but no, they had to try getting on the telly and signing big names.

[Disco]

2000 era Michael Cole is announcing a non-partisan WWF initiative to get people to vote in the general election........from the floor of the Republican National Convention.

In fact, is it possible that wrestling (and specifically Maggle Cole) is to blame for Dubya? It would explain a few things if his entire presidency was a work.

Edit: Oh god they've called it 'Smack-Down Your Vote'

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=565qnfe0qTE

At least 'The Donald' is a proper fan.

[Ian]

I'm quite enjoying this PWG show so far (I've only watched three matches.) Will Ospreay looks a bit good.


2000 era Michael Cole is announcing a non-partisan WWF initiative to get people to vote in the general election........from the floor of the Republican National Convention.

That's among the RAWs I've watched recently. They have him at the Democrats the next week.

[Shindig]

Wrestling scrambling for credibility is great. Shame the porn industry don't go for that. "Put your cross in my box. Vote Dole."

[Disco]

I'm quite enjoying this PWG show so far (I've only watched three matches.) Will Ospreay looks a bit good.

Does he use stupid names for his moves there as well? Despite that I can't help thinking, given the right chance, he would do rather well in the WWE.

[Ian]

Er, I'll have to pay more attention and report back with my findings in his remaining matches. Although I see that Wikipedia says he has a move called the Cheeky Nando's kick. :face:

[Ian]

There's a guy in this who goes by the name of 'Trent?' When I looked at the match list and saw the question mark I assumed a typo or something.

[Disco]

It's a ridiculous spotfest but I did rather enjoy this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=misppGEDrk0

Partially because Martin Kirby is great, skip to about 2:15.

[Weaver]

Wrestling scrambling for credibility is great. Shame the porn industry don't go for that. "Put your cross in my box. Vote Dole."

Remember when that journalist went off on Swagger and Colter, and they sent Michael Cole to his offices to try and interview him, sounding like a buffoon in the process? That was hilarious.

[Browning]

Jericho on RAW was gold, albeit he didn't have long.

Kendrick :drool: Fantastic.

[Ian]

Jericho is as good as he's been since I got back into it properly, I reckon.

Was pleased Kendrick won as well, though it occurred to me halfway through that it was the completely sensible outcome. He was really good in CWC but for the people who didn't watch it (and therefore don't know what a TJ Perkins is) they should at least know Kendrick's name. Should be a good match.

[Disco]

I thought it was slightly odd that there was no CW Champion on hand when they 'arrived'. Also TJP is the first ever CW Champion according to Maggle, is he Maggle, is he really?

[Ian]

When it comes to the difference between WWE and WWF it's all a bit Sky Inventing Football with WWE, sometimes.

[Disco]

Makes me wonder if Hornswoggle ever officially vacated the title, I feel a surprise return coming on.

[Ian]

Sabre Jr vs. Ricochet at BOLA 15 is a brilliant match. What clips I'd seen of Richochet implied endless mental flips so him not doing much of that in this match was a pleasant surprise.

[Browning]

The one thing I didn't like about RAW was they built up there would be CONSEQUENCES for Rollins last week and then his punishment was... Having a wrestling match? God...

Thought it was a decent episode though. Quite looking forward to the PPV.

[SvN]

I enjoyed Raw for the first time in a few weeks last night. Probably because I ignored reddit while watching it.

[7om]

I had Raw on in the background for a bit last night and got to admit I was actually laughing out loud at Foley trying to introduce the cruiserweights. I like the way he knew it was all going to shit and so just took what looked like his script and just read from it.

[Ian]

Yeah he made a mega hash of it. Smackdown was a bit pants. I like that they're making American Alpha go the long route though. It's a pity they don't have the tag teams to properly spin out their road to getting their title shot.

[Browning]

Just read up on Smackdown and there's one thing WWE seem to be doing a lot these days that really needs to fucking stop, and that's booking title matches between people who are already in future title matches. They had that Rollins Vs Ambrose match for the WWE Title and were talking about how Rollins could take it to RAW but why the fuck would it matter when Rollins Vs Ambrose Vs Reigns was already booked for Battleground and really only the outcome of that match would matter? They're pulling the same shit now with Styles Vs Ambrose next week and then Styles Vs Ambrose Vs Cena at the PPV. Fuck sake.

[Lewis]

There don't seem to be many matches these days that aren't directly related to the feud. In the olden days you would have just had Seth Rollin[g]s against Rusev (or whoever) as the main event, and then Dea Nambrose would come down, cost Rollin[g]s the match in some way (making the opponent look good), and then stick his finisher on him to close the programme.

[Disco]

They did it twice on the same show, there was no way Miz was going to end his (according to JBL 'neverending') title run on normal tv so it was only ever going to be Miz winning via a cheaty finish

[wullie]

They love their tropes. Champions losing non-title matches and everyone completely forgetting about their opponent when entrance music hits are their greatest hits.

[Disco]

Referees made of paper.

[wullie]

Starting three hour flagship shows without a main event, but a coincidental scrap breaking out to allow one to be booked.

[Disco]

Opening every wrestling programme with an appearance from one or both authority figures because by hell we can't let the wrestlers overshadow the real talent (named McMahon).

[Lewis]

I've always liked the inability to pay attention to crowd noise that signals an imminent intervention.

[Disco]

It seriously damages my ability to concentrate when they put heel/face tag teams in the wrong corners.

[Ian]

Disco The amazing thing looking back at the "glory years" is that every fucking big match relied upon the referee being knocked spark out. Thank fuck they had the talent to prop it up because these old Raws deserved to be as shit as the current ones are if you base it on the booking.

[Disco]

I'd agree with that, the glory years are glorious because of the talent on show and because that talent was (most of the time) able to shine through the booking and questionable storylines. There's a lot wrong with some of what they were doing (good lord I cringe so much at anything Lawler says when there's a woman on screen) but they at least let the wrestlers express themselves and allowed plenty of them to be their own character. Listen to someone like Stone Cold talk about Paul Heyman and how he used what he learned from him in the WWF, that shit doesn't seem to happen these days when a lot of what people are saying feels like it's written by the same person.

[Disco]

Also The Worm, that was pretty great.

[Lewis]

Didn't Vince McMahon say in the Stone Cold podcast that the rasslers themselves are less willing to take a chance these days (presumably because twenty years ago they had actual options, where as now they have TNA)? People seem to neglect that as a consideration when they're blaming the OUT OF TOUCH OLD MAN for all the problems.

[Browning]

I wasn't looking forward to Smackdown's PPV a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty good. I was looking forward to RAW's and it was shit. Smackdown 1-0 RAW.

[Disco]

Just started watching this and one thing that I noticed was Hulk Hogan being included in a WWE video package, voice only but they're clearly trying to slowly the work the old racist back in.

[Lewis]

Raw General Manager? :drool:

[Disco]

They're seeing how much they can take the piss with the Tom-spiracy now, this is ridiculous.

http://i.imgur.com/UHN2bzj.jpg

[Browning]

The worst one was him interviewing Perkins. He's a fucking cruiserweight!

[Browning]

Of the 7 Superstars who lost title matches at the PPV (2 in the women's, 2 in the tag, Universal, US, Cruiserweight) 5 of them have been given rematches and I'm only half way through RAW. Still time for Rollins to be handed one. What a fucking waste of a PPV, especially considering these rematches are on RAW and within 2 weeks.

Also, "Sasha Wanks" might be the worst insult in WWE history. :D

[Spammer]

Are there any decent WWE documentaries out there?

I've got 'The Rise and Fall of ECW' and one about Stone Cold, but just putting the feelers out. It'd be great to have a proper series showing the history of it all. That'd be awesome.

[SvN]

Raw was fucking crap. And agreed about all the rematches. Totally ruins any of the prestige PPVs are supposed to have.

[Disco]

Beyond the Mat is the famous one from the late 90's. More to do with personal stories and wrestlers than a history of the business. The only series I can think of is the Monday Night Wars one they did bit I've no idea how good it is.

[Browning]

It's pretty decent to start with but I found it started to get repetitive towards the end. They should have just done a time line rather than episodes dedicated to one superstar/storyline.

[wullie]

There's the one about the history of Wrestlemania that's alright, but obviously all the in-house stuff is largely fluff about how great every idea was.

[five time]

His parents are still two of the most bizarre looking people I've ever seen, but Miz is the best thing in WWE right now.

[SvN]

Smackdown was good. Miz v Ziggler has got me interested.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Disco]

Has Dribble H reappeared anywhere since his intervention? They really need to actually do something with that.

[Browning]

Has Dribble H reappeared anywhere since his intervention? They really need to actually do something with that.

Yea he got in a car with Stephanie! Dramatic I know.

It really is a shit story to waste KO on.

[SvN]

They're presumably slowly building to a Trips v Rollings Wrestlemania match, but don't know what to do in the meantime.

[Browning]

I just watched some WM17 at random. I'd totally forgotten JR shouting "Lita jerking Edge off" as she pulled him off the ladder. Might be my favorite commentary line of all time.

[Ian]

Smackdown was good. Miz v Ziggler has got me interested.

That whole segment was pretty good. Ziggler's speech was good and Miz's expression in response was great. It feels like it can only be setting up one result so some sort of surprise would be great.

[Browning]

I'm not sure on the result of that one. I could see Ziggler going, but if he is, no idea why he main evented a top 4 PPV right before it.

[Disco]

Unless it's one of those retirements where he comes out of the crowd to beat up Miz rather than running down the ramp. I'm not sure how I'd feel about Miz losing the title, he's been brilliant with it so far and I don't think his gimmick works as well without a belt. I'll predict a non-finish due to them booking themselves into a corner.

[Ian]

I suspect a non-finish too. Didn't Ziggler recently-ish sign a new deal that kept him there for a few years?

I dunno what they'd do with Miz if he lost the belt (well, I do, they'd ruin what they've done) so I hope he keeps it but Ziggler has been doing better recently.

[Browning]

I don't think it'll be a non-finish either way. I wouldn't be surprised if Ziggler is finishing up, but similarly I wouldn't be surprised if they gave him the belt for a bit and then had Miz win it back.

[Ian]

You may have a point, and given this Bryan/Miz stuff they maybe have Miz cheat to win and then Bryan come out and give it the THIS MATCH IS BEING RESTARTED!!1 treatment and Ziggler takes it.

[Shindig]

Setting up a 'not in the face' match between Miz and Bryan.

[Browning]

Jamie Noble is in critical condition after being stabbed twice outside his home. Fucking hell.

[wullie]

He lives in a trailer park in real life. I love that.

[Shindig]

If you're on tour all the time, why shift?

On a lighter note, OSW's new one is out. I'm kinda hoping they ride the WCW train all the way to covering the nWo.

[wullie]

Del Rio has been stabbed too, which is a pretty good reason for the no-show the internet was slagging him off for. Doesn't live in a caravan though, sadly.

[Shindig]

Probably Paige just getting even from another domestic.

[Ian]

So I'm at the point in my trawl through the network where the Nexus have debuted and Barrett is feuding Cena.

He appears to have stepped straight into the main event, looked the part and then just been sent back down the card for no real reason.

[Disco]

Well, Cena really needed that push.

[Browning]

Cena, Styles and Ambrose jerking the curtain tonight.

[Ian]

Just read that, the article speculated that it's to avoid a clash with the debate. Madness. Miz/Ziggler to close the show?

Also I've just watched Sheamus/Morrison ladder match from TLC 2010. Must be one of the better ladder matches WWE has had. Mostly because it was an actual match, not the bones of one draped around a bunch of spots that are barely related to each other. Really good.

[Browning]

I seem to recall Jericho Vs Michaels being a brilliant ladder match, but not seen it since the event.

[Pleb]

You would of thought they opened up with Miz-Ziggler?

Opening with the triple threat is lol really.

[Disco]

If the second debate is on at the same time it'll be because their ratings were in the toilet up against the first one.

[Browning]

They'll put Ziggler's retirement on as the main event.

[SvN]

Confirmed that Becky v Alexa Bliss is cancelled.

[Pleb]

:D

There fucked.

[Gray Fox]

Odds on Ziggler losing but then turning up on RAW tomorrow?

[Browning]

Odds on Ziggler losing but then turning up on RAW tomorrow?

I've not got there yet, but I'm fairly sure I've had it spoilt for me that he won. Even if he didn't, this couldn't happen, it was directly mentioned when the match was set up that he had to leave WWE and couldn't go to RAW or NXT.

I thought the WWE title match was awful, mainly due to the stupid false finish thing. I hate when WWE make up the rules to suit themselves.

[Browning]

It strikes me what they should have done with the WWE Title match is ruled it a draw, and then stated the champion retains on a draw, and had Styles sneak out with the belt. He could easily of spun it that he knew the rules and outsmarted them. It has precedence too as when Edge and Benoit beat each other (Edge pinned Benoit while tapping) in a Triple Threat against HHH, Bischoff said by the letter of the law HHH should retain but he wouldn't do it and vacated the title. I know WWE don't remember last week, let alone that far back, but I think that would have been better than pinning Cena with a chair shot, which really proves nothing. The heel heat when they announced that :drool:

Didn't like the PPV at all really. The Smackdown Tag division is wank, the 2 Divas matches felt like such filler, and the main event, I couldn't be less interested. Miz/Ziggler stole the show once more, but that should have gone on last.

[Ian]

Even the good matches were pretty low-key somehow. I liked the triple threat other than the ending, enjoyed Miz/Ziggler and it should have been the main event and I thought Orton/Wyatt was decent if a touch dull. It's good that Harper's back too and I was undecided who I thought they'd have win but I was glad they went with Wyatt.

Skipped the womens matches. I didn't pay full attention to Swagger vs. Corbin but I like that they actually built up the stuff about the ankle lock.

[Jeet]

I thought Ziggler's match would have been last, soon as I saw it was I knew Dolph was gonna win. What shite from Orton and Bray.

Paige is suspended again - That's her fucked, no way WWE pushing a person with 2 suspensions on their name (See Swagger)

[Disco]

Doesn't Orton have two?

[Shindig]

I would've had Dolph lose and then farm him to TNA.

[Disco]

Broken Dolph?

[Shindig]

Nah, he'll just scrap with Aron, Cody (tm) and Al Snow in the mid-card.

[Gray Fox]

Doesn't Orton have two?

He did, but I'm sure they wrangled it somehow so he lost one of his strikes for some kind of good behavior because they wanted to keep him around in case of a 3rd.

Oh and Paige might have gotten away with it, had she not said on twitter that "Rules apply depending on your status."

[igor_balis]

They essentially made Randy do the Wellness equivalent of a speed awareness course.

[Disco]

He did, but I'm sure they wrangled it somehow so he lost one of his strikes for some kind of good behavior because they wanted to keep him around in case of a 3rd.

Oh and Paige might have gotten away with it, had she not said on twitter that "Rules apply depending on your status."

Going by your first sentence she would appear to be right.

[Browning]

She's absolutely right. They'll never fire a big name for it, no matter what they do.

[7om]

So I'm still going through old Raws and PPVs and up next is the 1998 Royal Rumble which I think is where Michaels fucks his back against Taker.

Got to say, I'm a little surprised at the things I'm enjoying:

- He's still a bunk-eyed twat but, my God, Michaels is absolutely amazing in that smarmy heel leader of DX. An absolute cunt but I just can't get enough of him and he is so much better than 'Hunter' at this point it's ridiculous.

- One of the biggest surprises for me is just how much I'm enjoying Marc Mero. I've only ever heard people talk shit about him but I think he's a really good heel actually. And it helps that a scantily clad Sable is always following him around.

- Also absolutely loving The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust. Bat shit mental but entertaining. Luna Vachon probably counts as shameful lustage.

- The standard of commentary is just so good. JR, Lawler, Cornette are in a league of their own, obviously. Kevin Kelly is adequate and Michael Cole still gave a shit at this point, so I don't find myself tutting with exasperation like I do when I watch the modern day shit.

[Shindig]

I can't figure out Mark Mero. I don't think I've ever seen him in a good match. In WWE he was basically 'guy that's married to Sable' and in WCW he was on the arse-end of the card.

[Disco]

There's a story behind Mero, apparently Vince saw him performing (not sure if it was wrestling) as a particular character and signed him, not realising that he didn't have the rights to that character or that he only knew how to be that one character.

Then Sable happened to him.

[Browning]

I now have both editions of What Culture's "Wrestling" magazine and I have to say they are really impressive. Expensive, but worth it. I picked the 2nd one up in Smiths but liked it so much I ordered the first one from their website. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys their channel.

[Ian]

When it first happened I really thought the Jericho/Owens was just filler until they decided what they were doing with Owens. Whether that would still be the case had Pap O'Shango not got injured I don't know but now it's consistently the funniest thing in WWE. Three cell matches is going to be an absolute yawnfest.

[Browning]

Yea, they've both really nailed the character work, and "The list" is brilliant. It feels like at some point Jericho has to get into the title picture and I'm surprised they didn't do the Triple Threat at HIAC but it is too soon I feel. Let them go a bit longer first.

[Disco]

Raw is pretty fucked when Fozzy start touring.

[Ian]

Yeah, the List of Jericho amd "You just made the list!" is funnier to me than it really should be. Hopefully Glasgow will make the list when I go to see Raw at the start of next month. Not that I'll notice because I'm just going to have to chant "This is awesome!" for the entire time I'm there at the top of my voice so I feel like a proper WWE fan.

[Browning]

I always wonder why UK fans, for the most part, stick to the bullshit USA chants rather than coming up with some good ones. The "Hey Bayley" one from Takeover: London was class. We need more of that.

[Lewis]

I'd like to hear 'Tonga Jeff' to the tune of Big Jock Knew.

[7om]

I always wonder why UK fans, for the most part, stick to the bullshit USA chants rather than coming up with some good ones. The "Hey Bayley" one from Takeover: London was class. We need more of that.

That chant started at NXT tapings at Full Sail.

[SvN]

The "Ohh Ahh" chant started at Takeover London.

[Browning]

The "Ohh Ahh" chant started at Takeover London.

That's the one I meant. The other one is shit.

[Disco]

Who were the other 8 mayors of Suplex City?

[Lewis]

Some nerds (https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/4yds6n/the_9_mayors_of_suplex_city/) went for it, and it turns out he was punning with night-mare/mayor. :lol:

[Disco]

Is he actually saying nightmare? What a juggins I must look.

[Shindig]

Who's the day mayor?

[Pleb]

Some jobber apparently going for a World Title shot Tuesday on Smackdown :roflol:

[Ian]

It's nice when a match surprises (sort of, I check show reviews first) going through old stuff on the Network. I'd never have watched Orton vs. Christian but their Over The Limit match is bloody great.


Is he actually saying nightmare? What a juggins I must look.

I've always thought it was 9th Mayor as well.

Unsurprisingly neither Goldberg or Baroque are set to appear at the Raw in Glasgow that I'm at.

I'll just have to make do with Noam Dar, I suppose.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Ian]

Ooh, Money in the Bank '11 is up next for me. I've heard this Punk/Cena match is a) a proper classic and b) had a genuinely amazing crowd.

I've seen the promos that led up to it. Should be good.

[Waffdon]

GOAT PPV. Not just that match (they've had better wrestling matches but the storyline and the crowd topped it up) to look forward to either.

[Pleb]

I thought the main event was great.

That was the night Punk signed his extention if I'm not mistaken.

[Ian]

Very much enjoyed that. Good show overall as has been said but Cena/Punk was a proper match. Not just going through the motions of their signature movesets as quickly as possible and then tacking some finisher kick-outs on the end. The crowd didn't do it any harm either. I laughed at Punk mugging to the "You can't wrestle" chants. Cena played it perfectly too. Just the whole thing was spot-on. Imagine if it'd had some competent commentary just to put the icing on it.

[Gray Fox]

So Del Rio and Paige are now engaged. The lucky fucker.

[Shindig]

Til she gives him two black eyes and he has to go and get stabbed for some peace and quiet.

[Lewis]

lol at Mick Foley being screwed by his desperation to be liked.

[Ian]

What did he do?

[Lewis]

Some fan sent him some angry messages asking why Summer Rae wasn't getting a push (as you do), he basically said she wasn't good enough, and then the weirdo fan shared their exchange. Do you think Triple Haitch has ever even spoken to a fan, Mick, mate?

[Browning]

Paige asked him to marry her? I bet he takes her last name....

[wullie]

Her carny family aren't happy according to their barely legible Facebook posts.

[Shindig]

"NAW SONv o'MIN'es MAARYYIN' A GREEKE VASTARD!"

[Lewis]

How good would the Goldberg music just hitting and interrupting Baroque Lesnar have been? But oh no. They have to introduce it.

[Disco]

Was it the good WCW music or the shit one from his WWF run?

[Shindig]

Good music, decent entrance. As Lewis says, they should've used it to interrupt Brock. Complete with the security guard escort.