The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Browning]

Loaded being cancelled really is shit but on the plus side they're back in Milton Keynes soon. :drool:

[Disco]

Jinderm Ahal.

This changes everything.

[Weaver]

Dolph Ziggler 'flakes' on a date, person makes an eleven minute video about him. Proper meltdown stuff this.

I'm struggling to input the video properly, so here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK6s4eC5GE&sns=em

[Ian]

Here you go.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK6s4eC5GE&sns

She's colossally irritating.

[Shindig]

He was too busy selling.

BOOM!

[Ian]

That show wasn't amazing but it was okay. Just seemed to have a few pretty boring endings. Was Bliss/Bayley botched? I couldn't work out if they brought the kendo stick down before they were supposed to and that's why it was short.

Brock vs. Jeff, though. :drool:*

* Assuming they're not going to have Jeff do two minutes of some moves and then get squashed.

[SvN]

I thought it was okay. It definitely helped that I stayed away from reddit and the news sites over the past few weeks so I had no idea who the favourites were.

I enjoyed the main event. The tag match seemed like a mess that wasn't thought out properly. The Kalisto v Titus v2 was actually really good.

The mixed tag match was shit (when aren't they?), the womens match was decent. I'm pretty sure Alexa smashed Bayley across the chin at one point, which was unexpected.

[Ian]

I thought the women's match made Bayley look idiotic and weak.

Does Seth Rollins ever actually hit the phoenix splash? Or is it just a means for him to land-and-roll?

[SvN]

Bayley has looked idiotic and weak since she was called up, so it's spot on really.

[igor_balis]

tag team cage escape matches are fucking stupid. i realised that when i was about 12 playing here comes the pain, I'd always make sure the CPU controlled team would have a guy escape first.

[Browning]

Exactly what I was saying the whole time. Why wouldn't you let one guy out and just beat the other one? Agreed the match type just doesn't work. That said, they carried it off.

Bliss Vs Bayley was one of the worst matches I've seen in a long time. It seemed to serve no purpose, and not only did Bayley look stupid, so did Bliss in the opening moments. "Oh... I've lightly thrown Bayley to the mat... that'll keep her down long enough to get the stick, may as well climb to the top and then stand there and wait for her to chuck me off".

That whole match was a fucking tragic waste of time.

The cage match and the 5 way were decent enough though and saved it from being a total waste of time.

[Queenslander]

Dominion card is stacked.


Special Singles Match
Cody Rhodes vs Michael Elgin.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Roppongi Vice vs The Young Bucks.

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
War Machine vs Guerrillas of Destiny.

NEVER Openweight Title
Lumberjack Death Match
Minoru Suzuki vs Hirooki Goto.

IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Tetsuya Naito vs Hiroshi Tanahashi.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega.

[SvN]

I just watched (most of) Wrestlemania 33 again, and the Brock v Goldberg match really was better than I remembered. I'd say I enjoyed it more than any match other than Shane v AJ. They really nailed it.

[Ian]

I've seen a few things about Wrestlemania since and seen quite a bit of praise for the Lesnar/Goldberg match and I don't really get it. It was fun, I guess, but it was a quick spotfest built around Goldberg being old and shit.

[Queenslander]

Social media reckons Okada v Omega 2 is the greatest match of all time. Cannot wait to have a peak at it.

Edit: Cody Rhodes v Okada is on for Long Beach

[Ian]

A year or 18 months or whatever too late I watched Okada vs. Tanahashi the other day, which I believe was the first of what feels like about 90 best match evers we've supposedly had since (because if the wrestling fan community loves one thing these days, it's rendering praise and criticism equally meaningless with constant overreaction.) It was a great match and compared to the current WWE style of guys getting bored after ten minutes (if you're lucky) and starting to trade finishers I enjoyed the pacing a hell of a lot but I don't quite get the pants-wetting excitement it got at the time.

However I don't watch any NJPW so it was completely bereft of context so maybe that doesn't help.

[Queenslander]

I thought Okada v Omega 1 was easily the best match I had ever seen. I do understand what you are saying in that the praise can appear to be over the top but NJPW are going through their Golden Age much like the WWE did in the late nineties only this time the in ring Wrestling is so much better.

[Ian]

I wanted to watch the Tanahashi one first, I will endeavour to watch the Omega one from last year soon.

[Baz]

I've just watched Okada vs Omega II. It didn't come close to the first (actually the best wrestling match ever, shut up Ian :baz: ) but it was still pretty awesome.

Here's a video about the first one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP_cgLWth24

[Ian]

Why is Sami Zayn suddenly being allowed to look good? Are they planning to hit the Syrian market once Jinder loses the belt?

[Shindig]

Samiz Ayn.

[Disco]

After 19 years, a dumb Vince Russo idea has culminated in the biggest boxing match of all time.

Not often you hear something like that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/6hn26t/mayweather_vs_mcgregor_will_be_for_the_lineal/?st=J40F3YNB&sh=1adc8690

[Lewis]

Has anyone watched the Eric Bischoff/Jim Cornette Table For 3? Basically, what happens is Cornette tells Bischoff why he's spent twenty years SEETHING about him, Bischoff tells him that he has his facts wrong, and then Cornette haha yeah mates his way through the rest of it as his entire reality crumbles in his head.

[Shindig]

I've come to realise Cornette's massively retarded.

"You can't have the heels signing autographs! FUCK!"

[Lewis]

His rants are a bit lol, but if he was in charge it would still just be fat blokes stiffing each other in front of fifty racists.

[Shindig]

Or harassing fast food staff.

[Ian]

The mutual hatred of Russo saw them through.

Cornette is entertaining but he is a bitter loon.

[Browning]

Built to Destroy has been pretty good so far. Free trial of What Culture Extra if you sign up by Monday which allows you to watch it and all their old PPVs.

[Ian]

I saw a What Culture thing the other day going, "Actually, WWE haven't lost much by letting Cody Rhodes go." And then other stuff saying the exact opposite.

I've not watched any of his matches since leaving, be they the WCPW or NJPW ones, is there a consensus forming?

[Disco]

He's been pretty great in all the indie matches I've seen, I would think it was immediately obvious that he was being wasted by WWE. I always thought he was great anyway though so I'm a bit biased. I suspect he'll do a Galloway and go back in a few years.

[Browning]

Yea Cody has been pretty great in WCPW whenever I've seen him.

Swords of Essex Vs Prospect was absolutely fantastic tonight. Will Ospreay is just on another level to everyone else. Some questionable booking decisions particularly Kirby Vs Ligero but all round a decent show.

[John]

Do any of you lot remember the Brawl for All from about 1995? Seemingly the Mayweather v McGregor fight will be for the lineal Brawl for All title, which is probably my favourite ever piece of fight trivia.

[Lewis]

Disco posted it up thread. It's amazing.

[John]

Is it right then? It isn't for any sort of boxing title so they should go big on that in the promos and introduction, along with Mayweather breaking The Big Show's nose and McGregor doing whatever he did in Call of Duty.

[Disco]

I don't think it'll play a big part in their marketing strategy. :D

Brawl for All was a real 'boxing' contest the WWE ran with it's own wrestlers in 1998. It was a complete disaster that basically killed the career of Dr Death and left them with a nobody midcarder as the winner. He was then knocked out by Butterbean in about 4 seconds (I'm not exaggerating there either) at Wrestlemania. Along with the XFL it's one of those thing WWE will never mention or acknowledge ever again.

[John]

It's on the line as a result of bizarre crossover contests though, so they should embrace the circus. They're hardly likely to lose anyone planning to buy it if their marketing strategy involves an organisation significantly less theatrical than either of the fighters.

[Queenslander]

I saw a What Culture thing the other day going, "Actually, WWE haven't lost much by letting Cody Rhodes go." And then other stuff saying the exact opposite.

I've not watched any of his matches since leaving, be they the WCPW or NJPW ones, is there a consensus forming?

His go around with Elgin at Dominion was very solid.

[Ian]

This is just the fighting version of the UFWC. Bolivia beat Nicaragua to retain that recently. :cool:

[Shindig]

Brawl for All was just a way for Russo to see Bradshaw put in his place.

[John]

Sky Sports are doing some Attitude Era throwback thing. Stone Cold v Bret Hart is on at the moment.

[Disco]

If it's not the Ironman match from 97(?) then it should be.

[wullie]

WWE Hall of Fame injuries include Sid's leg breaking, Joey Mercury's nose exploding, Taka Michinoku's arm falling off, Bart Gunn's wobbly head after being knocked out by Butterbean.

[Ian]

First ever women's MITB ladder match!

Non-wrestling male "comedy" valet retrieves the case. Good work, everyone.

Jeremy's a decent enough choice to win the men's one.

[Pleb]

At least it's not Santino.

[Baz]

Sky Sports are doing some Attitude Era throwback thing. Stone Cold v Bret Hart is on at the moment.

It's best with Stone Cold talking over it.


http://dailymotion.com/video/x2ap2si_stone-cold-vs-bret-hart-wrestlemania-13-with-austin-s-commentary_sport

[Disco]

WWE Hall of Fame injuries include Sid's leg breaking, Joey Mercury's nose exploding, Taka Michinoku's arm falling off, Bart Gunn's wobbly head after being knocked out by Butterbean.

I know it's all the same these days but Sid went all David Busst on WCW.

[Shindig]

Sabu taping his arm back together is right up there with Mick Foley ripping his own ear off to avoid being strangled by the ropes.

[wullie]

I know it's all the same these days but Sid went all David Busst on WCW.

It's all WWE canon now so it's in like them putting Sting in the regular one, made even better by the way he had to lie there with his leg hanging off while Road Warrior Animal waddled in to stomp him to death.

[Ian]

I wonder was Tamina scripted to look like a total fucking moron in that tedious womens group promo thing on Smackdown?

Charlotte says she's going to hit Natalya so hard she'll look like James Ellseworth. And then Tamina says.... basically exactly the same thing to Charlotte.

Also that Nakamura / Ziggler match was far better than the one they had on PPV.

[wullie]

Tamina's attempt at a Superfly splash brings more disgrace to the Snuka name than that time he killed his girlfriend.

[Disco]

Brutal. :D

[Disco]

Watched Okada vs Omega from Dominio last night, I don't really get the hype this time, it was a good match but fuck me was the ending weak. A full hour only to have it end like that, utter bullshit.

[Ian]

I suppose once you've seen Orton vs Jinderm Ahal other matches lose their appeal.

[Lewis]

I said ages ago that Tamina should get some sunglasses and be re-packaged as 'Big Mammy Cool', but did they listen?

[Disco]

Sheisel?

[SvN]

I didn't even recognise Tamina on the promo vid for the women's MITB. Did she lose weight?

[Weaver]

Mauro Ranallo is coming back to WWE, and will be doing NXT every week by the sounds of it.


Mauro Ranallo announces new role as WWE NXT commentator

A familiar voice is returning to the WWE announce team, this time as part of the NXT brand.

Former SmackDown LIVE play-by-play man Mauro Ranallo just revealed on social media that he will soon join WWE’s yellow-and-black brand as a commentator.

“THE NXT CHAPTER BEGINS!” Ranallo wrote in an Instagram post, in which he also said that he is thrilled to join the NXT announce team.

Triple H responded on Twitter, noting that Ranallo and NXT make for a natural combination.

A veteran of combat-sport broadcasting, Ranallo lent his booming voice and encyclopedic knowledge of the mat game to last year’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic. In addition, Ranallo has announced thousands of mixed martial arts, boxing and sports-entertainment matches in his 30-year career. This August, he will call the blockbuster boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and MMA icon Conor McGregor.

Never one to miss the precise name of an esoteric hold, a timely pop-culture reference or an exclamatory “Mamma mia!,” Ranallo will soon have his first chance to commentate over NXT’s hard-hitting brand of action.

[bruhnaldo]

I just watched (most of) Wrestlemania 33 again, and the Brock v Goldberg match really was better than I remembered. I'd say I enjoyed it more than any match other than Shane v AJ. They really nailed it.


I've seen a few things about Wrestlemania since and seen quite a bit of praise for the Lesnar/Goldberg match and I don't really get it. It was fun, I guess, but it was a quick spotfest built around Goldberg being old and shit.

I went to WM by the way :D It was awesome. I'm even on the screen when Matt Hardy goes up to grab the tag title. I'm jumping around and shit like a lunatic it's so funny to watch.

[Disco]

I liked Goldberg/Lesnar. It was exactly what it should have been, two giant red men lobbing each other around. It didn't need 10 minutes of them hugging or rolling about outside the ring, there can always be other more technical matches on the card to compensate.

[Shindig]

It's what you bought those guys to do. But can you do it more than once?

[Ian]

I'm not gonna lie, when the sound of the ambulance siren went off at the start of Raw on Monday my first, very brief thought was ".....Steiner?"

[Queenslander]

NJPW>bum fights>WWE

[Ian]

Really? You've never mentioned it.

[Queenslander]

I realise I am an annoying cheerleader.

[Ian]

From the bits I've seen you're not wrong (the bumfights is a touch harsh, but maybe I'll reserve judgement on that until after the Punjabi Prison...)

In truth I mostly stick with WWE out of hope and habit. So I said I watched that Okada / Tanahashi match at long last, recently and it was great but I didn't care. I'd need to make the effort to get into it so I'm actually invested in matches a bit more.

[Queenslander]

I hope NJPW moving to America has a an effect WWE's booking which results in a move away from 50/50.

Maybe just stick with this current G1 instead of going back through the best matches?

[Ian]

I may try and make an effort to watch some of it.

[Disco]

They won't do shit until Vince goes.

[Ian]

Will HHH basically be in charge of the wrasslin' side of it once Vince dies (I say dies because I can't see him relinquishing any authority while he's alive and well) or will it be Stephanie lolloping about trying to run it the exact same way Vince does?

[Disco]

I don't know, I think Vince might be some kind of mahogany vampire so the rest of his clan may just wither and die once he finally goes. Ideally (and how ironic that we've come around to this conclusion) that would leave HHH running Raw and Regal looking after NXT. I feel like you might get some more joined up thinking at that point.

[Ian]

Other than him giving himself the inevitable Hogan-esque octogenarian-title-reign the idea of HHH running it all doesn't fill me with dread.

[Weaver]

Rumour has it that Paige was sitting front row for the Del Rio vs Lashley match at Slammiversary, but just stuck a mask of some kind on.

It's unconfirmed (the main picture shows her taking a photo, with the inside of the phone case having her proper name on the pass) but she's got some guts to do that. She must really not want to stay with WWE.

https://static.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/19601086_1739227923041760_5408965876067197689_n-1499065561-800.jpg

[Disco]

Surely neither side wants a return at this point, she'll be someone else who tours about for a couple of years before coming back.

[Browning]

She was front row when he faced Angle at WCPW, so I'm not surprised. I guess TNA is a bigger deal, but oh well.

[wullie]

She's at least learned the lessons of the past


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e6_szP5Tes

[Pleb]

I thought TNA was dead :sherlock:

[Queenslander]

TNA is dead it's now Global Force Wrestling.

[7om]

What?

I haven't kept up with this at all. Last I heard, GFW was basically dead after not getting a US tv deal and Jarrett advertising the company alongside some pyramid scheme for buying gold. And now it has replaced TNA? So he's bought out the Carters, then?

[Queenslander]

I think Anthem bought out the Carter's and brought in Jarret to advise. The latest PPV was GFW v TNA pretty much with winner takes all.

[wullie]

https://twitter.com/GolazoDan/status/881859051629551616

You can't teach camera work like that

[Ian]

:D

So I decided to give "Ride Along" a go because I saw Big Show and Angle were in a car together. Big Show's opening (censored) line upon getting into the car was "Well this is like putting ten pounds of shit in a five pound bag." I do find him entertaining on things like this and his appearances in their documentaries.

I enjoyed Enzo's promo at the start of Raw. Just a shame he's a bit of a crap wrestler.

[Disco]

I like Ride Along as long as it's not just wankers.

[Ian]

That one had some funny moments in it, I may have a trawl through for ones that look good.

It's a shame they sacked off the Stone Cold Podcast because that was usually good value. Fucking Ambrose.

Speaking of him, actually, I loved him putting Cole on the spot slagging off the Great Balls of Fire name on Raw. I imagine he got a slap on the wrist for that.

[Shindig]

So the latest OSW Review is peak Russo-era TNA. I really, really hope those guys keep dragging on. When you think about it, WWE doing the brand split and NXT give stepping stones like TNA and ROH more importance. Not that I know what the talent's like around there now. Maria Kinelis was on it last time I checked. Now she's back with WWE because she ... did good as a ridiculous orange heel?

[Ian]

So I really thought given it was independence day that they'd be using it and Cena's return to set up Big Match John vs. Jinder.

Should've known they'd make it to continue making Rusev look like a useless, spineless dickhead.

Highlights of the rap battle (:face:) being the dig at Rhodes being filmed humping Paige and Rhodes unsurprisingly being the best of the New Day's efforts. Well worth whatever they spent getting that rapper twat in.

[Browning]

Cody or Dusty?

[Ian]

Eh, not Rhodes. Was skipping between posting that and reading a thing about Cody and am apparently incapable of multitasking.

Woods in both cases.

[Weaver]

Cody or Dusty?

Oh, so THAT's what a Dusty Finish is...

I had a laugh at the Paige/Woods line, as well as the one about Total Divas. Wale was good at his role - the 'celebrity' guests are usually unbearable and try to take over.

[wullie]

He's a proper wrestling fan, I read something about him helping Apollo Crews and Rich Swann get tryouts. No chance of him announcing matches for Summerfest at least.

[Ian]

Oh, so THAT's what a Dusty Finish is...

:D

This made my ineptitude worthwhile.

[Queenslander]

So Dixie has signed with the WWE.

[Shindig]

A documentary, huh?

"Here's why TNA failed ..."

[Browning]

It will be something about Kurt angle.

In other news, AJ Styles has won the US title. Wellness violation incoming?

[Ian]

Must be something like that.

[Ian]

And Austin Aries released too.

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0708/627884/backstage-news-on-austin-aries-wwe-release/

[Shindig]

Coming back to a TNA near you.

[Ian]

According to my wrasslin' nerd work colleague Owens is reputedly injured and that's why he's dropped the title. Still surprised they didn't do something about it on TV though if it's an injury.

[Queenslander]

Great Balls of Meh

[SvN]

What, you mean you didn't enjoy a WWE event? Are you feeling alright?

[wullie]

Surprisingly Good Balls of Fire for me, Jeff

[Browning]

I skimmed through it but none of it caught my attention really. I just really don't care about much on RAW due to the poor booking.

[Weaver]

I've been watching old WWF from 1999 (I'm only in May so far, and there's only been one episode of Smackdown) on some website, but they only have up to the end of 1999 and nothing from 2000.

If anyone is still subscribed to WWE Network, could you jump on and see if they've got all of the Raws, Smackdowns and PPVs from 2000? It's probably going to be next year before I actually get to it.

[wullie]

Yeah it's all there. They had all the PPVs from the start anyway but they've got all of the Raw and Smackdown episodes up now too, there's only some minor shows missing like early NXT and the ECW reboot, things like that.

[Gray Fox]

Attempted murder of the opponent after the match. But still 100% the face, right guys?.. Guys?

[SvN]

Looked like a double turn to me.

[Weaver]

Cheers, wullie. I wasn't sure if WWE had held some stuff back and there'd be big gaps or not.

Is Reigns the likely opponent for Lesnar at Summerslam, then, or is there another PPV before then? I wish they'd just go back to Backlash, Judgement Day, King of the Ring so I can keep up a bit better!

[Gray Fox]

Looked like a double turn to me.

And me, but my cynical side says they'd never make him full heel. They seem to like him as a tweener now.


Is Reigns the likely opponent for Lesnar at Summerslam, then, or is there another PPV before then? I wish they'd just go back to Backlash, Judgement Day, King of the Ring so I can keep up a bit better!

There isn't a RAW PPV until after Summerslam, so I'd expect Reigns to be #1 contender. I don't think he'll go over yet though.

[Ian]

Attempted murder of the opponent after the match. But still 100% the face, right guys?.. Guys?


Looked like a double turn to me.

Everything looked that way to me but yeah, WWE, they'll probably try and change nothing and keep it as it is despite Roman looking 1000% the heel and Strowman entirely face.

Also I can't believe I allowed myself to look forward to that main event. What a load of shit. Fuck off, Bork.

[Queenslander]

What, you mean you didn't enjoy a WWE event? Are you feeling alright?

That's fair.

I kinda expected/wanted a longer Bork v Joe match with multiple F-5's.

Edit: That post was out of frustration because I want WWE to be better.

[Queenslander]

Just caught some of RAW and that Joe promo was great.

[wullie]

I like how the Brock matches are hard-hitting and don't overstay their welcome but his constant German suplex routine is ruining the memory of that ace Cena match. Even Great Khali had a bigger repertoire.

[Disco]

GBOF was alright, I was sports entertained.

[Weaver]

Alberto del Rio won the TNA/GFW Championship last week, and has been suspended today, allegedly for roughing Paige up. Here's the full story so far:


Following his recent domestic dispute with Paige at the Orlando International Airport this past Sunday, GFW announced that they have suspended GFW World Heavyweight Champion Alberto El Patron.

Below is their full statement:
Global Force Wrestling has indefinitely suspended Alberto El Patron, effective immediately, until the investigation is resolved following a recent incident in Orlando, Florida.

As noted, Jeff Jarrett will be participating in a media conference call, which we will be a part of. We will have more updates soon.

To provide a clear timeline of events, El Patron was detained by police at the Orlando International Airport last Sunday. The Orlando Police department issued a statement that said the reigning GFW World Heavyweight Champion was detained at about 3 p.m. Sunday following a domestic battery incident. He later missed a scheduled independent booking in Texas on Sunday night.

TMZ reported Patron allegedly roughed up a female companion but did not mention his girlfriend Paige by name. In response, Paige tweeted this:
"WE got the cops involved. I'm crying cuz I found out bad fam news & a lady tries take a pic. She gets angry throws a drink on @PrideOfMexico," tweeted Paige. "Please leave us alone. That's it."

We learned Paige's uncle Stanley is currently hospizatized through another tweet, with her suggesting this is what she was upset about at the airport on Sunday.

TMZ obtained audio from the incident where Alberto is heard telling someone, possibly Paige, to "call the cops." Paige is heard crying and yelling, "Just stay out of my life. Leave me the f-ck alone. I'm trying to get away from you!"

A witness claimed El Patron and Paige were arguing and Patron told Paige he was pressing charges against her. A witness told Heavy.com that the couple were aruging on the airport tram system, with Paige screaming at El Patron that he had been doing cocaine for "two days straight" and she called him abusive. There were also claims El Patron smelled like he had been drinking alcohol.

Paige's brother, Zak Bevis, stated on Facebook that he was very worried about his sister. He also accused Alberto of domestic battery, writing, "I've got too say I'm very worried about my sister," he continued (sic). "Please keep a eye on her, she had one Prick Known as brad Maddox who took advantage of an 18 year old girl. Physically and mentally abused her. And now she's with a control freak who think he's a tough guy cause he's beats my sister and has money too cover his tracks.."

Paige's half-brother, Roy, also expressed concern over Paige's well-being. He alleged his family has photos of beatings that Paige has suffered at the hands of Alberto El Patron over the past six months. He also stated his sister won't be returning to WWE because El Patron will not allow her to do so.

Paige's father, Ricky Knight, has promised he won't keep quiet on the situation forever, posting a new update on Wednesday.

"Want to thankyou everyone literally hundreds of you for your support over my daughter Paige," Knight wrote on Facebook. "Its truly humbling believe it will get sorted but right now I have to get back to helping my besty fight his biggest challenge once again thanks to you all."

[Lewis]

You know how he says his name 'Alberrrrrrrrrto Del Rrrrrrrrrrrrio'? Well, you know what? Mmm. I would suspect that he'd say it a different way after tonight. That would be 'Alberrrrrrrrrto Del GONE'!

Harsh.

[Disco]

Actually Jay-Eee-Double-Eff it was Ricardo Rodriguez who said his name like that.

[Lewis]

It was a worked botch to reflect Mr. McMahon spelling 'gone' wrong.

[Ian]

I like how the Brock matches are hard-hitting and don't overstay their welcome but his constant German suplex routine is ruining the memory of that ace Cena match. Even Great Khali had a bigger repertoire.

My issue with him (and the way WWE book him) is that he is actually good and is capable of having good, proper matches but you'd hardly know it. If he was properly shit I'd just be glad he wasn't outstaying his welcome. He doesn't care about wrestling, that's fine, I get that. But they ought to be either making him play ball or stop giving him all the money and let him fuck off.

Is it worth the brief spike in ratings when he bothers to turn up if they're going to have them be dirt the rest of the time anyway?

[phonics]

Is there anyone in 'the business' that this Paige woman isn't/hasn't slept with?

[wullie]

I'd say her brothers, but they are all from Norwich.

[Ian]

Her mum was wrestling when she was about halfway through her pregnancy with Paige and Paige was wrestling at, what, 12 /13? It's little wonder she's a state.

[Ian]

Watched the hour-long match between Michaels and Cena from however long ago. It lived up to it's reputation.

Also watched Kurt Angle's WWE 24 episode. Not the most exciting doc on the Network but he really opens up about the drug stuff and some things about his family, so fair play.

[Browning]

The Japanese World Cup qualifiers are on now, followed by the live draw for the round of 16, so it will determine which matches I get to see.

[Browning]

Will Ospreay Vs Rey Mysterio :drool:

The rest could be total bilge and that would make it worth the price of admission.

[Queenslander]

Fair chance the whole card will be awesome.

[Ian]

http://whatculture.com/wwe/why-vince-mcmahon-cancelled-talking-smack

Not much of a surprise there. It's not something I ever sat and watched but some of the better promo / character work (not just Miz's) came from this from what I'd seen.

[Weaver]

What's the general consensus with the Angle storyline? I'm struggling for sensible ideas - I suspect it will be Stephanie and Triple H related, but where Corey Graves fits in and stuff, I don't really know.

I can't imagine it will be Dixie Carter, GFW/TNA are still competition, albeit naff competition.

[Disco]

It'll be Stephanie because that's the least interesting possibility.

[Gray Fox]

Shelty B.

[Browning]

His gay lover Brock Lesnar.

[Ian]

Stephanie, setting up a match with Triple H because why book stuff the fans actually want to see?

[Disco]

Plus it sets up Angle / HHH which WWE seems to think we all want to see.

[Disco]

Well that's a little worrying.

[igor_balis]

I fucking hate Triple H. I hate his stupid Wrestlemania entrances, I hate his boring 30 minute matches, I hate the way he wants to be Harley Race and I hate his stupid face.

[Disco]

I don't care for him in a wrestling sense anymore (I agree on the entrances, they're such awful tragic shit) but he's clearly one of the few at the top of the company who know what they're doing.

[Ian]

His match with Rollins would probably have been pretty good if they'd cut it to being 15-20 minutes.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65OkA2HHLYA

I've never heard this before. :D

The pause and then JR's last line is ace.

[Disco]

It's still on the network, around the same time HBK was being all metrosexual and posing for Playgirl.

[Weaver]

http://dailyddt.com/files/2017/07/Kurt-Angle-Jason-Jordan-WWE-Raw-071717.jpg

Angle's brood has a new member.

[wullie]

It's so much better than him having sex with Stephanie McMahon or Dixie Carter.

[Browning]

The backlash to the segment has been superb, particularly as it seems to boil down to "But.... but.... he's BLACK!"

[wullie]

Especially when Angle's a few shades darker than him too.

[Shindig]

The backlash to the segment has been superb, particularly as it seems to boil down to "But.... but.... he's BLACK!"

Link it back to the Sharmel 'beastiality sex'.

[Weaver]

http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/wpbq1ejvethlgjibp85a.jpg

Angle's going to turn up on Raw like this next week, isn't he?

[wullie]

Remember Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio fighting for custody of little Dominick? This is the perfect way to get Shelton Benjamin back to feud with Angle.

[phonics]

The backlash to the segment has been superb, particularly as it seems to boil down to "But.... but.... he's BLACK!"

Can't believe the show where the old lady gave birth to a fully formed human hand has unrealistic genetics when it comes to breeding.

[Disco]

Nobody batted an eyelid at the Dudleys being brothers.

[Gray Fox]

I did. Spike looked nothing like Bubba Ray. Totally unbelievable.

[Weaver]

Shane O'Mac survived a 'helicopter crash' (a controlled landing in the water) this morning. He's invincible.

https://www.wwe.com/article/shane-mcmahon-helicopter-emergency-crash-landing-atlantic-ocean

[Ian]

This Angle / Jordan thing is going to be part of a wider thing, right? Because if not that's a right load of old meh and the very first bits of it make bugger all sense.

[wullie]

Apparently it's been planned all along, although it makes no sense that he was shitting it about something that'll cost him his family and his job but he announced while saying how his family and employers are behind him.

[Browning]

This is the best thing to come out of it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFbXOPC4_Mc

It's shit but makes me laugh and I have no idea why.

[7om]

Apparently it's been planned all along, although it makes no sense that he was shitting it about something that'll cost him his family and his job but he announced while saying how his family and employers are behind him.

You sound surprised that WWE's writing makes zero sense.

[wullie]

All will be instantly forgiven if they film vignettes of them playing catch together and Kurt teaching him how to down pints milk in one.

[Queenslander]

Kota Ibushi v Zack Sabre Jr should be match of the night tonight.

I'm pretty sure it's free on New Japan World.

[Browning]

Lethal Vs ZSJ added to the show I'm going to. The last time I saw ZSJ he bored me so much, hopefully it's better than that.

[Ian]

Do you not normally like him or did you just not like that match?

I've enjoyed the stuff I've seen of him in the CWC and on PWG shows.

[Browning]

That's the only match of his I've ever seen. It was just one boring submission hold after another.

[Queenslander]

His match this week with Kota Ibushi is worth a YouTube.

https://youtu.be/Sad_Cg-UYMQ

[Ian]

I like Sabre Jr's work going from hold to hold but it's also the reason I fear he'd end up a heatless, mis-booked dud in WWE.

[Queenslander]

I like Sabre Jr's work going from hold to hold but it's also the reason I fear he'd end up a heatless, mis-booked dud in WWE.

That is definitely fair. Not a chance his style would get over under Vince.

[Ian]

Anyway, never mind all this talk about talented people. Who's BUZZING for the greatest ever Punjabi Prison Match tonight?

[Queenslander]

Poor Rusev. :(

[Browning]

Khali :drool:

[wullie]

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/2017/07/72ebf9deb0524f42-600x400.gif

[Ian]

Poor Rusev. :(

Not that rubbish booking is a surprise but him going from demanding a title shot to even consider returning to being shooed into an inevitable loss against Big Match John is just lol.

EDIT: To add some positives, I actually enjoyed the show as a whole much more than I expected to and the opener was really good.

How many New Day title matches does Big E sit out? Can't have been many.

[Browning]

I've come to th conclusion I just don't get Nakamura. I've never seen him in NJPW or NXT which likely doesn't help but what I have seen of him is fucking boring.

[Queenslander]

I've come to th conclusion I just don't get Nakamura. I've never seen him in NJPW or NXT which likely doesn't help but what I have seen of him is fucking boring.

Because Vince burried his in ring style to a few moves as soon as he arrived on Smackdown.

His match v AJ Styles in New Japan really does justify the hype.

Edit: For me it's like judging Drew McIntyre as limited because of his 3MB run. His indie run has shown him to be much better.

[Queenslander]

Not that rubbish booking is a surprise but him going from demanding a title shot to even consider returning to being shooed into an inevitable loss against Big Match John is just lol.

EDIT: To add some positives, I actually enjoyed the show as a whole much more than I expected to and the opener was really good.

How many New Day title matches does Big E sit out? Can't have been many.
AJ and big Kev really are amazing with what they are allowed to do.

[Disco]

What an awful ppv, was there even a good match?

[Ian]

Baroque, Jeff, Big Yard Dog Guy and Boatman at Summerslam should be good fun.


I've come to th conclusion I just don't get Nakamura. I've never seen him in NJPW or NXT which likely doesn't help but what I have seen of him is fucking boring.

I liked his NXT stuff though not as much as his more rabid fans. They've already cut his balls off on Smackdown though.

EDIT: Oh, and I loved Bo Dallas nearly breaking his own face off the bottom rope.

[wullie]

What an awful ppv, was there even a good match?

Tag match was ace, the rest was a bizarre mix of dependable wrestlers conspiring to have their worst matches of the year all at the same time.

[Disco]

I was cooking while that was on, I'll give it another look.

Nakamura has been handled really weirdly, they seem to be actively trying to destroy his WWE career as soon as he got to the main roster. It's bizarre, look at his NXT debut or the aforementioned match with Styles in Japan for an actual idea of how good he can be. Similar things have happened to other wrestlers of course but they did the same thing with the Cruiserweights. The CWC was incredible, some of the best wrestling I;ve ever seen on a WWE show but as soon as they get to the main roster they aren't allowed to have matches that good anymore.

[Ian]

This is the issue when you have one guy in charge of the developmental stuff and then having to give the results to Vince and his squad of soap opera writers.

[SvN]

I've been watching Youtube videos of the "biggest pops" of the last few years, and from what I can gather, the biggest by far is Stone Cold at Wrestlemania 32. The Hardyz, Shane and Sting's statue appearance are all notable mentions, but watching live videos, nothing seems to come close to Austin. I know a few on here have been quite strongly against it on the basis of old timers beating up current talent, but fuck me, if you ask the crowd what the highlight of their night was, it will be that glass shattering.


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

[bruhnaldo]

When I went to WM the pop for the Hardy Boyz was a fucking madness.

[Disco]

I reckon the highlight of that night would more likely be a man throwing himself god knows how far off the top of the cell onto the announcers table. Although I can see how, given the state of the rest of the card, an appearance by someone who hadn't wrestled in a decade could be up there.

[Ian]

Wasn't everybody asleep by the time Shane Singh Brothers'd himself?

[Shindig]

It's the music, not the man. Someone should try doing that for 52 weeks straight with no actual Stone Cold. See how long it takes.

[Browning]

The collectors edition of 2k18 is officially called the "Cena Nuff Edition". Fuck me they're pathetic.

[Shindig]

If FirePro gets a Story Mode, it's done.

[Ian]

It's not, either way. People buy yearly-release series out of habit even if they've had a run of being dogshit.

[bruhnaldo]

I'm deffo gonna buy 2k18 just because it'll have the Hardy's et all in there

[Queenslander]

My latest G1 Climax cheerleading I recommend Michael Elgin v Kenny Omega from this week. Elgin is the most athletic big man around ATM.

[wullie]

http://i.imgur.com/RLo0y49.jpg

[Disco]

Anyone else just seeing this?

http://i.imgur.com/qidickR.png

[Shindig]

https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2017/7/28/16058936/bo-dallas-conspiracy-theories-wwe-talk-is-jericho

Bo Dallas is a flat-eather, lizard-people guy and a 9/11 conspiracist.

[Queenslander]

Sounds like a cracker gimmick to.be fair.

[Weaver]

Apparently GFW/TNA have had their Matt Hardy-based trademark requests rejected.



All four Broken Universe-related trademarks that Global Force Wrestling filed for registration have been given an initial refusal by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), according to PWInsider.

The trademarks, originally filed by TNA Entertainment (prior to the name change/re-brand), were refused for a variety of reasons.

Matt Hardy filed the trademark for "Broken Matt Hardy" first, which the USPTO could see as confusingly similar. If GFW is going to get it, they'll have to prove there is no conflict between the two. They'll also need to indicate whether "Broken Matt" refers to a living person and if it does, Matt will have to sign off. Since Matt filed the trademark first, his application will hold precedence.

The trademark for "Brother Nero" was refused because Global Force Wrestling failed to indicate whether or not it was to identify a living person. If it does, they will need the consent of Jeff Hardy, whose legal middle name is Nero.

The trademark for "Broken Brilliance" was refused because GFW failed to specify whether or not the term has any significance in professional wrestling or if it is just a "term of art" in the wrestling business.

It's likely the trademark for "Vanguard1" was refused because it is confusingly similar to a non wrestling-related trademark.

Further, all four trademarks also received initial refusal because the wordings used for identification and classification of goods and services in the initial filing were too broad. The USPTO requested additional clarification.

They're just bad at business stuff, aren't they?

[Browning]

Seth Rollins eating candy floss at ringside while being counted out is fucking brilliant.

[Disco]

God help me but I actually feel like watching Raw, there must be something seriously wrong with me.

[Weaver]

God help me but I actually feel like watching Raw, there must be something seriously wrong with me.

Health and sickness thread for you, my friend.

Anything in particular that's drawing you in?

[Disco]

Seth Rollins eating candyfloss for a start. Also Joe of course.

[Browning]

How was it? It sounded shit.

[Disco]

I came to my senses and instead watched Keith Lee vs Ricochet from the WCPW World Cup thing. Then I watched every other Keith Lee match I could find because that guy is fucking brilliant.

[Queenslander]

Kota Ibushi's new finisher is a bit of fun I reckon.

https://68.media.tumblr.com/ae33ceb5af99799440f9d1acdd6bce76/tumblr_ou1cywg5TW1qf7xjao1_400.gif

[Ian]

I'm not sure what the point of that addition to Rollins' entrance is supposed to be. Seems like another example of them trying to convince us what a wrestler's character is supposed to be by telling us rather than them actually doing it. See: Ambrose, Dean.

Did not expect Big Match John to not be involved in the Summerslam main event.

[Disco]

Speaking of good moves, I was introduced to this today:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3oG3b1VYW4

[Ian]

Last PWG show I saw also had a big dude hitting somebody with a Steiner Screwdriver. :cool:

EDIT: Also forgot to comment on Gable vs. Rusev. Which I really quite enjoyed and even if it's just to set up Rusev losing to Orton at Summerslam I'm kinda thinking that match could be pretty decent.

Also, one or both of Nakamura or Cena fucked up here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQPDmQNcA9M

[Disco]

Nakamura did.

[Ian]

He apologised after the match anyway. Luckily for him Big Match John doesn't cut about sporting one of your puny, human necks.

[Shindig]

He breaks his neck for fun just to get the pop at the Rumble.

[Disco]

He apologised after the match anyway. Luckily for him Big Match John doesn't cut about sporting one of your puny, human necks.

He's a Transformer now isn't he?

[Lewis]

Don Cena takes half of his bumps on his head. He's probably not actually going bald. It's all just worn away.

[Browning]

Hopefully that botch means 3 more months of Jinder and Khali.

[Ian]

If anybody's ever in the moods I get into where they're just looking for some entertainment off've the past the Network I can recommend February 7th 2000's Raw. Opens up with Cactus Jack and the Radicalz, leading up to a good bit between Cactus and HHH setting up their Hell in a Cell, then HHH gets the Radicalz to turn and ends up with Foley booked in for a 5 v 1 (HHH, X-Pac, Benoit, Malenko, Saturn vs. Jack) main event. The Rock says he'll join in about halfway through the show making it 5 on 2.

Match opens, the scrapping starts and then Too Cool randomly run out to make it 5 v 5. In something you'd never see in the ultra-polished direction of WWE now the cameras switched between about three different fights in the opening bit without getting the action from any of them at one point.

Eventually the match actually starts but at a proper pace (which it maintains, rather than doing what they'd do now and pretending that ten guys are all beaten up about five minutes in) and the crowd are right into it. Then breaks down into a chaotic ending too, of course, and then the lights go off, Bearer waddles out and Kane makes his return because he wants to batter X-Pac and then he beats everybody up.

A lot of nonsense but really good fun.


Hopefully that botch means 3 more months of Jinder and Khali.

Loads of Jinder. In a choice between a small, weird-looking foreign dude and a big, roidy 'foreign' dude there's only one winner.

[John]

Is that the origin story of Rock and Sock, then? I think I remember it as being earlier than that, but it would be quite good if it did come together as randomly as The Rock just deciding to back him up one night.

[Shindig]

Just give Khali a suit, a microphone and a dubbed voice for promos. He's prime for Jinder's manager.

[Ian]

Is that the origin story of Rock and Sock, then? I think I remember it as being earlier than that, but it would be quite good if it did come together as randomly as The Rock just deciding to back him up one night.

Nah, that was when he was Mankind. This would probably be one of the last times they teamed up in Foley's main run (before they fought against Evolution years later at a Wrestlemania.)

Rock 'n' Sock was late 90s. Had the wonderful "This is Your Life" segment. Man, might need to go back to that next.

[John]

I knew it was primarily Mankind, but I thought it existed for a time with Mick Foley under his own name so I'd have bought the team starting out with Cactus Jack.

Wrestling really was brilliant in those days. I watched either the last or next to last Wrestlemania with a mate and the only bit of the whole thing worth mentioning was all the old geezers turning up for whatever reason they gave. Admittedly that bit had me off the couch, but the rest of it seemed like a pale imitation.

[Ian]

They probably did some more Rock 'n' Sock type stuff in the build up to Wrestlemania 2000 as well.

[Shindig]

Damn it. They should've had a 'Mankind in Every Corner' Wrestlemania.

[Queenslander]

Apparently Will Ospreay wants to move to Australia in an attempt to build the Indy scene. It probably helps that we are a stones throw to Japan.

[Ian]

I really need to watch that original Ospreay / Ricochet match at some point. I suspect I'll side with the tedious old farts but I should make the point of having a look.

[Queenslander]

It does hold to the hype as a stand alone match. However if that was the style of the whole card it would be too much.

[Ian]

So I re-watched the Outlaws vs . Rock / Austin match we discussed on the wrasslin thread on the Titanic. Taking aside the amazing crowd reaction to fucking everything another thing strikes me.... the selling from the commentators of a good tag team as a threat to a coupling of two main event stars. I'm trying to imagine commentators now in WWE of selling Big E and Kofi as a threat to Orton and Cena, or Cesaro and Sheamus (Iwho should be a threat) against Strowman and Jeff.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzr-k3r15Vk

Erm.

[Disco]

It's a thing he does. Cornette is about as enamoured with it as you'd expect.

[Spikey M]

That is fantastic :D

[igor_balis]

So I re-watched the Outlaws vs . Rock / Austin match we discussed on the wrasslin thread on the Titanic. Taking aside the amazing crowd reaction to fucking everything another thing strikes me.... the selling from the commentators of a good tag team as a threat to a coupling of two main event stars. I'm trying to imagine commentators now in WWE of selling Big E and Kofi as a threat to Orton and Cena, or Cesaro and Sheamus (Iwho should be a threat) against Strowman and Jeff.

Word. I bloody miss how hard they (mostly JR) tried to maintain a kind of internal logic to it all back then. I think it's also why I loved Heyman-booked Taz/Cole commentated Smackdown so much as a kid. I know people take the piss out of Taz's TALE OF THE TAPE shit from back then, not for nuthin, but any attempt to make it feel like a real sport is good with me.

[Queenslander]

Naito's botched pile drive off a fucking table is the most horrific spot this year. Omega could have easily been paralysed.

[Queenslander]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/896661670474526720?s=09

[Ian]

From other clips I've seen it genuinely wouldn't have surprised me if that wasn't a botch. They do a lot of stupid shit.

[Queenslander]

Yeah that's true. Omega is mental enough to put his hand up for a spot like that.

[wullie]

Is Ric Flair on his way out?

[Disco]

I read he was in hospital but not why.

[wullie]

It was reported as just a routine heart thing when I first read about it, but now everybody's asking for prayers.

[Disco]

He's probably just selling really well.

[Weaver]

Fingers crossed for Flair, the crazy bastard.

Del Rio's been stripped of the TNA World Championship today, for his part in the Paige ORDEAL at the airport the other month.

EDIT: And WWE are doing a free three month trial of WWE Network for new subscribers only, if anyone fancies.

[Gray Fox]

Medically induced coma now. Doesn't look good.

[Browning]

The coma news was some time ago. He's had surgery and it's being reported it went well and he's resting, although other sources are saying the situation is still extremely serious.

[Weaver]

I've just read the Raw results, and I had a question about Finn Balor - the write up I've read says specifically that the announcers mentioned that Balor will be 'The Demon' at Summerslam against Bray Wyatt.

Is that not the exact opposite of what the gimmick is supposed to be? It's supposed to be like, an inner demon, right? And it comes out when he can't contain it. Surely it ruins the 'mystique' if someone else can tell everyone that he'll be wrestling as the Demon?

They spent months building that aspect up in NXT (don't know about Japan) and I've seen very little of Raw with Balor on since he was called up, but it just seems like WWE haven't got a bloody clue what to do with him.

[Disco]

Par for the course.

[wullie]

They went one extra before that PPV where he won the title and got injured by just having him come out in costume on the last Raw before it.

[Disco]

It's the same thinking that brought us the yearly Hell in a Cell PPV. Rather than using it sparingly so it feels a bit special we now get one every year for whoever happens to be feuding at the time. The demon thing done right could be quite cool, use it very occasionally and never ever let Balor reference it or say a word while he's in the paint.

[Disco]

Watching some Invasion era Raw over lunch and Vince is giving everyone a pep talk, including Kane who looks like a naughty schoolboy on a tiny chair. :D

http://i.imgur.com/v2dctgG.jpg

Jesus, and now they (literally) wheeled Freddie Blasie in having dressed him in a multicoloured sequin shirt.

[Ian]

I think the Demon King thing would be better if he hadn't clearly had to spend hours in a makeup artist's chair getting himself meticulously painted while in his supposedly dangerous frame of mind.

But referencing it in advance.... do they think that's going to have people tuning in that otherwise wouldn't have? The same match but with him having gone full Pap O'Shango?

[Disco]

You could say that about anything though, imagine HHH popping down the shops to get his shiny terminator mask or the Undertaker topping up his bike in Sainsburys. There's an amount that can be forgiven but the rest of the presentation has to play along.

[Ian]

I just think given it's meant to be him in super serious mode that the big goofy, toothy mouth design takes away from it. I'm in favour of the body painting in general.

[Ian]

The crowd fucking loved it when he dropped the heavy hint that he'd be in DK mode at Summerslam though, so fair play.

I feel like if they were taking the belt off Neville after his brilliant reign they could have had it happen on PPV. Or at least a more hyped TV match. I partly want him to get bumped further up the card but it's hard to imagine them letting him be properly good against the bigger dudes even though I think he's done more than enough to show he's up to it.

[Disco]

I just think given it's meant to be him in super serious mode that the big goofy, toothy mouth design takes away from it. I'm in favour of the body painting in general.

Oh I see, I hadn't really considered it that way, I guess I just roll all that into my blindspot reserved for 'just wrestling stuff'.

In other news, as rubbish as the invasion angle has been so far I am really enjoying the arrival of a load of ECW bods. RVD, Tommy Dreamer, Rhyno, Raven etc, it's great.

[Ian]

The end of Raw was a bit odd. Did they run out of time?

I feel like there was meant to be another moment of somebody battering all the jobbers and STANDING TALL at the end.

[Ian]

Just watched Smackdown. Lol, poor Jeremy. If you'd told me they were having somebody win the case so they could lose it I'd have put money on Zayn.

Which done right could actually have worked really well as part of his underdog thing. If, you know, they had any plans to actually do anything with him.

[Ian]

Southpaw Regional Wrestling is back. :drool:

[Disco]

Watched it last night, really enjoyed it. Tyler Breeze was excellent as were both of The Club but Gallows in particular looked like he was having a great time.

[Ian]

The Club, and Gallows in particular as you say, were the highlight of the first one too.

[Disco]

AOP / Sanity was pretty great, Nicki Cross is superb. Also loving the shots of Neville who's dressed like an evil Harry Potter.

[Queenslander]

NXT :drool:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/24/ff/1e/24ff1eade332c31941492187a7b4aa53.gif

[Browning]

I only watched Asuka Vs Ember (which had a great ending, but I think the rest will of the match will inevitably over rated as a result) and Drew Vs Roode (which was fantastic) but I'm already convinced that will be a better show than Summerfest.

[Disco]

Well it was a reasonable length for a start.

[Ian]

Made a start on the new Southpaw episodes. Styles as Malibu Al. :D