The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Weaver]

Yeah, there was a noticeable break in the middle of the match, wasn’t there? RIP Braun Strowman, who tragically died in the match - he was crushed by a bin man.

Elias was getting massive heat for his segments, too, but Jason Jordan’s just not catching on at all.

[Browning]

How can you promise everyone a PowerPoint presentation and then not deliver. You could have shelved Styles Vs Balor for that. I'm glad I cancelled the network now.

[Pleb]

The whole PPV was garbage apart from Balor-Styles which was pretty decent.

[SvN]

The main event was absolutely ridiculous and made no sense. They fucking murdered a man!

And I was thoroughly entertained.

[SvN]

And that image of Kurt Angle coming out in Shield gear with a goofy as fuck grin on his face was moment of the year.

[Pleb]

The whole PPV was garbage apart from Balor-Styles which was pretty decent.
Alright I'd take that back slightly, that main event was bonkers from start to finish.

[Ian]

Second attempted murder of Strowman in, what, two months?

[Smiffy]

Alright I'd take that back slightly, that main event was bonkers from start to finish.

Worth a watch or not?

[Pleb]

Worth a watch or not?
I would say so yes. The opening match was alright, the middle matches were meh, Styles-Balor was pretty decent and the Main Event was just batshit mental.

[SvN]

https://i.imgur.com/HDlShPK.jpg

:D

[Ian]

I did like how at odds he was with them when he rocked up.


Worth a watch or not?

Definitely give Balor / Styles and the main event (for all it's flaws) a go. The rest I'd judge based on whether you particularly like the people in the match.

[Mike]

I proper marked out at his German suplexes, Angle Slam and the first time he locked in the Ankle Lock.

[Smiffy]

I struggle with most of them tbh. I can't take to Balor... impressive as he is I just see him as a IWC thing like Punk. Most wrestling fans had never heard of him.

Strowman is the best for me. Then Reigns irrespective of his inability to cut a promo. It takes time.

[Ian]

Balor does absolutely nothing for me and I wouldn't even need to use the digits of one hand to count how many of his matches I've genuinely enjoyed but last night was really good.

[Disco]

Got to watch the Main Event if Tangle is turning up. :D That picture of him grinning is amazing.

[Browning]

Fuck off if he wrestled in that and couldn't pull the straps down. It's not even an Angle match if he doesn't do that.

[Ian]

Not one "Woooo" either that I spotted.

[SvN]

They'll be saving that for his match against Trips at Mania.

[Lewis]

I thought Kur Tangle was one bump away from his neck exploding.

[Smiffy]

I enjoyed the main event, am I right in thinking that's leading to a (quite rightly) face turn for Strowman? He's pretty much the best thing on it at the moment. It was nice to see Angle wrestle again although I think it would have been better for him to have had a one on one match somewhere down the line instead of as part of The Shield. I haven't got around to watching Balor v Styles yet but I'll give it a crack at some point.

I know we have to suspend belief but 5 v 3 with one having not wrestler for "11 years" just didn't do it for me. All in at the same time should have seen 2 v 1 against Ambrose, 2-1 against Rollins and Strowman/Kane breaking Kurts freaking neck. I suppose it is what it is though. It tarnished the return of all three in my opinion.

[Ian]

He should have been properly turned face when Reigns tried to murder him. If two attempts on his life aren't enough I don't now what is.


I know we have to suspend belief but 5 v 3 with one having not wrestler for "11 years" just didn't do it for me. All in at the same time should have seen 2 v 1 against Ambrose, 2-1 against Rollins and Strowman/Kane breaking Kurts freaking neck. I suppose it is what it is though. It tarnished the return of all three in my opinion.

Once they had them down and they were fixed on a few people I liked the way they tried to do it, typical "divide and conquer" stuff like the Shield used to do. The problem was it required half of them to go down to a chair shot or two and stay there for a looooong time. It would have ruined the initial (ridiculous) visual of the three of them surrounding five dudes in the ring and Rollins causing the initial distraction to allow Ambrose and Angle to get about the others with the chairs but I think, faces or not, it would have worked better if they'd jumped some of them and lowered the numbers right away. Come in when Sheamus and Cesaro are entering and chuck them off the stage to have a better reason for being out of it. Something like that.

While it was obvious that Angle was going to come back out at one point I wondered whether Reigns would be well enough to come out for five minutes at the point when it was 5 on 2. Run in and deliver a couple of Spears or something to turn the tide.

[Disco]

Lads, it's Kur Tangle, the mans been maturing for 11 years. 3 v 5 was fair.

[Shindig]

It's not a Kurt Angle match until they build a cage half-way through it so he can do a moonsault off it.

[Disco]

Makes me nostalgic for Big Show with his big chair.

[Browning]

Are all women in WWE allergic to turnbuckle pads? I swear the last 12 or so women's title matches have ended in the exact same way.

Edit- I could only skim through that main event, it was way too slow to stomach all of it. The Kane/Strowman stuff was pathetic and they showed about 100 replays of both moments while everyone else was presumably having a nap. I'll check out AJ/Balor before my subscription ends in a few days, but yea, no idea what that main event was even meant to be.

[Pleb]

To be fair it would probably be a lot different if Boo Reigns didn't decide to fall ill.

[Browning]

Yea, it would have been worse.

It probably wasn't a bad match, but it certainly wasn't anything special and was just a bit too silly.

[Pleb]

Don Cenah to be ref for the shitfest that is Mahal-Bork Lesnar :D

Someone hold my beer.

[Browning]

That’s only so he can AA them both and unify the titles.

[Ian]

Read the Raw results as I won't Want to be arsed catching up on it once I get home. Why is Shane McMahon a heel randomly? Other than because WWE writers don't do logic or understand face / heel dynamics any more.

[Weaver]

Shane vs Angle, perhaps, now that Angle is cleared?

And then the card will be Lesnar vs MAYHAL (Angle’s clearly never met or heard of him before), the two Raw vs Smackdown matches, Strowman vs Kane, Miz vs Corbin, Shield vs Usos and Natalya vs Bliss.

[SvN]

Angle looked some way off being able to wrestle a full match on his own.

[Smiffy]

I watched Balor v Styles which was pretty decent. I just can't take to him as the Demon though, as though face paint is meant to suddenly change him. He'll go the way of someone like Ziggler I reckon, very good in the ring but ultimately just a decent performer and nothing more.

I watched little bits of Raw last night and caught the ending this morning. It makes very little sense but it was still a decent enough ending. You know the Raw troops will be at SmackDown tonight to retaliate but personally I would go a different route. Whatever the hyped main event is have the more popular wrestler no show so Shane O'Mac has to call in a replacement of his own, repeat with a few different wrestlers with the end result being it's Angle actually sabotaging SmackDown from afar. Wrestler A gets detained at airport, Wrestler B gets arrested on false charges, Wrestler C gets involved in some accident, wrestler D has to fly home for false family reasons etc. Something is better than a beat down of the lower ranked wrestlers. Steal the title belts from the holders. Plant a few undercover wrestlers or what not. Strip SmackDown to its bare bones, kill the competition like Vince once did. That sort of thing.

[Ian]

I've said before that I find Pap O'Shango's facepaint a bit lol.

"I've gone to such a dark place I'm going to sit in a make-up chair for an hour or two. OoooOOOOooooo!"

[Mike]

They should just let him paint his face up for big PPV's just because it can look cool, like he did in New Japan, rather than it being for some daft demon thing.

https://i.imgur.com/IN2z4xB.png
https://i.imgur.com/FpQROgQ.png
https://i.imgur.com/Zu5mp0I.png

[Smiffy]

I'd refuse on the basis it must be a right bitch to take off.

[Disco]

It's a great gimmick but anyone who thought it would be used properly on the main roster needs their head examined.

[Ian]

In NXT was it a "this is the final match of a big feud" type thing he did rather than "We need to pretend people care about Bray Wyatt"?

[Disco]

It's roughly analogous to Hell in a Cell, both in how they should use it and how they actually use it.

[Shindig]

Rosemary manages that shit on a weekly basis. Ferghal's just got shit mic skills.

[Weaver]

In NXT was it a "this is the final match of a big feud" type thing he did rather than "We need to pretend people care about Bray Wyatt"?

He had matches with the Ascension (tagging with Itami), Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and Tyler Breeze with the gimmick in NXT. There may have been more but nothing’s jumping out.

I think we’ve had Rollins, Wyatt and now Styles on the main roster.

[Queenslander]

I watched Raw and Smackdown recently with my missus 7 year old boy and 2 of his friends. I now understand the booking decisions a bit after seeing them all loving it as much as I enjoy NJPW.

[Browning]

Blampied is out of Cultaholic for now due to exploiting his fame to get pictures of women. That's going to hurt them a lot.

[Ian]

Yeah, that's a big hit for them.

[Shindig]

Blampied is out of Cultaholic for now due to exploiting his fame to get pictures of women. That's going to hurt them a lot.

Ha! "Excuse me, Miss. I'm an Internet Celebrity."

[Disco]

Getting his dick out in that intro video seems a bold move now.

[Browning]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41764308

He’s been fired now.

[Shindig]

'In the end, I relented'

I can't not read that back in an Alan Partridge voice.

[Queenslander]

What a mong he was the most amusing out of the 5.

[Gray Fox]

The other day they were willing to stick by and wait for him. What's changed since then?

[Disco]

They've realised that an internet based startup will need partners and advertisers.

[Ian]

I was going to ask whether WhatCulture would get somebody else on the case for "How WWE should..." but then remembered they've basically got rid of everybody other than the dude with the muscles so I guess that's a no.

[Shindig]

Yeah, they just bring in faces from the other What Culture channels. Of which there are several. Those guys must do research as well as voice over but, given what they do, it can't be more than a wiki search. And then they run out of lists.

[Weaver]

WWE have announced that Summer Rae, Darren Young and Emma have been released.

http://www.wwe.com/article/emma-darren-young-summer-rae-released

I can’t say I’m surprised by Summer Rae or Darren Young (although he does a lot of the WWE Community stuff), but Emma’s an odd one.

More to come I’d imagine - maybe confirmation of Neville, a few NXT people and David Otunga’s never going to actually be on Raw, is he?

[Ian]

Emma is a weird one. Has she done something or were the Asuka matches her last chance saloon? Which would be weird.

[Shindig]

The wording implies it was her decision to leave. 'Come to terms' does, at least.

[Disco]

This is genuinely brilliant, I can't stop playing it.

924790251813515264

[Browning]

I don't get why people are now pretending to give a shit about Emma. She's never done anything. It is strange that she was given the Asuka match but I guess she was just going out the proper way.

[Shindig]

An attractive woman is out of work. It's an outrage.

[Ian]

Tonga Jeff is back. :cool:

So was this what they were originally planning Angle's first match to be? This Raw vs. Smackdown story that not a single person gives a toot about?

Or have they now just gone "Eh, fuck it"?

EDIT: Also it's a bit lol that Strowman has presumably been hiding in a bin lorry for a week.

[Shindig]

He should return with Duke Droese as his manager.

[Ian]

Triple H joins the Shield for a house show match? Sure, alright, whatever.

[Pleb]

Setting up for Angle v Haitch match at Mania in It?

[Shindig]

WWE will ruin it by making it DX versus TNA.

[Ian]

Corbin and Miz have had a social media promo exchange. Miz's involved him threatening to "knock your fucking teeth down your throat."

[Weaver]

Chris Jericho vs Kenny Omega was made official last night, after the latter beat Trent Barreta, for January 4th’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom.

Here’s the challenge video:
927161210197479424

Good get by NJPW, big move on their part and Jericho’s always said he wouldn’t wrestle anywhere but WWE, so interesting that he’s gone back on his word just so he can face Omega.

[Gray Fox]

Maybe there's some kind of plan for a Wrestlemania rematch. It'd be strange of Vince to let him go over without getting something back.

[Ian]

Given Jericho comes and goes as he pleases has Vince had to 'let' him do anything?

[Gray Fox]

This is very true. I look forward to Japan being introduced to THE LIST.

[Queenslander]

:alan:

[Shindig]

You just made the rist.

[Waffdon]

HHH going on ICW in Glasgow has blown my mind.

[Weaver]

Here’s the link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TUv06BScsp0

Big deal for ICW, deffo.

[Browning]

I love that they felt the need to have the man with the worst mic skills in the world announce him in the most pathetic way possible, rather than just having "TIME TO PLAY THE GAME!" interrupt them.

[Shindig]

"I am the GAME-UH. And I'm HERE-UH for your TAPE LIBRARY!" <rapturous whooping>

[Disco]

NJPW World, does anyone know how much it is? Their site simply says 999 Yen which doesn't really help.

[Mike]

As if he didn’t say ‘Let’s get ready to suck it’ or do any DX hand signs. Doesn’t he know how to be an old wrestler on the indies.

Awesome though.

[Queenslander]

NJPW World, does anyone know how much it is? Their site simply says 999 Yen which doesn't really help.

On their site it says about $9.99 US. I remember it being What ever the exchange rate was when I signed up at the start of the year

[Ian]

Oh good, they switched the Raw tag titles to a heel team because we don't have enough heel vs. heel shit going on.

I do approve Balor vs. Tonga Jeff being teased as a feud though.

EDIT: So I just clicked onto a "MASSIVE" Smackdown spoiler, being all, "Pfft, it can't be that big a spoiler given it doesn't air for hours." Totally forgetting that it's in the UK, like Raw was. :face:

Anyway:
Styles beats Jinder for the belt. :drool:

Dunno what effect that has on Survivor Series, haven't read any further. Hopefully it means Jinder gets fed to Bork rather than them dicking Styles over by having him eat German Suplexes for ten minutes.

[Browning]

It will be the second match. How it goes down is anyone's guess.

[Shindig]

Fantasy booking time:

Styles puts Bork in the Styles Clash which, due to Bork's size is a clumsy mess that would kill most men. Thankfully, given that Bork's neck is all muscle, no harm is done. Except to Styles who proceeds to 12 unplanned Germans. The defeat is so devastating, AJ gives up on God.

[Pleb]

It would be too sweet to set that match up...

:sherlock:

[Disco]

On their site it says about $9.99 US. I remember it being What ever the exchange rate was when I signed up at the start of the year

How does their schedule work, do they have weekly shows available right away? It always annoyed me that Raw and SD weren't up on the network for ages.

[Queenslander]

They run tours in the lead up to PPVs and tournaments that are live. It is nothing like WWE as they dont run an episodic weekly show.

I dont really think it is worth signing up untill the Road to the Tokyo Dome unless you are interested in following the World Tag league. No-one at the top of the card will be competing in singles untill Wrestle Kingdom.

Edit: Hope that helps. :)

Edit: Scratch that Okada and Ospraey are teaming up.

[Disco]

Cheers, I might give it a go so I'm a bit more up to speed when January rolls around.

[Weaver]

John Cena has been announced as the final member of Team Smackdown for Survivor Series.

So it’s now Shane McMahon, John Cena, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, Jason Jordan and Finn Balor.

Jason Jordan to turn on Angle perhaps? And I’m guessing we’re heading towards New Day vs The Shield, if Roman Reigns is cleared?

[wullie]

Jason Jordan as a Smackdown secret agent would be nice, and they could retcon the son stuff by saying it was faked. Clears the way for Mr Kennedy to be unveiled as his real son too.

[Shindig]

Nope. If you really want to give Angle a fake son, it's Brock.

[Weaver]

928279470175375362

:D

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn sent home from the European tour, apparently.

[Ian]

I genuinely don't know whether Gable and Benjamin are faces or heels or what.

See also: literally fucking everybody in the Survivor Series match while this "story" runs.

[Shindig]

Woods and Maddox have been sharing pictures of ring rat's vaginas again.

[Queenslander]

Cheers, I might give it a go so I'm a bit more up to speed when January rolls around.

Great video about Naito.

https://youtu.be/VZgZEgCkrs0

The channel will help.

[Queenslander]

Uncle Dave is reporting that Sami Zane and KO have been sent home from Europe and they may never return.

[wullie]

They didn't let the New Day beat them up enough after their match or something like that. Seems a bit much.

[Queenslander]

Doesnt make sense atm.

I do hope they go back to ROH and also join the North American NJPW territory. Both would be perfecr for Gedo's booking.

[Ian]

I genuinely thought the ending of the match was a botch to be honest, so I thought it was going to be something to do with that rather than the aftermath.

[Disco]

Great video about Naito.

https://youtu.be/VZgZEgCkrs0

The channel will help.

I watched that the other day. :D

[Queenslander]

I watched that the other day. :D

:cool:

[Weaver]

928494220884582400

The Lethal Weapon in 2017.

[Disco]

His ppv debut was cruelly overshadowed by the screwjob.

[Ian]

https://youtu.be/pjAF3BWSan0?t=5

The Lethal Weapon. :cool:

[Weaver]

Triple H, Shane O’Mac, John Cena, Randy Orton and Kurt Angle main eventing a PPV in 2017 :cool:

I felt Jordan was going to be central to the match anyway, but I especially do now. Smackdown win for me, with interuptions from Kane, Jordan and Joe turning on the team.

[wullie]

Angle telling the Authority to fuck off would be nice too, otherwise they've had him stand there like a goon on separate occasions while Stephanie tells him off and then HHH lamps his injured son.

[Queenslander]

Such strange booking. At least Vince put Austin, Mankind and the Rock over.

Also HHH is a face on NXT but a heal on RAW?

[Ian]

Angle vs. HHH coming up, then. Sigh.

[Pleb]

Angle vs. HHH coming up, then. Sigh.


Setting up for Angle v Haitch match at Mania in It?
Called it.

[Ian]

It's been talked about since well before the Jordan angle came to it's initial reveal. I was just hoping for something less tedious.

[Pleb]

To be fair the card for Survivor Series this year looks a bit shit. Shield v New Day looks to be thrown together at the last minute because network subscribers must of been seething when Boo Reigns decided to fall ill right before TLC came around so they had to do that to boost numbers.

The only match I'm probably looking forward to is Bork Lesnar versus AJay Styles for whatever bragging rights Sir Vince Mac can give them and that's not even a main event which is bizarre but logical in WWE standards.

[Ian]

I'm trying to not have any optimism for Bork vs AJ because it will only dash any hopes I have by just being another Lesnar match.

[Weaver]

The Ellsworth Experience is over - he’s been released today.

Quite a good jobber run for him. Styles, Ambrose, winning the Women’s Money In The Bank match earlier in the year.

[Shindig]

And one of the founding steps of Braun's run.

EDIT: David Otunga just battered his wife.

[Ian]

WarGames wasn't bad. Black / Velveteen Dream was a great match. Tommy End was a much better name but that aside I look forward to Black being ruined on the main roster in the future.

[Pleb]

Survivor Series on at midnight apparently.

Must be because it's the CORE FOUR!!!

[Queenslander]

Survivor Series sounds rancid.

[wullie]

https://twitter.com/Cap_Kaveman/status/932384674071977984

[Weaver]

PPV was a bit odd last night - I enjoyed it, in general, but the main event was all over the place. Thought the opener was the best match, and I enjoyed the Usos vs the Bar was good too.

For the May 2018 UK tour, there’s a show on a Wednesday night and then nothing announced until Raw on the Monday. Strange for the gap - wonder if we’re getting something special?

[Lewis]

I read the report from last night, and, whilst filling Kur Tangle in is classic, then attacking the form/hardest rassler for no reason is so out of character for Triple Haitch.

[SvN]

Angle was tragic last night. I can't see how he can wrestle a 1v1 match.

[Weaver]

He reminds me of a football player who breaks his leg, and then you have to cringe every time someone tackles him for a few months after because you’re just expecting it. Think an Olympic Gold Medal winning Jay Rodriguez, perhaps.

[wullie]

I remember British Bulldog's brief lazy return where he wore jeans and hung around with the Mean Street Posse, every bump looked like it'd kill him.

[Browning]

Angle is still quality. I was there live when he wrestled Del Rio in WCPW and it was great.

Enjoyed last night more than I should have done but the Shield reunion is doing nothing for me. It feels like they split up 6 months ago and spent the entire 6 months feuding with each other while the commentators reminded us of THE SHIELD and now they're back together. Don't care one way or another.

[Shindig]

It has about as much weight as a Flair retirement now.

[Ian]

6-man tag was decent as was the womens match. Most of the rest of it (particular the tag match) was a bit disappointing but the main event was just a fucking mess. The whole thing just to push some more matches for some old guys. What a load of bollocks.

Surprisingly I ended up really enjoyed Brock / AJ, so I assume Lesnar had been told he had to play ball. He was actually trying.

[Browning]

Someone told me last night there was "No way team RAW can win" and I told him HHH would bury everyone and then the story going forward would be that Angle owes his job to HHH. I was joking and didn't think HHH was still a cunt, but here we are.

[Disco]

Angle has a last great match in him (although I doubt if it would be against HHH), an elimination match where there are nine other guys isn't exactly the place to be breaking out the moonsaults.

I really liked Lesnar / Styles, the spot where he smashed his head into the canvas to get out of a submission hold was great.

[SvN]

On Sunday, Angle was considerably worse than Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33. He's finished.

[Disco]

I wouldn't go that far, he's clearly a bit rusty but his indie stuff last year was consistently good.

[Browning]

Vince reportedly giving up on Balor is amazing. I've never got the hype either.

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNJwUQs09TI

WrestleMania HYPE.

[Lewis]

Looking back, that weird phase of them cutting promos in suits was probably like the point where progressive rock killed the game and let the upstarts in. Nobody wants to see their Olympic Hero sweating through a shirt, even if they did help to conceal how out of shape Triple Haitch was.

[Shindig]

Gimmick infringement. They said that on TV. Triple H is harbinger of dead kayfabe. Also, Paige is back. How long before she's booted for saying something or fucking someone she shouldn't?

[Ian]

I really liked Lesnar / Styles, the spot where he smashed his head into the canvas to get out of a submission hold was great.

Yeah, I loved that. Can't wait for Bork to go full-on half-arse again in his next match.


Vince reportedly giving up on Balor is amazing. I've never got the hype either.

I haven't either, though I liked his brief showing in the match last night and have enjoyed some more of his matches recently. How much has that injury fucked him over? They couldn't promote him fast enough and then he's nowhere.

[Shindig]

Queenslander's probably got a youtubegasm ready for Ferghal's New Japan career and why he matters. Aside from "Bullet Club, mate."

[Queenslander]

:D

Nah.

[Disco]

I liked his stuff with Tonga Jeff and, as with everything, he was better in NXT.

[Queenslander]

Nothing matters on Raw apart from trying to get Roman and Braun over.

[Weaver]

So after Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose debuted with Paige on Monday night, the trio of Ruby Riot, Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan attacked four women on Smackdown last night.

I thought Peyton Royce and Billie Kay would be next, but NXT have lost five women and Hideo Itami is heading to 205 Live this week alone.

[John]

An A4 sized poster for 'Insane Championship Wrestling' has appeared near me, and the quality of the advertising seems at odds with how recognisable some of the names are. Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam, and Kevin Nash were all on there, along with a couple of others I recognised in the moment but have now forgotten.

'The Most Violent Match in Wrestling' sounds fun.

[Disco]

Mysterio, and to a slightly lesser extent RVD, can still put on a good show. Nash is surely not wrestling, his legs would fall apart at the very thought.

[SvN]

I think ICW is the biggest UK promotion. They seem to have a pretty good online presence. Triple H turned up at an event a few weeks ago.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUv06BScsp0

[John]

Mysterio, and to a slightly lesser extent RVD, can still put on a good show. Nash is surely not wrestling, his legs would fall apart at the very thought.

Nash was pictured in the middle of the poster, with everyone else in groups around the margins, so presumably he'll be guest reffing or something.

I'd have thought even getting him in to do that would be a decent coup for a mob advertising through A4 paper and sellotape, but they appear to be quite a bit bigger than that poster suggests.

[Disco]

HHH gobbing over everything whenever he arrives anywhere gets more and more unpleasant every time I see it.

[Disco]

Nash was pictured in the middle of the poster, with everyone else in groups around the margins, so presumably he'll be guest reffing or something.

I'd have thought even getting him in to do that would be a decent coup for a mob advertising through A4 paper and sellotape, but they appear to be quite a bit bigger than that poster suggests.

Yeah they're a decent size promotion, that show would probably be very good. Nash is over here doing a few different things so he'll be booked in for appearances wherever he can fit them in.

[wullie]

He's giving Gene Hunt what for in some new Sky program too

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U0ILh7zKgok/sddefault.jpg#404_is_fine

[Mike]

ICW is the only UK promotion I've gone to see. Had a blast both times. Better when Grado turns up.

[John]

Grado is busy pissing around pretending to be a crap policeman on the latest cringe inducing Scotland only comedy, and I spotted he's going to be in a panto over Christmas, so his appearances must be quite rare for now.

[Baz]

ICW without Grado? Don’t bother. Go watch Progress instead.

[wullie]

FWA are the only British company I've seen, bizarre to think that AJ Styles was there working an ironman match in a Coventry ice rink and now he's the WWE Champion.

[Browning]

Kevin Nash is the Commissioner for that event it seems.

Looks like a fairly decent card.

[Ian]

Oh good, Kane beating two young faces back to back so that Strowman can save them.

[Pleb]

I saw the WarGames match last night.

Was alright.

[Disco]

As a concept it couldn't possibly be any more WCW, as a match it was good fun, Damo's (almost) coast to coast was pretty great.

[Disco]

I'd fucking love this to be true.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUCybO2H4xQ&index=12&list=WL&t=136s

[Weaver]

Like the idea of it, and Heyman’s right that Lesnar’s the only one who that is believable with.

The only thing I’ve got against that is that I doubt the Undertaker would do business with Lesnar after that, but wrestling’s a strange business so who knows?

[Lewis]

Paul Heyman must look the shittest it's possible to look at fifty-two, and yet he hasn't really aged in fifteen years, so he has set an unbeatable record for people in their thirties.

[wullie]

They had the 21-1 graphic cued up on the screens and were scouring for the reaction shots immediately, although I like his idea that nobody else gives you the sense of it being realistic.

[Queenslander]

Lesnar and the Undertaker are best mates as well.

[Ian]

I've heard that Lesnar theory before and I'm with Wullie on it. I think it's just Heyman on the wind-up. If it was the case why would anybody bother to wrestle Lesnar on the rare occasions he's supposed to lose?

It would be funny if true though. And would be the sign that the Undertaker should have just fucked off then.

[Lewis]

Doesn't anybody realise that 'Broken Matt Hardy' inadvertently buries the entire Bray Wyatt gimmick?

[Pleb]

The Great War needs to consist of The Shield, Hardyz and the Waytts with Brawn Monsterman tearing them up.

[Browning]

Bray's buried that gimmick himself by being A) Nonsensical on the mic and B) Shit in the ring anyway.

[Lewis]

We (and only we) knew that on day one, but WWE clearly still likes it.

[Shindig]

Speaking of dead gimmicks, Kamala's on life support.

[SvN]

Hold on, is this Vince singing?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVuwnOJ9Oro

[Disco]

It's him, Vince (obviously) fancies himself as a singer. Who can forget this:


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

[Shindig]

Shouting lyrics like his 90s commentary. Truly the sign of a man sexually abused my his mother.

[Mike]

Yet Macho Man look so damn cool even in that.

[Ian]

http://whatculture.com/wwe/wwes-rich-swann-arrested-suspended-by-company

Erm.

[Pleb]

There goes his career I guess.

[Queenslander]

Adam Blampied is a sex addict. Why the fuck would you put this online?

https://youtu.be/Qo-5Z5YRU4c

EDIT: Or the most original heel turn of all time?

[Browning]

The news broke ages ago when he was fired by Cultaholic, so I guess he's just giving his side of things, or whatever. It's not like he could keep it quiet, it was even reported by the BBC and everywhere else.

[Disco]

A cynical person would say it's scandal recovery 101 for people in the public eye (however minorly), unfortunately it's also the kind of thing you might do if you were actually contrite and trying to do the right thing.

[Queenslander]

Last interaction between Jericho and Omega before Wrestle Kingdom :drool:


https://youtu.be/ZMUmyMs8dkk

[SvN]

Love those production values. It's like it's filmed in someone's front room.

[Disco]

Omega is a heel in Japan right?

[Queenslander]

Nah not really anymore.

https://youtu.be/9tmTDnaXmDc

[Disco]

That video was sort of why I asked, Jericho coming in and rubbing blood on the belt (it being much more highly respected in Jap-Graps I understand) puts him firmly in the heel camp. I assume Omega will be the slightly less heelish heel for this match/feud and then go back to normal.

I finish work next week so I'm going to get a month of NJPWW so I can watch some stuff in the run up to Wrestle Kingdom, really looking forward to it now. :drool:

[Queenslander]

Im slightly more excited for Naito v Okada because the long term booking has been epic. Naito has taken cool heel to a new level as well and will be interesting to see how he reacts to the crowd if he wins.

[Queenslander]

Disco

My understanding of the faction breakdown is...

Chaos - Baby Face

Suzuki Gun - Heel

Bullet Club is two sub groups now Bliz Cliz which is the Tongans (who still use the Too Sweet) and The Elite. I would consider both of them tweeners. They will definitely split and fued in the future.

LOS INGOBERNABLES DE JAPON - Booked heel but definitely get face responses.

Face locker room and the heel locker room.

[Baz]

Love those production values. It's like it's filmed in someone's front room.Theres nothing wrong with that. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=4s&v=VW0U-eRutHw)

I can’t believe no UK TV channel has picked up NJPW.

[Queenslander]

That is quite the accent.

[Disco]

Watched the final show from the NJPW Tag League on Saturday and the thing that struck me the most was how different all the matches were. Four or five multi-man tag matches and they all felt different and distinct, not only that but there was literally about a minute between them. So three hours of actual wrestling and maybe a total of 25 minutes of entrances/exits and everyone clearing up after Minoro Suzuki (what a guy he is). Plus it's a couple of quid less than the Network, colour me very pleased with the switch so far.

[Ian]

Speaking of both tag matches and the Network, Fatal Four-Way tag matches aren't normally four dudes in the ring at a time, right?

[John]

Watched the final show from the NJPW Tag League on Saturday and the thing that struck me the most was how different all the matches were. Four or five multi-man tag matches and they all felt different and distinct, not only that but there was literally about a minute between them. So three hours of actual wrestling and maybe a total of 25 minutes of entrances/exits and everyone clearing up after Minoro Suzuki (what a guy he is). Plus it's a couple of quid less than the Network, colour me very pleased with the switch so far.

It's worth looking up some of Suzuki's old Pancrase fights. He's just a mad bastard in general.

[Ian]

First women's Royal Rumble match announced. Seemed a given as soon as Stephanie came out there after all the speculation but... do they actually have enough women that anybody cares about? I guess the thought that they'd randomly made up two new three-woman stables to bulk up the rosters made sense.

[Gray Fox]

They'll do the same as they do with the mens. Have about 5 who could maybe win it, 15 mid carders or so and then the rest will be returns or comedy acts.

You have to think the first ever womens rumble will see them bring back a few faces. The Bellas, Trish, Lita etc.

[Ian]

You'd hope so. None of this no-surprises-other-than-more-Roman bullshit like the men last year.

[Disco]

As with the chaps I expect they'll fill it out with jobbers and a few special guests. Some NXT bods will probably get dragged in for it too.

[Browning]

James Ellsworth and Santino will both be in it. 30 will be highly speculated to be Ronda and will end up being Roman who goes on to win it, challenge both Women's Champions and bury them, just so Stephanie can take credit for him because she created women wrestlers and Reigns is now the best of them as well as the best male.

[wullie]

The most important part is how a load of hated enemies immediately froze and stopped fighting as soon as Stephanie's music started and were all then best pals on her strict orders. Vince is the only good McMahon as he takes a pasting even now.

[Gray Fox]

I think I'd prefer Roman to enter at #1 and superman spear every single woman, so he looks strong.

[Disco]

None of the Mcmahons are good purely because they always end up being the centre of attention. Steph is by far the worst because she is also incapable of putting anyone else over.

[Browning]

Noelle to enter the rumble 3 times :drool:

[Ian]

None of the Mcmahons are good purely because they always end up being the centre of attention. Steph is by far the worst because she is also incapable of putting anyone else over.

And thinks taking one "bump" per year counts as getting her comeuppance before she goes back to emasculating every prominent man on the roster and speaking to the women like they're dogshit.

Until it's ra-ra-revolution! time.

[Weaver]

The most important part is how a load of hated enemies immediately froze and stopped fighting as soon as Stephanie's music started and were all then best pals on her strict orders. Vince is the only good McMahon as he takes a pasting even now.

Sonya Deville was laughing, smiling and damn near crying into her MMA gloves there, properly bizarre.

By my count, there’s nearly 20 ‘active’ women without the champions: Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Jax, Paige, Deville, Rose, Brooke, Asuka, Fox, Naomi, Lana, Lynch, Tamina, Natalya, Carmella, Riot, Morgan and Logan.

I suppose there’s also the Bellas and there might be a few injured who I’ve forgotten about. Could do a 20 woman one instead of 30?

[Browning]

If there aren't some shocks it'll be shite, like last years Rumble, so I'd expect some one night returns. Lita, Trish, Beth or Kelly Kelly should be fairly likely.

Ronda Rousey to be there and win it too.

[Shindig]

First women's Royal Rumble match announced. Seemed a given as soon as Stephanie came out there after all the speculation but... do they actually have enough women that anybody cares about? I guess the thought that they'd randomly made up two new three-woman stables to bulk up the rosters made sense.

They could drag some lasses back from the MYC to fill it out.

[Ian]

I'm game for some one night NXT call-ups. Love a Kairi Sane elbow drop.

[Browning]

This feels like it should be a one off. If they do it yearly, by year 3 they'll be dragging out the corpse of Mae Young as a surprise entrant.

[SvN]

Have they confirmed it's 30 entrants? 20 would be enough.

[Ian]

So was that Ziggler leaving WWE and them just giving him the US title as a parting thank you?

Anyway, I'm going to do a bit more of my WCW Network stuff. Starrcade 1985, and some chap called Magnum T.A. is rocking a fabulous head of hair and a cracking moustache.

EDIT: Also, WCW really loved them some multiple cage matches per show action.

[Ian]

Even by their own lofty standards some of the stuff WWE have booked referees to do in the last few weeks has been absolutely pitiful.

[7om]

Queenslander, are you ready for this?

[Queenslander]

Im not really keen on the multi man Tags.

Naito v Okada

Omega v Jericho

4 way Juniors

Suzuki v Goto

Cody v Ibushi

Is what to look out for if one was new to NJPW.

Are you a fan 7om?

[Queenslander]

Book face probably doesnt have streams for this

[Queenslander]

One day the Young Bucks will make great promoters but Im pretty dead inside when comes to their matche s.

[Disco]

There are worse ways to open a show.

[Queenslander]

Yeah you are right Im just being precious.

[Queenslander]

ZSJ :cool:

[Queenslander]

Juice Robinson is wasted here

[Queenslander]

And Ishii

[Mike]

I'm watching Japanese Wrestling too boys!

[Queenslander]

Bucks and Cody both didnt use the Bullet Club entrance...

[Queenslander]

Book face for anyone not on NJPW.

[Queenslander]

Main event quality that one.

EDIT: I guess setting up Omega v Ibushi as well.

[Queenslander]

Another main event quality match.

[Mike]

Davey Boy Smith Jr looks just like his Dad :)

[Queenslander]

I like that Suzuki holds the loose cunt title.

[Queenslander]

And now Marty is without a Bullet Club entrance.

[Queenslander]

Probably should rename this thread The Ultimate NJPW Thread

[Queenslander]

Kiwi v Tanahashi is my piss wreck break.

[Queenslander]

Jay White is not ready.

Yuck

[Queenslander]

Dad bod Jericho is kinda out of place here.

[Disco]

He's the best, slapping the ref because why not, taking pictures of himself flipping off the crowd. Proper heat.

[Mike]

Yeah, Y2J has been pretty entertaining.

[Queenslander]

He is a great heel, I.mean he isnt what Im used to.in NJPW main event.

[Disco]

Naito might be winning this.

[Queenslander]

Fuck me I put my missus kids on Naito winning.

Edit: Okada is our Flair at this stage.

[Disco]

Fairplay, the counter into a tombstone was pretty great.

[Queenslander]

How do you rate that PPV in your eyes Disco?

[Queenslander]

And to think those Melbourne City Wrestling cunts had Okada there late last year. Grrr

[Disco]

Really good, the 4-way match was brilliant as were the last two, I missed the Suzuki match which I shall go back and rewatch. Put it this way, it would have taken WWE all weekend to put that many matches on and all year to put on as many matches of that quality, pleased I switched my sub.

[Queenslander]

I recommend Cody v Ibushi and the Heavy Weight tag match as well.

[Queenslander]

Tune in tomorrow night because they start new fueds for the next 6 months or so.

[Disco]

I somehow forgot Cody / Ibushi, that was great. I'll be watching most of it again at the weekend when my wrestling friend is free.

[7om]

That was... amazing.

And I have to disagree on Jay White. I thought he looked like a star in the making out there. Tonight was also the first time I have watched Kenny Omega and not thought he was a twat. I just wish he was serious more often.

Top to bottom, a brilliant show. Tomorrow night will sure be interesting.

[Queenslander]

I was pretty drunk last night so decided to watch Jay White again and you are right.
Also Gedo is a genius with how he slowly builds up the Young Boys/Lions.

[Queenslander]

This bloke is going on excursion to America this year.

http://lastwordonprowrestling.com/2017/12/29/is-katsuya-kitamura-the-new-future-or-the-exception/

https://www.prowrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Katsuya-Kitamura.png

[Queenslander]

Omega and Jericho's press conference. Y2J is easily the best heel when he controls his own promo.


https://youtu.be/KpBGqGDhRjw

[7om]

Jay White vs Kenny Omega then.

Brilliant stuff. Can’t wait to see what they can do together. I wonder as well if this is leading to Omega leaving the BC. They’re teasing it, anyway.

Jericho - Naito... Holy shit. Amazing.

[Queenslander]

:drool:

[Ian]

Tonight was also the first time I have watched Kenny Omega and not thought he was a twat. I just wish he was serious more often.

Yeah, I watched the Jericho match this afternoon and I think it's one of three or four I've seen of his, this being the first outside PWG and being comfortably my favourite. Still thought it somehow felt like a slow burn despite the early big spots but it built up to a good finish.

I don't think I'll bother watch all the matches but there are another two or three I'll have a look at.

[Browning]

Fuck being the woman who had to translate all that only for Jericho to blow off half the questions. :D

[Queenslander]

I don't think I'll bother watch all the matches but there are another two or three I'll have a look at.

I realise I am the worst kind of fan boy but either Suzuki v Goto or Naito v Okada is well worth a look.

[Disco]

I would recommend Ibushi / Rhodes and the 4-Way, if you like those then watch Suzuki / Goto and Okada / Naito. It's definitely a different pace and style though which can be jarring.

[Queenslander]

Shit now I forgot about the Cody v Ibushi match. I dont understand how people are saying last years Wrestle Kingdom was a better card? WK12 is easily the best PPV i have seen with adult eyes.

[7om]

Absolutely, start to finish was high quality. I don't think there was one match that I didn't enjoy, although I missed the Rumble.

[Queenslander]

And Gedo has managed set up new fueds no one ever thought possible this time last year.

I really hope they put Jay White, Cody and Jericho (big ask for Jericho but him carrying the briefcase would be amazing) in this years G1. And we have the New Japan Cup in a couple of Months. Will Ospraey will no doubt finish the year as a Heavy Weight annnnd we have Sanada and Evil to be put back as Heavy Weight singles.

Last year was easily the best year of high quality wrestling but it feels the this year could top that.

The bloke i most want from the WWE is KO.

[7om]

Just seen on Twitter that Okada has introduced Jay White as a member of Chaos. Disappointed with that as I thought he would do better as a loner. Oh well.

[Queenslander]

It is strange because Will Ospraey is Okada's right hand man. Maybe Ospraey commiting to Australia and New Zealand is part of that booking?

EDIT: Okada has promised to bring Chaos back to Melbourne as well.