The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Jeet]

Going to HHH vs Rock at WM anyway.

Not sure if they wanted Cena to equals Flair record at WM

Those Bullet Club t-shirts/caps look awesome, want one :D Sort of a Dope Chef look

[7om]

Wouldn't be surprised if they go with something like this for the big matches:

Rock / Lesnar
Taker / Wyatt II
Reigns / HHH

I'd say it's almost a certainty that Finn Balor gets called up as well now to form his Japanese stable again.

[wullie]

Undertaker vs Cena had some appeal because it feels new and anything involving Big Match John becomes important by default, but there's nobody else for Taker to face that appeals seeing as they've already done his series with Lesnar and reunited him with Kane against the Wyatts. Maybe Strongman Wyatt or something in the sub-10 minute fourth match on the card.

[Gray Fox]

I thought it was going to be Big Match John to give Undertaker his send off.

Is there even anyone left that hasn't been done to death already?

[Jeet]

Vince vs Taker :drool:

[phonics]

The Rock is wrestling again?

[Lewis]

Everything you can think of involving the Undertaker is a waste of time at this point.

[Disco]

They missed an opportunity when they didn't use Cena turning heel to break the streak, just imagine the scenes.

[7om]

Can't stand the geezer but I would love to have seen it just for the online meltdown.

And Lewis' wanking himself to death.

[wullie]

The Rock is wrestling again?

He's definitely going to be there, but nobody knows what he'll be doing yet.

[Gray Fox]

He'll be there to raise Romans arm again, you'd imagine.

[Waffdon]

He'll be wrestling HHH.

[Dan]

Looks like the Road to WrestleMania is going to be exactly the same as always then :yawn:

[Gray Fox]

I feel like the only real surprise we could be getting is the Undertaker returning at number 30 and taking the title at the Rumble. Reigns to then work to WM and get it back off him against all odds.

That or Reigns just holds it til everyone good comes back.

[Lewis]

My friend reckons Don Cena was going to win the Rumble (so his title was like Ric Flair's first[?]) before PASSING THE TORCH at WrestleMania.

'Mon Triple Haitch.

[Ian]

The injuries really have fucked them. I thought he was going to be back for sporadic big matches but presumably they'll get the belt back on him for a bit. Dunno if they'd fancy Lesnar vs. Reigns for a second year or anything though, but it'd be a bit lol if HHH was suddenly in a 'Mania main event again.

Watched some more stuff on the Network earlier. I've never much cared for Edge as a singles wrestler but I watched two matches from 2006 today, him vs. RVD and then against Cena and both were really good.

[Lewis]

Baroque Les-nar winning it on behalf of the Authority was surely the most likely outcome all along (and probably still is). They just have to get around the whole everybody loving Les-nar problem.

[Browning]

Edge was awesome when he was in the main event picture. I think his injury was the final nail in the coffin for me.

Unless they got Ronda Rousey signed up for a tag match, I can't see Rock Vs HHH happening. It just makes no sense whatsoever.

[Shindig]

Rock should feud with Reigns.

[Disco]

The injuries really have fucked them. I thought he was going to be back for sporadic big matches but presumably they'll get the belt back on him for a bit. Dunno if they'd fancy Lesnar vs. Reigns for a second year or anything though, but it'd be a bit lol if HHH was suddenly in a 'Mania main event again.

Watched some more stuff on the Network earlier. I've never much cared for Edge as a singles wrestler but I watched two matches from 2006 today, him vs. RVD and then against Cena and both were really good.

Has he kidnapped Paul Bearer for a distressingly long time yet?

[Ian]

I have no idea what that is so I'm going to say no.

[Pleb]

:D

There's a storyline where Edge kidnaps Paul Bearer. That was before Paul Bearer's death though. I think that storyline/feud never materialised.

[Browning]

It was before his death? Thanks for clearing that up.

[Disco]

Yeah it would have been even creepier had it been after he died. The storyline is great, he taunts Bearer with an entire buffet.

[wullie]

It was one of those WWE things where the apparent face is an absolute shithouse and we're still meant to boo the person being tormented, like when happy Sheamus stole Alberto Del Rio's car and took a shit on the seat.

[Lewis]

It looks like Baroque Les-nar is winning the Rumble then. Sigh. Kevin Owens attacking him was out of character and looked daft, and Roman Reigns needs to stop no-selling things by lolling at them. Have a word.

[7om]

I've just turned on TNA and my god have they fallen. I remember the last time I watched they were still in the Impact Zone but now... I don't know what I'm watching. It looks like something produced by ITV.

[Ian]

If Lesnar doesn't win the Rumble then Reigns does and they have the rematch. If they did that then they could probably set up an official heel turn pretty easily if they want him to then beat Baroque.

Not that they would after having Vinnie Mac out there doing what he's been doing. One thing, possibly the only thing, I liked about that main event was that Sheamus didn't suddenly get booked as a coward just because Lesnar was there.

And I suppose also that Lesnar continues to be neither a heel or a face, just as Lesnar.

[five time]

Surprise entrants at the rumble? Holding out for Sheldon Benjamin for about the 5th year in a row.

Is Jeff Hardy still signed with TNA or still injured? He's been doing the 'I want to retire in the WWE' interviews lately. If they're never going to let Bryan wrestle again a return for him here only for Lesnar to murderdeathkill him over the top rope instantly would easily be worth the entrance fee alone.

[wullie]

If Daniel Bryan would count as a surprise entrant I'm going with him. He's been saying more how the doctors won't clear him so I assume everything's a work.

[Jeet]

All about Roman leading to WM, bringing Bryan back will mess that up as the fans will want him to headline WM again

[Jeet]

Just read SD spoilers. Rey jnr jnr :D

[Ian]

Surprise entrants at the rumble? Holding out for Sheldon Benjamin for about the 5th year in a row.

Any time on the Network I've watched his matches he's been ace. His heel persona seemed to consist mostly of sunglasses but in the ring he was great.

[Browning]

That and getting his mother to fake a heart attack.

[Jeet]

Shelton Botchamin - No thanks

[Weaver]

150/1 for Wayne Rooney to win the Royal Rumble :D

Here's the top few 'favourites' with Paddy Power:
Brock Lesnar 7/5
Triple H 2/1
Roman Reigns 11/5
Bray Wyatt 10/1
Daniel Bryan 12/1
Rusev 14/1
The Rock 16/1
Sheamus 16/1
The Undertaker 18/1
Dean Ambrose 18/1
AJ Styles 20/1
Kevin Owens 20/1

[Shindig]

"Who's that, King?"
"Why that's BK Stiles."

On the old board Lewis mentioned they'd probably call him Chris Cheesecake.

[Ian]

Is Tonga Jeff coming to the main roster any time soon/at all?

[Lewis]

'Chris Cheesecake' was Browning. Tonga Jeff. :cool:

[Waffdon]

Grado is TNA World Champ? Haha, what a guy

[Waffdon]

Wait, never mind.read it incorrectly

[Browning]

I have zero recollection of Chris Cheesecake.... Tonga Jeff however.. :D

Grado being TNA champion would be better than the actual booking. After that 32 man (or 28 man 4 woman) World Cup farce ECIII got the belt back only to lose it a week later back to Fat Hardy. What a waste of time.

[Ian]

Coming up to my first CM Punk matches on the Network. Pretty sure I haven't seen a single one so I'm quite looking forward to it.

His mic work was meant to be good too, wasn't it?

[Browning]

The "pipe bomb" was pretty good at the time but not watched it since. He has some great matches though.

[Smiffy]

It's every bit as good now as it was then in my opinion. Both dropped the ball. CM Punk is a self entitled little prick while we've seen over many years how petulant the WWE can be.

[Waffdon]

Coming up to my first CM Punk matches on the Network. Pretty sure I haven't seen a single one so I'm quite looking forward to it.

His mic work was meant to be good too, wasn't it?

He's a don, aye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YxQ_b_VHyk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ms0DFxpptk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FouccjzEEPU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0HBbLiMuj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TKuoig5Om4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot8cJ1rXYvU

[7om]

It's every bit as good now as it was then in my opinion. Both dropped the ball. CM Punk is a self entitled little prick while we've seen over many years how petulant the WWE can be.

How is it even approaching anything close to being 'good' these days?

There's a reason why viewership is though the floor and that's because it's shit.

[Smiffy]

How is it even approaching anything close to being 'good' these days?

There's a reason why viewership is though the floor and that's because it's shit.

I was referring to the pipe bomb, not today's stuff.

[Ian]

It'll be interesting to see what they do with Brock in the Rumble. You can't have him booked the same way he's been booked in his matches since his comeback where he's been megadominant and I think the end of Raw was a bit of a nod to that. I think they might be going for a Wrestlemania rematch given the injuries so if Brock doesn't win he gets "screwed" by whoever comes runner-up and they have a good old fashioned number 1 contender match at the next PPV.

[Lewis]

He'll win (Roman Reigns second) and then lose cleanly like a bitch to Reigns at WrestleMania. Let's not complicate things.

[Browning]

I watched the 2001 Royal rumble today. Should watch that again Sunday night instead of whatever they serve up. I'd probably still get excited for Honky Tonk Man.

Anyone but Reigns, though.

[Lewis]

*Five. Four. Three. Two. One*
'Who's number thirty?!'
*buzzer*
'Wait a minute. It's...'
'It can't be!'
'WHEN IT COMES CRASHING DOWN AND IT HURTS INSIDE...'

[SvN]

Triple H will eliminate Reigns is my guess, for him to finish second. The Wyatt family will eliminate Brock.

[Smiffy]

I'm not so sure. I don't see him not retaining.

[SvN]

Booking him first is a way of having him lose but still look strong when he gets to the final 2-4.

[SvN]

A guy I work with reckons we end up with the 4 Wyatts, Brock, Reigns and Triple H. Trips eliminates Reigns then just leaves, having done what he entered to do. The Wyatts eliminate Brock together, then Bray orders the other 3 out, to win.

I'd love Bray to win it, but 4 out of the final 6 eliminating themselves would be a bit anticlimactic.

[Browning]

Yea, no chance of that. Besides, with them closing our RAW the way they did there's no chance any Wyatt family member is winning, if there ever was.

[Smiffy]

A guy I work with reckons we end up with the 4 Wyatts, Brock, Reigns and Triple H. Trips eliminates Reigns then just leaves, having done what he entered to do. The Wyatts eliminate Brock together, then Bray orders the other 3 out, to win.

I'd love Bray to win it, but 4 out of the final 6 eliminating themselves would be a bit anticlimactic.

I have it in my mind that the Wyatt family will be in the ring at the same time as Ambrose, the Uso's and Reigns thus evening the odds then the League of Nations come out and it's a bit of a clusterfuck, multiple eliminations once Lesnar arrives, Lesnar and Reigns keep going at it stopping only to eliminate whoevers trying to eliminate the other due to both wanting to get there hands on the other.

What I want is an unpredicted win even if it's just for one night. Santino type stuff. Technically whatever happens Reigns gets a rematch, right?

[SvN]

I was thinking that. Every year they go on about how "Anyone can win!" but the only real, out of nowhere surprise I can ever recall is when Vince won it.

Heath Slater would be amazing.

[Browning]

Yea I've been saying for years that a nobody should win it. If it happened just one time you would always have that sense it could happen again. Give it to one of the usos or something.

[Gray Fox]

One of the Balor/Bullet Club should come up to the main roster in the Rumble and take it, for a legitimate surprise.

Though in the real world, it's going to have Reigns going all the way to the end only to be 'screwed' by Triple H(He can then start on the copy/paste Daniel Bryan story from the end of the yes movement). Brock will fight off 3 of the Wyatts but just fall short of Bray who will do the thing where, someone gets thrown out but isn't really eliminated and then comes back in at the end to steal.

That makes most sense to me right now. Reigns winning from number 1 would knock too many people sick, I think.

[Disco]

Santino should have won it that year, that would have been amazing.

[wullie]

Slater's group ought to eliminate Big Show, or even Lesnar if they want to go full Maven.

If they have Reigns enter at 1 and dominate the whole thing, HHH will turn face just by showing up.

[Browning]

Again... Bray fucking Wyatt is not winning it.

@Gray obviously.

[Gray Fox]

Again... Bray fucking Wyatt is not winning it.

@Gray obviously.

I'm just hoping for something not completely obvious going into it. The last 2 were blatantly going to be Batista and then you knew 5 months before hand that Reigns was winning it.

[Lewis]

I'm curious about how the crowd will respond to Reigns. He seems to have been getting better cheers recently, but they still sound a bit high-pitched. Orlando isn't a particularly smarky place is it? If not it should be a more genuine gauge than dickhead crowds like Brooklyn/Chicago who only come to get themselves over.

[five time]

Is it just me or does Jericho get more cringe every time he comes back? Just watched for the first time in a while and some of the dad jokes were almost making me flinch.

[wullie]

I'd love to think they were going for some kind of embarrassing dad out of touch rock star gimmick and it's all intentional.

[7om]

Just saw the results for Raw this week and I'm calling it now: Wyatt's eliminate Brock at the Rumble, a handicap match at Fastlane and he'll squash Bray at Mania.

[wullie]

If they can get a Luke Harper vs Brock singles match out of it somewhere I'm all for it.

[Lewis]

They can't keep throwing up shit feuds that take Lesnar out of the title picture. He's their biggest draw, and probably the biggest face in the company (as far as the adults go), so they aren't going to waste him on Bray Wyatt at THE BIGGEST WRESTLEMANIA EVER.

[Disco]

William Regal's initial trailers (as Steven Regal) are brilliant, I'd never seen them before.

[Ian]

They've booked themselves into a hole with Lesnar now where if he's not involved in the title picture there's not really much point in him. And if he is involved they've made him into such a monster you've got to come up with increasingly shit ways for him to lose.

The matches would be rubbish but one thing that would work with Lesnar vs. Wyatt if it happened is that you can see ways of having Wyatt win it but Lesnar would get nothing out of it.

[Jeet]

Brock vs Wyatt is set for WM for sure.

Only AJ is allowed to debut at the RR from Japan.

No matter if he wins or loses Roman is gonna be champ end of WM. Be bit dumb to have Roman being 3 times champs in less than 6months if he does lose at the Rumble and then wins it back at WM.

[Gray Fox]

Is it beyond Triple H to put the belt on himself? Someone heel really needs to have it so Reigns can go over at WM. Daniel Bryan story x 1000 because they actually like Roman.

[Ian]

Go the whole hog and stick it on Vince. :cool:

[Ian]

Watched the '01 Rumble yesterday as I'm in the mood. It's still the best Rumble match I've seen. Sort of wish I could stay up and watch tonight's live, even though it'll probably be pants.

Might watch another one today. The one Benoit won (despite being a bit :uhoh: now, obviously) was pretty good, wasn't it?

[Browning]

I liked how Terri managed to come out and then find some kind of camera blind spot and never be seen again.

[Ian]

I've wondered about that before. Must have turned round and walked right back up the ramp.

Maybe her cleavage hadn't had an airing for a few weeks.

[Baz]

I've a ten pound bet on the Royal Rumble with Mike.

If Brock wins, I win. If anyone else wins, he wins.

I assume the money will never actually get paid, but it's nice to pretend.

[Gray Fox]

So if Axelmania runs wild tonight, he becomes the first man ever to win 2 Rumbles at the same time?

[Browning]

No he was eventually eliminated on RAW. I wish they had done that angle properly.

[7om]

Absolutely convinced Triple Haitch is walking out as champion tonight.

Not even really sure why I'm looking forward to this because the last two Rumbles have been vomit-inducingly bad. I'm snowed in as well so it's not like I can pop out to get some booze in and get smashed watching it.

[SvN]

I'm genuinely excited for tonight. I haven't been this pumped for WWE since I was at Raw in Brooklyn. I hope I'm not let down.

[Gray Fox]

Absolutely convinced Triple Haitch is walking out as champion tonight.

Not even really sure why I'm looking forward to this because the last two Rumbles have been vomit-inducingly bad. I'm snowed in as well so it's not like I can pop out to get some booze in and get smashed watching it.

The last 2 you knew who was winning it at least a month prior. This one has 3 guys equally capable with the outside chance of a surprise.

Always better when it's not shoved in your face who is winning it, before hand.

[Browning]

I think it's time to retire when you're on RAW every week but rated less likely to win the Rumble than a Premier League player who played a game half way across the world the day before.

[Browning]

The show is 1am til 4am right? So should we expect the rumble around 2:30 or so? I'm interested in watching that one match but the rest of the card is appalling so I might sleep through it.

[five time]

Can I join the network for a trial and watch it tonight? Staying up that long only for the stream to die is one of the most frustrating feelings.

[SvN]

Yeah there's a free 30 day trial for new customers.

The preshow starts at midnight.

[7om]

I hope I'm not let down.

:happycry:

[Gray Fox]

There is not title match before hand so it'll start a little earlier than usual I imagine.

I want to watch live as there's not a chance in hell of getting through tomorrow without it spoiled. Only problem is I'm up at 5 for work. So either all nighter it, or watch it spoiled.

[Shindig]

Was 1992 the last time the Rumble was for the title?

[Browning]

Indeed. And it wasn't fair to Flair.

[SvN]

Best Rumble ever.

[Shindig]

It'll probably wind up being Reigns or Lesnar but I'd mark out if they gave it to R-Truth.

[Chrissy]

any linkage?

[Ian]

It'll probably wind up being Reigns or Lesnar but I'd mark out if they gave it to R-Truth.

I think I'd be happy if it was, within reason, anybody who wasn't one of them. Purely so the "anybody can win it!" shit could actually be true for once.

I'm going to pretend there's no possibility of HHH being given it, even though there totally fucking is.

[Gray Fox]

I'd love someone the likes of CM Punk(I know it wont happen) to make a surprise return for the Rumble. Pulling an all nighter :D

[Ian]

I really want to stay up because I fucking love the Rumble but I'm going to bed.

Godspeed, gents.

[Dark Soldier]

Can I post a link to a stream in here?

https://streamup.com/HennoGarvieeeeeeeeeiiiiiii

720p 50fps

:ae:

[Gray Fox]

Expecting at the least, the Balor Club, maybe AJ Styles, some kind of 'Taker return. Some surprise returns would also be good.

[SvN]

Here we go. Please don't disappoint.

[SvN]

Jesus Steph is looking good

[Pleb]

I've resubbed the network.

This better be good. Might end up watching this on catch up. Byron Saxton on the booth I take it? :moop:

[Pleb]

Cole getting knocked out already :drool:

What a start.

[phonics]

Anyone got a stream? Thought I'd hae a bit of a lol at watching 'The Rumble'

[Dark Soldier]

Can I post a link to a stream in here?

https://streamup.com/HennoGarvieeeeeeeeeiiiiiii

720p 50fps

:ae:

mate

have to make an account but worth it

[Pleb]

Ambrose :cool:

He hasn't lost it.

[SvN]

Brilliant first match. Great end too, even if it was a bit predictable as soon as KO started to set it up.

[Pleb]

What the fuck is this :D

[Gray Fox]

Big E getting jiggy will haunt your nightmares forever.

[Dark Soldier]

Well that was hideous.

[Gray Fox]

We'll see a few of them on the next botchamania.

[SvN]

Yep, that was botchtastic, especially the end

[Dark Soldier]

lol holy shit

[Gray Fox]

Oh hello. :D

[SvN]

Attitude era pop

[Gray Fox]

Already more over than Reigns. Got to love it.

[Gray Fox]

No sign of 'Trips' so far tonight. He's going in, isn't he?

[SvN]

KO eliminating Styles is probably one of the only few scenarios that wasn't going to cause riots.

[Gray Fox]

I can't think of anyone else bar maybe Ambrose getting away with it.

Reigns is coming back out after #30 to win this I feel.

[Dark Soldier]

Been a good Rumble tbh

[SvN]

Triple H winning :D What year is it?

I thought Bray had it for a while, but I genuinely cheered when Reigns was eliminated. Ambrose would've been a nice surprise, but I'll take Trips.

[Gray Fox]

As soon as it came to the final 2 it was too obvious Triple H would take it.

This does mean one hell of an attempt to get Reigns over at WM though.

[7om]

Called it, lads.

Fucking hell in 2016 HGH is actually champion. Mind blowing shit. You've got a chance to make a star there with Dean Ambrose and put him against his mate at Mania but they just go back to the tried and trusted formula of 50-50 booking and pushing a very select few. A decent Rumble, though, and miles better than last year's disaster.

The undercard was brilliant, so fair play to them, I'm not completely seething right now.

[Gray Fox]

Vince wants Reigns as the top guy. So long as it's his company he'll get what he wants.

I don't see the crowd not shitting on that match though. When the dull, boring heel(most of the time) authority figure gets the cheers and the fighting against all odds, being screwed over face gets the boos, something is wrong.
Perhaps it'd be different if some others weren't injured, but like I say, Vince gets what he wants.

[Browning]

Glad I didn't bother waking up for that to be honest. Other than Truth it was boring.

[Pleb]

The rumble match itself was great.

Shame the midcard (minus Ambrose) is shite. Now that Styles (:cool:) is WWE material he'll probably be shoved back to nXt now.

[SvN]

I thought the entire event was good. Was glad I stayed up for it.

[Lewis]

Since when could people not in the match (the Wyatt tramps) eliminate people still in the match (Baroque Lesnar), and since when did he start taking things like a bitch?

They botched A.J. 'Robbie Savage' Styles entrance as well. We were looking at Roman Reigns when his name flashed up and got that mega pop.

[Browning]

I haven't watched the Undercard too closely, I skimmed through it but I'll probably check it out properly tonight. The Rumble itself really underwhelmed me though. There wasn't one surprise entrant. They basically thought "AJ Styles and HHH? That'll be enough...." despite the fact every person on the planet knew they'd both be there and knew HHH was going to win. Oh and Styles did the grand sum of fuck all in 40 minutes.

Cole also totally gave away when Lesnar was coming. We all knew he was in it but still his music hitting had potential for an "Oh shit...." moment but Cole totally and utterly killed it. I called Lesnar about 10 seconds before his music, based purely on the commentary, which is unforgivable. I really think they shouldn't be told what is going to happen. It works in every real sport.

I also don't get why they booked the ending as they did. It was supposed to be all about HHH Vs Reigns, but to fuck him off and have Ambrose come close AGAIN was just a bit silly, as there was no doubt in anyone's mind who was going to win out of those 2. Personally I would have liked to have seen Reigns "win" it only to have Vince announce the 31st entrant.... HHH, and then HHH robs him of the title. As it stands HHH won completely within the rules of the match, especially considering Reigns came back showing no effects of his beatdown.

[Lewis]

I think they wanted to avoid Triple Haitch (or anybody) vs Roman Reigns at the end because it would have been clear who they were shitting on. People like Dean Ambrose for some reason, so the boo/cheer dynamic was less obvious.

[SvN]

I just rewatched Brock's entrance and unless I've not gone back far enough, all Cole said was "I don't see any help coming soon". Honestly, it seems to me like you're looking for reasons to not enjoy it.

[Lewis]

I was seething when Lesnar went out.

[Browning]

One thing's for sure, that HHH guy has a big future ahead of him. Even Vincent Kennedy McMahon was out there to congratulate him. They must have big hopes for him in the future.

[Browning]

I just rewatched Brock's entrance and unless I've not gone back far enough, all Cole said was "I don't see any help coming soon". Honestly, it seems to me like you're looking for reasons to not enjoy it.

It was clear as day to me. They spent a good 5 minutes talking about "YOU HAVE TO FORM ALLIANCES" and then when there was no one left to form alliances with they delivered the whole "Doesn't look like anyone can help...." it could only have been Lesnar at that point to come out and deliver suplexes.

But Michael Cole being shit and giving everything away is nothing new. "OH MY GOD! HE HIT IT! NEW CHAMPION.... NEW CHAMPION..... NEW CHAMPION.... NO! SO CLOSE!!"

It's not exactly something to totally damn a match, but at least JR did pretty much the same thing but always left enough doubt, somehow.

There were a few good points to the match and it certainly was an improvement, but I'm not sure why it's getting the sky high praise given that. one again, the obvious person won.

The show on the whole looked decent, I will say that. but nothing in the main event really worked for me.

[Gray Fox]

I seem to remember Cole gave a full bio on any entrant about 0.5 seconds after their music hit. Too obvious they knew who was coming.

The Styles moment was a good one, even if the wrong camera was on. Having never seen a Styles entrance before I had no idea who it was until I saw him.

I also don't get some of the feuds set up. Lesnar v Wyatts is a waste of Brock. He's gone from destroyer of everyone to taking on a guy who hasn't won a feud in about 3 years. It only makes sense if Brock has no contract after WM and they're finally pushing Bray all the way.
Styles/Owens is probably going to end in killing the momentum of KO and we all know who is winning out of a Y2J/Ambrose feud.

[Browning]

I seem to remember Cole gave a full bio on any entrant about 0.5 seconds after their music hit. Too obvious they knew who was coming.

The Styles moment was a good one, even if the wrong camera was on. Having never seen a Styles entrance before I had no idea who it was until I saw him.

I also don't get some of the feuds set up. Lesnar v Wyatts is a waste of Brock. He's gone from destroyer of everyone to taking on a guy who hasn't won a feud in about 3 years. It only makes sense if Brock has no contract after WM and they're finally pushing Bray all the way.
Styles/Owens is probably going to end in killing the momentum of KO and we all know who is winning out of a Y2J/Ambrose feud.

I don't think anyone knew, as he had weird music and they didn't show his name flash up. But yea, I still was excited to see him when he came out. Not sure why he didn't even get to hit one Styles Clash though.

Surely they'll have Sami Zayn involved with Owens somehow.

[Lewis]

What is Sami Zayn about? My friend reckons he's good, but I said it's irrelevant if he has comedy jobber music and 'local talent' ring attire.

[Browning]

Not a clue. The only reason I knew who it was when his music hit was because I noticed how funny his music was when I had to face him 64,000 times in the WWE 2kwhatever Career Mode.

[Jeet]

HHH to return and enter himself in the Rumble to beat Reigns :drool: The pop!

Had money on it @ 2.20, was 4.50 last week...

I thought I backed Kalisto @ 3.40, didn't - Knew he would win after his beat on SD

[SvN]

By the way, here's a better version of Style's entrance:

https://streamable.com/krv3

On reddit they reckon they hedged their bets incase noone knew who he was, which is why they didn't show the titantron.

[Jeet]

AJ did look abit hurt when walking out, did compete night before aswell.

Thought with the final 3 Ambrose and Roman gonna gang-up on HHH with Ambrose turning heel on Roman

[Browning]

Maybe it's because I knew who it was, but I'm surprised they didn't get it from "I am" alone, given that was the name (and 90% of the lyrics) to his TNA Theme song. But still that's a lot better from that angle.

[Gray Fox]

They seem to have been going for time in match = strength of showing this time around. Shame Styles couldn't do much but he looked a little sore on his way to the ring, to me.

[7om]

The one thing I took away from Lesnar's appearance last night was that he now has a massive fucking gut. Maybe he'll be the fifth member of the Wyatt Family.

[Lewis]

He looks like he's got a bit of a pelvic tilt (possibly because his legs are comparatively thin/weak). It's not the fabled 'Arn Anderson Belly' that Triple Haitch usually sports.

[Jeet]

So Roman to regain the title at WM, maybe have a returning Bryan costing HHH the match and then celebrate with Roman so the fans don't boo the place down.

If Roman won after a 30min break and massage at the back, the fans def would have be screwing

Word is Joe to debut on RAW - seems to suggest on his twitter

[Browning]

I doubt we will ever see Bryan in a WWE ring again.

[Waffdon]

He's been cleared for a while according to the interwebz

[Pleb]

I'm anticipating a triple threat with Lesnar, H and Reigns.

[Browning]

Cleared by proper doctors but not by WWE. If he was he would have been in the rumble.

[Gray Fox]

I'm anticipating a triple threat with Lesnar, H and Reigns.

Prepare for some disappointment.

[Disco]

Since when could people not in the match (the Wyatt tramps) eliminate people still in the match (Baroque Lesnar)

At the very least since (I think) Stone Cold did it to Brett Hart in the mid 90's.

[Pleb]

Prepare for some disappointment.
How's Seth's injury coming along? You could always make it a fatal four way? Now that would be fatal :harold:

[Smiffy]

Since when could people not in the match (the Wyatt tramps) eliminate people still in the match (Baroque Lesnar), and since when did he start taking things like a bitch?

They botched A.J. 'Robbie Savage' Styles entrance as well. We were looking at Roman Reigns when his name flashed up and got that mega pop.

Hogan did the same with Sid Vicious if I recall?

As for Styles, I thought it was deliberate to focus on Reigns facials. I was wondering who on earth it was when the crowd popped, I didn't realise he was that well liked.

I thought the Rumble was great barring the ending too.

[Smiffy]

Prepare for some disappointment.

I was expecting Lesnar to now have a feud with the Wyatt's but then he's never really there so I don't think it would work. Then again Bray Wyatt did all the work against The Undertaker when he wasn't so you never know.

[Disco]

They edited Hogan's out though, even had the announcers redo the commentary. I wonder which version is on the network.

[Browning]

Having the Wyatt family eliminated Brock after being eliminated was stupid, but I guess they have to protect THE BEAST and couldn't possibly have 4 guys eliminate him legitimately. It made no sense though. If Wyatt's entire aim was to eliminate Lesnar he should have fucked off after it, and if he was aiming for the title the Wyatt Family shouldn't have stopped at just Lesnar.

Then you had Miz standing on commentary for ages and entering when he wanted, begging the question "Why doesn't everyone do that?"

All it was missing was Eva Maria coming in at the end to chuck HHH out.

[Disco]

The Miz thing was a bit silly, back in the day we thought Edge was sneaky for lying on the floor for half an hour.

[SvN]

Mizney Land was the line of the night though, so we'll let him off.

[Browning]

Oh yea. :D I had forgotten that.

[Waffdon]

Grado isn't half getting into decent shape :o


Wwe soon

[Browning]

Nikki Bella's career may be over. RIP Divas Division.

[Lewis]

Hopefully they'll use my idea to re-package Tamina as 'Big Mammy Cool'.

[Shindig]

I just wonder what you do with Styles on the mic. The most heated I've seen him is when some indie lad he was working with decided to '3:16' him. AJ hasn't seen that promo so he went on an excellent, "Don't you DARE QUOTE MAH JAYSUS!" rant.

That's the hook I'd go with. AJ Styles. The J is for Jesus.

[Disco]

An 'American Jesus' gimmick has legs.

[Shindig]

He can knock on the Wyatt's dressing room door and ask them for 'a moment of their time'.

[Disco]

Cody Rhodes would absolutely nail that gimmick, what a world we could have lived in.

[Browning]

He's just tweeted that Stardust is over, so unless he's only just heard about Bowie he should be getting a new gimmick.

[Shindig]

Cody, Styles and Roman Reigns as a God-fearing tag team. They can feud with New Day for the rest of time.

[Ian]

At the end of the last man standing match I actually wanted to see the chairs spot more than the tables.

The Rumble was a bit meh for the first 4/5ths of it and the lack of somebody from years ago with recognisable music to liven up proceedings was shit but once it got to the last six or so it was really good. Reigns getting dumped out so abruptly was great, even if that left it with a final two with a mega-obvious outcome. They weren't going to have Ambrose carrying the two big belts or headlining Wrestlemania at this point. The Game hitting was brilliant though and he's still in proper nick. Him and Reigns is probably going to be a pretty wank match though.

[Dan]

Watched the Rumble. Probably won't watch again until Mania :D

AJ Styles was cool, even if he did nothing, and HHH eliminating Roman was as close to a legit pop as I've come from WWE in a long time, plus the R-Truth cameo & the Mizney Land quip were both pretty great from an entertainment standpoint. New Day are the latest in a line of entertaining tag teams to randomly pop up, and will no doubt follow most of them to irrelevance upon breakup since WWE doesn't give a fuck about anyone that isn't Reigns, Cena or a McMahon relation.

Everything else was pretty standard though. Braun Strowman is terrible at practically everything he's required to do (even moreso than Rowan), and chunks of the Rumble were ruined by focusing too much on Roman Reigns - I don't care about him getting beaten up for five hours by Upper Midcard 3MB, and we missed AJ's entrance & Kofi's elimination because we were looking at Roman for no good reason. The crowd booing when he came back was hilarious, as people clearly still don't like him, and yet he's going to be Champion again in two months time & it's going to be presented as if it's the greatest moment in history.

Hoping for an Ambrose/Owens/Styles/Sami ladder match for the IC title at Mania :drool:

[Pleb]

All of you should try and watch Breaking Ground.

Three episodes in and it's very good so far.

[Gray Fox]

How's Seth's injury coming along? You could always make it a fatal four way? Now that would be fatal :harold:

Well he got an ACL/MCL tear in November. You're looking at anywhere from 9 months to a year for that. Add in that he's a high flyer and a top star. They wont want to risk bringing him back early in case it blows out again so really SummerSlam is the earliest you're likely to see anything of him.


I was expecting Lesnar to now have a feud with the Wyatt's but then he's never really there so I don't think it would work. Then again Bray Wyatt did all the work against The Undertaker when he wasn't so you never know.

I thought Lesnars deal was up after this WM but must have missed him signing a 3 year extension in the middle of last year. That kind of makes the whole feud pointless. You either have Wyatt losing his 78th consecutive feud to anyone people care about or you have Lesnar lose. In which case he's gone from monster who broke the streak and swatted people like Cena down easily, to losing to Bray Wyatt.

[Weaver]

Brock Lesnar eliminated Goldberg to build their Wrestlemania 20 feud, and I think Kurt Angle eliminated Shawn Michaels pre-Wrestlemania 21, when the formers had already been taken out.

Lesnar looked dumb as fuck wandering around outside the ring - three other guys had re-entered the match to take him out, and then he stood around looking angry instead of returning the favour, jumping back in and trying to take Wyatt out.

Out of interest, what is Braun Strowman's background? Was he in NXT? Never heard of him until he turned up on Raw.

AJ Styles :drool:

Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns vs Dean Ambrose was announced as the main event of Fast Lane on Raw last night.

[wullie]

I think Brock ran in and battered Goldberg but then someone else in the match eliminated him?

Braun Strowman was with NXT but I don't think he was ever on TV apart from as a Rosebud

http://40.media.tumblr.com/f307d2ff6333564e6732f8b86f095970/tumblr_ntm6wmmvcM1r01xdro1_500.jpg

[Browning]

I thought he was John snow's mate in game of thrones before turning up on RAW.

[wullie]

Bo Dallas' rap was legitimately better than Flo Rida. I hope he gets properly battered by Heath Slater at some point so they can stop pretending celebrities are tough in front of TMZ reporters.

[Jeet]

Rock and Usos vs New Day at Wm....

Sick of the Usos vs New Day, Rock in a tag match because prob scared getting injured again

[SvN]

The Rock won't be wrestling.

[Jeet]

The Rock won't be wrestling.

Even worse, just in The Usos corner

[wullie]

You said he was wrestling HHH a few weeks ago. I'm starting to think you're not in the know.

[Lewis]

The Rock's cameo was alright this time. I think Big Show embracing him counts as a face turn.

[Jeet]

You said he was wrestling HHH a few weeks ago. I'm starting to think you're not in the know.

Due to his filming commitments any injuries etc will cause a huge delay and cost him mega bucks.

[wullie]

Rain makes you wet.

[Jeet]

Rain makes you wet.

Can't really sue Mother Nature.

[Ian]

Do they not call it the Walls of Jericho any more? And if not, why are they calling it by the incorrect "technical" name?

[Bob Sacamano]

Anybody caught any of 'Lucha Underground', season 2 starts tonight, I've just started season 1, it's pretty awesome.

Also they've got Rey Mysterio on board :happycry:

[Disco]

Is John Morrison there again?

[Shindig]

Do they not call it the Walls of Jericho any more? And if not, why are they calling it by the incorrect "technical" name?

It's a Boston Crab these days, anyway.

[Ian]

Indeed but I'm sure the last few times I've seen it they've been calling it the Liontamer. Which is in turn just another name for some variety of Boston Crab as well but I don't know why they don't seem to call it the Walls of Jericho. Unless I'm just imagining that.

Anyway, I'm into 2007 on my Network trawl and I have another match between Jeff Hardy and Johnny Nitro. I think this will be the third I've seen and they've all been really decent matches. I assume Cena vs. Umaga is terrible and yet I'm strangely tempted.

[Disco]

Has Joey Mercury had his...incident yet?

[Ian]

That when he got biffed in the ladder match or something else?

[phonics]

I watched the Rumble the other night. I was quite enjoying it until the ladder/money in the bank bit. I'm going to assume he hasn't been relavant in a while?

[SvN]

The Liontamer is slightly different to The Walls of Jericho. I've heard them call both in recent months.

[wullie]

Liontamer was always my favourite, it was helped by him fighting only little fellas in WCW so he could make it look like he was about to snap them in half. Big Show and Kane don't give you that unfortunately.

[Pleb]

I'm hearing whispers that Daniel Bryan might get released :gs:

Won't be surprised if true.

[Browning]

It seems to be "COMING ON MONDAY" every single week, and then never happens.

[wullie]

Bret Hart's got prostate cancer

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBQBeULMQpQ/

[Lewis]

I'm surprised there wasn't a pop at Shawn Michaels in there somewhere. It covered all the other Bret Hart bases.

[Shindig]

Ain't that a kick in the head.

[niko_cee]

It's probably just that I haven't seen him for 20 years, but fuck me, The Hitman hasn't aged well.

[Browning]

Strowman Vs Taker at WM..... wow... just wow.

[SvN]

Pube sandwich, etc.

[7om]

I'm all for them pushing new talent and whatnot but fucking hell. From the little I've seen of Strowman he looks incredibly green. How the fuck is Taker going to tombstone that oaf?

It's shaping up to be a proper shit Mania.

[Lewis]

I bet they've just built a full match/feud around Undertaker SITTING UP after being choked out.

[Gray Fox]

But Strowman is a BIG GUY and in the end, isn't that all that really matters?

[Dan]

So it's Wyatt/Taker 2, only with a much, much shitter person wrestling, despite the guy from the first one being the one who's going to be doing all the actual feuding other than the payoff.

Boy that sounds like fun!

[Browning]

Nah Wyatt will be busy jobbing to Brock Lesnar after moaning about how many t-shirts he sells.

[SvN]

Lads, Undertaker is not going to wrestle Braun fucking Strowman at Wrestlemania.

[Shindig]

Have they ever had a FakerTaker FakeKane tag match?

[Browning]

Lads, Undertaker is not going to wrestle Braun fucking Strowman at Wrestlemania.

Vince loves a big guy. It'll happen.

[7om]

I've spent the last hour watching the build up and subsequent match between Owen and Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 10. Fuckin hell its a masterclass :drool:

[wullie]

I loved that whole feud, although Owen kicking Bret's leg out of his leg and then the mountain of spit on his mouth after beating him are the two unfortunate highlights.

[Smiffy]

I don't believe Strowman and The Undertaker will clash at WrestleMania. On a separate note, what has happened to Dolph Ziggler? I know he got a win on Raw but he should just fuck it all off.

[wullie]

He's comfortably in the Cesaro Section of wrestlers who can be relied on to have good matches and have people be into them regardless of what they're doing, but outside some brief highlights that's all they're getting.

[7om]

I loved that whole feud, although Owen kicking Bret's leg out of his leg and then the mountain of spit on his mouth after beating him are the two unfortunate highlights.

I thought the match itself was enough and then at the end of the show when Bret beats Yokozuna the look on Owen's face is priceless, so good. I'm going to follow it through to their cage match at Summerslam as well.

[Browning]

Daniel Bryan is officially done.

[Trancemeister]

Daniel Bryan announces retirement tonight.

[Gray Fox]

Is this due to the arm thing or the concussion?

Either way it's shit. Though at least he got his big moment.

[SvN]

Please be a work.

[Lewis]

Hopefully he's got one last bump in him so somebody can get some cheap heat. Sheamus kicking him as he goes through the curtain would do wonders for him.

[Gray Fox]

About a month ago he posted on twitter asking "Can WWE clear me already?"

You wonder what's happened in that month if he felt good to go then.

[7om]

'What's Baniel Dryan doing in the Impact Zone, Tazz?!'

[7om]

http://youtu.be/kfMI9j8WwFE

[Pleb]

Daniel Bryan announces retirement, Taker returns. Match set for Mania. They both retire.

Calling it right now :drool:

[Dan]

So Bryan apparently asked for his release recently so he could go back to the indies since WWE weren't going to clear him. Vince refused, and he's now stuck in the same spot Mysterio was, where they've added all the time he's been out injured to his contract & are going to force him to sit until it expires.

If true, this is annoying.

[Gray Fox]

Taker doesn't have an opponent still, so it'd be nice. But I just don't see this being a work, unfortunately.

I do like this recent teasing of a fall out between Reigns and Ambrose though.

[Mike]

Bryan to return in next years Rumble. Right guys? Right?? :(

[wullie]

All the doctors telling Bryan he was fine, WWE keep saying no and then eventually Bryan finds out he's not so fine. Shove that in your pipe, CM Punk.

The only good thing to come out of it is that now the Royal Rumble can carry on without them having to book it around the threat of everyone booing when Bryan doesn't win.

[Browning]

Is that really the case? Or has he just given up on WWE ever clearing him despite him being fine?

I would tell them where to shove extending his contract too considering he's been on Total Divas and whatever else so clearly was still working.

[five time]

Apparently he had another test this week, the results of which convinced him to stop.

I wonder what the odds of Vince introducing more vigorous testing are given that every wrestler ever must have a pretty lengthy concussion history. Someone like D'Von's brain is probably not far from pulp at this point.

[Disco]

Have they refused to clear him over concussion concerns?

[7om]

My feeling when watching his speech last night was that he looked like a guy who has come to terms with not wrestling ever again so I very much doubt we'll see him show up in Ring of Honour or NJPW.

[wullie]

They kept offering him non-wrestling positions while not clearing him, I wonder if he'll take one up now. Have him and Regal teaching everyone in NXT, and then when they get callups give Shawn Michaels the credit.

[7om]

The most distressing part about last night was that I had to sit through three hours of fucking garbage to get to the good part. I was hoping he'd go on first and then I could just switch the fucker off.

I don't have a Nielsen box, though, so Vince gets nothing from me.

[Gray Fox]

I was hoping for a work, but you could see it in his eyes straight away. By the sound of it the test that he had last week told him he should stop and he's spent since then coming to terms with it.

Easily the most over person I've seen(I'm too young to have lived through Austin properly) and amazing how he's still over more than anyone on the roster now. I'm just glad he/we got WM30 out of it.

[wullie]

That Raw where he beats up the Wyatt Family in the cage is one of the best crowd reactions I've seen. The entire arena's with him.

[Lewis]

They kept offering him non-wrestling positions while not clearing him, I wonder if he'll take one up now. Have him and Regal teaching everyone in NXT, and then when they get callups give Shawn Michaels the credit.

He's surely nailed on for post-Authority General Manager. They could have Roman Reigns win the match that ends the Authority, and then Daniel Bryan could come out and raise his hand so everybody has to cheer. :drool:

[Shindig]

Manager / Life Coach, for sure.

[Disco]

I was hoping for a work, but you could see it in his eyes straight away. By the sound of it the test that he had last week told him he should stop and he's spent since then coming to terms with it.

Easily the most over person I've seen(I'm too young to have lived through Austin properly) and amazing how he's still over more than anyone on the roster now. I'm just glad he/we got WM30 out of it.

I'm now up to Feb 1999 in my marathon and the reactions Austin gets even just appearing on the big screen are ridiculous. Very different crowd to today but still, imagine CM Punk turning up and tea-bagging HHH assisted by the ghost of Eddie Guerrero and that's about an average Austin pop. They still clearly don't really know what they're doing, the title just changed hands basically off air in an empty arena. I also have to take back what I said about Miz being a bit brazen at the Rumble, he's just copying Vince from 99 who commentated for about half an hour after having already been in the ring.

[wullie]

The newest test Bryan did was one he set up to convince WWE he was ok, and it showed a lesion on his brain that explained why he was having seizures. Also, he has no way of knowing exactly how many concussions he's had over the years. If Brie Bella doesn't show up to work and Chavo Guerrero starts getting a load of texts, we'll know why.

[Weaver]

TNA have been uploading the first episodes of The Asylum Years on YouTube for a while... I finished episode 8 last night, expecting to go straight onto episode 9 (which was uploaded the other day)

I couldn't find it, and it turns out it's been pulled because Don Harris is wearing a Nazi shirt to wrestle in.

The first few months of TNA borders from excellent to ridiculous. The last episode featured a 20 minute Triple Threat match between AJ Styles, Jerry Lynn and Low Ki, whilst also featuring a stupidly long segment between Disco Inferno, someone from Tough Enough, the Dupps and Ed Ferrera (the commentator) and Don West calling the match LIVE, with the following rules:


You need 10 points to win
-If you put someone through a table, it is 2 ½ points
-If it's a burning table, you get 5 points
-If you put your opponent's head in the toilet, it is 2 ½ points
-If it has shit in it, it is 3 ½ points
-If you goose a woman (grab her ass), it is 2 ½ points
-If you goose a man (grab his ass), it is 3 ½ points
-If you hit Jeremy Borash, you get 2 ½ points.
-If you hit the ticket lady, you get 2 ½ points.
-If you have sex with a farm animal during the match, you get 2 ½ points
-If you spank your opponent with the stick horse, you get 2 ½ points
-But if the person likes it, you lose 2 ½ points
-If you introduce an opponent to Jay (whatever/whomever that is), you get 2 ½ points
-If you cry like a big old pussy, you lose 5 points
-If you stick your opponent's head in the cotton candy machine for one full rotation, you get 10 points.
-If you take a weapon from a fan and use it, it's 1 point.

[Browning]

http://thebiglead.com/2016/02/10/titus-oneil-vince-mcmahon-suspended-daniel-bryan/

Fucking hell.

[7om]

Panic over:

http://www.kayfabenews.com/fans-rejoice-bryan-clarifies-just-retiring-total-divas/

[Jeet]

Yeah did wonder what that was at the end of RAW, Vince did seem pissed.

Ah well, least the father of year can spend 90 extra days with his kid, what a dad! Make It A Win!

[Browning]

Going back to Taker/Strowman they are now reporting WWE scrapped it due to fan backlash. You're welcome.

Although that probably translates to "we made it up".

[Gray Fox]

Less than 2 months til 'Mania and 'Taker has yet to show up and find his opponent. I expect he'll turn up next week/the week after but is it possible he just wont be there?

[Browning]

Hopefully. He should never have come back after the Lesnar match.