The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Browning]

Bayley to attack Sasha, giving her the belt by DQ. It’s so shit and that’s why it’ll definitely happen.

This would have been better than what actually happened.

[Ian]

Yeah that at least would have been relatively smart heel work rather than making Asuka look like a mong.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've just read about it, fuck me.

[Queenslander]

The King of Pro Wrestling Championship sound bloody exciting.

Have you read about this Disco?

[Ian]

Is this the year-long gimmick-match only "title" thing I read NJPW had announced?

[Queenslander]

Is this the year-long gimmick-match only "title" thing I read NJPW had announced?

Yeah it is. Okada doesnt want anything to do with the double title scene so he apparently came up with KOPW. Im hopeful it will be fun as cage matches, 2 out 3, ladder matches etc are very rare to non existent in NJPW.

I cant find the quote but he hinted it being at the edge so it might include top wrestlers from NOAH, AJPW, Dragkn gate etc.

[Ian]

I suppose it's a different kettle of fish because as you say NJPW doesn't do that sort of thing very often but as a boring twat who likes his gimmick matches to be for a feud-specific reason (not "Okay it says Hell in a Cell in the calendar, sooooo") I dunno how I feel about that idea.

[Queenslander]

I suppose it's a different kettle of fish because as you say NJPW doesn't do that sort of thing very often but as a boring twat who likes his gimmick matches to be for a feud-specific reason (not "Okay it says Hell in a Cell in the calendar, sooooo") I dunno how I feel about that idea.

I definitely have faith in Gedo and Okada to deliver a fresh championship scene for Okada to compete in.



This write up is a good one.

The KOPW Championship is not represented by a championship belt; the Champion at the end of the year is presented with the KOPW trophy

The KOPW Championship is vacated at the end of each calendar year

On August 26th, an event will be held that includes four singles matches; each wrestler can suggest a stipulation for their own singles match, and the fans will decide whose choice they want to see for each of the four matches

On August 29th, Summer Struggle in Jingu Stadium will hold a four way match involving the four winners from three days prior to determine the provisional KOPW 2020 Champion

From that point, the Championship will continue to be contested with fans voting for their choice of the involved wrestlers’ suggested stipulations; Okada stated “two out of three falls matches, steel cage matches, ladder matches” were all possible

https://www.sescoops.com/njpw-announces-top-matches-for-summer-struggle-in-jingu-okada-announces-new-kopw-championship/

[Ian]

"What if, right, no hear me out, what if it was like King of the Ring and Cyber Sunday had a really unwieldy lovechild?"

[Queenslander]

:D

Without Okada I doubt this would have been given air.

[Ian]

I see HHH has been on the Pat McAfee showed and apologised for Cole.

I'd love to know what the fuck they're building towards here.

[Queenslander]

It is a very unique work that is for sure.

[Disco]

I'm behind on my Jap-graps so I haven't seen the amazingly named SENGOKU LORD as yet. This new tournament thing does seem a bit odd for New Japan, like Webly I'm not sure how I feel about gimmick matches for little or no reason and I don't think they necessarily fit the style. On the other hand Okada is the best so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

[Queenslander]

This is going to be good fun.

NJPW STRONG debuts Friday August 7, as LEC presents the first round of New Japan Cup 2020 in the USA!

Karl Fredericks vs KENTA!

Jeff Cobb vs Tanga Loa!

David Finlay vs Chase Owens!

Brody King vs Tama Tonga!

https://www.njpw1972.com/77731

#NJoA #njpwSTRONG

[wullie]

The Rock is buying the XFL, and I think that's in real life.

[Disco]

He knows you can run for President without being bankrupt with a string of failed businesses behind him right?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ratings are down, how can we turn it around?
Give them more of Baron Corbin?
Even I'm getting bored of him now
What about THE BEST IN THE WORLD...

1290341665862033408

[Ian]

I wonder if Vince put a massive wager on them getting below a million for Raw and he's determined to hit it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's put down Rock's cash for the XFL.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1290373427459751936

I seriously hope they mean "new" and that the UE (I'm a couple of weeks behind on NXT) aren't being called up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1290273132058759169

Oh and SummerSlam wont be at the PC.

[Browning]

Brawl For All 2.0 :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watching my first RAW in months as I want to hear if it is actually another Brawl For All and I wanted to see how shit the new faction are. Drew mentioning the Randy rumour about him shitting in bags during his promo was class though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

RAW Underground from Shane which looks like some sort of weird fight club MMA hybrid.

1290459422884536321

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1290460838009212928

Shayna and Sasha were fighting and Asuka ran down to attack Bayley who was ringside and the ref rang the bell :harold:

Edit: One of the worst episodes of RAW I've watched yet it was entertaining. RAW Underground is so shit yet incredible at the same time.

[Ian]

The whole show sounds like it might not have a redeeming feature.

Other than Tonga Jeff, obvs.

[randomlegend]

Shane McMahon is such a baller.

[Disco]

Things going for it: BABATUNDE!!!

Things not going for it: Everything else.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The whole show sounds like it might not have a redeeming feature.

Other than Tonga Jeff, obvs.

Pretty much.

Although it was really disappointing that Joe didn't slap Murphy and Seth around.

The Underground thing is weird, it was 99% double leg takedowns and then some ground and pound before Shane runs in yelling THAT WAS SO SICK and claiming there are no rules.

As Disco says though, Babatunde though :drool:

[Ian]

Apparently because Kevin Dunn in about 90 seconds of actual match during Raw underground there was 70-dd camera cuts.

[Disco]

It's honestly one of the reasons I stopped watching, it's intolerably bad and you don't realise how bad until you watch a production where they actually think about this stuff.

[Shindig]

Zooming in on every impact is a stupid choice.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They completely ruined the Dream/Cole cinematic match with that shit.

It wouldn't have been good without the cuts but my word did they make it even worse. I felt sick at one point.

[Ian]

He ruins normal matches with it let alone this stuff.

[wullie]

The camera movement to sell a punch has given me a sense of motion sickness at times, just let the wrestlers do it and keep the camera steady you twats.

[Disco]

1290675181120348172

I'm sure I've banged on about this before and this isn't even a great example but camera angles make a difference.

[Ian]

1290982041161469955

Erm...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"first time"...

Fucking hell.

[Browning]

This would be shocking if it wasn't from a man who wanted to shag his own daughter.....

Oh wait, he was "hacked" and "never said that".... ok then.

Bet he was hacked again.

[Ian]

This would be shocking if it wasn't from a man who wanted to shag his own daughter.....

Oh wait, he was "hacked" and "never said that".... ok then.

Bet he was hacked again.

wait wat

[Browning]

I had forgotten about it until Simon Miller said in a video about Janetty that there was a big controversy and we should google it.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5802160/wwe-marty-jannetty-legacy-facebook-hackers-sex-daughter-bianca/

[Ian]

Fuckin' hell.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I just went on his Facebook and 90% of the posts are about him fucking someone in the old days.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tag Team Quizzlemania next week!

1291062714601807874

Woof.

[Ian]

:drool:

That'll be good.

[Queenslander]

NJPW Strong will draw on the West Coast by the sound of it.


https://youtu.be/pF60CHaBcVA

[Ian]

Not sure how they're hoping to draw any attention while Adam Cole is feuding Pat McAfee tbf.

[Queenslander]

:D

Kenta v Karl Fredericks is going to be one stiff match.

[Queenslander]

Anyone seen the Will Ospraey Doco?

[wullie]

If they're really going to put one of the pre-show guys in a match, at least give me Sam Roberts vs Lesnar.

[Browning]

The Janetty interview is something else....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PaYnrqZVc0E

He doesn’t start until 4:00 and I’m only at 6:10 and I can’t believe how much of a train wreck he is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"I didn't say I killed him, I said he disappeared (in a river)"

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"I can't say he deserved to be ki... erm, I didn't say I killed him".

Fucking hell.

"My brother Geno, bad boy not one to mess with and I could never tell him because I know what he would have done if I told him but I already took care of it myself"

Every single line is basically him saying he didn't kill him and then the next line he implicates himself.

[Ian]

If the police aren't even aware of a missing persons thing I assume you can't convict somebody on a confession alone?

Or a confession that you then totally fail to do anything other than make it sound like an even bigger confession. :face:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/08/former-wwe-announcer-say-karrion-kross-used-to-commit-673240/

Former WWE announcer Hugo Savinovich says WWE NXT Superstar Karrion Kross was once a killer for hire.

It should be noted that Savinovich is known for making wild claims on social media at times. He noted in a recent Facebook video that Kross was a "real life mercenary" that was contracted to do "dirty jobs" for mafia groups when he was younger. Savinovich said Kross the mafia groups liked Kross for a real-life hitman due to his "scary look."

"He's a warrior, he's an athlete that once was a hired murderer. This is not 'a making this, making that'. No, this is the real thing. Now he's so passionate about wrestling. I love my friend, he have a great friendship. God bless him and his love with Scarlett," noted Hugo, translated from Spanish.

:harold:

[Queenslander]

His faction can be called wet works.

[Ian]

Cole vs McAfee confirmed for Takeover XXX.

C'mon NXT, you're meant to be better than this.

[Disco]

It's a shame isn't it, the move to tv has not been good. Used to be that NXT was worth the network sub on its own.

[Ian]

Lockdown and the changed dynamic of NXT with Raw and Smackdown now it's on TV / a third brand has made it a more confused show.

People are hanging around too long. If they're going to have people who just potentially stay there forever then fine but you need to use the top guys waaaaay less. Gargano / Ciampa already outstayed its welcome, I don't need to see that ever again which is a problem if they're staying on the same show. They probably need to mix things up a good bit whenever the next draft is but from there they need to decide what NXT actually is. Is it a developmental brand that happens to have it's own TV show? If so you need to keep the turnover up a bit more. If it's its own thing then do it that way.

The wrestling is still very good and they still know how to build talent (we'll see how it ends but this NA tournament stuff has been really good for the lesser utilised guys in it, as was the cruiserweight thing that Escobar won) but it has a bit of an identity crisis right now I think. And shit like Cole / McAfee we do not need.

[wullie]

I think if nothing else, they need the paying public back in so some of their stuff can get booed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

From the longest reigning NXT Champion to Pat fucking McAfee.

[phonics]

I think 'She Been Daughter' is still funnier than the murder confession.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This new faction :face:

[Ian]

They sound great.

[Shindig]

Someone needs to inform WWE that jeans and t-shirt is not a bold new look.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1292224754074685448

That is glorious.

I'd love it if there were viewers in the stream who didn't know that Zelina and Bianca were wrestlers.

[Baz]

https://www.twitch.tv/rasslin

this is my life now

[Browning]

This has been a great Quizzlemania.

[Ian]

Oli's face when he thought he was gonna be on his own had me lol-ing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Denise's promo intro :cool:

[Ian]

Did you see the clip from Fightful where she said BRING ON THE HAMMER? Check Blampied's Twitter for the video and the context.

[Browning]

Summerslam Week :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Did you see the clip from Fightful where she said BRING ON THE HAMMER? Check Blampied's Twitter for the video and the context.
Incredible stuff.

Summerslam Week :drool:
It's going to be fucking tasty.

[Ian]

WWE should sign Bea Priestley to lure in Ospreay to their house of sadness.

Where they'd inevitably have him in a comedy tag jobber duo with O'Shea, obviously.

[Mike]

https://www.twitch.tv/rasslin

this is my life now

Boss this! 2000’s Smackdown is on now.

[Ian]

I've had it on for the last hour or so. You forget just how much man-on-woman violence WWE loved in this days.

[Ian]

Also HHH and Steph seem to be showing off their vast wealth and influence by hanging about backstage in front of a vile-looking spread consisting of a big platter of chopped up salad.

[Mike]

Haha I did think the food on offer looked rubbish. Like a fruit one would have been fine

[Disco]

Dynamite has really hit its stride over the past month or so but this seemed like an odd use of Jake Roberts:

https://i.imgur.com/otZxcwb.png

Although if Archer is going to turn him into his downtrodden dogs body I could see the mileage in that.

[Lewis]

I just briefly flicked over to see Ric Flair laid out in an empty arena. You couldn't buy that commitment these days.

[Disco]

Clearly you could as I doubt he's doing it for free.

[Lewis]

I wouldn't rule that out.

[Browning]

He may as well. He would only lose it in the divorce anyway.

[Ian]

Say what you like about Raw and Smackdown but at least they're not including Ricky Morton's hair in their broadcast.

[Browning]

The Tampa Bay Times has reported that 24-year Phillip A. Thomas was arrested inside the home of WWE star Sonya Deville, with charges being that he was attempting to kidnap Deville after stalking her for months. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Thomas had been planning the abduction for quite some time, and was found with a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape, and mace.

- -

Fucking hell...

[Ian]

Fucking hell.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Catching up on NXT as I'm a little behind the Swerve/Atlas match was quite fun.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg1sa9b3QNw

The top rope move by Atlas around 1:50 in is lovely. It's almost like a Super-Murphy's Law.

[Gray Fox]

Renee Young has apparently quit WWE.

[Disco]

That's their best presenter gone then, good for her.

[bruhnaldo]

When they have her in the stands watching MOX and pan to her for 50% of the match

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's their best presenter gone then, good for her.

I thought she was also quite good as a commentator.

Although it's easy to look good next to Graves, Cole and King.

[Gray Fox]

When they have her in the stands watching MOX and pan to her for 50% of the match

I reckon she moves into broadcasting for actual sports. She was probably financially better off at WWE if she were to stay in the graps business.

[bruhnaldo]

I bet Mox makes truckloads for AEW tbh so I'm not sure they're making moves based on income but also I don't disagree with any of your points. I think she'd do great in actual sports to be honest she's really good at her job imho.

[Shindig]

I had no idea Kamala died from Covid last week.

[Ian]

Yeah Young is really good, wherever she ends up she deserves better so good luck to her.


I had no idea Kamala died from Covid last week.

I didn't realise it was Covid that got 'im.

[Shindig]

I believe he tested positive for Covid and it tagged teamed with his diabetes.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQc9zxLqrhE

Gone too soon. :(

[Ian]

Velveteen Dream winning to go onto the Takeover card is certainly.... an interesting choice on WWE's part given everything that's going on.

[Browning]

Rich and famous guy claims there’s no evidence his mate is a nonce and continues business as usual. Hopefully it comes back to bite them hard.

[Ian]

https://whatculture.com/wwe/new-look-at-wwes-crazy-thunderdome-setup

Drone cameras. Great. More fucking angles for Dunn to rapidly switch through.

[wullie]

I give it five minutes before the first cock and balls in the crowd.

[Gray Fox]

Feast your eyes upon this:

https://i.gyazo.com/00faff4968deed84cdd1216780943e4e.jpg

[Queenslander]

Nothing could possibly go wrong with that set up.

[phonics]

I watched the entirety of RAW because my friend who had similarly awful plans to me told me they were opening it during the show. It was genuinely the least fun I've had in some time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

RAW is an absolute cesspit right now.

Apparently Brother Love is getting booted from RAW and Shane will be the executive producer soon so it's bound to get much better.

[Ian]

I've barely watched any wrestling in the last few weeks. The booking week-to-week of NXT is falling off as well so hopefully Takeover delivers. Smackdown has sounded better but you've still got shit like this nonsense they're doing with Gable, pushing Jeff Hardy as if anybody gives a fuck and calling up Matt Riddle to talk about his frostbitten toes.


Feast your eyes upon this:

https://i.gyazo.com/00faff4968deed84cdd1216780943e4e.jpg

Jesus wept.

[Shindig]

One man appears to be next to himself. EDIT: Wait. It's happening to others. There's like 8 different people on that wall. Fiddling attendances even behind closed doors. :D

[Ian]

There's another picture with one woman about 9 times in a row.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It was a rehearsal so they probably didn't have the numbers.

It was also a clusterfuck apparently.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1296280832970301440

Yikes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Loved that ladder match.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

McAfee is either a natural or he's worked so fucking hard for that. Easily the best celebrity match I've seen and a legit quality match.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Scarlett in a full body catsuit :drool:

The match itself, in particular the finish, was crap though.

[Queenslander]

Perfectly booked monster heel.


https://youtu.be/0O7nC60mHas

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kross has a separated shoulder.

Thought that was the case last night as his right shoulder just didn't look right and he could barely lift it. Perhaps that is why they went for a finish that felt rushed and flat.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, this:

1297327719865344002

This:

1297325265757118467

And this:

1297327809166225410

Were seriously great from McAfee. You can tell the guy trained hard and wanted it, easily the best celebrity performance in a ring.

[Browning]

He's no Snooki.

[Ian]

McAfee was way better than I expected, fair's fair.


The match itself, in particular the finish, was crap though.

I thought the match was decent enough and quite liked how they laid it out but the finish was a bit pants.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The greatest transitional champion ever, Sasha Banks.

5 RAW title wins, 0 title defences.

[Browning]

You can’t be a transitional champion from one person straight back to the same person, so she’s even shit at that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jesus, I've just seen that ALL her titles have been that way.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Keith Lee to RAW then :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I did mark out for Roman's return. Firstly I didn't expect it and secondly it means the fiend will get buried.

[Ian]

What a surprise that Asuka was comfortably the best thing about the show.

Lol at Keith losing to a backslide.


Keith Lee to RAW then :(

Endless debut feud with Dolph Ziggler here we come.

[Browning]

I haven't watched any of it, so I can't comment on her match quality, but the booking of Asuka sounds like total bilge. She loses (clean?) to Bayley, gets the shit beaten out of her afterwards, then an hour or so later she's able to beat Sasha. Way to shit on Sasha, the title, and make the new champion look completely inferior to the champion on the other brand....

Anyone with half a brain cell does those matches the other way around.

[phonics]

I haven't watched any of it, so I can't comment on her match quality, but the booking of Asuka sounds like total bilge. She loses (clean?) to Bayley, gets the shit beaten out of her afterwards, then an hour or so later she's able to beat Sasha. Way to shit on Sasha, the title, and make the new champion look completely inferior to the champion on the other brand....

Anyone with half a brain cell does those matches the other way around.

She didn't win clean, Sasha helped. It'll be setting up the Sasha v Bailey fall out they've been previewing for 18 months.

[Ian]

Also I'm seeing people just going with the "Reigns has returned as a heel" idea but I dunno if that's wishful thinking.

WWE frequently book babyfaces to behave like wrong'uns and he was doing that to the Fiend, a heel, and Boatman who's been more heelish as the feud has gone on so who even knows.

[wullie]

Didn't seem much of a heel, particularly with his new T-shirt and teeth. I think they'll just have him be less smiley and sufferin' succotash and all that bollocks

[Ian]

I mean he once tried to do a murder on Strowman and that didn't turn him heel so I don't see why gobbing off while thwacking him with a chair would.

[bruhnaldo]

Yea plus remember braun was like throwing small blonde women around so he's on the heel side of things.

Rumor has it ROMAN will be getting a title shot at Payback (which is ... somehow... this Sunday) which would be pretty hilarious if he won but I would love to see him lose and then let THE FIEND fuck up his mental and actually make his character interesting.

Also, Roman looked like he aged 10 years since I'd seen him last. Lookin' like Edge w really dark hair in the face for me.

====

the Sasha Bayley shit was so fucking stupid and I truly hope Sasha fucks off from WWE so soon.

[bruhnaldo]

Also I don't know how you all feel about him but JESUS CHRIST Drew McIntyre is so fuckin boring.

They really had Randy go thru all these people, Edge... Christian... Big Show ... Ric Flair... just so the guy whose entire bit is now

"Yea, I also had second chances, but I was less of a dick about them than you, Randy *BAGPIPES*"

can go over again in the boringest fucking way oh my GOD fuck off already.

Edit: They really teased both finishers for this idiot to win on some roll up bullshit for the nerdy beta announcer boy to go "NEVER SAW IT COMING!"

the whole "HAHA WE USED THE TAGLINE" shit was so obnoxious in general but THAT? Fuck off already.

[Ian]

They only have one type of promo for people to use on Keith Orton at this point which is "Yeah but you're a right dickhead, mate."

Although this feud is the first one I remember that's referenced that time he shat in somebody's bag.

[Browning]

If there’s one guy who can’t possibly solve a boredom problem, it’s Orton.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Orton is great in the build up to a match but then the actual match is a snoozefest for 95% (at best) of it.

Randy "Working Hold" Orton just doesn't cut it.

I was just starting to get into the match (I loved that powerbomb punt reversal) and then it ends.

[Disco]

I had to watch Smackdown on Saturday because all the proper wrestling was postponed for netball or cornholing or something and wow what a show that was. A stream of non-sequiturs, odd booking, horrendous camerawork, nauseating lasers, and super distracting screens with smelly wrestling fans with their faces too close to the camera (although props to whoever replaced theirs with 'Fire Velveteen Dream' part way through).

Saving graces: Asuka, Asuka, and Asuka again. Plus that countdown challenge is a nice concept, it just needs a fairer challenge for both competitors to work properly.

[Ian]

I suppose it must be hard to motivate yourself when you've already been in the Best Wrestling Match Ever.

[Browning]

Beat the Clock was done better in 2004 then it was on Smackdown. Both facing the same opponent is ridiculous.

[bruhnaldo]

I don't disagree with any of you re: Bor'ton to be fair.

[Disco]

I suppose it must be hard to motivate yourself when you've already been in the Best Wrestling Match Ever.

I didn't notice him in the Boner Yard.

[Ian]

https://gmsrp.cachefly.net/images/20/05/20/0dc60e2239324d151f86a9df859178e1/690.jpg

Show some respect, Disco. :nono:

Like I didn't by not even remembering the correct title. For shame.

[Disco]

He's still no Chad2Badd.

[Ian]

I'm more of a Malibu Al guy.

[phonics]

It’s not a high bar but I think Randy is doing the best outside the ring work of his career. His ‘I’m a complete dickhead and I’ve now become self aware of what a dickhead I am.’ Character Is good.

I like the ‘Drew McIntyre doesn’t think Randy’s any good or worthy but as the Champion he has to step up and stop Randy from RKO’ing the entire locker room for kicks’ storyline. It’s just on a bad show.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a surprise that Asuka was comfortably the best thing about the show.

Lol at Keith losing to a backslide.



Endless debut feud with Dolph Ziggler here we come.

I actually think Keith Lee might start a feud with Drew.

WWE have made a HUGE thing out of him and Drew training together, champion mentality etc etc. Also, Vince must be a fan.

They booked him to look strong at Survivor Series and the Rumble too.

The only problem is that both are faces and neither of them should be heels at this point in time. Perhaps they'll play out the Orton/Drew thing a bit longer though.

Admittedly, I thought this was a lot more likely had Drew not won last night.

Regardless though, I do think Keith Lee should be the one to break the recent shit streak with the call-ups.

[Browning]

This is just part of the cycle with orton. Every few years he goes full on deranged dickhead and people jack off to it and then he stops bothering, all the while still being dull in the ring.

[phonics]

This is just part of the cycle with orton. Every few years he goes full on deranged dickhead and people jack off to it and then he stops bothering, all the while still being dull in the ring.

I agree but that Curb Stomp into RKO at Mania bought him 5 years with me.

[Browning]

Looking over it, I really can't get my head around the recent Sasha/Bayley booking. I've already said why the PPV booking was dumb (ok, it wasn't clean... that makes it a bit better I suppose, but still someone in their 2nd match of the night after also being beaten down shouldn't be winning a title, especially if they lost the first one) but add to that Bayley jobbing to Kairi who had one foot out the door and jobbing to Naomi who had just wrestled Sasha and.... I don't even know who is meant to look good amongst all this shit. Charlotte, I guess.

[phonics]

Similar to the Otis/Mandy Rose thing they built up and then left turned. I think they really want to do the turn between Sasha/Bayley in front of an audience.

The rest is just holding pattern stuff.

[phonics]

I agree but that Curb Stomp into RKO at Mania bought him 5 years with me.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SatisfiedAdoredHoneybadger-size_restricted.gif

So good.

edit: Additional hot take while I'm here; that gif is more interesting than anything HHH has done in the ring.

[Ian]

It’s not a high bar but I think Randy is doing the best outside the ring work of his career. His ‘I’m a complete dickhead and I’ve now become self aware of what a dickhead I am.’ Character Is good.

I like the ‘Drew McIntyre doesn’t think Randy’s any good or worthy but as the Champion he has to step up and stop Randy from RKO’ing the entire locker room for kicks’ storyline. It’s just on a bad show.

I broadly agree with all this. The matches are dull but Orton's overall work this year has been great.


I agree but that Curb Stomp into RKO at Mania bought him 5 years with me.

Aren't those five years up now? :P


I don't even know who is meant to look good amongst all this shit. Charlotte, I guess.

Everybody, and therefore nobody.

When that Twitch stream was put up last week of a bunch of Smackdown broadcasts around the year 2000 you couldn't help but notice that one thing the booking really had going for it is that almost everything was being done in service to something, most of the characters seemed to have an actual purpose.

Basically nobody in WWE is booked in a way that consistently makes them look strong. Champions frequently can't get a win after they've got a belt or only win scrappily, somebody being apparently buried for weeks in end if often a precursor to a random big title shot, people get what seems like a big win one week and then it disappears the next.

I don't hate the general thrust of the Asuka / Bayley / Sasha thing. I totally get your point, but I also see what they were going for but if anything they actually undercooked the ending a little. They should've laid the Banks / Bayley mix-up on a little thicker to give Asuka a more glaring opening to get the Asuka Lock in.

One thing that does surprise me about the booking last night is the number of clean wins. With another PPV just a week away specifically called PAYBACK I was expecting all sorts of horseshit endings.


I actually think Keith Lee might start a feud with Drew.

I obviously hope they don't do the dirty on Lee and there are signs that they do genuinely like him a lot, but on the flipside there's the evidence of basically every other recent NXT callup.

[Ian]

I should add actually that I didn't hate Keith vs. McIntyre last night. I'd have probably knocked 5-7 minutes off it and taken some of Keith's rest-holds out of it.

Obviously keep that SICKENING thumb-to-the-eye spot which appeared to be what cut McIntyre? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watching RAW as I want to see Keith Lee and fuck me it's bad.

The crowd noise is far too loud, the camera angles for the Orton punts were horseshit and they're now doing Nia & Shayna teaming up for Sunday it seems.

Edit: Turning Aleister Black heel and putting him in a feud with Kevin Owens though, yes please.

Edit: They've fucking changed Keith Lee's theme.

Edit: They've also given him a shirt...

Also, it's a crap non-finish debut but that surely puts him in the title picture.

[Disco]

The problem with the crowd noise is it's what WWE want it to sound like and therefore nothing like the actual reactions of a crowd.

[wullie]

Chris Benoit appearing in the crowd following one about Velveteen Dream being a nonce, they should just get the NXT guys on webcams to be safe.

[Disco]

You'd think they could weed that kind of thing out when it's obvious ones like Benoit, it's the bank of Savilles/Glitters/Harris's that I'm waiting for.

[Mike]

Apparently they had someone dressed in a KKK dress and someone else put up an execution video.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA264HwTeLw

I can't believe they fucked Keith so hard with his theme :(

[Ian]

I can, however, believe that they had his debut Raw match be one he very obviously wasn't going to win.

[bruhnaldo]

So Roman has a title shot i'm hearing? lol

[Ian]

I hadn't heard that but it's entirely the sort of thing they'd do.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In a no holds barred triple threat, which is surely just a normal triple threat.

[bruhnaldo]

Can't let a guy randomly take a nap on the outside of the ring if there's rules you know :rolleyes:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There are no countouts and no DQ's in a normal triple threat.

[Ian]

It's why multimans are Bork's favourite. He can do two minutes work at the start, go for a lie down then come in for a pin.

[bruhnaldo]

Oh right haha that makes sense.

[Pleb]

Bad News Barrett rumored to return for some juicy NXT comms.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's not a rumour, it's been announced.

He's only doing a week, likely because Mauro is still in Canada.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kross has had to vacate his title.

[Queenslander]

Time to give it to Balor.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://wrestlingculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/zbyitfg23asferadg.jpg

Turn him back heel and let him feast.

[Queenslander]

You would have to keep him away from anyone from his previous runs imo.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think they'd only need to keep him away from Gargano.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's heel :drool:

[Queenslander]

Has Strong had many NXT title matches? His ROH and NJPW matches were great.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He held the NA title for a few months.

Don't know if he's had an NXT Championship match though, mostly because Adam Cole held it for so long.

[Queenslander]

Hopefully he gets a chance as he's as good as Cole was before they joined NXT so is Kyle O'Reilly just quietly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So next week's NXT (on a Tuesday) is going to be a cracker.

Breezango + Isaiah "Swerve" Scott v Legado Del Fantasma in a six man street fight

And then

Gargano v Cole v Balor v Ciampa in a 60 minute Ironman.

[Queenslander]

That Iron man match looks awesome. :drool:

[Browning]

So much for keeping him away from Gargano...

[Ian]

It's hard for me to get too excited about a) multi-man matches and b) a multi-man with that combination of people we've seen loads of together, Balor aside.

But I'm interested in an iron man multiman and it could have a pretty frantic finish.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5_lxk82GBY

Finally, the Hart/Feldman collab we've all been waiting for.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So Wade Barrett is now listed on WWE in their active wrestlers page...

[Ian]

The allure of getting buried for an umpteenth time must be strong.

[bruhnaldo]

i know they signed him to do announcing on NXT but I don't know if you guys already mentioned that prior to Mahow's post.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well it was announced as a one week thing but he's doing next week too.

[bruhnaldo]

Ooooh true. I mean I liked him at the end there but I also only started back watching when he was at the end of that run, so.

[wullie]

Shame that the NWA is getting cleaned out, that was chugging along nicely.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I liked Shayna's double submission a lot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mauro is done :(

[Gray Fox]

Hasn't he done this or similar before?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's taken breaks but he's done with the company now.

He and Nigel are the best commentators they had. One has been released and the other furloughed.

[Ian]

I was surprised Keith Lee got such a strong showing on Sunday and they then specifically had him not take the fall in the Raw triple threat.

Can't wait until in a fortnight's time Vince changes his mind and he's jobbing to Lucha House Party.

[Ian]

Oh, and the entirely predictable nature of Reigns' participation in that match was all worthwhile as it gave us Lil' Naitch's incredible bump.

1300244994935132163

[Ian]

Well I'm glad I forgot NXT was Tuesday this week and just saw a spoiler for the main event. That's some Raw/SD-type booking right there.

[Shindig]

They need to retire that ring spot.

[Ian]

Is it comfortably the worst version of it too? Second rope and neither of them are that big.

[Disco]

Couple of things on that. Firstly Brett's rope is the deadliest rope so that's in its favour. But, if the ring breaks that easily how does it survive a triple threat or even a normal tag match, let alone the rumble or any of the battle royales.

[Gray Fox]

couple of things on that. Firstly brett's rope is the deadliest rope so that's in its favour. But, if the ring breaks that easily how does it survive a triple threat or even a normal tag match, let alone the rumble or any of the battle royales.

OSW Review?

[Disco]

Yup, I watched their Hulkamania stuff before the customary retro marathon back when I got the Network.

[Gray Fox]

The Aloha-Arn is one of my favourite things to quote of that, that no one gets.

[Disco]

That and Cunt Hogan, which is at least a bit more self explanatory.

[Shindig]

Eat less, Chronos.

[Gray Fox]

That and Cunt Hogan, which is at least a bit more self explanatory.

He's winning Cunt of the Year every time he's eligible.

[Shindig]

The last episode made me turn a corner on Backlund. Imagine 1995 with him as Champion. Apparently that was the original plan.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I was surprised Keith Lee got such a strong showing on Sunday and they then specifically had him not take the fall in the Raw triple threat.

Can't wait until in a fortnight's time Vince changes his mind and he's jobbing to Lucha House Party.

A few have said that Vince wants to "push Keith to the moon". Obviously shit has been said before about wrestlers who then fell away because Vince got bored/the rumours were just false. However, Keith is special.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just finished NXT and I'm a little disappointed.

The Street Fight 6-man tag was good but could have been so much better.

The main event was a bit too NXT wank-a-thon and I knew we'd be getting some bullshit finish. I was half expecting a 1-1-1-1 tie so whilst this result was better than that it was still pretty shit. I also think that they should have scaled back the adverts, there were so damn many in that hour and it would have been nice had they come up with a better finish.

I'm guessing it's Balor's time but I think they really should have put it back on Ciampa after last week. I also think that Balor will be going back to proper full on babyface as he's been more of a tweener recently.

[Ian]

A few have said that Vince wants to "push Keith to the moon". Obviously shit has been said before about wrestlers who then fell away because Vince got bored/the rumours were just false. However, Keith is special.

Him being special isn't really what matters, they've bombed out special talents plenty of times having called them up. What matters to Vince is that he's big. (Even if they've gone "Oh my, your paunch is ghastly, cover it up!")

[Browning]

It’s good to see that the anarchist group who are meant to fuck shit up and leave have decided to adhere to the brand split.

[Ian]

I'd take them just stopping high-fiving each other.

[Ian]

Bork's contract is up but apparently not interested in going back to UFC. :(

Can't wait for him to be given a contract by Vince where he earns even more to do even less.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's also apparently not interested in AEW.

Rumours are that he wants to re-sign for WWE but he'd rather stay at home during the 'Rona so neither side are in a rush to do the deal right now.

[Disco]

Why would he bother with AEW? He'll sit on his ranch and tap up Vince for a few big dates should he feel the need.

[Ian]

The only way he's going to AEW is if Tony Khan gets a hard on for the idea of signing him and manages to outbid Vince.

[Disco]

They could probably pay the money but I just don't think Bork wants to go somewhere he would likely have to work more dates for less exposure, him and Vince have been doing this for nearly 20 years after all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh I don't see it happening at all. I think the media people covering it wanted it out there before all the Demo-Dweebs started thinking Bork might pitch up.

[Disco]

I liked that nobody had noticed his actual deal expiring, just the merch deal because it meant he disappeared off the website.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1301979700676435969

I know they had a few injuries but they were so underutilised on the main roster.

[Ian]

I thought they'd have been perfect if they'd been kept as part of Seth's gang.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think that was the plan but one of them (Rezar I think) got injured for 6 months or so.

Also, WWE have asked talent to stop using 3rd party stuff, Twitch and Cameo have specifically been mentioned.

Firstly Big E is going to be SEETHING as he makes a shit load of money on cameo. Secondly, I assume that doesn't include Youtube because there's no chance they'd stop UpUpDownDown.

[Gray Fox]

And talent have been reminded Vince doesn't just own their character, but their real names too.

[phonics]

Vince doesn’t want them to actually stop. He wants to own the rights to the non-kayfabe version of their wrestlers but he can’t insert it into their contract in the middle. New signees will have to sign off their real name as well.

It’s the wrestling version of the 360 record deal.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/360_deal

[Disco]

Fucking carnies, if you ever needed a reason (other than the shitness) not to watch WWE then this is it. There's also a Bayley interview doing the rounds where the Fox reporter is astounded that a multi billion company makes its performers arrange and pay for their own travel between shows.

[Ian]

Do any of the big(ger) companies treat their wrestlers as actual employees?

[Disco]

AEW have proper contracts with things like medical cover, as do NJ with those that are actual employees, most other places Independent Contractors are treated as such (ie not fucked over).

[Ian]

More responsible carnie dickheads, at least then.

[Disco]

There are plenty of shitty promoters I'm sure (it's wrestling after all) but what Vince is trying to do now is akin to paying a plumber to come and unblock your sink then deciding you own his name as a result.

[Ian]

Presumably if they bin the house show circuit as speculated he'll be trying to shaft them for monies as well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rumours are that Lana is the reason for the ban as she was doing adverts for a drink company. This is her response:

1302304614012710912

:D

[Shindig]

She wrote that on a peddle stool.

[phonics]

As someone who bought the AEW PPV To stream to his friends. Don’t bother watching this one. Really bad.

[Queenslander]

Feel like they are missing a big crowd.

[Ian]

As someone who bought the AEW PPV To stream to his friends. Don’t bother watching this one. Really bad.

Really? is the FTR match any good? I was gonna go out of my way to watch that.

EDIT: Along with the main event, and maybe Jericho/Cassidy and whoever Shida was wrasslin'. Is it worth having a look just at those?

[Gray Fox]

1302416896805842945

Smashes his head on concrete floor after overshooting the table. Genuinely out cold. Ref wakes him up and they carry on. :|

[Ian]

#wrasslin

[phonics]

Really? is the FTR match any good? I was gonna go out of my way to watch that.

EDIT: Along with the main event, and maybe Jericho/Cassidy and whoever Shida was wrasslin'. Is it worth having a look just at those?

I thought this was the best thing that happened all night and it was like 35 minutes in to a 4 hour show.

1302409582224920576

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a top quality botch.

[Queenslander]

Matt Sydal botch + coffin meme is very funny.



https://www.facebook.com/2206472266245448/posts/3334409000118430/

[Ian]

Raw sounds like it was absolute shite.

It's all well and good them booking Keith Lee strongly but the usual NXT callup feud of "You will wrestle Ziggler / Jezza FOREVER" isn't THAT much more interesting just because it's Randall Keith instead.

The show genuinely sounds like it barely had a redeeming feature.

[Browning]

https://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/64436/Marty-Jannetty-Claims-Murder-Confession-Was-Beginning-of-a/?fbclid=IwAR3RYXi78cRIapZZ0vNUeGfbxQItVZeNSwJRaC81 ybF5tZfg892ke5Iy3pI

Because that’s normal....

[Ian]

"yo boy MJNDHOUSE still got it"

Sure, Marty, okay.

[Shindig]

Velveteen Dream should try that defence.

[phonics]

Having Matt Hardy come out and do a shoot promo about what happened while ignoring the word concussion saying 'I'll be back soon'.

Pathetic.

[Queenslander]

Yep he can keep is carnie brain back stage for a bit.

To be fair he was cleared of a concussion though.

[phonics]

Yep he can keep is carnie brain back stage for a bit.

To be fair he was cleared of a concussion though.

Didn't injure himself but he's taking several weeks off in the middle of a storyline and his missus turns up on tv visibly shaking her head when he tries to say hes fine.

[Gray Fox]

It truly is a Happy Miro Day.

[Queenslander]

Didn't injure himself but he's taking several weeks off in the middle of a storyline and his missus turns up on tv visibly shaking her head when he tries to say hes fine.

I agree it is junk Tv and Hardy is masssive carnie.

[Queenslander]

I know the Bucks are against it but they need to have a 205 title and a heavyweight title.

Moxley
Miro
Kenny
Cage
Archer
Cody
Hangman

Is a solid heavyweight division.

I dont want to see Darby, Jungle Boy etc pinning any of those blokes clean at their current weights.

[Queenslander]

Stacked G1 Climax.

Ospreay is enormous atm.

https://i.ibb.co/Jtf5GTK/dedfbd0be45e7734-1200x675.jpg (https://ibb.co/pwtJMTx)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at AEW hiring Twitch streamers to wrestle for them now. Losers.

[Disco]

Who?

[Ian]

I think he's doing a banter about Rusev.