The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Ian]

Walter vs. Dragunov was comfortably better than anything on Summerslam. The false finishes were good and I liked that after all the head/neck work Dragunov just fucking yanked him off the ground, like in No Mercy when the submission would suddenly be yanked on a little bit harder for the tap, to make Walter submit. I was worried they were gonna do their overused "he passed out from the pain!" nonsense and that ending was way better.


Ripley is awesome.

When she was bossing it in NXT I foolishly allowed myself to think "Man even WWE can't ruin Ripley." They're trying their level best and she still looks great. That is how good she is.

And for your Ricochet point I just don't understand why you wouldn't find an excuse to let him go 15-20 minutes on every show. It's madness.


Bianca getting the Kofi treatment

I was mulling over this specific similarity between the ends of their reigns earlier. Not good "optics" is it? Logically (Becky being a hypocrite and winning after a sucker punch) it should be a heel turn but fans simply don't want to boo Becky and I don't think there's much they can do to change that.

[Gray Fox]

- FUCK BIANCA BELAIR IN PARTICULAR is an odd strategy but the reaction for Becky Lynch was impressive as was the hugeness of the crowd in general.
- Drew McIntyre has a costume prop sword that scares the absolutely terrible Jinder Mahal.
- FUCK ALL OF OUR WOMEN CHAMPIONS seems to be the theme of this show. Nicki Cross is really good (and trying her best bless her) and the Charlotte/Ripley bits were great. Ripley is awesome.
- Lashley and Glodbog went to a ref stoppage. At Summerslam. in 2021. This shouldn't be that hard chaps.
- Big (Bald) Patch John finally losing the battle with nature. Fun but so deep into a show that felt longer than it can have been. Roman Reigns still can't do heel banter.
- Finally, you own a Ricochet but I didn't see him on this show what the fuck were you thinking?

For Bianca, I can only imagine it to be one of two things. Either it is a fuck you in particular moment(god knows what upset Vince this time), or Vince has panicked. Sasha was all over the build up so likely she's got the Rona and he's only found out late, maybe even on the day. Bianca was due to drop the belt and so he's had to come up with something. Ended up pushing the Becky button. It only going 20 seconds also suggests she's not yet in match ready shape if it is the latter.
If Bianca is suddenly demanding her rematch on Friday and then loses again, then it's the former.

Would you believe that Sword actually belongs to one Vincent Kennedy McMahon? It's also quite real.

Nikki A.S.H was doomed the second she cashed it in so soon. They could have done loads with that and her being a superhero etc, but a cowardly cash in followed by fans just not caring was only going one way.

Oldberg still being there goes to a problem I'll mention in a minute, but even worse, the finish seems to open it to a rematch down the line.

Big Match John having his last real big match was okay. He was always losing here. That he's announced he's done again for a while already, suggests this is the last big one he gets.
The problem here is that they've built Roman up into what is now the top guy. Going back to the Oldberg point, the company has no big stars any more. Almost everyone is demanded to wrestle the same style and the promos are written for them. As this is true they now have to bring back their biggest guy, who is still Bork Lesnar.

It should lead to some interesting dilemmas for Heyman on-screen, but unless Bork is signed on for a year or two, this will be the Cena stuff over again. Roman should win here, but if he does, there really isn't anyone left on smackdown to take it off him.

[Ian]

Larson off've Going In Raw made the very good point that in the case of WWE they probably really didn't think about the Bianca thing much beyond "Banks is out and we want A Moment." That's probably the extent of it.

As for Oldberg / Lashley, I am hoping their rematch is for Saudi then I can ignore it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've read that they knew Sasha wouldn't be ready for about 8 days.

Also they're planning to make Becky the top heel.

[Browning]

Becky will never get over as a heel and trying it is a recipe for disaster.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Here's the sauce:

https://411mania.com/wrestling/details-becky-lynch-planned-role-smackdown/

[Ian]

Unless the fans are more into Bianca than I thought (and they didn't seem awfully fussed about her getting the absolute shaft at the show) then I my thought yesterday was the exact same as what Browning said: that shit ain't gonna work.

They already made her the biggest babyface in the company last time they tried to turn her heel.

[Disco]

She's going to be a heel :D Do they watch their own show?

[Shindig]

And she only got that big because Nia Jax broke her face.

[Ian]

Eh, I'd say that (and the brilliant image of her dripping blood in the Raw crowd) was part of it but for me (Clive) the bit that took crowds from "we like her" to "Okay we need her to be champ" was when they had her batter fuck out of Charlotte thinking that was a heel turn and the live crowd just cheered the fuck out of it.

Trying to turn Becky is not the exact same as when they tried to bring Rollins back as a heel (because he wasn't a massively over babyface when he left) but is the same insofar as fans don't really want to boo returning stars. Also they had him attack Reigns who people were giving shit to all the time then.

[Shindig]

Yeah, it's a bit daft to have her come in and squash someone. Like, at least have her smack her about with a chair or cut her ponytail or something. Something that says, "I'm back and you're supposed to boo me."

EDIT: That ponytail idea is golden. Cut it off, boo who did it. Have Bianca spend months / years getting it back into shape. Long term booking that will draw dimes.

[phonics]

Yeah, it's a bit daft to have her come in and squash someone. Like, at least have her smack her about with a chair or cut her ponytail or something. Something that says, "I'm back and you're supposed to boo me."

EDIT: That ponytail idea is golden. Cut it off, boo who did it. Have Bianca spend months / years getting it back into shape. Long term booking that will draw dimes.

Even Vince Russo would think that was a bad idea.

[Shindig]

No it's not. She's lost one of her moves of doom. There's legitimate reasons for cutting it off and the first time she cracks someone with her new ponytail will get a massive pop.

[Disco]

Vince Russo did exactly this all the time in TNA, they cut Awesome Kongs hair on a random episode of Impact once, not even as part of a hair match or anything.

And it's even easier with Belair; it's a braid, you can just braid it shorter. It's still silly though as the feud has to involve waiting for someones hair to grow back.

[phonics]

No it's not. She's lost one of her moves of doom. There's legitimate reasons for cutting it off and the first time she cracks someone with her new ponytail will get a massive pop.

So your plan is to remove the unique part of your stars image so that she can one pop four years later when it grows back?

[Shindig]

Yes. That's the whole plan. It'd definitely work and Vince won't sack her 2 months in.

[Ian]

"Don't worry Ricochet, you're jobbing in minutes but Kross won't come out of this looking any better than you do."

https://www.ringsidenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/karrion-kross-9994-346x188.jpg

[wullie]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ElqSXtkXUAUFpLM.jpg

[Ian]

:D

I did not make that connection, but yes.

To be fair that's about the right era for WWE's current pop culture references.

[wullie]

Look out for the upcoming debut of Shhhcarlet by his side.

[Shindig]

And remember, the power's in the ponytail.

[Ian]

Look out for the upcoming debut of Shhhcarlet by his side.

WWE does want to get social media talking so a wifebeater gimmick in 2021 would certainly get a reaction.

[Ian]

It's a pity WWE can't get an actual heel performer to generate the sort of heat Logan Paul was getting from the Raw crowd last night.

You love to hear it though.

[Disco]

They do seem to be pretty clueless, I don't know how representative the NXT crowd was (I only watched Walter/Dragunov) but it was at the performance centre so I assume it was full of their own people and it did it's best to make the match less watchable. If that's their idea of how a crowd should be then it's no wonder they don't seem to have a clue.

[Ian]

It's just one of a handful of issues with it right now (which is presumably set to grow rapidly) but NXT misses Full Sail.

[wullie]

I loved this heel reaction they got a few years ago. Old school classic, insult (lack of) local sport team


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XigdA6kiLcE

[Ian]

That was great. Reigns' four-word promo segment after beating the Undertaker was great too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's just one of a handful of issues with it right now (which is presumably set to grow rapidly) but NXT misses Full Sail.
Their agreement with Full Sail is done apparently. They're at the CWC (which is about to have the set changed) for the foreseeable future.

The plexiglass is going which will be a huge help though.

[Ian]

Oh I know they're not going back any time soon, but it doesn't stop it being worse.

[wullie]

Oh yes

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/talent_champion_lg/public/all/2021/08/CORIBN_07232021ej_052_Baron_Profile--06860212ca2695d6b039582cf6c7ca0a.png

[Ian]

I'm so happy with Jezza's current angle, it must be at least 8 months since they last did a "MITB briefcase gets stolen" angle.

It's a shame because he's been really funny otherwise.

[Ian]

WWE's New Year's Day PPV is apparently going to be called 'WWE Day 1.'

I look forward to a show with a name implying fresh beginnings and whatnot probably continuing the same feuds currently taking place on Raw.

Bring back Great Balls of Fire.

[Ian]

Lol at Cole going out with a defeat where his opponent is handcuffed to the ropes.

Also Joe looked absolutely knackered against Kross but winning with the Musclebuster was cool.

[Disco]

It crossed my mind that you don't do that to someone who is sticking around, but then I also watched Summerslam.

[Ian]

I can genuinely see that being their idea to be fair. I mean, it's unique I guess. But even the crowd were clearly a bit "er wat?"

But any match where somebody gets the other dude in handcuffs and doesn't win is very, very stupid.

[Shindig]

Has anybody had a match where both wrestlers are handcuffed? I guess you can't really limit your workers like that. It's a step up from a blindfold match, I guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can genuinely see that being their idea to be fair. I mean, it's unique I guess. But even the crowd were clearly a bit "er wat?"

But any match where somebody gets the other dude in handcuffs and doesn't win is very, very stupid.

It also didn't help that he was tapping out on a kendo stick which he could have easily picked up and swung it at KOR.

It was a proper main roster finish. Which is a shame as I thought this was their best match (and one of Cole's best ones) in the rivalry because they didn't add too much unnecessary guff.

[phonics]

Red Velvet is dog shit: https://streamable.com/8g95y2

[Queenslander]

:lol:

[Ian]

:D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is stunning.

[Gray Fox]

Some "Yes!" chants started up during Punks promo and he stopped them to say that's someone else's schtick and they should be a little more patient.

So that's Bryan to AEW done then.

[Disco]

They had Don Callis doing full on yes chants last week, the prevailing opinion seems to be that he is on the way.

[Ian]

That's not new information is it?

I thought the reliable sources said ages ago the only way he'd have resigned WWE is if they let him wrestle.in Japan which was simply never going to happen and it seemed unlikely he'd go anywhere else non-AEW.

[Disco]

It's been talked about for a couple of weeks, I just haven't seen anything official and he hasn't walked out on an episode of dynamite.

[wullie]

I saw Big Show's on the next PPV, is Mark Henry going to be wrestling for them at some point? His hall of pain stuff was the best, get a part time version of that back up and running

[Disco]

The Substantial Attraction is wrestling QT Marshall so I imagine most people will put the kettle on during that bit.

[Ian]

I feel like last night is about the dozenth time WWE have teased doing Cesaro / Gable and then "lol nah non-finish."

Also, were it not WWE I'd almost feel like they're building Balor to be the guy to take the belt off Reigns eventually. The idea of a 'worker' type constantly losing his spot to the likes of Cena, Bork, Edge, etc. before he finally gets it and wins would be good. What a pity that isn't what's going to happen.

[Queenslander]

Woooooo

https://mobile.twitter.com/WrestlingCovers/status/1432151555705290755

[Disco]

Trevor Murdoch is their new champion, a man who is only 40 yet has spent the last 20 years looking at least 10 years older than that. Quite fitting really.

[Queenslander]

Yep.

Proper carny show and to top it off Flair thanked Vince, HHH and Shaun Michaels Infront of an indie audience.

I do like the idea of Andrade winning the belt with Flair as his manager.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9CSJn8_z3Yk&feature=share

[Ian]

I can't believe I'm going to say it but that Charlotte / Nia match is worth seeking out just for it's weirdness. My theory is Nia clocks her earlier, there's then this extended resthold bit where Charlotte is doing a LOT of talking but to Jax (rather than a heel gobbing off for the look of the thing) and then I assume doesn't get the sort of response she was hoping for and clocks her back (there aren't obvious hits but they both spend a lot of time through the rest of the match holding their faces when headshots weren't a bit part of the match) and it deteriorates from there into botches and at times just seeming to refuse to take moves from each other.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I did hear about this.

It sounds mental.

[Ian]

In some ways it's weirder than the matches where it just properly breaks down into a shoot almost because I don't think either of them really want that to happen because they're both of good standing in WWE but yeah, it's an odd thing.

[Shindig]

I got the money shot from twitter. It just collapses and they can't figure a way out.

[Ian]

I reckon it was going wrong earlier than some of the articles I've read seem to think. Way earlier.

I'll be genuinely interested to see if the truth of it comes out.

[Queenslander]

Nia is still a dangerous worker from what I saw.

[Ian]

I think we're long past the point of that changing.

[wullie]

Would Becky Lynch have taken off in the way she did if Nia Jax wasn't all swinging fists and sore holes? Probably

[Ian]

I think we discussed that the other day but yeah, she was already getting over. The Jax stuff and that image of her in the crowd with her face caved in definitely helped but it was happening anyway.

[wullie]

The time when she was meant to turn heel on Charlotte and instead everyone in the arena loved every second of it was great, felt like she was on her way then if they let her.

[Ian]

That is very much the catalyst in my mind for her going from being a fairly popular part of the womens division to being THE thing because of how hard the fans rejected the heel turn.

Which to be fair I thought they'd utterly reject this as well but unless it was all piped in noise her reactions on Smackdown were a bit of a mixed bag.

[Disco]

She looks like a danger to shipping more than anything else or is her outfit just very unflattering?

[Ian]

I don't think she's ever had remotely flattering ring gear.

[SvN]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c7/2e/6c/c72e6c04da3ae794a318904d7b3335c2.jpg

Hard to believe it's the same person.

[Disco]

I don't think she's ever had remotely flattering ring gear.

No but it's either worse for her shape or she's gotten bigger. I really thought she could be decent when she was in NXT, she was wrestling Asuka though so maybe not the best guage.

[Disco]

...unless it was all piped in noise...

Other than a Rumble or two this is the first main roster WWE I've watched in a long time and the crowd track was the first thing I noticed. I had half a thought they were also piping in some of the chants as well as cheers/boos.

[Ian]

They're 100% doing it sometimes but I don't THINK all the time? It's hard to say. But there are times when the "crowd" is super loud and you can see they're sat on their hands.

Also there was a bit the other week where the sound dude managed to not cut out an old clip of Maggle talking about something for a crowd track on Raw, which he doesn't commentate on.

I didn't mind the Thunderdome but it was clear this was always going to be the result.

[Shindig]

Yeah, they piped in some of Cena's intro over another wrestler, complete with Maggle's "16 Time ...."

[Gray Fox]

If there's someone Vince wants to be cheered then he'll pipe the cheers in for them. For example when we were supposed to be accepting Roman as the top face and the crowd just wouldn't have it.

[Queenslander]

Danny Garcia v Jay White should be a banger.

Garcia to join the BC maybe?

[Lofty]

Daffney dead at 46, suicide :(

[Disco]

Who?

[Browning]

Female wrestler from WCW/TNA. She was in TNA back when I watched about 10 years ago and I got the feeling she was a pretty big deal in WCW, but I wouldn't have a clue about that.

Very sad news though. This seems to be happening way too often recently (with regards to suicides from wrestlers, we've always known they tend to die ridiculously young).

[Lofty]

WCW Cruiserweight Champion and goth girl wrestler, later went to TNA then retired due to injuries.

[Browning]

Oh yea, I forgot she got injured by that obese wrestler with no training and sued them.

[wullie]

She had a double act with Crowbar that was rare fun during that time WCW was hurtling towards the cliff. Apparently she did a live video feed on the night holding a gun and telling viewers to make sure her brain goes to Boston, bloody hell.

In response Karl Anderson saw WWE offering counselling to employees and thought it was a perfect time to call everyone virgin marks he could batter in real life, so that's nice.

[Lofty]

She had a double act with Crowbar that was rare fun during that time WCW was hurtling towards the cliff.

https://youtu.be/AQq9opO1a0I

[phonics]

Tommy End/ Alastair black / Malakai Black just had the worst televised match I’ve seen on AEW and I’ve watched every episode of Dynamite for 2 years.

[Disco]

All Out just about to start, there could be anywhere from 0 to All of the debuts.

[phonics]

Just had my stream where me and 2 friends share the fee for a pay per view get DMCA’d. I’ve streamed every aew show and ppv for 2 years. Cm punk is big business.

[Disco]

We are currently at one debut, sort of.

[Queenslander]

Holy shit!

[Disco]

Substantial Attraction vs Hair Plugs, because nobody else wanted to go on after CM Punk.

Minoru Suzuki though :cool:

[Disco]

Also, G1 groups came out today.

https://i.imgur.com/81LxBJ4.png

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

[Queenslander]

I reckon Shingo wins group A with Cobb winning group B.

[Disco]

Well then, all of the debuts it is then.

[Queenslander]

My highlight of the night.


https://youtu.be/nqrxPcsadXM

[phonics]

Mark.

You and moxley are peas in a pod. Just want to watch old Japanese men even though it’s boring af.

Highlight of the night was the Fenix/Penta match. I didn’t like the ending but apparently they’d been told not to do anything too extreme off the top of the cage because it was bigger than any cage that’s been in pro wrestling.

[Queenslander]

Kaze Ni Nare!

Young Bucks and Adam Cole to be the first trios champions is my prediction.

[Disco]

I thought it was a huge plus that they didn't do anything stupid off the top of that cage, the cross body looked great and was nice and safe.

[Baz]

Just finished it. I don’t have any affection towards CM Punk or Bryan Danielson at all cos I’d stopped watching wrestling then, but it’s hard not to love it when the crowd pops off like that. :)

Jon Moxley’s promos are great but his matches are dull as hell and I also dgaf about all these oldass Japanese men with leukaemia haircuts that he keeps wheeling out.

Highlight was definitely the cage match. Absolutely incredible.

Also I’ve no idea what Ruby Soho was like under her old names but I got excited when Rancid hit. :cool: AEW are kind of killing it with the licensed music. Although, again to hate on Moxley, his old music was waaaay better.

The table spot in the last match look like it hurt. Ouch!

[Queenslander]

The forbiddden door with Moxley is clearly a slow burn that ends with Okada, Jay White, Ospreay, Ibushi etc. they are paying respect to the legends before they give us the current best of the best...

Good on Kahn for sticking to long term story telling he clearly knows what he is doing. Mox paying respect to NJPW lower down on the card is hardly the end of the world as a place holder job ATM.

[phonics]

Stop saying the forbidden door you mark. It’s clearly not a forbidden door when multiple people walk though it on a monthly basis.

[Queenslander]

Stop saying the forbidden door you mark. It’s clearly not a forbidden door when multiple people walk though it on a monthly basis.

I sincerely apologise for saying a phrase that has been around for decades.

Are you ok?

[phonics]

1) no

2) please no more old Japanese men doing dog shit matches pls.

[Queenslander]

They are running out of old men anyway after Suzuki.

I think Tanahashi will be the last of the Dad's before they get into the current top of the card lot. All will be forgotten/forgiven Im sure when we get high flying bangers involving Ospreay/Ibushi or one last epic between Okada and Omega.

They still have the existing story between Jay White and The Elite to work with as well.

I trust Kahn to carefully deliver this very niche angle in AEW while putting on more 5* classics like that steel cage tag team match.

[Disco]

Stop liking things.

[wullie]

If Moxley is going down the Japanese hardcore list, the final boss is surely New Japan, All Japan and ECW legend Yoshi Tatsu.

[Baz]

Has CM Punk wrestled Kenny Omega?

[Queenslander]

I think he only wrestled Bryan Danielson back in the old ROH days. CM Punk had left by then I think from my dodgy memory.

Saw a comment on Reddit that makes sense and that is for Danielson to go over Jay White then go on a tour in Japan facing both Juniors and Heavyweights defending the NEVER Open weight belt. So many quality matches to tick off.



Hiromu, Ishii, ZSJ, Naito, Cobb, Ibushi, KENTA, Desporado off the top of my head.

Apparently he has already wrestled Shingo in Dragons Gate.

[wullie]

A worrying thing that Daniel Bryan Danielson said was that he loved WWE but they were a bit too protective of him and wouldn't let him do what he wanted to do. Wheelchair by 50

[Queenslander]

CTE suicide more like it.

[Disco]

I like Matt Riddles new gimmick of trying to make Randy Orton laugh at every opportunity, he really is the best.

[Ian]

I still love the bit on Raw ages ago now when MVP says "First of all I'm not your bro" and Riddle totally catches him out with a quiet "Awww" and MVP has to take a second to make sure he doesn't laugh.

[Queenslander]

What is the point of booking Suzuki if we cant mark out singing 'kaze ni nare'?

[Ian]

So I've watched most of All Out now. I enjoyed it for the most part.

Miro / Kingston - Good fun. Miro is great and you love to see a lad with a gut like Kingston getting by on being a reet hard bastard.
Moxley / Kojima - Not bad but maybe suffered a bit for seeming to have come together at quite short notice?
Baker / Statlander - Good match. How far does this "Kris Statlander is an alien" gimmick actually extend into her promos and whatnot?
Lucha Bros / Young Bucks - Fun, a bit OTT toward the end but the Bucks really are naturals as the detestable heels you want to see get their heads kicked in.
Battle Royale - Didn't watch it but it's nice to see Ruby get a big pop on debut.
Jericho / MJF - Really liked this. And the foot on the rope false finish was one of the best I've seen of that sort of spot. Having had the Wardlow/Hager fight be there to bring out the other refs so they could point out the match ref's error was a good logical way to do it rather than whatever WWE would have cooked up (like the "host" of the show coming out and going nah mate, or a GM deciding this is the one time he's going to care about officials missing stuff.) I dunno if it seems weird to me or not having this big climactic thing end with the older guy getting the win, though MJF's previous wins over Jericho and how good he is maybe mean he doesn't really suffer for not getting the job done here. I liked it a lot either way.
Punk / Allin - The most meh of the matches I watched. Orton-esque levels of rest holds to protect Chick Magnet Phil. And that ring gear doesn't suit him.

Didn't watch the Big Show match and didn't feel like I needed 20 minutes of Christian in my life so I just skipped to the debuts.

Other thoughts:
- AEW live crowds are way better than WWE for keeping a general hubbub of noise going when they're not actively booing or cheering but they've still got some of the same bad habits. "You've still got it!" for Punk successfully applying a chinlock, "This is awesome!" when nothing desperately exciting is going on, the "Let's go [wrestler]" call and response thing in I think the Moxley match? Stop it.

- Is biting not against the rules in AEW? At least three matches had blatant biting right in front of the refs who basically let it go.

- Not a new observation but JR could barely sound less invested. It comes across like he's reading off a script. The JR of old would have been sounding genuinely disgusted about MJF's antics, for example.

[wullie]

Did HHH have a heart attack?

[Gray Fox]

"Cardiac event" sounds the most WWE way ever to talk about a heart attack, so almost definitely.

[Disco]

Did he read the first new NXT script?

[Shindig]

Vince outliving him would be amazing.

[Ian]

I've just read there that had Adam Cole stayed in WWE their main roster plans were for him to basically be largely a manager to a heel Keith Lee (:sick:) and that he might have to change his name because of Maggle. Lol. They can't possibly have thought he'd be up for that.

[wullie]

It's a good thing AEW aren't as bothered about the name thing what with adding a third Brian and all the Cages and Pages they've got. Not to mention all the people named Gunn, what are the chances?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've just read there that had Adam Cole stayed in WWE their main roster plans were for him to basically be largely a manager to a heel Keith Lee (:sick:) and that he might have to change his name because of Maggle. Lol. They can't possibly have thought he'd be up for that.

It's just so fucking stupid.

[Queenslander]

Good to see TK leaning into the Suzuki disrespect angle for next weeks Dynamite. Hopefully we get to see Suzuki beating down on innocent jobbers backstage.

[Baz]

Putting Taz[z] on commentary is probably the best thing AEW have done. He’s fantastic.

[Browning]

Taz has been a commentator for nearly 20 years to be fair.

[Baz]

Yeah he was always okay on Smackdown way back when but it’s just refreshing to hear him play the heel role while also being a really good commentator. Jericho is pretty good too, although the actual sound of his voice grates on me after a while.

I’m just glad they moved him from Brian Cage’s manager -> Team Taz hypeman -> commentator who doesn’t give a f

[Disco]

Excalibur / Taz / Schiavone could be the best desk AEW can put together.

[Ian]

AEW need to get Bork so we can all get a bit of "Welp. Here comes the pain!" back in our lives.

[Baz]

Pass on Excalibur.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1437200258094731275

Balls.

[Ian]

Boooo.

[Ian]

Big E says he's gonna cash in on Bobbles tonight.

I wonder if he's just going to fail to cash in or if it'll be worse than that.

[phonics]

He also said he would cash in for his last name. Maybe he doesn’t cash in for the title but for rights to having a last name. Langston v Lashley.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

E :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1437612856443293698

[Ian]

Well, shows what I know I guess. Given he's both a Babyface and a big beast of a fella I'd have rathered they didn't have him do the post-match cash in and I feel like Lashley deserved a better end to his reign but it is what it is I guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pete Dunne has signed a new 3 year contract :drool:

Now give him the NXT title.

[Ian]

I mean, I'm delighted but what a moron.

Unless he just likes the (relative) stability of having something resembling a steady job in wrestling and/or thinks AEW is approaching 'piss off we're full' territory with their roster.

[Ian]

I didn't have an issue with Bronson Reichsteiner being Rex Steiner, that's fair enough. But "Bron Breakker"? :D Just file him away under 'never main eventing a PPV' now.

[wullie]

They were so committed to going back to the old NXT they Michael McGillicutty'd him. Shame as he looks like he's got potential

[Ian]

I haven't watched any of it yet but it sounds like of the new faces he's the one they like the most from that episode. But that name is never doing anything.

[Disco]

These are normally copyright/merchandising related are they not? Still, Rex Steiner is still an objectively better name especially given Rick Steiner is his dad, you'd think they would want to play that up.

[Ian]

I wouldn't mind but they're clearly alluding to it with the gear, etc. If they didn't wanna go Bronson because of Reed then fine but as you say, Rex Steiner would have been totally fine.

In other news I watched Wrestling With Wregret's latest list and didn't know that Lawler once tried to discredit a woman who was calling him a dirty old sex pest by saying she'd once had a relationship with a black fella.

Of course if this was in the South the court probably said "Hm, fair point."

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And I've finished watching NXT 2.0. I hope they drop the 2.0 soon btw.

Firstly I kind of like the new set, it doesn't fit NXT but I don't mind it. I also like the fan seating and I'm so glad they got rid of the plexiglass and chain.

Onto the actual show, I like it a lot more than I thought it would but there was still a lot wrong with it.

The matches bar the main event (which should have happened after the wedding) were far too short but I get that they were trying to introduce a lot more new talent and hopefully they settle down. Speaking of new talent, Bron Breakker really is a shit name.

I also found it strange that they make LA Knight lose to start the show, why? I'm not sure why they also went with Ciampa as the winner, if you're trying to reinvent why put the title on one of the oldest, most experienced guys? Yes he had a terrific run as a champion (although it was great because he was a brilliant heel) but I feel he hasn't been the same since coming back.

Creed Brothers look fun though as does Bron Breakker (despite the name) and Von Wagner.

I really hope Bron isn't the first challenger for the title, I don't like that at all.

[Disco]

I assume they put it on an established old NXT bod so they could have one of their new lads smash him to bits further down the line.

[Ian]

Yeah Ciampa is clearly just there to play the role Joe was going to. Well'ard veteran to snarl at the newbies until one of them (Breakker, presumably) comes and takes it off him.

I will watch the episode out of curiosity but expectations are low.

[Browning]

It’s also at least 3.0. 4.0 if you count WWECW which was more NXT than ECW.

[Ian]

I think accurate version management is the least of NXT's problems.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, them revealing that Dexter Lumis' middle name is "Gaylord" is weak as fuck.

Are the writers 10 years old?

[Disco]

Seems like their normal level to me.

[Ian]

It's normal main roster level, and of course it's them running NXT now so yeah.

[phonics]

Gaylords a pretty common Mormon name in the US. don’t think it’s a joke

[Ian]

Christ, I've just started having a look at NXT and Breakker could not sound more like a Steiner.

[Lofty]

Ric Flair helicoptering at air stewardesses apparently.

[Disco]

Is that the new Dark Side episode?

[Disco]

I like all the talk of this episode putting a hold on Ric Flair working with AEW. Surely we can't possibly use this guy now these revelations that everyone already knew about for decades have come to light.

[Ian]

Yeah, I don't think anybody's been spending the last few decades thinking he's NOT a skeezy sex-pest.

[Ian]

I was looking at Google maps and fell into my usual trap of getting absorbed in stupid tiny English place names and I reckon there's a decent "Stupid WWE name or English village?" quiz to be made.

Thorpe Tilney
Brant Broughton
Kirk Langley
Potter Somersal

Brant Broughton and Kirk Langley are definitely a low-end tag team they've hired to fill the Ever-Rise spot on their roster.

[Shindig]

“That’s Bishop Auckland’s music!”

[Queenslander]

I'm keen to see how good Regal's son is at mat wrestling.

[Disco]

Bishop Auckland better be wearing a mitre to the ring. Devon is basically built of these places; Newton Poppleford, Salcombe Regis, Stockleigh Pomeroy are all within a few minutes from here.

[Shindig]

I drove through Kirkby Stephen once. With a steel chair.

Binchester Blocks
Kirk Merrington
Byers Green
Eden Vale
Coatham Mundeville
Hutton Rudby
Thornton-le-Street
Constable Burton

Fuck NXT. All Vince needs is one of these:

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51viRFfn0wL._SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_ML2_.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Some in Hertfordshire.

Bourne & Bennets End
Brent Pelham
Chiswell Green
Letchmore Heath
Nash Mills.

[Disco]

I would not look twice if Nash Mills was signed to NXT tomorrow, in fact I'd probably assume it was Steve Austins son or something.

[Ian]

I am.pleased my observation has caught the imagination.

In case I'm a DDP-style wrasslin latecomer I'm dibsing Mudford Sock right now.


“That’s Bishop Auckland’s music!”

:D

[Shindig]

I'm genuinely considering doing some e-Fed bollocks on FirePro with these.

[wullie]

Ashby de la Zouch to appeal to the latino market

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd also like to bring in Abbots Langley as a heel religious character similar to the Reverend D-Von.

[Disco]

Martin Kirby is coming out of retirement. :drool:

[Ian]

I'd also like to bring in Abbots Langley as a heel religious character similar to the Reverend D-Von.

And the Deac. :cool:

[Queenslander]

Time to add the Undertaker to the list of genuinely awful human beings.

The really need to do an entire episode of Wrestler's Court.

[phonics]

I must say I’m confused by all this fuss. I thought we all KNEW they were awful human beings?

[Queenslander]

I must say I’m confused by all this fuss. I thought we all KNEW they were awful human beings?

Just finding out about specific incidents I guess.

I agree everyone should know by now that most of those blokes are just standard carny loons.

[Ian]

I haven't watched the episode but the bit I heard about RVD casually just saying a load of them are rapists was quite something.

And have Impact fired Dreamer yet?

[Ian]

1440096659749416962

...

[wullie]

Wow, AEW really are signing everyone

1439967601854226434

[phonics]

Ric Flair has been replaced on the WWE intro with… The Ultimate Warrior. Incredible.

[Baz]

Omega vs Bryan Danielson was alright, but Brandi was the highlight of the night.

[Ian]

Yeah I thought it was a pretty good match, managed to walk the line between having a really solid TV match without giving away everything they might do on PPV. Sting also moves about alright for a man in his 100s.

Raw also had some good matches. Orton / AJ was fun (I enjoyed the Phenomenal Forearm non-counter moment and the RKBro stuff is just entertaining) and both New Day / Bloodline and Bobbo / Big E / Reigns were good, though both wouldn't be out of place as a B level PPV main event so it makes sense that they'd be decent. Reading the results I thought the triple threat was one of those "why book this now?" matches where only Reigns actually got anything out of it but watching it I'd say that's a bit unfair. Big E has Reigns with the Big Ending twice and the pin is broken up fairly violently by Bobbo both times and he manhandled Reigns quite a bit, meanwhile Bobbo got to look like a bit of a beast and his loss to Reigns isn't so bad as a) he's not feuding him and b) there's no WWE title match on Sunday anyway so yeah, fun match and not as detrimental to Big E and Lashley as I thought it sounded like.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1256604-shane-thorne-using-new-australian-gimmick-at-smackdown-tapings-thorne-comments

Jesus Vince.

[Shindig]

I'm sure they just have a box of Halloween costumes backstage and put anything together.

[Ian]

And yet somehow less lol than Gacy's insta-cancelled gimmick.

[Queenslander]

https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1256604-shane-thorne-using-new-australian-gimmick-at-smackdown-tapings-thorne-comments

Jesus Vince.

That's not an Abo, this is an Abo...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just had a look at the Extreme Rules card and we only have one Extreme Rules match, everything else is a standard match.

[Ian]

I'm not sure there's a single match on the card I care about. The matches which might be decent also seem to have the most certain results sooo yeah.

[Ian]

Reviews suggest the show was decent (albeit with an entirely predictable set of results) but that ending to Reigns / Balor sounds absolutely lol.

[Disco]

The more one of their shows gets bashed the more curious I get. There's no way I'm bothering with a 'good' episode of Raw but a terrible show that gets panned, now I'm on board.

[Ian]

Eh, I can see the thinking there but shit episodes of Raw or Smackdown don't tend to be shit in interesting ways. Sure sometimes they'll do something morning with Alexa's dolls scaring an actual MMA fighter or whatever but it just tends to be dross.

[Browning]

And it's dross that is even worse when you factor in they ran the exact same show for the last 5 weeks too. On their own they're probably not quite as bad as the reality.

[Ian]

Yeah a given match might be fun in week 1 in isolation from whatever's going on around it but once you've seen it five times on the bounce (and a sixth to come on PPV)... bleh. No idea how anybody actually sits and watches episodes of Raw.

I gather a load of wrestling podcasts just aren't now. Going in Raw started reviewing it the next day because if they sat through three hours of it and then another of just talking about it it was annoying them too much.

[Disco]

I went with some more G1 instead. Ishii/Kenta and ZSJ/Ibushi :drool:

[phonics]

I had a friend go to one of the live shows when they were in the UK the other week and they sound so much better than the actual TV because it’s just concentrated on entertaining the people for those few hours they’re at the wrestling instead of trying to be a tv show that features wrestling.

Dolph Ziggler stealing some 7 year olds money in the bank briefcase and trying to cash it in, being told ‘no that’s not a real briefcase’ and going ‘well fuck you then’ and going back into the crowd to steal a different child’s replica belt and declaring himself champion to a chorus of boos sounds like the best thing Dolph Ziggler has done in years.

[Disco]

100%, we went to a Raw show in Cardiff a few years ago and it was ace as was NXT in Plymouth. It's because they just do the Sport and leave out all the lame Entertainment.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're planning more shows this year plus a BIG PPV at Wembley next year.

I'd like to go but a PPV sounds awful as it will just be the normal shit but having to sit through it all in person.

Ideally they announce an NXT 2.0 show coming here too that I go to.

[Ian]

I'd go to a house show depending on the price. I went to Raw and it was actually a decent episode (Charlotte seething over "Hey Bayley", a decent purple brand match, a stupid but fun pre-Survivor Series 5-way main event and Rollins dropping an Immortal Leg Drop in a dark match among other stuff) but the actual experience is absolute garbage and in no way caters to a live crowd.

I'd be tempted by a UK PPV but really I think the Rumble is the only PPV I'd actively want to go to if I could afford the flights and tickets and whatnot. Maybe a Mania if it was half of a two night show but fuck being there for 7 hours.

[phonics]

I'd go to a house show depending on the price. I went to Raw and it was actually a decent episode (Charlotte seething over "Hey Bayley", a decent purple brand match, a stupid but fun pre-Survivor Series 5-way main event and Rollins dropping an Immortal Leg Drop in a dark match among other stuff) but the actual experience is absolute garbage and in no way caters to a live crowd.

I'd be tempted by a UK PPV but really I think the Rumble is the only PPV I'd actively want to go to if I could afford the flights and tickets and whatnot. Maybe a Mania if it was half of a two night show but fuck being there for 7 hours.

Tickets for the one over here were 110 quid but my mate picked up his Glasgow tickets for about 30 quid each. Had to take his two kids and the concessions are a rip off so it still ends up expensive but it’s not too bad.

[phonics]

Not to sound like a misogynist but the introduction of the womens rumble kind of ruined the rumble for me. No one wants or needs to see two of them in one night.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A Rumble PPV would be the dream.

Rumble 98 was the first PPV I ever watched and its always been my favourite since then.

[Browning]

I think I'd like House Shows more if they fucked off having title matches on them. Knowing the outcome of almost every match with 100% certainty ruined the only house show I went to. I did go to a few TV shows that were excellent though, but it was back before the product sucked. I doubt i'd be interested enough to go now, I'd rather go to an indy show with the likes of Ospreay on it like I was going to before COVID.

[Ian]

Not to sound like a misogynist but the introduction of the womens rumble kind of ruined the rumble for me. No one wants or needs to see two of them in one night.

I fucking love a Rumble and get bored of WWE shows quite easily these days if I try and watch the whole thing and I am quite happy with two Rumbles on one show as long as they're not back to back.

[wullie]

I've been to one house show years ago and it really is a different experience in person. Billy Kidman did a shooting star press and the entire place absolutely lost their mind. Of course it doesn't compare to shaking D'Lo Brown's hand at British Uprising but nothing does (very much including the birth of my daughter in that)

[Ian]

Reads like there's a number of stupid things happened on Raw last night but why the fuck was there a DQ in a 24/7 title match? Poor old Rick O'Shea.

And poor old Bearcat.

[Gray Fox]

I can’t wait until the day we see La’akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne in WWE.

[Queenslander]

ZSJ winning the G1 would be the best outcome for all involved.

https://www.reddit.com/r/njpw/comments/px7hbp/zsj_shading_tetsuya_alone_should_entitle_him_to/

[Disco]

I'm hoping for a ZSJ / Okada final, although it would mean beating one or the other which isn't ideal.

[Queenslander]

Does Okada need it at the moment?

ZSJ unifying the titles at WK would be amazing.

[Disco]

No I just want to see the match.

[Ian]

I haven't seen any ZSJ in ages. I should fix that.

[Browning]

I saw ZSJ live a few times and honestly he was putting me to sleep. I hope he's improved since then because rest hold followed by slightly interesting transition into another rest hold can fuck all the way off.

[Ian]

I think outside the CWC I only ever saw his PWG stuff but I always enjoyed it.

[Disco]

I haven't seen any ZSJ in ages. I should fix that.

The September 23rd G1 show has him vs Shingo which was rather good.

[Ian]

Nae luck, Hit Row. There is next to zero chance Vince is gonna know what to do with a stable of four black people with a quasi-musical gimmick.

[Disco]

He knows exactly what to do, make them dance.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nae luck, Hit Row. There is next to zero chance Vince is gonna know what to do with a stable of four black people with a quasi-musical gimmick.

Yep. I felt they were killing it on NXT too.

I did read however that Swerve never defended his title which he won in June.

[Disco]

Is Michael Cole less awful now or is the bloke next to him just so annoying that he seems better?

[Shindig]

Now I want a barbershop quartet heel stable.

[Ian]

Who, Graves?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who, Graves?

It's Pat on Smackdown who I think is the only good main roster commentator right now.

[Ian]

Of course, I should have remembered that. McAfee is good. Vince will ruin him eventually though

[Gray Fox]

Michael Cole is just a puppet now. Vince has his hand well and truly up him and even writes the lines before hand for him to say.

[Ian]

That goes for any WWE play by play guy. If they managed any charisma on NXT where Vince didn't care it soon gets stamped out of them.

[phonics]

That story where Michael Cole freaks out at Pat McAfee because he pushed for him and he turned up in shorts is so funny. Was terrified Vince would be mad and shouted at him.

[Ian]

Smackdown – Ridge Holland
Raw – Gable Steveson

So.... what's the point of NXT again? Holland ain't ready, no idea what, if any, pro wrasslin' Steveson has. His first name being Gable concerns be too. Is Chad Gable gonna be Short G again? Or just Chad?

[wullie]

Some big news from that draft. Veer splitting from Jinder Mahal and Shanky? T-BAR and MACE no longer an unstoppable unit? Just imagine the fresh singles stars we're about to see

[Ian]

I can't say I've watched any of Veer but the two wrasslin podcasts I listen to say he actually seems quite fun.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Smackdown – Ridge Holland
Raw – Gable Steveson

So.... what's the point of NXT again? Holland ain't ready, no idea what, if any, pro wrasslin' Steveson has. His first name being Gable concerns be too. Is Chad Gable gonna be Short G again? Or just Chad?
He has no pro wrestling.

He's the guy who won the Olympics heavyweight Gold this year (his neck was not broken) and then signed to the company.

He's being touted as the next Brock.

Also Ridge was just getting into his stride in NXT :(

[Ian]

Missed the word "training" in that sentence, but regardless I'm assuming it's not much.

And calling Ridge up when a) he has a good thing going with Dunne b) is not long back in NXT and c) has only recently stopped having one terrifying-looking near-botch per match is a very poor idea I reckon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In terms of training I'd also say not much. He's also signed a deal with WWE (just last month) which means he'll still be going to college to complete his final year

[Disco]

Judging by some of the people on their TV shows I don't think rigorous training is a particularly high priority.

[Browning]

Has Charlotte swapped belts with Becky yet? Gotta get those reigns in....

[Queenslander]

:drool:


https://youtu.be/EPMz6eHZ0U0

[Gray Fox]

I wonder what Newcastle related shenanigans we’ll get at WWE Crown Jewel.

Steve Bruce v Alan Shearer in a last man standing match?

[Ian]

Time to debut Bishop Auckland.

[Shindig]

They'll rename him Scott Swoodroad.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3TfsD2N7iQ

The wink at the end. :D

That's a guy who has to really concentrate to wink rather than blink.

[Shindig]

Beetroot Lesnar.

[Queenslander]

Matt Cardona is amazing for GCW.

https://streamable.com/vhjvyz

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1447607932200357895

What a lineup.

[Ian]

QM was fun, enjoyed it a lot when he revealed how trivia-heavy it was going to be.

Apparently Cameron Grimes needs to change up his look before he can go main roster, which sounds like it basically involves shaving off all the hair.

Vince if you make him smooth-bodied with short hair and beard he's going to look like a generic, slightly portly CAW you mental old cunt.

"That unique look, yeah that's not gonna work for us."

[Disco]

In news that will shock nobody Danielson / Suzuki was great, rarely will you see two people so clearly delighted at having the shit beaten out of them.

[Ian]

I shall need to watch that. I watched Lee/ Suzuki from an OTT show before Lee went to NXT and it was good fun. Possibly the first Suzuki match I've seen.

[Disco]

https://youtu.be/ipHzmucwYtc?t=1718

[Ian]

That is indeed a fun match. I like that with there being no real stakes and no big feud going in it's basically just the two of them testing their hard bastard wrassler reps against each other throughout.

[phonics]

CM Punk yet to have a good match imo.

It’s all very 90s wcw, slow, test of strength shit.

I’ve stayed up till 4am to watch every Rampage and I always get annoyed at myself. It’s so mediocre.

[Ian]

I haven't watched the one from this week but the one against Allin was overrated. Very overrated. Orton levels of restholds.

And, crucially, the tights look shit.

[phonics]

He got bullied into wearing the pants again.

I’m not saying it’s bad wrestling but it’s just very mediocre. He keeps getting 20 minute matches and there’s about 7 minutes of wrestling in it.

[phonics]

Speaking of Orton. I think the RKO might be the best move in wrestling. sammy Gueveras nicked it and the amount of uses it has in and out of combos is fantastic.

[Queenslander]

To be fair the RKO is just the Diamond cutter from the 90's.

It feels like Punks slow grind down the card is leading towards a nasty heel turn in the future.

[phonics]

I’m not saying it’s new. Just think it’s the most versatile cool move that people still do.

[Queenslander]

I’m not saying it’s new. Just think it’s the most versatile cool move that people still do.

My mistake fair point.

[Shindig]

It's versatile because there's only one part to it. There's no tiny stunner kick or preamble that's become an essential part of the move. DDP transitioning into it from a powerbomb might be my favourite.

[Ian]

It also helps that it's managed to avoid being turned into a move people just use to transition to the next one. Once Keith retires maybe.

[Disco]

Punk seems to be following the AEW trend of the first run/gimmick being eminently skippable or outright crap (hi Rusev) but it does look like it's going somewhere, all the matches have had a clear story to them. I think Queenie is probably right, you don't bring massively popular wrestlers back as heels so this serves as a way of leading into the turn.

[Queenslander]

Punks heel turn is going to be brutal for the fans.

[phonics]

This Ufc Dan Lambert guy is the first guy since MJF that’s got real heel heat. It’s been truly impressive at how well he’s done as a manager and it’s built Masvidal perfectly.

[Disco]

He's good but I have no idea how intimidated I should be by JOR-HEY MAASVIDAAAL so that stuff falls a bit flat.

[phonics]

I've been advocating for Masvidal to jump to wrestling for a long time because he's a great talker.

"Jesus can baptise you and that means something, but if Street Jesus baptises you, you heading to the shadow realm my brother" is the most wrestling line of all time.

[Disco]

I'm also unreasonably annoyed that fat/bald NX-Tim has now migrated to AEW, I thought he was a WWE plant.