The Ultimate WWE Thread

[phonics]

I'm also unreasonably annoyed that fat/bald NX-Tim has now migrated to AEW, I thought he was a WWE plant.
They’ve hired so many no marks recently it’s getting quite annoying.

[Disco]

It seems so unnecessary too, they already have decent crowds (despite all the fight forever/this is awesome bollocks) so it seems odd they would feel the need to plant idiots like this guy.

[phonics]

Is my main problem with AEW post Cm Punk/Daniel Bryan signing. Has become an absolute mark off.

[Disco]

The variety and the booking is enough for me, US tv will always be mildly awful it's just this guy was always so obvious and annoying.

[Gray Fox]

Was Punk ever that good in the ring?

I haven't seen him do anything big since about 2011 but I seem to remember he was more a charismatic guy that was good on the mic, in a land full of guys getting ready to be Vinces next generic wrestler.

[wullie]

Does he still do the Randy Savage elbow drop? He really should have stopped after the first.

[Queenslander]

Was Punk ever that good in the ring?

I haven't seen him do anything big since about 2011 but I seem to remember he was more a charismatic guy that was good on the mic, in a land full of guys getting ready to be Vinces next generic wrestler.

The old school ROH Champions that stood out over him for me are Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson.

I dont find his style interesting at all.

[Ian]

So I only saw Punk's matches on my PPV trawl of the Network, totally removed from any emotional investment, and I would say he was good but that to get the best out of him there had to be a big story involved in the match. I feel like that's what he's really best at, weaving the two together, and less so just having bangers against whomever he happened to be matched up against.

[Ian]

1450637163629006855

[Queenslander]

Shibata v Danielson in a brain v brain match :drool:

Hopefully we get it at WK next year.

[Ian]

Big E / Rollins is in theory a great choice for Big E's title reign were it not for Rollins having just come off losing a relatively significant feud-ender with Edge, rendering this a classic bit of WWE "both guys could do with a win here" booking.

[Baz]

Is my main problem with AEW post Cm Punk/Daniel Bryan signing. Has become an absolute mark off.

I haven’t watched it properly since they arrived. The PPV with the tag team spot cage match was my last AEW.

Should get back into it but it’s a bit samey.

[Ian]

1453153764932718592

No thanks.

[Ian]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/qg5wgz/wor_meltzer_confirms_that_izzys_parents_are_the/

:cab:

[Browning]

I hope if I ever go to a WWE show again all the booing I do is newsworthy.

[Disco]

The more I watch wrestling the less I like Smelly Wrestling Fans™.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ROH dead?

[Queenslander]

Releasing the whole roster is not a good look.

This should help NJPW Strong more than anyone else IMO.

[Lofty]

https://youtu.be/rvEkGqp-puk

[Baz]

Who pays for FITE? phonics ? Struggling to find the subscription package prices cos all I’m being offered is the free 7 day trial.

How much is it to get all the AEW and pay for a year upfront?

[phonics]

You need AEW PLUS is the subscription you need. I pay for it monthly. Is 7.99 a month.

[Baz]

You need AEW PLUS is the subscription you need. I pay for it monthly. Is 7.99 a month.

Do you know what it would be for a year? (Gonna get it for Christmas)

And is it 1080?

[phonics]

Yeah it’s 1080. I don’t know if they do a years subscription.

[Baz]

Oh, sack that then.

Cheers.

[Shindig]

Found myself watching a load of Sting stuff from 1997. I never realised how good he was at planting his feet after being dropped from the rafters. He got it down to a fine art.

[Baz]

Hello Baz,

Thank you for contacting FITE Customer Support!

Unfortunately AEW only offer a monthly subscription.

Regards,
Miroslav

Bum.

Especially frustrating because you can get an annual sub of FITE+ for boxing or whatever.

[Ian]

Fair play to Moxley for going to rehab.

Probably another of the sort of thing that's easier to do if you work for AEW than WWE.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Loads of releases tonight including Keith Lee :face:

[Gray Fox]

Ember Moon, Karrion Kross and Nia Jax too.

[Shindig]

Fucking finally.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So far I see:

Scarlett
Frankie Monet
Ember Moon
Oney Lorcan
B-FAB
Trey Baxter
Katrina Cortez
Jeet Rama
Gran Metalik
Karrion Kross
Lince Dorado
Keith Lee
Nia Jax
Harry Smith
Mia Yim
Eva Marie
Zayda Ramier

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/keith-lee-spanish-fly.gif

:(

[Queenslander]

Kieth Lee to NJPW Strong please.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jessi Kamea the latest to be fired.

Also, I loved NXT but I've stopped watching. I watched the first 2 episodes of "NXT 2.0" and they were better than I expected but it's hard to watch and get attached to wrestlers knowing eventually Vince is just going to get bored and toss them away.

[Ian]

I read/listen to reviews but I haven't actually watched any WWE in weeks, though there are a couple of Raw matches from Monday just gone I've been meaning to get around to.

I'm gutted they're shit enough to not just let Lee do his thing on the main roster but at least he's free now. If I were him I'd steer clear of AEW for a bit unless he's just after the regular money, that roster is cluttered as fuck just now.

Monay and B-FAB are odd releases.

EDIT: Also it's about time Jax went if they're releasing people but Tamina survives again. She literally knows where the bodies are buried I reckon.

[phonics]

Vince McMahon literally buried a body for her family.

[Ian]

That was, as they say, the joke.

Or "joke" in this case.

[Ian]

https://whatculture.com/wwe/wwes-michael-cole-living-with-65-hearing-loss

I assume that's just a result of Vince shrieking in your ear for a few hours a week for a couple of decades.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jax was apparently fired due to be an anti-vaxxer along with a couple of others (Kross has to be one).

[Ian]

I've used this joke elsewhere but it's a real shame the red tops don't do headlines about the wrasslin'.

WWE SACKS ANTI-VAX JAX!

[Disco]

Jessi Kamea the latest to be fired.

Also, I loved NXT but I've stopped watching. I watched the first 2 episodes of "NXT 2.0" and they were better than I expected but it's hard to watch and get attached to wrestlers knowing eventually Vince is just going to get bored and toss them away.

Nice to see the traditional Wrestling Fan Trajectory has survived the pandemic.

[Queenslander]

Kingston on the mic is gold.


https://youtu.be/OO0j3xaZ53E

[Shindig]

Two old men in hoodies and jeans shouting. Is it cold in there, lads?

[Ian]

It was reported that Vince McMahon made the call to release Kross because he hadn’t got over with fans after getting moved to the main roster

"I dunno, we took his entrance away, we took his sexy wife away, we dressed him up like a bad Sean Connery cosplay, we even had him lose to Jeff Hardy on debut! What more does this guy need???"

[wullie]

Kingston had people booing Punk for a brief moment there. With that and Punk really going for the 'right here in St Louis' stuff I hope he turns properly before too long

[Ian]

I don't even watch AEW but surely he's going heel and they just knew trying to debut him heel was a fool's errand?

Face Punk worked in WWE works because of the meta stuff, less so in a proper company.

[Disco]

I think you're entirely right, no way he can make the most anticipated return in decades as a heel but that is clearly his best role so it has to happen sooner or later.

[phonics]

I’m watching the Paige movie. It’s no good.

[Ian]

I thought it was alright. No more, no less.

I watched some.of Raw earlier. The wrestling was pretty solid. Lynch / Belair was VERY good, though unless she's beating her Belair needs to be kept away from Lynch for a bit.

She's really good though. The improvement in her over the last couple.of years is visible and very impressive.

[Queenslander]

Okada V Buddy Murphy is going to be a banger.

[Ian]

Judy Bagwell's passed away.

She's standing on a forklift truck with the angels now. :(

[Shindig]

AEW Presents the Judy Bagwell Memorial Battle Royal.

[wullie]

Arguably Rick Steiner's finest tag team partner.

[Ian]

NXT sounds like a bit of a mess at the moment and from the reviews is properly getting the stench of main roster booking about it.

And not just because Kushida is now in a tag team called Jacket Time.

[Queenslander]

Surely Best Friends joining CHAOS opens the door for Okada to appear on Dynamite next week?

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1458575064488624128

[Disco]

Punk / Kingston was amazing, built really simply on a promo or two and then a great little match between two guys who know exactly how to work a crowd. Best in ring character work I've seen in ages.

[Ian]

Yeah I'm not going to watch the whole show but I watched a handful of matches but that one was fun. And them just smacking the shit out of each other for ten minutes really fit the build.

[Ian]

So the matches I watched were:
MJF vs. Allin - Match of the night for from the ones I watched. I love building the thing around a headlock takedown. Thought the ending was a little drawn out and the finish was unfortunately a bit WWE but otherwise it was a great match.
Lucha Bros vs. FTR - Decent match. A bit spotty. Though some of those spots were a lot of fun so it's not the end of the world.
Danielson vs. Miro - Really good, as you'd expect.
Punk vs. Kingston - As discussed above.
Page vs. Omega - Had the result spoiled for me which took any little reaction I might've had to the ending away but it was done well and capped off a good match. Isn't it nice to see a show ending with the crowd getting what they want?

EDIT: There are some things that still annoy me with AEW though. The amount of biting and gouging that refs aren't made to do anything about. The selective selling (this is just a modern wrestling thing, I suppose.) And the commentary still largely adds nothing though I suppose it's at least not Maggle actively making the show worse.

[Baz]

What was that ending in the tag match about, with the masks?

Also the end of the women's title match was very flat.

[Ian]

Sounds like Scott Steiner maths got a reference on NXT. :drool:

[wullie]

He's done the barking thing Rick Steiner did and they referenced dog faced gremlin too, surely they could just call him something Steiner and still retain the rights to the name?

[Ian]

Everything about his presentation screams Steiner other than the shit name they've given him.

[Shindig]

Frank N. Steiner. It's an open goal.

[Browning]

So Dominic can't be on Team RAW because he's never won a World Title, but then the next week they replace Rey Mysterio with Austin Theory? Fuck off.

[Ian]

WWE have such a strong regard for other promotions and the indy scene I imagine it's a nod to Theory's Evolve Championship run.

[Baz]

Had a few Dark Side Of The Rings on today.

Montreal Screwjob I already knew too much about but it was still alright.

I really enjoyed the New Jack one. Honestly can’t help but like him.

Nick Gage one was okay but ehh I don’t like him.

I might watch the Brawl For All one, as I’ve somehow got zero recollection of it.

[Ian]

It's a pity they punished him by having him get brained by Butterbean because the Bart Gunn winning a shoot fight tournament decided specifically to get another dude over is one of the great WWE stories.

[Shindig]

Yep. It's a shame they didn't just react to it. Put him in with Shamrock and Dan Severn. Bart's never going to be a talker so just strap some MMA knee-pads and gloves on him and roll with it.

[Disco]

Every time I think about the Brawl for All I'm amazed nobody was killed or more seriously injured, it's frankly astonishing that it was allowed on live tv.

Reminds me of something I occasionally think when watching wrestling, isn't it a bit insane that on mainstream entertainment/tv shows performers are regularly cutting themselves open in order to make it seem more dramatic? I know it's normal in wrestling so we just accept it but imagine if they were doing that on Casualty or Ant & Dec, you'd be questioning the judgement of all involved.

[Ian]

Wasn't original UFC a total unsafe shambles as well?

As for your second point it is mad but wrestling remains a carnie shitshow. And the official line I assume even outside WWE is that they're not gouging themselves to achieve it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Original UFC was mental. The first 2/3 events especially. A 16 man tournament with all fights being on the same night, no rules and no weight classes.

There was a guy who punched another fighter's dick about 5 times when he was trying to stop himself from getting choked.

[Baz]

Yeah I posted a video of UFC1 recently in the UFC thread (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?220-UFC-thread&p=508310#post508310) because I decided to go back and watch some of it again.

[phonics]

Every time I think about the Brawl for All I'm amazed nobody was killed or more seriously injured, it's frankly astonishing that it was allowed on live tv.

Reminds me of something I occasionally think when watching wrestling, isn't it a bit insane that on mainstream entertainment/tv shows performers are regularly cutting themselves open in order to make it seem more dramatic? I know it's normal in wrestling so we just accept it but imagine if they were doing that on Casualty or Ant & Dec, you'd be questioning the judgement of all involved.

Brawl for All was actually quite safe, the gloves were 3x the size they use in UFC and it was only 3 1 minute rounds.

On the second part, they're cutting specific parts of their body that are absolutely no threat to them. Look at Blading and then look at Alec Baldwin murdering 2 people. Is safer than the fake shit.

[Disco]

They had real fights with no proper refs and people who were knocked out frequently came back out for other angles and to get hit in the head with chairs.

[Shindig]

Dr. Death broke his leg, didn't he?

As for blading, I'm not sure it's necessary. Not now when kayfabe is dead.

[Disco]

It makes sense in the context of wrestling it's just weird in comparison.

[Shindig]

But their precious foreheads. :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dr. Death broke his leg, didn't he?

As for blading, I'm not sure it's necessary. Not now when kayfabe is dead.

Injured his hamstring then got knocked out.

He was paid as the winner of the whole tournament before the fight though.

[Baz]

But their precious foreheads. :(

https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/05/c21e1-16210377645679-800.jpg

[Ian]

Mooooore releases.

All of Hit Row, Morrison, Nox, Maverick, Thorne and Ryker.

In a proper company Morrison, who can clearly still go, wouldn't have been farting about in bad comedy skits with Miz and would at least have been in a proper tag team but ideally been somewhere between the midcard belts and just under the main event bit. He'd have been a fine heel foil for a good match for Big E on one of your c-list PPVs, for example.

And Swerve is just a waste altogether. Loads of talent.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hit Row were so fucking good. I can't believe they've been fucked so quickly.

[Ian]

I didn't think for a minute that Vince and Bruce would have a fucking clue what to do with that group on main roster (even relative to how they book others) so on a purely creative front it's probably a blessing in disguise but obviously it sucks that a promising group with a talented lead have been sacked probably because Vince saw it and didn't understand what the fuck was going on.

[Disco]

Vince's 'we don't do wrestling' rings truer every day, I really don't get who is supposed to be watching them anymore.

[Browning]

It is pretty impressive that despite the show being irredeemably shite for over a decade, they keep finding new and improved ways to make it worse.

Putting Bruce Prichard in charge was always going to be a disaster. The guy still thinks the custody of Dominic storyline was one of the all time greats and kisses Vince arse so hard it's a wonder they aren't conjoined at this point.

[Ian]

Bruce thought The Human Centipede was career advice.

Who is Dominic's current dad on linear custody rules? Is it Roman?

[Browning]

Couldn't get the twitter embed thing to work but this is quality:

https://twitter.com/WWEMaverick/status/1461520342539816961

[Ian]

Here you go:
1461520342539816961

I'm glad you pointed it out because I didn't watch it assuming it was just gonna be the same as the last one but yeah, I like that.

He's a talented guy, he'll do alright for himself.

The Dain / Maverick stuff was really fun, it's just a shame that once they had Dain come round to the friendship they never took it anywhere else.

[Ian]

This Red Notice crossover (WHO STOLE VINCE'S GOLDEN EGG???) a) being the through-line of Survivor Series and b) sounding like it'll be the only thing that carries over into Raw is amazing.

What a company.

[Disco]

His what?

[Ian]

:D

So. The Macguffin in Red Notice is a faberge-esque golden egg which they made up for the film and pretended belonged to Cleopatra.

Similar to when the Miz got eaten by zombies (and no-sold it) Survivor Series last night was tied in with Red Notice promotion. Including mixing the show's opening video package with bits of the Red Notice trailer, having a battle royal to honour the Rock? Or something? Bang on about how he debuted at Survivor Series 25 years ago. Everything but actually have him on the show, of course.

Anyway, Vince turned up (a week after firing more people, they had him be applauded as he arrived by current talent apparently) with a golden egg. But not the prop, he appears to have explained, they just used that in the movie. He has the REAL $100m golden egg. He even has a segment where he tells Roman about it.

But then (*gasp*) somebody STOLE THE EGG so he told Pearce and Deville (THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT AUTHORITY FIGURES SHUT UP YOU CAN'T PROVE IT) to get all the Raw and Smackdown talent together on Raw tonight so they can get to the bottom of who stole the egg.

I feel 5% stupider just for having written that out.

[Gray Fox]

Large bet on R-Truth.

It's going to end up being somewhat stereotypically racist anyway.

[Disco]

Thank you for your service Ian, I enjoyed that.

Surely smart money is on them never mentioning it again.

[Ian]

Depends whether they agreed with Netflix that this'll cover multiple shows I guess.

Their own storylines sure bury those it's only somebody's push / livelihood you're mucking around with but if they've been PAID to keep it going...

[Shindig]

Will this golden egg hatch? It should. They could give us the Goldbergdygooker.

Fuck. That's painful to write. And to say. Don't make this happen, Vince.

[Disco]

Otis (or some else who is fat/black) will have eaten it. Fair play though, I sort of want to watch Raw now.

[Ian]

One of the Wrestletalk lads said similar. "This is the most interested I've been ahead of Raw all year."

[Ian]

1462977442197377025

Gore!

(He actually just sort of runs into him but whatever.)

[Ian]

IMPORTANT EGG NEWS:
Austin Theory done stole it.

So he could take a selfie with it in his hotel room.

Vince was so impressed with the balls this took he gave him a world title shot.

Exemplary stuff as always.

[wullie]

Does the WWE network still laugh at Robocop turning up on WCW?

[Disco]

I think that may be the least interesting way they could have paid this off, still it saves me watching Raw I suppose.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1463215216313970689

lol.

[Ian]

https://www.ringsidenews.com/2021/11/23/seth-rollins-attacker-drops-crazy-video-after-getting-out-of-lockup/

I think he might be unwell.

[Shindig]

The thing is, he came from the back, not the crowd where this usually happens. I could actually see this as a work.

[Ian]

Hasn't he just come over the barrier right near the stage/tron?

I'm not ruling it out being a work either because it was just my natural thought but I just assumed he came over the barrier right at the side of the stage rather than actually from the back.

I'm also not convinced WWE would go meta in this way.

[Shindig]

I thought he came from the ramp but another viewing sees him run from the right-hand side. Possibly jumped the barricade but he's already running when the camera spots him.

[wullie]

If I had a millionaire wrestler sending me messages asking for $50 I'd suspect something's not legit there. Saying that Glen Johnson did steal a toilet seat from B&Q so you never can tell with celebrities.

[Ian]

I dunno if I missed that story or have just forgotten it because it was, sob, 14 years ago.


Despite reportedly earning £30,000 a week, Johnson - currently on loan from Chelsea - was spotted by a security guard putting a toilet seat into a box with a cheaper price tag. Aided by Millwall striker Ben May, he also hid a set of taps underneath a sink at the checkout to avoid paying for them. Both were handed £80 on the spot fines by police.

:face:

[Baz]

The thing is, he came from the back, not the crowd where this usually happens. I could actually see this as a work.
125437560418865152

[phonics]

If ‘Johnny Wrestling’ signs for AEW. I might just be done with it. It’s just becoming a dumb mark show with Tony Khan playing action figures.

[Shindig]

Isn't that every promotion?

[phonics]

Yes and they're all fucking atrocious hence why WWE was good?

[Disco]

It's pretty much the entire point of wrestling.

[phonics]

AEW used to be genuinely different and good. Now it's Tony Khans e-fed and generic as fuck. Which would be perfectly summed up by Jonny 'So fucking bland my only characteristic is I'm good at the sport I'm professionally employed to do' Gargano fighting Adam '4ft8' Cole. Dull.

[Baz]

Had a few Dark Side Of The Rings on today.

Montreal Screwjob I already knew too much about but it was still alright.

I really enjoyed the New Jack one. Honestly can’t help but like him.

Nick Gage one was okay but ehh I don’t like him.

I might watch the Brawl For All one, as I’ve somehow got zero recollection of it.Okay the Brawl For All was awesome. Quite worried I don't recall any of it, besides the Butterbean match. :uhoh:

Are any of the other Dark Sides worth watching, in particular? Apart from those listed above I've also seen the Benoit ones and Bruiser Brody. Should probably watch the Brian Pilman ones to see why my mum fancied him, and cos my boy Griff Garrison might make an appearance.

[wullie]

I liked the one about the Von Erichs and the Herb Abrams one in particular, there was a man who liked his cocaine.

[Ian]

The nutter who jumped Rollins has been charged by the NYPD with assault and "attempted violation of arts and cultural affairs."

"The Arts."
https://www.ringsidenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/vince-mcmahon-egg-444.jpg

[Ian]

WWE using real life firings to try and get kayfabe heat on heels on Raw. Stay classy lads.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1466438060774727691

Beth Phoenix is leaving NXT.

[Ian]

She's probably just furious, as we all are, that Reagal hasn't got to shout WAAAAR GAAAAAAAMES this year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If ‘Johnny Wrestling’ signs for AEW. I might just be done with it. It’s just becoming a dumb mark show with Tony Khan playing action figures.

1467726092702294018

It's happening.

[phonics]

That’s fite cancelled.

[Ian]

Do you expect he'll be getting the full three hours of AEW programming a week to himself if he signs?

[phonics]

No but with Punk getting 30 to do an entrance and fight a jobber. Bryan getting 20 to fight a jobber. Cole doing a 20 minute trios match vs a jobber there’s not a fat lot left. Then we have to fit mid card Christian in there somewhere. I wasn’t watching WWE because I didn’t like WWE. Let Tony Khan efed. I’ll go back to not watching wrestling.

[Queenslander]

Good yarn.


https://youtu.be/vvWFT9ptEUU

[Ian]

Been listening to some WarGames reviews (my interest in NXT has plummeted enough that I didn't even know it was on the Sunday just gone until I saw a headline yesterday) and having the new guys who you are presumably hoping the fans will get invested in as the heels over the Black and Gold brand guys is certainly a choice. Feels like WWE were, for once, aware enough to know they wouldn't get the audience booing DIY over the likes of Waller and so just didn't give it any further thought.

[Ian]

The NXT results sound a lot like Gargano might be planning to re-sign. Which if he's away on paternity leave that makes sense, have the steady money come in for a bit.

But whereas the O'Reilly stuff was clearly "let's write you out to end this feud" Gargano / Waller wasn't a thing beyond both being in Wargames so I assume Gargano will come back to feud him later.

[wullie]

If that is him finished up there now, at least the last thing he did wasn't wearing a shark costume to stop a serial killer having sex.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The NXT results sound a lot like Gargano might be planning to re-sign. Which if he's away on paternity leave that makes sense, have the steady money come in for a bit.

But whereas the O'Reilly stuff was clearly "let's write you out to end this feud" Gargano / Waller wasn't a thing beyond both being in Wargames so I assume Gargano will come back to feud him later.

1468418500511387648

The two pictures of Gargano and Ciampa there make it seem like he's done though.

[Ian]

I mean it is entirely possible it's just a dumb way to book his finish. It's WWE after all.

[Ian]

A thought just occurred to me when seeing a headline about Gargano.... WWE don't do big teary sendoffs for guys who they think are leaving to go elsewhere. Is there an exception to this I'm not thinking of? For "retirements", sure, but not for guys who are just leaving. So even if he does end up leaving I reckon they've got a feeling he's gonna stick around.

But then y'know, I think they thought they were gonna re-sign Bryan as well.

[wullie]

Dean Ambrose had a bit of a farewell lap of honour that seemed so out of place I was convinced he'd re-signed.

[Ian]

Didn't they then have him mugged off by EC3 who wasn't even being pushed though? And then threatened to have him lose to Nia Jax or something?

I think ultimately with Gargano my feel is that I don't really know what's going on but they think he might re-sign and if he does it was definitely a farewell to NXT and the poor sod would be trying his luck on Raw or Smackdown. I imagine he wouldn't want to do all the travel of NJPW, etc. with a new baby and he might look at AEW and think it's a bit crammed with people already queueing up for feuds right now so I suppose the question is whether he wanted the steady money and was choosing between being a midcarder with some good matches for a bit at AEW or roll the dice in WWE that he might catch Vince's eye despite his size (he wouldn't.)

24/7 title here we come.

[wullie]

They had him do some weird stuff like complain about how stinky everyone was and other bizarre nonsense that pushed him out the door, but then after he was confirmed to be going they promoted that live show on the network centred around him and the Shield, really stood out from the norm for WWE in particular

[Ian]

Yeah I think the gas mask shit was just WWE "humour" rather than directly tied to his departure. Forgot about the Shield doc.

Hm. It's all a bit odd anyway.

[Gray Fox]

Ambrose had convinced them he was going to retire without actually saying those words. They thought he was riding off into the sunset.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/yo7jGnM.png

[Disco]

Willow to AEW confirmed.

[Baz]

Jeff Hardy 2022 deadpool

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1469120452811448323

[Queenslander]

Fuck me this is a rough watch.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/retb6r/lastnight_hannibal_went_into_business_for_himself/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3



So, BH wins via the shittiest roll up I've ever seen. Andrew Anderson comes out to brawl with Carlito, all planned. I follow them to the back. This is 3rd refs que to come in to get Bloodhunter to the back. All planned. Bloodhunter is to hit 3rd ref with his spike, safely, 3rd ref is supposed to blade, and bleed, and we all meet up in the back, good match, yay.

Instead I look out and see BH wailing on 3rd ref. And I think, this is taking too long, so I go back out. 3rd ref hadn't starting bleeding yet. So what I believe happened, is that BH got pissed off that 3rd ref wasn't able to cut himself, so BH did it himself. First he choked the 3rd ref into unconsciousness. He was 100% in seconds. Then BH proceeds to hit him all over the head with his spike. Repeatedly. Without having watching the footage yet, I'm going to guess 20 or more times. Dude was bleeding profusely at this point. The entire time this is happening, I've decided this is too much and I was tryin to get BH off the dude. I refused to go into the ring, I absolutely did not trust him. So on the apron, I was pulling on BH's leg and punching it while screaming at him to stop. Finally, Blaze, his other manager/real life GF gets in and pulls him off.

That's when I managed to pull 3rd ref out of the ring. I checked on him again here and he was absolutely out and still profusely bleeding. So I immediately run to the back saying to call 911 and I need as many people out there to help me with a) Hannibal and b) 3rd ref as possible, and I requested we try to find any EMT's.

3 wrestlers, 2 of them with some form of medical background follow me back out. By the time I got back to the back, cops were already there, and I spent the next 45 minutes or so giving my statement to them. I believe Bloodhunter hid his weapon, because as long as he told the cops that the 3rd ref was supposed to blade HIMSELF he was fine, but what ACTUALLY happened was the direct result of Bloodhunters actions.




Kevin Sullivan still going strong.



So we finally get to the match and no one can find Hannibal. It takes a good 7 or 8 minutes of stalling by the Ring Announcer before anyone ever finds him. I'm standing in gorilla trying to talk to Kevin Sullivan about what's supposed to be happening. I see Bloodhunter finally around the corner and start to head out to tell the RA we are good to go. But I noticed Bloodhunter/Hannibal is stumbling. First clue.

[Shindig]

Sullivan trying to kayfabe the cops is peak carnie.

[Queenslander]

I'll bet he booked the blade job for a family show.

[Disco]

Katsuyori Shibata will be in a 'wrestling match' at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4th. You know, if you want to see him maybe die again.

[Disco]

Kevi Nowens has apparently re-signed with WWE, I suppose someone had to.

[Ian]

Interesting. I wonder if he's got any kind of assurances for that or if he didn't want to change just to also get lost in the mix in AEW.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The one minute round in Quizzlemania this week was beautiful.

[Baz]

From watching more Dark Side Of The Ring, I absolutely can't understand how anyone doesn't like Jim Cornette. He just bloody loves wrestling.

Also was not ready for what Dave Meltzer looks like.

[Ian]

There are times I like Cornette, there are times when he's just a cranky old cunt who hates modernity on principle.

[Browning]

Wrestling fans hate everyone and every thing, especially wrestling.

[wullie]

He praises AEW more often than not nowadays apart from silly stuff like Young Bucks and Best Friends so while he's definitely got a strict view of how wrestling should be he does acknowledge anyone who does it too. I love how much he despises Vince Russo

[Disco]

His refusal to acknowledge how wrestling has changed in the last 20 odd years put me off listening to him anymore, particularly because his hatred of some of the people involved seems way out of proportion and probably done to make his show more popular.

[Ian]

The idea of trying to get properly into AEW sort of appeals to me but can't quite must the effort to do it. I think I must have watched less wrestling in the last month or two than since I first got back into it.


Wrestling fans hate everyone and every thing, especially wrestling.

Browning outing himself as the world's biggest wrestling fan here. ;)


His refusal to acknowledge how wrestling has changed in the last 20 odd years put me off listening to him anymore, particularly because his hatred of some of the people involved seems way out of proportion and probably done to make his show more popular.

And he gives off proper Undertaker-y WRESTLING WAS BETTER WHEN MEN JUST SHOT EACH OTHER vibes. He seemed proper demented over the Becky / Seth stuff for example.

[Disco]

Following AEW is the same time investment as watching Raw, and from everything I hear it's a far less frustrating process.

[Ian]

Yeah but I don't watch Raw.

Even whizzing through it in an hour I haven't done for at least months. For a little while I've just been cherry-picking matches from what I read about WWE and AEW that I like the sound of and watching those.

To give myself a proper chance of getting into it I'd need to sit and watch an actual full episode of TV (rather than 'oh it's the 24/7 title / Omos match / MizTV, I can skip this') and I'm just not sure I have the enthusiasm for it.

It does mean I won't enjoy matches as much because you really need the investment but I think that might just be where I'm at.

Anybody who actually watches Raw or Smackdown live or even in full is insane.

[Disco]

Well Dynamite is only two hours and it makes sense week to week as well as longer term so to me that's a fairly safe bet.

[Shindig]

And he gives off proper Undertaker-y WRESTLING WAS BETTER WHEN MEN JUST SHOT EACH OTHER vibes. He seemed proper demented over the Becky / Seth stuff for example.

Thanks for reminding me. :D "She's just put herself out of 9 months of work!"

[Baz]

The idea of trying to get properly into AEW sort of appeals to me but can't quite must the effort to do it.Do it, do it, do it.

[Ian]

Uncle Dave reckons KO's new deal will get him two to three million a year. Fair play to him.

[Queenslander]

Surely he won't see out his contract at that price.

[Ian]

Maybe not, but he'll make a good cut of it in the meantime. Enough to let him do whatever he wants for a year or two when they release him you'd think.

I love KO, I'd love it if they gave him something proper to do. The current stuff with Rollins and Big E started well but is growing arms and legs and it reads like the insertion of Bobbles has made chumps of all three of them.

[Queenslander]

Nyla Rose - You tweeting out needless hateful shit like this and you wonder why God put you in a wheelchair…. Keep on rollin brotha.

Jesus christ. :lol:

Surely TK suspends her for that brain explosion?

[Ian]

Who was she saying that to and what prompted it?

[Queenslander]

Some bloke, who happens to be in a wheel chair, was firing off a few transphobic tweets in her direction.


https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/rmmwgq/nyla_rose_you_tweeting_out_needless_hateful_shit/

[Ian]

I saw that a fan got booted out of Dynamite for holding a transphobic sign up.

[Queenslander]

She must cop an absolute flogging online.

These people should be dumped at the edge of town and forgotten about.

[Baz]

Keep on rollin brotha.
:roflol:

[Baz]

CM Punk dressed like Sting was awesome.

[Ian]

I saw a clip of that and it was a fun thing to do as well as Sting's Punk-themed face paint.

[Ian]

I've just watched the clip of O'Reilly's debut in AEW and I really can't get past the fact that Adam Cole has such a terrible moveset.

The Panama Sunrise and Last Shot have to be one of the worst-looking big move pairings a "top" star in wrestling has ever had. The Panama Sunrise takes a move that already stretches suspension of disbelief to breaking point and chucks in a totally unnecessary and momentum-killing hop off the middle rope for good measure and the Last Shot looks like he's just thrusting a big thigh into their head. Maybe the jarring head movement makes it one of those that would probably do the job IRL but looks shit as a spectacle but regardless, it DOES look shit as a spectacle.

EDIT: Also O'Reilly lurking behind Cassidy beckoning for him to turn round just to do Some Strikes is also shit. Get a finisher, mate.

[Baz]

Nevermind his moves, his music is hype x10

[Ian]

His entrance theme is better than what WWE would have done if they'd insisted on binning the CFO$ theme but not as good as the actual UE theme.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The UE theme they used was perfect.

[Baz]

I don’t know what these acronyms mean, sorry.

[Ian]

CFO$ is just the (shit) name of the lads who did WWE's music after Jim Johnston.

I'm sure you've heard of Undisputed Era.

[igor_balis]

Jesus christ. :lol:

Surely TK suspends her for that brain explosion?

I always thought a Glenn hoddle inspired heel gimmick was long overdue.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

WWE have been hit hard with Covid lately, their solution? No more testing.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-talent-covid-19-testing/

[Ian]

Isn't that at least the second time they've done that?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't think so.

They've been quite good with testing but clearly Vince is pissed off that he's lost so many for this week (and possibly next) and doesn't want it fucking up Day 1 (shit name lads) or the Rumble.

[Ian]

I'm sure they implemented some shit policy or another around COVID at some polint.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1476295856848576512

Toni :(

Although hopefully she joins somewhere she can be used better.

[Queenslander]

Aew! Aew! Aew!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

NJPW and Impact, surely?

She's engaged to Juice Robinson and probably wants to be closer to him.

[Queenslander]

I didnt know that fair enough.

Maybe Stardom and Impact then with some top tier indie dates including Rev Pro.

[Baz]

Is she any good? I saw her live at an ICW show which is, err, not exactly the best advertisement for good wrestling.

Drew McIntyre was in the main event.

Edit: apparently she faced Nikki Cross

[Gray Fox]

She's got the best ass in the business and I don't think it's close. So it's a huge loss.

[Baz]

That is my only memory of her in ICW tbf :D

[Mike]

She was something pretty special in that department.

[Ian]

Steering away from the size of her rump, I don't think she's too level but if WWE had such a thing as a women's midcard she'd be between that and the main event I'd say. She's not Ripley / Belair level.

[Disco]

Steering away from the size of her rump, I don't think she's too level but if WWE had such a thing as a women's midcard she'd be between that and the main event I'd say. She's not Ripley / Belair level.

Surely you mean PHWOAR etc.


She's great, stole the show in that Mae Young thing they did a few years ago. AEW should sign her the moment they are able.

[Gray Fox]

Word on the Twitters is that she's had enough of the pro scene full stop. Felt burnt out and went to Vince to get out.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a real shame as I think she could have been an absolute star.

[Baz]

1477071736726245376

:gs:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1477416307444305923

Bork has been added to the WWE Championship match to make it a 5 way.

[wullie]

He comes across as way too sensitive to criticism, but without the fun possibility of him threatening to batter someone like Vince McMahon


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzjW0ylyfNk



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-sNmLjzz0&t=121s

[Disco]

1477416307444305923

Bork has been added to the WWE Championship match to make it a 5 way.

It's started well, Richochet just mullered the face of a man called Ridge Holland, blood everywhere and the (presumably) heel Seamus is on his own.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I liked Ridge a lot in his NXT run as a heel with Pete Dunne et al, just a shame he got a really bad injury which made him lose a year or so.

Real name is Luke Menzies and used to be a professional Rugby player.

[Disco]

Lol, Seamus wins.

[Ian]

Woke up early and couldn't sleep so watched some of Day One.

Nice to see Big E's reign ending with him looking like the afterthought he'd been during it. Didn't even get to enter last during his title defence.

Also fucking lol at that match going less than ten minutes while Edge and Miz got fucking twenty. I didn't watch it, obviously, but I bet it felt twice that.

[Shindig]

I'm not saying WWE's above it, but I'm surprised they haven't put Covid in an angle. I guess they can do that if a load of rumble competitors catch it with one of them winning.

[Ian]

I think they haven't purely because even they can tell the backlash they'd get for it, not because it's too classless for them. Because nothing is.

[Browning]

Never change Vince. :cool:

[Ian]

1477495558776541194

:moop:

[phonics]

I’ve said this elsewhere but Vince is not paying Brock all of his money to not go over, brother. Maybe they’ll give him his match against Goldberg at Rumble as a make do. They want Brock on Smackdown anyway so maybe he’ll just vacate it. Etc. Etc.

[wullie]

Fiver on Johnny Knoxville to win the rumble

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1478842489570308096

:(

Road Dogg and some other producers/writers for NXT have also be fired.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzQZ8MKfxrM

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Timothy Thatcher :(
Hideki Suzuki
Danny Burch

Gone too.

[Ian]

Burch was inevitable with Lorcan gone but if Vince gave a single shit about tag wrestling the two of them could have been a perfectly serviceable mid-level tag team on the main roster. Not as gimmicky as the APA were, say, but filling that "reet hard bastards" role.

Fightful probably have it right though and it's just a continued purge of NXT's HHHness.

I'll be curious to see what happens with Ciampa now he doesn't have the title.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1478573687846711300

That makes it seem like he's done.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Samoa Joe gone now too.

It's shit as he's obviously amazing but I'm surprised he lasted this long. Getting injured in his first match back and with them changing NXT to 2.0 it was a matter of when not if.

[Queenslander]

Regal and Joe being the new voices of ROH would be cool.

[Ian]

Really looking forward to Walter being used to get Von Wagner over.

[wullie]

Never seen much of Von Wagner before but going by this picture of his head I don't understand how Bruce Prichard is Vince's right hand man and yet this guy hasn't been given a caveman gimmick

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_l/public/all/2022/01/052_EVIL_01042022EJ_07257--30c5b5eb10babb512d6a2cb47ac51159.jpg

[Ian]

His forehead is absolutely mind-boggling.

[Shindig]

Like a camel’s hump.

[Disco]

They're doing all this in preparation for selling to someone right? I wondered why on earth anyone like Disney/Fox/whoever would want to take that on until I realised I was looking at it from a wrestling perspective when actually they're essentially a production company who could be even further streamlined if bought up by someone larger. None of the McMahons would survive that in any more than a titular role so it should be no surprise that HHH and all his mates with a wrestling background are going in the bin.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

WALTER joining NXT 2.0 might get me back into it.

[Ian]

WALTER joining NXT 2.0 might get me back into it.

As discussed, he'll be putting over the likes of Von Wagner and Grayson Waller.

If we're lucky we might get another match with Dunne out of it.

[Baz]

Just catching up on AEW. The womens street fight on New Year’s Eve Dynamite was great.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As discussed, he'll be putting over the likes of Von Wagner and Grayson Waller.

If we're lucky we might get another match with Dunne out of it.

Such a shame WALTER didn't make the move full-time when NXT was in it's prime under Triple H.

Also, I haven't watched NXT UK in a while but that's got to be going soon with WALTER gone. As soon as Ilja moves on there will be fuck all there.

[Disco]

Just catching up on AEW. The womens street fight on New Year’s Eve Dynamite was great.

It really was, and from a rather unlikely set of wrestlers too.

[Ian]

Such a shame WALTER didn't make the move full-time when NXT was in it's prime under Triple H.

Also, I haven't watched NXT UK in a while but that's got to be going soon with WALTER gone. As soon as Ilja moves on there will be fuck all there.

I assume Vince has just entirely forgotten it exists.

Also it still has Tyler Bate because JUST CALL HIM UP TO NXT FFS.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tyler Bate is still in the UK because he wants to stay there, surely?

Also, I've just checked and he's still only 23. It's mental how good he already is.

[Ian]

Bate is an incredible waste of talent so yeah, it's good he's so young. He was ready to be main eventing any show you cared to name about three years ago.

[Baz]

The idea of trying to get properly into AEW sort of appeals to me but can't quite must the effort to do it. I think I must have watched less wrestling in the last month or two than since I first got back into it.
Have you done it yet? Start with the most recent Dynamite from 5th Jan. You’re fully upto date then and so far it’s awesome (and I’m only upto thr MJF match).

MJF is definitely up there with [my biased nostalgiac memories of] the likes of The Rock and Stone Cold in terms of mic skills and getting the group engaged. The “PG Punk” chant was great. I love him.

[Ian]

I have not.

I've yet to muster the enthusiasm.

MFJ is excellent but even just from the wrestling pods I listen to I'm already a bit "eh" on all the WWE references. I'm fully open to the possibility that that's less about them using it as a stick to beat anybody with (or not all the time) and just when you're used to WWE the idea of mentioning other wrestling is verboten. Did have a little lol at him saying maybe he'd go main event Wrestlemania though. Vince would wonder whose valet you are, mate.

[Baz]

Oh shit Rey Fenix’s arm :sick:

1479062223700074503

[Shindig]

As a Botchamania fan, thank God the table broke.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fiver on Johnny Knoxville to win the rumble

1479628106487013376

Officially qualified :cool:

Also, WWE have announced most of the women entering and one of those is current Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James.

[Baz]

What, he’s actually wrestling? :D is it all part of a promo for the new Jackass film?


As a Botchamania fan, thank God the table broke.
I’m sure Brian Pillman Jr will make an appearance.

1479093176417800197

[Ian]

I hate everything about Knoxville being in the Rumble.


Also, WWE have announced most of the women entering and one of those is current Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James.

The review reads like McAfee actually referring to her as an Impact wrestler as well. I wonder if that was part of the deal or if he's just gone off-script.

[Shindig]

Maybe they're after the tapes?

[Disco]

Wrestle Kingdom was very odd again this year, small crowd who were only allowed to clap made for a weird atmosphere inside the cavernous echoey Tokyo Dome. Plus the very strange booking of two of their creakiest wrestlers (Tanahashi and Kenta) in a no DQ match full of tables ladders and weapons. Beyond the very obvious facial injury to Kenta he apparently also dislocated his hip and missed the NJ vs Noah show later in the week, fuck knows why old gravel knees Tanahashi agreed to it given his history. Then they managed to have one of the very few bad Ishii matches I've ever seen, about the only things to recommend were the two title matches between Shingo / Okada / Ospreay.

[Ian]

What's happened with NJPW? I hear bugger all about it these days and what I do hear is very mixed. Is there more to it beyond a load of their talent having fucked off and it being harder to get people in because of travel and stuff?

[Disco]

Bit of both, they were just getting their roster in order after all the AEW people left when the pandemic started and the two week quarantine period for anyone entering Japan came into effect which pretty much killed all their plans. Add in injuries to people like Okada and Ospreay at the worst times possible and they've had very little choice but to change plans multiple times, even more disruptive to a company that likes to book years ahead. You hear less about them because they took the rather short sighted move to get very hot on people posting clips/footage/even gifs on Twitter so there's comparatively little coverage of their events compared to a couple of years ago.

[Ian]

I actually watched an Impact match yesterday.

Jonah vs. Josh Alexander. I like Jonah / Bronson Reed and I've heard good things about Alexander so I gave it a bash and it was good fun. Just 15 minutes of two lads beating the shit out of each other. Still don't really get why Jonah wasn't somebody WWE saw promise in.

[randomlegend]

His forehead is absolutely mind-boggling.

He looks like he has acromegaly.

[Spikey M]

Lads, please try to keep all threads on the subject of AFCON.

https://i.ibb.co/4MLYyph/Screenshot-20220110-131659-Brave.jpg

[Baz]

AEW Battle of the Belts was a bit pointless.

[Ian]

Watched a couple of matches from Raw. Rollins vs. Big E was very good but having E lose clean as a whistle when he's fresh off losing the title and really needs a couple of good wins is a very, very WWE thing to do. Stop putting people against each other when neither should really be taking a loss you clowns.

The number 1 contenders match for the women's title was really fun too, I thought. Morgan could be really good if they keep giving her plenty of time in the ring, Belair is obviously great and I wonder if that ending is setting her up to win another Rumble? That could be fun and would be a big deal for her if she did and used it to beat Becky at Mania but we'll see I guess, there's definitely more to come from that feud either way. And despite the bollocks name Niven is good and her vs. Lynch should be fun.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ian

1480962720585457672

The Spaceboy guy looks like a bit of a knob, thankfully SRS is there though.

[Ian]

Didn't expect another one so soon.

[Ian]

1480946090035798020

That's a cool side of the story of them winning the belts.

They'd better hope Vince doesn't find out or they'll be getting split by some classic WWE spite-booking before they've had the chance to celebrate being champs.

[wullie]

I don't see him ever going further than he is now but I love Chad Gable. Jason Jordan is somewhere being comforted by his dad Kurt.

[Ian]

He's backstage wondering why you need a road agent to book a 90 second womens match that ends in a roll-up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What an entrance by RJCity to Quizzlemania.

[Ian]

Bleeding hard way and everything.

[Ian]

The Spaceboy guy looks like a bit of a knob,

Turns out he's been really good value.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Turns out he's been really good value.

Yeah I've been surprised.

[Ian]

So there was a match on NXT this week featuring a newbie called 'Damon Kemp.' His actual name is Robert Steveson, Gable Steveson's brother. So that's four, I think, people in NXT who are related to other people who are in some way WWE-notable and they're not acknowledging it. These are the weirdest people.