The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Disco]

He's brilliant and mental but he should have stepped back about 10 years ago.

[7om]

Natalya's cat 2pawz has its own Instagram account and now it will be a guest on Chris Jericho's "Talk Is Jericho" podcast in the near future, according to Natalya's Twitter.

:lol:

[Browning]

You know WWE will brag about that on RAW somehow.

[wullie]

Samoa Joe's the NXT champion, won it on a house show.

[Ian]

*Tonga Jeff

[Gray Fox]

Finn Balor to the main roster now then?

[wullie]

Either that or they're trying to further build up the hype for what could happen with the title match at Payback. It's working for me, I'm looking forward to it now.

[Gray Fox]

Just as long as it doesn't end up with Reigns as the leader of the Bullet Club it's fine.

[Jeet]

Just as long as it doesn't end up with Reigns as the leader of the Bullet Club it's fine.

He'll be The Guy of The Bullet Club.

WWE just wanted Finn to beat the NXT record really.

[Gray Fox]

But then will he be a good guy or a bad guy? If only a promo would clarify this.

[wullie]

Some of them might like him, some of them might hate him, but it's clear that [city] is the place to be tonight! The Roman Reigns WWE Championship is officially open

[Smiffy]

.....

[Ian]

Me and some guys from work were going to go to Raw in Glasgow in November but the tickets went on sale this morning and either they sold pretty much immediately or the guy we'd nominated to make the purchase* was just shit.

* Not sure why we didn't all look to go on and chat online so the rest could abort if one of us managed to get in.

[Disco]

I'm going to NXT in June (I think), don't know what kind of show it is though.

[Ian]

Make sure and do some of those TTH business cards to leave lying around.

Have a picture of Samoa Joe with "Tonga Jeff" as the caption on one side and 7om's picture of his pillar-view 'Mania seats on the other.

[Shindig]

Also, Chyna's wikipedia entry might be one of the most depressing in existence.

[Lewis]

Make sure and do some of those TTH business cards to leave lying around.

Have a picture of Samoa Joe with "Tonga Jeff" as the caption on one side and 7om's picture of his pillar-view 'Mania seats on the other.

Make one of those old school signs where it's just 'TONGA JEFF' in marker on a big bit of card. :drool:

[Disco]

Tonga Jeff on one side and PORK on the other.

[Lewis]

Or mock him up as a South Park character like every other banner during the Attitude Era.

[Ian]

So I AM going to Raw after all, maybe he just meant he couldn't get floor seats. Dunno where we're going to be sat but the only other live wrestling I've seen was what I assume just counts as a house show in Nottingham about fifteen years ago. I started a chant and everything.

If Tonga Jeff is on the main roster by the time I go I may have to take a sign for him.

[Lewis]

I went to a house show at the Hull Arena in 1994. I was obviously too young to appreciate it (my brother was into it more, and my nan used to tape it off Sky for him), but it turns out that the card (https://suplexcitybitch.co.uk/2014/09/16/wwf-hart-attack-tour-hull-16-09-94/) was mental.

[Ian]

Jarrett vs. Doink. :drool:

Hurricane vs. Storm and Stone Cold coming out at one point are the only things I remember about the show I went to.

Well, that and that there was a guy who decided to speak to us outside when we were waiting to go in who kept gobbing into a plastic cup.

[Lewis]

My brother pushed to the front after the main event and claimed to have touched the belt, but I reckon Bret Hart would have laid his eight year old arse out for not having earned it.

[wullie]

I went to a Smackdown house show in Manchester which must have been around 2005. This card (http://www.wrestleview.com/results/houseshows/houseshows2005/1119295785.shtml) seems to match up but I'm sure I'd remember Austin being there. All I remember is Carlito's entrance music and Billy Kidman doing a shooting star press to the outside.

[Disco]

We went to a house show in Cardiff a few years ago, the highlight being someone throwing Cena's shirt back into the ring and Santino being Santino.

[wullie]

I got into a TNA Impact taping during the main event just by being at Universal Studios and seeing the sign. Worth it to be able to say I've been in the same room as Scott Steiner.

[Browning]

I've been to a fair few TV tapings but nothing tops the first ever SD in the UK. WWE Title match, US Title match, 20 man battle royal (that was actually good) and Undertaker doing a dark match despite being storyline "injured".

[Gray Fox]

Last show I went to was RAW in 2011 (http://www.24wrestling.com/spoilers-wwe-raw-results-for-november-7-2011/). Not a patch on what Lewis saw, but it was when CM Punk was almost as over as he got. So that was good to see.

Overriding memories are Cena lapping all the boos up. And there were a lot. Zack Ryder was still a thing then. No one gave much of a shit about Nash and the end was good. After the cameras went off a beatdown on Cena started and Punk came out to make the save. Cleared the ring but for Ziggler and the two teased their finishers to cheers and boos respectfully. Punk hit an FU and they all left. About 30 seconds later Punks music hit again and he started doing laps of the ring, giving people chance to take pictures etc. Nice of him as he wasn't all too involved in the live show.

I then went to Smackdown the next day and it was a fair bit worse :D

[Shindig]

Hurricane vs. Storm

I really, really hope that got over.

[Ian]

I started a Hurricane chant. In hindsight I should have been cheering Storm but there you go.

[Shindig]

Seriously, we needed a battle royale with all the weather gimmicks whilst John Tenta was alive.

[Browning]

One match result from the latest TNA spoilers has me scratching my head. You'd think a company who once gave us a Lumberjack Cage Match couldn't possibly have a more bizarre lumberjack related match.... could they?

* TNA World Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway defeated Bobby Lashley by DQ in a Lumberjack Match for the title when a Lumberjack pulled Drew out of the ring and a brawl broke out

[Shindig]

http://tnaimages.com/t/8-DIXIE/l.jpg

Because a Cornette face just won't do. Unless the lumberjack thing is that they only interfere if someone leaves the ring by being thrown over the ropes or something.

[Mike]

Yeah, seems fine. if you're thrown out of the ring the lumberjacks are free to do whatever, they can't pull people out of the ring though.

[Browning]

There's probably some logic to that, but considering this was s World Title match you would imagine you'd come up with a better finish. I actually can't think of a lazier one.

[Waffdon]

Yo. RAW is in Glasgow in November? Mon the Grado and IC-DUB chants.

I'm getting camera side, ringside, tickets. TTHONTOUR

Edit: or not. Sold out apparently. That's annoying

[Weaver]

I got a Hurricane vs Lance Storm match at Insurrextion 2003, Ian, and I also got to see Theodore Long in a TAG TEAM MATCH, PLAYA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Insurrextion#2003


I went to a house show at the Hull Arena in 1994. I was obviously too young to appreciate it (my brother was into it more, and my nan used to tape it off Sky for him), but it turns out that the card (https://suplexcitybitch.co.uk/2014/09/16/wwf-hart-attack-tour-hull-16-09-94/) was mental.

A 17 minute match between Mabel and Bam Bam Bigelow :D

[Gray Fox]

https://gyazo.com/62c0498702f9d985ec698e2b773dfa8d.gif

That's enough internet for me today.

[Weaver]

Smackdown spoiler stuff:
Apparently Ric Flair told Natalya to 'kill herself' during a promo, but I doubt it'll be aired.

Also, Rusev and Del Rio walked out on a six man tag with Sheamus, 'ending' the League of Nations. They literally beat the main tag team in WWE three weeks ago, looked like they were going to feud with the Wyatts and instead they've kicked out one member and then broke up all together :D

Unrelated to that, I can't quite figure out what's going to happen with Styles vs Reigns. Reigns is going to keep the title, IMO, but there's no way Anderson/Gallows aren't involved. I think Shane McMahon might be involved too - I notice both him and Anderson/Gallows are saying 'they've arrived'.

[wullie]

I thought they'd definitely turn on Styles and maybe be Roman Reigns' lackeys, but they could do something with AJ being in on it all along and throw more baddies at Reigns in a relentless attempt to get people behind him. Hopefully the Usos are nowhere near any of it. Bring Rosey back instead.

[Gray Fox]

I'm going for them having Gallows and Anderson be annoyed that AJ wont let them help. They then decide to draft in their other friend from NJPW ;)

[Mike]

Gallows and Anderson to attack AJ, Finn Balor to make the save.

[Ian]

I'm with Wullie, get a bit of Three-Minute Warning involved. :drool:

[wullie]

RIP Jamal

[Ian]

Didn't realise when watching those Umaga matches he died not that long after. :(

[Lewis]

I reckon Rusev saw my posts about not wearing shoes being a death sentence for fat wrestlers.

[Ian]

Another episode of Monday Night Wars, and it's amazing watching X-Pac getting massive pops on Raw for slagging off Hulk Hogan.

[Lewis]

I remember asking the old man the next day what 'cut the mustard' meant, and I've associated it with that terrible promo ever since.

[Lewis]

I'm watching it now (we're on about Triple Haitch inviting him back right?), and fucking hell, even Chyna looks embarrassed by his half-smashed raving.

[Ian]

Yeah, when he talks about starting an army and turning to your friends in THE KLIQ (!!)

You've got Waltman in blackface coming up shortly if you're watching that episode rather than just the promo itself.

[Lewis]

The Road Dogg as 'B-Lo' was the best part of that.

[Shindig]

Won't be the last time New Age Outlaws do that in a wrestling ring.

[Browning]

I'm not watching tonight, I'll watch it in the morning, but I'm hearing reports that Enzo is seriously hurt (and you can't teach that).

[Disco]

He got thrown rather awkwardly into the ropes but didn't have time/space to get his arm and head under the bottom rope and it snapped his head back onto the mat. He flopped really horribly out onto the floor and they took the camera off him and didn't finish the match so you knew it wasn't good. Talking and moving on the way to the hospital apparently and WWE have rather tastefully posted a gif of it on Twitter.

[igor_balis]

Hope Enzo is okay, it looked really bad. He looked DEAD for a second.

[igor_balis]

As an aside, I've not seen a single Shane promo without at least one flubbed line since he came back.

[Samadini]

Gone into this main even a bit fucking cold after nothing happening for ages.

[Jeet]

No Bullet Club? :( Seth or Balor.

[wullie]

http://i.imgur.com/5Q1Dt2b.gif

Ryback really does rule.

[Ian]

For somebody who doesn't care about being a good guy or a bad guy Reigns certainly looked gutted at the second ending. What an overbooked mess it was though. Two endings that never normally happen anyway being chucked in for DRAMA. As soon as the countout was overruled it made it all the more obvious that Anderson and Gallows would be involved somewhere. Though I thought they'd be directly involved in the pinfall though, so at least that didn't happen. A pity the ending served Shane and Stephanie more than any of Reigns, Styles or the match.

Some other thoughts:
- Did Owens totally no-sell that ace suplex Zayn does?? Dick.
- On the one show we saw a one a backslide AND a snapmare. :drool:
- The forearm that put Reigns through the table was ace.

[Disco]

I rather enjoyed last night, the matches themselves were all pretty good. The end of the womens match was fucking stupid though and Reigns winning clean does nothing storywise.

[Ian]

Oh Christ I forgot about the end of the women's match. I only stopped for the ending to see what Hart did. What the fuck was all that about? Other than a bit embarrassing.

[Browning]

I didn't watch the main event because I could guess the outcome from some comments I saw (plus it was obvious) and I had no interest in seeing that.

Owens Vs Zayn was great, and Owens on commentary helped Miz/Cesaro be a lot of fun. Went downhill after that though. The women's match ending was fucking shit. I know he's old and retired but why the fuck was Flair tapping so fast and so timidly too?

[Disco]

Kevin Owens donned most of the show, he really is pretty great.

[Browning]

Credit where it's due, RAW is off to a very strong start, again mainly thanks to Owens.

I always assumed when I saw it in writing that Zayn's kick was said more like "Hell of a" rather than The Halloumi Kick.

[wullie]

The screwjob ending's way overdone, but them acknowledging Lil' Naitch which goes back nearly 20 years is ace.

[Browning]

This tag team segment has no logic. "You didn't beat anyone.... the referee had to stop the match". Last time I checked, that was a legitimate way to win a match.

[Browning]

Ryback has been sent home after failing to agree a new contract and posted a long statement about the issue. Basically he's angry that people who lose are paid less than those who win despite it being pre determined. Came across quite well though.

[Ian]

Wait, they actually have win bonuses on a by-match basis?

[Browning]

I'm not sure about that as he doesn't go into full details but I would assume not. I think he just means those that win often are paid more than those who don't when in reality both are just doing as they are told and the winners should be rewarded through more merchandise sales but bit higher pay. It would never work but fair play to him for trying.

[Disco]

Surely you negotiate for as good a deal as you can get, that's how it's always worked. The more bums you put on seats the more leverage you have, win/loss doesn't really come into it I wouldn't have thought other than people who are more over will tend to win more often. Unless you're Zack Ryder in which case fuck you.

[Mike]

I think he's saying more towards the flat rate, like Heath Slater who gets beat every match because he's told to and Kevin Owens who wins more often should get the same rate of pay as they do the same job. He mentions stuff like merch should then mean the top guys for sales get paid more through that.

Punk said something similar in that he got paid less for Wrestlemania than Brock Lesner, The Undertaker and Triple H for the show.

[Disco]

But they don't draw the same crowds, more people are coming to see Kevin Owens than are coming to see Heath Slater so they command different salaries. You can split hairs over the guys at the top of the card but the principle is the same. You'd think Americans of all people would get this.

[SvN]

I see both sides. I think there needs to be some sort of base salary that's consistent with bonuses for being higher up the card. In reality it probably wouldn't end up being much different.

[Lewis]

In the olden days it was all done off the house takings, but these days, when they have an actual roster and not just Ric Flair and local bums to put him over, you would think there could be some sort of guaranteed salary with pay per view/branded cum rag bonuses.

[Lewis]

Watching all that Jim Cornette stuff has filled my YouTube recommends with rasslin' shoots, and I felt the need to share this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p0HkaCZ1fI).

[wullie]

WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstars Hornswoggle and Alex Riley as of Friday, May 6, 2015. WWE wishes them the best in all of their future endeavors.

Did anyone know Hornswoggle was still there?

[SvN]

I remember reading that he was suspended for violating the wellness policy about 6 months ago and has the same reaction.

[igor_balis]

Watching all that Jim Cornette stuff has filled my YouTube recommends with rasslin' shoots, and I felt the need to share this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p0HkaCZ1fI).

Ha, saw that the other day. One of my favourite shoot things, along with:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iJCuMAOnio

[five time]

Zeb gone as well.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2437417/americanrage_medium.gif

[SvN]

Santino Marella too

His finest moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85IPSqZOL8g

[wullie]

El Torito noooooooo

Cameron's gone too, which may or may not coincide with her being the only employee to publicly agree with Ryback's thing about salary.

[Disco]

Santino went ages ago didn't he? He's certainly been retired from ring action for a while.

Oh, and this is his finest moment, hands down.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX78r3sYGoc

[Browning]

Wade and Sandow. :(

[Gray Fox]

Are they being lined up one by one outside Vinces' office?

[Browning]

Nah they're probably getting a text from Johnny Ace.

[7om]

Amazing how some of these absolute schmucks still have jobs while genuine talent gets fucked.

http://i50.tinypic.com/29pdpmv.gif

Sums it all up, really.

[Lewis]

lol at Eric Young in NXT. Is it just there to annoy TNA now?

[Browning]

I've just noticed those really shit A4 printed "Cesaro Section" signs. Who do they think they are, Arsenal supporters?

[Browning]

Jeff Jarrett clearly has his finger on the pulse because he's moved quick to snap up the 2 big names from today's cuts. Wade Barrett and Sandow..... will love sitting at home watching Hornswoggle and Zeb perform in GFW.

[wullie]

Riley and Sandow being released proves that aligning with the Miz is the highest accolade in wrestling and there's nowhere to go from there.

[Waffdon]

Barrett chose not to renew him contract tbf

[Browning]

Riley and Sandow being released proves that aligning with the Miz is the highest accolade in wrestling and there's nowhere to go from there.

Michael Cole next then, hopefully.

[Shindig]

I can't wait to see them waste Bobby Roode.

[Disco]

Wasn't Riley on NXT this week? Is that deemed separate or did he really just cut a promo then get sacked.

[Disco]

Into 2000 now and the arrival of the Free Radicalz (I'd forgotten just how red Perry Saturn was and how much of a crime Eddie Guerrero's mullet was). It is providing some great contrasts with the current shows, for instance I watched Jericho on Raw a couple of weeks ago coming out with his dad scarf and calling people idiots. Meanwhile late 1999 Jericho was kidnapping Chyna, tying her to a chair and smashing her hand repeatedly with a hammer. I won't even go into the standard of the women's division in 2000, jesus it's shameful.

[Ian]

I'm enjoying Monday Night Wars. PPV-wise I'm up to 2007 and I just skipped an entire PPV because the card looked like absolute dross and the reviews I read didn't convince me otherwise. No Mercy next. Apparently this Orton/HHH last man standing was tasty.

[Disco]

I just watched Royal Rumble 2000 and while the Rumble itself was pretty shit we did get HHH vs Cactus Jack and a fucking mental Hardys vs Dudleys table match. Not as good as the ladder match from No Mercy 99 but not a lot is.

[Shindig]

Was 2000 the Rumble Taz got music for his entrance and exit?

[Disco]

He choked out Kurt Angle and looked a right waddling badass.

[Shindig]

Ah, cool. Because one year later he's bopped by Kane and out in seconds. They could've done something cool with Taz.

[GS]

Coincidentally, I watched Cactus Jack v Triple H from the 2000 Royal Rumble the other night. The pedigree onto thumbtacks must have bee fucking brutal.

[Disco]

'They could have done something cool with...' is basically going to be the main theme of what's to come as I'm approaching the Invasion.

[Shindig]

Trying to think of the WCW guys who did okay out of it. Booker's still on TV, I guess. DDP (actually, he left before the takeover) walked straight into a feud with the Undertaker and erm...

[Disco]

Unfortunately I just watched these...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plIu3lh0w2w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6Q5mKsIEac


...and I'm not sure I can bring myself to go through what they actually came up with.

[Disco]

Trying to think of the WCW guys who did okay out of it. Booker's still on TV, I guess. DDP (actually, he left before the takeover) walked straight into a feud with the Undertaker and erm...

That ain't your mommas feud. And the answer is none, I can't think of any that didn't get buried.

[wullie]

Hurricane Helms probably got the best run of the lot.

[Browning]

Booker T did really quite well eventually but was jobbed out a fair bit while it was going on. Other than him though I don't think many did well.

I hear Styles and co are called "the club", presumably because they like a lot of chocolate on their biscuit.

[wullie]

I reckon Luke Gallows is pregnant.

[Browning]

WWE have announced Cena Vs Nakamura and Lesnar Vs Owens as co-main events for a live show in Hawaii. Fucking hell .

[Disco]

:drool: Get that shit televised.

[Lewis]

Don Cena having to carry yet another chump.

[igor_balis]

live on the network i think

[Disco]

I will mark out so badly if Nakamura is on the NXT card in Plymouth.

[SvN]

Nakamura v Cena should be amazing.

[Jeet]

Will Truth and Goldust team up already, shit been going on since Jan!

[wullie]

It took the Megapowers a few years to go through their story, have some patience.

[Weaver]

Adam Rose got arrested last night, for 'battery domestic violence' and 'tampering with a witness'

What a LEMON.

[Browning]

Has anyone been watching Camp WWE?

It's shit.

[Browning]

Rose has been "suspended indefinitely". Why has he not just been fired?

[igor_balis]

Rose has been "suspended indefinitely". Why has he not just been fired?

Because he hasn't been found guilty.

[Browning]

That didn't stop them firing Emma (I think it was) within hours of her arrest for something that turned out to be a misunderstanding. I mean, I guess you could say hopefully they've learnt from that, and fair enough if that's what they are waiting for, but it's never held them back in the past.

[igor_balis]

Fair point.

[Weaver]

Apparently Paige and Alberto del Rio are a couple now. Just the fifteen years between them.

[Gray Fox]

Fair play to him but isn't he married and she engaged?

I trust nothing like that after Total Divas became a thing,

[Browning]

Her engagement was called off but he is married, though rumours are that that's over too. This could still easily be a work for Total Divas though.

[Jase]

Apparently Paige and Alberto del Rio are a couple now. Just the fifteen years between them.

Jammy bastard.

[Ian]

As I'm just getting into CM Punk territory on the Network I decided to watch some promos and stuff on Youtube. So I watched the "pipe bomb" and his contract negotiation bit with Vince and enjoyed both.

Really liked the "strike" on Raw though where he was commentating and Triple H refereeing a match between Cena and Sheamus even though that part of the segment didn't last very long. Network-wise I'm coming up to No Way Out 2008 (which looks a bit meh, I'm not a huge fan of Elimination Chamber matches) and then WM24 which looks decent. I've already seen the HBK/Flair match but I'll definitely watch that again.

[Disco]

There's an EC match with Drew 'Mahogany Scotsman' Galloway in it that's amazing but I think it must be later than '08.

My disillusionment with getting close to the awful invasion angle has led me to go back and watch some more WCW, currently at the first Souled Out in Jan 97 and it makes me wonder what all the fuss was about. 90% of it is absolute tat, I can only presume it gets significantly better as the year progresses.

[Lewis]

Most of it was crap. People just forget most of it like they do with Monty Python.

[igor_balis]

Currently listening to a (very) long podcast ostensibly about Starcade 99, but really about the state of the WCW at that time. What a fucking mess. Might actually get the Death of WCW. Russo is a nut, but Bischoff isn't much better.

[Jase]

Watching Payback before Extreme Rules next week and I'm glad I've chosen now to be getting into wrestling. The Owens and Zayn match was incredible.

That being said, I'm gutted to have missed out on the likes of Daniel Bryan and CM Punk. Yeah I can go back and watch their stuff, but it's not the same as seeing it live.

[Browning]

The amount of shit in the last 10 years wouldn't have made it worth it. If anything you're lucky to be able to watch Punk/Bryan without sitting through so much crap.

[Ian]

Has anybody read the Hardcore Holly book? It sounds pretty good.

[igor_balis]

Chapter 1 - I like cars.
Chapter 2 - Bradshaw is a good guy.
Chapter 3-10 - I kicked the shit out of some rookies to make them RESPECT THE BUSINESS.

[Disco]

Watching Payback before Extreme Rules next week and I'm glad I've chosen now to be getting into wrestling. The Owens and Zayn match was incredible.

That being said, I'm gutted to have missed out on the likes of Daniel Bryan and CM Punk. Yeah I can go back and watch their stuff, but it's not the same as seeing it live.

It's probably better because you haven't had to sit through them being ignored (or beaten by Seamus in 8 seconds or whatever it was) for years.

[Disco]

Chapter 1 - I like cars.
Chapter 2 - Bradshaw is a good guy.
Chapter 3-10 - I kicked the shit out of some rookies to make them RESPECT THE BUSINESS.

:D

So you can tell it's bullshit from chapter 2 onwards.

[7om]

Currently listening to a (very) long podcast ostensibly about Starcade 99, but really about the state of the WCW at that time. What a fucking mess. Might actually get the Death of WCW. Russo is a nut, but Bischoff isn't much better.

The Death of WCW is a great book but ultimately flawed just because there are no references and proof behind all of the accusations they make in the book. But if you look past that, it's a brilliant read.

Bischoff's Controversy Creates Cash is also pretty good and well worth a go.

[Jase]

The amount of shit in the last 10 years wouldn't have made it worth it. If anything you're lucky to be able to watch Punk/Bryan without sitting through so much crap.


It's probably better because you haven't had to sit through them being ignored (or beaten by Seamus in 8 seconds or whatever it was) for years.

Both very valid points. The women's division is also pretty good now, which is a massive bonus.

[Browning]

That's debatable. They had a decent if sloppy match at mania and it's been terrible since.

[Jase]

That's debatable. They had a decent if sloppy match at mania and it's been terrible since.

I thought the Paige vs Charlotte match on RAW last week was decent. But even if the quality of the matches isn't stellar, the female wrestlers seems to be of a decent standard. It's just booking them into the right stories and feuds.

[Browning]

You could say that about any division in any company at any point though. TNA has had bags of talent at all times, but their booking has made them a farce.

Nattie fucking Neidhart should be the one getting 2 title shots in a row at this point though. Everyone knows she has nothing left to offer and doing that feud along with Reigns Vs AJ just leads to PPVs where you could bet your house on both titles being retained, which makes it boring.

[Jase]

Any predictions for Extreme Rules, now the card seems set?

1. Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin
Prediction: Corbin wins.

2. The New Day vs The Vaudevillains
Prediction: The Vaudevillains win.

3. Kalisto vs Rusev
Prediction: Rusev wins.

4. Dean Ambrose vs Chris Jericho
Ambrose wins.

5. Charlotte vs Natalya
Prediction: Natalya wins.

6. The Miz vs Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn vs Cesaro
Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.

7. Roman Reigns vs AJ Styles
Prediction: Reigns wins.

Safe as all hell, but with the likes of Rollins, Cena, Wyatt and Orton back soon I can't see them upsetting the apple cart too much.

[Browning]

Not a chance in hell Nattie wins. Charlotte is keeping the title until Sasha or Bayley take it, they aren't putting it on an old woman.

Also can't see New Day losing at all. They are the best thing in WWE right now and we don't even know that tge Vaudevillains were meant to win the shot. I suspect not.

[Jase]

Not a chance in hell Nattie wins. Charlotte is keeping the title until Sasha or Bayley take it, they aren't putting it on an old woman.

Also can't see New Day losing at all. They are the best thing in WWE right now and we don't even know that the Vaudevillains were meant to win the shot. I suspect not.

Not gonna lie, that may be wishful thinking with Natalya. I hope I'm wrong about The New Day losing as well. They're currently the third longest running tag team champions, they'll be second if they beat The Vaudevillains (provided they don't lose it on Raw the following night or something stupid). It could be they're being pushed to take the record or to come close and lose it at Money in the Bank.

[Pleb]

I read somewhere that the Vaudevillians were going to win the contendership match via two Dudleys and a rollup.

New Day to win. Reigns will probably keep the belt because Styles is still stuck in his TNA-style-era and I think his prime has already been and gone. Didn't even know that Rusev was still alive. Baron Corbin is just :drool: and Ambrose is over as fuck which means he'll continue to job. Forgot about the Divas (...whoops...womens...) match so Charlotte will continue to dominate and who the fuck cares about The Miz (apart from Maryse she's just pure :drool:).

[Ian]

When's Rollins due back? I'm looking forward to it. BIG MATCH JOHN back soon too.

[Disco]

They'll keep it until Enzo is back (unless he's gone long term) and then pick up the feud they should have been having now.

[Disco]

Anyone but Miz in the IC match and we'll call it good.

Charlotte obviously.

Rusev because please god let Rusev just be a monster again.

Ambrose may win because it doesn't matter.

No way (NO CHANCE!) Styles is winning, he'll be too busy making Roman look strong. Roman to win clean while no-one can decide who's supposed to the face.

[Browning]

Their booking of the main event picture being 6 man tag, 6 man tag, 6 man elimination tag, normal tag (with the other 2 at ringside), normal tag again and probably again before doing it yet again at the PPV is a fucking shambles.

[Jeet]

Past 2 RAW shows been shite, main event 2 weeks ago a no show and Shane and Steph patting themselves on the back. Go home show ended with nattie who is having her 3rd title shot in 2months. Don't get me started on this 'Let's make Darren Young straight again' repeated shit

[Disco]

Calisto falling over was the best bit.

[Gray Fox]

Cody Rhodes has asked to be let go from his contract.

On looking up I'm surprised to see he's only 30. He feels like he's been around forever.

[wullie]

His Phantom of the Opera thing was ace, and Stardust could have been too. Shame.

[Disco]

The Dashing Cody Rhodes was great (the moustache, the paper bags), such a shame the WWE can't book anyone that isn't a shiny red giant.

[Jeet]

I quite like the Stardust gimmick, but they make him job all the time :( The Shadow is gonna be gutted.

Did anyone saw the Tony Stark gimmick video he was trying to push last year with him and Eden the other week?

[five time]

Yeah, I saw it last month the other day.

[igor_balis]

The fourway was terrific.

[Weaver]

734566045843853312

[Waffdon]

Seth :cool:

[Disco]

The fourway was terrific.

Apart from the ending, what was the fucking point in that?

Also, into the third hour and we're yet to see as much as a chair shot. Extreme!1!

[Browning]

I'm fast forwarding through the show now. The 4 way is all that appeals to me, the rest of the card is a fucking shambles.

Yep, that 4 way ending ruined an otherwise good match. The US title match ending was shocking as well. WWE really don't know what they're doing these days. I may cancel my subscription until they come up with something less boring.

[Jeet]

4-way match ending was what I expected. AJ certainly made Roman strong in their feud, but kicking out of 2 Style Clashes... AJ also seems to be going over the top (excuse the pun) with his forearm moves.

Anyone got a copy of Seth's workout plan because he looks jacked!

[Lewis]

I'll lol if he comes out later and cuts a heel promo on Roman Reigns.

[Browning]

The 4 way ending was alright, but the absolutely shambolic camera work made it a joke. Only going back to the ring after the count of 2... fuck off.

[Disco]

It's silly to try and book Crossfit Jesus as a heel (they will anyway) because he's going to get cheered to the rafters up against Reigns.

I thought it was reasonably good on the whole. The IC match was clearly the highlight but why the hell you pick The Jizz out of those 4 to hold the belt I have no idea, there were two better faces and a better heel to be had. Reigns / Styles was basically a re-hash of the Payback match, not a bad thing in itself because that was pretty good, but continually trying to MAKE ROMAN STRONG is shit. Kicks out of two Clashes then wins with a single spear, they're going to ruin Styles at this rate.

[igor_balis]

Jericho vs Ambrose was aids. Fourway was great even with the ending which I didn't mind. Rest neh.

[Ian]

As soon as AJ went to the apron it was blindingly obvious what was going to happen which was a bit of a shame but otherwise I enjoyed both it and the IC title match.

In the IC I just wish they'd do something with Cesaro already. There's no real reason to be keeping Miz on the belt because while he's a reasonable enough heel again now he's jobbing constantly he's going nowhere in the long run.

The world title match was actually one of the better booked ones we've had recently. Both guys looked strong, it wasn't a gimpy over-booked tragedy and Rollins at the end. :cool: Reigns even sold one of the better Pedigrees Rollins has delivered.

[Jeet]

Rusev holding the US title until Cena returns surely. Ambrose's matches have really sucked since WM too.

I didn't see the pre-show, but the saw the highlights on the PPV - did Big Cass really just beat The Dudleys in a 2 on 1 attack?

[Gray Fox]

But he's 7 feet tall! (and you can't teach that)

[igor_balis]

Rollins cutting a heel promo but making excuses for face pops by saying 'boo me or cheer me i don't care'. Reigns the face of the company making excuses for heel heat exactly the same way. I thought I wanted shades of grey in wrestling but fuck this, this is bollocks.

[igor_balis]

Also, Shane is well rubbish. Great having a face authority figure AT LAST, but I wish it was someone who could talk properly.

[Jase]

I really liked Extreme Rules, with the exception of the asylum match and the end of Charlotte v Natalya. That Intercontinental match was just excellent.

[wullie]

I knew they'd have AJ Styles come out with 'serious guys, Roman's alright you know' at some point.

[Disco]

He's the Rocks' cousin too, I'm not sure if you knew that.

[Shindig]

Blood cousins. That's my name for their tag team.

[wullie]

AJ to get battered by his old pals, he challenges them to a match. He doesn't have a partner so they laugh at him until Finn Balor shows up in the same way he debuted for NXT, then at the next PPV he turns on Styles to sell Balor Club t-shirts and they've got a feud to go into Summerslam. Primo finally gets shot of Epico and goes on to singles glory.

[Browning]

I thought Extreme Rules was dreadful, the 4 way aside. Too many matches felt like squash matches, the US title ending was dumb seeing as it wasn't no DQ (you surely can't continuously ignore an order from the ref), and Jerichp Vs Ambrose felt like watching 2 pensioners go at it until the ending. It was just so slow and so dull. I did not watch the main event (and won't until they put Reigns against someone with a 1% chance of winning) and the divas ending was stupid too.

[igor_balis]

Jericho and Ambrose went nearly 30 minutes! It felt longer.

[Browning]

I agree. It felt like 30 days.

[Disco]

The end of the Rusev match was silly but not for that reason. The ref interfering like that makes no sense at all, if he's irl injured then there's a signal for that but otherwise what was he doing? The entire conceit of the match is to hurt your opponent so yes, of course he's hurt that was the point of punching him all those times. They did the same thing with Bayley on NXT and it was silly then.

[7om]

Just read the results from Raw last night. This company is beyond help now.

Rollins gets a historic pop when he returns to attack Reigns, and apparently another big pop when he comes out for Raw last night. So what do they do... make the guy everyone wants to cheer the heel and the guy everyone can't stand the sight of, the babyface.

WWE in 2016, right there.

[SvN]

Character-wise, how would it make any sense at all for Rollins to return as a babyface? He was threatening to murder people before he left.

Not to mention, there are fuck all top level heels at the moment. They need as many as they can get.

[Lewis]

The obvious turn would have been to have him come out and gob off about how Triple Haitch never rang him when he was injured (and bollocks to you for giving my belt away), unlike the WWE UNIVERSE who were Tweeting him and that.

[7om]

Character-wise, how would it make any sense at all for Rollins to return as a babyface? He was threatening to murder people before he left.

Not to mention, there are fuck all top level heels at the moment. They need as many as they can get.

Talking about "sense" and WWE is pretty pointless. Plenty of people return after injuries and switch up.

And the lack of top heels is there own doing. They sacrificed everyone to Reigns and/or treated them like shit so of course nobody stands out. People wanted to cheer Rollins badly and now they're being forced not to.

Reminds me of when Cesaro was red hot a few years ago and they stuck him with Heyman. The crowd were desperate to cheer and were forced not to. And what happened? Cesaro's character went down the shitter for a good 2 years.

[SvN]

Rollins is great as a heel, he won't suffer. He'll obviously turn face at some point, but for now, I don't think there's any problem having him as a heel.

[Disco]

There's no shortage of decent heel material on the roster. Owens is basically good to go, book Rusev properly (have him smash the piss out of Cena for a little while instead of rolling over and giving up his title) and you've got yourself a decent monster. Tonga Jeff could very easily make the jump and, as Lewis put it, 'start filling people in' whenever you like.

Plus of course the obvious heel who's already at the top of the card and gets a shit ton of heat. Let Reigns embrace the hate and go mental, he could even keep the belt. It'd be like 2000 all over again.

[SvN]

People don't become top heels overnight though. KO is no doubt being built up to be a main event star. Rusev, not so much, as much as I like him.

Obviously Roman is the best choice, but we all know that's not happening for the foreseeable future.

[Disco]

Of course, proper booking has been distinctly lacking for a very long time.

I still think Rusev could work, have Cena come back and go after his US title (which he probably will anyway) but have Rusev win all the big contests over the next couple of PPV's. Let him dominate Cena a few times, power out of some holds/moves. Have the end of the feud be somewhat disputed (title changes hands via DQ something like that) and then put Cena into something with a 'top' opponent. Rusev could then follow him, spoil his matches with run ins, trash him a couple of times etc and there you go: monster heel, please use with care.

Unfortunately it's unlikely as it would require something WWE (Vince) have been incapable of as long as I've been watching. Letting the 'bad guys' (and I don't mean heels I mean people who don't sell a billion t-shirts or don't have a surname containing McMahon) win for a decent period of time.

[Browning]

The problem with monster heels has always been that WWE build them up purely to see them squashed be a pointless face who doesn't need it. So they would go through all that with Rusev and wreck Don Cena in the process only to feed him to Reigns. Fuck that.

[Disco]

Oh yes, they'd ruin him in pretty short order. I think Cena could take the losses though, he's getting to the point where he can start putting one or two people over.

[Browning]

Cena can probably handle a few losses at this point, it's true, but not sure he should be mugged off by Rusev for 6 months only to see Rusev beaten with one spear.

[Jase]

Oh yes, they'd ruin him in pretty short order. I think Cena could take the losses though, he's getting to the point where he can start putting one or two people over.

He already did that with Kevin Owens, no?

[Browning]

He did, and look how that's worked out. Owens is probably the only thing worth a damn right now. It's fine in theory to use Cena's star power to create new stars, but if said new stars are just going to be fodder for Reigns I would rather they not bother.

[Waffdon]

Nice to see the Styles Clash buried into the ground by Reigns

[Shindig]

Caught up with a few Botchamanias and now know the wonders of Shelly Martinez vs Rebel. First time I've heard a woman scream her vag hurts in a room of 80 people outside of porn.

[Jase]

Nice to see the Styles Clash buried into the ground by Reigns

RIP, you were gone too soon :(.

[wullie]

They're getting the forearm over instead which at least looks like something that he could use on more than a third of the roster.

[Jase]

I have to ask, is Ric Flair alright? I know he's had issues with drink, but on Raw last night he was a wreck. Has his brain turned to mush from too many concussions in his career, is he unwell or was he smashed? I could barely understand a word he said.

[Disco]

Yes, all of those things.

[Jase]

Yes, all of those things.

Ah, an all you can eat buffet of brain damage. Bloody shame.

[Disco]

He had a slightly sibilant slurry voice to start with but the years/chairs/booze have certainly taken their toll.

[Gray Fox]

So the MiTB match is coming up and it's got 7 men in it this time.

Owens, Zayn, Cesaro, Ambrose, Jericho and Del Rio are in it thus far. There's obviously only one spot left and I reckon they'll keep it as an unknown participant until the night. As the list stands I'd be happy with anyone other than Del Rio. Jericho would be a bit meh but he's surely done soon so him having one last hurrah is okay.

[Gray Fox]

Also they've just confirmed a brand split is coming again.

Steph and Shane to host a show each. Smackdown to become a live broadcast.

[igor_balis]

Ignoring the pros and cons of the brand split, moving Smackdown to a live show is excellent if only to get rid of the horrible post-production crowd reaction dubbing. It made it entirely unwatchable for me.

[SvN]

I reckon they'll make AJ the face of Smackdown and have him challenge Miz for the IC title. It would explain why he's not in the MITB match.

[Lewis]

Doesn't a brand split necessitate two titles? Unless it's just going to be the B-Team.

[SvN]

Even when there were two world titles, one was clearly the "proper" one.

[wullie]

If they do a proper brand split as they intended 500 years ago with separate rosters and more opportunites it can be ace, plus you can create cross-brand feuds that can carry the lesser PPVs. Doubt it'll happen though.

[Jase]

So the MiTB match is coming up and it's got 7 men in it this time.

Owens, Zayn, Cesaro, Ambrose, Jericho and Del Rio are in it thus far. There's obviously only one spot left and I reckon they'll keep it as an unknown participant until the night. As the list stands I'd be happy with anyone other than Del Rio. Jericho would be a bit meh but he's surely done soon so him having one last hurrah is okay.

Wait, Del Rio? When did he get in?

[SvN]

Smackdown

[Disco]

Brand split only works if it's a proper split. No crossovers except for very rarely at ppv's.

[Jase]

Smackdown

Ah, that'll be why I didn't know. Don't watch it until Friday.

[wullie]

Ideally it should allow more focus on underused people, but that was said about Raw's extra hour at the time too.

[Gray Fox]

Towards the end they had people rock up on both shows, despite supposedly being assigned to one, for no good reason. They need to not do that.

I wonder if Cody regrets not sticking around a little longer now.

[Ian]

Not sure how I feel about a brand split but then most of what I've seen of the last one has been through the Network. It worries me a bit that they can't consistently get one weekly show right. How they going to manage two?


So the MiTB match is coming up and it's got 7 men in it this time.


WWE have done a few7-man jobs in recent times, haven't they?

[Gray Fox]

I had in my mind that it was generally between 6. But I suppose 7 makes more sense as then you have someone always able to rest if needed.

[Browning]

Brand Split is best for business. Been saying that for ages. It was always more entertaining when the two shows had a proper GM and had to compete to sign free agents, and draft night.... :drool:

Reigns on one show and Cena on the other no doubt.

[Jeet]

5 hours on live wrestling! Need to cut RAW down to 2 now.

[Disco]

Not sure how I feel about a brand split but then most of what I've seen of the last one has been through the Network. It worries me a bit that they can't consistently get one weekly show right. How they going to manage two?

It started well then went to shit because they couldn't keep the two rosters separated, when all the wrestlers started showing up on both shows it all became a bit pointless. The 'draft' every year became a joke too, I remember one where John Cena was drafted to Smackdown as their first pick and then Raw drafted him right back as theirs. It was a proper shit-show by the end.

[7om]

5 hours on live wrestling! Need to cut RAW down to 2 now.

That third hour is a goldmine for Vince.

No matter how shit it is for us, he ain't leaving money on the table for anything / anyone.

[Lewis]

Reigns on one show and Cena on the other no doubt.

It's all a wheeze to avoid having them feud.

[Ian]

Brand Split is best for business. Been saying that for ages. It was always more entertaining when the two shows had a proper GM and had to compete to sign free agents, and draft night.... :drool:

On the face of it draft night sounds pants but I suppose if you've got good guys who've been kept seperate it's exciting when they're drafted to the same show.

Was the roster stronger, in theory, when they did it the first time? Maybe it's just the injuries but it doesn't feel strong enough to support two main event scenes right now.

What WWE needs isn't two rosters but actual competition.

[Browning]

RAW had your big names but Smackdown ended up being the better show thanks largely to Heyman booking it and the "Smackdown 6" (Eddie,Chavo, Angle, Benoit, Rey and Edge.)

[Gray Fox]

Assuming the same guys only having to go once a week can lead to better stories and more guys being built up.

Seeing the same matches repeated Monday and Friday was getting seriously tedious. They plan as of now to have 2 world titles too. The only problem I can see is the PPV scene. With NXT now there's enough talent in depth just waiting for a chance. We've not even seen the likes of Bayley, Nakamura or Balor on the main roster yet either. But there will probably have to be 2 sets of PPVs except for the big ones.

It'll be interesting to see if they resurrect any titles, like the cruiserweight. Though having a world, US/IC, tag team and then a cruiserweight type title on each show could be a bit much.

[Jeet]

I did see a new WWE title a few months back which looked similar to the wings belt. Could have been a custom fan made title though.

[Disco]

They used to take it in turns to do PPV's and only come together for the big four. I'd prefer that over the prospect of having one each a month.

[Browning]

At least this way we will only have to watch the Usos Vs The Club once a week.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjAF3BWSan0

[Ian]

So Raw was pretty dull. At least we were spared the 3487th Ziggler/Corbin match in the end.

Didn't expect the turn from Styles.

[Waffdon]

They'll turn everyone Reigns faces.

[Gray Fox]

What what up with the segment with Rollins? I get you want to save the big clash for the PPV but surely there are better ways to keep them apart in the meantime, than Seth pretending to go down to the ring 6 times.

Heel AJ makes me wonder if Balor will be coming up any time soon. Of course he could come in and pretend he's never seen the Bullet Club lads before.

They're not a good club. They're not a bad club. They're just The Club.

[Lewis]

Is THE AUTHORITY gone then? Because it went rather quietly if Steph can be out dancing with the New Day.

[SvN]

They knew that if Reigns beat him up, he'd get booed. And if they just went back and forth on the mic, Seth would destroy him.

[Ian]

Has there been an on-screen reason for HHH's absence?

[Browning]

Yea he's still recovering from getting buried by Reigns.

[Jeet]

Bit racist of Big Show not wanting Apollo Crews on the bus...

[Shindig]

TNA is going for it.

https://youtu.be/2jzScgAhSt0

[Ian]

The fuck has Matt Hardy done to himself?

[Browning]

That was fucking weird.

[Weaver]

I loved Rusev's rambling promo from Raw this Monday.

'You cheese-gobbling, cheese... Whatever you call yourselves Americans these days' :D

[Jeet]

If anyone has seen The Matt and Jeff video

Brother Nero!! LMAO the loo roll - Good to see TNA taking the piss out of themselves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSmj28cCz88

[Weaver]

Brock Lesnar is going to be fighting at UFC200 in July sometime, with WWE's permission.

I wonder what WWE got in return for it (other than the publicity)? McGregor and Rousey have been rumoured for matches in the past.

[Lewis]

It doesn't do much for WWE if he gets battered, so does that mean he's fighting some loser?

[five time]

Even if he does beat up some binman, surely Brock's ego/the potential $ for everyone involved is going to lead to demand for another fight at some point?

It's all going to end with Mayweather vs. McGregor vs. Big Show at the next wrestlemania. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

Brock Lesnar is going to be fighting at UFC200 in July sometime, with WWE's permission.

I wonder what WWE got in return for it (other than the publicity)? McGregor and Rousey have been rumoured for matches in the past.

She seems the most likely reason this was allowed,

[7om]

Lesnar vs Punk.

Heyman scales the walls of the octagon and screws Brock with a low blow. Rematch at WM33.

[Ian]

I've just watched that TNA Jeff/Matt promo for a second time. It might be the best thing I've ever seen.

[Browning]

Lesnar needs to conquer Punk's undefeated UFC streak.

[Disco]

Brock Lesnar is going to be fighting at UFC200 in July sometime, with WWE's permission.

I wonder what WWE got in return for it (other than the publicity)? McGregor and Rousey have been rumoured for matches in the past.

They're letting him do it in return for him not asking for more money. Or rather, he asked for more money, Vince said no and they both settled for Bork being allowed a UFC match instead.


It doesn't do much for WWE if he gets battered, so does that mean he's fighting some loser?

It won't matter, they'll ignore it just like they've ignored his already less than stellar UFC record.