The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

/1779938353393139956

Looks like a shoulder dislocation.

[Waffdon]

How long would she be out for? Reigns kept his title defending it 3 times a year lol

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

4 to 6 months if surgery is needed according to Google.

[Ian]

There's a zero percent chance she doesn't get a rapturous welcome when she returns so build up a heel champ for her to obliterate when she returns, whoever that might be.

I mean fuck it, give Liv a go if that's the story they teased last night, surely they can't fuck a Liv push twice.....

[Ian]

Also those new tag titles are better than the pennies but HHH needs to get over his big gold belt obsession.

[phonics]

Jamie Hayter disclocated her shoulder a year ago and still isn't back. Has single handedly ruined the womens division.

[Ben]

Liv Morgan is rubbish but I don't mind her getting a heel title run so Rhea can come back as a big babyface and literally toss her out the arena.

[phonics]

Stumbled upon this clip and it triggered me with my least favourite move in wrestling. The Flying Nothing. Where the action is only to set-up the ensuing counter. It used to work occasionally if you had someone going for the deadest move of all time, the double axe handle. But in the modern era it's absurd.

https://i.imgur.com/f0HCNs2.png
https://i.imgur.com/PCt6YYl.png

[Gray Fox]

the deadest move of all time, the double axe handle.

You can't come in here with this nonsense. The deadliest move of all time is the roll up pin. I do agree though that it just looks silly. Especially when you make a guy who never goes up, go for it. Although I saw GUNTHA attempt 3 splashes at 'Mania and each one looked worse that the last.

[phonics]

Deadest, as in dead because it's unused.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You can't come in here with this nonsense. The deadliest move of all time is the roll up pin. I do agree though that it just looks silly. Especially when you make a guy who never goes up, go for it. Although I saw GUNTHA attempt 3 splashes at 'Mania and each one looked worse that the last.

WALTER does use the splash in big matches, although he's never been great at them.

[Gray Fox]

This is what I get for skimming.

I would accept going up for the double axe handle if it moved well into the opponents finisher or signature move. It just looks clunky otherwise.

[Ben]

Me and phonics bonding over phoney bullshit. :beer:

File it away with the Spanish Fly and the standing around outside the ring to catch the guy doing a moonsault without looking back.

[wullie]

I'm another who doesn't like that, if a move off the top rope is countered you should at least have an idea of what should have happened otherwise.

Alternatively have it end in a flying strop 'n' kick

https://i.imgur.com/SxDzfVw.gif

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Me and phonics bonding over phoney bullshit. :beer:

File it away with the Spanish Fly and the standing around outside the ring to catch the guy doing a moonsault without looking back.

I love a good Spanish Fly but the whole waiting around for someone to jump (also off a cage, ladder etc etc) just looks dumb as fuck.

[phonics]

Matt Hardy teasing a WWE return :drool: Enjoy.

[Ben]

Surely he's just going into business for himself there?

[Gray Fox]

More gorgeous production work last night, following Jey out to Sami in for his entrance.

[phonics]

He's been in business for himself the last several years so nothing new there.

[Ben]

More gorgeous production work last night, following Jey out to Sami in for his entrance.

Yep that was tremendous.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's just infinitely better without Kevin Dunn and his hundreds of cuts a second.

Camera work is amazing now.

[wullie]

Are the smaller entrance stages a permanent thing now? Looks much better to see actual people instead of monster screens, the Puerto Rico show was great for that in particular so I'm all for it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Are the smaller entrances a permanent thing now? Looks much better to see actual people instead of monster screens, the Puerto Rico show was great for that in particular so I'm all for it.

Yeah.

They've announced they'll be doing that setup for the foreseeable future to pack more fans in.

[Ian]

Spanish Fly can get in the same bin as the Canadian Destroyer.

Tower of Doom too.

[phonics]

Those are kayfabe though. The flying nothing is anti-kayfabe.

[phonics]

1779829068738736534

"Court ordered Smackdown" is a great concept that I need. Like some Hannibal Lecter type who's on lockdown apart from he's allowed out by the judge to cut a promo on Smackdown once a month.

[Ben]

Those are kayfabe though.

[X] doubt

https://i.redd.it/3qid4473n4bc1.gif

[phonics]

Yeah but we also pretend the Rock Bottom hurts like.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

[X] doubt

https://i.redd.it/3qid4473n4bc1.gif

Ok that's dumb as fuck.

[phonics]

Bad Bunny's entire wrestling career just died if we get rid of it.

[Waffdon]

Comparing AEW wrestlers to a famous singer. Sounds about right

[wullie]

I used to really like Luther Reigns, proper doofus meathead hired goon. Of course he's since been overshadowed by his brother Roman.

[phonics]

Comparing AEW wrestlers to a famous singer. Sounds about right

Referring to Penta simply as 'an AEW wrestler'. So ignorant. Sounds about right. Why the fuck does everything have to be a WWE v AEW thing with you. It's so fucking tiring. Stick to Twitter.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

More gorgeous production work last night, following Jey out to Sami in for his entrance.

Just seen this, my word that was good.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://411mania.com/wrestling/bully-ray-wonders-wwe-fail-sell-out-raw-sign-things-come/

Bully Ray on WWE failing to sell out Raw in Montreal: “Last night was the first night that WWE has not sold out. I always talk about the crack in the wall. It always starts with one crack. I always talk about the pop in the crowd. 20,000 people are popping every single night, but there comes that first night where 19,000 people popped. Do you think [Monday night was] a sign of things to come for WWE now maybe on the tail end of WrestleMania?”

They sold 11,800 tickets of 12,100. Mainly due to opening up more tickets because of the paired back set to get more fans in.

RIP WWE it seems. Congrats Cokehead.

[7om]

Just seen this, my word that was good.

It was really great. They did something similar the previous week where the cameraman who filmed Liv Morgan attacking Rhea Ripley then walked into the arena for the next match.

[wullie]

1781005251346149715

[Gray Fox]

Great to see Coolman get to finish his story.

Lord White did not look like he enjoyed taking that bump.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Veer, Sanga, JINDER, Xia Li and Xyon Quinn released.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The fatal 4-way tag match on SD was really fun.

[Ian]

The new belts are nice as well, could still live without the big logo sideplates but at least it's not slap bang in the middle of the main face of the belt.

Also, Waller and Theory are an active detriment to everything they're involved in at the moment. The tag match was breezy and fun but they offered nothing on commentary. No charm about them at all.

[Browning]

Jinder Vs Lord White please.

[Waffdon]

The new belts are nice as well, could still live without the big logo sideplates but at least it's not slap bang in the middle of the main face of the belt.

Also, Waller and Theory are an active detriment to everything they're involved in at the moment. The tag match was breezy and fun but they offered nothing on commentary. No charm about them at all.

They’re cracking. Hopefully the pay off is a feud at Summerslam with baby face Theory

[wullie]

I thought they'd keep the theme of the singles ones on smackdown and just be a massive logo but instead they've gone for the shape of the classic 90s tag belts, big fan.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1781430713549545823

Mental that he wrestled on RAW before Mania and then on both nights of Mania whilst still fucked.

[Ian]

I'd really like it if they gave him a few months off. Let him get properly healthy for a start but also rework his character a bit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Can't wait for him to come back and start selling his knee again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1781756047280964056

They need a TV deal.

[Gray Fox]

Danielson v Ospreay. All kinds of silly fun.

[Ben]

The PPV card looked great but I can only imagine how long it went. I'll probably watch that match, Okada-PAC and Swerve-Joe and leave it at that. I'll enjoy those and the rest will likely be the usual tripe so I'll not go there.

[Gray Fox]

It does sound like the AEW crowd has soured a lot on Jericho too. "Please retire!" chants going through his match.

He should probably announce a retirement tour like Sting did, but I don't think he'll be going away any time soon.

[wullie]

He was important to have around at first as a major name but if he disappeared tomorrow they wouldn't miss him for a second, he seems to exist solely to suck the life out of younger wrestlers these days.

[Ben]

It does sound like the AEW crowd has soured a lot on Jericho too. "Please retire!" chants going through his match.

He should probably announce a retirement tour like Sting did, but I don't think he'll be going away any time soon.

Isn't he like 18 months into a 10 year contract?

As wullie said, really good for them for a year or so but he's done now.

[Gray Fox]

Into 2025 apparently. I also saw he's supposedly a mentor to Hook but guess who got the pin...

I do think one of the things Tony does well is not releasing guys unless they cause him problems, but you also don't have to have him on TV.

[phonics]

The only man in wrestling with more ego than HHH is Jericho. He's terrible these days. Trying to flip him heel so that 'I swear they're SUPPOSED to be booing me' stops his feelings getting hurt.

Fuck off to TNA with ol' Broken Matt.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Von Wagner has been released by WWE.

I get it but I'm kinda bummed, I think he had a lot of potential and I liked his teaming up with Robert Stone. Liked his matches with Bron too.

[igor_balis]

1781005251346149715

Did you ever see the absolutely amazing royal rumble those Indian lads did?

https://youtu.be/W6GeTGkZ2j8?si=VV3ENs7zTKV_RJJS

[Ian]

Von Wagner has been released by WWE.

I get it but I'm kinda bummed, I think he had a lot of potential and I liked his teaming up with Robert Stone. Liked his matches with Bron too.

I didn't see any of his Stone stuff but what I saw before that I thought he looked shite. Had he improved much?

[Ben]

His dad was one of the Beverly Brothers so I guess there isn't much natural ability there.

[Ian]

So does anybody have time for Jericho these days? On top of what you guys have said in here Going in Raw were really getting stuck into him following the weekend.

[Gray Fox]

I admittedly don't watch the most AEW of anyone, but from what I gather it's a lot to do with him not having the decency to realise he's getting to his mid 50's and he shouldn't be a big part of the show.

He should really be off into the sunset but coming back for a big one off match or mini-run. Not going over on your young up and coming guys who are getting popular.

[Ben]

I think the feeling is universal now. I thought he'd jumped the shark with his ROH World Title run a couple of years ago. Then he pivoted to "getting the next generation over" with Action Andretti, Ricky Starks and Hobbs, but he always protected himself in defeat and as we know, those guys got nothing from it because of that. Then he had that horror show with Adam Cole which I think was the turning point for the diehard fans and it's been a year long journey since towards souring more and more fans. The Hook match backlash is just a culmination of everything Jericho has booked himself in since Tony give him that ridiculous 10 year contract.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I didn't see any of his Stone stuff but what I saw before that I thought he looked shite. Had he improved much?

He still wasn't great but he was getting into a groove. I think turning him face was a good idea.

Still had trouble getting over with the fans though as there were so many better than him. That ultimately cost him.

[wullie]

There was also some kind of #metoo thing with Jericho fairly recently as well although I don't know if it was bollocks made up by people who want him gone

[phonics]

He's just a large blob that gloms onto anything with some heat so he can stay on TV and subsumes them until they have nothing left and then moves on for his next victim.

[Waffdon]

Beckywinslol

[Ben]

Tells me that Rhea might be out for a long time then, because putting the belt on Liv now until Summerslam seemed fair enough.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's crap.

[Ben]

I'll tell you what was not crap, the one camera shot of the backstage sequence up until her entrance.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd still have given the title to Liv.

Becky just isn't it right now.

[Waffdon]

She’s far too weak to be doing the rock bottom.

Nia Jax is also an embarrassment. She always drops folk that are ‘bigger’. No strength at all under that flab

[Waffdon]

Also I wasn’t sure Gable had it in him for this Perc Angle run but I’m all for it. Give him the creed brothers

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cameron Grimes released.

Sad as I really liked him on NXT but he was doing fuck all on the main roster.

[Baz]

The Young Bucks ladder match with FTR was alright, Ben.

[Ben]

No thank you, Barrington. Thanks for the consideration though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

I can't think of a more anti-Ben match.

[Baz]

Meanwhile Boring Danielson’s headlocks where masterfully countered by Will “actual the best professional wrestler on the planet” Ospreay who let Bryan wait outside the ring while he got the crowd excited, multiple times.

If your opponents not gonna get fans cheering, I guess you’ve gotta take matters into your own hands.

[Ben]

Unlike Baz, I like Danielson a lot. I also think Ospreay is one of the most naturally gifted wrestlers around.

But I just don't get the hype of this match at all. People out there saying the best match ever in America and other such nonsense. It was good and the crowd was hot, but come on.

[Waffdon]

Dragunov to the main roster? Feud with Gunther as they are the final 2 in KOTR?

Yes pls

[Ian]

I'd like them to hold off on Dragunov vs. Gunther until they've built the former up enough for him to get the first win on the main roster. I like the idea of keeping Dragunov as Gunther's kryptonite for a while at least.

[Ben]

If it's the KOTR finals then he's surely won a match or two already?

And to be honest, I doubt Dragunov gets immediately catapulted to the top of the card. He's an incredible wrestler but he's missing a lot of the usual things WWE would want from a top guy, even in Triple H world. A show stealer with Gunther on PPV might be a good a way as any of introducing him to the wider audience, even in defeat.

[wullie]

Have they done Gunther and Pete Dunne yet? I'd be happy to see that again

[Ian]

Either him or Bate (I think I like Bate/Gunther even more than the Dunne match) but dunno if either of them will ever get a proper match against him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

She’s far too weak to be doing the rock bottom.

Nia Jax is also an embarrassment. She always drops folk that are ‘bigger’. No strength at all under that flab

Just watched RAW, it was laughable when she was trying to pick up Piper.

[phonics]

Tony's only gone and put himself in a fucking angle. Jesus christ.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1783315042852593958

:D

It's so shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, I think that's the first time I've seen their finisher. It's fucking horrendous.

[SvN]

That reaction to the gut punch :lol:

[phonics]

In other news:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GL-ZSy8WcAEDuxR.jpg

Gonna BANG.

[wullie]

Hopefully it's outdoot because those trousers will take him off like sails

[Ben]

Takeshita better take the belt off that stupid bald fuck.

The less said about Tony's angle, the better. :facepalm:

[phonics]

1783317407894753739

[Ben]

Daily's Place needs to fuck off as well. The audio is horrendous.

[wullie]

That flippy piledriver thing looks atrocious, do they always do it like that?

[Ben]

Now do people in here see why I hate the Bucks and it's not just some old man yelling at clouds stuff because I like elongated headlocks.

[phonics]

That flippy piledriver thing looks atrocious, do they always do it like that?

TBF that's the very safest, safest, safest version of it but the good ones don't look that much better.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can imagine it would look better if they get the timing perfect but even then it's just a shit piledriver but now with an added flip.

[Ben]

It would have been the biggest babyface turn ever in my book if they'd done him over Chuck Austin style. :D

[phonics]

I just wanna see if he Kayfabes it in the NFL draft tonight.

[Ian]

Tony's AEW champ run will be great.

[phonics]

He’s on NFL films wearing a neck brace. Love it. What a carny ass mark.

[wullie]

He should turn up to a Fulham game in it now, see if he can get on Match of the Day and confuse Danny Murphy

[Ian]

1783535758445285414

:D

Credit for that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He should turn up to a Fulham game in it now, see if he can get on Match of the Day and confuse Danny Murphy

That's not exactly hard to do.

[Ian]

Wait some other dude on Twitter is claiming it's photoshopped. Now I don't know what to believe.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, I've seen both images and I'm as confused as Danny Murphy.

[phonics]

Even fake kayfabe is a shoot brother.

[phonics]

Just realised what we missed out on. Imagine Shad Khan tore both his quads.

[Ben]

Kayfabe is alive. Love it.

[Baz]

How can you not enjoy Tony Khan? :D

[Ben]

Aside from his oft-embarrassing booking, I think he’s great.

[7om]

Just seen the pics. Amazing from Tony to turn up in the neck brace. Keep kayfabe alive.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1783692963937185926

:lol:

[Shindig]

It's real to him, damn it.

[wullie]

If this doesn't end with Shad turning heel as an excuse to twiddle that magnificent moustache what has any of this been for?

[Ben]

Rich Eisen is a bit of a wrestling fan apparently so I bet he enjoyed saying that.

[7om]

The Young Bucks should’ve turned up to the draft and put him through the table. Ratings.

[Ben]

Man selling a concussion as well. As if he said that.

1783943141394968976

[Shindig]

"For them to do that LIVE on TBS in front of a CROWD at <TOWN THEY APPEARED IN> really scared me."

Always ready to sell, that Tony. :D

[wullie]

Pepsi vs Harvey Weinstein, the biggest rivalry since Muhammad Ali vs anti-lock brakes.

[Gray Fox]

He's not slept in days but the kayfabe is well and truly alive.

[Baz]

Man’s a genius. People are like Cody who? Did you hear about Tony Khan?

[Ben]

Genius is a weird way to say coke-addicted super mark.

Him reducing Okada and Moné (his two biggest money signings ever) to complete irrelevancy within a month of debuting them is a hell of an achievement.

I was excited for Okada because I know he’s a brilliant wrestler but instead he’s walking around behind the ratings-death Bucks like he’s Jose the Assistant, and all Mercedes has done is promos which is by far the worst part of her game. Silly me for guessing I’d be able to get back into AEW.

[Baz]

The ladder match though. :youpi: Its a fan!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just starting on SD, I like that they've announced that champions are PROTECTED and not eligible to be drafted. Shame they didn't think of that before the awkward Becky/Charlotte title swap.

[Waffdon]

The draft wasn’t half pointless. I think Nia Jax was the only one who switched brands. :lol:

You’d hope it’s better on Raw on Monday.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Carmelo Hayes :cool:

Edit: It's always pointless, Waff.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The draft wasn’t half pointless. I think Nia Jax was the only one who switched brands. :lol:

You’d hope it’s better on Raw on Monday.

Bron went to RAW, lad.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The draft wasn’t half pointless. I think Nia Jax was the only one who switched brands. :lol:

You’d hope it’s better on Raw on Monday.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/new-betting-odds-wwe-draft/

Could have made a killing if you had some info.

10/1 each for for SD's and RAW's first picks.

[Ian]

Draft episodes are always a bust but there were at least some defter touches than in previous years. Even in defeat immediately putting Hayes in doing a bit with Cody is a decent move, tying the Bloodline stuff into it, anticipating that Kiana James wouldn't be that well known so just doing that video package and the little interview with her, etc. Still about 40 minutes worth of actual content in a 2 hour show, but a bit better done than usual.

Also I think it's been mentioned in here already but the bloke who replaced Kevin Dunn is killing it. Looks a much better show and matches without a billion cuts is very refreshing.

[phonics]

That Hayes Cody spot is fucking hilarious. Sorry you aren’t Osprey bruv.

[Baz]

Kenny Omega back on Dynamite this week?

[Ben]

Kenny Omega back on Dynamite this week?

Really? Guy almost died supposedly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1784440196739572130

Probably stepped out on purpose as he thought it would get him over with the people in NY.

[phonics]

What a bunch of weirdos you wwe lot are.

[Waffdon]

Dragunov on RAW. We eating good. Sheamus and Bron tease as well. That will be a fight for the ages

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kurt Angle said he'd be happy to come back as a heel manager for Gable :cool:

Throw the Creed brothers in too and make it an insane stable.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, Drew has a new 3 year contract \0/.

[Ian]

I assumed he would but I'm a little surprised they didn't try and tease out the idea of him leaving.

[phonics]

I assumed he would but I'm a little surprised they didn't try and tease out the idea of him leaving.

I don't think they think 'One of our top guys might go to our biggest competitor' is worth the juice. WWE fans watch/know WWE, why acknowledge anything outside of it even exists.

[Ian]

They do a lot more of that these days, albeit wwe doing more of it is a very low hurdle to stumble over.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I really enjoyed that they dropped all the heel/face for NXT during the draft.

Was really cool when Davenport got drafted and she was able to just get all emotional.

[Browning]

I did like the idea of Drew winning the title and fucking off and doing the Summer of Punk properly, but I guess they still don't have the balls.

I've watched the last 2 RAWs and the last SD in their entirety as my daughter has gotten into it. It's definitely a step up from where it was when they lost me, but I'm not sure even they knew the rules of the draft, and some of it was just weird. Why in the fuck was Strowman drafted immediately before his big return?

[Ben]

I guess advertising him for the full run up to Clash at the Castle is the more attractive option for them.

[Waffdon]

I can’t believe there is a PPV this weekend. Couldn’t even tell you a single match :lol:

[Ben]

Is it the France show? Priest vs. Uso will be awful and I don't know anything else. The draft shows are so shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/9CvctJn.png

It's not great.

I'd love Tiffy to get the title but it's too early for Bayley to drop it sadly.

[Ben]

I mean for a foreign show it makes sense. France will be rabid anyway so you could put Cody vs. a traffic cone. Naomi will eat the pin to protect Stratton. I imagine Tama Tonga will be booked strong but Solo loses to an RKO.

[Browning]

I guess advertising him for the full run up to Clash at the Castle is the more attractive option for them.

I assume if they had done it, he would have won the belt at Clash and then left with it. Sure, it might not line up perfectly with when his deal expired but who cares.

[Waffdon]

I mean for a foreign show it makes sense. France will be rabid anyway so you could put Cody vs. a traffic cone. Naomi will eat the pin to protect Stratton. I imagine Tama Tonga will be booked strong but Solo loses to an RKO.

Can’t see bloodline losing. Wouldn’t really make much sense.

I also cant see much to be excited about with them matches. AJ maybe if he’s got his working boots on. The rest will be shite other than Tiffy

[Ben]

Would be a big statement if Tama Tonga pinned Orton, or more likely Owens. But Solo hasn't won a match in six months. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Solo needs a win being the NEW Tribal Chief.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

NXT are going to have a combine to determine 12 potential women for their new title, what?

[Ben]

They need to hit up Tony Khan. His specialty.

[phonics]

NXT is the only place with a worse womens division than AEW sadly. (Cue Mahow about to tell me how good Shawn Michaels parade of 'chicks that turned up in his Instagram Explore page are actually really good and he's definitely not horny')

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Phonics in being wrong shocker.

[phonics]

AEW watcher Mahow about to put me in my place. You don't watch it so stop pretending to have an opinion on it.

[Ben]

Speaking of AEW and women's divisions, why does Tony keep putting women's matches in the main event?

[phonics]

You mean for Dynamite and such? Think it's a holdover from when the Womens division was so weak that Tony was getting a bunch of 'do you hate womens wrestling' so just shoved Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa in your face a bunch. I miss Jamie Hayter.

[Ben]

Is Hayter dead? She's excellent but it must have been nearly a year now.

[phonics]

Feels like nearly 18 months.

Meanwhile,

1785840481735205302

[phonics]

Mariah May being incredibly hot and dropping these tweets means I can't wait until her and Toni Storm turn on each other.

1786059449188454660

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Starting on SD now (didn't know they were doing it live from France) and the crowd are HOT AS FUCK.

[phonics]

Is there a more perfect summary of Ricochets WWE career than 'First to hold the 2 minute match belt'

1786429266382422477

[phonics]

Starting on SD now (didn't know they were doing it live from France) and the crowd are HOT AS FUCK.

France loves wrestling. They love it so much that Baron Corbin is over in France.

1652628641073836032

[phonics]

I think one of the things WWE does best is put the belts on people who matter and I've just seen the Heavyweight Title match for Backlash is Damien Priest vs Jey Uso. What the fuck happened there?

It's like if the AEW title bout was Brian Cage vs Cash Wheeler.

[Ian]

The crowd will hopefully elevate a show with a card that otherwise looks deeply uninspiring.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Melo v Bobby? Yes please.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think one of the things WWE does best is put the belts on people who matter and I've just seen the Heavyweight Title match for Backlash is Damien Priest vs Jey Uso. What the fuck happened there?

It's like if the AEW title bout was Brian Cage vs Cash Wheeler.

Drew won the title at Mania but was screwed after by Punk. Priest then won the title as he still held the MITB briefcase which he cashed in.

Jey Uso is now MAIN EVENT Jey Uso and they're really trying to push him in singles. He's not good enough but the crowd love him because of his shit YEET chant.

Priest isn't a bad champ but Jey is a horrific first challenger.

[Ian]

I think one of the things WWE does best is put the belts on people who matter and I've just seen the Heavyweight Title match for Backlash is Damien Priest vs Jey Uso. What the fuck happened there?

It's like if the AEW title bout was Brian Cage vs Cash Wheeler.

I have to assume McIntyre* is taking that off Priest soon. I like Priest and Jey in their own ways but after Rollins was already struggling to make that belt look a big deal it's a big ask for Priest/an Uso to do it.

* Or Punk? That feud is surely going to go on a while but could you have Punk beat Priest, McIntyre beats him in Glasgow and then you keep that ticking over until later in the year / Mania? I dunno. Either way, I imagine Priest ain't holding it long.

[Ian]

Priest isn't a bad champ but Jey is a horrific first challenger.

I think if Priest had been built up better ahead of Mania then his aura as champ could probably have carried Jey here but as it stands, yeah, it feels very midcard.

[Gray Fox]

I think one of the things WWE does best is put the belts on people who matter and I've just seen the Heavyweight Title match for Backlash is Damien Priest vs Jey Uso. What the fuck happened there?

It's like if the AEW title bout was Brian Cage vs Cash Wheeler.

In that awkward time period where you have several guys taking a break but it isn't yet time to get Drew, Punk or Gunther involved.

I do lol at MAIN EVENT Jey Uso having actually not main evented any PLE in my memory.

[phonics]

I wish Jade Cargill was as good at wrestling as she is good at looking like a top tier wrestler. It's been like 5 years and her best match is still 'Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet vs Jade Cargill & Shaquille O Neal'.

Randy & KO are great workers so hopefully they can rescue it. Cody v AJ would have been great like 8 years ago.

[phonics]

Drew won the title at Mania but was screwed after by Punk. Priest then won the title as he still held the MITB briefcase which he cashed in.

Jey Uso is now MAIN EVENT Jey Uso and they're really trying to push him in singles. He's not good enough but the crowd love him because of his shit YEET chant.

Priest isn't a bad champ but Jey is a horrific first challenger.

I know WHY it happened, it's more about HOW they let it happen.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In that awkward time period where you have several guys taking a break but it isn't yet time to get Drew, Punk or Gunther involved.

I do lol at MAIN EVENT Jey Uso having actually not main evented any PLE in my memory.

SummerSlam 23.

[phonics]

I think if Priest had been built up better ahead of Mania then his aura as champ could probably have carried Jey here but as it stands, yeah, it feels very midcard.

You can't build him up. He's deathly boring. He's a really good jobber and I don't say that disrespectfully. He makes others look good. I have to assume him actually getting a small/inconsequential run was part of contract negotiations.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Seth Rollins has re-signed.

X more years of selling the knees :drool:

[phonics]

Seth Rollins is an absolutely fantastic wrestler, a generational talent, I do not understand the hate he gets from WWE fans. Although I don't have to watch his weekly segments but when he's wrasslin' there's very very few better.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think he's great too but I hate the constant knee selling.

It seems you can't have a Rollins match without it.

[Ian]

You can't build him up. He's deathly boring.

We'll have to agree to disagree. He's not a top worker, and he's never gonna be a Top Guy but in my opinion they could have made him look enough of a threat to the main event scene that this run needn't have felt how it does before it's even started.

And you're right on Rollins and while he does a lot of WWE selling and The Cackle needs to get in the bin I think he's underappreciated in some quarters too.

[phonics]

Probably because his knee, as seen in the main event of wrestlemania, is absolutely destroyed and he needs to sell it so he can use a rest spot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh it was destroyed by then but he's been doing it for years, it hasn't always been shot to fuck.

[Shindig]

Yep. It's an obvious weak point and you'd be daft not to sell it. Hell, after a double knee replacement he can sell that as bionic super knees.

[Ian]

My issue isn't with his knee being an IRL issue used in kayfabe as a consistent weak spot, but he manages to fight through the pain so as to often look like it's fine when he's on offense which is the issue. Not a major issue though, because he's still reliably a good match.

I would like for his sake if he did get a properly sizeable bit of time off now to heal up the various injuries he's been carrying but I suspect he'll be back as soon as he can/they let him.

[phonics]

We'll have to agree to disagree. He's not a top worker, and he's never gonna be a Top Guy but in my opinion they could have made him look enough of a threat to the main event scene that this run needn't have felt how it does before it's even started

I actually think he's a very good worker. Similar to Miz, I think his strength is elevating bad wrestlers to his level. But unlike The Miz, his personality means he needs a group of people who are all more interesting than him to keep him relevant when he's not wrestling. How do you make him scary? While he might be 6'4 he has the build and swagger of a Cruiserweight.

[phonics]

My issue isn't with his knee being an IRL issue used in kayfabe as a consistent weak spot, but he manages to fight through the pain so as to often look like it's fine when he's on offense which is the issue.

I think this is just a core wrestling issue tbh. However, as someone who just watches Summerslam/Rumble/Mania I can imagine the overexposure could grate.

[Ian]

I can't speak so much for elsewhere (I haven't seen it much in the occasional AEW match I dip into) but there are a lot of WWE guys who mistake bumping for selling (hello, Dolph) or just sell very selectively but it might be a wider/modern issue. And look, by all means sometimes have 'adrenaline' see a guy through but if you've got a glowing weakspot it should be an actual weakspot, and that in turn would give you opportunities to do other stuff in matches.

Sami / Gable on Raw last week I thought Sami did a great job of selling all the leg work Gable had done and his winning Helluva Kick he half ran, half hobbed to get across the ring to him.

[Ian]

Was always a big fan of RVD selling his own frog splash before covering.

[phonics]

I think 98% of Wrestlers selling an injury for a whole match only to overcome it/lose because of it means 'I'm doing ring psychology'. So it must be good. Sami is another stratosphere entirely, and I feel holding anyone to 'Yeah but Sami did it better' is cruel. Whether it's comedy/storytelling/high flying/hard hitting wrestling Sami can match the best in any of those genres of matches.

[Ian]

Oh, 100%, and I'm by no means suggesting it's realistic to hold everybody to that exact standard.

Speaking of I saw a clip of Sami / Nakamura from NXT the other day and now I'm back on the Network I really need to get that rewatched.

Tempted to just go through all the black and gold Takeovers again to be honest.

[phonics]

I did it a while back a couple Manias ago. It's good but it's very much 'what you see on AEW/The Indies every week' stuff now which lessens the impact.

You know what hasn't aged well? This t-shirt idea.

https://i.imgur.com/jGwKEc8.png

Everyone standing at the railing wearing it looks like they’re making an even more racist statement than your avaerage Cornette podcast listener.

[wullie]

The show that follows Wrestlemania is always a bit this'll do particularly if they have it before whatever draft kicks in so I don't mind Jey Uso as challenger for this. They really should send it round the world every year, like with the Puerto Rico show it's probably going to be that much better just because the crowd are bang up for it.

[Waffdon]

Phonics has been slamming the gear all night clearly.

[phonics]

No, I just actually like wrestling rather than following whatever Twitter tells me to.

[Shindig]

Lads, no fighting in the wrestling thread.

[wullie]

For selling I always thought Christian was one of if not the best, I've not seen his AEW matches on the whole but I'm going to assume he's still right up there.

[Waffdon]

No, I just actually like wrestling rather than following whatever Twitter tells me to.

You need your hole badly, mate. My word, it’s boring.

[Disco]

Instead of arguing about Punishment Martinez being bobbins instead we should all enjoy this song Rikishi made about Hulk Hogan.

1786409995430695130

[Gray Fox]

I didn't know I needed that, but I needed that.

[phonics]

You need your hole badly, mate. My word, it’s boring.


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

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gable Steveson released :harold:

His match with Corbin in NXT was so fucking bad.

[Ian]

I dunno what the crowd were singing in that final segment of Smackdown last night but Cody looked utterly baffled before he decided to just power through it. :D

[Ian]

Gable Steveson released :harold:

His match with Corbin in NXT was so fucking bad.

Christ. That's gone poorly.

EDIT: In looking that up I saw Gulak was released, and I'd missed that he'd been accused by Rousey of trying to loosen her sweatpants backstage. Which he appears to have not denied but claimed it was an accident? Not sure how you accidentally do that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Christ. That's gone poorly.

EDIT: In looking that up I saw Gulak was released, and I'd missed that he'd been accused by Rousey of trying to loosen her sweatpants backstage. Which he appears to have not denied but claimed it was an accident? Not sure how you accidentally do that.

He was written off immediately when it came out so I'm stunned it took this long to fire him.

[Gray Fox]

I often loosen the pants of female coworkers accidentally when attempting to shake someones hand.

[wullie]

Didn't Steveson have some kind of sex pest past as well?

[Disco]

Isn't that the rapist guy they kept trotting out and then never did anything with?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't Steveson have some kind of sex pest past as well?

Ding.

Not enough evidence so it never went to court.

[Waffdon]

It was worse than that wasn’t it? He only got off due to a loophole in the system

[Ian]

What was he accused of? I'd apparently missed that one too.

[Waffdon]

Rape.

Can’t be charged with rape in Minnesota if the victim is intoxicated at the time or something

[Ian]

:face:

Fucking hell.

[Gray Fox]

The land of the free and the home of the brave.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rape.

Can’t be charged with rape in Minnesota if the victim is intoxicated at the time or something

Seriously?

Holy fuck.

[Waffdon]

‘ Minnesota law at the time stated a person who is sexually assaulted is not considered mentally impaired if they voluntarily drank alcohol or consumed drugs to the point they could not give reasoned consent. The law was changed earlier this year.’

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The whole country is so backwards.

[Ian]

It's important to protect the penis-having section of the population at all costs.

[Waffdon]

‘Welcome to Lee own’

[Waffdon]

I didn’t think we’d ever see a crowd as loud as last years Backlash.

This crowd might even know all the words to Cody Rhodes’ song.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Imagine if Dom tries to cut a promo here.

[Waffdon]

I have no idea what they’re chanting.

We want Roman?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I have no idea what they’re chanting.

We want Roman?

Yep.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jacob Fatu to make his debut here?

[Waffdon]

Beautiful sports entertainment

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And after a two count they chant "SIMPLEMENT DEUX" which means only a two count in French.

Apparently it's a catchphrase that their commentators have used a lot which got over with the crowd.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jacob Fatu to make his debut here?

Or even a different lad.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That match was fun, had lots of nutty bumps.

Especially the chair brainbuster.

[Waffdon]

At least that guy looks like a unit. Bored of the flabby Samoans

[Waffdon]

Never mind, apparently he is absolutely dreadful :D

[wullie]

If he's not riding Hunico's bike, I don't want to see him back

[Waffdon]

I just started googling these samoans.

Jacob Fatu having 7 children at 32 to keep the tree growing

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I just started googling these samoans.

Jacob Fatu having 7 children at 32 to keep the tree growing

Imagine if they debut a new Bloodline member every PLE :drool:

[Waffdon]

Wouldn’t be surprised. Rick’s bloodline v Reigns Bloodline or something.

When was the last time we got a shock singles title win? Feels like everyone just holds on forever and it’s obvious when it will change hands

[Shindig]

Blood World Order.

[Waffdon]

These next two matches will have to some serious entrance times if this PPV is lasting 3 hours.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1 hour for Cody/AJ including entrances?

I'm hoping it ends a little early so there's no overlap with F1 Quali.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Never mind, apparently he is absolutely dreadful :D

1786812365113368797

Fucking hell.

[Waffdon]

wtf was that :D

Cargill looks lost

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Her power is bonkers though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I didn’t think we’d ever see a crowd as loud as last years Backlash.

This crowd might even know all the words to Cody Rhodes’ song.
Ding.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

AJ Styles:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnkS1Ji4BgQ

[igor_balis]

Is there a more perfect summary of Ricochets WWE career than 'First to hold the 2 minute match belt'

1786429266382422477

I've been listening to more of Davey boy Smith's extra curricular activities on the lapsed fan, and I'd say ricochet is absolutely not the first WWE speed champion.

[Ben]

Missed all of this but Tanga Loa debuted apparently. He’s fucking awful btw.

[wullie]

I'm all for it if this means Haku turns up as tribal elder at some point.

[Gray Fox]

In the words of Vin Diesel who I'm sure will show up at some point, it doesn't matter if you're fucking awful, when you're family.

[Disco]

There's a reason New Japan always used them in a tag team.

[Ben]

KOTR looking stacked.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1786877897292001501

:D

Thankfully it looked fine on the TV angle.

[Ian]

Asuka vs. Iyo in QOTR please.

[Shindig]

Y'know, that missed cue wasn't awful. It's not Papa Shango/Vicky Guerrero levels, at least.