The Ultimate WWE Thread

[Ben]

The best thing about the Papa Shango one is that Sid, a noted goofball (we’re live pal), had the presence of mind to kick out of the leg drop. Which I’m sure Hogan loved.

[Disco]

Someone find him doing chops to Okada, absolutely disgraceful. He's mostly fine though, GOD did a decent job in their time.

[Ben]

I did enjoy GOD. Good gimmick and an all time entrance theme (twice). Tanga Loa looks the part but is very limited and they always worked around that well enough.

[phonics]

Hopefully this record gate announcement hopefully means we'll get more foreign events that aren't just house shows. I mean I still won't go because the math on that Backlash record means it was a $300 ticket on average but at least the atmosphere's better than 90% of American shows.

[Waffdon]

They’re already doing it. There’s not a PPV in America until Summerslam.

[wullie]

I've seen the chops thing, it's so rough I assumed it was a skit because you never know with Japan.

[phonics]

They’re already doing it. There’s not a PPV in America until Summerslam.

Canada doesn't count. I did consider going up for Clash but 500 quid a ticket is obscene.

I think I'll just go to the RevPro event that they'll inevitably hold the week AEW is at Wembley and call it there.

I paid 8 pounds for my front row seats at CMLL.

https://i.imgur.com/UlGLftN.jpeg

Vicky Guerrero sat 3 seats down from me and called me a prick when I fucked up a tv spot by leaving my seat looking for more beer.

[Baz]

Ticketmaster emailed the other days saying they’ve sold two of my All In tickets. Hopefully the other two sell.

[Ben]

You not going now?

[Gray Fox]

The clash at the castle PLE is struggling for ticket sales because they've made it in a 14k odd seater, but mandated that you must buy a double ticket for Smackdown and the PLE. No single night tickets allowed and it's a good £400 odd quid for one right now.

[phonics]

I wanted to go this year but the only seats I think it's worth getting were 1450 and above. If I'm going to end up watching it all on a big screen why wouldn't I just watch from home.

[Disco]

The clash at the castle PLE is struggling for ticket sales because they've made it in a 14k odd seater, but mandated that you must buy a double ticket for Smackdown and the PLE. No single night tickets allowed and it's a good £400 odd quid for one right now.

This seems needlessly restrictive, surely both would sell out anyway.

[phonics]

I've seen the chops thing, it's so rough I assumed it was a skit because you never know with Japan.

Eddie Kingston came back from the G1 doing the same thing and it's fucking abysmal.

[Disco]

I think it's Nagata or Kojima who does them, slightly better but it's sort of his signature thing that he's done for years. A bit like how Shawn Michaels is otherwise very good but his punches look like flailing with wet noodles.

[Ben]

Kojima does the machine gun chops yeah. They're absolutely absurd but they're over because it's him. Similarly, if anyone tries to get away with Austin's stomps they'll get booed out of the building.

[phonics]

It's been about 30 years since anyone was DQ'd for closed fist punches yet no-one can do them well.

[Ben]

It's been about 30 years since anyone was DQ'd for closed fist punches yet no-one can do them well.

I'll put my Cornette voice on and say it's because the territories died.

Which is true, because back when there were a lot of guys who threw good punches, in about 90% of cases it's because they'd worked the Memphis territory. A Lawler match (as a babyface in Memphis, not heel in WWF) is a sight to behold for worked punch fans. Best active puncher these days is Jeff Jarrett.

[Baz]

You not going now?

No. I don’t watch wrestling.

[phonics]

I'll put my Cornette voice on and say it's because the territories died.

Which is true, because back when there were a lot of guys who threw good punches, in about 90% of cases it's because they'd worked the Memphis territory. A Lawler match (as a babyface in Memphis, not heel in WWF) is a sight to behold for worked punch fans. Best active puncher these days is Jeff Jarrett.

Fitt Finlay and Regal were good which probably adds weight to this claim.

[Disco]

Those two were trained over here, stuff like this is mainly a WWE thing because they;ve always been character over technique to a greater extent than anyone else.

[Ian]

The clash at the castle PLE is struggling for ticket sales because they've made it in a 14k odd seater, but mandated that you must buy a double ticket for Smackdown and the PLE. No single night tickets allowed and it's a good £400 odd quid for one right now.

Yeah I've been waiting to see if tickets for just the PLE go in sail but no luck, and having seen a Raw live I don't have much interest in seeing a TV show live again. Might be better these days but I imagine there are still elements to it which just aren't suited for a live audience.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GM11y-tXoAApL3f?format=jpg

:rosebud:

[Shindig]

That's excellent. :D

[Waffdon]

Sheamus v Gunther will never disappoint. Poor Sheamus’ chest took a battering

[Waffdon]

Just clocked that Jey Uso is going to beat Dragunov :sick:

[Ben]

I fear they're going to go all the way with him. They need a babyface for Raw now Cody is on Smackdown and he's probably it. :facepalm:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking yeet.

One of the worst chants ever and it's managed to put him over.

Disgusting.

[Ben]

Surely the yeet thing won't last too much longer. And his match quality isn't going to get him over when it does inevitably go to shit.

[Waffdon]

He’s likeable and he’s obviously one of the most over but it’s not like he can carry a promo either. I too am very worried.

I suppose Punk should be the babyface but he’s too busy with Mcintyre

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1787495311201431807

Tony on the phone?

[Ben]

He could teach them all how to punch, at least.

[phonics]

God no he's fucking awful.

[SvN]

*Shriek*

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ricochet v Ilja at a PLE please.

That was a fun match.

Can't wait to watch WALTER v Sheamus later tonight.

[Ian]

I enjoyed all the tournament matches aside from Stark / Nile. The former is solid if unspectacular but Nile just needs a lot more experience at this stage. Even the one with Natalya in, who I'm normally just bored by.

I also just like seeing how much more WWE are always trying to turn stuff to their advantage these days. Drew injured out of King of the Ring and Uso takes his place, but even though he's got Punk as his main feud, Drew then turns up to eyeball Jey during that KOTR match because Drew is all about grievances these days so it makes sense that he would. Not genius stuff, just sensible things to do.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

King Kofi Kingston?

I'd love to see how they deal with that.

[Ben]

Raw was banging. Ended up watching the whole thing, didn’t even fast forward Jey Uso.

[Ian]

£105 is the cheapest ticket for Clash at the Castle. That'll be a no then.

[Ben]

It's absolutely mental.

Conversely, with regular ticketing strategy, they've already sold out Money in the Bank (18,000 capacity).

[Baz]

I believe Tony Khan has booked Dax Harwood in a random singles match against the nephew of the Dynamite Kid, the Dynamite Kid. Not even on Dynamite, it’s on Collision. :harold:

Did anything ever turn up about British Bulldog being murdered. My father in law is from Golborne, where that lot were from, and he swears everyone knows he was murdered. Maybe they’ll interview my in-laws for the episode of Dark Side of the Ring.

[Ian]

Murdered how? I've never heard anything other than tjay he drugged and raided himself to death in Canada.

[Shindig]

Dynamite strangled him with his beads.

[Ben]

It was a heart attack from all the drugs.

And at least Dax might finally win a singles match. Every cloud.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bobby Lashley replaced with Angelo Dawkins, ugh.

I know it's because he's in the same faction but that's a shit replacement.

Tama Tonga with the round 1 bye.

[Ben]

Feels like a work. Tama Tonga was probably going through anyway so why have Bobby take a loss? They'll work the injury into their storyline.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

£105 is the cheapest ticket for Clash at the Castle. That'll be a no then.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg39e53jvdpo

You're not the only one SEETHING.

[Baz]

Ticketmaster emailed the other days saying they’ve sold two of my All In tickets. Hopefully the other two sell.
Turns out just one sold. :cab: Chances of the single seat next to it being sold are slim.

[Waffdon]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg39e53jvdpo

You're not the only one SEETHING.

Could they have picked a more stereotypical looking wrestling fan :D

[wullie]

"Former wrestling promoter Mark Dallas, founder of Scotland's Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW)"

Do they not exist any more or is he just not part of it?

[Ian]

They still exist.

Every so often I see a poster for their upcoming show. "Skelpin' Yer Maw VI" or whatever it might be.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Could they have picked a more stereotypical looking wrestling fan :D

A "Lewis" too.

[Ian]

Smackdown wasn't as good as Raw but it's nice to see the tournaments being the main feature of TV.

I'm also gonna assume Solo is lying through his teeth and Roman ain't told him shit. Which will make Roman SO MAD he won't do anything about it until November, in true wrasslin' style.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

PLEs going back to Sunday so the UFC can have Saturdays alone :(

Bad move.

[Waffdon]

Jeywinslol

I swear if he beats Gunther next week

[Waffdon]

I’ve just clocked Toma Tonga or whatever his name is will potentially match up with Jey. They’re going to go down that route. Oh god no.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Can't wait to see how SEETHING Waff will be when Jey wins MITB.

They'll probably call him YEET In The Bank after, ugh.

[Waffdon]

The odds are a mess so you’ll get a decent price for him at 15/2

Zayn is the fav somehow

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This is the first year in a while that it's hard to predict I feel. There's no standout "he must win".

Tiffy Time should take the women's.

[Ian]

If Gunther loses to Jey I'd be surprised if it was squeaky clean, because if Jey's going through it's to set up a Bloodline final, right? So maybe Bloodline try to cost him or something?

I think I still reckon Gunther is probably winning but I wouldn't put anything on it.

[phonics]

Not going to lie I might have teared up a little at this

1790425927706464670

[wullie]

I love that the celebrities that get involved now across the companies are a far cry from Jeremy Piven yawning his way through a Summerfest promo.

[phonics]

1791192397382119790

Tiffy Time.

(If you want my actual thoughts I don't think she actually meant to be racist, and as she's regularly cited Megan Thee Stallion and others I'm going to say she might have just got a little too comfortable with her memes)

[Ian]

Ohhhh dear.

[Waffdon]

:lol:

The most talented people in life are always a wrong un in some way

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck sake.

[wullie]

She's married to Gunther's Nazi twink mate so it adds up at least.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're not married, please don't spread false and malicious rumours.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Seems it's still Tiffy Time.

[Waffdon]

Of course Bianca wins though. All these NXT guys just losing so soon after debuting is quite annoying.

Lets hope we get Gunther/Orton rather than Jey/Tonga as the former could be one for the ages

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Losing to Belair and Randy Orton (plus Cody) isn't too bad.

Losing to Jey Uso though, rough.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gahahahahahahahahahahah Nia Jax/Jade Cargill.

What a shitshow, it was worse than I could have predicted.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, what the fuck was this about?

1791628480351698997

Is he on some sort of gear?

[Waffdon]

They’re pushing the wrong NXT person. Lyra making it to the finals is certainly something. At least Gunther won clean, did not expect that.

[Waffdon]

Also hope that jobber Bron was up against got paid good. My lord

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They’re pushing the wrong NXT person. Lyra making it to the finals is certainly something. At least Gunther won clean, did not expect that.

Lyra's quality.

Although I think she's gotten a bigger rub than she should have by being Becky's mate.

[Ben]

Apparently Darby Allin rocked back up on Dynamite, wielding an actual flamethrower.

What the fuck. :D

[Waffdon]

Nia Jax pinning Bianca clean wasn’t what I was expecting to read on Twitter this evening. She better not beat Bayley

[Ben]

Not understanding this prolonged Nia Jax push. I thought Triple H would have phased her out after the job to Rhea in Australia.

[Ben]

Gunther vs Orton :thbup:

[Waffdon]

Perfect chance to push Tiffy whilst the bodybuilders team until their inevitable feud. Hopefully she at least wins MITB

[Waffdon]

Gunther vs Orton :thbup:

Orton will win but my god it could be spectacular if Orton has his working boots on

[Ian]

Oh God is Hayes being aligned with Theory and Waller? Hopefully he escapes that in short order.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Another loss for him too...

[Ben]

WWE has always been a babyface company. If the heel isn’t a monster like Lesnar or Gunther, then you’re getting beat like a drum.

Phonics will give me the old man treatment but that’s a big reason I loved old NWA/WCW. Heels were dominant so the babyface chase was a great journey to go on. WWE conditioned us to think babyfaces need to keep winning to be relevant.

That’s why 99-03 Rick was so good. He broke the mould and often lost clean as a babyface when nobody else did, even Austin, because he’d just go back out the next night and get himself over again.

Hayes will get himself over when he eventually turns and not before, unless his promos suddenly start setting fires.

[Waffdon]

Agreed to an extent but Gunther and Reigns were both heels and both broke records for title reigns. Even Rollins was a heel for a lot of his dominant run.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

WWE has always been a babyface company. If the heel isn’t a monster like Lesnar or Gunther, then you’re getting beat like a drum.

Phonics will give me the old man treatment but that’s a big reason I loved old NWA/WCW. Heels were dominant so the babyface chase was a great journey to go on. WWE conditioned us to think babyfaces need to keep winning to be relevant.

That’s why 99-03 Rick was so good. He broke the mould and often lost clean as a babyface when nobody else did, even Austin, because he’d just go back out the next night and get himself over again.

Hayes will get himself over when he eventually turns and not before, unless his promos suddenly start setting fires.

From what I saw of his NXt run (which wasn't all of it), Hayes suits being a heel so much more than a face.

His character work just feels smoother as a heel and his promos are more natural.

[phonics]

WWE has always been a babyface company. If the heel isn’t a monster like Lesnar or Gunther, then you’re getting beat like a drum.

I'd say outside of Punk/Cena/Bryan their champions have been mostly heels. The problem is if you're a heel and don't think you're made for the top belt you end up doing a dance routine with a mid-card tag team. But then I'd have a slightly different definition of Babyface/Heel than some so maybe I'm wrong. (Wouldn't classify HHH/Rock/Austin as Faces)

[Ian]

Also the Reign of Terror was about 300 years long.

Or at least the ti.e between the Pedgiree and pinning Booker was 300 years.

[Ben]

That wasn’t indicative of Vince’s day to day booking strategy for the full roster, champions got different treatment (obviously). Everyone in his circle said it was a nightmare to build up a heel through the pack because as soon as they had any ounce of popularity, Vince was itching to turn them. Heels are cannon fodder until they get to the top, because the mantra is to send the crowd home happy, not have them clamouring at the ticket office to come back the next week to see the comeuppance (itself caused by their widespread touring schedule).

[phonics]

Hence what I meant when I said they all end up doing a dance routine. Remember that giant guy who ended up hanging around with blue meanie in a tie dye shirt whos personality was 'he likes south park'

[Ben]

AEW aside, me and Phonics are two peas in a pod.

[Waffdon]

This show has been really good.

Logan Paul is a future HOFer. Crazy

[Gray Fox]

Phonics has reminded me that Brodus Clay existed and how awful that whole thing was.

[Browning]

This show has been really good.

Logan Paul is a future HOFer. Crazy

Agreed, it was a really good show. Nia's match was obviously shit, but the rest were all great even if the outcomes were obvious.

[phonics]

Phonics has reminded me that Brodus Clay existed and how awful that whole thing was.

In the Scooby Doo WWE crossover film, I was amazed that Brodus Clay was a main character and then he just eats sandwiches in every scene.

[Waffdon]

Agreed, it was a really good show. Nia's match was obviously shit, but the rest were all great even if the outcomes were obvious.

I was convinced Orton was winning as well as Lynch so I can’t complain. Presume they’re gonna have Orton/Rhodes due to the shoulders being up

[phonics]

I can be overly defensive about AEW but Billy Corgan called Tony Khan a bad booker and made this man a champion for nearly a full year.

https://i.imgur.com/JI3kqvx.gif

[Browning]

I didn't watch any of the shows building up to it so wasn't sure why people thought Orton would win, other than "he's never won it before"! Having Gunther lose 2 big matches so close together would have been really odd.

I was surprised they had the balls to let Liv win, but it's the right call as Liv/Rhea actually has a reason to happen.

[phonics]

Going to presume they didn't let Liv where her new outfit with the slkirt thats smaller than her arse? I wanted her to get pushed the moment I saw that gimmick.

[Browning]

She was basically wearing the Britney Spears red jumpsuit but it was better than Becky who looked like she was wrestling in a shit tux.

[Gray Fox]

In the Scooby Doo WWE crossover film, I was amazed that Brodus Clay was a main character and then he just eats sandwiches in every scene.

I don't remember him well because I used to switch off when he came on. Found it cringey as fuck. Apparently there were vignettes played teasing him as this big heel, only for him to debut as the FUNKASAURUS. Only surprising thing I've seen from a quick look up is that one of his "Funkadactyls" was Naomi.

[Browning]

The other one really, really liked Melina Vs Alicia Fox.

[wullie]

I remember Lord Tensai lasting about a week before they just gave up on them all and had them as a tag team who just love to have fun©

[Shindig]

The Tensai gimmick was so daft. All they had to do was acknowledge, "Albert's back from Japan and he was good over there." Instead they went, "LORD TENSAI HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!" <looks down at his notes phonetically spelling out a generic Japanese promo>

[phonics]

I didn't tune in during the whole Ruthless Aggression era so going back and finding out Prince Albert was in a Title Angle vs Jon Cena blew my mind.


The Tensai gimmick was so daft. All they had to do was acknowledge, "Albert's back from Japan and he was good over there." Instead they went, "LORD TENSAI HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!" <looks down at his notes phonetically spelling out a generic Japanese promo>

This is a terrible idea. Do you think anyone who knew who fucking Prince Jobbert was would take him seriously?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Becky's attire is half Peaky Blinders half 90s Businesswoman.

[Shindig]

This is a terrible idea. Do you think anyone who knew who fucking Prince Jobbert was would take him seriously?

Taking things seriously within the context of wrestling? 'cos that's a loaded question. Someone coming back from Japan a changed, hard-hitting machine makes sense to me. Although I'm shocked he's a former IC title holder.

[Ben]

I take everything seriously, which is why I hate most stuff. Albert would have been a good midcarder when he came back but nothing more (Giant Bernard was great in New Japan but he was either in tags or working with the best guys so it hid his weaknesses). I wasn’t buying Tensai from the get go, even if the gimmick wasn’t as goofy as it turned out.

[Gray Fox]

she was basically wearing the britney spears red jumpsuit but it was better than becky who looked like she was wrestling in a shit tux.


becky's attire is half peaky blinders half 90s businesswoman.

:d

1794416873284747278

[Shindig]

Aye, as a solo monster, he probably isn't going to cut it. At best, you keep him under a mask and never get him to talk. I can't remember much of the roster at this time but I can't think of a suitable guy you'd pair him up with. Ideally, you bring Karl Anderson along for the ride. Maybe entice Doc Gallows in as a three-piece. They can call themselves the Bullet Train and make some t-shirts or whatever.

Hindsight bookery.

[Ben]

That would have completely preceded the OG Bullet Club so you’d require a lot of originality from Vince to come up with that. Bernard and Anderson were a great tag team (miles better than Anderson and Gallows).

[phonics]

Aye, as a solo monster, he probably isn't going to cut it. At best, you keep him under a mask and never get him to talk. I can't remember much of the roster at this time but I can't think of a suitable guy you'd pair him up with. Ideally, you bring Karl Anderson along for the ride. Maybe entice Doc Gallows in as a three-piece. They can call themselves the Bullet Train and make some t-shirts or whatever.

Hindsight bookery.

Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are two of the most awful jobbers ever to be in the business that are continuously hired because they're mates with the boys. WRESTLING IS ABOUT BEING TALENTED NOT ABOUT PUTTING SHITHOUSES IN A DRESS AND CALLING THEM THE SUGARBABES.

This is where I don't understand modern wrestling fans booking like the territories still exist. I know Gangrel is shit but if he turned up once every 9 years with his sick entrance music, I'll pop off. I'm not seeing D'Lo Browns 3rd in command walk into the ring with a Mike Tyson face tattoo and go 'oh damn he's hard, he should beat up Jon Cena'

[phonics]

Shindigs master booking for Prince Tensai Albert was to line him up with Jobber Gallows. A man so bad that Antonio Inoki came out and stopped his match because it was a disgrace to wrestling.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8fJWg8v0RY

WRESTLING MATTERS.

It's why I think as Ben said, that we are actually quite similar in our outlook but I just like a slightly different, possibly less long term, style of wrestling than he does. Because from my perspective, if Inoki calls you shit, you're shit forever so bang out 5 star matches weekly so that chin doesn't chop you.

[Ben]

The kids hotel I’m at in Spain is doing a rehearsal for some type of show tonight and they’re using Sycho Sid’s theme music to portray some scary scene. :cool:

Also what Phonics said, can’t argue with the great chin.

[phonics]

1794515376895570140

Can't wait for you guys to pick up on how much of a self obsessed cringelord this bloke is.

[wullie]

Credit to him for keeping that covid trend alive of people awkwardly displaying books in shot

[Gray Fox]

We still remember him refusing to put Booker over for obvious reasons.

Also more recently inserting himself into the Rumble at 30 because he was the only possible way to get Roman over. Worked really well.

[phonics]

I pointed out that he started both nights of Wrestlemania with a 'Isn't HHH great?' segment and was called salty.

Good to know people are starting to learn.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finally finished K/QOTR.

Fun PLE with the last two being really good.

The 360 shot before the frog splash to the announce table was stunning.

[phonics]

Lol I didn't even know there was a PPV tonight only to find out it's the most awful card of all time.

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

[Baz]

Trios match and Anarchy in the Arena probably worth a watch.

And Ospreay, obvs. I’d watch him peg washing out and get a semi. :alan:

[Ben]

Surely they’re not putting this midcard belt on Ospreay? Unless it’s an avenue to unify it with Okada’s one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"Bang Bang Gang"

What a shit name.

[Shindig]

I'm going to assume they don't have to escape the barbed wire steel cage. 'cos that would be silly.

[Gray Fox]

What's an "Anarchy in the Arena" match the equivalent of?

[Shindig]

A backstage brawl but bigger-ish.

[phonics]

What's an "Anarchy in the Arena" match the equivalent of?

They were a COVID thing originally where it would be a pre-recorded match that they'd edit together so you'd get fun spots where the cameras were in the right place. They used the Jaguars stadium for it so like people dove off the posts, fucked up the canteen etc. A particular highlight was Matt Hardy being dunked into the inbuilt pool the satdium has and constantly being reborn as different gimmicks. It was dumb fun when wrestling was hard and has been progressivbely more wank ever since.

[Gray Fox]

Big fan of MJF returning in the horrible Triple H denim jacket from back in the day. I'm sure I remember him saying he was his favourite wrestler growing up so a nice little callback.

A shame we wont see him in WWE for a while(if ever) but staying where he is, is the smart money.

[Ben]

Just saw a clip of the “spot” where Darby sets Jack Perry on fire with the flamethrower. Horrendous stuff all round, amateur hour as fuck.

Roddy and Ospreay opened the show so at least I won’t have to work the fast forward button to see the one match worth bothering with.

[Waffdon]

Big fan of MJF returning in the horrible Triple H denim jacket from back in the day. I'm sure I remember him saying he was his favourite wrestler growing up so a nice little callback.

A shame we wont see him in WWE for a while(if ever) but staying where he is, is the smart money.

Can’t believe he ruined his aura by getting that tragic tattoo.

Far too many WWE references from that lot again yesterday. Obsessed with the big dawgs

[Ben]

Big Bill nearly got impaled by a table in a spot that wouldn’t even break top 5 most dumb on the show.

At least MJF learnt from Cody and got the tattoo in an area that can be easily covered.

[Waffdon]

Edge’s knees have to be a mess after whatever the fuck he attempted off the top of the cage. Was he attempting an elbow drop?

[phonics]

Reckless use of a flamethrower > waving a sword around like a fanny or pulling a sledgehammer out and booping then with the handle.

Cry me a river.

[Ben]

They’re all shit and that doesn’t excuse the flamethrower. You could see the medics rushing to him in a panic. There’s literally no upside to the spot.

[phonics]

I was just having fun on the internet tbh. I haven’t seen any of it. I’m far too old to be staying up till 5 am to watch Mr Khans shows when the card looks like that.

[Shindig]

It's very stuntman. His pants are on fire, he runs around a couple seconds before extinguishers hit the scene. Honestly, it looked fine.

[Baz]

https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2ipdlWeoC1qiley9o1_400.gif

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Becky Lynch's contract is done at the weekend apparently...

[Ian]

I expect she'll take some time off but she won't be going anywhere I wouldn't have thought.

[Waffdon]

Wouldn’t be sad if she left. She’s not really it anymore.

Raw looked pretty fkn shite yesterday.

[Baz]

Accidentally caught the end of the Willow Nightingale vs whatshername Monay match while skipping through. lol at that division without Hayter, crikey.

[phonics]

Why's Liv Morgan making out with Lil Dominic again?

[Ben]

Edge’s knees have to be a mess after whatever the fuck he attempted off the top of the cage. Was he attempting an elbow drop?

Broken leg.

[SvN]

Why's Liv Morgan making out with Lil Dominic again?
Maybe they're going steady?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maybe they're going steady?

He's married.

Girls just like bad boys it seems.

[Gray Fox]

Why's Liv Morgan making out with Lil Dominic again?

I think he was trying to prove there was nothing going on between him and Liv by attempting to let Becky win the cage match. Cue shenanigans and she planted one on him as a fuck you.

She's also on a "revenge tour" so having taken Mami out, it makes sense she'd fuck with Dom while she was gone.

[Ian]

Rhea will likely be a face once she's back given crowds already cheer her as a "heel" so it wouldn't surprise me if Liv is running Judgement Day by then. And in the match where she beats Liv we'll surely see Rhea batter Dom too (to a huge pop.)

[Waffdon]

Buddy Matthew’s will be praying that is the case

[phonics]

I think he was trying to prove there was nothing going on between him and Liv by attempting to let Becky win the cage match. Cue shenanigans and she planted one on him as a fuck you.

She's also on a "revenge tour" so having taken Mami out, it makes sense she'd fuck with Dom while she was gone.

Sounds terrible but if she keeps the skirt that's shorter than her arse, keep doing your thing girl.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jordynne Grace taking on Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's title.

Sweet.

[Gray Fox]

Sounds terrible but if she keeps the skirt that's shorter than her arse, keep doing your thing girl.

She's not stupid. If anything they'll get smaller.

The only thing that will stop her is all the weed she smokes with CJ Perry.

[phonics]

Spekaing of attractive blonde ladies. What's Alexa Bliss up to these days?

[Gray Fox]

She was off having a baby. Very much rumoured to be back any week as part of the Wyatt 6(yes really).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Spekaing of attractive blonde ladies. What's Alexa Bliss up to these days?

She went on maternity leave.

Rumours are that she's going to be part of Uncle Howdy's (fucking hell, just let it go lads) stable.

Howdy (Bo Dallas), Joe Gacy, Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Erick Rowan and Dexter Lumis is the lineup apparently.

[phonics]

Sounds terrible but if she puts on a skirt that's shorter than her arse, keep doing your thing girl

[Gray Fox]

Is Dexter Lumis the one who just stood lingering and staring at the Miz for ages?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is Dexter Lumis the one who just stood lingering and staring at the Miz for ages?

Yes.

He was alright on NXT but absolutely shat the bed in the main roster.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Joe Gacy has only been on NXT and he also tried the WEIRD LAD thing by making a stable.

He had Grizzled Young Vets but they changed their names to Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid as well as Rock's Daughter (who is now the GM of NXT).

The little I saw of him/them it was not good.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

AEW marks, talk to me about Ethan Page.

He joined NXT this week.

[Ben]

Pretty bland from the little I saw of him. He looked big in AEW's world of tiny flipsters and that was about it.

[Baz]

Too big for his boots, even beyond the gimmick.

[phonics]

AEW marks, talk to me about Ethan Page.

He joined NXT this week.

He's the definition of mid.

[Shindig]

For a brief second, I thought it was the cowboy man. One less Page for AEW to confuse people over, at the very least.

[Baz]

The cowboy man :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's the definition of mid.

Thought that might be the case, he didn't look all that impressive in his little cameo.

Probably unfair to have him go up against Trick Williams who looks like a sculpted God.

[Browning]

She was off having a baby. Very much rumoured to be back any week as part of the Wyatt 6(yes really).

Wait, so even his death isn’t going to stop the spooky bollocks?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wait, so even his death isn’t going to stop the spooky bollocks?

Nope...

[Ian]

It'll be a fitting tribute when wwe turn it from a big spooky thing to Halloween jobbers within a month.

[Ben]

I mean that's the only way it can go anyway, isn't it? A spooky faction led by Bo Dallas isn't going to have a lot of legs.

[Ben]

phonics because I don't understand Tony Khan's booking, please help me understand what is going on with Ospreay.

They put a midcard title on him and before he's even defended it, he's now won a #1 contender match for the World Title at Forbidden Door. But surely you want him to win the title at All In, not Forbidden Door? So is Ospreay going to lose, then get a rematch?

[Baz]

There’s no way Swerve drops the belt yet.

[Ben]

Which is fair enough because he's great and over enough to warrant a lengthy run.

So don't put Ospreay in there to take a loss.

[Baz]

Reckon MJF will be back in the big belt mix? Six degrees of separation can link Ospreay to Strong to Cole to MJF and have them duke it out, but not sure how Swerve fits in beyond being the man with the belt.

[phonics]

@phonics (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=1) because I don't understand Tony Khan's booking, please help me understand what is going on with Ospreay.

They put a midcard title on him and before he's even defended it, he's now won a #1 contender match for the World Title at Forbidden Door. But surely you want him to win the title at All In, not Forbidden Door? So is Ospreay going to lose, then get a rematch?

Don't ask me I've just seen this match is on fucking Rampage.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOys11pWAAATLHT.png

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gable's contract expires next week.

I hope he gets a new deal and does a proper heel Academy with the Creeds.

[Waffdon]

Endeavour really do like running these contracts down

[phonics]

@phonics (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=1) because I don't understand Tony Khan's booking, please help me understand what is going on with Ospreay.

They put a midcard title on him and before he's even defended it, he's now won a #1 contender match for the World Title at Forbidden Door. But surely you want him to win the title at All In, not Forbidden Door? So is Ospreay going to lose, then get a rematch?

So I've had a bit of a think about this, and as discussed on the prior page or so, I don't care and it'll be a banger. More bangers. It's just where we diverge on being correct.

[Ben]

Swerve doesn’t really strike me as the banger wrestler. Like, he’s fucking great at promos and has loads of charisma and can work a “proper” match, but he’s not Dave Meltzer’s wet dream.

Ospreay will have a banger with a traffic cone. Waste of a match for me.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The one bad thing about the AJ fake retirement is that the OC wont be fired.

[Waffdon]

He did mark Hendry proud

[Waffdon]

Bron Breakker makes Brock Lesnar look like a pussy cat. PHENOM

Can’t believe they’re wasting him v Ilja next week. Neither need a loss

[Baz]

Will they keep the momentum going, or Wardlow him?

[Ben]

He'd have to be Wardlowed another five times before he catches up to Wardlow. Poor bloke.

[phonics]

I felt bad for Wardlow and then he started cutting promos about what 'marks on the internet' think and he consigned himself to the bin forever.

[Ben]

Don't work yourself into a shoot, brother.

[phonics]

Oh no I mean, it's just the cringe part. Like Bischoff setting fire to a Wrestling Observer or whatever. It's too inside baseball.

[Ben]

Fair enough. Agreed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bron Breakker makes Brock Lesnar look like a pussy cat. PHENOM

Can’t believe they’re wasting him v Ilja next week. Neither need a loss

The Frankensteiner he hit was bonkers.

Dude really has it all.

[Ben]

That was a great little TV match. Didn't hurt Ricochet at all because of his injury etc. and got Breakker over as a beast.

Let's see how they do the Dragunov match though. They've definitely built up enough goodwill in the booking for us to allow to see how it plays out before shitting on it but other than a double DQ / sports entertainment finish, I fail to see how this doesn't stifle one of them (likely Ilja).

[phonics]

Marks have spent YEARS telling me how GENERATIONAL this mans talent is, I've never seen it and without fail he's bottom of the midcard wrestling jobbers within 2 months of signing a contract.

https://i.imgur.com/30kPPPL.png

[phonics]

What a poster

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GPU4oz5XsAEmSvx.jpg

[Baz]

Watching the first (of four) episode of Who Killed WCW, the new documentary series on Vice. It’s funny how much Bret Hart hates WCW, and even funnier how not arsed Kevin Nash is about anything if he’s getting paid.

Watched it 7om?

[phonics]

As a wrestler he's like the absolute best of all time at everything that I don't care for and was boresville as a personality but he's great for quotes like this now

1798472304189415562

[Ben]

Watching the first (of four) episode of Who Killed WCW, the new documentary series on Vice. It’s funny how much Bret Hart hates WCW, and even funnier how not arsed Kevin Nash is about anything if he’s getting paid.

Watched it 7om?

Nash is amazing. Really clever bloke that got the most out of not a lot.

His shoot interviews are always top tier.

[wullie]

Bret Hart's the best, I hope over the series he also calls Goldberg a worthless shit about 5 times without having being asked about Goldberg.

[Baz]

Randomly watched an episode of RAW from “when Veron signed for United” (don’t ask :D) and it turned out to be two episodes before the Invasion PPV so now I’m fully invested in WCW & ECW vs WWE.

[Ben]

1798931477696319488

:baz:

[Ben]

Did we cover the revelation that Jim Ross was banging Missy Hyatt for a while in the last few years?

[Mike]

Randomly watched an episode of RAW from “when Veron signed for United” (don’t ask :D) and it turned out to be two episodes before the Invasion PPV so now I’m fully invested in WCW & ECW vs WWE.

It was bloody good too!

[7om]

Watching the first (of four) episode of Who Killed WCW, the new documentary series on Vice. It’s funny how much Bret Hart hates WCW, and even funnier how not arsed Kevin Nash is about anything if he’s getting paid.

Watched it 7om?

I just found out about this today. Are all the episodes out? I’ve only found episode one on dailymotion.

[Baz]

I just found out about this today. Are all the episodes out? I’ve only found episode one on dailymotion.

No it's a weekly release.

June 4, 2024
June 11, 2024
June 18, 2024
June 25, 2024

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1799434813717319888

:harold:

[Shindig]

Oh. Could they not get Celtic in on the deal as well?

[wullie]

I'm sure Gallus have worn some kind of Celtic thing before? Maybe it wasn't on sale as well though

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1799608694881296807

Real shame as I do love Rick.

He's got "Go to AEW, do well for a month and then never be seen again" vibes though.

[Ben]

He's got "Go to AEW, do well for a month and then never be seen again" vibes though.

Spot on. Tony will throw a load of money at him because he'll want to do Ricochet vs. Ospreay, then he'll be muddled into the upper midcard like Claudio.

[Ian]

HHH has at least had him on shows more which is what you should do with him regardless because he's just fun to watch but clearly has no intention of doing much with him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

But he's the SPEED CHAMPION mate.

[Baz]

If you’d told me he was Action Andretti I wouldn’t have doubted it.

[wullie]

He's now lost the speed title to Andrade which is a good choice as it means Andrade will now mostly wrestle on Twitter.

[7om]

Real shame as I do love Rick.

He's got "Go to AEW, do well for a month and then never be seen again" vibes though.

Shame. I've enjoyed his work over the last six months or so. He's never a main eventer, though, so not sure what he thinks he will achieve with Cocaine Tony.

[Waffdon]

Dom really is winning at life. Wonder what female he’ll be attached to next to complete the heroic hat trick

Netflix era about to be wild

[phonics]

1799674886824022040

Suddenly I enjoy headlocks.

[wullie]

Love 'no disrespect to Eric' while calling him a clueless twat either side.

[Ben]

Disappointed at the lack of "fuck Bill Goldberg" there.

[phonics]

I think that was the remaining 28 minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watching NXT Battleground.

Oba Femi is a fucking star, he's a freakish GIANT.

Only 26 years old too.

1799977525839642858

Only been wrestling for about 18 months and he just seems to get it.

[wullie]

Just checked and he's legit Nigerian which is good as I wasn't sure if they were getting him to do an accent like Apollo Crews that time.


1800570327573090367


Best there is, best there was, best there ever will be

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1799980202346569896

The powerbomb he hit on Wes Lee (who has only just returned from back surgery), after catching him doing a meteora, was incredible.

[Waffdon]

I’ve seen that clip tweeted a lot and I don’t understand what’s so impressive about it :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I’ve seen that clip tweeted a lot and I don’t understand what’s so impressive about it :D

The pop up powerbomb is whatever.

The catch (he just takes two steps back easily catching Wes Lee) and the force he slams him into the mat are impressive.

Wes Lee also sells it really well.

Also, a catch into some sort of slam is usually done via a lame crossbody or a shitty axe handle. How many times have you seen it done with a meteora?

[Baz]

Triggered by niko_cee mentioning watching wrestling in Sky One, what’s everyone’s first memories of wrestling?

I looked up the first match I properly remember and it was in 1989, a week before my 2nd birthday, so I obviously don’t remember watching it live, but it was a cage match (https://www.wwe.com/amp/videos/hulk-hogan-vs-the-big-boss-man-wwe-championship-steel-cage-match-saturday-nights) between Hulk Hogan and Big Bossman where the latter ended up bleeding and it blew my mind. I remember Mike’s mates step dad was watching it.

Aside from that we either taped or, more likely, my dad brought home from work a tape of Wrestlemania IX and I must have watched the opener everytime I was off school sick, before falling asleep and missing the majority. It was Tatanka vs Shawn Michaels, outside at Caesars Palace and it looked awesome.


The event has been panned by critics and fans alike. The most frequent criticism has been related to the match between The Undertaker and Giant Gonzalez, Hulk Hogan's title win, and the Roman togas worn by announcers.:D

We also had some of those ‘Best Of’ compilations like Ultimate Warrior and Rick Rude but I hated them as soon as I clocked the cover star won every match on it, so I didn’t watch them after that. Another tape we did, and probably still do have, is this beast:

https://www.picclickimg.com/2b8AAOSwxHhltPKM/Vintage-WWF-WWE-Battle-Royal-at-the-Albert.webp

I can’t remember much about it, having looked it up, besides British Bulldog celebrating in the ring at the end and his music seemingly lasting forever. :cool:

[Shindig]

I legitimately don't know. I had a Macho Man action figure as a kid and an Ultimate Warrior Wrestling Buddies pillow. It must be something New Gen because I remember Razor jobbing to 1-2-3 Kid.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The first event I remember watching was the Royal Rumble in 1998.

Friends stayed round for a sleepover and we all went to bed early before waking up to watch it live.

Obviously the Rumble stands out most but the next most vivid match in my memory? The little man 6 person tag. Was fucking wild seeing the mini luchadors.

I'm also sure I had watched wrestling before then as I knew most of the wrestlers but I imagine it was all taped.

Speaking of tapes. Last year my sister bought a VHS/DVD player as she has loads of old family VHS tapes. I was proud that so many of the collection were my old tapes of WWF. No Mercy 2004 being one of them.

[Ben]

I think it might be Austin throwing the IC title in the river, so that would be just after Montreal Screwjob.

[Gray Fox]

My oldest vivid memory of something was when the Invasion lot take over a RAW and there's brawls everywhere and ring is packed. Cut to the parking lot, Austin pulls up and starts battering the piss out of anything that moves on his path to the ring. Crowd are frothing at the mouth by the time the glass shatters and everyone goes nuts.

I have bits and pieces from earlier but nothing as vivid.

[Waffdon]

Brock Lesnar breaking the ring or Eddie winning the title off of him

[SvN]

My nan had Sky and taped the 92 Royal Rumble for my older brother. I ended up watching it with him and couldn't believe that "a granddad" won :D

All downhill from there, best PPV ever.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

tbf Ric was born looking like a Granddad.

[wullie]

Summerslam 90 is the first I properly remember seeing, I must have rewatched it so many times I could recite most of the commentary.

[Ben]

I can recite the commentary from King of the Ring 1994.

[Ian]

I used to watch WCW re-runs with my grandma on ITV or Channel 4 I'm guessing. The specific earliest memory in question is Vader battering somebody he'd just beaten in a match and British Bulldog coming out for the save. Google tells me they had a match at Slamboree in 1993 so I'm gonna assume that was around that time.

I can't really remember after that what the first thing I remember is when my friend at secondary school properly got me into it. I definitely saw a bunch of the stuff around the build up to Wrestlemania 2000 including some of the HHH / Cactus Jack stuff he recorded for me but it's hazy remembering what I actually saw at the time and what has sort of been subsumed into my memory with stuff I've seen since then.

[Ben]

I vividly recall watching Royal Rumble 2000 live on Channel 4. What a PPV, possibly still my favourite.

[phonics]

The Austin run from when Brett made him bleed onwards.

[phonics]

1801151275918033229

[phonics]

Jesus Christ, this might be one of the worst moves I've ever seen.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4x1UkxOVAo/?igsh=MWVoeXpsMHRuOGE5bw%3D%3D

[Ben]

As well as being shite, this is why they didn’t last long. Dangerous. And shite.

[wullie]

I used to watch WCW re-runs with my grandma on ITV or Channel 4 I'm guessing. The specific earliest memory in question is Vader battering somebody he'd just beaten in a match and British Bulldog coming out for the save. Google tells me they had a match at Slamboree in 1993 so I'm gonna assume that was around that time.



Was it where the ring was on a revolving stage? I remember ITV used to show that WCW show on Saturday afternoons for a while, must have been around then. I remember Arn Anderson in particular seemed to be on it every single episode

[Ben]

That was Worldwide on ITV, which I believe was the UK's first exposure to WCW. Taped at the shite Disney studio in Orlando.

[Ian]

I honestly don't remember enough of the show other than that specific moment. You're probably right between you though.

[Ben]

Even though it was awful to watch, Worldwide tapings at Disney got them turned around financially (thanks to Bischoff) and started the slow road to Nitro on primetime in 1995.

[Waffdon]

Drew coming out to Broken Dreams tomorrow will make me jizz.

Will make up for him not going over

[Baz]

Episode three of Who Killed WCW is Vince Russo time, bro. The quote on the NEXT TIME with him saying ‘this is a television show, if you wanna watch a wrestling show go to a house show’ is so funny. :D

[Mike]

*TTH's Vince Russo, Bro

[Baz]

*TTH's Vince Russo, Bro


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVIrwX2nQps

[7om]

As soon as McIntrye lost to the cash in at Mania, I was thinking he must win at Castle. But I’m thinking now it might not happen. I reckon Punk interferes to cost him and it turns it into a blood feud for Summerslam.

Praying to the lord almighty that Styles becomes champion tonight.

[Gray Fox]

Wasn't there a stipulation won where Judgement Day are banned? That pretty much guarantees Punk interference. Drew winning and then going on to face Punk for the title is the money, but Paul Levesque really needs to get over his thing of every singles title only changing hands on the big shows and after long reigns.

It also makes zero sense to have AJ do the fake retirement thing and then give up in an I Quit match. I suspect he's just knocked out and unable to answer the call, but it's massively wasted momentum.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1801990516885553371

Master Gable stays :drool:

Give him the Intercontinental title.

[7om]

Oh ffs Cody-AJ on first. Can’t see AJ winning now. Should be a banger tho.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh ffs Cody-AJ on first. Can’t see AJ winning now. Should be a banger tho.

ofc AJ isn't winning, why would he?