Professional Wrestling

[Piko]

Thought it was a pretty good show. Very rare we get a good rumble match within the course of a few years. We got two good ones in a single night. Insane that two Japanese stars got the rub. Very happy for them.

Rousey debut was pretty cool. It did kinda overshadow Asuka's win some. I don't think it really matters in the long scheme of things though. Wrestlemania is definitely shaping up to be a good one this year. A little bittersweet that I chose not to go.

What's even more crazy is that Rousey is going to be full time. Wouldn't have guessed that at all.

[Swykk]

I was actually fine with how everything went. If you didn’t follow UFC, Ronda disrespecting everyone makes perfect sense for her WWE character (she’s even using her UFC walk out music). Asuka smacking her hand away was an appropriate response. The handshake with Steph was a callback to her Wrestlemania moment a few years back.

The sign pointing IS dumb but that’s a Vince thing.

Congrats to Nakamura as well. He and AJ will easily have the best match at Mania.

The only match that was terrible was the battle of the big dumb guys for the Universal title but I don’t know anyone who expected it to turn out any other way. Can’t wait for Master Blaster and Not The Guy to stink up the joint in the main event of Mania but I take comfort in knowing AJ/Nakamura is the real main event.

[Piko]

The sign pointing is kinda ridiculous. They gotta get those shots.

[ltrandazzo]

I have a feeling it's going to be Rousey vs. Charlotte at WrestleMania likely for the Blue Women's title. Asuka smacking her hand away was perfect but the Steph handshake was bad. The RRP thing is fine for now.

If I remember correctly, Lesnar is considered fulltime as well, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Ronda handled the same - promos, staredowns and brawls on free TV with the actual fights happening on PPV. Charlotte makes sense for her first match since it'll be horsewoman vs. horsewoman and you can lump in Becky, Sasha and Bailey with Shayna and the other two MMA horsewomen for a power walk down to the ring at WM. Charlotte also makes sense because she's the likeliest to take care of Ronda for what I assume will be her first match.

[Piko]

I'm thinking Asuka/Charlotte. I doubt it's going to be Asuka/Bliss, again. We got that recently with Asuka going over. No sense in that again when they just gave it away for free.

I'm also not sure how far along she is with her training either. A gimmick tag match might be a safe bet to cover up her flaws, if any.

Rumor is Rousey and someone else in a tag match with Triple H and Steph. That one makes more sense to me. Not sure who her partner would be though. They want the rock but they're probably not going to get him. Maybe Braun. He's rumored to go against Miz which I find weird. Not sure what Angle is doing either. Assuming he's working mania.

This mania is looking to be pretty awesome.

[ltrandazzo]

I'm thinking Asuka/Charlotte. I doubt it's going to be Asuka/Bliss, again. We got that recently with Asuka going over. No sense in that again when they just gave it away for free.

I'm also not sure how far along she is with her training either. A gimmick tag match might be a safe bet to cover up her flaws, if any.

Rumor is Rousey and someone else in a tag match with Triple H and Steph. That one makes more sense to me. Not sure who her partner would be though. They want the rock but they're probably not going to get him. Maybe Braun. He's rumored to go against Miz which I find weird. Not sure what Angle is doing either. Assuming he's working mania.

This mania is looking to be pretty awesome.

Angle makes the most sense because of what they set up at Survivor Series. If they can get Rock, score, but if not, Angle already has that recent history with HHH so he could tag up with Rousey then.

[Graceless]

It's no secret that she loves the business, so hopefully this negative feedback that's coming from the rest of the women's roster is just a work. I really hope she's not already making enemies in the locker room.

WTF is this Smackdown Top 10 thing about? It makes zero sense to me.

[xfocalinx]

Do you think fans were upset at Mr. T's involvement at Wrestlemania 1?

No, they weren't.

Wrestling is about moments. we had a cool moment, and we didn't ruin Auska's streak..if Rousey was in the rumble, she would HAVE to win.

Everthing is okay, people.

[henryeatscereal]

I'm glad she's in the WWE, it made a lot of sense and i hope she's mingling along, i know she has respect for the business.
If the women's division is going to be taken seriously she brings lots of cred to the table.

I'm happy it will be Nakamura/AJ at Wrestlemania, i think also it will be Cena /Taker, i'm not crazy about that match but if they are indeed bringing Taker back, that's a good match for him to (finally) retire.

[richardp]

i think also it will be Cena /Taker, i'm not crazy about that match but if they are indeed bringing Taker back, that's a good match for him to (finally) retire.

Finally retire?? So that whole dog and pony show last year against Mania was bullshit then? How many fuckin times are they going to drag that slow ass motherfucker back out to the ring for him to retire???

[thevoid99]

I don't want to see 'Taker wrestle. I really hope that doesn't happen.

[the duder]

C'mon, Book

[thevoid99]

C'mon, Book

I know. Booker's commentary has been ridiculous as of late. I'd wonder who would win a fight. Him or Corey?

[henryeatscereal]

Yeah, i heard the shoot, i like Booker but i can understand Corey

[the duder]

Yeah, i heard the shoot, i like Booker but i can understand Corey

Looks like we all got worked. Good on ya, fellas: https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/20...raw-announcers

[Swykk]

Thing is, Booker is horrible at commentary. So bad that he barely makes sense.

Blame the player, don’t blame the game.

[henryeatscereal]

That's why i used the word "finally...
I didn't like his match with Reigns but Wrestlemania 33 was suppossed to be his last; when he left his Taker "stuff" it was a fitting end, but after watching him in the RAW 25 show, i do believe they are going do another Taker match.

He sure is looking slower and more tired but look at his age, i hope the Cena match is just a rumour but i-m pretty sure the WWE will pay him a shitload of money to do one more match, i dont even know why, he needs to rest

[skullboy0]

he needs to rest

..innnn peaccccce

[henryeatscereal]

..innnn peaccccce

The pun was intended, but thanks for adding, lol

I think they create new stars but they constantly shit the bed with them.
I think most of it has to do with that stupid 50/50 booking stuff they often do, also they are experts on killing fans expectations.
Look at a guy like Neville: the guy was over (despite the stupid cape they gave him at the beginning...), he took an irrelevant belt and made it mean something; what des the WWE do? have him lose to Tosawa (who got nothing from this...) and then make him win it back.

That's just one of many examples, but they constantly fuck up or turn their new stars into jobbers (Wyatt, Matt hardy, Apollo Crews...)

[thevoid99]

OH NIN WRESTLING FANS..... DON'T YOU DARE BE SOUR!!!!! IT IS TIME FOR.... A.... NEW EPISODE OF.... BOTCHAMANIA!!!!!!!

[Piko]

Haven't watched it yet. But the last episode of WWE 24 apparently showed Taker in pretty bad shape before he even wrestled. Says he does it for the fans. I'm not one of them. It's not enjoyable to watch him go out there anymore. It's sad to watch. It's long past time. I hope he doesn't wrestle again.

His raw 25 speech was cryptic. Could be perceived as a retirement speech though.

[Piko]

Issue with Balor is that he's bland without the demon. Great worker otherwise. They don't really know how to create stars anymore.

But to be fair, most of the people who became stars (Austin, Hogan, rock, etc.) did most of the work and were fed horrible scripts that they had to memorize. Hogan was already established in AWA before they scooped him up. Austin was already pretty well established in WCW and other places before that. The Rock is one of the few homegrown guys to really succeed. He wasn't scripted. He got comfortable and his charisma and skill did the rest.

Modern day. Braun Strowman is killing it, a homegrown guy. Maybe it's a fluke, but it happened. Somehow, they've managed to do everything right with him. Couldn't do it with Reigns. They shit the bed with Reigns.

They don't really want to create new stars. They're focused with Roman who will likely never be over as a baby face. They're too hung up on the past. Personally, I'd put the new guys and give them that wrestlemania experience. But instead most get much lower profile matches and we get an undertaker who can't even walk to the ring. It's laziness.

[thevoid99]

Balor doesn't need to be the demon. Anyone who saw him as Prince Devitt in the Bullet Club know how fucking charismatic he is.

Braun is someone I do like. WWE just doesn't really know how to make stars as Meekmahan is so enamored with Roman who will never be the guy.

[Piko]

Apollo Crews is extremely talented. Very lacking in the character department though. He can do cool stuff. But who is he? Just a guy that smiles who can work. That's it. He does nothing to really define himself. That's what's holding him back.

Matt Hardy. I don't think the WWE audience or creative really understand it. Only the smart fans do. That's a problem.

Wyatt. He could've been something special. He's a joke now. Not sure where the fault lies. He cuts incoherent promos and does nothing. His feuds go nowhere and drag too long. It's a shame. But I'm over him. Best thing to do is take him off tv for awhile and hit reset.

Wish Neville came back. Taking the title off him and put it on Enzo was really stupid. Enzo couldn't work. People tuned out because of the watered down cruisers. They didn't want more talking. I don't blame Neville for leaving.. sucks he's probably going to stay in limbo until his deal runs out.

Apparently Vince has zero to do with 205 anymore. All Triple H now. Went and watched one earlier. There's definitely a difference. Not sure if I'll stick with it. But I'll give it another shot.

[henryeatscereal]

I think Apollo had potential, the WWE never gave him a gimmick and jumped him too soon, he's the kind of guy that needed to be in NXT another year...

Broken Matt needs to bring back all the things that made him great like Señor Benjamin, Vanguard 1, King Maxel, etc... not just do the laugh without wins.

Wyatt is a victim of bad booking, as many say; after his defeat against Cena at Wrestlemania, he never recovered

I heard god things about the "new" 205 Live, but i don't think i'll watch, it's far too much wrestling for me every week, i can barely watch RAW as it is (and regret it every time...)

[xfocalinx]

This weekend was INSANE.

Friday: I was BACK on IPPV and opened the show with a veteran of the ring, Tracy Smothers, and got my first win within the company, IMMEDIATELY following my win, this happened: https://i.imgur.com/N8XtVlu.jpg !!!

THEN on the same show, I filled in for the legendary Warlord who couldn't make the show and I teamed with The Barbarian and our unofficial tag team name is "The Powers of Flame"...AND I got paid pretty well!

Saturday: I made my return to my home company after being MIA since JULY (and before that, the last time I was there was April) They welcomed me home with open arms, both wrestlers, management, and the fans..and I had one of my best matches. The fans were LOUD..I'll DEFINITELY be sharing that one!

Sunday: I made an appearance at the company where I just turned heel last month. So it was the debut of my heel character..without giving much away, I'm going to try to post the video for you guys..I didn't wrestle, but just established the character.

life is good.

[thevoid99]

This weekend was INSANE.

Friday: I was BACK on IPPV and opened the show with a veteran of the ring, Tracy Smothers, and got my first win within the company, IMMEDIATELY following my win, this happened: https://i.imgur.com/N8XtVlu.jpg !!!

THEN on the same show, I filled in for the legendary Warlord who couldn't make the show and I teamed with The Barbarian and our unofficial tag team name is "The Powers of Flame"...AND I got paid pretty well!

Saturday: I made my return to my home company after being MIA since JULY (and before that, the last time I was there was April) They welcomed me home with open arms, both wrestlers, management, and the fans..and I had one of my best matches. The fans were LOUD..I'll DEFINITELY be sharing that one!

Sunday: I made an appearance at the company where I just turned heel last month. So it was the debut of my heel character..without giving much away, I'm going to try to post the video for you guys..I didn't wrestle, but just established the character.

life is good.

Fucking awesome!

[Conan The Barbarian]

Congrats dude

[Swykk]

Very cool to hear. Movin’ on up!

[xfocalinx]

Very cool to hear. Movin’ on up!

Trying, man!