Pro Wrestling Thread

[BlobVanDam]

Solid PPV. Only thing I wasn't really into was Matt Hardy Vs Bray Wyatt.

I personally really liked the contract signing and think putting her in a tag match first is a good idea.

A tag match is the best option, because she's too green to put on a 1v1 match that lives up to the hype, and this way you can rely on the hot tag and need less work to get the crowd into it. And it makes sense to actually justify that worthless waste of time from WM31.

The only bit I hate is that Kurt Angle is going to be stuck in a tag match with HHH instead of getting to have a good match with a younger competitor.

[ozzy554]

They could just not be sure enough of Angles health to give him a full 1 on 1 match. I mean the man has a LONG history of neck issues. After what happened with Sting I wouldn't be surprised if they are hesitant about it.

[Cool Chris]

Why in the hell am I seeing WWE coverage on ESPN.com? Better question, why I am getting my sports news from ESPN.com?

Also, why am I seeing bit and pieces about a Cena v. Undertaker match at WM34.

[cramx3]

Why in the hell am I seeing WWE coverage on ESPN.com? Better question, why I am getting my sports news from ESPN.com?

Also, why am I seeing bit and pieces about a Cena v. Undertaker match at WM34.

I think ESPN and WWE have some sort of deal for coverage.

[Cool Chris]

I know that, I was being facetious, as I am old school and don't see it enough as "sports entertainment" worthy of coverage on a "sports" news outlet.

[Zook]

Angle is garbage on the mic now, but image that segment with him in his prime.

[Phoenix87x]

Here's HHH sneaking a pic of rousey, lol

[BlobVanDam]

If sneaky HHH taking a photo isn't a meme already, it's a missed opportunity.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Well I'm certainly more excited about this than anything at WrestleMania!

NXT will award a brand-new title at TakeOver: New Orleans on April 7 when it unveils the NXT North American Championship, WWE announced Wednesday.

A six-man ladder match will determine the champion, with EC3, Ricochet, Adam Cole, Killian Dain, Lars Sullivan and Velveteen Dream competing.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2763211-nxt-to-debut-north-american-championship-at-takeover-new-orleans

[BlobVanDam]

I don't know most of these guys yet (been a while since I've caught one of the shows), but you had me at NXT, ladder, and Ricochet.

Definitely sounds better than anything they've got finalized for Wrestlemania. I can't even remember the last time a Wrestlemania card excited me.

[jjrock88]

I've heard nothing but good things about Ricochet.  Interested to see him in action.

Velveteen Dream has really won me over and his character is excellent.  The character probably just needs a little bit more refining and he will be ready for the main roster, maybe around summer time.  Dream is my pick to win the new championship at NXT.

[BlobVanDam]

I've heard nothing but good things about Ricochet.  Interested to see him in action.

He was awesome in Lucha Underground as Prince Puma. I was lucky enough to see him wrestle live a few months ago at a local club in front of a few hundred people. Glad I got to see that!

[axeman90210]

That ladder match should be dope AF. Really don't understand having Authors of Pain knock out TM61 in the first round of the Dusty Classic. AoP needs to start wrecking shit on the main roster ASAP, and TM61 just got a couple video packages and victories for their return.

[Cool Chris]

So a cowboy, a hillbilly, a redneck walk in to the WWE Hall of Fame....

[Jaffa]

I know it would kinda ruin the Raw tag team division, but man, I have to admit, part of me really wants Braun Strowman to be tag team champions by himself.

[BlobVanDam]

I know it would kinda ruin the Raw tag team division, but man, I have to admit, part of me really wants Braun Strowman to be tag team champions by himself.

For an idea that's just scrapped together last minute because they couldn't come up with a decent 1v1, I think the thought of Braun Strowman single handedly winning the tag titles is fresh and pretty cool, and I'd love to see it.
While it might not be great for the tag division, the tag division on both shows is pretty dire anyway, and they've worn out the combinations of the few great tag teams they have. It's also an interesting way of making Strowman really strong and giving him a belt (well, two) without wasting potential future 1v1 matches against main event opponents, and makes tag matches interesting without needing particular good opponents.
I prefer this to the other ideas they had for him, including being tacked into other matches as an afterthought.

Besides the god awful "main events" of Lesnar putting over Reigns, and HHH and a McMahon wasting the better part of an hour (and whatever wrestler is stuck making Shane look competitive), the rest of the card isn't shaping up too badly at the moment.
While I'm very apprehensive about Undertaker coming back and looking worn out and hurting himself, I'd kinda like to see him manage one more match so that shit show with Reigns isn't his last, and Cena is perhaps the best opponent for him to put on a good match. And it's been a while since Cena has had a fittingly big WM match.
Charlotte vs Asuka will kick ass. The other women's title match will probably be good too. Styles vs Nakamura is a given (seen it before, know it will rock). The IC title match should be great. Strowman and the Bar should manage a great one too.

[ozzy554]

Well lots of people are understandably not happy about the Moolah battle royal. I know WWE can be tonedeaf at times but did they really think that naming the match after her would go over well.

[BlobVanDam]

Well lots of people are understandably not happy about the Moolah battle royal. I know WWE can be tonedeaf at times but did they really think that naming the match after her would go over well.

The basic idea is just like the Andre battle royal, and how many recognizable classic female stars are there to choose from besides Moolah and Mae Young?

I get why they're doing it, for the same reason they have the male one, but I hate that they have this fallback of a generic battle royal to dump all of the talented performers who should be getting real matches. Maybe cut back on wasting so much time for HHH and Shane to inflate their egos, and you could literally free up an hour to an hour and a half of space to actually build up more stars with eventful WM matches.
And I also hate how many of their female wrestlers get wasted in meaningless multi-person matches. If you want a real women's revolution, how about a one on one match at a PPV that doesn't need to be for a belt? Crazy thought.

[Cool Chris]

Huh, I never knew that about Moolah, and I thought I was fairly knowledgeable about WWE and its history.

My kid watches a couple shows on Nick, and they are pimping Cena hosting the Kid's Choice Awards hard. Regarding him taking on Taker, I don't like this at all. I am a huge Taker mark (obviously), and there is no upside for this to me. Of course it might help rinse the palate from that Reigns match from last year, but he still needs to lose if this his is last match(?), which would be two consecutive WM losses, this one to the last person in WWE history who needs a push, which makes it even more unnecessary.

[ozzy554]

Well lots of people are understandably not happy about the Moolah battle royal. I know WWE can be tonedeaf at times but did they really think that naming the match after her would go over well.

The basic idea is just like the Andre battle royal, and how many recognizable classic female stars are there to choose from besides Moolah and Mae Young?

I get why they're doing it, for the same reason they have the male one, but I hate that they have this fallback of a generic battle royal to dump all of the talented performers who should be getting real matches. Maybe cut back on wasting so much time for HHH and Shane to inflate their egos, and you could literally free up an hour to an hour and a half of space to actually build up more stars with eventful WM matches.
And I also hate how many of their female wrestlers get wasted in meaningless multi-person matches. If you want a real women's revolution, how about a one on one match at a PPV that doesn't need to be for a belt? Crazy thought.

I have no problem with the concept. In fact I like it, and I am hoping for Nikki Cross to win it.

My problem is the name. The fabulous moolah has been accused of absolutely horrible things over the years.

[BlobVanDam]

I have no problem with the concept. In fact I like it, and I am hoping for Nikki Cross to win it.

My problem is the name. The fabulous moolah has been accused of absolutely horrible things over the years.

Oh, I was unaware of that. Stupid me.

[ozzy554]

I have no problem with the concept. In fact I like it, and I am hoping for Nikki Cross to win it.

My problem is the name. The fabulous moolah has been accused of absolutely horrible things over the years.

Oh, I was unaware of that. Stupid me.

Yeah you'd think with all the sexual harassment claims coming to light recently you'd think WWE wouldn't name something after somebody accused of pimping her students out for money among other things.

[cramx3]

I have no problem with the concept. In fact I like it, and I am hoping for Nikki Cross to win it.

My problem is the name. The fabulous moolah has been accused of absolutely horrible things over the years.

Oh, I was unaware of that. Stupid me.

Yeah you'd think with all the sexual harassment claims coming to light recently you'd think WWE wouldn't name something after somebody accused of pimping her students out for money among other things.

wait what?  I had no idea Moolah was involved in such things either

[ozzy554]

I have no problem with the concept. In fact I like it, and I am hoping for Nikki Cross to win it.

My problem is the name. The fabulous moolah has been accused of absolutely horrible things over the years.

Oh, I was unaware of that. Stupid me.

Yeah you'd think with all the sexual harassment claims coming to light recently you'd think WWE wouldn't name something after somebody accused of pimping her students out for money among other things.

wait what?  I had no idea Moolah was involved in such things either

Yep a simple google search brings up some terrifying stuff.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Was it ever anything more than accusations?

[cramx3]

Was it ever anything more than accusations?

Not that I can see from my simple google search.  However, that seems similar to a Harvey Weinstein type of situation.  I bet there was a lot more of this type of behavior back in those days.  I'm not sure I'd want to use her name for anything anymore even if there's no proof.  It's just bad press in this climate of today.

[ozzy554]

Well lots of fans were angry about the name and more importantly WWE's sponsors were not happy. So now they've taken Moolah's name off of the battle royal.

So I guess people can thank Snickers for that.

[ZKX-2099]

I'm just upset that more divashit is taking up time on the WM card. 2 title matches, the Rousy shit and now the rumble. Who needs to piss that much?

[ozzy554]

I'm just upset that more divashit is taking up time on the WM card. 2 title matches, the Rousy shit and now the rumble. Who needs to piss that much?

I usually like the women's matches much more than most of the men's matches so the more the merrier in my eyes

[TheCountOfNYC]

I'm just upset that more divashit is taking up time on the WM card. 2 title matches, the Rousy shit and now the rumble. Who needs to piss that much?

Honestly I enjoy the women’s matches more than half of the men’s matches lately. The Four Horsewomen, Asuka, Mickie James, Naomi, Alicia Fox, and Ruby Riott are among the most technically gifted wrestlers on the main roster.

[Zook]

I'm just upset that more divashit is taking up time on the WM card. 2 title matches, the Rousy shit and now the rumble. Who needs to piss that much?

I'd agree with this if it was a few years ago, but the botchy cringefest that was the Diva Division is long gone. The women still aren't as fluid as the men, but I can actually watch women's matches now.

[BlobVanDam]

The women's title match at WM32 stole the show, easily. Charlotte vs Asuka will definitely be one of the better matches this year, although it's got some competition this time. Definitely wouldn't want to skip it.

[cramx3]

Wrestlemania is going to be at Metlife next year, I might have to see if I can get my ass in the stadium for that.

[axeman90210]

So, Daniel Bryan has been cleared to return to in ring activity. YES! YES! YES! YES!

[jjrock88]

I'm assuming the first choice is to have Daniel Bryan team with Shane against Kevin/Sami.  But depending on how long AJ is out, Bryan might be the back up for that match.  Will be interesting regardless.