Time to reset all these threads for 2017, kids.

I'll leave it to the less-snarky to kick off the TNA and Lucha Underground threads when it is appropriate to do so, and I'll take responsibility for this one and the first RAW one (today), the first SD/205 one (Tuesday), and the new NXT one (Wednesday).

A few news items (some may be from the old thread, a few may be new):

Last week, SmackDown both drew more live fans and more TV viewers than RAW, for the first time since the very first week of the brand split. Of course, this is being attributed internally to nothing other than John Cena. Which is probably (if depressingly) accurate.

Paige is in Tampa, FL, tonight, which is site of RAW. While nowhere near ready to compete, WWE is said to want to find some non-wrestling use for her, on the grounds that Paige sort of thought her behavior would lead to her getting to sit at home and collect her guarantee until her contract expired, and WWE doesn't want to let that happen.

Both the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are being advertised for NEXT week's RAW. Michaels is steadfast in not working any actual match (despite the big tease that AJ Styles laid out a few months back), but could be a fit as a guest ref. Taker could enter the Rumble Match, or have some other, more active, role that sets the wheels in motion for his WM Storyline (widely rumored to be a match against Cena).

Out of nowhere, New Orleans has emerged as a leading candidate for WrestleMania 34. The SuperDome just hosted WM30 (unless you are the Hulkster, in which case, that was actually the SilverDome, brother!).

Ronda Rousey's KO loss on Friday may be the end of her UFC career. Contrary to Jonathan Coachman's mind-bending theories about Rousey being "broken merchandise" (and the silly schadenfreuede being exhibited by many of your douchier fans, who take pleasure in Rousey's fall from grace), this actually does nothing but improve her chances of lucrative future WWE appearances.

Kurt Angle is telling people he's headed back to WWE, and is not taking any indie bookings past late March.

WWE, obviously, skipped the Slammys this year. There was no clear vision on how to execute them, given the Brand Split. It is possible that after a year off, each brand will do its own version of an awards show, or that WWE will reboot the Slammys as a WWE Network standalone deal, geared a bit more towards non-rigged awards and the "smart" fans. The thinking is that WWE Network has already usurped the title of "best indie" with NXT, and trumped every other attemtped Hall of Fame with their own HoF presentation, so maybe, just maybe, in January 2018, you'll see an awards show where WWE actually tries to honor the best performers and performances across ALL their platforms (RAW, SD, NXT, 205, UK, and their semi-secret indie affiliations), and screw anyone for putting any stock in those PWI or Meltzer awards.

In the meantime, WWE.com nudged things in that direction, by putting out their list of the top 25 matches of 2017. The top two matches were both from NXT (Zayn/Nakamura from Dallas, and Revival/DIY Best of 3 Falls), which is a definitely wink and a nudge in our direction. Maybe the entire LIST was a bit too much in that direction.... I mean, Shane/Taker was nowhere to be seen, and while it was a shitty "wrestling match," it was easily one of the top 25 "sports entertainment segments" of the year. And I definitely would have campaigned to get Ziggler/Miz moved up several spots, too.

That's enough to get the ball rolling, I think....




Rick

Paige at RAM tonite....



[Edited on 1-2-2017 by G-Spot]

quote:

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Originally posted by OORick
I'll leave it to the less-snarky to kick off the TNA and Lucha Underground threads when it is appropriate to do so

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quote:

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Originally posted by lz4005

quote:

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Originally posted by OORick
I'll leave it to the less-snarky to kick off the TNA and Lucha Underground threads when it is appropriate to do so

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We've been going season by season on LU. There's nowhere near enough posts to need a new one before they go on hiatus. Unless there's some admin thing that necessitates.

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* ADR got arrested in Austria on Friday night Dec 30; he and his brother were involved in a brawl at a nightclub then they started fighting each other at the police station; ADR apparently popped the handcuffs or zip-ties they first had on him and they had to put ankle shackles on his wrists to restrain him

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0102/620849/alberto-del-rio-reportedly-arrested-after-club-brawl-in-austria/

* interesting analysis here on why Ronda Rousey would be a poor fit in WWE

http://411mania.com/wrestling/why-ronda-rousey-would-fail-in-wwe/

[Edited on 1/3/2017 by Paddlefoot]

Finally viewed WWE's new PTI inspired show on the network, Bring it to the Table. I think it can work. OF ocurse, many smakrs all over the internet are already getting their panties in a major way because Paul Heyman gave them a savage verbal beatdown. It does seem to have a unusual mix of shoot and kayfabe talking and can't seem to decide which direction they want to go.

"Finally viewed"??

It only debuted last night didn't it?

I'll watch it later, if for no other reason than Peter Rosenberg is hosting it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite
"Finally viewed"??

It only debuted last night didn't it?

---

If Berto in fact viewed the show, and evidence indicates he did... Why is it a rumor? FFSF lets start this year off right. SMFI

* charges against Jimmy Snuka were fully dropped today as the judge in the murder & manslaughter case against him agreed with both the defense and prosecution that he is in no mental or physical shape to be tried and sentenced for the death of Nancy Argentino back in 1983

* WWE had an extreme attack of pettiness at last night's RAW and forced stadium officials in Tampa to move well-known super-fan Tye Dye Guy out of the camera's focus because he was dressed up like Hulk Hogan

* despite being under new ownership by Anthem, TNA staffers still haven't been paid yet for the work they did for the October Impact tapings; they have to wait until a payment from Sony Six in India is made before they get their pay

If the WWE is punting Hogan fans off camera then I'm guessing that those rumours out of Hogan's daughter a few months back about how her dad was going to be at WM aren't true.

It's a shame that Snuka can't stand trial; I'm sure from everyone from the victims family, to Snuka and his family they would have all liked to see some closure from this... For the Argentino family they'll just have to make due with the fact that the grand jury inquest was said to be extremely thorough (owing as much to the 32 year delay in justice) and opted to proceed with charges probably being a decent chance that he would be found guilty, and that his days upright are numbered right now at about 6 months.

For what its worth his in ring legacy took a hit as well, as once the charges went through the WWE gave him the Hogan treatment and disappeared him from their HOF.

Dunno about the Hogan one considering that the advertising for 'Bring it to the Table' last night on RAM regarding the type of questions that will be addressed on the show included one in the ballpark of "Will Hulk Hogan ever return to WWE?". Methinks that's about as Chekhov's Gun as WWE gets as far as telegraphing the answer. Which will eventually turn out to be 'yes' because otherwise why even mention his name in that context? If they shun him or just bring up his name just to say, "No, he'll never be back" he's got enough 'fuck you' money to be petty to Vince right back.

Outside of what I think of him as a person, he's still important to the historical aspects of the proceedings and considering they're on short supply when it comes to relatively non-offensive Legends like Dusty, Piper, and whatever remains of Flair's wetbrained psyche.

As an aside and in retrospect, Hogan's overall mental health (lol) relative to his more workrate capable peers basically indicts him as a useless load in the ring considering he's only really suffered physically from hip, back, and racist mouth issues while the rest of the boys ultimately got severe head trauma for their efforts. Geez, I can't wait until he's welcomed back with open arms.

Oh I'm not saying Hogan won't ever be back, just that signs point to him riding the bench for while more... I've always thought that the WWE dropping Hogan because of private comments (however reprehensible it may be) was a mistake, as him going on speaking engagements as part of their be a star program, and rehabbing him publicly would have far more value; both to the company and to a greater good where we don't just sweep things under the rug pretend they didn't happen, and then when enough time goes by bring him back and really pretend it didn't happen. You could even suspend his legends contract and any merch' sales... anyway... old news, and we've all debated this already... but yeah, he'll be back... just probably not yet.

*In other news...

ADR is in shit again; a bar fight in Austria this time where he and his brother apparently quite badly beat up a third guy; ADR and his brother then either fought each other, or were taken to a local police station where they then fought one another.... man, what's this 3 fights in the last six months for ADR? Maybe the WWE was actually trying to be kind of a caring boss by getting Paige to split from ADR...

[Edited on 1-4-2017 by Flash]

Wait....so not only did ADR get in the fight you reference....but he ALSO got busted for an earlier fight that Pads referenced this morning? Shit...whoever set his bail didn't set it high enough....or some poor schmuck is out whatever they teed up as bail. money.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* ADR got arrested in Austria on Friday night Dec 30; he and his brother were involved in a brawl at a nightclub then they started fighting each other at the police station; ADR apparently popped the handcuffs or zip-ties they first had on him and they had to put ankle shackles on his wrists to restrain him

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0102/620849/alberto-del-rio-reportedly-arrested-after-club-brawl-in-austria/

---

Yeah... that ADR, what a trouble maker....

That, or I missed Pad's post

quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite
"Finally viewed"??

It only debuted last night didn't it?

---

Yup, it did only debut last night after RAM, so as usual, berto is a good boy, he done nothins wrong.

I think that's how it goes? It's Janerd's line, not mine, but it fits.

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Man, can't we just ban him? I got banned like twice between 2006 and 2010 (the second time was highly debatable), and I straightened my act up.

Now that's one spiffy pic Berto's got. I hear (see its a rumor (no "u") thread and this is a rumor (no "u") he stole it off the interweb and did not make it himself.

Cam, banning someone is sooo last decade. The OOUniverse is desperate for residents so law and order have gone to hell.

If no ban, then how about a custom status of "Cunt"? Or would the custom status be too "cool" for him?

quote:

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Originally posted by Flash
If the WWE is punting Hogan fans off camera then I'm guessing that those rumours out of Hogan's daughter a few months back about how her dad was going to be at WM aren't true.

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quote:

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Originally posted by merc
Cam, banning someone is sooo last decade. The OOUniverse is desperate for residents so law and order have gone to hell.

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I'm pretty sure it's a kind of hazing, roy. They give ya shit, and if you can keep up with 'em, sooner or later they'll either embrace you, or ignore you completely.


Of course, I could be wrong.

It's the obsessive hatred for Charlotte and the belief in a massive bury-Becky-Lynch conspiracy that makes it all possible.

quote:

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Originally posted by royberto

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ortonmustdie
I'm pretty sure it's a kind of hazing, roy. They give ya shit, and if you can keep up with 'em, sooner or later they'll either embrace you, or ignore you completely.


Of course, I could be wrong.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero

quote:

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Originally posted by royberto

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That's fine. I was talking ABOUT you, not TO you. Though I can understand you don't know the difference, since you don't seem to handle rational discussions very well -- clinging to your opinions (which you often try-and-fail-to-disguise as "popular opinion" or "fact") wherever it suits you best.

If there were an ignore list here, I wouldn't even be aware you existed anymore. Take solace in that if you will.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
It's the obsessive hatred for Charlotte and the belief in a massive bury-Becky-Lynch conspiracy that makes it all possible.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Thom
If no ban, then how about a custom status of "Cunt"? Or would the custom status be too "cool" for him?

---

Dixie out at TNA

https://mobile.twitter.com/smFISHMAN/status/816806545728147456

quote:

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Originally posted by coxito
It's really not that hard. All I had to do was quote the 1st post in a thread as the 2nd poster. Just cacth a mod on the rag and you're set.

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Gambit3 for av of the year

quote:

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Originally posted by williamssl
Gambit3 for av of the year

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* Coach expanded on his comments earlier as to why WWE will not take on Ronda Rousey after her beat-down at the hands of Amanda Nunes at UFC 207; apparently Rousey lost two movies roles after the lost to Holly Holm because the producers were convinced her invincible image was shattered; basically it all revolves around that WWE is not in the business of rebuilding broken public images and also because there are too many indications that Rousey doesn't have the personality that can handle criticism, especially if multiple-thousands of fans get on her case at a venue like WrestleMania:

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0104/620923/jonathan-coachman-on-why-broken-star-ronda-rousey-will-never/

Realistically speaking the smart money would be to trust Coach and his still-existing connections inside WWE, unless all that Vince knows about Rousey is what he saw in that Expendables movies and he screams at someone to hire her while "she's still a hot item".

* Brock got a one-year suspension from the US Anti-Doping Agency that will be in effect for a year from the no-contest fight at UFC 200, so even if he wants to return to the MMA scene he can't appear in a sanctioned fight until after July 15, 2017

quote:

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Originally posted by royberto
This is very fascinating. They take personal shots at me. Then when I respond and call out their trolling, they whine about wanting me banned. It seems they can dish it out, but they can't take it.

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Gob,
The confusion is easy to understand. No one asks Berto legit questions. Doing so may get you banned.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite

quote:

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Originally posted by royberto
This is very fascinating. They take personal shots at me. Then when I respond and call out their trolling, they whine about wanting me banned. It seems they can dish it out, but they can't take it.

---

I think Cam wanted ME banned for 'trolling' you, but I could be wrong.

However, I wasn't trolling you, it was a genuine question. Typically, when someone says "finally got round to..." implies that said act has been possible for a while, and they've only just done it. For example, tonight I will finally get around to watching last weeks NXT and Rosenberg's show, even though they've both been available for days/ over a week in one case.

When you said 'finally' on Monday I assumed there was more than 1 episode, and you were catching up on last weeks show... I thought it debuted this week; so wanted to check I hadn't fallen two weeks behind, because if I had, I'd have prioritised watching it.

Just a miscommunication/misunderstanding, blown out of proportion by Cam- let's ban him for it

[Edited on 1-5-2017 by Gobshite]

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quote:

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Originally posted by gambit3
Dixie out at TNA

https://mobile.twitter.com/smFISHMAN/status/816806545728147456

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quote:

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Originally posted by merc
CZ that's the beauty of the bold name and AV (should Roy ever get one). Glance before reading and keep scrolling. More manual than clicking ignore but just as effective. I have two on my list and haven't had to read a thing they have typed.

No charge.

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quote:

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Originally posted by coxito

It's really not that hard. All I had to do was quote the 1st post in a thread as the 2nd poster. Just cacth a mod on the rag and you're set.

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Hmm, I have three possible posting ideas to this:

1) Maybe LuckyLopez will come back and save the day with his mod skills.

2) Wait, OO has moderation?

3) Just stop giving a fuck about the sandy vaginas of a couple posters and enjoy the good bits.

Damn you.

quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod

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quote:

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Originally posted by Matte

quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod

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There's a thread for that! http://oowrestling.com/OOForums/viewthread.php?tid=31662

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quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod
Yeah, the thing is, I don't really give a shit.

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I'd ask to be a mod but I figure not doing so should keep me out of the eventual OO murder/suicide bullying class action lawsuit. Hopefully.

Anyway, can I get a new status thing? CUMedian may have ran its course ... all over your faces!

Also, can we start non-wrestling rumors here? Rumor has it my mom just took an ancestory test. Turns out I'm 2.5% African. Oh ... wait ... not a rumor. That actually happened. Bantu Tribe represent!

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite

quote:

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Originally posted by royberto
This is very fascinating. They take personal shots at me. Then when I respond and call out their trolling, they whine about wanting me banned. It seems they can dish it out, but they can't take it.

---

I think Cam wanted ME banned for 'trolling' you, but I could be wrong.

However, I wasn't trolling you, it was a genuine question. Typically, when someone says "finally got round to..." implies that said act has been possible for a while, and they've only just done it. For example, tonight I will finally get around to watching last weeks NXT and Rosenberg's show, even though they've both been available for days/ over a week in one case.

When you said 'finally' on Monday I assumed there was more than 1 episode, and you were catching up on last weeks show... I thought it debuted this week; so wanted to check I hadn't fallen two weeks behind, because if I had, I'd have prioritised watching it.

Just a miscommunication/misunderstanding, blown out of proportion by Cam- let's ban him for it

[Edited on 1-5-2017 by Gobshite]

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Rumor fuel:

@KennyOmegamanX there is no plan. My schedule is cleared and I'm weighing all options. I've a lot to consider. Thx for the patience/support

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) January 6, 2017

quote:

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Originally posted by Matte
Rumor fuel:

@KennyOmegamanX there is no plan. My schedule is cleared and I'm weighing all options. I've a lot to consider. Thx for the patience/support

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) January 6, 2017

[Edited on 1-6-2017 by Matte]

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quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
Rumor has it I thought Kenny Omega and Spirit Squad Kenny were the same person until about 2 months ago.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero

quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
Rumor has it I thought Kenny Omega and Spirit Squad Kenny were the same person until about 2 months ago.

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Meltzer is reporting that this made me lol. ...Okay, maybe not Meltzer, but "sources".

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quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
Well for once "sources" got something right. For seriously like 8 years I thought that Spirit
Squad Kenny became an Indy sensation. I only Googled Kenny Omega out of confusion in like November.

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For the longest time I thought Matte just hung around thresholds, mud rooms and front porches.

quote:

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Originally posted by Matte

quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
Well for once "sources" got something right. For seriously like 8 years I thought that Spirit
Squad Kenny became an Indy sensation. I only Googled Kenny Omega out of confusion in like November.

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I think you're the reason WWE refuses to have two wrestlers with the same name.

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All I knew of Kenny Omega until recently was that clip someone here posted a while back of him getting beaten in a goof match by a 12-year old Japanese girl.

quote:

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Originally posted by Quentil
Hmm, I have three possible posting ideas to this:

1) Maybe LuckyLopez will come back and save the day with his mod skills.

2) Wait, OO has moderation?

3) Just stop giving a fuck about the sandy vaginas of a couple posters and enjoy the good bits.

---

Oh man, there used to be some Pe-CAN Sandy's up in here...

There was more Sandy Vag in here at one time than NeoGAF, and there are a lot of Sandy Vag's over there.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
All I knew of Kenny Omega until recently was that clip someone here posted a while back of him getting beaten in a goof match by a 12-year old Japanese girl.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
All I knew of Kenny Omega until recently was that clip someone here posted a while back of him getting beaten in a goof match by a 12-year old Japanese girl.

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quote:

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He also carried a blow-up sex doll to a 4.5* match.

[Edited on 1-9-2017 by Count Zero]

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quote:

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Originally posted by mooseheadjack

1. Lucky Lopez is hopefully rotting in prison somewhere

2. Ain't no more mods, law just don't go 'round here, savvy?

3. Sandy vaginas? You have no idea. Back in MY day........lemme tell ya, this place was loaded with sandy vaginas!

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quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
So did I. That's how I got kicked out of Money In the Bank 2011.

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Quentil for PotY, simply because we get a moose sighting from it.

* Rumor is that Patriot Rob Gronkowski could be involved in Wrestlemania somehow

* Undertaker is penciled in to win the Rumble and face Roman Reigns for the Universal Title at Mania.

* With the new influx of cash from Anthem, TNA is preparing to start running house shows again and their tour of India is back on.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Undertaker is penciled in to win the Rumble and face Roman Reigns for the Universal Title at Mania.

---

Yeah, from what I've caught up on, those two matches seem to be the most likely: Cena/Taker mainly because it hasn't happened for the title before and Reigns/Strowman because I am apparently a psychic. Then again, Taker/Reigns does seem like another uninteresting, sure-to-fail way to get Roman over finally that WWE likes to do, so why not go against everything that makes sense?

Will Taker/Roman be well received? I can't imagine myself enjoying it. But that is just my opinion.

quote:

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Originally posted by Lizzyp224
Will Taker/Roman be well received? I can't imagine myself enjoying it. But that is just my opinion.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Lizzyp224
Will Taker/Roman be well received? I can't imagine myself enjoying it. But that is just my opinion.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lz4005
I wouldn't be psyched to watch it either, but it does make sense through the old school business lens that Vince and Taker see through. .

Taker's last match being vs Cena, whomever wins or loses, doesn't do anybody any good. Cena's so far past being over he'll probably be on a Rock schedule in 5 years.

On the other hand, WWE has been desperate to get Romesey over as their top babyface forever. They want him to carry the flag for the next 10 years.

It isn't going to happen, but they aren't giving up on the idea.

Taker is of the generation, and is more than enough of a company man, that he'll most likely want his last match to mean something in terms of building up a younger guy who needs the rub. And that man is Reigns.

I don't think it'll work, but I think it makes sense that that's what they'll try.

---

I don't think Taker is winning the Rumble. Here is my way too early, totally sure to be wrong WM card.

WWE Championship: Miz (RR winner) v AJ v Cena (C)
WWEU: Reigns (C) v Goldberg
HHH v Rollins
Taker v Brown Stronghands
US: Jericho (C) v Owens
IC: Ambrose (C) v Evil Dolph
Lesnar v TBD
Show v Shaq
Andre Battle Royal: Bray Wyatt
RAMW: Charlotte (C) v Sasha v Bayley v Nia: Ref Rousey
SDW: Alexa (C) v Beckie v Nikki v Nattie


That's so many matches already but New Day has to be on there somewhere and I'm thinking there has to be a cross brand match other then the ATGMBR. Also tag, cruiser and ... shit ... UK champ? It's gonna be a 9 hour show.

Well at least the crowd will be too tired to boo Reigns.

I'm not sure I like the Duelling 4-way Womens Titles Matches, but... Really, I can't do much better with what they're prioritizing right now. Unless this Nattie thing is about to be finished off at the Rumble, maybe? Like, drop her from the SDWScene via resounding loss to Nikki Bella-Cena, even though I hate to theoretically cost her a WM paycheque..

Hmm. What if they do a Ladies Royal Rumble at Mania? They do a 3-way title match for one belt, a straight up 1 v 1 match for the other, and then put the rest of the women from both brands in a 20-25 minute rumble-style match. The winner of the Inaugural Stephanie McMahon Womens Battle Royal gets to pick which belt she wants a future title shot at.

Errybody gets paid, we don't get easily-confused-by-similar-matches (because we can't have two Shanes, let alone similar matches) and it helps fill the 9hr show!

quote:

---

Originally posted by DKBroiler
That's so many matches already but New Day has to be on there somewhere and I'm thinking there has to be a cross brand match other then the ATGMBR. Also tag, cruiser and ... shit ... UK champ? It's gonna be a 9 hour show.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade

quote:

---

Originally posted by lz4005
I wouldn't be psyched to watch it either, but it does make sense through the old school business lens that Vince and Taker see through. .

Taker's last match being vs Cena, whomever wins or loses, doesn't do anybody any good. Cena's so far past being over he'll probably be on a Rock schedule in 5 years.

On the other hand, WWE has been desperate to get Romesey over as their top babyface forever. They want him to carry the flag for the next 10 years.

It isn't going to happen, but they aren't giving up on the idea.

Taker is of the generation, and is more than enough of a company man, that he'll most likely want his last match to mean something in terms of building up a younger guy who needs the rub. And that man is Reigns.

I don't think it'll work, but I think it makes sense that that's what they'll try.

---

I would argue that they don't think putting a new guy over in a retirement match is what is best for business. That hasn't been the way that they've done things in the past. For reference, see Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels and Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker. Also, see The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar, which was not The Undertaker's final match but just as significant in that it ended - retired - his legendary undefeated streak.

[Edited on 1-11-2017 by Slade]

---

I first heard of Omega during his time at DSW. Omega apparently left due to hating their cookie cutter manufacturing and Bill Demott being the jerk hole that he is.

But I did not see Omega till he started getting buzz in Canada and being the "King of Anywhere" match. Did you guys miss that?

" target="_blank">

Shortly thereafter, Omega debuted for PWG at BOLA 08. I recall during the group entrance, Omega got a light reception. Omega said, "Nobody knows who I am." My friend and I were in front row and he said that as he passed us. Like little teeny-boppers we screamed, "We do! We know you!"

Omega would steal the show with an Irish whip and top rope breaking. There was s scare as Omega took a nasty spill and went to the back. Omega would make a surprise return and be chased all over the Burbank Armory and outside as the King of the Anywhere brought that element to PWG. Then of course Men of Low Moral Fiber arose, Omega's feud/teaming up with Ibushi and their Golden Showers, DDT stint, wrestling blow up dolls/little girls, and now New Japan. It has been fun seeing this cool guy grow.

I really hope he becomes the new Sting, in that he never has a run in WWE. Omega is getting better and better and it would be cool to have another "indie darling" carve out a legacy without the WWE hype machine. Just a neat tidbit. Anyway, this is more than likely a case of Omega just taking some time off and playing with the IWC. Along with Cena trolling on his instagram.

Ugh, Taker v Rome? Jeez, that sounds like a main event that will be dead on arrival. WWE yet again forcing us to take our medicine that we do not want. The fans would just shit on Rome as Taker is a yearly special attraction. Plus, Rome is not a nimble or dynamic as Styles or Seth to help compliment a considerably older Taker. I hope this does not happen.

Cena has been cast in another film. It is called, "The Pact". Three parents who discover their daughters' pact to lose their virginity at prom. The parents launch a covert one-night operation to stop the teens. The film is scheduled to be released on April 8, 2018. So Cena will be gone for another stretch of time and keep this light schedule. Sounds like rubbish but I am sure Cena will rise above the material, much like he did with Trainwreck. So Cena may not walk out of Mania with a victory with whatever match he is booked in.

quote:

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Originally posted by rranddm
Taker needs a someone who can work. Among youngish superstars that would be Seth Rollins or AJ. Seth as HHH's lackey surrogate getting Taker to do what the McMahons want would be a story with legs. Taker also brings a wild card to the Rumble. He and Brock have lingering issues. Taker isn't going to cozy up to Goldberg. Something happens at the Rumble to spark a fight between Rollins and Taker?

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
You said that The Undertaker needs someone who can work and then offered up Seth Rollins as an example. I would say that the last thing The Undertaker needs is to work with someone who injures everyone he works with. Special care should also be taken to his age and susceptibility to suffering a career ending injury. The last time Seth Rollins worked with someone over the age of 50, a legend retired. I would hate to see that happen again.

---

I think in terms of just box office value, Cena is the best possible opponent for Undertaker, and let's be honest, at this point no matter how good or bad the worker, Taker is likely limited enough that it's going to be the same basic match regardless. I don't think we've gotten Cena and Taker in the 11 or 12 years that John Cena has been a legit, bona fide draw, so it'll feel like a big marquee match and is also a fresh pairing, in the sense that an almost 30 year vet and a guy who spent a decade on top can feel fresh.

I know Vince isn't ready to acknowledge that Reigns isn't going to pan out as the top guy, but in the end, Cena vs. Taker is a sure bet for getting buzz and making money.

quote:

---

Originally posted by lz4005

Seth has matches every week where nobody gets injured.

Were you that concerned when Taker had a match against Brock, who has injured a hell of a lot more people than Rollins has?

---

Sometimes, I see a rumor and immediately think, "Man, this is just somebody at Titan Tower leaking something WWE definitely isn't going to do in order to make what they're going to do seem less obvious." WWE knows their plan of John Cena vs. The Undertaker for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania seems too obvious, so they throw out this out-of-nowhere Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns concept to cast doubt, because they know people will believe any rumor with even a hint of "WWE wants to give Reigns a rub."

For how long WWE has been considering a big Cena-Undertaker match at Wrestlemania, I find it hard to believe they'd change gears and put 'Taker up against Reigns. Especially since that leaves you with almost no options for Cena.

Less rumour, and more news; Brock is getting sued (along with Dana White, and the UFC) by Mark Hunt.

Brock pocketed $2.5 million for his bout against Hunt (who made $700k)- hunt is alleging that for a nominal fee the UFC could have had his and Brock's test results the day before their bout, instead of a day after. Hunt is stating that "they affirmatively circumvented fair competition for their own benefit" and accusing them of racketeering and fraud. His suit is said to be for millions as he suffered physical damages and that his brand was damaged.

Hunt apparently still has a multi-million dollar multi-fight contract in place with the UFC, so curious how this will affect that going forward... sounds like his opponent Frank Mir also tested positive, so maybe there's something to Hunt's suit.

With Seth Rollins, it isn't just the buckle bomb that does harm. He hasn't hurt anyone lately, but he put Finn Balor on the shelf in his first big match back from an injury, which he caused to himself. In addition to blowing his knee out, he ended Sting's career and broke John Cena's nose, all in a span of a few months.

My mind draws a blank when I try to think about guys that Lesnar injured in the ring before his Wrestlemania match against The Undertaker, except for Bob Holly, which Denverpunk already noted was not the result of sloppiness or poor execution. That is an entirely different problem, but one that The Undertaker didn't have to worry about.

I think even Cena has admitted that the broken nose was his own fault as he leaned in too far.

Can we stop with the annual "Undertaker needs a good opponent to carry him" nonsense that's been going on for like 9 years now? Great build, or bad build ... good opponent or mediocre opponent ... there is a 99.99% chance that the Undertaker will be involved in a WM match that will be more memorable than anything else on the card. When was the last time he had a WM match that wasn't either a candidate for match or moment of the year?

HBK twice
HHH twice
Brock streak
Shane Crazy Insano Death Leap

Ok, Wyatt was meh. Still, that's 6 of 7.

If Cena fights Taker it'll go down as a classic.

Also if it's worth anything I just watched two of the 2003 Taker vs Cena matches and one was great, the other was good... mind you they had a good story of young cocky punk challenging the veteran going for them, so finding some good reason for the two to lock up, and actually interacting beyond showing up once or twice and pointing at the WM sign will go a long way towards setting the stage for a great match... there's enough old footage of both interacting that there could be some good promo's that come out of this.

Definitely a match/feud I'm looking forward to.

I'm going to sound like Merc here, but don't we have a WHOLE THREAD for 'streak/undertaker' stuff? It really is turning into the same old back-and-forth about him, just as soon as Mania Season (Rabbit season? Duck season?) rolls around.

Possible "rumornews":
ROH might be getting 'raided' (I use that word very loosely here) for some of its talent. Other sites (at least two different ones that Google Now thought I might be interested in) are reporting that (bleh) Kyle O'Reilly is being removed from all promotional material due to a potential change of workplace, and that Adam Cole BayBay might be just waiting for his deal to expire in order to change employers. Both men are reported to be on the WWE's shopping list.

I have absolutely no use for Kyle O'Reilly, despite the fact that he is apparently a fellow canuck. Adam Cole could end up on 205Live, or he could get the Seth/AJ treatment. Who can really tell anymore?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero
I'm going to sound like Merc here, but don't we have a WHOLE THREAD for 'streak/undertaker' stuff? It really is turning into the same old back-and-forth about him, just as soon as Mania Season (Rabbit season? Duck season?) rolls around.

---

now if a mod could just move all this stuff over there, we'd have a whole page of rumorcrap back. and we always need more room for rumorcrap.

* where's CM Crunk these days?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
With Seth Rollins, it isn't just the buckle bomb that does harm. He hasn't hurt anyone lately, but he put Finn Balor on the shelf in his first big match back from an injury, which he caused to himself. In addition to blowing his knee out, he ended Sting's career and broke John Cena's nose, all in a span of a few months.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
I think in terms of just box office value, Cena is the best possible opponent for Undertaker, and let's be honest, at this point no matter how good or bad the worker, Taker is likely limited enough that it's going to be the same basic match regardless. I don't think we've gotten Cena and Taker in the 11 or 12 years that John Cena has been a legit, bona fide draw, so it'll feel like a big marquee match and is also a fresh pairing, in the sense that an almost 30 year vet and a guy who spent a decade on top can feel fresh.

I know Vince isn't ready to acknowledge that Reigns isn't going to pan out as the top guy, but in the end, Cena vs. Taker is a sure bet for getting buzz and making money.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* where's CM Crunk these days?

---

Hopefully the chuds didn't get him whilst he was urban-arting.

According to Meltzer, somebody has pitched an idea to Vince, which was apparently fairly well received, to get Samoa Joe onto the main roster, strap a rocket to his ass, and have him in one of the top matches at Mania. Obviously not something to put a lot of stock into, but it definitely could be a great answer to the "so what does AJ do at Mania?" question.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Hopefully the chuds didn't get him whilst he was urban-arting.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
According to Meltzer, somebody has pitched an idea to Vince, which was apparently fairly well received, to get Samoa Joe onto the main roster, strap a rocket to his ass, and have him in one of the top matches at Mania. Obviously not something to put a lot of stock into, but it definitely could be a great answer to the "so what does AJ do at Mania?" question.

---

Rumorz...

* Some rumored names for this year's HOF class include: DDP, Rick Rude, Christian, William Regal, Mike Rotundo, and the Natural Distasters

* The WWE is looking to follow up on the UK Championship tournaments with similar tournaments in Asia and Latin America

* Despite rumors to the contrary, Vince McMahon and Bucky the Beaver call all the creative shots on 205Live

[Edited on 1-13-2017 by CCharger]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
According to Meltzer, somebody has pitched an idea to Vince, which was apparently fairly well received, to get Samoa Joe onto the main roster, strap a rocket to his ass, and have him in one of the top matches at Mania. Obviously not something to put a lot of stock into, but it definitely could be a great answer to the "so what does AJ do at Mania?" question.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Rumorz...

* Some rumored names for this year's HOF class include: DDP, Rick Rude, Christian, William Regal, Mike Rotundo, and the Natural Distasters

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash

My only concern with that is that what do they do with him afterwards? The WWE doesn't always do that great with coming up with stuff for guys to do even when it's a planned push, never mind trying to shoehorn him into a WM story... mind you they do have like 3-4 months still to answer that question.

---

It's now rumored that Undertaker-Cena is off for WrestleMania, and Undertaker will not be wrestling for either championship at the show and his opponent is scheduled to be somebody from the Raw brand.

If there's no belt on the line, I welcome Reigns-Taker with open arms. If that's the case, I guess Owens retains at the Rumble and defends against Jericho or a returning Finn Balor?

Credit where it's due, this is the least predictable WrestleMania in recent memory from this timeframe.

quote:

---

Originally posted by salmonjunkie

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Rumorz...

* Some rumored names for this year's HOF class include: DDP, Rick Rude, Christian, William Regal, Mike Rotundo, and the Natural Distasters

---

If Typhoon recreates his Shockmaster entrance for the HOF induction speech, that would be GOLD.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
It's now rumored that Undertaker-Cena is off for WrestleMania, and Undertaker will not be wrestling for either championship at the show and his opponent is scheduled to be somebody from the Raw brand.

If there's no belt on the line, I welcome Reigns-Taker with open arms. If that's the case, I guess Owens retains at the Rumble and defends against Jericho or a returning Finn Balor?

Credit where it's due, this is the least predictable WrestleMania in recent memory from this timeframe.

---

The rumor mill has been awfully quiet on what Reigns is doing for WM. Taker vs Reigns is a possibility but I'm thinking Reigns vs Miz. Miz wins the Rumble and tells Bryan to go fuck himself via jumping brands to challenge for the Universal Title. This isn't the best thing they could do but I feel the paths of those two seem to match (Reigns having burned through all of RAW's heels and Miz still at odds with Bryan with no resolution in sight).

If Cena vs Taker isn't happening I could see them interjecting Joe into Cena vs AJ for a triple threat. Wouldn't be any crazier than Balor's super push and Joe has history with both guys.

quote:

---

Originally posted by G. Jonah Jameson
Even if we don't get John Cena vs. The Undertaker, we're still at least getting Seth Rollins vs. Triple H and Big Show vs. Shaq. So I don't know about least predictable, but the title matches are damn sure the least predictable in years.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
According to Meltzer, somebody has pitched an idea to Vince, which was apparently fairly well received, to get Samoa Joe onto the main roster, strap a rocket to his ass, and have him in one of the top matches at Mania. Obviously not something to put a lot of stock into, but it definitely could be a great answer to the "so what does AJ do at Mania?" question.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
It's now rumored that Undertaker-Cena is off for WrestleMania, and Undertaker will not be wrestling for either championship at the show and his opponent is scheduled to be somebody from the Raw brand.

---

In TNA news, the company has announced the return of one of its true founding fathers, a man sure to restore the company to its former glory...



[Edited on 1-14-2017 by Cherokee Jack]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cherokee Jack
In TNA news, the company has announced the return of one of its true founding fathers, a man sure to restore the company to its former glory...



[Edited on 1-14-2017 by Cherokee Jack]

---

With nobody asking for it, apparently Shane is set for a WM match against somebody from SD. Smart money is on AJ Styles.

As a Styles mark, I'd be happy to see him get one of the top 3 WM matches(which is given when involving a McMahon) but I think Miz would fit a lot better. The feud with Bryan escalates to the point Shane gets involved and unlike Bryan he can get in the ring and decides to put Miz in his place.

[Edited on 1-16-2017 by First 9]

Given how many potential matchup's and how full the card could already be, it kind of makes you wonder what big plan they wanted to run with that maybe fell through leaving them to think they needed a bit more star power/attraction guy like Shane .

It's also being rumoured that they are planning some kind of ladder match at WM... so there's 6-8 spots taken care of if that's true.

I would have thought if they were doing a 6-8 man ladder match, it should be for the CW championship...

I can't think of anyone who could have been in their plans 3 months or so ago that isn't in them now...

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9
With nobody asking for it, apparently Shane is set for a WM match against somebody from SD. Smart money is on AJ Styles.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9
With nobody asking for it, apparently Shane is set for a WM match against somebody from SD. Smart money is on AJ Styles.

---

This SHOULD have been against Brock. Fucking Goldberg fucking shit up.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gobshite

I can't think of anyone who could have been in their plans 3 months or so ago that isn't in them now...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by salmonjunkie
If Typhoon recreates his Shockmaster entrance for the HOF induction speech, that would be GOLD.

---

He also recreated it for Edge and Christian's show. He clearly had a great sense of humor about the incident.

quote:

---

Originally posted by salmonjunkie
He also recreated it for Edge and Christian's show. He clearly had a great sense of humor about the incident.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9
With nobody asking for it, apparently Shane is set for a WM match against somebody from SD. Smart money is on AJ Styles.

As a Styles mark, I'd be happy to see him get one of the top 3 WM matches(which is given when involving a McMahon) but I think Miz would fit a lot better. The feud with Bryan escalates to the point Shane gets involved and unlike Bryan he can get in the ring and decides to put Miz in his place.

[Edited on 1-16-2017 by First 9]

---

If WWE does John Cena vs. The Undertaker for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania, and presuming we get the payoff of the Randy Orton-Bray Wyatt issue there too, that kinda leaves AJ Styles without many options. He's already faced Dean Ambrose a bunch of times, and all the other top names on SmackDown (The Miz, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler) are heels. That gets you down into Kane territory in terms of opponent quality. So I can see how, on paper, Shane McMahon makes sense. Though I also think that match would be a huge waste of Styles, given what he's capable of.

Agreed. Styles should be nowhere but in the World Title picture. I like Shane, but I'd like him not to take up a spot in the WM card that could go to someone else.

While I personally think that they should save the cross-brand interactions/matches for Survivor Series, it's not beyond the WWE to look at setting something up out of maybe the Rumble match for some kind of cross brand one on one match.... have we had a double elimination finish in a while? That could also be a cheat to get you your brand championship challengers as well... it's an idea I wouldn't use but once a decade or longer, and I'd probably want to see the last two guys wrestle for a solid 10 minutes or so before you do the finish- but could be a neat finish.

WWE.com announced that Shane McMahon will kick off the Blue Show with a "HUGE announcement", but were sparse on details:

"WWE.com has learned that Commissioner Shane McMahon will open SmackDown LIVE this week with some very big news. Under the leadership of Shane-O-Mac and General Manager Daniel Bryan, Team Blue has simply thrived. Although we are not sure what he has to say, the announcement will no doubt take SmackDown LIVE to the next level. Is it possible that the man in charge has something up his sleeve for the Royal Rumble? Which Superstar, or Superstars, will the big news concern?"

Some of the rumors floating around the interwebz include something to do with Kurt Angle and Smackdown, Smackdown going to TV-14, and Shane announcing the signing of Samoa Joe to the Smackdown brand.

Who knows?

* Tajiri took a knee injury at a recent NXT show and is on the shelf

* Darren Young apparently took a bad arm injury at the Main Event taping prior to RAW last night where the ref had to put up the dreaded "X" signal

* Randy Orton blew up on a fan at a gym yesterday when the guy asked him for a photo; Orton said no so the guy took a photo of him anyway which set the big lug off on a swear-a-thon tantrum

quote:

---

[

* Randy Orton blew up on a fan at a gym yesterday when the guy asked him for a photo; Orton said no so the guy took a photo of him anyway which set the big lug off on a swear-a-thon tantrum

---

Bag-pooping is his last resort when threatening to throw some of Cowboy Bob's hepatitis blood doesn't work on a more obnoxious than usual fan.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
WWE.com announced that Shane McMahon will kick off the Blue Show with a "HUGE announcement", but were sparse on details:

"WWE.com has learned that Commissioner Shane McMahon will open SmackDown LIVE this week with some very big news. Under the leadership of Shane-O-Mac and General Manager Daniel Bryan, Team Blue has simply thrived. Although we are not sure what he has to say, the announcement will no doubt take SmackDown LIVE to the next level. Is it possible that the man in charge has something up his sleeve for the Royal Rumble? Which Superstar, or Superstars, will the big news concern?"

Some of the rumors floating around the interwebz include something to do with Kurt Angle and Smackdown, Smackdown going to TV-14, and Shane announcing the signing of Samoa Joe to the Smackdown brand.

Who knows?

---

Angle vs. Bryan would have all of WWE's attorneys making shivs and cornering Vince in a bathroom stall.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* Randy Orton blew up on a fan at a gym yesterday when the guy asked him for a photo; Orton said no so the guy took a photo of him anyway which set the big lug off on a swear-a-thon tantrum

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thom
Whenever I see/hear things like this, I almost always ask, "what's the context?"

Was Orton's "no" a flat out refusal? Or was it along the lines of, "not right now - see me after my workout?"

In either case, was the guy a douche about it, or did he just take a pic as he was walking away or something? Was there a flash involved, such that it distracted Orton while working? Also, when exactly did the guy ask Orton for the pic? If someone wanted my pic (not sure why, but if) and interrupted a set of mine? F that. In between sets? Sure, I suppose.

It's entirely possible that Orton was simply being an ass. It's also entirely possible that Orton was being reasonable, but the other guy was an ass. I suppose it's also entirely possible that this story is made up.

---

I'm totally on Orton's side here.

By this guy's own admission, Orton didn't agree to a photo, he just gave the dude a fist bump. Unless you're at a meet-and-greet session or Orton stated that he'd take a picture with the guy, just leave the man alone. I know that when I go to the gym, the last thing that I want is for someone to come bothering me while I'm doing my sets (the exception being if they just ask how many sets I have left to do).

Lance Storm also weighed in on this:

Orton threw up some typical Orton comments on twitter to the jist of the guy being a whiney bitch; one of his followers made a joke about how he better take a pic with him when she see's him and his response was basically wait until I'm done then it's cool.

I know the gym I went to has massively strict rules about taking pictures inside the gym and that if caught it would be grounds for immediate membership termination, so the thing that would be funny to see come out of this would be for the guy to get booted from the gym... I mean also from the gym's POV having a bunch of celebrities pop into your gym on a regular circuit (assuming he's been there before and other talent follows suit) is probably better for business than some clown invading their privacy.

I absolutely love it when Orton goes full retard. Back in the day I used to do on field security for the Cubs in spring training so I saw really close up how some fans (i.e. overgrown manchildren) act when a celebrity won't sign their autograph, so I definitely know where Orton is coming from. Still, the epic Twitter rant was lightyears past unnecessary.

That said it was funny.

Lance Storm looks old...

Sigh...

Good heavens, Canadians really love their Tim Horton's. What's so good about it?

Apparently they put heroin in the cream they use for the coffee.

* Kevin Nash says he's donating his brain and spinal cord post-mortem to the CTE research center for concussion research:

quote:

---

�Chris Nowinski started the program, and I�ve had several concussions throughout my life and had scans done and stuff and knew that somewhere down the line, I�ve already had short-term memory problems. I decided to go ahead. The only way you can diagnose this is after you�re dead.�

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot

* Kevin Nash says he's donating his brain and spinal cord post-mortem to the CTE research center for concussion research:

quote:

---

�Chris Nowinski started the program, and I�ve had several concussions throughout my life and had scans done and stuff and knew that somewhere down the line, I�ve already had short-term memory problems. I decided to go ahead. The only way you can diagnose this is after you�re dead.�

---

---

I thought the same thing. Between Nash, Hall, and Waltman how can they tell which cells were destroyed by chair shots to the head vs the ones destroyed by all the booze/railing a couple of year's worth of the Bolivian national economy up their nostrils?

quote:

---

Originally posted by bopol
Good heavens, Canadians really love their Tim Horton's. What's so good about it?

---

The few times I've been to a Tim's it's been for breakfast. They've got one of the better breakfast sandwiches in fast food land.

Their potato wedges are pure tooth-shattering over-cooked garbage though. Avoid them at all costs. They don't warn you that a lot of the buns they use are way too crunchy. i.e. rock hard. Agree that the Timbits, especially the chocolate ones, are a piece of heaven though.

Timbits are tiny little bite-sized AWESOME.

Tim Horton's is very overrated. They used to bake everything fresh on site, but now all that their bakers do is take stuff out of freezers and stick it in ovens. Everything is made in some factory in Newmarket or Markham or some place like that.

And I wouldn't be surprised if there was nicotine in the coffee back in the day. Before municipal bylaws and then provincial laws were passed to ban smoking in restaurants, I bet everything had nicotine in it. If you ever walked into a Tim Horton's in the 1980s and spent 5 minutes in there ordering a box of Timbits, you would have breathed in enough second hand smoke to take a decade off your live. Tim's was essentially one gigantic ashtray 20+ years ago.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
The World was essentially one gigantic ashtray 20+ years ago.

---

Go Team Wawa!

quote:

---

Originally posted by DKBroiler
Go Team Wawa!

---

America runs on Dunkin

quote:

---

Originally posted by merc
America runs on Dunkin

---

America runs on sugar.

This is more "speculation" than "rumor", but WWE.com had a brief video bit asking Superstars who they'd like to see pop up in the Royal Rumble this year. Seth Rollins' response was "Kenny Omega". That video is now no longer available and the link leads to a video of Lita's retirement. So, while it could be nothing, the video being up and then not being up anymore gets you thinking.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DKBroiler
America runs on sugar.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by DKBroiler
America runs on sugar.

---

* lolwut?

http://viewcomic.com/wwe-001-2017/

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* lolwut?

http://viewcomic.com/wwe-001-2017/

---

My only quibble with this is that they didn't give Shawn Michaels his lazy eye.

Also, WWN is reporting that Vince's top priority is finding the best way to work Roman Reigns into a title match at Mania. According to them the situation is very fluid and suggestions for a title match include:

Reigns vs. Taker
Reigns vs. Lesnar vs. Goldberg
Reigns vs. Strowman
Reigns vs. Lesnar

Either way, the rumor suggests that Vince is all in on re-booting Reigns's major push.

[Edited on 1-20-2017 by CCharger]

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Ch-ch-charger

Either way, the rumor suggests that Vince is all in on re-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOting Reigns's major stool push inside us.

---

Fantasty booking:

Reigns pins Goldberg in a triple threat with Lesnar to win the title. Boos fill the stadium. Goldberg and Lesnar look at each other and then team up on Reigns and kick his ass to the biggest pop in Wrestlemania history.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Fantasty booking:

Reigns pins Goldberg in a triple threat with Lesnar to win the title. Boos fill the stadium. Goldberg and Lesnar look at each other and then team up on Reigns and kick his ass to the biggest pop in Wrestlemania history.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
My only quibble with this is that they didn't give Shawn Michaels his lazy eye.

Also, WWN is reporting that Vince's top priority is finding the best way to work Roman Reigns into a title match at Mania. According to them the situation is very fluid and suggestions for a title match include:

Reigns vs. Taker
Reigns vs. Lesnar vs. Goldberg
Reigns vs. Strowman
Reigns vs. Lesnar

Either way, the rumor suggests that Vince is all in on re-booting Reigns's major push.

[Edited on 1-20-2017 by CCharger]

---

It Goldberg and Lesnar could/would work a full time schedule, that could be one hell of an old school heel ass kicking team right there

So a followup on the video where Seth Rollins made his pick for a surprise Rumble entrant as Kenny Omega on WWE.com and where it was taken down within hours: it's back up, just with no Rollins anymore. Speculation. enhance!

quote:

---

Originally posted by nOOb
So a followup on the video where Seth Rollins made his pick for a surprise Rumble entrant as Kenny Omega on WWE.com and where it was taken down within hours: it's back up, just with no Rollins anymore. Speculation. enhance!

---

Kenny Omega making a surprise debut in the Rumble would go over like a fart in church IMO.

It's not because the guy is bad. It's that he isn't really well known in this country, and certainly not among WWE fans. I mean there are guys on this site - hardcore wrestling fans - who aren't familiar with his work.

He's not AJ Styles who fans knew, and the WWE Universe would collectively turn to each other and ask, "Who's that guy?"

I think we've gotten to that point now where, unless they're coming from NXT or were a part of WWE previously, most people won't know who indy guys are. Like, I think the only four people in the indies that people might recognize if they were to show up directly in WWE and bypassing NXT would be Abyss, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, and Kazarian. And I'd re-emphasize "might" because it would be dependent on people remembering TNA in a year. Heck, the only reason I'm aware of the name "Kenny Omega" is because people here think he's good and this story exists. I'd have no idea who he was if I were to see him without someone telling me who he was.

quote:

---

Originally posted by nOOb
I think we've gotten to that point now where, unless they're coming from NXT or were a part of WWE previously, most people won't know who indy guys are. Like, I think the only four people in the indies that people might recognize if they were to show up directly in WWE and bypassing NXT would be Abyss, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, and Kazarian. And I'd re-emphasize "might" because it would be dependent on people remembering TNA in a year. Heck, the only reason I'm aware of the name "Kenny Omega" is because people here think he's good and this story exists. I'd have no idea who he was if I were to see him without someone telling me who he was.

---

And it's not like he's debuting in the middle of the year at some random PPV. While the Rumble won't have as many smarks as a Mania weekend, they've built it up to be the 2nd or 3rd biggest wrestling weekend of the year which means a larger percentage of the crowd for the entire weekend will know who Omega is. While he might not get the pop of a Styles last year, if everything is timed right, it could be a damn good reaction.

Basically the perfect situation would have been if AJ was in the Rumble and had quieted the ring down so he was the only guy standing as Omega's entrance started as a nod to Omega taking over New Japan's Bullet Club from AJ. I guess you could do it if Finn is returning as well since they also had added history as juniors on both the singles and tag side.

Also, its 2017, I think the smart wrestling fan is a larger percentage of the audience than most people give credit for. The casual fan are the ones who go to house shows, might tune into or go to a live Raw/Smackdown now and then, could possibly have the network, but they're not shelling out the money needed to go to a big 3/4 PPV.

I'd like to see Omega in the Rumble ... in 2018.

Win or lose there is no reason not to have the spotlight directly upon Samoa Joe this year. Let Omega carry NXT for the next 1-2 years which, by the way, is an honor these days.

With no build up and the Rumble being used to introduce some NXT guys Kenny Omega would get lost in the crowd. Oh - is that one of the 205s?

quote:

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Originally posted by DevilSoprano
And it's not like he's debuting in the middle of the year at some random PPV. While the Rumble won't have as many smarks as a Mania weekend, they've built it up to be the 2nd or 3rd biggest wrestling weekend of the year which means a larger percentage of the crowd for the entire weekend will know who Omega is. While he might not get the pop of a Styles last year, if everything is timed right, it could be a damn good reaction.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by G-Spot

quote:

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Originally posted by nOOb
I think we've gotten to that point now where, unless they're coming from NXT or were a part of WWE previously, most people won't know who indy guys are. Like, I think the only four people in the indies that people might recognize if they were to show up directly in WWE and bypassing NXT would be Abyss, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, and Kazarian. And I'd re-emphasize "might" because it would be dependent on people remembering TNA in a year. Heck, the only reason I'm aware of the name "Kenny Omega" is because people here think he's good and this story exists. I'd have no idea who he was if I were to see him without someone telling me who he was.

---

But if....and this is a BIG 'but if...' the WWE ~was~ planning on bringing Omega in, they way they've been "introducing" him to their audience is actually great in this day and age!

---

Omega's a lot more charismatic than the 205'ers are so he shouldn't suffer the same fate of audience indifference when he arrives. Then again so are Nakamura, Joe, Roode, and Aries. No reason not to have Kenny do NXT for a year or so to familiarize him more to the audience in the same way those other veterans have had to. It's not a minor-league punishment to be in NXT, not when it's such fun to watch and when the crowd is free to show their appreciation free of the big-circus Vince & Bukukky nonsense that consumes way too much of the time on RAW and SD.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Omega's a lot more charismatic than the 205'ers are so he shouldn't suffer the same fate of audience indifference when he arrives.

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quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
I'd like to see Omega in the Rumble ... in 2018.

Win or lose there is no reason not to have the spotlight directly upon Samoa Joe this year. Let Omega carry NXT for the next 1-2 years which, by the way, is an honor these days.

---

Chris Jericho sort of casually announced on his podcast last week, that he signed a new contract with WWE. Not sure how long/short said contract is...but he also ran through what he has planned for Fozzy this year and what was NOT on that list, was a tour.

So I am wondering if Chris ends up staying through the majority of 2017 (he did say he had some new songs to record for Fozzy and some "Hollywood projects" this year, so he very well still could take a hiatus), and if so, would it make sense to give him a run with the Universal Title?

I think he has earned a run at the top of RAW, considering how he is constantly re-inventing himself and continues to get things over (including a clipboard). Plus, it would TRULY give him all the titles.

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by Sam Is Neat]

I didn't listen to the podcast, but the post I had read about it sounded more like it was an extension to carry him through Wrestlemania with an option of some future stuff, so I don't think a full 2017 run is in the cards... shame, as I agree 100% with you that a final title reign would be a nice cap on one of the all time greats careers.

Why would NJPW leave themselves open for another round of poaching? They must be promising Omega the world if they risked letting his contract run out.

AJ debuted in Orlando after being the signature guy of an Orland promotion that drew more than a third of the viewers WWE gets and the glass ceiling was temporarily a lot thinner with both Cena and Orton out. Kenny Omega is awesome but he won't reach AJ's level(at the same speed) without all the benefits AJ had.

* Per Cageside Seats:

"Linda McMahon�s Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for today, and President Trump�s nominee to head the Small Business Administration is expected to be grilled about how WWE consolidated the territories, wrestler�s status as independent contractors and more."

* Also, Kurt Angle has cancelled all his indie bookings next weekend - Royal Rumble weekend. Let the speculation begin!

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by CCharger]

This one is worth watching. Not worth watching/reading: any news coverage of it that is going to be so chock full of wrestling-isms it will make eyes and ears bleed.

"Blah blah smackdown blah blah body slam blah blah attempted pin blah blah kick out blah blah finisher blah 1-2-3".

quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
* Per Cageside Seats:

"Linda McMahon�s Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for today, and President Trump�s nominee to head the Small Business Administration is expected to be grilled about how WWE consolidated the territories, wrestler�s status as independent contractors and more."

* Also, Kurt Angle has cancelled all his indie bookings next weekend - Royal Rumble weekend. Let the speculation begin!

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by CCharger]

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Sam Is Neat

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Per Cageside Seats:

"Linda McMahon�s Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for today, and President Trump�s nominee to head the Small Business Administration is expected to be grilled about how WWE consolidated the territories, wrestler�s status as independent contractors and more."

* Also, Kurt Angle has cancelled all his indie bookings next weekend - Royal Rumble weekend. Let the speculation begin!

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by CCharger]

---

She should roll in there in her wheelchair, pretending to be in that coma of hers, again. Just completely no sell all the questions and then right at the end, get up and kick someone square in the nuts.

---

Just tell the truth that the old territories were run by a bunch of pedophiles, drug dealers, and dirty old closeted gay men that gave out jobs in exchange for sex, and that as chequered as he is as a businessman Vince McMahon is actually running the industry cleaner than any did before (or after) he became the biggest boss in the biz.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Just tell the truth that the old territories were run by a bunch of pedophiles, drug dealers, and dirty old closeted gay men that gave out jobs in exchange for sex, and that as chequered as he is as a businessman Vince McMahon is actually running the industry cleaner than any did before (or after) he became the biggest boss in the biz.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Just tell the truth that the old territories were run by a bunch of pedophiles, drug dealers, and dirty old closeted gay men that gave out jobs in exchange for sex, and that as chequered as he is as a businessman Vince McMahon is actually running the industry cleaner than any did before (or after) he became the biggest boss in the biz.

---

Well, Dixie could always say "hey, we're not actually paying any of these guys... technically you gotta get paid to be employed right?" Win for TNA by virtue of their many losses!

Meh, I'm sure the senate would just say "TN-who?"

* If you're wondering why Smackdown Live has better storylines and booking than RAM, the answer might be that the head writer is now Road Dogg. Vince is experimenting with having a wrestling insider, rather than a Hollywood guy, book the show to see if that will improve ratings overall for the company.

* WWE will display a statue of Ric Flair at Wrestlemania Axxess this year. Most likely, it will be made out of $100 bills, dried scotch, and gallons of encrusted semen.

quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Just tell the truth that the old territories were run by a bunch of pedophiles, drug dealers, and dirty old closeted gay men that gave out jobs in exchange for sex, and that as chequered as he is as a businessman Vince McMahon is actually running the industry cleaner than any did before (or after) he became the biggest boss in the biz.

---

....Truth is a strange and crazy thing. I mean, this IS basically true, for all we complain about Vince et al... it really DID used to be worse. ...What am I talking about "did"? Dixie did a lot of shady things, though I hope none of them as shady as the aforementioned.

Merc's good ol' days are kinda scary.

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by Count Zero]

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quote:

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Originally posted by merc

Merc's good ol' days are kinda scary.

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by Count Zero]

---

Some "News"....

*It is not expected that either Styles and Owens will be carrying their titles into Wrestlemania; it is likely one will drop their title at the Rumble and tie up their rematch at the respective final PPV between now and WM (be it EC for SD, or Fast Lane for Raw) and the other will probably drop their title at the next PPV.

*Orton vs Wyatt and Reigns vs Taker are the tentatively planned title matches, with Rollins v. HHH, Goldberg v Lesnar, Big Show v Shaq, and Owens vs Jericho rounding out the card. Orton is rumoured to be your RR winner.

*Styles vs Shane and Samoa Joe v Cena are also rumoured.

*Reigns recently gave an interview where he was asked if he would like to turn heel- his response was a no, stating that as a heel you just get booed, whereas where he is now with the mixed response there is a lot more noise. He also said that he thinks the Shield is in the top five of wrestling groups all time list largely because they did it as unknowns, and that he thought they were split up too soon as they probably had a good face run in them.

*There is said to be some heat on Sami Zayn and that this past weeks backstage spot with Rollins and Reigns was done to set him up as a major geek.

_____

Wrestlemania looks like it's very much still in play with really only the Goldberg/Lesnar match etched in stone. Odds are after Sunday night we will have a much better idea of where they are going with the WM card but I think they have a couple of potential problems on their hands in that some of their top emerging stars are on the outside looking in for the Rumble leaving a short list of possible winners that's long on guys that will probably leave the fans frustrated and a rumble that's now what... the 3rd, or 4th in a row that has left a bad taste in everyone's mouths? I think they need to have a winning rumble; one that measures up against past fan favourites even if it doesn't fit the WWE "plan"... I also think that it would probably be a good idea to ride one of Owens or Styles into Wrestlemania as champ.. kind of throw a bone to the wrestling fans... Reigns vs Taker is a legit big match that the title would ad to (especially is Reigns were full heel), but at this stage I think Orton vs Bray is more of an opening match... a good one, but one that I think the title would weigh down some.

If they are going for Joe vs Cena then I think having Joe cost Cena the title and do a bit of a beat down would be a good way to d�but him... although if Cena wins and you hold off Joe for Fastlane and then either have him cost Cena the title back to Styles, or in a much worse idea blow off a legitimately great feud with a stupid DQ finish (yup, it's WWE, that's the way they'll do it) and maybe go with a triple threat at WM between Joe, Styles, and Cena... sure it will generate about a billion dumb texts from Dixie, but that would genuinely be a great match and the title component would be good too.

-According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there has been a doctrine in recent weeks to keep the cruiserweight matches on Raw much shorter. It may be to poor quarter hour ratings, but that has not been confirmed. This Monday�s Swann vs. Dar match was around five-minutes long, and most of that took place during the commercial break.

I wonder why they failed, hmm? Let's just cut more of their time. Really let people know they don't matter.

quote:

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Originally posted by Flash

*Orton vs Wyatt and Reigns vs Taker are the tentatively planned title matches, with Rollins v. HHH, Goldberg v Lesnar, Big Show v Shaq, and Owens vs Jericho rounding out the card. Orton is rumoured to be your RR winner.

---

Reigns vs Taker sounds like pairing up the spares. Also if all the part timers are tied up then Cena vs Joe is probably happening. What else is there for Cena to do?

I haven't watched this week's SD yet but, oddly, when watching last week's I did think, "They really have been jobbing Orton out a lot lately. It's almost like when someone loses for a month straight before winning the Money in the Bank briefcase ... wait ... fuck me ... Orton's gonna win the Rumble."

[Edited on 1-26-2017 by DKBroiler]

Wouldn't Wyatt as RR winner and Orton as Champion work better?

I think generally having your face go in and in theory capture the title fits the mold of a big story better generally, but I think in this case for as tired as I am of Wyatt's gibberish promos that ultimate go nowhere I think him winning the RR hits a few beats a lot better:

*Orton taking the title at WM is kinda meh... Orton is not the top guy he once was, and even then an Orton title win never really set the world on fire (at least for good reasons)... even if Orton were to lose at WM it wouldn't have any kind of magnitude.

*Wyatt winning would be good for the Rumble; he's an up and comer, gets positive responses, and for once in his career it would feel like he actually did something that would back up his rants.

*Wyatt winning the title at WM (as champ, not the rumble winner) would be another building block and would help to solidify him as the top heel on SD and he could go on to face any number of guys that would be fresher matchup's higher up the card. His winning the title in the EC is nowhere near as good of a launch pad, and would be weaker.. it would almost become expected he retains against Orton at WM, as otherwise he's a one pump chump.

*Orton winning the RR feels like the rumble would be branded another fail for the 3rd or 4th year in a row.

I'm not a Wyatt fan largely because I think he's all talk, and that the WWE could have done a lot more with him and the Family gimmick (You could have brought in various jobbers as family members from time to time... make them like a true compound of followers, but still have the dedicated core of 4-5 guys... also the whole kidnapping and apparently just driving people to city limits and dropping them off thing was weak)... I honestly don't have a better rumble winner off the top of my head, but I can get behind Bray winning.

If they do decide to go with Styles vs. Shane, my MAJOR problem with it (which was also my problem with Shane-UT in HIaC) is that this guy in his late 40's (I think? Or older?) who will be wrestling his second match of the past 10+ years, is going to go toe-to-toe with one of the greatest wrestlers in the world and we're supposed to believe he can hang with him. It's just stupid. I guess if nothing else, it gives Styles the "I wrestled a McMahon" rub but I'd really rather see him go against someone else.

Shane SHOULD be fighting Brock. You know - the end of Summer Slam and immediate aftermath.... that.

With Brock's dance card punched with Goldberg, Shane COULD be fighting Miz as the blow-off to the Miz/Daniel Bryan thingie. In the DB can't wrestle but picks proxy scenario, Shane is worst case as good as anyone else, and storyline probably better. At least they are the 2 authority figures on the show. And there's the added "Miz being really cocky about it since Shane isn't even a full time wrestler" part.

But hey - I like continuity-y things.

Has anyone heard anything on Hideo Itami? I know he had a neck injury back in October, but a quick google search gives me nothing new other than that he may be out for "months".

So, unless anyone has updated news, I am going to start the rumor that he is dead.

He tweeted "I am ready" about 10 days ago, so expect him back in NXT soon...

Interesting tidbit:

* The entire NXT roster will be backstage at the Rumble. Two reasons for this. One, they want the newbies to experience a big PPV backstage so they are familiar with what goes on. Two, they want everyone to be available to be an entrant for the Rumble, even at the last minute.

* Also, Vince was furious over Goldberg's promo this past Monday describing it as a "debacle". Vince has reportedly been critical of Goldberg's mic work since his first stint with the company. That may be the last time you see Goldberg on the mic for quite a while.

[Edited on 1-27-2017 by CCharger]

Not a rumor in the slightest, I just wanted some high traffic eyeballs to say the OO Pick 'em comp is beginning this weekend with the Rumble. The matches are listed, feel free to play. I hope I can keep up with all the PPV/Network specials this year.

http://www.oowrestling.com/OOForums/viewthread.php?tid=31682

With regards to the NXT crew being at the rumble:

The main benefit here is that they can debut whoever they want (i.e. roode, Shinshule, Dillinger) and then being in the building from 2pm isn't a spoiler.

I'd be amazed if they didn't already have the rumble mapped out to the minute. They know who's in it already.

All I want to know is will Shelton Benjamin and Carlito be in the general Texas area this Rumble or not?!

If Tye Dillenger makes his debut at the Rumble, he needs to be entry No. 10.

quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
* Also, Vince was furious over Goldberg's promo this past Monday describing it as a "debacle". Vince has reportedly been critical of Goldberg's mic work since his first stint with the company. That may be the last time you see Goldberg on the mic for quite a while.

---

quote:

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Posted by williamssl
With Brock's dance card punched with Goldberg, Shane COULD be fighting Miz as the blow-off to the Miz/Daniel Bryan thingie. In the DB can't wrestle but picks proxy scenario, Shane is worst case as good as anyone else, and storyline probably better. At least they are the 2 authority figures on the show. And there's the added "Miz being really cocky about it since Shane isn't even a full time wrestler" part.

---

quote:

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Posted by Chris is Good
In regards to Hideo Itami, I believe he was cleared last week. They may as well go ahead and bring him to the main roster because I don't know what there really is for him to do in NXT.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
Here's a fun rumor: Rey Mysterio's contract with Lucha Underground is said to be done and there's speculation that he's been asked to appear in the Rumble. Don't know if that's true, but WWE would be smart to use Rey to legitimize the cruiserweight division.

---

If they get Rey on a part-time basis just having a WM match putting over Neville would do them wonders.

So Kevin Owens is now the betting favourite to win the Universal title match.

Maybe this sets up Baylor vs Owens for the title, leaving Jericho open to actually defend the US title in a ladder match so guys like Sami, Rusev, and Cesaro have something to do.

* the following matches will be appearing on the Rumble pre-show:

- Nia vs Sasha
- six-women tag team match for SD (Alexa/Mickie/Nattie vs Becky/Naomi/Nikki)
- Cesaro/Sheamus vs Anderson/Gallows

I can see outting the women's matches on the pre-show. Nia/Sasha is barely started as a feud and the new rivalries on SD are just beginning, plus there's a SD-centric PPV coming up quickly where they can feature them with more time. Kind of lame to have the RAW TT champs on the pre-show though, especially considering how entertaining Cesaro & Sheamus have been lately and also that they've been squaring up against Anderson/Gallows off and on for a few months now. That entrance C & S have is one of the best things on RAW in recent months, as well as the "yay! and "boo!" from the crowd for them after their matches. Kind of a bummer to see it relegated to the part of the show where half the audience isn't even in their seats yet.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* the following matches will be appearing on the Rumble pre-show:

- Nia vs Sasha
- six-women tag team match for SD (Alexa/Mickie/Nattie vs Becky/Naomi/Nikki)
- Cesaro/Sheamus vs Anderson/Gallows

I can see outting the women's matches on the pre-show. Nia/Sasha is barely started as a feud and the new rivalries on SD are just beginning, plus there's a SD-centric PPV coming up quickly where they can feature them with more time. Kind of lame to have the RAW TT champs on the pre-show though, especially considering how entertaining Cesaro & Sheamus have been lately and also that they've been squaring up against Anderson/Gallows off and on for a few months now. That entrance C & S have is one of the best things on RAW in recent months, as well as the "yay! and "boo!" from the crowd for them after their matches. Kind of a bummer to see it relegated to the part of the show where half the audience isn't even in their seats yet.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod
Part of that could also be that both Sheamus and Cesaro are going to be part of the Rumble match itself later on - putting them on early gives them time to recuperate before they go out there. Hell, I've seen speculation of them being #1 and 2 to start the thing off.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
* If you're wondering why Smackdown Live has better storylines and booking than RAM, the answer might be that the head writer is now Road Dogg. Vince is experimenting with having a wrestling insider, rather than a Hollywood guy, book the show to see if that will improve ratings overall for the company.

* WWE will display a statue of Ric Flair at Wrestlemania Axxess this year. Most likely, it will be made out of $100 bills, dried scotch, and gallons of encrusted semen.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
Here's a fun rumor: Rey Mysterio's contract with Lucha Underground is said to be done and there's speculation that he's been asked to appear in the Rumble. Don't know if that's true, but WWE would be smart to use Rey to legitimize the cruiserweight division.

---

I would love it if Rey entered but got 'mistaken' by the announcers and crowd as Kalisto.


"Here comes Kalisto again. What's he doing? He already got eliminated!"

"That's not Kalisto, that's Rey Mysterio - Rey's back!"

"How do we know that's not Kalisto again? {comment about Trump's wall goes here}"

JBL obviously gets lines 1 and 3 in this one.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* If you're wondering why Smackdown Live has better storylines and booking than RAM, the answer might be that the head writer is now Road Dogg. Vince is experimenting with having a wrestling insider, rather than a Hollywood guy, book the show to see if that will improve ratings overall for the company.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by bopol

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* If you're wondering why Smackdown Live has better storylines and booking than RAM, the answer might be that the head writer is now Road Dogg. Vince is experimenting with having a wrestling insider, rather than a Hollywood guy, book the show to see if that will improve ratings overall for the company.

---

It's funny because I never thought of Road Dogg as a great wrestling mind (of course, great wrestling family) based on his shoot interviews.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Sam Is Neat

quote:

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Originally posted by bopol

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* If you're wondering why Smackdown Live has better storylines and booking than RAM, the answer might be that the head writer is now Road Dogg. Vince is experimenting with having a wrestling insider, rather than a Hollywood guy, book the show to see if that will improve ratings overall for the company.

---

It's funny because I never thought of Road Dogg as a great wrestling mind (of course, great wrestling family) based on his shoot interviews.

---

I mean..he DID get over using two moves and a catchphrase.

Sounds pretty smart to me.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by bopol

quote:

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Originally posted by Sam Is Neat
I mean..he DID get over using two moves and a catchphrase.

Sounds pretty smart to me.

---

Sure, but apply that to the entire roster and it's doesn't make for 3 hours of good TV.

---

Road dogg should have been given one of the announcing spots, as the gift of gab is his real strength... In saying that; if they were to loosen the strings on over-scripting promo's that would be a step in the right direction, and that's where RD could help a lot maybe. As far as booking goes, all the major stories and finishes are all going to come through Vince, so whomever is booking it's like booking through a paint by numbers scheme... Look at even that Rumble from a few years ago where it was said that Jamie Noble booked it- sure maybe he got to say that a Cesaro eliminated Mark Henry (or pick any other at the time a rung above jobber wrestlers), but that isn't what made or broke that Rumble.

Finally. Glad they are actually using an actual wrestling mind. They had some past great bookers in Patterson, Paul E., Cornette etc. It has been horrible the last decade and a half or so since they have been using those Hollywood Writer Monkeys. Hopefully this return to actual wrestling minds will continue.

I have been watching older footage. The build up to the first encounter between Warrior and Hogan in the Rumble was fantastic booking by Patterson. Something we have not seen in quite some time.

One thing I have seen on Smackdown (and Raw, actually), is that the IC and U.S titles are being defended in the main event of the programs. They have, essentially, become the flagship titles for their respective brands, while the World/Universal titles are held for special events, which I am fine with.

I think it helps build the credibility of the secondary titles and make the prestige of being the world universal champion of the galaxy, something greater than it was before.

This has nothing to do with anything else so to loop it back around...I give Road Dogg credit for that...I guess.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DKBroiler
I haven't watched this week's SD yet but, oddly, when watching last week's I did think, "They really have been jobbing Orton out a lot lately. It's almost like when someone loses for a month straight before winning the Money in the Bank briefcase ... wait ... fuck me ... Orton's gonna win the Rumble."

[Edited on 1-26-2017 by DKBroiler]

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Thank you for reminding me who I need to find...to hunt....

quote:

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Originally posted by williamssl
Thank you for reminding me who I need to find...to hunt....

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by salmonjunkie
If Tye Dillenger makes his debut at the Rumble, he needs to be entry No. 10.

---

This fantasy booking made 2 weeks ago also predicted Tye Dillinger and would have been far better to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zml05VinDVk

http://411mania.com/wrestling/john-cena-may-not-have-big-match-at-wrestlemania-33/

quote:

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During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio (via wrestlinginc.com), Dave Meltzer said that John Cena�s match at Wrestlemania 33 �wouldn�t be celebrated� and that it�s �not necessarily good news� for Cena. Samoa Joe is no longer a possible opponent for Cena since he is involved in the Triple H/Seth Rollins angle, leaving Cena to face someone like Dolph Ziggler or Baron Corbin, according to sources.

---

If that's true about Cena, then it feels like a bit of a waste- the guy has what... 20-30 matches left in his career (let's assume he does a couple mini-runs with TV matches here or there)... maybe far less than that? If you've got him even part time leading up to Mania then use him well, and don't just throw him out there... The guy is massively over with his long time segment, and even amongst the smarks his stock has probably never been higher.

I'm not saying Cena needs to close out the show, but all due respect to Ziggler he's gone from a rising star, to a held down guy fans rallied behind, to now almost written off... not saying he's not over, but the list of guys who Ziggler used in the fans eyes is deep now, and people have likely accepted that he isn't going to ever be a top guy (other than maybe occasional 1 month fill in spots). Corbin... I haven't watched weekly TV in a bit so I might not be as current with him, but the vibe I get from him at PPV's is he's just now starting to develop something... that should be a mid-card title chase at this stage, not a legend like Cena.

Honestly at this stage I'd be up for Styles and Cena having a final match... maybe Styles recaptures his title at EC which sets the stage for Cena to break Flair's record at WM... big stakes for an epic feud... I'd have Styles retain; but even just the tease of Cena breaking the title record would be a lot of juice added to maybe the feud of the year (well, mania to mania year anyway).... If you are going with Cena vs AJ, then I would close the show with it.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash
If you are going with Cena vs AJ, then I would close the show with it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash
If you are going with Cena vs AJ, then I would close the show with it.

---

All signs point to Golberg vs. Lesnar for the title closing the show.

---

You would think they wouldn't chance Goldberg versus Lesnar closing out the show; I mean here's your most likely options...

1)Brock squashes Goldberg, nothing is resolved.

2)Goldberg squashes Brock... then retires, fans feel a bit cheated both by shortness of the match, and the cock tease the WWE has done 3 times by this point.

3)They have an actual match.... not exactly Goldberg's strength, and you close out the show with an okay match; the only thing in doubt will be will if Goldberg get gassed before Brock hits 10 suplexes or not. Depending on how the night goes in terms of passing the fans off, you would also allow more time for the crowd to see if they can top the WM 20 crowd for shitting on Brock and Goldberg.

I think the thing with WM- any show for that matter, but extra important with your biggest show- is that you want to both start and finish strong- Those two could very safely have a nice spot third, or second last from the top.

You have to have that "Wrestlemania Moment".

Like Heyman turning on Brock allowing Goldberg to win. Something along the lines of Rollins cashing in on Reigns. A big, shock so that people don't remember the match as much as they remember the moment.

Like last year when it ended with Reigns holding his newly-won title high.

How are they going to conclude this Goldberg/Brock feud? Brock finally wins via a schmozz? It does not make sense for Goldberg to go over again. Initially, I enjoyed the true shock factor of Goldberg going over (despite loathing Goldbrick). But it feels like a waste at this point since I expect Goldberg to pretty much just leave after Mania and not really put over anyone else.

Maybe Goldberg being the only one Lesnar can't beat is Brock's "punishment" for the failed drug test at UFC. Yeah, it had nothing to do with WWE but they still get some tarnish on them by association, especially when they're suspending and firing other performers when they fail the same kind of tests. It means nothing in a world of acting but at the same time it puts an end to the mystique of "The Beast".

And if they do keep going with Berg > Bork, they could eventually play it out with Bork's future opponents watching the Borkberg matches in the attempt to figure out 'the secret' of beating Bork Lazor.

"I know I'm not Bill Goldberg... But maybe if I do some of the things he did, I might have a chance to defeat the Borkbeast!"

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Maybe Goldberg being the only one Lesnar can't beat is Brock's "punishment" for the failed drug test at UFC. Yeah, it had nothing to do with WWE but they still get some tarnish on them by association, especially when they're suspending and firing other performers when they fail the same kind of tests. It means nothing in a world of acting but at the same time it puts an end to the mystique of "The Beast".

---

Brock's made it pretty clear that he doesn't give a big shit about winning and losing in WWE because he knows the difference between real fighting and fake fighting.

The main thing I've gotten out of this feud is my wife's enjoyment: she loathes Brock and, while she doesn't care about Goldberg one way or another, seeing Lesnar repeatedly humiliated has given her more joy from wrestling than almost anything in recent memory.

* Sgt. Slaughter was on my local sports radio program this morning promoting Wrestlemania. During the segment, he was asked which match at Wrestlemania he was most excited for. He said Goldberg/Lesnar and then he said....Orton/Cena. He then kind of paused and added, "I think those are the only two announced so far." Now, this may have been him assuming that Orton would face Cena since Cena is champ and Orton won the Rumble, but it didn't come across that way. It seemed like Slaugher inadvertently dropped a spoiler, which if true, would confirm that Cena's opponent at Mania would be a "disappointment".

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Sgt. Slaughter was on my local sports radio program this morning promoting Wrestlemania. During the segment, he was asked which match at Wrestlemania he was most excited for. He said Goldberg/Lesnar and then he said....Orton/Cena. He then kind of paused and added, "I think those are the only two announced so far." Now, this may have been him assuming that Orton would face Cena since Cena is champ and Orton won the Rumble, but it didn't come across that way. It seemed like Slaugher inadvertently dropped a spoiler, which if true, would confirm that Cena's opponent at Mania would be a "disappointment".

---

The rags are saying Seth Rollins reinjured his knee during Samoa Joe's attack on RAW.

Work or not? And if not, can we start calling Joe careless in the ring?

If it's real then that means Joe debuted in NXT by nearly killing Tyson Kidd and now he moved up to the main roster to fuck up Rollins. That is some shitty luck.

[Edited on 2-1-2017 by First 9]

PWInsider reporting that he is indeed down in Birmingham, so sounds legit. Hopefully he doesn't have to miss (much) time this time around...would be really shitty to have to miss two Wrestlemanias in a row due to injury.

As far as Joe goes, if Rollins DOES have to go on the shelf, do they use this to push him right out of the gate as this dangerous killer? Or does Vince immediately sour on him and he's the third Uso within a few months?

I heard he blew out his ACL again.

Boo.

Joe's playing it like kayfabe so who knows at this point.

https://twitter.com/SamoaJoe/status/826818114289545218

In hindsight it seems odd that Rollins missed the Rumble. Previously whenever someone lost a spot in a major PPV due to going up against Mr. McMahon or The Authority they'd write it so they got in somehow or the other, like winning a handicap match or foiling a crooked referee or something like that. They did this all the time with Stone Cold. Just when you thought he was down and out he pulled off a miracle and was back in the thick of things. Ditto with other guys, multiple times, like Cena or Daniel Bryan. Yet Rollins was off of the Rumble thanks to losing to Sami Zayn the previous week and that was that, with nothing about it mentioned again except for his pop-up at NXT to piss off Hunter? At this stage, if the injury is real, he could have been legit injured beforehand, aggravated it during the Zayn match, and they're using the Joe attack as a way to get him on the shelf. Just a thought, because anyone losing a spot on a PPV usually puts themselves through just about anything to get it back.

[Edited on 2/1/2017 by Paddlefoot]

You guys be the judge, but this seems to be the moment that Seth re-injures his knee.

https://twitter.com/DeadByElbow/status/826822377145147392/photo/1

EDIT: Seth posted this on his Twitter. Its legit.

https://twitter.com/WWERollins/status/826832819074789376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[Edited on 2-1-2017 by anglefan85]

There's a chance this is could be a minor tweak and doctors will clear him for Mania.

Silver lining, this could finally give Seth some babyface fire after HHH made him look like a weasly bitch(saying he's always there so Seth didn't have to go far to find him) and make him find a better finisher.

I thought KO vs Joe should have been the title match at Mania before Seth got hurt. Now? If Baylor is healthy I'd have Hunter screw over KO at Fastlane and do Trips vs KO and Baylor vs Joe for the title.

You can even have KO lose to Trips but cost Joe the title later on to have a crowd pleasing title win at Mania.

WWE.com is playing it up like a story for what it's worth- not that that means anything as they've gone into spin mode in the past.

Man, reading some of the comments on Seth's, and Joe's twitter feeds it just gets nasty... ranging from Joe being bad in the ring, to wishing it was Reigns instead... even Tyson Kidd jumps in, and it's not in defense of Joe either.

What did Tyson Kidd say exactly? I was looking forward to a Joe/Rollins program. It sucks to see Rollins get injured again as he was gaining momentum and heading into another Mania. Also sucks for Joe being the accidental cause of another injury upon a debut.

The rumors I heard were that they were thinking of shipping Joe off to Smackdown to have a Mania program with Cena. Or Haitch and Joe have a falling out and have a match at Mania.

Owens is finally getting the chance to go one-on-one with Brock Lesnar. But it is for a house show at MSG on March 13th. It would be nice of the company to air it on the Network!

It wasn't like he buried him, but more indicted by omission... someone kind of popped in to Joe's defense and said he read an interview where Kidd said the botch was his own fault as he didn't tuck his head- Kidd jumped in and said something to the effect that he definitely DID NOT say that. The guy with the misquote apologized, and Kidd tweeted back no problem.

Just my take, but generally these guys tend to protect one another on twitter- I think for Kidd to correct a misquote while offering no defense of Joe probably suggests that there are some hard feelings.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Joe's playing it like kayfabe so who knows at this point.

https://twitter.com/SamoaJoe/status/826818114289545218

In hindsight it seems odd that Rollins missed the Rumble. Previously whenever someone lost a spot in a major PPV due to going up against Mr. McMahon or The Authority they'd write it so they got in somehow or the other, like winning a handicap match or foiling a crooked referee or something like that. They did this all the time with Stone Cold. Just when you thought he was down and out he pulled off a miracle and was back in the thick of things. Ditto with other guys, multiple times, like Cena or Daniel Bryan. Yet Rollins was off of the Rumble thanks to losing to Sami Zayn the previous week and that was that, with nothing about it mentioned again except for his pop-up at NXT to piss off Hunter? At this stage, if the injury is real, he could have been legit injured beforehand, aggravated it during the Zayn match, and they're using the Joe attack as a way to get him on the shelf. Just a thought, because anyone losing a spot on a PPV usually puts themselves through just about anything to get it back.

[Edited on 2/1/2017 by Paddlefoot]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash
WWE.com is playing it up like a story for what it's worth- not that that means anything as they've gone into spin mode in the past.

Man, reading some of the comments on Seth's, and Joe's twitter feeds it just gets nasty... ranging from Joe being bad in the ring, to wishing it was Reigns instead... even Tyson Kidd jumps in, and it's not in defense of Joe either.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash
It wasn't like he buried him, but more indicted by omission... someone kind of popped in to Joe's defense and said he read an interview where Kidd said the botch was his own fault as he didn't tuck his head- Kidd jumped in and said something to the effect that he definitely DID NOT say that. The guy with the misquote apologized, and Kidd tweeted back no problem.

Just my take, but generally these guys tend to protect one another on twitter- I think for Kidd to correct a misquote while offering no defense of Joe probably suggests that there are some hard feelings.

---

I've looked for the Kidd tweets and all I find for a Tyson Kidd Twitter account is a bunch of unverified fakes.

They were under the TJWilson handle; it wasn't on his twitter (although I guess it would show up there too... I don't really do twitter) but if you go through one of the links someone poster about Joe's in character response I think I saw them in there where you get all of the chatter attached to various tweets.

Twitter also being what it is, they might have been also taken down as well too.

ETA: Yup, taken down- I can see the other guys original tweet, but Kidd's are gone now.

[Edited on 2-1-2017 by Flash]

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
all I find for a Tyson Kidd Twitter account is a bunch of unverified fakes.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matte

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
all I find for a Tyson Kidd Twitter account is a bunch of unverified fakes.

---

Here ya go.

https://twitter.com/TJWilson

---

I read this and threw up a little:

quote:

---

-- One of the rumors going around backstage is that at WrestleMania 33, John Cena willl team up with Nikki Bella to take on The Miz and Maryse. This is not confirmed by any means but is something that has been discussed or at the very least, someone has thrown out there.

---

* Meltzer (hah!) is saying that the diagnosis for Rollins is a torn MCL on the previously injured knee and that he'll be out for eight weeks; this leaves him a bit of a window to return for Mania if the surgery and rehab go without any further problems

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* Meltzer (hah!)

---

He's right like maybe 30% of the time and only that much because he hedges everything. So people who take him and the Observer as gospel make him out to be this all-knowing Nostradamus when he's actually very inconsistent. Also, he has personal grudges against wrestlers and/or companies and it bleeds through into his "news."

There's a Smackdown house show in NY at MSG on 3/12 that has the following being advertised:

1) Cena vs Wyatt for the WWE championship
2) "Special Attraction" Universal championship match between Owens and Lesnar


blah blah blah card subject to change

This is after Fastlane (Goldberg vs. Owens for championship), so read into it what you will.

I'm going to make a bold prediction and say that Cena will carry the belt into Mania and defend it against Orton.

Looks like Becky and Mickie have taken their feud to twitter:

Are we sure your "stable" isn't just a shed with three giant mirrors outside? @MickieJames pic.twitter.com/8vxiGGNstt

— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) February 1, 2017

Like I said the other thread... Twitter is the new kayfabe. Until it isn't, but even when they're being "honest on twitter" they're still trying to work the marks. SO SMART!!!!!!!!!


ETANEWSRUMORCRAP: WON is reporting the go-ahead has been tentatively given to the WWE Asian Championship Tournament, and potential participants have been told they WILL NOT be able to accept bookings from Other Promotions in the USA/Japan/And I Forget The Third. Apparently, the issue of external bookings became a semi-nuisance during the UK Tourney, so they are nipping that in the bud. Wait... Am I allowed to say "nipping" if Asian athletes are involved?

[Edited on 2-3-2017 by Count Zero]

It's only real if Becky starts making Arby's references.

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl
It's only real if Becky starts making Arby's references.

---

*Dirt sheetz are reporting that despite the possiblity of Rollins being healthy by Mania, they are going to play it safe and keep him off the show. HHH is "deadset" on having a match at Mania and plans are now to have Samoa Joe turn on HHH to set up a match between the two at that showand book it as "The Creator vs. The Destroyer".

I acknowledge the possibility that this suggestion may cause me to be found and/or hunted, but if we have to have a Triple H match at Wrestlemania, and we have to have a Shane McMahon match at Wrestlemania, can we just have them face each other, and have it be over in like 10 minutes? That seems like a fairly economical use of both guys. And for HHH's sake, of course, that 10 minutes does not include his entrance.

You can continue to run free in the wild.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
*Dirt sheetz are reporting that despite the possiblity of Rollins being healthy by Mania, they are going to play it safe and keep him off the show. HHH is "deadset" on having a match at Mania and plans are now to have Samoa Joe turn on HHH to set up a match between the two at that showand book it as "The Creator vs. The Destroyer".

---

Ugh, HHH sucks as a face and Joe just debuted by crippling a top face. This doesn't sound good.

If Joe is gonna kill HHH, I am completely and entirely on Joe's Side -- no matter what his 'alignment' in the feud is.

I could get behind Shane vs HHH as a throw away one off match- I mean yeah they have some time to build something between HHH and someone else if they are dead set on him having a match, but it won't be as organic as Seth filling that spot would have been. Shane and HHH could easily play up the brand warfare, and be segmented to a quasi-entertainment style match.

quote:

---

Originally posted by the goon
EDIT: Not relevant to anything at all, but I just learned from Randy Orton's interview on ESPN that he has five kids. When the fuck did that happen?

[Edited on 2-3-2017 by the goon]

---

I think the problem with turning Joe face is that you then kill the possibility of a returning Rollins seeking revenge on the guy who put him out of action. Unless they bring Rollins back as a heel which really may not be a bad idea given how horribly they've botched his face run.

Why not do both?

Have heel Joe turn on heel HHH. Make Joe a bad ass tweener who is willing to destroy ANYONE. You can have him kayfabe injure a couple of other guys. He becomes a complete loose cannon that even StepHHH can't control. A dangerous man whose existence is "bad for business". Maybe even HHH will put him over at Mania (hahaha) and then Rollins returns to get revenge and put an end to the scourge of the "Destroyer".

That makes Joe look awesomely strong, and sets up a really intriguing match against Rollins down the road.

I'm with CCharger. It would be easy to have Joe turn on HHH and still have a program with a face Rollins when he returns. Joe could still always act like a heel (or tweener - face Joe and heel Joe haven't been that different from each other, in the past if I recall), but he'd definitely be cheered in a match vs HHH regardless of what he does leading up to the match.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Why not do both?

Have heel Joe turn on heel HHH. Make Joe a bad ass tweener who is willing to destroy ANYONE. You can have him kayfabe injure a couple of other guys. He becomes a complete loose cannon that even StepHHH can't control. A dangerous man whose existence is "bad for business". Maybe even HHH will put him over at Mania (hahaha) and then Rollins returns to get revenge and put an end to the scourge of the "Destroyer".

That makes Joe look awesomely strong, and sets up a really intriguing match against Rollins down the road.

---

Joe doesn't even have to turn on Triple H. He could just refuse to do some other hit job that Triple H wants him to do and say that he only punked out Rollins so that he wouldn't have to toil away in the obscurity of NXT any longer. He could say that he has one goal, which is to become the Universal Champion (because he wants to make big money in the main event, maybe?), then Triple H gets his payback for Joe being subservient, and then Joe vows to kill him. Joe's character doesn't change at all, but he's now in the face role in this feud. As soon as their match is over, Joe fucks up some other wrestler who is a face because he thinks that wrestler stands is blocking him from getting a match for the Universal Champion. In this case, his character doesn't change, his motivation remains the same, but he's immediately back to being in the heel role.

[Edited on 2-3-2017 by Slade]

You have to go back to WM 27 for the last time HHH lost an odd-numbered WM. Since then he's been win the odds, lose the evens.

Implication: HHH pins Samoa Joe at WM33.

[Edited on 2-3-2017 by williamssl]

He's still 8-11 at Wrestlemania. I like those odds.

And I think Triple H acknowledges that, at this point in his career, beating Samoa Joe at Wrestlemania would do him (HHH) more harm than good.

Seems all moot at this stage because the dirtsheets (hah!) seem confident that they're going to build up to HHH vs Shane anyway. Which is what they'd have to do to re-cast Hunter as a full heel, putting him up against a definite fan-fave in Shane, considering the crowd pops he's been getting since he won the Rumble last year just because everyone desperately wanted him to fuck over Reigns.

Because we all totally want a StepHHH/Shane feud to be front and center as one of the major WM storylines. We've missed it since the brand split, even if we are reluctant to admit it. Deep down, we have.

We're fans. This is the life we chose.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Seems all moot at this stage because the dirtsheets (hah!) seem confident that they're going to build up to HHH vs Shane anyway. Which is what they'd have to do to re-cast Hunter as a full heel, putting him up against a definite fan-fave in Shane, considering the crowd pops he's been getting since he won the Rumble last year just because everyone desperately wanted him to fuck over Reigns.

---

Depends. There's a lot to be said for Joe on RAW, like mixing it up with Owens, Zayn, Balor, and then murdering Reigns.

But if they shift him to Smackdown, he could do an IC Title program for Mania against Ambrose.

nothing to see. Move along. Post count +1

[Edited on 2-4-2017 by williamssl]

Shouldn't all this wrestlemania-babble be in, y'know.... that specially-designated WM babble-thread?

I hate to keep being 'that guy', but it's getting hard to keep track of what discussions are where.

The WM thread was a good idea, but a maybe touch too soon... it will probably start picking up some steam in the next few weeks, and I do believe Rick has in the past even made that the OOfficial WM thread.

Some news...

*Goldberg seems set on milking a bit more out of his renewed relevance as post-WM he is off to the UK for a non-WWE bit of business: "You're Next: An Evening with Bill Goldberg"... topics may include; how to have a 173-0 win streak without cracking a hundred matches in your career, cattle prods and why they suck, smashing windows hurt, and the splendid many uses of the word "ass".

*We'll just get this one out of the way; Orton was on Talking Smack recently where he said that when it comes to his pending WM match with Cena he had this to say; "I think that whether the fans know it or not, they want to see that again." He also did some other media over the weekend where he also referenced facing Cena at WM.... So now it's just not a match we've already seen before, it's a match we've secretly been clamouring for.... again.

So just how many times have Cena and Orton fought one another?

I found this: http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2014/10/16/cena-vs-orton-the-numbers/

It's from 2014, which to the best of my memory was the last time the two squared off in a meaningful way, but basically the numbers breaks own like this:

315 total matches... this number represents stuff all the way back to OVW and house shows, and can included everything from one on one bouts, to multi-man tag or singles matches.

120 one on one matches; including house shows and OVW.

84 TV and PPV matches, again, not just one on one matches.

20 PPV's and TV where they have faced one another in singles matches (21 maybe if you count the 2014 match this blurb was profiling). Cena has come out ahead 12-7 (8 if you count the 2014 match), and the biggest stretch where we didn't get any Cena or Orton was 2011-2013 where they only faced one another 1 time, but 2009 was their peak year with 5 matches.

Some context though in case you think the WWE is pushing this down our throats... Cena and Orton accumulated those numbers over 10 plus years, by comparison Bret and Owen Hart squared off in some shape or another between 1994 and 1997 an astounding 106 times! Hogan and Savage racked up 92 encounters in their time in the WWF together, and for a maybe more comparable career long feud Sting and Flair met 111 times between the NWA and WCW.

So while a lot can, and is likely to change between now and WM, contrary to what Randy is putting out there him facing Cena is not a match we want to see again.

I'm just not sure what else you'd expect from an interview segment, though. It's like he's going to be like "God, isn't that a stale feud?!?" or "We have kinda bad chemistry together, right?". Kayfabe-wise, he's heading towards facing Cena right now and, in theory, his job is to promote Wrestlemania. It may be what we get just because I find it hard to believe that Cena's just a transitional champ for his record-setting reign - they could have just as easily had AJ drop the belt in the Chamber if that's what they wanted to do.

Nah, I get it... Orton's got to go out there and put the best spin on it he can, I just wish that the WWE didn't paint him into that corner, or at the least give him a bit more to work with.

I mean let's say the story they want to tell is going to be Cena versus Orton at WM- you'd have to imagine they know that there is going to be a sizeable segment of their viewership that this isn't going to excite. Couple this with while the WWE may not ultimately be beholden to fans rampant expectations and fantasy booking, they should be doing their best to manage that along the way... IE bring stuff back to reality as often as possible so the story doesn't start in a hole before you tell it... even if you are going to change it up to say Bray versus Orton at WM, why put Cena versus Orton out there as an idea to get at least partially shat upon and yourself in a position where you need to win your fans over instead of them already being on board. The WWE could have, and should have teased the idea of which champion is Orton going to face... a few clips of dialogue keeps everyone guessing instead of focused on are we going to get a match we've already seen 21 times? Even if the plan was/is always going to be throwing those two out there again together putting some heat on the match first would better serve them... instead you have Orton talking up a match that may, or may not happen, and why the WWE would want to lead with this again... all before the two ever lock up... that's not hype building, it's hole digging.

My brain is a bit sleep deprived at the moment so I hope the above makes sense, but I liken some of the WWE's moves to being a lot like the UFC's handling of CM Punk... let's send him out there to do a tonne of media but with nothing to say, literally no answers about anything UFC related at all, and at a time when there are still a lot of questions about him wrestling again.

Well, Orton also recently said this--

quote:

---

Randy Orton recently said, in somewhat different words, that the Super Bowl doesn�t compare to WrestleMania. Orton spoke with NBC Washington following an appearance at the Washington Auto Show and talked about playing a heel and more. When asked to compare the Super Bowl to WrestleMania as the grandest stages in the NFL and WWE, Orton said,

�Wrestlemania is the Super Bowl of wrestling. Royal Rumble is getting in�winning the Royal Rumble is getting into the Super Bowl of wrestling. Screw the Super Bowl, we�re talking about Wrestlemania. Super Bowl ain�t got shit on Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania is the biggest show on earth, the greatest show on earth, and I feel like everyone knows that.�

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by punkerhardcore
The Super Bowl last night had an incredibly exciting final half/ending... whereas last year's Mania was a five hour fucking snoozefest with a shit ending.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash
The WM thread was a good idea, but a maybe touch too soon... it will probably start picking up some steam in the next few weeks, and I do believe Rick has in the past even made that the OOfficial WM thread.
.

---

Looks like The Rock may have saved Paige's WWE career. He and his production company are making a movie about Paige and her family. He is even partnering with WWE Films to make it:

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0207/623006/the-rock-partnering-with-wwe-studios-for-new-movie-on-paige-and/

* Both Cageside Seats and Meltzer are reporting that Wrestlemania could be Nikki Bella's last match. The report is that she has tried to work a full time schedule with her neck injury, but it has gotten too much. She will reportedly sign a new deal that would allow her extensive time off, but allow her to work a few high profile events a year if her neck feels better.

* Meltzer is also reporting that "Seth is considered good for Wrestlemania" and Rollins vs. HHH "is on"



[Edited on 2-8-2017 by CCharger]

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
Looks like The Rock may have saved Paige's WWE career. He and his production company are making a movie about Paige and her family. He is even partnering with WWE Films to make it:

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0207/623006/the-rock-partnering-with-wwe-studios-for-new-movie-on-paige-and/

---

What do you mean we might have lost Janerd? Hope all is well.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash
What do you mean we might have lost Janerd? Hope all is well.

---

I hope he's mostly okay.. I don't "know" anything, but reading between the lines in some of his posts, I suspect that he's sometimes really busy with family-related things. I hope whatever it is passes, cuz he does bring a certain ja-nerd-say-queer (did I just misspell je-ne-sais-quoi? tsk. my french teachers would be so disappointed) to this place.

In news, "Tall & Bland" Donovan Dijak is apparently done with ROH. He tweeted some video thing, and is on the next EVOLVE card, or something. My phone informed me of this. It's providing me with lots of news and rumorz. You guys are being 'scooped' by a smartphone. Step up y'alls game!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flash

What do you mean we might have lost Janerd? Hope all is well.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matte

Have we checked for him inside his own asshole?

---

Hopefully Janny isn't going the way of Lucky. Sometimes his posts almost give me seizures, but I do like him and value his contributions.

I told him not to take anything in the News thread too seriously but I think some of what got said in there in recent months was bothering him.

Austin Aries is said to be cleared to wrestle, and is allegedly tentatively penciled in to challenge Neville at WrestleMania

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
I told him not to take anything in the News thread too seriously but I think some of what got said in there in recent months was bothering him.

---

I put an email through to the guy and I hope he replies.

In other missing OOster news, merc hasn't been seen in these parts in a couple weeks either.

.

[Edited on 2/9/2017 by Paddlefoot]

quote:

---

Originally posted by GodEatGod

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
I told him not to take anything in the News thread too seriously but I think some of what got said in there in recent months was bothering him.

---

I hope not. I know I was one of the people who said some nasty shit to him down there, but I thought we'd mostly made peace, far as I could tell. Certainly no hard feelings on my end.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Our news section country is more reactionary and angry than it should be.

---

Yeah, it's a bad moment in time everywhere right now. Seems worse these days than it was even when things started going tits up in Iraq about 10-odd years ago. A lot more genuine despair is hanging over everything, even where events aren't justifying such a collective feeling.

[Edited on 2/9/2017 by Paddlefoot]

I'm pretty sure I was with you in that anti-Israel thread. It's hard to be Jewish and not get triggered by that sort of thing, even if I do see the other side, and sometimes even agree with it.

Anyway, I like both Janny and Merc. I hope they come back.

[Edited on 2-10-2017 by denverpunk]

For what it's worth�since this is now a janerd remembrance thread�he was logged on as recently as a few hours ago; so while he's not posting, he's at least checking in which would imply he's more ok than not.

Maybe he's biding his time before he posts a long awaited super-mega gif storm.

[Edited on 2-10-2017 by salmonjunkie]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot

quote:

---

Originally posted by GodEatGod

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
I told him not to take anything in the News thread too seriously but I think some of what got said in there in recent months was bothering him.

---

I hope not. I know I was one of the people who said some nasty shit to him down there, but I thought we'd mostly made peace, far as I could tell. Certainly no hard feelings on my end.

---

Our news section is more reactionary and angry than it should be. I nearly got punted out of here myself back when I first started for dissenting in some anti-Israel thread. Learned the hard way to not get too wound up about the news and walk softly because there are too many minefields to be set off in there.

---

merc was closing in on 126 years old. How long should we have expected him to hang on, really?

We need a Jan-Signal. It could illuminate the sky with a 1000 foot dildo. The Merc signal is tougher ... how do you project Viagra and not confuse Janerd? Tough questions than need answers.

Maybe merc hung himself after the first half?

* Jeff Jarrett is reportedly in total control of TNA creatively and has brought in his own guys to fill out the creative team.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Jeff Jarrett is reportedly in total control of TNA creatively and has brought in his own guys to fill out the creative team.

---

Never learn, TNA. Never learn.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Jeff Jarrett is reportedly in total control of TNA creatively and has brought in his own guys to fill out the creative team.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CamstunPWG187
Never learn, TNA. Never learn.

---

Jarrett's certainly not the -worst- person TNA's had in charge. And now that he's (mostly) retired from the ring, we shouldn't have to worry about him booking himself to the title.

Right?

RIGHT?!?!?

Speaking of TNA/GFW...what the fuck happened to Magnus/Nick Aldis? He was one of the top guys in TNA, then defected to GFW and immediately won their title and then....nothing. Even his wikipedia page ends in 2015. I remember three or four years ago thinking he was a guy Vince would be drooling over. Did he get injured or incarcerated?

According to the Twitters he's participating in something called the Pro Wrestling World Cup this March

https://twitter.com/prowresworldcup/status/829652749683929089

I thought for sure he'd be on WWE's radar, especially now that Mickie James is back with the company.

quote:

---

Originally posted by punker
I thought for sure he'd be on WWE's radar, especially now that Mickie James is back with the company.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frank Lloyd Wright

quote:

---

Originally posted by punker
I thought for sure he'd be on WWE's radar, especially now that Mickie James is back with the company.

---

And deny John Cena of his side piece?.....no way!

---

* RIP Chavo Classic

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0211/623139/chavo-guerrero-sr-passes-away/

Bill Simmons and WWE are producing an Andre the Giant documentary for HBO.



No estimated date, at least as far as I could tell. Looking forward to it.

Road Warrior Animal went on a racist Twitter tirade about a Grammy award performance...

He tweeted...

quote:

---

�Once again Rappers ruin the Grammys with that stupid song with words like resist and no one can tell you what to do. Having people of color Muslim and Mexican come on stage, are you that stupid and can not see that where all the drugs are coming from the southern borders or all the Radical Islamic that promote death to America? Really well legends it�s your relative using those drugs ir getting killed by terrorists then you will get it. Insulting performance!�

---

quote:

---

"After reading what my post last night on the Grammys I see that I misspoken and I am embarrassed. What I wrote is not what I was trying to get across.

I should always do spellcheck on the manner in which I send my messages and I don�t for that, I am sorry , I was stupid. What I wrote by no means reflects how I actually feel, I am not a racist or a bigot or think things happen in certain parts of the country and they don�t happen anywhere else.

I am a realist I should�ve should�ve chosen my words more wisely for that I apologize. I feel horrible for hurting anyones feelings.

I have nothing against people of color, I have nothing against people of Muslim faith, I have nothing against people of Mexico, I have nothing against anybody. I was just making a statement about a song that I did not like that�s all.

I should�ve double checked my post. I should�ve checked my grammar and should have made certain aim what I was trying to say would come across that way. I made a simple mistake and regret it. I wrote it like a run on sentence.

I know it looks like I�m saying these people of certain backgrounds do certain things and I by no means feel that way, so if I offended anyone I apologize.

I should know better, you know we all at one time or another get thought in our heads that we want to put in print that when we think it sounds like what we want to say is coming out and after we read it we go omg, that�s what I did this morning.

It was a mistake I love and respect everyone I could care less if a persons origin or his or her beliefs as long as we all respect each other that�s all that matters.

Once again I apologize."

---

Yeah, spelling and grammar are the problems.

I won't go into the long, boring story of why, but Animal is a Facebook friend of mine. This story about him doesn't surprise me. His feed is full of right-wing memes and fake news.

Rosa Mendes has announced her retirement:

http://www.wwe.com/article/rosa-mendes-announces-her-retirement

Somewhere, Pyro weeps.

Time for small businesses to start dying in their sleep in hotel rooms. https://t.co/V5HwzL4Vfx

— Piss Potus Jeb Lund (@Mobute) February 14, 2017

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot

Time for small businesses to start dying in their sleep in hotel rooms. https://t.co/V5HwzL4Vfx

— Piss Potus Jeb Lund (@Mobute) February 14, 2017

, Jeb. That's cold.

---

Fuck Animal.

* Cena is not currently booked to win his 17th title at Wrestlemania. On the contrary, Wrestlemania will likely be his last high profile appearance for the company until the summer as he has requested some time off.

* The Emmalina thing was scrapped at the last minute due to some poor rehearsals on the part of Emma. The WWE was going to turn her into a "Sable" type of character, but Emma apparently couldn't pull it off. WWE officials believed that Emma wasn't committed enough to the character change and there is heat on her as a result.

As I enter my final days, proud of the Father Son Brother Football player Pro WrestlerThe Super Heavy Big Man Goat Im Grateful for the Time

— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) February 14, 2017

Don't you even think about leaving us, Vader!!

quote:

---

Originally posted by anglefan85
Don't you even think about leaving us, Vader!!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

* The Emmalina thing was scrapped at the last minute due to some poor rehearsals on the part of Emma. The WWE was going to turn her into a "Sable" type of character, but Emma apparently couldn't pull it off. WWE officials believed that Emma wasn't committed enough to the character change and there is heat on her as a result.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

* The Emmalina thing was scrapped at the last minute due to some poor rehearsals on the part of Emma. The WWE was going to turn her into a "Sable" type of character, but Emma apparently couldn't pull it off. WWE officials believed that Emma wasn't committed enough to the character change and there is heat on her as a result.

---

If her delivery on TV was an example of how she wasn't pulling it off, I believe it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* The Emmalina thing was scrapped at the last minute due to some poor rehearsals on the part of Emma.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matte

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* The Emmalina thing was scrapped at the last minute due to some poor rehearsals on the part of Emma.

---

So they had the character idea for at least 17 weeks, but didn't have Emma rehearse it until what, the final two or three? Creative should get the heat for their poor time management on this one, if true.

---

Cue the C.M. Punk chants again. Samoa Joe, while talking about how he a Punk are still friends and chat often, was asked if they would ever meet in a WWE match....
"It's funny, the thing about wrestling is that nothing is ever impossible, so you never know. You might see us united back in the ring someday."
He was then asked if it would be soon, and he grinned and said, "We'll see."

Mick Foley was on Lilian Garcia's podcast and told a story of Vince McMahon yelling at Braun Strowman backstage...
�I was about to go out there a couple weeks ago and I heard Braun Strowman say, 'I want a title shot.' Mr. McMahon�s behind the curtain at the board watching the monitor and he goes, 'Oh god, it�s not a title shot!' I was thinking to myself, then what is it? That�s exactly what I would call it when I would go out there. You want a title shot? He�s like, 'It�s a title match!! It�s a match!!' So if you ever wonder what it�s like to see a six-foot-eight, three hundred pound behemoth get chewed out, you should�ve been there!�



[Edited on 2-16-2017 by G-Spot]

quote:

---

Originally posted by lz4005
I have to wonder if the people who came up with the gimmick had ever met her or heard her speak. She's a goofball. Beautiful, smart and good in the ring, but a total goofball. That's why her first character worked so well. It was her.

I liked the mirror sunglasses heel-Emma, it was a really good look at least. Didn't see enough of her in the ring that way to know if it would work, but it was way better than trying to make her into a Kardashian.

---

Nia could actually be the better talker of the two of them though. I can't recall Emma ever doing a promo that was even remotely memorable. I don't doubt that she's been deeply dis-served by this terrible gimmick that ended up as pure wrestlecrap. Why they hell they'd do this, aside from it being another one of Vince & Bukukky's insane ideas of what "makes good TV", to someone who hasn't ever shown the chops at all to be able to elevate a personality change of this type is baffling. This is like a Maestro or The Artist Formerly Known As Prince Iaukea moment that WWE just tried to run with and it probably put an end to Emma's career.

I don't know about Nia being the better talker. She's got the same problem Bobby Lashley had/has. The body and the voice don't really mesh very well. Emma was saddled with Santino when she was 'goofy', and then didn't get to talk much as Evil-Aviator. If they just let her be herself, maybe it'd work.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero
Shiesel (that's like Diesel, only with a she)

---

quote:

---

Emma was saddled with Santino when she was 'goofy', and then didn't get to talk much as Evil-Aviator. If they just let her be herself, maybe it'd work.

---

Apparently, WWE is going to allow Kurt Angle to wrestle. He just has to pass the physical:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/kurt-angle-to-do-some-wrestling-for-wwe/

Here we go...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cherokee Jack
think the problem is that, as someone else pointed out, her original character *is* herself. And it worked wonderfully in NXT. But when she got called up, they didn't tell you anything about who she was. Santino pulled her out of the crowd one night and it was just "here's Emma, a girl from NXT who does a silly dance," then they gave her a pink cobra and she really was just the female Santino from that point on.

---

IN the latest installment of LOLTNA, In order to air the Hardy's match vs. Psychosis & Super Crazy from CRASH in Meixco on tonight's IMPACT, they have to blur out the REFEREE because he is under contract to Lucha Underground and they sent a cease and desist order:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/referee-to-be-censored-on-tonights-impact/

That's right everyone. For the first time in the history of this business, the referee has to be blurred out of a match and you can only see it on IMPACT!. Meet the new boss of LOLTNA. Same as the old boss of LOLTNA.




[Edited on 2-16-2017 by royberto]

That's crazy. Granted TNA should be aware of contract statuses of everyone they have in the ring for a televised match, but at the same time, it's the referee! Who even notices the referee? Now, everyone will bc he's a big blur.

I don't know why LU would bother sending a cease and desist order for that. Unless it's just a really lame attempt to get people to google "why was the referee blurred out of the Hardy's Mexico match?" and get linked back to him being a part of LU. But if not that, what are they really protecting?

They're probably protecting for precedent. Like, if they allow the referee to be on another show while he's on contract, what's to stop other talent from being allowed to be on another wrestling show despite what obligations and limitations are on that talent's contract.

If it's not the referee, it could be TNA using footage from another organization of a wrestler that is currently on LU. Like, say Johnny Mundo wrestled for a Mexican or Japanese organization against TNA talent, and TNA aired that footage. If LU wants to do a C&S; in that case, TNA can say they have no leg to stand on because of the referee in this match.

Makes sense. If I were TNA I would have worked it out if they didn't know beforehand. Referees are supposed to fade into the background of a match. This is going to stick out badly having a giant blur running around in the background (unless Matt Hardy gives some funny excuse as to why the ref is blurred).

There already is precedent: when they brought back Hernandez a year or two back as part of the BDC and filmed their usual several months of material, then later found out that he was under contract to LU (which he apparently hadn't told TNA about).

After his first appearance on TV, LU sent a C&D;, TNA immediately let Hernandez go and attempted to reach some settlement with LU to use the footage they'd already shot. LU wouldn't budge, and TNA had to scrap the whole story, which pretty much was the end of the run for all of the guys involved.

Yeah, I knew about that and that makes sense. I was just figuring it might be different between a wrestler and a referee (bc many people don't notice the ref) but Salmonjunkie made a good point.

That is fucking hilarious, and actually makes me want to watch TNA tonight because of it.

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
IN the latest installment of LOLTNA, In order to air the Hardy's match vs. Psychosis & Super Crazy from CRASH in Meixco on tonight's IMPACT, they have to blur out the REFEREE because he is under contract to Lucha Underground and they sent a cease and desist order:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/referee-to-be-censored-on-tonights-impact/

That's right everyone. For the first time in the history of this business, the referee has to be blurred out of a match and you can only see it on IMPACT!. Meet the new boss of LOLTNA. Same as the old boss of LOLTNA.




[Edited on 2-16-2017 by royberto]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by punkerhardcore
That is fucking hilarious, and actually makes me want to watch TNA tonight because of it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
IN the latest installment of LOLTNA, In order to air the Hardy's match vs. Psychosis & Super Crazy from CRASH in Meixco on tonight's IMPACT, they have to blur out the REFEREE because he is under contract to Lucha Underground and they sent a cease and desist order:

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cherokee Jack
There already is precedent: when they brought back Hernandez a year or two back as part of the BDC and filmed their usual several months of material, then later found out that he was under contract to LU (which he apparently hadn't told TNA about).

---

In other newsy rumorzzzzzzzz:

WWE officials are considering a Wyatt Family Triple Threat for the WWE title at WrestleMania.

AJ Styles being forced to compete in next week�s #1 contender battle royal will be part of the build to his match with Shane McMahon at Mania.





Regarding the first one....I guess the frustrating-yet-I-guess-I-shouldn't-be-surprised part about this is.....shouldn't they know what they're going to do at WM by now and be on the road to the build??? I get the "injuries happen and force scrambling and plan changing" element a la potential Rollins match and ripple effect coming from it. But this one???

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matte

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
IN the latest installment of LOLTNA, In order to air the Hardy's match vs. Psychosis & Super Crazy from CRASH in Meixco on tonight's IMPACT, they have to blur out the REFEREE because he is under contract to Lucha Underground and they sent a cease and desist order:

---

For those interested:

...

Not as bad as you'd think it would be, really. Great editing.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matte

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
IN the latest installment of LOLTNA, In order to air the Hardy's match vs. Psychosis & Super Crazy from CRASH in Meixco on tonight's IMPACT, they have to blur out the REFEREE because he is under contract to Lucha Underground and they sent a cease and desist order:

---

For those interested:

[video]


Not as bad as you'd think it would be, really. Great editing.

---

Honestly, I'd watch more TNA if they blurred out everything.

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl
In other newsy rumorzzzzzzzz:

WWE officials are considering a Wyatt Family Triple Threat for the WWE title at WrestleMania.

Regarding the first one....I guess the frustrating-yet-I-guess-I-shouldn't-be-surprised part about this is.....shouldn't they know what they're going to do at WM by now and be on the road to the build??? I get the "injuries happen and force scrambling and plan changing" element a la potential Rollins match and ripple effect coming from it. But this one???

---

My post and are about this:

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl
WWE officials are considering a Wyatt Family Triple Threat for the WWE title at WrestleMania.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
Having someone else win the match and somehow interjecting themselves into the Wyatt Family Feud makes no sense at all.

---

Keep in mind that Erick Rowan is healthy and his return is imminent.

William,

And I said, "I don't see how you could blame WWE for not knowing what it is doing," after which I explained why I thought WWE knows what it is doing, which in turn would imply that it isn't considering anything - it knows what it is doing and is telling a story to get to where it wants to go. The evidence certainly suggests that a clear plan is place. I don't for a second think that WWE is still trying to figure out what it is doing with the Wyatt Family.

Sal,

I think putting Luke Harper in a WWE Championship match a Wrestlemania is not such a far-fetched idea as I think it is highly unlikely that the WWE Championship match is the main event. Chances are Goldberg will be in the main event, whether he wins the Universal Championship or not (and there's a pretty good chance that he will). If the WWE Championship match was going on last, Harper definitely wouldn't be added into the match as a third competitor. However, Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt is pretty weak as far as Wrestlemania main events go, so I can't see it closing out the show. Especially not with Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar on the bill.

[Edited on 2-17-2017 by Slade]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
Chances are Goldberg will be in the main event, whether he wins the Universal Championship or not (and there's a pretty good chance that he will).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Keep in mind that Erick Rowan is healthy and his return is imminent.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by salmonjunkie

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Keep in mind that Erick Rowan is healthy and his return is imminent.

---

It's in the back of my mind, but he's not nearly the talent that Harper, Orton, or Wyatt is, and won't be in the title match. If he gets inserted in to this story, it'll be as a supporting character. He might come in to be a big surprise, but it'll be a big surprise that'll help Wyatt, Orton, or Harper stay/become champion.

---

I wouldn't be surprised if Rowan doesn't get written into the story. I think it is as likely that he stays off TV until Wrestlemania, and maybe even after it, than it is that he gets involved in the Wyatt Family Feud.

I would suggest Orton may be heading over to RAW, he can challenge for any title after all..

Here are some fun (funny?) rumorz:

* They only put the Smackdown title on Naomi so she could go to Wrestlemania as champ because she is from Orlando.

* Expect a monster push on Baron Corbin including a run as IC champ as he is apparently Vince's new man crush

* Vince wants both Strowman and Reigns to look strong coming out of Fastlane so it's possible we'll some kind of screwy finish or post-match angle for that match

* It is likely that Kurt Angle's return to a WWE ring will be against Rusev

* The entire McMahon Family were invited to the White House following Linda's confirmation. Here's a photo:


Stone Cold Steve Austin has given the stunner to nearly half of the people in that photo including the President of the United States of America.

RE: Wyatt Drama

Just wondering how or if Brown Strongpants fits into it. I could envision a scenario where the Raw championship match is actually a 6 pack challenge at Wrestlemania. Goldberg v Brock v Reigns v Strowman v Orton v Owens. I know that Y2J messes that up but punting Owens v Jericho to Summerslam and having Jericho v Joe for the US Title at Wrestlemania could work just as well.

New WM card

6 pack
Wyatt v Battle Royal winner (Harper?)
AJ v Shane
HHH v Rollins
Undertaker v Cena (real main event)
ATGMBR
Cruiser Ladder Match
Ambrose v Corbin
Jericho v Joe
2 Ladies Matches

quote:

---

Originally posted by SpiNNeR72
I would suggest Orton may be heading over to RAW, he can challenge for any title after all..

---

If Randy Orton goes to RAW, everything that has happened in the Wyatt Family since the Royal Rumble would have been for nothing at all. It doesn't make any sense at all to send him to RAW.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
If Randy Orton goes to RAW, everything that has happened in the Wyatt Family since the Royal Rumble would have been for nothing at all. It doesn't make any sense at all to send him to RAW.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Expect a monster push on Baron Corbin including a run as IC champ as he is apparently Vince's new man crush

---

The Rock will be filming material for the movie on Paige's family today at the Staples Center which just so happens to be where Raw will be airing from this week:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-the-rock-filming-fighting-with-my-family-at-todays-raw-location/

Odds are good Rock appears on Raw tonight.

The Class of 2017 is about to feel the BANG!

https://twitter.com/rollingstone/status/833738533080805376

In other newzish things, a social media thingee has a picture of Ellsworth and Gillberg together, and "WWE is teasing" they might become a Smackdown tag-team.

Also, Cody Nightmare Rhodes and Caveman Trevor Lee had some kind of dust-up (hah! I make funny!) at a PWG show this weekend. Trevor apparently said "Fuck Dusty Rhodes" and that was a little bit too much for Cody's liking.

Cody has since tweeted that he didn't tell Mr. Lee that he's only got one thing he doesn't want opponents to use in promos, so he accepts his share of the responsibility for the match getting a little bit out of hand. The offending remark will be removed from the official video record of the event.

[Edited on 2-20-2017 by Count Zero]

* Vince and HHH were described as "giddy" after the Strowman/Show match. Word is that Strowman's performance in that match could be a "game-changer" and throw some previously promised pushes out the window in favor of Braun.

Yeah, it was super impressive the way he did all those things last night, like... standing and walking. And doing body slams. Oh, and that dropkick that may have looked good, if he were facing Hornswoggle. What a game changer!

Oh, and he also slammed Big Show. Which would be amazing if:
a) We hadn't seen a dozen other (better) guys do it over the years.
b) Show wasn't 100 lbs. lighter now than when those other guys did it.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
* Vince and HHH were described as "giddy" after the Strowman/Show match. Word is that Strowman's performance in that match could be a "game-changer" and throw some previously promised pushes out the window in favor of Braun.

---

What's interesting about this particular rumor is that it plays into all he Vince McMahon tropes. His infatuation with big, brawny men. His capriciousness. His reputation as someone who will promise pushes to people only to renege if it suits him.

If true, Braun is now added to the list of Vince's Current Man-Crushes which now includes Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin. I'd look for these three to main event Wrestlemania sometime in the next two years (with some combination of Cena, HHH, and Taker of course).

This is going to hurt my smark cred, I guess, but I thought it was a pretty good match given the limitations of the two opponents. Also, come on. That kip-up was impressive. I'm not asking Braun to be Seth Rollins in the ring, I'm just asking him to hang with guys like Rollins, and if last night was any indication that's now a fairly reasonable expectation. Plus, like, whose push are we worried he's going to get? The only guy getting a fucking push on Raw anyway is Reigns.

Strowman lost me when he abandoned his "I wet my pants" pants. Or when he stopped wetting his pants. Whichever.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
This is going to hurt my smark cred, I guess, but I thought it was a pretty good match given the limitations of the two opponents. Also, come on. That kip-up was impressive. I'm not asking Braun to be Seth Rollins in the ring, I'm just asking him to hang with guys like Rollins, and if last night was any indication that's now a fairly reasonable expectation. Plus, like, whose push are we worried he's going to get? The only guy getting a fucking push on Raw anyway is Reigns.

---

Lowered expectations might play a part, because I was fully prepared for that match to totally suck and was mostly pretty okay with it. It was entertaining enough for some hoss-on-hoss action. I did find it a little absurd when the crowd was chanting "This is awesome" during the fucking lock-up - calm down, nerds.

By the same token, I'm just fucking done with the "You deserve it!" chant. Bayley winning the title was perfectly in line with her push - she hasn't been held back, she's not a long-suffering favorite finally getting their chance at the belt, she probably actually should've held off winning it until WM, if I'm honest! Most of the wrestlers deserve it, they all work hard and most of them are pretty good.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
This is going to hurt my smark cred, I guess, but I thought it was a pretty good match given the limitations of the two opponents. Also, come on. That kip-up was impressive. I'm not asking Braun to be Seth Rollins in the ring, I'm just asking him to hang with guys like Rollins, and if last night was any indication that's now a fairly reasonable expectation. Plus, like, whose push are we worried he's going to get? The only guy getting a fucking push on Raw anyway is Reigns.

---

I agree with all of this. The only thing I'd add is that they keep the Strowman matches ten minutes or under. Even with someone in as good a shape as the big lug is he will still get winded well before someone more normal sized will, as we could all see last night in the final few minutes of the match. This isn't to say that every match he has should be a squash but trying to extend him in the ring past a logical time limit won't help the end of the matches he's in. It also becomes dangerous to whoever's in the ring with him if they make him do power moves with his energy rapidly depleting after the ten to twelve minute mark because that's when he'd be most likely to botch and drop them on their head.

---

It's important to note that Reigns, Strowman, and Corbin are all "pure" products of NXT. None of them have any indy background. That might contribute to some of the wanker hate directed their way - as well as the Vince and HHH love.

And I didn't mean to imply that -we- had lowered expectations. I was mostly poking fun at Vince's weathervaning from push-to-push-to-push, if that stuff is actually true about him wetting his pants with glee (he -really- likes everything Braaaaggh "MC Pee Pants" Strongestmancrushever does).

It really was a pretty darn good match. I think it's an example of how the "openweight" style of the WWE sometimes works against them. When Big Guys are put in the ring with Other Big Guys, it gives them a chance to do all the wrestly-things they were taught, instead of just growl and smash. If you put Big Stroh in there with King Eville, and they start trading wristlocks and monkeyflips, a significant percentage of the WWEUniverse tunes it out because "why isn't the big guy smashing the little guy?"

I'll admit, I disliked Strowman at first as well, because it was obvious he was only there bc he was big and you could tell he was green.

However, he's had some decent matches lately and I started to come around to "ok, at least he's passable."

But then I heard him on Jericho's podcast- the Talkin Shop one. While that particular podcast may not be for everyone (I found it hilarious, but it is a bit wacky and juvenile), one thing that came to light was that Strowman reveals that he only had about 9 matches before his main roster debut. So considering he's learning pretty much EVERYTHING on the fly, he's made some great strides within the last year and earned some respect from me. If he can become a "decent big man" in one calendar year, imagine the possibilities after more seasoning?

That being said, I can understand some people still hating him, especially for that fact as he's some newbie hot-shotting over other people who've bled and spent years to get their opportunity, but it is what it is and if he can be anywhere from passable to decent to eventually good, I'd take that over another Great Khali.

I disagree with anyone who didn't like that match between Braun and Show. In all honesty, it would have been a perfect little match for Wrestlemania between two giants, and one where Show putting Strowman over on the biggest stage possible, would have been a nice passing of the torch.

The kip up was impressive, but I felt it was passed over by the announcers who could have used it as a chance to explain that Braun needed to change his style a bit, now that he was in the ring with someone larger than him.

I don't have any problem with Strowman, other than the fake intensity look that most wrestlers suffer from (fake-tensity?). If he can learn the subtly of being scary without growling and snarling, combined with his obvious improvement in the ring, then he will be a fantastic character for them, I think.

quote:

---

Originally posted by GodEatGod
Lowered expectations might play a part, because I was fully prepared for that match to totally suck and was mostly pretty okay with it. It was entertaining enough for some hoss-on-hoss action. I did find it a little absurd when the crowd was chanting "This is awesome" during the fucking lock-up - calm down, nerds.

---

So Bing Strawberryjam is some guy who had no business being on the main roster in the first place when he made his debut-- the nine matches thing doesn't surprise me, since he was brutal to watch back then. Now he's gone from "Jesus, this guy is fucking terrible, terrible dog shit," to, "yeah, I guess that match was passable." And that's supposed to be good enough? Sorry, but no. It's gonna take a lot more than putting on a couple C+ matches to impress.

And that isn't the point. The whole rumor was that his match on Monday was viewed by Vince as some sort of game changer. Um... how? Besides Vince's fetish for big hosses, what the fuck in that match proved that he's suddenly deserving of a huge push? Because I damn sure didn't see anything.

Hey look! DK was right again.

I think that rumor is bullshit. Show has basically become Braun's mentor and has been working house shows with him for months. They've probably had that fun Hoss battle with the same spots half a dozen times already. The fact that Vince and Co. made it the Main event probably means they've seen the match go well enough times to trust them to not get eaten by the LA smarks. Maybe they could be giddy at the fact that it was received well but there's no way Strowman/Show took them by suprise.Also Strowman punked the former top heel act(JeriKO) a few weeks back and then made the top face look like a bitch this week. He's already heavily pushed .

On the merits of the big lug. He's above the typical WWE hoss like Snitsky, Viscera, Ezekiel, because he moves like an actual athlete instead of being a slow, clumsy load. He tries that fake intensity that a lot guy do but with how cartoonish he is(his look, entrance theme, tough guy voice) it actually works. And his progression bar is pretty impressive. Not somebody that should be one of the center pieces but he's fine as a hoss bouncing around the midcard and Main Event.

quote:

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Originally posted by the goon
I remember someone here a little ways back (forgive me for not remembering who) saying something along the lines of how we've become conditioned to automatically hate big men in the WWE and I think Strowman is kind of unfairly suffering from that. .

---

I would imagine that no one was shitting on Luke Harper or Big Cass because neither of them were perceived nor rumoured to be on the fast track to the main event like Braun Strowman. As long as big men aren't booked like dominant monsters from day one, they won't suffer the wrath of people who like to talk about wrestling on the internet. When a big man is pushed as an unbeatable monster, that is when the vitriol comes their way.

To me, that just makes sense and isn't a bias. If you're on the fast track to the Main Event, you're performing on the biggest stage and getting the lion share's of the air time which easily exposes any flaws. His still developing mic and ring skills are being harshly judged because he's on the level occupied by the elite. To his credit Strowman has delivered in his spotlight matches so far( the falls account anywhere against Zayn and the Main Event match against Show) and unlike some tragic examples in the past, they're aware he's limited on the mic and keeping his time on it short but there's still a lot to work on.

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9

quote:

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Originally posted by the goon
I remember someone here a little ways back (forgive me for not remembering who) saying something along the lines of how we've become conditioned to automatically hate big men in the WWE and I think Strowman is kind of unfairly suffering from that. .

---

What proof is there that there's an unfair bias towards big men? Luke Harper was very well-received from the start. Big Cass hasn't gotten shit on. Strowman has been criticized but he undisputedly was a limited performer.

---

In the "You Can't Make This Shit up" department, Brazzers has announced they are producing a porn parody of The Montreal Screwjob":

http://411mania.com/wrestling/brazzers-planning-porn-parody-on-the-montreal-screwjob/

This certainly takes the phrase "Bret screwed Bret" in a completely different direction.

Were you the mentally-ill guy going nuts in the 411 comment section saying Alexa has no ass?

[Edited on 2/23/2017 by Paddlefoot]

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
In the "You Can't Make This Shit up" department, Brazzers has announced they are producing a porn parody of The Montreal Screwjob":

http://411mania.com/wrestling/brazzers-planning-porn-parody-on-the-montreal-screwjob/

This certainly takes the phrase "Bret screwed Bret" in a completely different direction.

---

quote:

---

"Romi Rain as WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart"

"Romi Rain"

THAT'S HER NAME??

And that will be one porn I will not watch. It's bad enough wrestling has been ruined forever by Roman Reigns, now porn as well? FUCK YOU BRAZZERS. I'll bet that stupid bitch did named herself that on purpose just to further ruin everything I love.

---

Sometimes it's perceived protection in the booking. Strowman has yet to be pinned/submitted on TV. It was a VERY long time before Roman took a clean fall on TV as well. Harper and Cass didn't get anywhere close to that level of strength.

quote:

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Originally posted by Slade
I would imagine that no one was shitting on Luke Harper or Big Cass because neither of them were perceived nor rumoured to be on the fast track to the main event like Braun Strowman. As long as big men aren't booked like dominant monsters from day one, they won't suffer the wrath of people who like to talk about wrestling on the internet. When a big man is pushed as an unbeatable monster, that is when the vitriol comes their way.

---

I'm trying to think of a "big man" that received a push that wankers like us DIDN'T turn on...

I got nothing...

Big Van Vader, 1992. That's all I got.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Is Good517
I'd almost bet actual cash money that the virtual second Big Cass gets a serious push as a top singles guy, the smarks that "are totally fine with him" now will be crying foul and talking about how he's just an untalented big guy and why isn't Enzo getting the push?

---

I know it took a long time for wankers to turn on Taker, Kane, and Big Show, all of whom are huge men. It took years for people to get sick of Taker. I'd argue fans got sick of Kane and Show mainly because of bad booking, although I know they both have their detractors.

I'd argue that the reason why that most people shit on the big guys is that most of them are slow, lumbering loads who are boring to watch. So when we get one who's pretty agile, like Kane or Harper, people tend to latch onto them.

Push Enzo over Cass? I know that was said tongue in cheek, but the only push I'd give Enzo is down a flight of stairs.

quote:

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Originally posted by denverpunk
the only push I'd give Enzo is down a flight of stairs.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk
I know it took a long time for wankers to turn on Taker, Kane, and Big Show, all of whom are huge men. It took years for people to get sick of Taker. I'd argue fans got sick of Kane and Show mainly because of bad booking, although I know they both have their detractors.

---

Lesnar, Umaga, Harper&Rowan;, etc. Smarks will get behind any big guy if they just don't suck. Mark Henry was disdained for years until he dialed up into awesomeness.

EDIT: Hell Umaga's path is the contrary to what some have said. As he developed in the midcard with 5-minute squashes and short ppv matches the smarks disregarded him as another big guy with an old guy but once WWE got fully behind him and booked him in 25+minutes against Cena he became an overnight smark darling as Umaga stole the show.

[Edited on 2-24-2017 by First 9]

quote:

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Originally posted by williamssl

quote:

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Originally posted by denverpunk
the only push I'd give Enzo is down a flight of stairs.

---

I'll help.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk

Push Enzo over Cass? I know that was said tongue in cheek, but the only push I'd give Enzo is down a flight of stairs.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk
the only push I'd give Enzo is down a flight of stairs.

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I'll help.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk
the only push I'd give Enzo is down a flight of stairs.

---

I'll help.

---

Gif of Sheamus booting Enzo in the side of the head needed ASAP!

The guy is hilarious but watching him get clubbered by the monsters from running his mouth off at them is sure a lot of fun.

---

You're monsters. You are all monsters...

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Big guys CAN get over. Someone mentioned Vader. Then there's Hogan of course. And Taker. It just takes charisma, an interesting character and good storytelling.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by janerd75
My powers are not at 100% yet so this will have to do. Besides, it's important to honor Mark this month anyway.

---

I think that in a lot of way it might be less the particular talent, and more the whole "unbeatable monster" bit that might be tired largely because it usually plays out the same way time and time again, and that it rarely offers up anything new. I think when you can see Vince getting excited about some particular talent (or at least rumoured to be), it might be a bit more palatable if we didn't already know how it will turn out.

The monster, the chicken shit heel, the bait and switch (I'll fight you... just not tonight) worked for years, but now that we've got what 18-20 PPV's a year, and 7 or 8 hours of wrestling TV per week the old tropes get trotted out too often... it's a problem that's been increasing for decades... or at least since what 1995 or 1996 when the WWE brought out the monthly IN YOUR HOUSE PPV's, and doubled up on Raw from 1 hour to two.

A good talent is entertaining for a few minutes at time in a match, an unbeatable monster that follows the same pattern over months is boring as shit, and apt to be turned on long before it plays out. Strowman having a good match on Raw (or passable) doesn't matter when the end result is the same thing we've been seeing for months, and know we'll continue to see for severable more months.

Flash,

That's a great point. We as consumers of WWE are so over-saturated with the product and have been for nearly two decades that we are familiar with Vince's playbook to the point that it's boring. The two best things in the last 15 years of wrestling IMO have been the Summer of Punk and the Rise of Daniel Bryan. But Punk was an anomaly - an outlier, and Bryan was a grassroots rebellion AGAINST Vince's creative machine. Neither of those things have really been Vince's idea.

My point is that when Vince pushes another plodding big man or trots HHH out for a show opening promo or whatever, we as consumers kind of roll our eyes because we've seen it a million times before. The best parts of WWE these days is when they do stuff that isn't in Vince's typical playbook, like having a women's match main event RAW or have Lesnar defeated in under a minute or have Cena squashed in a match or have Taker end his Streak or have a guy like AJ Style not get buried. Those things resonate because they are DIFFERENT than what we are used to with WWE.

The problem is that those moments are few and far between.

[Edited on 2-24-2017 by CCharger]

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk
I know it took a long time for wankers to turn on Taker, Kane, and Big Show, all of whom are huge men. It took years for people to get sick of Taker. I'd argue fans got sick of Kane and Show mainly because of bad booking, although I know they both have their detractors.

---

This is good analysis. However, all three of the guys you mentioned started their careers either before the internet age or just as it was in it's infancy. The internet smart-mark wasn't a thing yet.

The other thing you mentioned was booking and boy was this true. Think about Kane. His debut and storyline with Taker was compelling TV. Compare that to Big Cass or Strowman. Nothing really compelling about their story at all.

Big guys CAN get over. Someone mentioned Vader. Then there's Hogan of course. And Taker. It just takes charisma, an interesting character and good storytelling.

---

*Today, February 24th, marks the 3rd anniversary of the launch of the WWE Network

Time sure flies.

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto

quote:

---

Originally posted by janerd75
My powers are not at 100% yet so this will have to do. Besides, it's important to honor Mark this month anyway.

---

Because nothing says "Black History Month" like the black man getting his skull caved in by a white man.

---

[Edited on 2-24-2017 by Count Zero]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot

---

Aw, son of a bitch!

I wish I was that skilled to pull off a creative gif-avalanche and have a drunken conversation with myself. Unfortunately I can't. I am a limited man, unhip to the youthful shitposting ways of today's modern teens.

[Edited on 2/25/2017 by Paddlefoot]

quote:

---

Posted by CCharger
The two best things in the last 15 years of wrestling IMO have been the Summer of Punk and the Rise of Daniel Bryan. But Punk was an anomaly - an outlier, and Bryan was a grassroots rebellion AGAINST Vince's creative machine.

---

From Cageside Seats/SBNation/Whateverthehell:

*WWE might do roster-shakeups after WM to keep interest "up".
*Kurt Angle's wrestling farewell-tour may also be part of the Post-WM-Interest-Generating
*WWE is still interested in the Hardyz, and they haven't yet re-upped with TNA.
*Jeff Jarrett will (for the time being) NOT be an on-air talent for TNA
*Cody Rhodes & Zack Sabre Jr will be operating out of New Japan as their main base of ops. (credit on this one is given to the Observer.)

I feel dirty after rumorzing. Where's Janerd with my sponge bath?

quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod
Wait...does this mean...Pad and janerd are the same...person...?!?

---

I wished they would have skipped a roster draft for this year to really let the alignments sink in. The original draft 2004 had so much hype because there were a whole 2 years for the hierachy to be established with RAW becoming the HHH/HBK/Jericho/Kane show and SD being Angle/Show/Eddie/Taker show and the thought of it being shaken up was monumental. The internte went crazy with possible dream matches or clashes that hadn't been done in years.

One of today's fun rumors is that The Drifter will be the next NXT talent to be called up after WrestleMania. It's almost too absurd to believe, but it's actually pretty plausible; he's as good as he's going to get so they might as well call him up, though I can't imagine he'll get any kind of significant push since he's got jobber stink written all over him (did he ever actually beat a single established guy in his entire NXT run?). It's going to be hilarious watching some of the smarkier types go apoplectic if and when Elias Sampson shows up on Raw before Nakamura does, though.

The Drifter on Raw? Well, they need someone for Curtis Axel to beat...

I think there is real value in elevating jobbers onto the main roster. If you don't bring a guy like Elias Samson up to the main roster to put everyone else over, you're stuck reducing someone who still has real potential like Apollo Crews but isn't over into that role. Guys like Crews need guys like Samson around to give them wins while they try to figure out a way to make the fans care about them.

quote:

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Originally posted by Slade
I think there is real value in elevating jobbers onto the main roster. If you don't bring a guy like Elias Samson up to the main roster to put everyone else over, you're stuck reducing someone who still has real potential like Apollo Crews but isn't over into that role. Guys like Crews need guys like Samson around to give them wins while they try to figure out a way to make the fans care about them.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by GodEatGod

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
I think there is real value in elevating jobbers onto the main roster. If you don't bring a guy like Elias Samson up to the main roster to put everyone else over, you're stuck reducing someone who still has real potential like Apollo Crews but isn't over into that role. Guys like Crews need guys like Samson around to give them wins while they try to figure out a way to make the fans care about them.

---

I think we'll have to agree to disagree about Crews. Jobber duty seems just about right for him to me. He has some good athletic ability, but his personality stuff is SO bad that I can't imagine him getting anything resembling a push.

---

Crews is very good at getting heel Ziggler and chair shots over. Solid niche for him to work in.

Have they tried to give Crews something to work with? I only remember the new guy push where he went over jobbers, and got a little winning streak. No character work or promo time but good enough to be fed to Miz for a ppv and then relegated to the lower midcard.

I'm not saying they're missing out on the golden opportunity by not doing anything with him but he could be an RVD/J. Hardy-lite white meat babyface who gets over on fancy moves and minimal mic work.

[Edited on 2-27-2017 by First 9]

What they -could've- done with Crews was put him in a tag-team with Formerly-Good (as opposed to Evil, that is) Neville.

That woulda been much more interesting a Babyface Tag-Team than American Alpha have been. Bran Strawberry Muffins (actual muffins, this isn't a Braun Strohman gag) would be more interesting than AA(RP).

quote:

---

Originally posted by GodEatGod
I think we'll have to agree to disagree about Crews. Jobber duty seems just about right for him to me. He has some good athletic ability, but his personality stuff is SO bad that I can't imagine him getting anything resembling a push.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slade
I recognize that he has failed to connect with fans...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero
That woulda been much more interesting a Babyface Tag-Team than American Alpha have been. Bran Strawberry Muffins (actual muffins, this isn't a Braun Strohman gag) would be more interesting than AA(RP).

---

That's a great point, punker. It is similar to something that I've been thinking for a little while now, which is that WWE needs to go back to the old way of introducing guys to the main roster shows. They need to do vignettes and promo videos hyping their arrival, just like they used to do, not just have them show up and expect everyone to know who they are already. That only works for the smarks who watch NXT all the time, but they aren't the entire audience. If the NXT fans were the entire fanbase, then those debuts would have gone over much better, John Cena wouldn't be a 16-time champion, Cesaro would get pushed to the moon, Roman Reigns would be a jobber, etc. And WWE knows that, so the fact that they debut the NXT call ups as if those rabid NXT viewers were the only audience is baffling.

It'll probably just lead to a run in ROH but Drew Galloway is no longer with TNA. I like the guy but I don't see anything in particular he could bring to WWE right now. Besides being a fixture in the planned UK show.

[Edited on 2-27-2017 by First 9]

I agree -entirely- with what Punker wrote about AA (but I still find them easy to pick on), and similarly (but not exactly) Alexa Bliss.

She's been given a "character" at least, even if it is just Snotty-Boo-Boo-Face Heel Bitch. It's as tired as the Big Monster gimmick that Braaaaaggghhhhh Corbin are both sharing right now, but at least it is something to cut your teeth on.

They thought "The WWE Network" would be a must-have for EVERY member of the WWEUniverse, but since some people aren't interested in dropping nine-ninety-nine on it for whatever reasons, it's not got as much traction as they'd hoped. Thus, NXT isn't the "shortcut" to WWE they're trying to use it as, any more than any other indie-style fed with limited exposure. Plus, it seems that a lot of people say things like "I have the WWE Network so I can get PPVs without paying 50$ a month". So even among subscribers, 'original programming' is not what everybody's interested in.

It's not illogical to presume that if (for example) 3-in-10 members of the audience have access to it, they can grassroots (astroturf?) the rest of the crowd into liking/hating/reacting to something. It just doesn't seem to be working.

ETMakeMoreSense.

[Edited on 2-27-2017 by Count Zero]

First, Drew McIntyre/Galloway would be on par with the upper echelon of workers in NXT or Raw/Smackdown so he brings a lot to the table other than just UK guy. That might be a good way to introduce him, maybe over WM weekend, current UK Champion has an open challenge for the Takeover show and Galloway is the one who answers. Or he shows up on Raw or SD after Mania. Either way, he'd be great on any of the 3 shows.

Second, I think it might have been me who originally mentioned the Alpha thing and it's such a disappointment that they haven't connected with the larger fanbase because the chemistry those two had in NXT was phenomenal. I'm hoping with Angle's return after Mania being rumored, he can help them get that fun personality back in the vein of when Angle was working with Edge & Christian.

Third, Apollo Crews has never had a personality on any level and WWE bringing him up without a story is on par with the disaster that bringing up Tyler Breeze to get sucked into a Summer Rae blackhole of suck was. The whole reason it took Sami and Finn and others so long to get called up, supposedly, was they were waiting for the right time/story. I wish that had been the case with Tyler, Apollo, Vaudevillains, among others because they've all gotten lost in the post-draft shuffle.

Fourth, Alexa Bliss is actually the opposite as after a few weeks of treading water on SD and possibly showing she wasn't ready, she might have been the best NXT draft pick from that entire draft. Finn, probably would have been, but the injury takes him out of the running, and the rest of the NXT draftees are all just kinda there. Bliss has taken the ball given to her and created a fun, dynamic character and she's progressively getting better in the ring.

Rumors are the Hardy's may be heading back to the WWE. Their contracts with TNA are up and supposedly they feel disrespected by them and are not fans of Jeff Jarrett running things. Broken Matt has tweeted....

"I will DELETE the Bucks of Youth on April 1st at ROH, and all of MeekMahan's tag teams will follow."

"It shall be an INTRIGUING week for the professional wrestling industry."

ETA: They are also not taking any indy bookings after April 30th.

[Edited on 2-27-2017 by G-Spot]

I never said Galloway sucked. He's a strong talent who could be something special with the right booking behind him but you could say that with so many guys WWE already has.

Shame TNA is losing the Hardyz. They were a perfect mix with TNA giving them free reign to do what they wanted and having enough production values to make Matt's crazy ideas come to life. While the Hardyz, wether you like or hate what they did, brought buzz to a company that needed it.



[Edited on 2-27-2017 by First 9]

More rumor info on the Hardy's feeling disrespected...

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/809957-breaking-news-the-hardys-not-re-signing-with-tna-backstage-news-on-matt-and-jeff-feeling-disrespected-by-tna-of ficials-their-tv-future-and-more

quote:

---

According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, Matt and Jeff Hardy will NOT be signing new deals with Impact Wrestling, and it�s reportedly because the brothers felt disrespected during contract talks.

Sources are reporting The Hardys agreed to terms on a new TNA deal back in December, but requested a few minor changes, and were simply waiting for the finalized offer.

The deal was supposed to be for 1-year, but weeks and weeks passed, with Matt constantly checking in, but they were consistently given the run around.

Eventually Matt and Jeff�s lawyer informed Impact Wrestling officials that they wanted a creative control clause written into their new deals, but that was shot down immediately. One source claims the Hardy�s lawyer told Ed Nordholm of Anthem Sports & Entertainment there was interest from other companies and he responded by saying, �Well, tell them to go to WWE then.�

This set Jeff Hardy off, who at that point said he was no longer interested in re-signing. Matt continued talks, but when they sent a new contract last week it was now a 2-year deal and terms had been snuck in which stated they�d receive 10% of all his profits outside of Impact.

Matt�s lawyer said he�d be a fool to sign, so he informed the company he wasn�t interested in doing so, but would still come to the tapings to write off his characters. However, he was told he was crazy to think they�d want him on TV without a contact.

Impact Wrestling officials are reportedly trying to get their tag titles back.

---

Shame they're leaving on bad terms. Would have loved one more goofy segment to tie it all up. Both Hardyz diving into the lake of reincarnation with the camera lingering on.

The name of the company may have changed, but the spirit of LOLTNA lingers on.

How the hell do you do that to arguably your most profitable wrestlers, the wrestlers who have pretty much kept the company relevant due to their over-the-top antics?

Also,

quote:

---

One source says their lawyer told Ed Nordholm there was interest from other companies and he responded by saying, �Well, tell them to go to WWE then.�

---

Another wrinkle in the Hardy's/LOLTNA saga that could have an impact (no pun intended) on going to WWE, tho' one good thing is there is not a "no compete" clause in their expired contracts...

http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/broken-matt-hardy-name/#.WLTGfIWcFZV

quote:

---

If Broken Matt wants to continue using that�name after leaving Impact Wrestling, he may have a fight on his hands � because right now there�s confusion over who owns the gimmick.

Sources close to Matt tell us his current deal�gives Impact the ability�to profit off of anything already filmed�having to do with ANY�gimmick he used throughout the course of his contract � but,�once that�s over, he retains ownership of his�name and characters.

However, our Impact Wrestling sources tell us that�s not the case at all. They claim the current deal�specifically states that their company owns all IP creations.

---

Or if the Hardyz are too expensive, why not part amicably? The company is an rebuilding phase and it'd be understandable if they only want to sign talent on the long term and/or can't afford to give out creative control.

And wouldn't Vince just love it if the Hardyz (or anybody, really) show up & throw some belts into a trashcan? That "Alundra Blayzing" from the Nitro days probably gives him nightmares at random intervals.

I have no real desire to see The Hardyz back in WWE. I was glad they were doing their own and kitschy thing in TNA. I was hoping they would stay there. It was the right playground for the brothers. I cannot imagine Matt getting free reign with wonky skits and story lines. We saw how poorly received WWE's attempt at a Hardyz style skit was.

But TNA just continues with the boners. I really wish Billy Corgan got control of the company. I would like to think Bill would have done a better job. Why would you not acquiesce and give your biggest names that have gotten you the most buzz what they want? Why would you disrespect them? Just another step backwards.

I suppose The Hardyz will return and get a stronger glorified nostalgia run than The Dudleys got.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero
And wouldn't Vince just love it if the Hardyz (or anybody, really) show up & throw some belts into a trashcan? That "Alundra Blayzing" from the Nitro days probably gives him nightmares at random intervals.

---

Jeff is multiple time former World Champ and PPV Main Eventer. They definently won't get a glorified nostalgia run like the Duds. SD has Ambrose, part time Cena, and rising Harper as top faces and that's it. Jeff would fit in fine against Styles, Ziggler, Miz and against the Wyatts they could do both the Hardyz reunion and some big singles matches.

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9
The company is an rebuilding phase

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9
Or if the Hardyz are too expensive, why not part amicably? The company is an rebuilding phase and it'd be understandable if they only want to sign talent on the long term and/or can't afford to give out creative control.

---

Going back to American Alpha, Crews and the issues of callups from NXT kind of falling flat- I agree with a lot that has been said. But I think WWE is missing out on taking advantage of their own intellectual property.

Basically, as was pointed out- AA had a great story... WWE OWNS that story and all video footage of it. This isn't like the days of guys coming over from WCW/ECW where they couldn't fully reference (or at least show) stuff from their past. WWE could easily make a great video package, taking bits of the journey of American Alpha, show that Jordan was around for years floundering, Gable pestering Jordan to be his partner, the struggles they overcame to become a great team, how over they got and the teams they beat, etc. You can do that in a nice 5-7 minute video package that you can AIR ON WWE TV- NOT the Network, I mean Smackdown (or Raw for future superstars).

I think this would help dramatically bc unlike back in the day when WWE would kind of recycle a superstar or teams "best hits" (see Summer of Punk, various things with the Dudleys, etc) you can't really do that with these NXT stars bc they JUST came off those stories less than a year ago. So you'd be putting off the fans that actually cared enough to follow NXT (plus what's the point of having your own farm system and having it televised for that matter, if you're not going to use it to it's fullest potential?)

But just bringing them up with ZERO buildup sucks. Like Bayley for instance. I think she's great and had a fantastic story and I remember her saying on a podcast a few months back (before her callup)- I forget if it was Jericho's or Austin's, but she was thinking about HOW'D she want to be called up and how'd she approach her character bc she couldn't repeat things but she also flat out said she'd dislike just being brought up "as is" bc the casual WWE Universe would have missed so much of what made her who she is. She said she thought about it a lot and even had some ideas of what she would do, but it looks like they didn't bother going to her for input, which is a shame.

I think video packages (with details of their rise through NXT which highlight WHY the WWE Universe at large should care about these superstars) + some actual longer interviews would do a world of difference for these wrestlers.

That being said, some people needed more seasoning before being called up. I'm a fan of Crews back from his Evolve days. He has insane in-ring capabilities, especially for his size. I truly think he could be a huge star (well... I definitely thought that when he showed up in NXT, now that they're wasting and jobbing him in front of that same general audience, they might have ruined him). He needed to stay in NXT and develop a character, bc he already had the in-ring skills. I remember as soon as he was called up, thinking he wasn't ready and this was going to go badly for him, which i find very unfortunate bc I think there is SO much potential there, but alas...

As for the Hardy's and TNA mess. There's this from: http://411mania.com/wrestling/reby-sky-rips-into-tna-on-twitter-threatens-to-keep-tnas-tag-titles/


� The big news yesterday was the official departure of The Hardys from TNA. Matt�s wife and TNA character Reby Sky (Queen Rebecca) posted the following on Twitter, joking about keeping the TNA tag team titles hostage and melt them down into some gold hoop earrings and ripping into the company a bit�

UNREAL WITH THE LITTLE BITCH SHIT. U N R E A L .

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

Why try to do things the right way when you get bs & drama in return ? Matt is a nice guy. I'LL keep the shits "hostage". Fuck outta here.

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

2, but I'm claiming @ShaneHelmsCom on my taxes this year https://t.co/9Q1kzc8KWP

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

If mfers don't start coming correct, I'm bout to melt some gold & have me some new gold hoops. Sigue y vas a ver. pic.twitter.com/Esjuh6tqYw

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

I've said it many times:
TNA was the perfect situation for our family & how grateful I was for professionalism/open communication/respect�

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

�Now think about what kinda negative changes & straight fuckery would have to go down for us to leave 🤔

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

I hear company folks are pressed & wanna try & paint me in a negative light after today. Should I help em out & clarify a few things ?

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 28, 2017

SURPRISE ! Yes, I am a HUGE BITCH if you disrespect me or my family 😊 Are you surprised ? Oh, no ? Okay, can we move on now ? 🙄😆

� Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 28, 2017


It's sad, bc as a father of young children, having a job that's comfortable and being able to have them with you even if you travel is fantastic and not something I'd give up easily. Reby says it herself and continues that if they're willing to give THAT up, then you KNOW something sketchy had to have gone down in those talks.

Such a damn shame, bc the Hardys were the best thing TNA had going for them, I was loving all the Broken Matt stuff (as silly as it was). And it just won't be the same in the WWE (b/c once again, going back to some of the points i made in my last post- part of the appeal of that character is going through the journey). Many fans will just be like "what the heck is up with Matt Hardy? Why's he all weird now?" And it may take longer for casual fans to "get it" (if they even do, bc I'll admit, the Broken Hardys craziness is NOT for everyone's tastes).

Sigh... TNA...

Did someone mention "dollar store" above? Screwing over the Hardys, who did about the only interesting thing TNA's done in the last three or four years, is really a genuine dollar-store thing to do. And really should have been expected from a genuine dollar-store of a company like TNA.

A couple TNA-related rumors:

* WWE is planning on Rusev to win the Andre Battle Royal. Moreover, they are planning on Kurt Angle making his return the following night on RAW to confront the Handsome Brute and set up their feud. WWE officials want Angle to debut in Orlando because of his time in TNA

* WWE has no plans acknowledge the Hardyz as TNA tag champs because the feel it would be giving an "unnecessary rub" to an irrelevant company.

That Rusev angle points to Angle being a RAW guy. So we could get Angle vs Joe in a WWE ring. I wonder if they'd reference their history?

Also, props for Rusev for having the talent to always stay over enough to be fed to the next big star/Main Eventer. He got demolished by Cena but after a while looked like a killer again just to put over Reigns and with a month or two of build up I can buy him as a fun opponent for Angle. He might be a jobber for the stars, but it's to THE mega stars.

EDIT:''debut'' in Orlando? Somebody doesn't understand what debut means.

[Edited on 2-28-2017 by First 9]

Well with both Kane and Big Show getting pretty long in the tooth someone had to fill that role... it would not surprise me if Strowman finds himself in that groove in the next year or two.

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9

EDIT:''debut'' in Orlando? Somebody doesn't understand what debut means.

[Edited on 2-28-2017 by First 9]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9
That Rusev angle points to Angle being a RAW guy. So we could get Angle vs Joe in a WWE ring. I wonder if they'd reference their history?

---

Sasha Banks went on twitter and refuted Nia Jax's claims of having "Broken" her by stating that Jax is not Matt Hardy. Matt Hardy responded:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/various-news-march-house-of-hardcore-dates-set-sasha-banks-mentions-matt-hardy-on-twitter-matt-responds/

.@SashaBanksWWE @WWE pic.twitter.com/wl09rBSAzm

— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) February 28, 2017

I know Broken Matt doesn't work anywhere he doesn't have a good amount of control, but I am still a bit intrigued at the Hardy's coming back to WWE.

Add two more to the pile:

PWInsider.com

quote:

---

Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis-Bennett have departed TNA, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources.

Their respective contracts expired in late 2016 and they had been working on per appearance deals over the last set of TNA TV tapings. TNA management had attempted to sign the pair to new contracts and according to one source, had agreed to terms with the company only to later inform TNA they would not be signing. So, the pair are already done and will not be working this week's TV tapings. The pair just appeared in the extremely entertaining Allie-Braxton Sutter wedding segment.

Maria Kanellis first broke into the business in 2004 as part of the WWE Diva Search. While she did not win, she impressed the company enough to be signed to a deal and by the end of the year, she was on the company's main roster. She left the company in 2010 and went on to record a musical project before making her way to Ring of Honor after becoming involved with her soon to be husband, Mike Bennett.

Bennett first broke into the business in the New England wrestling scene after being trained by Bob Evans. Bennett was hired by Ring of Honor in 2010. Bennett was initially rejected by the ROH audience but was able to take that rejection and use it to his advantage as he improved as a performer. Maria at his side only added to the heat and the pair soon became a very good act together, working for ROH and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The couple left ROH at the end of 2015 when the company opted to let their deals lapse, leaving the door open for them to sign with TNA, where Mike was rechristened "Miracle Mike Bennett" and Maria became one of the central figures of the Knockouts division, doing some of her best mic work to date and being the impetus for the Allie character to get over with the audience.

---

Couple of news items:

*Jericho is scheduled for a full WWE schedule through all of April, including Payback- He's got some Fozzy related touring through May, and the Download festival in early June, but is then expected to rejoin the WWE once that's concluded.

*Shaq versus Big Show at WM may be off- if it's not and the recent comments in the news are being done for feud building then that's a dumb way to go about it... Big Show struck first with some comments about how Shaq wasn't committing properly to their match, citing his frequent stops at Krispy Cr�me. Shaq has said the match probably won't happen, but keeps stressing that it's not because of him. Shaq stresses that outside of a vacation in March, he's working out like the match is going to happen.

The Jericho news is good news in my opinion, and the month and a half or so that'd he'd in theory be off TV is about the right time to sell a major beat down that would put heat on Owens. Assuming they are going to feud at WM, a Payback rematch seems likely, which would then maybe leave a return match once Y2J comes back making for a pretty well built and long standing feud.

The Shaq/Big Show thing seems dodgy... we're what... 32 days out from Mania, so you'd think that all the details, including any Raw lead up appearances would be all sewn up. While the match is apt to be more spectacle than competitive I'm hoping the match happens... Big show has been misused for huge portions of his career, but he's genuinely entertaining and gives it his all no matter how crappy the material he's given (If I never see crying and pleading Big Show for his job I'd be all the happier for it)... it'd be nice for the big guy to get one last big match before he goes off into the sunset (or Hollywood seems plausible).

Honestly I've always thought that Big Show as a GM would be a novel spot for him... he's got the mic' chops and presence that would serve him well in a non-wrestling role, and his sheer size and ability to return to the ring part-time would make him a completely different type of GM... it would beat the usual snivelling heel type we often get.

* Forbes is reporting that if the Hardyz return to WWE it will not be #Broken. Vince believes the characters and storyline are too "obscure" and "hipster" to connect with WWE fans. Moreover, as another poster pointed out previously, there is legal red tape that WWE does not seem interested in unraveling.

Frankly, if Matt and Jeff can't be #Broken, I'd rather they not return to WWE at all.

Agreed, if they don't come in "Broken" then I have zero interest in the Hardy's. I was tired of them before they made that gimmick change. I hope they continue their procurement of Tag Titles and go to different companies. Or just stick it out in the US and go to ROH. The crowd popped huge for them at Hammerstein when I was there for Final Battle and that was just for a video message. They could just make a smooth transition there, I would think.

But if they do go to WWE... I'd be tempted to stick them in NXT. Maybe that'd be "niche" enough for Vince. The fans there would eat it up and it'd help out the younger talent there. I know it won't happen, but I'd enjoy that if it did.

Yeah, I don't need the now-older Hardys to just rehash the young Hardy Boyz. It won't work. I'd rather not see them in WWE if they can't be #Broken. If they can do what they're doing in ROH, then great. Hell, if they can make #Broken work in Lucha Underground, that'd be awesome.


edit to clarify:

If they come back to WWE but they can't take the moniker "Broken Matt/Brother Nero" or "Broken Hardys" but can retain the characters, then great. If they can't use "Delete" or "Obsolete", then... I dunno. But what would be funny is if Matt and Jeff can't use them, but the audience uses them anyway?

But yeah, even if they retain the characters, and "Delete" and "obsolete" but don't have the ability to have the situations be as zany as they've been, then I don't see it work on Raw or Smackdown.



[Edited on 3-1-2017 by salmonjunkie]

Too ''hipster''? Is that why they ripped it off one week later? Jeff Hardy was killing it in 09 before he left so I wouldn't mind if he came back as a top face. He'd do great on RAW as the one top face who actually loses since Rollins and Reigns are so protected or mix it up with Ziggler and Bray on SD.

There's nothing ingenious about the Broken gimmick, it's all execution and performance. If they take away the gimmick but give Matt Jericho-like freedom to do what he wants, he could create something else that gels with WWE. Mick Foley had to do it when he became Mankind instead of debuting as Cactus Jack.

#Damaged Matt Hardy?

quote:

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Originally posted by Thom
#Damaged Matt Hardy?

---

Add another to the list of people leaving TNA as Mia Yim/Jade has been announced as leaving.

The Broken Hardy's Saga continues as Matt sent a tweet to Kenny Omega leading to speculation they will be headed to Japan...

quote:

---

"Did someone say MAGIC?

Myself & the NEFARIOUS #BrotherNero have eyes on The ELITE & The New Wrestling in Japan.

We'll see you all soon."

---

Word is that Jack Swagger and WWE have parted ways. Remember that guy?

I wonder how big of a deal the guy would be on the indies. Former WWE World Champion should get him attention but it's Swagger.

TNA is rumored to have locked in contracts for Bobby Lashley, EC3, Moose, Eddie Edwards, Eli Drake, and Davey Richards, but others are not because of the new pay structures, and the word is more will be leaving the company soon.

TNA contracts are now pay per date, instead of pay per episode, so if they record 4 episodes on one date, they will only be paid for that one date. TNA also gets 10% of any booking fees if talent wrestles outside the company, but it has to be approved by TNA first. There are also changes being made to royalty payments as well.

On one hand, Jesus is that a rough deal for the talent. On the other hand TNA probably was just not financially viable the way it was, with or without good management, and this Anthem just doing what'll keep their new acquisition alive.

Maybe the only way TNA sticks around is to strip it down to near ROH levels in terms of cost and be a cheap way to fill out air time on The Fight Network just like Sinclair does with ROH.

The 10% in outside apperances sounds pretty silly though. Is TNA going to help gte guys booked elsewhere?

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9
On one hand, Jesus is that a rough deal for the talent. On the other hand TNA probably was just not financially viable the way it was, with or without good management, and this Anthem just doing what'll keep their new acquisition alive.

Maybe the only way TNA sticks around is to strip it down to near ROH levels in terms of cost and be a cheap way to fill out air time on The Fight Network just like Sinclair does with ROH.

The 10% in outside apperances sounds pretty silly though. Is TNA going to help gte guys booked elsewhere?

---

quote:

---

"I like sports. But I'm not doing this as a wrestling fanatic. It's a business decision," he said. "We want to own content as a company."

The content Anthem offers is starkly different than that of the legacy media that Canwest - which Asper's family built into the biggest media company in Canada at one point, before losing it during the global financial crisis - was made of, in both style and delivery.

Canwest came to it's ultimate demise "unfairly," he said. " I just think the idea (this time) was to try to do it again, on my terms."

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by G-Spot
TNA is rumored to have locked in contracts (...)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by G-Spot
TNA contracts are now pay per date, instead of pay per episode, so if they record 4 episodes on one date, they will only be paid for that one date.

---

I didn't realize that Izzy Asper's kid was running TNA. That shows you how little attention I was paying to the deal.

The "kid" in question took Canada's second biggest private broadcaster from the penthouse to the poorhouse in roughly a decade. He got caught up in trying to fill the 500-channel universe with as many channels as they could churn out, and lost the company because it was so far in debt.

From "Media Player of the Year" (not Windows Media Player, but "he's a big player in this industry) in 2007, to "Canwest's debt load resulted in breaches of certain covenants in its loan documents and led to a filing under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in September 2009." (source: wikipedia's article on Mr Leonard Asper, the 'kid' I keep talking about).

If anybody's interested in further reading, here y'are:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Asper

quote:

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Originally posted by Matte
Word is that Jack Swagger and WWE have parted ways. Remember that guy?

---

I honestly don't remember which "World Champion" he was. Raw or SD? I know he had the ECW title at one point, I think? (Okay, I just checked wiki, and it was the Big Gold Belt.)

This is part of the 'brand extension/split' problem, especially when the WWE tends to put more emphasis on one side or the other based on who has which belt. Champions become afterthoughts.

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9
On one hand, Jesus is that a rough deal for the talent. On the other hand TNA probably was just not financially viable the way it was, with or without good management, and this Anthem just doing what'll keep their new acquisition alive.

Maybe the only way TNA sticks around is to strip it down to near ROH levels in terms of cost and be a cheap way to fill out air time on The Fight Network just like Sinclair does with ROH.

The 10% in outside apperances sounds pretty silly though. Is TNA going to help gte guys booked elsewhere?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk
Man, I can't remember a champ going to afterthought harder than Swagger. Had a world champ leaving a company ever garnered less press or interest?

---

* There is talk of re-shuffling the RAW and Smackdown Live rosters after Wrestlemania through a draft.

* Alberto Del Rio was set to make his debut in TNA at this week's tapings, but the Jeff Jarrett/Bruce Pritchard/Dutch Mantell braintrust deemed him too old and expensive and cancelled his booking

* More TNA news, the long term plan is to get younger. This will allow them to purge the older, more expensive established stars while "re-booting" storylines with newer characters

* WWE is still currently negotiating with the indies in the UK - most prominently Insane Championship Wrestling - but Vince is waffling on whether they will pull the trigger. The idea is to have UK indies and later on US indies provide Network content for a nominal fee. WWE is floating the idea that these small companies will get massive exposure, while Vince will pay next to nothing for content, but then increase the monthly fee.

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by CCharger]

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

* Alberto Del Rio was set to make his debut in TNA at this week's tapings, but the Jeff Jarrett/Bruce Pritchard/Dutch Mantell braintrust deemed him too old and expensive and cancelled his booking
.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by coxito

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

* Alberto Del Rio was set to make his debut in TNA at this week's tapings, but the Jeff Jarrett/Bruce Pritchard/Dutch Mantell braintrust deemed him too old and expensive and cancelled his booking
.

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Not so much...

http://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/spoiler-current-wwe-star-backstage-at-tonights-impact-wrestling-tapings/

Paige is backstage as well, good luck in your future endeavors lady.

---

Yeah, there's a reason to hate dirtsheets, like for when they change their minds about an hour or so after their last bit of "breaking newz". Sigh.

Exciting night ... pic.twitter.com/zZsW8SOn2F

— Ed Nordholm (@EdNordholm) March 2, 2017

quote:

---

Originally posted by coxito

http://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/spoiler-current-wwe-star-backstage-at-tonights-impact-wrestling-tapings/

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Yeah, there's a reason to hate dirtsheets, like for when they change their minds about an hour or so after their last bit of "breaking newz". Sigh.

Exciting night ... pic.twitter.com/zZsW8SOn2F

— Ed Nordholm (@EdNordholm) March 2, 2017

Hopefully Paige isn't that dumb to be caught in a Robbie The Highlander moment, especially when she and her family are looking at making a lot of money with WWE's help from that film Rock is making about them.

---

And Alberto wins the Impact title...because #loltna

What's The Pale Queen Britney Night doing in the Anthem Zone, Josh?!?!?

* Expect Luke Harper to re-align with Bray Wyatt along with Erick Rowan to re-form the Wyatt Family prior to Wrestlemania as way to counter Orton

* One reason the Hardyz left TNA was because the request for complete creative control over their characters was refused. And now they want to go to WWE where the phrase "complete creative control" does nothing but causes sideways glances and giggles?

* Vince is STILL not settled on how to finish Reigns vs. Braun, and most of the Wrestlemania card is still up in the air at this point

Makes sense. If The Hardyz can't do their wacky promos then why not just go back to WWE and make money.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

* Vince is STILL not settled on how to finish Reigns vs. Braun

---

Undertaker shows up. Something something. DQ or double countout or ??? Both look 'strong' because no one eats a pinfall.

EDIT: I swear I only hit "enter" once"

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

EDIT: see above

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

EDIT: whatever 'safeguard' that makes it so you can only post once every 30 seconds obviously was taking a nap.

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

EDIT: my post count is lots higher.

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

EDIT: now much higher +1

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

EDIT: Basically what I'm saying then is....Undertaker shows up. Something something. DQ or double countout or ??? Both look 'strong' because no one eats a pinfall.

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

Sorry, williamssl, I'm not really following what you're trying to say.

Can you post it again?

quote:

---

Originally posted by williamssl
EDIT: Basically what I'm saying then is....Undertaker shows up. Something something. DQ or double countout or ??? Both look 'strong' because no one eats a pinfall.

[Edited on 3-3-2017 by williamssl]

---

Triple H is advertised as teaming with Samoa Joe & Kevin Owens to go up against Chris Jericho & Finn Balor & Sami Zayn at a bunch of house shows.

Not sure if this is going to lead to any matches at Mania outside of Owens vs Jericho (sadly...JeriKO was broken up too soon) but Balor/Sami vs Triple H/Joe could work out. Doubly so if Owen retains on Sunday and Balor is denied a shot at KO by Trips because Balor is injury pone just like Rollins.

Or it could just be Triple H working off ring rust for a bigger match. If everything is up in the air maybe Vince goes 100% Hardy and decides on Triple H vs Taker yet again.

Those six man tags sound amazing. Assuming Rollins is clear, I think we get KO vs Jericho, HHH vs Rollins, Joe vs Balor, and Zayn joins a multiman match.

http://www.oowrestling.com/OOForums/viewthread.php?tid=31726

Fastlane Pick 'em thread is up in the games section for those who are keen to play.

Not really a rumour.

quote:

---

Originally posted by punkerhardcore

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger

* Vince is STILL not settled on how to finish Reigns vs. Braun

---

Doesn't surprise me one bit. That match must be like Sophie's fucking Choice for Vince. I'm anticipating some sort of double DQ, or similar finish so neither guy has to lose.

---

Three way UT/Roman/Strowman at WM works for me. Roman fluke pins Strowman on Sunday, Strowman starts annihilating Reigns, Taker saves. Leads to Roman being the "I don't need your help, dead man" tweener - and puts him in there to bump around for both of the other guys at Wrestlemania and keep the match lively.

quote:

---

Originally posted by GodEatGod
Three way UT/Roman/Strowman at WM works for me.

---

* looks like the Hardys have officially landed at ROH for the time being. Great vid clip attached with a "FUCK TNA!" chant.

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0305/623807/the-hardys-say-they-have-signed-with/

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paddlefoot
* looks like the Hardys have officially landed at ROH for the time being. Great vid clip attached with a "FUCK TNA!" chant.

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0305/623807/the-hardys-say-they-have-signed-with/

---

To be fair to Matt, his "Matt Hardy V.1" character was pretty over. Mattitude even got Shannon Moore a regular pop. Matt Facts were so awesome that they even tried to recycle them with Curt Hawkins.

Jeff didn't really get himself over, it just sort of happened because girls were squeeeing and the Undertaker gave him a Respect Handshake. Oh, and he liked to dive off things like some kind of crazy methed-up bungee jumper with no tether.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero
To be fair to Matt, his "Matt Hardy V.1" character was pretty over. Mattitude even got Shannon Moore a regular pop. Matt Facts were so awesome that they even tried to recycle them with Curt Hawkins.

Jeff didn't really get himself over, it just sort of happened because girls were squeeeing and the Undertaker gave him a Respect Handshake. Oh, and he liked to dive off things like some kind of crazy methed-up bungee jumper with no tether.

---

The main thing about it was that it was so much damn fun while it lasted, the way wrasslin' is supposed to be. Like who could be such an unheralded genius to think up something like saving his brother from his ADDEECTION! by having him spar with a boxing kangaroo?

A lot of people are also giving Jeremy Borash the credit he deserves for handling most of the production duties for the Hardys over the last year. Like he's shown many times over the years in numerous TNA stories Borash has been an integral part in the things TNA managed to do right. I don't know if he'd survive in the larger corporate culture there, or even wants to work for them, but if the opportunity presents itself WWE wouldn't hurt themselves by giving him a shot. Get him on production and work with the road agents just to see what kind of magic might be lying there under the surface with a wrestler who, just like the Hardys, no one would ever expect it from.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero
To be fair to Matt, his "Matt Hardy V.1" character was pretty over. Mattitude even got Shannon Moore a regular pop. Matt Facts were so awesome that they even tried to recycle them with Curt Hawkins.

Jeff didn't really get himself over, it just sort of happened because girls were squeeeing and the Undertaker gave him a Respect Handshake. Oh, and he liked to dive off things like some kind of crazy methed-up bungee jumper with no tether.

---

To go batshit crazy with the joke, I propose the following (bad, but at least not car) analogy:

Matt is a great 'character actor' who can be zany if the role calls for it, and more down-to-earth when that fits the needs. Jack Black-Hardy, if you weeel.

Jeff is that fringe 'artiste' who was not very good at acting, but was interesting when the circumstances around him just let him be him-crazy-self. The Russell Brand of wrestling, perhaps?

Matt was neck and neck with Jeff in 07 as he also got big pops, moved merch and involved in SD's 2nd biggest story. Then his appendix exploded and it was all downhill. He returned in bad shape, moving slower, less confident on the mic, and ending up turning into ''Fatt Hardy''.

My brother and I were talking about this last night and how freakin' MINDBLOWING this career renaissance has been for Matt and, by proxy, for Jeff. I mean, I was even thinking back to Matt's completely lackluster run in ROH back in, what, 2010 or so? Which segued into his lackluster return to TNA and Big Money Matt, etc. (although he did win the title which isn't saying a whole lot). It's just amazing in this business how someone can strike gold out of nowhere, no matter how much you think they're counted out.

Memberberries time!

I 'member when people were making fun of Matt & Reby for posting 'crazy' pictures on twitter. Now Queen Rebecca & Broken Matt are getting paid 'mad' bank (haha synonyms are fun!) for doing that same kinda crazy (admittedly with more clothes on, but still).

We, the people, (shout out to Future Endeavored Swagger) are a fickle lot.

* There is apparently huge heat on Konnan at Impact Wrestling because he was late for the taping and then was a huge dick to everyone including screaming at some of the younger wrestlers. One Impact official was quoted as saying that he "needs to learn that he can't treat the talent here like he does in Mexico".

* The Hardy's deal with ROH is only short term and ROH will only use them to elevate the Young Bucks whereas Bully Ray's deal is long term. Expect the Hardy's to go to New Japan after that rather than WWE.

* The long rumored Shaq/Big Show match for Wrestlemania appears to be on again. Orginally, Shaq blamed the WWE for not getting back to him in time. Big Show blames Shaq for being "too fat". The dirt sheetz are saying it's because Shaq was supposed to pin Show, but with Show's new physique and rejuvenated reaction from the fans, Vince changed those plans. Shaq didn't want to lose and backed out allegedly. However, today on a podcast Shaq said that he spoke with the WWE recently and negotiations are back on for the match.

ETA: There's a bit of a buzz that Vader's recent announcement of health problems was merely a ruse to gather sympathy for a WWE HOF induction. Now that his induction this year seems unlikely, he has begun to accept indie bookings.

[Edited on 3-7-2017 by CCharger]

https://www.facebook.com/1martyjannetty/posts/10210550569014782

Marty Jannetty is claiming he has had an offer to do porno.
$150K for 3 movies.

quote:

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Originally posted by Katie Vick killer
https://www.facebook.com/1martyjannetty/posts/10210550569014782

Marty Jannetty is claiming he has had an offer to do porno.
$150K for 3 movies.

---

If the offer is real, then I have no doubt that Marty will take it as he'll earn more money from appearing in those three films this year than he's probably earned over the last ten years combined.

Following up from the Smackdown thread, on the 3/7 Talking Smack, Miz said to Daniel Bryan that he (Bryan) can't wrestle because of his head, to which Bryan replied, "I can't...or they won't let me? We'll see in a year and half and see what happens."

CCHarger then noted how at the end of the episode, Renee asked, "What's the deal?" and he replies, "I wish I could say more."

The dirtsheets are now saying Bryan's contract runs out in a year and a half and because outside doctors have cleared him already, while WWE docs refuse to, he will leave and wrestle in the indies. Maybe this is a sly "threat" to the WWE since they do not want to lose Bryan, and he can get them to finally relent and let him wrestle again?

[Edited on 3-8-2017 by G-Spot]

Wrestling Observer is reporting that Kairi Hojo has signed a three-year WWE contract. Io Shirai is again considering signing.

For what's it worth, Meltzer claims this is all because Bryan is such a high profile star and it's been noticeable injuries and that there are guys in worse condition wrestling under the normal, hectic WWE schedule.

I don't think we'll see the return of Best Technical Wrestler in the World but Bryan being the most over guy in WWE(he still gets a bigger reaction than anybody else) can probably wrestle a toned down style in other promotions.

Lots of current rumors swirling about that Nakamura won't be coming up right after Mania but will get drafted onto the main roster when they do the draft early in the summer.

More on the Daniel Bryan rumors per the Wrestling Observer:

* Meltzer notes that Bryan said in an interview with Jonathan Coachman last September that every concussion specialist he has met with has cleared him, but it was one test that forced him to retire. However, he said that after researching that one test, he now believes that it shouldn't have held as much credibility as it did.

* Meltzer is reporting that Bryan "was rushed" by Vince to make the retirement speech and Bryan has regretted it ever since and has become resentful towards the front office because of it.

* Meltzer is also reporting that Bryan continues to train and is in better ring shape now than when he last wrestled. He reports that Bryan has worked hard to alter his style to protect his head while still being hard hitting. Reportedly, Bryan would use a more ground-based, grappling, submission style while eschewing the high-flying bumps.

* Bryan has openly expressed the most interest in wrestling for CMLL where he wants to work a angle leading to a hair vs. beard match for CMLL's anniversary show in September 2018. New Japan is also a possible destination.

* Bryan's contract is no longer "frozen" because he is an ongoing, on-screen character and his contract with WWE expires in the summer of 2018 at which point he will be free to walk away from WWE immediately to wrestle elsewhere. Bryan has requested his release frequently in the last year and Vince has not even entertained the idea.

* Meltzer reports that WWE is expected to throw big money at Bryan to stay, but Bryan is a guy who is not motivated by money and he is expected to not re-sign with WWE.

* Meltzer reports that Bryan is "determined to wrestling again" and is "going to do what few would do" meaning walk away from a huge money contract to wrestle somewhere other than the WWE.

Now, say what you want about Meltzer, but this reports are rather specific, so if none of this comes to pass, Meltzer looks like a huge dumbass. Seems unlikely to me that he would be so detailed in this report if he wasn't confident that it was true.

It's the WWE machine, that can all be true but WWE could still find a way to keep Bryan. His family's tv show could be in for an awkward situation as they'd essentially be forced to show and promote a CMLL/NJPW star unless they cut out Brie Bella's life which would mean cut out her pay and hurt her brand. Or send him down to NXT for tag team matches and Goldberg-like bumpless singles matches.

He's the most over performer they have, this isn't another midcarder leaving for greener pastures this is the modern version of Randy Savage leaving to WCW because Vince wouldn't put him back in the ring.

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9
It's the WWE machine, that can all be true but WWE could still find a way to keep Bryan. .

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CCharger
Now, say what you want about Meltzer, but this reports are rather specific, so if none of this comes to pass, Meltzer looks like a huge dumbass. Seems unlikely to me that he would be so detailed in this report if he wasn't confident that it was true.

---

Likely a big part of the WWE benching Bryan is the ongoing lawsuits they have with those 52 former wrestlers (both class actions, and their own suits). While at the heart of these suits is just how informed former talent was (despite many of them wrestling the majority of their careers elsewhere or still wrestling), and that would be easily deflected in the case of Bryan, the optics would be bad, and the lawyer heading the class action suit Konstantine Kyros, has a history of grabbing any headline he can.

quote:

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Can we stop the Vince never bought in to Bryan crap? They built a Mania around him winning the title.

---

quote:

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The next year they positioned him in the same roll as JOHN CENA with the IC title.

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quote:

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They have him in the same position as Mick Foley.

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quote:

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He's been featured on multiple E! reality shows.

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In what might become yet another lifeline that keeps the TNA guys(Impact! Now) alive, ITV is negotiating with Anthem for a new tv show. They want wrestling but don't want the hassle of actually running a wrestling promotion. So they basically want a Lucha Underground-type deal.

This could end up as a simple win/win. A lot of the guys in the Impact roster bounce around other promotions after tapings so they likely could balance out Impact tapings with tapings over the UK(as long as Anthem aren't cheap fucks) and with how well wrestling is doing in the UK, they could draw good crowds and the whole endeavor could make money for everybody. Anthem could fuck up and not make it past the negotation phase but I really hope this all work outs.

quote:

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Originally posted by Cherokee Jack

quote:

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Can we stop the Vince never bought in to Bryan crap? They built a Mania around him winning the title.

---

That only happened at the last minute when Vince was staring down the barrel of his WM30 main event getting completely booed out of the building. They never intended him to be in the main event, I believe the original plan was that he was going to wrestle Sheamus in a meaningless singles match somewhere in the middle of the show.

Oh, and after that Mania he was immediately put into a feud with Kane while Evolution vs. The Shield was presented as the real top story on the shows.
[Edited on 3-10-2017 by Cherokee Jack]

---

WWE's next U.K. championship TV tapings have been set- Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th May at the Epic TV studios in Norwich. This is where WAW, owned by Paige's family, do their TV tapings. It has a capacity of about 1500 so they'll be going for that NXT / Blackpool show vibe.

Announced for the shows: Akira Tozawa, Brian Kendrick, TJ Perkins, Tony Nese, Tyler Bate, Trent Severn,
Mark Andrews, Pete Dunne, and Wolfgang, plus a few others...

I expect they can tape six to eight weeks of TV in one weekend; so this will likely become a network show after May.

quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod
...... because the scrappy, goat-faced indie guy suddenly got uber popular and ate his push.

---

Batista is on record blasting the decision to bring him back as a babyface. He has said it is the reason his run there was so short. He was disgusted with how the entire thing was booked.

quote:

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Originally posted by GodEatGod
Which would be the moment when Vince was fully convinced that Bryan was a top guy. If they weren't convinced by that, they could've put him in the spot and yet not had him go over. The Kane feud was clearly a placeholder feud and Bryan was likely being set up to hold the belt until BROCK at Summerslam.

Should they have been convinced sooner? Probably, but I think their reluctance to put him in that WM had less to do with Bryan himself and much more to do with them having already pre-planned the Batista-Orton main event far in advance and being stubborn about it. In part because of promises made to Batista to bring him back that they more or less had to renege on because the scrappy, goat-faced indie guy suddenly got uber popular and ate his push.

And Shield/Evolution -was- the biggest story on the show, rightfully so, and was an awesome little feud that created the biggest heel turn in the last decade.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
Batista is on record blasting the decision to bring him back as a babyface. He has said it is the reason his run there was so short. He was disgusted with how the entire thing was booked.

---

Yeah, Batista's silence and suspiciously and usually never using Bryan's name during interviews always led me to believe that was all bullshit about him thinking he shoulda been a heel.

So...WWE's twitter acknowledged the fact that Balor returned to action last night at a house show in Buffalo. He, Jericho & Zayn beat Owens, Joe and HHH. Jericho pinned Owens for the win.

Does this mean we can expect him back on Raw this week? Maybe inject himself in the Rollins/HHH/Joe angle to even the numbers?

quote:

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Originally posted by G. Jonah Jameson

WWE clearly saw Daniel Bryan as a top guy prior to the fans' rebellion against the planned Randy Orton-Batista Wrestlemania main event. Otherwise, they wouldn't have had him beat John Cena clean for the WWE Title in the main event of Summerslam seven months prior. Everything about the booking of his subsequent feud with Orton suggests that the plan was for him to win the Royal Rumble, then thunder back to beat Orton at Wrestlemania. In the meantime, WWE could unify the two world titles with a match between Orton and John Cena, its two biggest stars of the past decade.

---

So TNA is now costing other promotions money. They are threatening to sue any cable providers that show the Broken Hardyz and Dish Network didn't air a ROH ppv due to it.

The fact that TNA / Anthem think they have a leg to stand on when Hardy has been selling Broken Hardy merchandise outside of TNA for ages makes me LOLTNA.


So what exactly is it they think they own? As far as I'm aware The Hardys didn't use the word Delete or Broken on the show... Matthew and Jeffrey Hardy are their actual names...

I had hoped the new management would be a bit more professional. Seems not.

[Edited on 3-11-2017 by Gobshite]

Leg to stand on or not, this is the first message that Anthem is sending to their fans and potential talent that will one day decide whether or not to work for them.... not good.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite
I had hoped the new management would be a bit more professional. Seems not.

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Leave it to what-was-once-TNA to actually manage to make Dixie Carter into the lesser evil. Must be a Florida thing, to persistently and successfully do the exact opposite of anything normal or decent.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Leave it to what-was-once-TNA to actually manage to make Dixie Carter into the lesser evil. Must be a Florida thing, to persistently and successfully do the exact opposite of anything normal or decent.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Zeyes

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite
I had hoped the new management would be a bit more professional. Seems not.

---

Shoddily run companies rarely attract interest by actual professionals. Doesn't surprise me at all that the new owners have the same bush league tendencies as Dixie et al. did, even if they do have (presumably) deeper pockets.

---

I mean...I think we all root for Matt and Jeff to continue doing what they do, outside of Impact, but Anthem also has to try and protect what they are claiming is their I.P., right?

I don't really blame them for trying to stop Matt and Jeff from bringing the gimmick/angle that they developed while in Impact, on Impact's television show, and taking it to ROH, WWE or any other wrestling promotion that has a television presence, nationally.

If they don't at least try, then a dangerous precedent is set and it becomes harder to stop more obvious cases in the future, should they appear.

quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero

Seriously. Leonard Asper is a 52-year-old kid who thinks he's still playing with Daddy's Money. Read his wikipedia bio for more details, but basically he's Dixie-with-a-dix.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Sam Is Neat
I mean...I think we all root for Matt and Jeff to continue doing what they do, outside of Impact, but Anthem also has to try and protect what they are claiming is their I.P., right?

I don't really blame them for trying to stop Matt and Jeff from bringing the gimmick/angle that they developed while in Impact, on Impact's television show, and taking it to ROH, WWE or any other wrestling promotion that has a television presence, nationally.

If they don't at least try, then a dangerous precedent is set and it becomes harder to stop more obvious cases in the future, should they appear.

---

Probably a case where Dixie, for whatever reason, was a lot more lenient than the new owners are. They might be trying to scrape every penny they can to keep the damn thing afloat hence them being so dickish at the Hardys, first for wanting probably a large sum to stay and also for depriving Anthem of revenue by taking their gimmick to other places.

Which makes it sound like a VERY "professional" (I use that word perjoratively) decision. Instead of trying to work out some kind of friendly-arrangement, somebody hides behind "hey it's nothing personal; just biz" and then cries havoc & lets slip the dogs of law.

Yeah, before it was merely managerial incompetence. Now it looks like incompetence with a side order of sheer malice added in.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
incompetence with a side order of sheer malice

---

Business management is the perfect example that the human race has stopped evolving. It's nothing but a reward system for psychopaths that don't bother to disguise what they are. To wit:

* apparently the real reason that Anthem is going after Matt Hardy is because he tried to trademark the "Broken" gimmick; they claim that "others" helped him develop it which means he can't claim it all for himself even though the others involved like Dave Lagana, John Gaburick, etc also no longer work for the company anymore; check out Reby's tweetstorms over the past few days because she went fully nuts on Anthem calling them liars multiple times and claimed they even threatened to sue Senor Benjamin (her dad) who has no official contractual connection to the former TNA at all

* Rusev is out of Wrestlemania this year apparently to deal with some shoulder issues; they used the beat down by Big Show at Fastlane as the reason why he won't be around for a while

* Jack Swagger got his official "happy future endeavours" from WWE today and has been released as requested

* Kane is going to be stepping away from wrestling for a bit to focus on a run for mayor of Knox County, TN as the Libertarian candidate.

* Sami Zayn is not in the plans for creative for the near future and could get the Zack Ryder treatment. He is viewed by Vince as a "good hand", but doesn't fit in to any storylines right now.

Reby Hardy, ladies and gentlemen:

The outpouring of support has been so tremendous that you guys have inspired me to release a little somethin...RT !https://t.co/HV9y7g1ADG pic.twitter.com/nL3NaiKD8i

— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 13, 2017

quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
* Sami Zayn is not in the plans for creative for the near future and could get the Zack Ryder treatment. He is viewed by Vince as a "good hand", but doesn't fit in to any storylines right now.

---

Smackdown could use Sami, but would just feed him to Baron Mancrush I suspect.

quote:

---

Originally posted by First 9

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sam Is Neat
I mean...I think we all root for Matt and Jeff to continue doing what they do, outside of Impact, but Anthem also has to try and protect what they are claiming is their I.P., right?

I don't really blame them for trying to stop Matt and Jeff from bringing the gimmick/angle that they developed while in Impact, on Impact's television show, and taking it to ROH, WWE or any other wrestling promotion that has a television presence, nationally.

If they don't at least try, then a dangerous precedent is set and it becomes harder to stop more obvious cases in the future, should they appear.

---

The issue is that when Matt was freely selling his Broken merch they didn't raise a fuzz. Now that the Hardyz turned them down and are heading to greener pastures they lawyer up and get all defensive. It looks less like a business move and more like pettiness. They didn't have an issue with letting Bubba keep the Bully Ray name. Konnan has been freely using LAX. The Motor City Machine Guns also never had an issue. If they were as strict about it as WWE, then there wouldn't be any controversy, but the way they've been so lax about it until now makes it look like a vendetta rather than a typical business move.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero
Smackdown could use Sami, but would just feed him to Baron Mancrush I suspect.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sam Is Neat
Trade Sami Zayn, The Club and Dana Brooke to Smackdown for Baron Corbin, Carmella, and Breezango.

You can put The Club back with AJ, Carmella back with Enzo & Cass, Sami in an actual spotlight, and Corbin can hoss it up with Braun, Roman Show and the rest of the big guys.

---

Bliss needs to stay with the smaller girls though. She's too tiny to get any convincing wins over a gym-beast like Charlotte or a genuine moose like Nia.

Brilliant, Pad! Let's have a FLYWEIGHT WOMEN'S DIVISION!!!! Another 3-person showcase with a belt!

But no, seriously, so what if it's not credible? Daniel Bryan beat Kane. A vegan submission machine beat the HELLFIREANDBRIMSTONE BEAST. Stop it with your credibleness.

I know. It's almost like I never watched wrestling even once in my entire life.

Are you 'bertin me?

My tendency to logic leads me to incessant disappointment tragedy in this mad nonsensical world. Fair fights. Bankers not being criminals. Wrestling making sense. All lies I tell you!

It sounds like you could use a hug. I would do so, but Janerd would no doubt prison shank me for touching his "friendo".

quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero
It sounds like you could use a hug. I would do so, but Janerd would no doubt prison shank me for touching his "friendo".

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#KurtAngle Busted At #SmackDownLIVE #Smackdown #WWE pic.twitter.com/UlAkIRREFt

— Randy Perkins (@randyperkins65) March 14, 2017

quote:

---

Originally posted by denverpunk

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Leave it to what-was-once-TNA to actually manage to make Dixie Carter into the lesser evil. Must be a Florida thing, to persistently and successfully do the exact opposite of anything normal or decent.

---

Quoted for truth, which is why I left.

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(apologies for image sizes)

Hey, I just saw Kurt last Saturday at WLW.



Also got my picture taken with this gentleman:

WWE is bringing a new original program to the WWE Network, called Southpaw Regional Wrestling, a parody of 80's territory TV shows:

Coming this Friday... #SRW pic.twitter.com/BxbqhP4blt

— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2017

I love the last line--

quote:

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According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is currently planning a Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns Universal title match for WrestleMania 34. The plan is to build the match for the entire year, with the goal to make Roman Reigns the next John Cena, which has been the goal since WrestleMania 31.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Count Zero


But no, seriously, so what if it's not credible? Daniel Bryan beat Kane. A vegan submission machine beat the HELLFIREANDBRIMSTONE BEAST. Stop it with your credibleness.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by punkerhardcore
I love the last line--

quote:

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According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is currently planning a Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns Universal title match for WrestleMania 34. The plan is to build the match for the entire year, with the goal to make Roman Reigns the next John Cena, which has been the goal since WrestleMania 31.

---

Yep, seems about right.

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quote:

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Originally posted by First 9

quote:

---

Originally posted by Count Zero


But no, seriously, so what if it's not credible? Daniel Bryan beat Kane. A vegan submission machine beat the HELLFIREANDBRIMSTONE BEAST. Stop it with your credibleness.

---

Well, yeah but Bryan hits like a motherfucker. I can buy those kicks taking down Andre.

Bliss on the other hand has some really soft offense and won't gel against anyone. Nia can maybe work just because of how clumsy and lumbering Nia can sometime be, Charlotte on the other hand would look weird.

---

Maybe Rollins' 'knee-issues-that-mess-up-Wrestlemania-plans' is contagious and Roman catches it.

I'm calling it now (actually I called it a few weeks ago in another thread):

Roman is going to pin Taker clean. Taker officially retires the next night on RAW.

Roman is now billed as the "Man Who Retired the Dead Man".

Think about what a feather in the cap BEATING THE STREAK was for Brock Lesnar. Now think about what a feather in the cap RETIRING THE UNDERTAKER would be. Now picture the size of Vince's boner when both of those guys wrestle EACH OTHER.

The IWC is going to lose it's collective mind.

I guess this is the benefit of two world titles. Vince, Bucky and the WWE universe can have their main event and the IWC can have our main event.

quote:

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Originally posted by Katie Vick killer
I guess this is the benefit of two world titles. Vince, Bucky and the WWE universe can have their main event and the IWC can have our main event.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by bigfatgoalie

A small blonde girl going up against taller or beefier girls would look weird? Oh man...you must have hated Trish beating Jazz, Victoria, and Molly Holly.

As for the Roman Reigns plans...

Roman was beating Brock. Etched in stone right?

And we ofcourse all knew that Goldberg was coming back at this time last year.

Point is, plans change.

With that in mind...ofcourse the current plan would be for Roman to headline next year. They are giving him the Undertaker match and they don't have an obvious top star in waiting outside of Roman/Seth/Dean. Seth has been prone to injury (and kinda sucks as a face just as much as Roman if we are being honest) and Dean is on the other show.

Maybe Finn or Nakamura catches fire. Maybe they turn Owens or AJ. Or maybe with a full year of planning they figure out what made Roman super over before the smart fans turned on him and he actually is a guy who can headline Mania. We don't really know. Yes it's tired to say "hey, wait to see what happens" but getting all raged up a year in advanced is just as tiresome.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9
Reigns vs Lesnar with Reigns finally getting the win has been rumored since Rollins cashed in on them two years ago. I don't see them waiting till WM. That might be our SummerSlam Main Event though.

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Rumor crap:

* AJ Styles firing from Smackdown is expected to result in him being re-hired for RAW

* Goldberg has only the "go home" RAW before Wrestlemania and Mania itself left on his appearance contract althought it's possible he could sign on for future appearances.

* Lesnar's inevitable title win at Mania will mean he will be working more shows than usual.

* Talks about William Regal being added to the HOF this year were premature as it's being reported he will not be inducted

* Some are speculating that Hulk Hogan could be appearing at Wrestlemania, possibly - and I am not making this up - in a segment involving the New Day.

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
WWE is bringing a new original program to the WWE Network, called Southpaw Regional Wrestling, a parody of 80's territory TV shows:

Coming this Friday... #SRW pic.twitter.com/BxbqhP4blt

— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2017

Now this has potential.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Katie Vick killer
I guess this is the benefit of two world titles. Vince, Bucky and the WWE universe can have their main event and also find a way for Cena and Orton to finally have their yearlong Best of Seven series for the other title.

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What happened is Braun asked the media department to make sure to choose a picture that makes him look like a great wrestler. https://t.co/mbuMzQMVGj

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) March 17, 2017

quote:

---

Originally posted by derfsucks

quote:

---

Originally posted by royberto
WWE is bringing a new original program to the WWE Network, called Southpaw Regional Wrestling, a parody of 80's territory TV shows:

Coming this Friday... #SRW pic.twitter.com/BxbqhP4blt

— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2017

Now this has potential.

---

Oh my dear lord, this could be fantastic ...

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I just watched all 4 clips of Southpaw Regional Wrestling and need to see Big Bart get his revenge on that son of a bitch Banker!! Blood feud for the ages!!

quote:

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Originally posted by bigfatgoalie

What happened is Braun asked the media department to make sure to choose a picture that makes him look like a great wrestler. https://t.co/mbuMzQMVGj

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) March 17, 2017

KO is the best.

-great humour
-catching chant "Fight Owens Fight"
-easy to sell "does it for his family"
-can easily be an Austin like anti-face

But nope...Seth and Roman, guys who would be WAY better off as heels...those are your faces to build around.

---

Just watched the Southpaw Regional Wrestling videos. That was glorious.

Well, Paige will probably be back in trouble. Nude pics and a sex tape with Brad Maddox are out in the wild.

If that sex tape was leaked by Brad Maddox, he would be smart to stay as far away from the UK as possible. The Knight family is not a family that you wanna get on the wrong side of.

Well, I for one am glad no one has posted these pictures and videos to the Divas section...

quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
Well, I for one am glad no one has posted these pictures and videos to the Divas section...

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If it was either Paige or Maddox it strikes me as incredibly dumb... I mean what would a sex tape be worth... and with Hogan's Gawker win I'm sure releasing said tape is apt to make any the kind of companies that might release something like this and pay anything close to medium sized bucks pause at least a moment.... If I'm Maddox and didn't leave the WWE on terrible terms I wouldn't want to burn that bridge, and if I'm Paige and I have a Dwayne Johnson driven movie about me coming out odds are I could be looking at some prime cash for a WWE push.

quote:

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Originally posted by anglefan85
Just watched the Southpaw Regional Wrestling videos. That was glorious.

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quote:

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Originally posted by CCharger
Well, I for one am glad no one has posted these pictures and videos to the Divas section...

---

As Michelle Tanner will attest, Janerd.. Well, I'll let her say it..

Seriously though...I want that Southpaw shirt.

She was on thin ice prior to this. Whoever leaked this shit just pretty much cost Paige any chance of returning to the WWE.

I occasionally chat with a woman who used to wrestle in England and personally knows Paige and her family. To say that she is crushed by all of this would be nothing short of an understatement, she has to live right now with the knowledge that this just happened to her friend. I don't even know what to say to her right now, to be honest.

EDIT: Sorry if this comes across as me trying to guilt-trip anyone, just a means of venting is all.

[Edited on 3-17-2017 by anglefan85]

The only thing Paige / Maddox* did wrong is using a pocket vibe for training. That's amateur hour.

*Assuming neither party released the pics & videos without the others consent.

quote:

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Originally posted by Sam Is Neat
Seriously though...I want that Southpaw shirt.

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The circle of Babylonian excess has been expanded to include Xavier Woods. And the one clip of her riding Maddox apparently happened in one of the training rooms at NXT. Plus there's some mention too of Tyler Breeze tappin' that thing as well. Hey, what was NXT really training them for?

Dead pool out of this:

- Paige's career
- Knight family's business (seriously, they're gonna want to put up with British hecklers after this?)
- Rock's film about Paige's family
- New Day

They better have Austin standing by with the zappers in the hospital again because Vince's heart must be about ready to pop.

Honestly, while I understand the personal embarrassment and feeling of violation on her part, I don't see any reason why she should be punished/have her career damaged by it. I know it's likely that it will, but Paige is really young and probably shouldn't have trusted an obvious sleazebag like Maddox with compromising pictures of herself. But...I mean, she's young and horny and did something that seemed exciting at the time without thinking about the consequences. MINDBOGGLING.

But it's not a scandal, not really, except to people who think beautiful, athletic humans who travel together in tight companionship aren't going to fall into the occasional bout of debauchery. Emma Watson and a few other celebs just had similar issues happen to them and nobody thinks their careers are damaged by it (and they have far more wholesome images to maintain).

If I were Maddox, I wouldn't want to run into Alberto at an indie show, though.

Dunno about that. If this expands out to include more names from that generation of NXT'ers this could be a massive black eye for WWE, on par with the damage from a steroid/painkiller/concussion-related death. Attitude Era would go ahead and milk it for all it's worth. PG Era though and a publicly traded company to boot? No way. Heads are gonna roll for this debacle. The releases will just say a blunt "has been released" this time with no "wish them well in their future endeavours" attached.

Think of it. They're incensed when a "CM PUNK!" chant breaks out. There's no way in hell they're going to risk a "NEW DAY.....COCKS!" one from erupting at a live event, and you know that's exactly what's going to happen the second New Day's theme hits on RAW on Monday or, even better, when they begin their hosting duties at WM.

[Edited on 3/18/2017 by Paddlefoot]

One of those videos is definitely not Maddox, and most likely Del Rio. The one where they're fucking on top of something in a mall changing room. If you had to take a guess as to who it was, I'd say it's him; so some of the videos are pretty recent.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Dunno about that. If this expands out to include more names from that generation of NXT'ers this could be a massive black eye for WWE, on par with the damage from a steroid/painkiller/concussion-related death.

[Edited on 3/18/2017 by Paddlefoot]

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Eh, it's just naked pics and sex videos. Seth Rollins is second only to Roman Reigns and he has nude pics for the world to see.

New Day is a merch machine so they won't touch Xavier and you know once The Rock movie is out they'll dust out Paige because WWE are publicity whores. Fans hate Roman Reigns and he didn't get roid chants or anything like it during his little scandal, a beloved act like New Day will be fine.

This can't judge it by individual morals though. It'll be decided by an emergency meeting of a huge publicly traded company that's made having a clean public image one of their highest priorities of the past seven to eight years. There's no way anyone in the top ranks at WWE right now has "they're just young people being stupid so we should give them a break" in their heads right now. All they'll be thinking is pure damage control. Linda McMahon was CEO of WWE and all it's subsidiaries, including FCW/NXT while this was going on. How is this going to play for her, with her position in a GOP administration that owes it's existence to the bible-thumping Christian right-wing, considering that she was thoroughly embarrassed during her Senate campaigns when her opponents brought up risque footage of in-ring performances from the Attitude days?

Give it a couple more days to see what happens as/if more vids are released. This one could end up being the biggest scandal in WWE history.

[Edited on 3/18/2017 by Paddlefoot]

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite
One of those videos is definitely not Maddox, and most likely Del Rio. The one where they're fucking on top of something in a mall changing room. If you had to take a guess as to who it was, I'd say it's him; so some of the videos are pretty recent.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Give it a couple more days to see what happens as/if more vids are released. This one could end up being the biggest scandal in WWE history.

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I can't imagine anyone would get punished for this. It's not like 100% of the audience knows. It would be preIty shitty of WWE to fire Paige for someone illegally posting her private content online. Her movie wouldn't come out until next year anyway, so it's not like this will still be a hot topic.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
The circle of Babylonian excess has been expanded to include Xavier Woods.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Dunno about that. If this expands out to include more names from that generation of NXT'ers this could be a massive black eye for WWE, on par with the damage from a steroid/painkiller/concussion-related death. Attitude Era would go ahead and milk it for all it's worth. PG Era though and a publicly traded company to boot? No way. Heads are gonna roll for this debacle. The releases will just say a blunt "has been released" this time with no "wish them well in their future endeavours" attached.

Think of it. They're incensed when a "CM PUNK!" chant breaks out. There's no way in hell they're going to risk a "NEW DAY.....COCKS!" one from erupting at a live event, and you know that's exactly what's going to happen the second New Day's theme hits on RAW on Monday or, even better, when they begin their hosting duties at WM.

[Edited on 3/18/2017 by Paddlefoot]

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Just checked the new batch of pics and there's one with Paige buck naked only wearing the NXT Women's belt. Hahaha that's fucking great.

quote:

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Originally posted by bigfatgoalie

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Give it a couple more days to see what happens as/if more vids are released. This one could end up being the biggest scandal in WWE history.

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Yeah. Chris Benoit suggests otherwise.

---

This isn't moralizing on my part. I'm just putting forward the belief that as a corporation WWE isn't going to tolerate this, not when their main revenue source is still live events where they can't edit what the fans are going to be shouting at the performers. This is massively different from Vince's multiple affairs or the activities of the Kliq in hotel rooms or anything that happened in the locker rooms before everyone had a goddamn camera built into their phone and was incessantly taking pictures of themselves. It's a sea-change between now and even a decade ago before the selfie effect got so prevalent.

Benoit killing Nancy and their son was a tragedy...that turned scandalous when his mental health, and reliance on drugs became an issue. It's the reason for the Wellness Policy.

But if that doesn't do it for you...Vince being accused of distributing drugs. Patterson fucking minors working as ring crew. Lots of things much worse than Paige having video of her attempt to out do Sunny and Melina.

I mean even if they want to punish Paige they ain't shit they can do. She's not a featured performer so a depush is out of the question and if you fire her, get ready for the shitstorm that they would get for punishing the victim of the whole situation.

This is just sex videos. Paige and Xavier aren't criminals, they're not drug addicts, they're just victims. And I wouldn't worry about fan chants. People actually like Xavier so the hecklers would be in a very low number and by the time Paige is back onscreen this would have dissipated.

The next few days will tell the truth. Either nothing happens or there'll be a handful of roster spots opening up ASAP. Regardless of all that, right now there's probably a few dozen WWE talents in a panic wiping out the picture and video galleries of the last five years worth of smart phones they've owned. And desperately asking for help from any tech-savvy buddies on how to clear out anything that they think might have been uploaded to a storage cloud.

Regardless of whatever side you take, there is definitely going to be fallout of some kind. Just been pervin' on some of the new footage. Graphic footage. And one of the participants is 1/3 of the hosts of Wrestlemania. Y'know, the one two weeks from now? If it were, say, Battleground or Extreme Rules, yeah maybe the rap they get booked for is Administrative Kerfuffle feat. Wrist Slap. But "The Grandest Stage of Them All"? Oy.

Unless they milk it (heh) and go hard (heh heh) for the millennial sex tape demo, I'd be curious how they just shrug their shoulders and tell Xavier to go out there and ignore the "You took Paige to �town and Brad filmed it!" *clap clap clapclapclap* Okay, the chant needs work but you get the idea.

There must be a non-stop train of kittens flying out of Vince's arse right now. To Golly! and Beyonnnnnnnd!



ETA: Oh yeah, RAM (heh) is in Brooklyn this Monday and the go home RAM (heh heh) before WM is in Philly.



ETA2: I was only peripherally paying attention to the stuff Rock was doing for that Knight family movie a few weeks ago after that RAM when he called Punk and left a voicemail. It just dawned on me how truly fucked this all is when WWE and The Family were going back and forth over her suspensions yet somehow they're all working together on a story about The Family's life, and now this? Well, they're got mainstream publicity for the film now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_with_My_Family

Welp, I'm calling it: Vince is now in Chicago personally beating Dr. Chris Amann to death with a barbwire-wrapped bat and throwing bars of gold-pressed latinum through Punk's windows just to get him to show up for the thunderous CMPUNKCMPUNKCMPUNK! chants that will short circuit any other naughty thing the crowd comes up with.

[Edited on 3-18-2017 by janerd75]

And now there's a pic where Paige's face and the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP getting jizzed on. I think there's a 50/50 chance Vince is beyond pissed or is laughing his ass off.

I think you're all making the crowds sound more rowdy than they really are. Rollins was fine after dick pics, Reigns(who fans are prediposed to want to fuck with) didn't get roid chants. Woods is a lot lower in the totem pool and enough people probable won't care to get a big cheer going.

Plus, Philly cheered Roman Reigns 2nd title win for fuck's sake, they're no longer smark central

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9
And now there's a pic where Paige's face and the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP getting jizzed on. I think there's a 50/50 chance Vince is beyond pissed or is laughing his ass off.

I think you're all making the crowds sound more rowdy than they really are. Rollins was fine after dick pics, Reigns(who fans are prediposed to want to fuck with) didn't get roid chants. Woods is a lot lower in the totem pool and enough people probable won't care to get a big cheer going.

Plus, Philly cheered Roman Reigns 2nd title win for fuck's sake, they're no longer smark central

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Is there Tag Team Gold for #HouseHardy to PROCURE in #SouthpawRegionalWrestling? https://t.co/Uq4hrqnKm7

— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 17, 2017

Who was taping Brad Maddox taping Xavier and Paige? 🤔#WWE pic.twitter.com/fNJbUcCHHc

— Jeff Miguel (@JeffMiguel_YYC) March 18, 2017

quote:

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Originally posted by First 9
And now there's a pic where Paige's face and the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP getting jizzed on. I think there's a 50/50 chance Vince is beyond pissed or is laughing his ass off.

I think you're all making the crowds sound more rowdy than they really are. Rollins was fine after dick pics, Reigns(who fans are prediposed to want to fuck with) didn't get roid chants. Woods is a lot lower in the totem pool and enough people probable won't care to get a big cheer going.

Plus, Philly cheered Roman Reigns 2nd title win for fuck's sake, they're no longer smark central

---

From the sounds of things, Vince is in his own little world at the moment as shortly after some of the Woods related leaks started happening he sent a tweet out saying "New Day Rocks". The tweet was aimed at Woods's up up down down show hitting a million youtubers, but would have to assume that Vince was not in the know at the time he sent out that tweet.

I was out with my teenage niece at a Leafs game a few weeks ago and she must have shot and uploaded maybe a couple dozen selfie of herself to instagram or whatever it is that kids do... it got me thinking that in this era when everyone has a camera with them at all times this and probably the last generations sense of privacy is virtually nil... what with tweets, Facebook and all that other crap service as an outlet for constant pictures and stream of consciousness thoughts hitting the public domain without a thought about what tomorrow might hold... not to sound like an old man (I'm 38), tin foil hat wearing guy thinking the government is watching us all, or a luddite, but it genuinely scares me this whole cloud thing and how haphazardly people just throw any sense of privacy they have out the window... or in this case into the ether... I mean yeah, we're a wrestling board so its shocking its Paige and a few others, but weren't there like 4 other celeb private pictures/vids go out this week as well... I mean soon everyone will have a sex tape or something like that out there.... not only that there's the joke about say Facebook where if the government knocked on your door and said hey tell me about yourself you'd be hesitant... but you just throw it out there on FB with pictures, and are kind enough to label everyone's names in there to boot.

Roster reaction should be hilarious. If they kick someone out of the locker room for a year for not saying hello to the veterans in a respectful enough manner or eating a chicken wing over someone else's travel bag what would the wrassler's court verdict be for defiling the locker room by shooting jizz where other people have to walk or sit down? And for using a title belt as a cum-sponge that four women who carried it afterwards were oblivious to how Paige had treated it?

These are the sorts of things hovering over the issue that make me believe it's not going to be forgotten or forgiven any time soon.

In today's technonvrionment, one thing is very important to remember. *Puts on Count Obvious hat*

'The Cloud' is just 'somebody else's computer/server rack'. That's something most people don't always consider when they upload their everything to it.

No way the suits let the wrestlers do any sort of punishment like throwing people out of lockerooms. Anything like that can and will be misconstructed as WWE condoning the punishment of victims who got hacked. Yeah, wrestlers might be pissed but PR managers are going to tell them to stuff it.

The only thing they can do is wait for her contract to run out or if the movie becomes a hit and they want to cash in, hope it's all died down.

Former WWE wrestler JTG tweeted...

"So @SevenBucksProd Who do I talk to about auditioning For the role of Xavier Woods in the Upcoming Paige movie?"

https://twitter.com/Jtg1284/status/842941748233957376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Didn't Paige already ask for a release once before, and was denied? If they really want to punish Paige for this, they just have to Rey Mysterio her, and extend her contract to cover while she's been out injured. Yeah they'll lay her, but it probably won't be a lot and it'll keep her from working Indy shows / impact, UK stufff etc.

Too bad New Day wasn't still feuding with Rusev. Would have been hilarious to hear Woods tell Lana to be quiet or she would become another "Page" in his book.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gobshite
Yeah they'll lay her, but it probably won't be a lot and it'll keep her from working Indy shows / impact, UK stufff etc.

---

In non-Paige related news, the International Business Times is reporting that Vince McMahon's plan after Wrestlemania is to spend the next year making Brock Lesnar the most dominant, unbeatable monster heel in the history of the business - and then have him lose clean to Roman Reigns next year at Wrestlemania. That way, the IBT reports, fans will just HAVE to cheer for Roman and it will inevitably lead to Roman Reigns becoming the next John Cena. Vince will literally being printing money.

At least that's the WWE's plan.

Back to Paige related news...there are also new stolen/leaked pics over the weekend of Kaitlyn (Celeste Bonin), Summer Rae and Christy Hemme. There's some question that the Summer ones might be faked, but the others aren't. Not that interesting a revelation, since nudes of both have been available everywhere for years.

Paige's father Ricky Knight wrote the following on his Facebook page regarding the private photos/videos that were recently leaked online:

quote:

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my last say on the scandal surrounding my daughter I have just spoken to her over Facebook and I am worried for her mental health or worse ffs world get a grip she has not killed anyone robbed anyone she was having sex in a private situation between consulting adults and then has been betrayed by some low lifes as her dad I urge people to back off as I say I am very worried for her it will be no good backing her when its too late like many other celebrities who have left us."

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quote:

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"I cannot lose my little girl!! The whole family has taken so much shit, being blasted from all angles. But none of this is worth it. There is a broken soul here. I am on the verge of breaking over this and I cannot deal with anymore. We are crushed. I really don't know how much more I can take, well done to those that thought this was a great idea, well done to those tagging us in pics and videos. You have done what you wanted to do let's hope to God you don't take from me one of my most treasured gifts."

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quote:

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Sat with my husband, he is sobbing, he can't even speak. I'm losing everything I love, the business we love will kill us it seems.

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I dunno ... seems to me that this story has had plenty of "happy endings".

quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
I dunno ... seems to me that this story has had plenty of "happy endings".

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quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
I dunno ... seems to me that this story has had plenty of "happy endings".

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What Janerd is to legally questionable GIFs, I am to one sentence replies.

quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
What Janerd is to legally questionable GIFs, I am to one sentence replies.

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You complete me.

quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
You complete me.

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quote:

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Originally posted by janerd75

quote:

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Originally posted by DKBroiler
You complete me.

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We all cOOmplete each OOther here.

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Yeah, a lot of this stuff is just a bit sickening. I get that she did something stupid, it seems like most people around her age do. But it's not like she wanted this stuff to get out to the public. It got leaked, and it feels like she just needs to get her life in a better place, surrounded by better people. I hope for her sake she gets everything turned around, stops being around people she doesn't need to be around, and, hell, maybe her not being in the public eye for a while would do her good.

So Paige is 20-21 in some of those clips? Brad Maddox is 8 years older than her, 27-28. Guess he found it easier to tap a youngster. I'm not saying she was na�ve, but I'm sure she was pretty open to try anything.
I get the feeling the WWE knew about his dirtbaggery. That could be what led to his release.

A 27/28 year old man having sex with a 20/21 year old woman is not that scandalous. Pretty, uh, normal actually...

Yea, probably. I just prefer women closer to my own age or a touch older. To each his own.

Jim Ross's wife was seriously injured when a car struck the Vespa she was riding:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/jim-ross-wife-seriously-injured/

Not good at all. Prayers to Jim and his family.

quote:

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Originally posted by Laruecifer
So Paige is 20-21 in some of those clips? Brad Maddox is 8 years older than her, 27-28. Guess he found it easier to tap a youngster. I'm not saying she was na�ve, but I'm sure she was pretty open to try anything.
I get the feeling the WWE knew about his dirtbaggery. That could be what led to his release.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Wikipedia
Kluttz debuted on April 2, 2008 on the OVW tapings teaming up with Galvin Garrison against Dewey and Adam Revolver, which they lost, he used the name Brent Wellington. He won his first match on October 1, 2008 in an Eight-Man Tag Team match, alongside Galvin Garrison and Moose, they called themselves Theta Lambda Psi. On December 24, 2008 Kluttz had a title match for the OVW Heavyweight Championship against Aaron "The Idol" Stevens, which he lost.

After he was defeated, he adopted the nickname "Beef" and changed his gimmick to that of a necrophiliac.

---

They called him Beef Wellington, in 2008 and gave him a necrophile gimmick.

Beniot had a tag partner named Biff Wellington, back in the Stampede days. Biff died of heart attack and his body was found the same day as the Beniot tragedy.

Sounds like wiki bs or sick rib.

So Meltzer is reporting no action will be taken against Woods or Paige UNLESS a major sponsor specifically brings up a complaint. So either they are trying to pass the buck, or nothing is to come of this.

All the ''hero/the man/yeaah'' internet memes and comments on Xavier Woods are making me wonder if he won't walk out this in a better spot. Rowdy Brooklyn just did ''We want Woods' chants when it came to him and gave him one of the loudest reactions of the night when he appeared onscreen.

quote:

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Originally posted by bigfatgoalie
So Meltzer is reporting no action will be taken against Woods or Paige UNLESS a major sponsor specifically brings up a complaint. So either they are trying to pass the buck, or nothing is to come of this.

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The high horses some of you ride on are quite impressive. Here are the rules ... 18 to party, 21 to drink. When people assign arbitrary rules to what consenting adults can do with each other, you're way more disgusting than any two adults (or 3 in this case) who have sex with each other.

I completely agree with everything Broiler just said.

...and that's just in America.

Mind your own business, you high-horses nancies. Let the girl fuck whomever, WHENEVER she wants and let the guys bang whomever, WHENEVER they want.

Stolen phones are private property and they shouldn't be punished for it.

Yes, those people who say "Hey, cell phones get stolen and hacked all the time so maybe it's a really bad idea to take pics and videos on it that can drastically change the course of your life if stolen" are disgusting pigs.

I give zero fucks about who anyone fucks, but anyone who films or takes sex pics is asking for a lot of trouble, and that goes for anyone in them. Right or wrong, thems the facts.

Not putting yourself in the position to be a victim of theft used to be considered pro-active common sense. Now if you say to someone "lock up your bicycle in the garage at night so it won't get stolen" gets you labelled as almost as much of a villain as the one who inevitably steals the bike.

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddlefoot
Not putting yourself in the position to be a victim of theft used to be considered pro-active common sense. Now if you say to someone "lock up your bicycle in the garage at night so it won't get stolen" gets you labelled as almost as much of a villain as the one who inevitably steals the bike.

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Yeah, but maybe she wants that on her phone for her own personal reasons. My ex wanted to keep a sex tape we had because she loved watching herself suck dick. She LOVED watching herself give head.

Ok, I take back the part about agreeing with calling those people "disgusting pigs" for getting on her about it.

Common sense, yeah, but still, if she's put the videos on her phone, chances are she really wants them there and might have not minded the videos getting out. Honestly, she gets more media attention than any of the other Divas, which for her, might be something she likes. We really don't know the reasons for any of this stuff happening or why they choose for it to happen.

The girl isn't shy about letting us know how batshit she is, so really, what's the point of continuing to criticize her about it? For me, she's fucking nuts, but I don't think she should ever be punished for that. Same way I never felt Hogan should be punished or criticized for his sex tape.

How we, as humans, choose to act and be intimate with each other is an extremely private thing. We can easily say "you're asking for trouble by putting that on your phone", but really, it's still her business, and Xavier and Maddox obviously agreed to it, which makes it their business, too.

Is she a disgusting pig? Not at all. People can bang whoever they want and have people nut, piss, and shit on them all they want. If it makes her happy, then that's great.

If anything, just blame her for being dumb enough to get her cell phone stolen, which lead to this getting out there.

Paige MIGHT BE a careless idiot, not a pig. And neither are any of you. But I think some of you should focus more on how careless she might be rather than focusing on her willingness to bang on camera. We don't even know how it got stolen. Maybe some dude broke into her locker. I know most people don't just leave their phones unattended. Most people lock up their phones or hide them somewhere safe.

If it was out in the open, then yeah, boo on her. But that's a stretch, so I think blaming her for this at all is kinda shitty.

At the end of the day, some asshole (The real villain here) stole her shit. How would you feel if you had a sex tape and someone stole it from your ex or something and showed it to the world? Would you blame yourself, or curse the asshole who actually went through the trouble to be a malicious enough to steal your property?

[Edited on 3-22-2017 by CamstunPWG187]

^Nice post.

But the term "victim" as lots of different shades. Is Paige a victim? Of course. She has been humiliated worldwide and she doesn't deserve that. I really don't think anybody would say otherwise, and I truly feel horrible for her (and Xavier for that matter, even though via double standards and fucked up social mores, it will affect him much less).

But unless if she was in those videos via force, impairment, or hidden camera, then let's not act like she bears no responsibility in this. Yes, the true dirtbag is the one who hacked and released the videos, but from what I can tell she agreed to star in an amateur porn and had no problem with it before it got leaked, so that's on her too. I really don't think pointing that out makes someone an asshole.

[Edited on 3-22-2017 by denverpunk]

quote:

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Originally posted by CamstunPWG187Would you blame yourself, or curse the asshole who actually went through the trouble to be a malicious enough to steal your property?

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Well, I did mention all of the points previously...

I mean, yeah, she might have been totally careless. Which is why I said "if so, boo on her"

But at the end of the day, we don't know exactly how this happened. When those details get out and it's concrete, then we will have an idea of how dumb/careless she may or may not be.

Good to see then, just like Maddox and Xavier, that we're kind of on the same.....page.

That's it for tonight, folks. You've been a wonderful audience. Drive home safely and I am outta here!

I'll ride my horse carefully through Hyrule and promise not to run over a dog

I agree with a lot of issues raised by different posters here. I believe in the absolute sanctity and inviolability of personal property as much as is humanly practical. Sure you should be able to keep that recording of you at the donkey show in Tijuana inserting ping pong balls into Felina's chocha with your mouth and feel safe that it's for Your Eyes Only. But it doesn't change the fact that, especially in this day and age, one must must be careful, especially hot chick celebrities that every sleaze out there is looking to get the goods on, when it comes to digital storage of illicit acts.

Coming from a different angle (golly these are getting too easy), while I think that some of the participants may have shown a sliding scale of mild-to-medium grade bad judgment regarding where they recorded their acts, the biggest issue I can see for the WWE is what item of theirs was involved in said acts. While I'm absolutely 100% sure there have been insane sexual escapades going on backstage in locker rooms probably since the beginning of pro wrestling, for much of that time there were no cell phones available to capture the action. Unless, of course, Cornette's got a bunch of VHS tapes degrading away somewhere with some (more) twisted Sunny shit on them.

Regardless, many wrasslers weren't dumb enough to record themselves getting trained in the training room like our beloved yet beleaguered dumdum Paige. Who gives a fuck about the who and what they were doing. Again, from WWE's perspective, it's the where. Regardless, it's a pardonable "sin" as it was just fucking betwixt consenting adults and thank Chuck neither Woods nor Maddox were slamming fat rails of white lightening off her tits and ass in any of the videos, which would have most certainly moved the dial into unpardonable toot sweet in WWE's eyes.

Of all the "bad" things to come out (goddamnit) from this, I think the biggest issue for WWE, the icing on the cake if yew wheeyul Daddeh, is the DNA hosing of the title belt that stings their eyes the most. Again, while I'm certain some twisted shit has happened with and to WWE belts over the years, precisely none of said incidents (that I'm aware of) in all those years were ever recorded and presented to the public. Hell, a Jurassic Park-esque mad scientist could probably make clones of just Shawn and Hunter, let alone anyone else, by getting some swabs of The Juice of Life off the old belts they held. Agayn, no footage, no problem.

Sure, when diagrammed out it's a fine line between getting blame shamed by getting caught with a jizzed up title belt next to your face and the higher ups knowing this shit has gone on for years with other wrasslers, but agayn agayn, in the latter case there's no footage while in the former the WWE's brand has a no-no bodily fluid proudly displayed all over it. Certainly, people can fuck, but if said people are involving one of their employer's coveted branded props in their romps, it may not be wise to record such a thing.

Unfortunately for her, while she did absolutely nothing wrong on her adventures in Poundtown, that image of her and the belt are out there forever and realistically I think WWE has to hold that as the strike against her going forward. It is, as they say, a sticky situation for everyone, especially with the Rock's movie about her family still being filmed right now.

Golly, that's a lot of words. King BOOKAH! says basically the same thing, with nary a shucky-ducky-cum-cum-quack-quack in there:

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0322/624351/booker-t-on-paige-hacked-photos-and-videos/

Once the images are out there then they're out there for good, as witnessed by the legions of losers still wanking it to old night-vision footage of Paris Hilton. Normal life not possible afterwards, as testified to by the periodic story here and there of a porn star trying to leave the business behind and live quietly. They inevitably get outed and end up losing their job once it's found out who they are. Not fair maybe but that's the world as it is.

I'tll just be a case of positive momentum vs Paige's lowered stock. If the movie is a hit or a string of injuries gives Paige a short boost back on top and she leverages that into becoming a key player again.

WWE ran the risk of ''WWE Champion fired due to drug testing'' becoming a news headline when they made Jeff Hardy Champion several times but they just couldn't miss out on that sweet merch money. If the movie or Paige herself makes her stand out the company at the very least will keep her.

Welp, Paige isn't coming back any time soon. Or possibly ever.



[Edited on 3-22-2017 by anglefan85]

Looks like they could get some more mileage out of the old I'm Your Papi t-shirts by having all the guys in the locker room wear them.

Sorry to bring the room down from all the Paige-ifying, but if there was anything that I wish was a rumour it would be this. Doesn't look like J.R.'s wife is doing too well after her accident.

https://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/51427

quote:

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Originally posted by janerd75
Sorry to bring the room down from all the Paige-ifying, but if there was anything that I wish was a rumour it would be this. Doesn't look like J.R.'s wife is doing too well after her accident.

https://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/51427

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quote:

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Originally posted by royberto

quote:

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Originally posted by janerd75
Sorry to bring the room down from all the Paige-ifying, but if there was anything that I wish was a rumour it would be this. Doesn't look like J.R.'s wife is doing too well after her accident.

https://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/51427

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Sadly, she has now passed away:

http://411mania.com/wrestling/jim-ross-wife-is-on-life-support/

Condolences to JR and his family.

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