OORick
Intellectual Savior of the Masses 
Posts 3638
Registered 12-27-2001 Location - The Birthplace of Aviation Member Is Offline Mood: Flyered Up
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 08:56 PM |
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PPV DISCUSSION: (Mostly) RAW presents WWE Payback (April 30, 2016)
Tonight, wrestling fans get to enjoy the last vestiges of the Pre-Up-Shooken WWE Roster, as an allegedly RAW-only PPV features both of
SmackDown's singles champions in marquee match-ups.
Here's the full card:
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt (House of Horrors Match)
Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho (US Title Match)
Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe
Hardy Boyz vs. Cesaro/Sheamus (Tag Title Match)
Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss (Women's Title Match)
Neville vs. Austin Aries (Cruiserweight Title Match)
Enzo & Cass vs. Gallows & Anderson (Pre-show Match)
MizTV w/ Finn Balor (Pre-Show Feature)
Orton's WWE Title is not on the line in his gimmick match against Bray. All indications are that significant portions of the "match" will be
pre-taped, although the finish will take place in front of the live audience.
I cannot come up with the words to describe how pre-sanded my vagina is when contemplating how bad this entire feud has been, and how awful it sounds
like tonight's "match" will be.
Reigns vs. Strowman has been built up to the point where it's the obvious main event. But with WWE intent on protecting/pushing both men,
it'll be curious to see if tonight nets us a clean finish and a definitive end to the feud... if so, that would also tip WWE's hand in
terms of who will challenge WWEU Champ Brock Lesnar, who is set to return for June's Extreme Rules PPV. And if not? They could easily kick the
can down the road with a finish that leads to a Rubber Match (and maybe an Ambulance Match, or something) at Extreme Rules for Reigns/Strowman...
Luckily for me (and most of us, I presume), those might be the "top two" matches, but they are FAR from the best reasons to tune into Payback
tonight! Both Owens vs. Jericho and Rollins vs. Joe could turn into Match of the Year candidates, if everything falls into place.
Owens vs. Jericho seems like a forgone conclusion, as Jericho is taking time off to tour with Fozzy during the concert and festival season...
he'll be back by SummerSlam, is the thinking, but there's no way the US Title is sitting idle for 2-3 months. However, Jericho also loves
to toy with us with his comings and goings, so winning tonight, and losing again on Tuesday (or suffering some kind of serious beatdown that vacates
the title) might not be out of the question.... and let's all remember that they've been bending over backwards to emphsize the awkward
stip that Owens is property of SD no matter what, but if Jericho wins the title, he ALSO joins SD. Which actually could be a good spot for him, in the
long run (sort of the companion piece to John Cena, so that the brand can always have at least 1 of their Babyfaces Emeritus hanging around the active
roster)....
Rollins vs. Joe is much more wide open, simply because Rollins continues to have enemies in high places. On paper, the guy who just beat Triple H
seems to have a jetpack strapped to his back and gets the win as part of the push... but any number of shenannigans could come into play to give Joe a
win and extend the on-going Rollins vs. Authority subtext.
I'm also very much looking forward to the tag title match. Just on the face of it, those four should be able to put together an exciting
match.... but moreso than that, it just feels like SOMEthing's gotta give on the character side. You're either gonna see the Hardys move
towards being "Broken" or Cesaro/Sheamus finally given in to the Dark Side and go full heel (after 2 weeks of barely-repressed prickly heat). Or
both, if Cesaro and Sheamus cheat to win the titles, causing Matt to re-break...
Gotta figure Bayley and Neville are strong favorites to retain their respective titles, but in both cases, you can also expect solid matches,
regardless. Neville and Aries have already proved it with their WM Pre-show match, and while Alexa's in-ring work still trails her character
work, she's a much needed breath of fresh air for a RAW women's division that seemed to feature the same 3 women on permanent spin cycle
for a year...
Pre-show stuff seems interesting enough... especially the MizTV with Finn Balor. Everything was set up for Ambrose vs. Miz for the IC Title, but now,
looking at upcoming house show line-ups, WWE seems to have had a change of heart, and is doing Miz vs. Finn and Ambrose vs. Wyatt. Huh. I guess we
find out how they start moving that direction tonight on the pre-show?
That's all I got. For as crappy as the top stuff might be, there's a lot of awesome that could happen earlier on in the show. I'll
be there. Will you?
Rick
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williamssl
Steers and Queers 
Posts 7604
Registered 1-11-2004 Location Hippieville Member Is Offline Mood: Fuck USC
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 09:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by OORick
Orton's WWE Title is not on the line in his gimmick match against Bray. All indications are that significant portions of the "match" will be
pre-taped, although the finish will take place in front of the live audience.
I cannot come up with the words to describe how pre-sanded my vagina is when contemplating how bad this entire feud has been, and how awful it sounds
like tonight's "match" will be.
Anyone 'member WM 12 and the Hollywood Backlot Brawl match? I do. And not in a good way. Pre-taped most-of-'match' beforehand,
spilling into the arena for the finish.
And just to be clear, my negative memories have nothing to do with (1) Piper subbing for Ramon as a last minute switch and (2) the fact that the event
was in Anaheim which is a good hour-on-a-good-day-in-L.A.-area-traffic from Hollywood.
I anticipate this match being less good, or rather more bad because there wasn't much good in what it's being compared to. Stupid
pre-tape shit.
I read somewhere that was previewing tonight's event that Alexa Bliss had never been on the winning side against Bayley....ever, in NXT and WWE.
Not in 1:1 matches. Not in any sort of tag team combination. Never. That they've fought bunches, but no Alexa win. Anyone with more NXT
familiarity able to corroborate that?
EDIT: according to this, it's true that Alexa has never been
on the winning side.
[Edited on 5-1-2017 by williamssl]
Don't Mess With Texas
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First 9
The Rowdy One
Posts 2330
Registered 1-22-2013 Member Is Offline Mood: Doing the Emma Dance
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 10:19 PM |
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Rollins has been good since his come back last year but he really hasn't had a great, MOTYC since the Triple Threat with Brock and Cena.
I think the guy is right there with AJ as one of the best in the entire roster and maybe he can click with Joe to deliver a barnburner.
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the goon
Sister Act
Posts 6228
Registered 3-13-2004 Location Charlotte, NC Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 10:27 PM |
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This is one of those PPVs where I'm not really excited about it, but when looking at the matches, there's lot of potential: Rollins/Joe,
Jericho/Owens, Hardys/Cesaro and Sheamus, Neville/Aries, and even Reigns/Strowman all could deliver.
My picks:
Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman: I'm sure others will disagree with me here, but I think they should have Reigns destroy Strowman just to
shake things up a bit. The last time Reigns got a legit face reaction was when he murdered Triple H at Survivor Series 2015 (which of course they
fucked up the next night by having him just be the same old Roman Reigns), so I think they need to go in that direction here...have Roman destroy
Strowman to the point where refs and security are coming out to keep Reigns off of him and people are wondering "wait, is this a double-turn?" Oh,
and I guess if I'm picking a winner, I'll go with Reigns.
Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt: The best we can hope for here is some train-wrecky fun (and if they're smart, they let Matt and Jeff have some
input on this match  ). I'm gonna go with Bray to win, since it's non-title and getting a victory over Orton would give him some momentum
after jumping to RAW. Which probably means that Orton wins so that he can go into his big feud with Jinder Mahal looking strong.
Kevin Owens vs Chris Jericho: With Jericho going on tour with Fozzy and the "if Jericho wins, he goes to Smackdown" stipulation, I'd
say this is a pretty obvious win for Owens, so I'm going with him. Though when it comes to Jericho, it's best to not always expect the
obvious, so who knows.
Seth Rollins vs Samoa Joe: Outside of the potential for this to be a great match, I really like how it could easily go either way: Rollins
could use another big victory to carry his babyface momentum after beating Triple H at WrestleMania, but Joe has been portrayed as an uber-badass
since coming to RAW. I'm gonna go with Joe winning here, after some kind of Triple H or Stephanie interference.
The Hardy Boyz vs Sheamus/Cesaro: I think this feud has been pretty well done so far and both singles matches on RAW involving these four have
been solid. I'll go with Matt and Jeff to retain, but I don't think it will be the end of the feud.
Bayley vs Alexa Bliss: I really want to go with Alexa winning the belt here, but I just don't see Bayley dropping it until Sasha
Banks (presumably) turns heel on her. So I'll go with Bayley to retain, though I wouldn't be shocked if Alexa wins.
Neville vs Austin Aries: Glad to see these two make the main PPV card after being relegated to the WrestleMania kickoff show. I'd love to
see Aries get the belt here (and don't think it's outside the realm of possibility), but Neville should be pushed to the moon with the
"King of the Cruiserweights" gimmick, so I'll pick him to retain.
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Count Zero
The Rowdy One 
Posts 2081
Registered 1-29-2013 Location Canada East Member Is Offline Mood: Heat Vacuum
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 10:52 PM |
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There -does- seem to be a lot of "good match" potential, as Mr. the goon just wrote, but I'm somehow not interested in the "storylines"
surrounding most of the matches. :-( The Hardyz & Y2J/KO are things that pique my curiosity, but they're not piquey enough for me to spend a
bunch of time waiting for them to show up on the card. sOOooo... I'll check in periodically to see who's getting
buried/pushed/jobbed/Romaned.
I hope all y'all who decide to watch enjoy what you're watching!  And remember not to bitch about things, or somebody will troll you.
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williamssl
Steers and Queers
Posts 7604
Registered 1-11-2004 Location Hippieville Member Is Offline Mood: Fuck USC
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 11:14 PM |
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I was extremely angry that Orton/Wyatt was originally for the title because, with Bray moving to Raw, it was going to be oh so obvious that Orton
wasn't losing the title. I then became extremely angry that it was made non-title because why the hell would Bray give up his rematch??? That
made him look sooo stupid.
I know that every single one of you, who are all hardcore smarks just like me, feel exactly the same.
Don't Mess With Texas
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diablo_dor
Showstopper 
Posts 545
Registered 1-11-2010 Member Is Offline Mood: confuffled
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| posted on 4-30-2017 at 11:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by williamssl
I was extremely angry that Orton/Wyatt was originally for the title because, with Bray moving to Raw, it was going to be oh so obvious that Orton
wasn't losing the title. I then became extremely angry that it was made non-title because why the hell would Bray give up his rematch??? That
made him look sooo stupid.
I know that every single one of you, who are all hardcore smarks just like me, feel exactly the same.
I want to be angry.
But I have never actually cared about a Bray match since Shield vs Wyatt Family was not made Elimination Chamber.
Bray may go down as the worst first WWE Title run of all time and I just can't see this match overcoming the ridiculous stip...
A rematch to a WrestleMania WWE Title match were the championship changed hands
Has been made a gimmick match whilst never actually explained what the gimmick is.
is non title despite the challenger still entitled to a rematch, no explanation either.
while the champion doesn't have his belt and isn't facing the man who stole it.
Weird rumours of Jericho odds on to take the win are intriguing though with AJ Number 1 contender I would assume DQ win for the winner leaves town
match...
Clear eyes full heart can't lose
Win if you can lose if you must, but always cheat!
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Count Zero
The Rowdy One
Posts 2081
Registered 1-29-2013 Location Canada East Member Is Offline Mood: Heat Vacuum
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 12:33 AM |
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That's why the match is non-title, maybe? CUZ JINDERMANIA IS RUNNING WILD, BAYBAYYYYYYYY
And he's got the belt, so they are just gonna fight over the whores instead. There's a whole houseful of them, and that ain't
cheap, so tonight we'll have a NEW WWE Whores Champion?  The Godfather is gonna be pissed.
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DevilSoprano
Pee Wee's Plaything 
Posts 7290
Registered 11-16-2002 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 12:56 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by diablo_dor
Bray may go down as the worst first WWE Title run of all time...
Jack Swagger wants a word.
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Paddlefoot
Rocco Rock of Jabroni
Posts 7171
Registered 1-19-2008 Location Stupid Idiot Section Member Is Offline Mood: G'bye SmokinJoe
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:07 AM |
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Jericho stole Roman's/Tex's blingee! Presentado por Goya!
[Edited on 5/1/2017 by Paddlefoot]
You know, everyone says it's not supposed to make sense, like that's the whole point, dude. And I'm just saying, you know,
that's like an excuse for lazy storytelling. Just don't sell me shite and tell me it's gold, all right? I might be stoned, but
I'm not high. You know what I mean?
- Cassidy from Preacher, commenting on The Big Lebowski and/or professional wrestling
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janerd75
The Great One 
Posts 3566
Registered 1-28-2013 Member Is Offline Mood: Crap de Grass
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:24 AM |
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Dunno how I feel aboot a Canadienne winning the U.S. Champeenchip, but okay. I guess.
...Bippity Boo and Skibbity Bop or whatever the fuck. - punkerhardcornette
BRAY WYATT'S SPOOKY DOOKY VARIETY HOUR - Illy P.
I expect a company that's basically a cluster of jock shitheads to act like a place that's run by a cluster of jock shitheads. - P. Foot,
Esq.
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williamssl
Steers and Queers
Posts 7604
Registered 1-11-2004 Location Hippieville Member Is Offline Mood: Fuck USC
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:24 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by OORick
Owens vs. Jericho seems like a forgone conclusion, as Jericho is taking time off to tour with Fozzy during the concert and festival season...
he'll be back by SummerSlam, is the thinking, but there's no way the US Title is sitting idle for 2-3 months. However, Jericho also loves
to toy with us with his comings and goings, so winning tonight, and losing again on Tuesday (or suffering some kind of serious beatdown that vacates
the title) might not be out of the question....
Your prognosticating prognosticated goodly!
Don't Mess With Texas
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gobbledygooker
Sister Act 2
Posts 9249
Registered 12-17-2002 Location Charlotte, NC Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:31 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by williamssl
Anyone 'member WM 12 and the Hollywood Backlot Brawl match? I do. And not in a good way. Pre-taped most-of-'match' beforehand,
spilling into the arena for the finish.
And just to be clear, my negative memories have nothing to do with (1) Piper subbing for Ramon as a last minute switch and (2) the fact that the event
was in Anaheim which is a good hour-on-a-good-day-in-L.A.-area-traffic from Hollywood.
Didn't Piper strip Goldust down to some kind of panties-and-garter-belt scenario in that match? That would qualify as a negative memory
(although that was just setting the table for what Goldy had to come).
"Hulk Hogan have the sex with some dumb bitch on the TV. The girl smart if she make the $$ from his bald ass but she also desperate to have sex with
the howdy doody like Hulk Hogan. He worse than Mel Gibson and I think now %10000 he prove he have grasshopper dick and raisin balls." - The Iron
Sheik
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janerd75
The Great One
Posts 3566
Registered 1-28-2013 Member Is Offline Mood: Crap de Grass
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:42 AM |
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Gat dayum those guys were crisp. Neville's Heel #1 right now. He gets...it. As an aside, Finn will do great when he joins 205 Live with them.
...Bippity Boo and Skibbity Bop or whatever the fuck. - punkerhardcornette
BRAY WYATT'S SPOOKY DOOKY VARIETY HOUR - Illy P.
I expect a company that's basically a cluster of jock shitheads to act like a place that's run by a cluster of jock shitheads. - P. Foot,
Esq.
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Paddlefoot
Rocco Rock of Jabroni
Posts 7171
Registered 1-19-2008 Location Stupid Idiot Section Member Is Offline Mood: G'bye SmokinJoe
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:47 AM |
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The best part of this one could be to see how many Broken teases Matt sneaks in tonight.
You know, everyone says it's not supposed to make sense, like that's the whole point, dude. And I'm just saying, you know,
that's like an excuse for lazy storytelling. Just don't sell me shite and tell me it's gold, all right? I might be stoned, but
I'm not high. You know what I mean?
- Cassidy from Preacher, commenting on The Big Lebowski and/or professional wrestling
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janerd75
The Great One
Posts 3566
Registered 1-28-2013 Member Is Offline Mood: Crap de Grass
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:53 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Paddlefoot
The best part of this one could be to see how many Broken teases Matt sneaks in tonight.
But I want #fullunsubtlebraouken 
...Bippity Boo and Skibbity Bop or whatever the fuck. - punkerhardcornette
BRAY WYATT'S SPOOKY DOOKY VARIETY HOUR - Illy P.
I expect a company that's basically a cluster of jock shitheads to act like a place that's run by a cluster of jock shitheads. - P. Foot,
Esq.
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rranddm
Turd Generation Superstar
Posts 24
Registered 1-27-2014 Location Stockton Member Is Offline Mood: Effluvious
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 01:56 AM |
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OWWW
Now Brother Nero is broken.
Send Vanguard 1 out to find that tooth.
[Edited on 5-1-2017 by rranddm]
"Just because it's futuristic, doesn't make it practical." - Crow T. Robot
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Paddlefoot
Rocco Rock of Jabroni
Posts 7171
Registered 1-19-2008 Location Stupid Idiot Section Member Is Offline Mood: G'bye SmokinJoe
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:02 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by janerd75
quote:
Originally posted by Paddlefoot
The best part of this one could be to see how many Broken teases Matt sneaks in tonight.
But I want #fullunsubtlebraouken
Maybe all the head shots and the Swing tonight will be how the Broken one rises to the fore.
You know, everyone says it's not supposed to make sense, like that's the whole point, dude. And I'm just saying, you know,
that's like an excuse for lazy storytelling. Just don't sell me shite and tell me it's gold, all right? I might be stoned, but
I'm not high. You know what I mean?
- Cassidy from Preacher, commenting on The Big Lebowski and/or professional wrestling
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williamssl
Steers and Queers
Posts 7604
Registered 1-11-2004 Location Hippieville Member Is Offline Mood: Fuck USC
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:04 AM |
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Nicely done turn - got us past both of the obvious points of handshakes and arm raises to lull into a "it's not happening I guess" and then it
happened.
Don't Mess With Texas
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janerd75
The Great One
Posts 3566
Registered 1-28-2013 Member Is Offline Mood: Crap de Grass
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:06 AM |
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BAH GAWD THEY'RE BROKEN IN HALF!!!!
Thank you and you're welcome.
ETA: Holy shit vanilla midgette!
[Edited on 5-1-2017 by janerd75]
...Bippity Boo and Skibbity Bop or whatever the fuck. - punkerhardcornette
BRAY WYATT'S SPOOKY DOOKY VARIETY HOUR - Illy P.
I expect a company that's basically a cluster of jock shitheads to act like a place that's run by a cluster of jock shitheads. - P. Foot,
Esq.
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Cherokee Jack
Man of a Thousand Holds
Posts 1436
Registered 2-24-2009 Location New Orleans, LA Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:19 AM |
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Also, while Matt was in an extended swing: "Matt Hardy's going to think he's in a different universe after this!" Between that and the
post match beatdown, looks like we'll be getting to see what the Vince's-fingerprints-all-over-it version of the Broken Hardys looks like.
I'm Cherokee Jack!
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the goon
Sister Act
Posts 6228
Registered 3-13-2004 Location Charlotte, NC Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:25 AM |
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Had I known Bayley was wrestling in her hometown tonight, I would have picked her to lose. 
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Paddlefoot
Rocco Rock of Jabroni
Posts 7171
Registered 1-19-2008 Location Stupid Idiot Section Member Is Offline Mood: G'bye SmokinJoe
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:26 AM |
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Wow. That was the best Bayley match I've seen since her call-up. And there's nothing less than 100% top notch about Alexa. Easily one of
the best women's matches since the NXT system started producing wrestlers of this caliber.
You know, everyone says it's not supposed to make sense, like that's the whole point, dude. And I'm just saying, you know,
that's like an excuse for lazy storytelling. Just don't sell me shite and tell me it's gold, all right? I might be stoned, but
I'm not high. You know what I mean?
- Cassidy from Preacher, commenting on The Big Lebowski and/or professional wrestling
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janerd75
The Great One
Posts 3566
Registered 1-28-2013 Member Is Offline Mood: Crap de Grass
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:30 AM |
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And now, finally, The Whores. The whorror...the whorror......
Also, any chance Sister Abigail shows up tonight?
...Bippity Boo and Skibbity Bop or whatever the fuck. - punkerhardcornette
BRAY WYATT'S SPOOKY DOOKY VARIETY HOUR - Illy P.
I expect a company that's basically a cluster of jock shitheads to act like a place that's run by a cluster of jock shitheads. - P. Foot,
Esq.
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dRob78
And I am AWESOME
Posts 134
Registered 1-16-2013 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 5-1-2017 at 02:31 AM |
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This is already terrible.
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