Topic: Wrestling Thread (AEW, NJPW, WWE, etc) (*)

[CornerFlag]

Really found the Becky announcement with Asuka to be a pretty sweet moment.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Another good Dynamite building to Double or Nothing. MJF is amazing. Shida finally getting that title shot after a dozen straight victories. And RIP Vanguard-1. Jericho emerging in a Pineapple Pete shirt was genius... will probably increase the sales of it tenfold and presumably some of that goes to Suge D.

Double or Nothing so far:

Cody vs. Lance Archer (with Jake Roberts) (TNT title final)
MJF (with Wardlow) vs. Jungle Boy
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Brodie Lee (world title)
Darby Allin vs. Colt Cabana vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Rey Fenix vs. 5 others TBA (Casino ladder match - 2 start and more join every 90 seconds)
Nyla Rose (c) vs. Hikaru Shida (no DQ or countout womens' title)
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
Matt Hardy and The Elite (Adam Page, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson) vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz) (Stadium Stampede match - empty football arena)

Pre-show:

Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent) #1 contender match

Very good Dynamite indeed. If word is to be believed, creative got slimmed down quite a lot (only 2 of the Elite are writing it, Cody and Kenny) and it can tell - it's a good mix of classic NWA Rasslin' and DDT wrestling, rather than the mess it was the end of last year.

Also you forgot to mention, they got Iron Mike Tyson presenting the TNT title. I think it is a pretty safe bet he delivers a punch to Archer at some point in that match  .

On the other hand NXT seems a little directionless at the moment. They have Balor twiddling his thumbs, Gargano and Candice being one of the cringiest heel acts around, a shock Tag Titles change this week which I assume leads back to The Undisputed Era being champions because that seems to be the only playbook they have, and Adam Cole with no challengers except maybe Dexter Lumis, with his poor Dexter the TV series serial killer gimmick.

[tubby]

NXT will still put on an amazing Takeover.

[paulrazor]

This is amazing.



How many camera cuts is that?  How did she manage to make this look so awful when it's pre-taped, was this the best attempt they had?

So many questions.

.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

NXT will still put on an amazing Takeover.

I mean they should, but I have no interest in anyone there. At that point you may as well watch a PWG show if you want great wrestling but ignore the stories.

[tubby]

I mean they should, but I have no interest in anyone there. At that point you may as well watch a PWG show if you want great wrestling but ignore the stories.

Yeah I can see that.  The problem they've got is people like Gargano, who should've moved up permanently to the main roster ages ago, but he's just not what Vince wants in a wrestler so he's stuck back down in NXT and now they can't play to his strengths because he's been there and done it.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Yeah I can see that.  The problem they've got is people like Gargano, who should've moved up permanently to the main roster ages ago, but he's just not what Vince wants in a wrestler so he's stuck back down in NXT and now they can't play to his strengths because he's been there and done it.

Part of it is well is they don't want to make the jump. They would rather spin their wheels and do this goofy shit than move up. Ciampa has said he would rather retire than go to Raw. I can understand not wanting to be belittle as they would on Raw, but they have overstayed their welcome now.

At this stage as well, put the title on Riddle or Lee, Cole has just rumbled on too long as champ now, and there's very little for him to do now.

[OsirisMVZ]

At this stage as well, put the title on Riddle or Lee, Cole has just rumbled on too long as champ now, and there's very little for him to do now.

I like Cole and really wanted him to succeed in WWE when he got signed up, but he's run his course as a cocky prick that occasionally gets his ass kicked. I saw that in PWG, ROH and NJPW and that is the same viewership as NXT. He's brought absolutely nothing new to his character since signing up.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

I like Cole and really wanted him to succeed in WWE when he got signed up, but he's run his course as a cocky prick that occasionally gets his ass kicked. I saw that in PWG, ROH and NJPW and that is the same viewership as NXT. He's brought absolutely nothing new to his character since signing up.

I like Cole too, and I feel he will live and die by his character; at one point he was young and very exciting, but now there is younger and better talent out there. But Cole has certain charisma and works well as a dickhead, enough that it even overshadows the fact that he is absolutely tiny.

But it has been the same thing from him for close to 3 years now, with an act that has been his schtick for probably 6 years now.

Also it has been close to 3 years of The Undisputed Era on NXT, and they are just about being taken out the title picture. Like I love them but Jesus Christ change it up a little.

I would say I have confidence in them but it seems there next main eventer is ANOTHER grim dark guy with rock music, in Kross, except I always felt he was just a guy, even in Impact. Just another guy.

[El Lobo]

Scarlett Bordeaux though

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Scarlett Bordeaux though

Very fair point

[tubby]

Yeah she's super hot, but that entrance is... I don't even know what it is.  Does she actually wrestle or is she just a valet?

[OsirisMVZ]

Yeah she's super hot, but that entrance is... I don't even know what it is.  Does she actually wrestle or is she just a valet?

She does a bit of both but will probably stay as a valet as she is incredibly hot and they don't really hire people that look as good as she does anymore.

Killer/Karrion Kross is pretty decent, he seems to excel at the MMA style fights and had a great Bloodsport match a year or two ago where people were like "wow that is his element". But then they have guys like that in Riddle and Thatcher soooo whats the point?

[LiamG]

https://watchwrestling.in/sports/wwe-24/

Watch undertaker documentary here

Thanks for the link! thoroughly enjoyed that! looking forward to hopefully watching the rest of the series

[Riquende]

If word is to be believed, creative got slimmed down quite a lot (only 2 of the Elite are writing it, Cody and Kenny) and it can tell - it's a good mix of classic NWA Rasslin' and DDT wrestling, rather than the mess it was the end of last year.

I thought that essentially Cody books the mens' singles division, Kenny books the womens' division and the Bucks book the tag division. Cody alluded to it when he said in-ring before the Jericho match that Dusty used to get criticised for being the booker and the champion, and so he ruled himself out of competing for the title ever again if he lost at Full Gear.

When Nyla Rose beat Riho for the title she went backstage and said to Omega "All your base belong to us".

There was also a BtE where the Bucks and SCU are having Xmas dinner and the Bucks are annoyed as SCU have brought the belts with them, one Jackson says "I knew we should have made ourselves champions".

Now presumably all of them have a team and have to get things green-lit by Tony Khan etc. But would make sense that the Bucks haven't been involved in booking recently seeing as they've been in California for about 2 months and the only actual tag team that's been at hand is Best Friends. On an AEW podcast last week Khan said he had to write something for Best Friends to do during their mass-taping of April/May's content so quickly came up with the various encounters with Sabian and Havoc that would play out over the weeks, culminating in the no-DQ tag match a couple of weeks ago.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

I thought that essentially Cody books the mens' singles division, Kenny books the womens' division and the Bucks book the tag division. Cody alluded to it when he said in-ring before the Jericho match that Dusty used to get criticised for being the booker and the champion, and so he ruled himself out of competing for the title ever again if he lost at Full Gear.

When Nyla Rose beat Riho for the title she went backstage and said to Omega "All your base belong to us".

There was also a BtE where the Bucks and SCU are having Xmas dinner and the Bucks are annoyed as SCU have brought the belts with them, one Jackson says "I knew we should have made ourselves champions".

Now presumably all of them have a team and have to get things green-lit by Tony Khan etc. But would make sense that the Bucks haven't been involved in booking recently seeing as they've been in California for about 2 months and the only actual tag team that's been at hand is Best Friends. On an AEW podcast last week Khan said he had to write something for Best Friends to do during their mass-taping of April/May's content so quickly came up with the various encounters with Sabian and Havoc that would play out over the weeks, culminating in the no-DQ tag match a couple of weeks ago.

The talk around it all is that the Bucks got kicked off creative and they are a bit miffed. They continue to do BTE but take little popshots on the show.

Something for sure has changed I feel. At the very least, they are no longer so anti-WCW that they book the elite to lose, even though they are stars and so them losing really rob's AEW of any top stars beyond Jericho and Moxley. I understand the sentiment but they need more time for that. Darby and Sammy and MJF for example will be stars, but in a little bit.

[Riquende]

Well I don't really follow any wrestling news feeds so it's not something I've heard, but maybe. Certainly something 'clicked' at the start of 2020 because the run all the way up to Revolution (taking in their Bash at the Beach/Cruise show etc), and that PPV, was all excellent. They had a lot of momentum that just a few weeks later mostly fizzled as they adapted into the crowdless and half-roster shows.

Regarding the tag division, although they did have that amazing match at Revolution, I am keen to see Omega and Hangman drop the belts soon, whether that be part of the Elite breakup that they were teasing ot not. They've got so many decent teams that having the belts on an ad hoc pair of singles wrestlers seems wrong (especially as they advertise about what a great tag division they have). Also, there does seem to be a bit of a dearth of upper level face talent at the moment - in terms of heels you've got Jericho, Lance Archer, MJF, Brodie Lee & Pac who could all work Dynamite main events, and they all just have to wait their turn to attack Cody it seems!

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Well I don't really follow any wrestling news feeds so it's not something I've heard, but maybe. Certainly something 'clicked' at the start of 2020 because the run all the way up to Revolution (taking in their Bash at the Beach/Cruise show etc), and that PPV, was all excellent. They had a lot of momentum that just a few weeks later mostly fizzled as they adapted into the crowdless and half-roster shows.

Regarding the tag division, although they did have that amazing match at Revolution, I am keen to see Omega and Hangman drop the belts soon, whether that be part of the Elite breakup that they were teasing ot not. They've got so many decent teams that having the belts on an ad hoc pair of singles wrestlers seems wrong (especially as they advertise about what a great tag division they have). Also, there does seem to be a bit of a dearth of upper level face talent at the moment - in terms of heels you've got Jericho, Lance Archer, MJF, Brodie Lee & Pac who could all work Dynamite main events, and they all just have to wait their turn to attack Cody it seems!

They have Moxley and I would say, despite being tag champ, Kenny is a top singles face too. You could maybe even stretch to Hangman, he was one of the most over guys in the company for a long while before he got blocked by Corona.

I think the elite break up should be done without turning Kenny or Hangman heel. Like have the Bucks break them up, and Kenny and Hangman just for singles after dropping the belt.

[Riquende]

They have Moxley and I would say, despite being tag champ, Kenny is a top singles face too. You could maybe even stretch to Hangman, he was one of the most over guys in the company for a long while before he got blocked by Corona.

Exactly my point, they have those two who are unavailable for committed singles feuds with the top heel talent because they're the tag champs. And if you do still use them anyway as singles guys as well (like how Pac kept demanding his 'rubber match' in February) then you're disrespecting the tag division a bit because the champions' focus is elsewhere.

I do think this was supposed to be part of the storyline (they had Hangman lose focus or walk off in interviews when Kenny was being asked about Pac) and circumstances have delayed where it's going, but the longer it drags the fewer options they've got for potential main event level feuds (Hangman, for example, has had a couple of small spots involving MJF but it's never really gone anywhere).

[Barefoot Doctor]

Apparently on Raw they did a injury angle with Rey Mysterio, with Seth attacking his eye. This is in case he doesn't sign a new contract and they need to write him out.

Clearly being thrown off the roof of Titan Towers - only 24 hours before! - simply wasn't enough to convince fans he was injured 

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Apparently on Raw they did a injury angle with Rey Mysterio, with Seth attacking his eye. This is in case he doesn't sign a new contract and they need to write him out.

Clearly being thrown off the roof of Titan Towers - only 24 hours before! - simply wasn't enough to convince fans he was injured 

According to WWE that eye thing has Rey in Critical Condition 

So falling off a building (even if they explained it was only a 6 meter drop to another roof, he is fine. But pressing his eye a bit, and he is near death

[sinnermichael]

She doesn't age:

https://twitter.com/trishstratuscom/status/1261377473167740928

[Barefoot Doctor]

Drew Gulak released.

[Tonyh8su]

Drew Gulak released.

I haven't been following but hasn't he been getting a push as Bryan's second?

I wonder is it anything to do with his brothers "antics"?

[Stockholm Syndrome]

I haven't been following but hasn't he been getting a push as Bryan's second?

I wonder is it anything to do with his brothers "antics"?

He has. Feels like Bryan wanted to work with him before he left.

And his contract just ran down, not released.

[Riquende]

The Casino Ladder match is taking a weird shape:

Darby Allin
Colt Cabana
Orange Cassidy
Rey Fenix
Scorpio Sky
Kip Sabian
Frankie Kazarian
Luchasaurus

+1 other I guess being announced tomorrow (unless it's being kept as a very late surprise)

So at the moment there's 1 of Jurassic Express, 2 of SCU, 1 of Death Triangle (who to be fair formed right before the Covid issues and have been out of the country) and the valet from Best Friends. Also there are 6 faces and 2 heels, which seems unbalanced. Given that the winner is getting a title shot 'at some point' you'd be hard pressed to look past Darby Allin winning this as a credible outcome, as most of the others are primarily tag wrestlers or not yet at that level.

My outlandish prediction is Wardlow as the 9th entrant, he wins and MJF claims the title shot.

[paulrazor]

https://watchwrestling.in/sports/wwe-24/

Watch undertaker documentary here

seen a 13 min video on Facebook from wwe account

Looks great. I'd love to meet taker but I wouldn't have a clue what to say to him. Be like Ralph Wiggum "do you like......stuff?"

[damomad]

The 2nd episode is up on Daily motion and it's another cracker.

Spoiler

The relationship between Vince and Taker, they can't look at each other without one of them getting teary eyed. A boss/employee relationship lasting 30 years is such a rarity in any type of business. It seems to be more of a father/son dynamic.

I always felt Cena/Taker should have gotten longer, maybe 15 minutes, his match with Batista at WM23 being the template. Have to respect Cena for going out there and taking the loss clean.

The 3rd episode talks about the tag-team at Crown Jewel against DX. Triple H summarises it by saying it was a total train wreck with a smile. It's funny seeing the old timers having such self awareness, at the end of the day, they are the ones getting asked and paid to perform, can't really blame them for going out there and doing their best.

[close]

[OsirisMVZ]

I watched p1 over the weekend so was glad there was another part straight away! Michelle McCool is right in that he is in a vicious cycle of "failure > redemption > wants to go again". Both his recent matches with DX and Goldberg were horrific (p3 will be all about those two you imagine) and it seems they were right to pair him up with AJ cinema-style. I still haven't watched that Boneyard match so will do before p3 airs.

[Barefoot Doctor]

I watched p1 over the weekend so was glad there was another part straight away! Michelle McCool is right in that he is in a vicious cycle of "failure > redemption > wants to go again". Both his recent matches with DX and Goldberg were horrific (p3 will be all about those two you imagine) and it seems they were right to pair him up with AJ cinema-style. I still haven't watched that Boneyard match so will do before p3 airs.

I think that going forward - and it's clear he's going to keep going for a while yet - they need to pair him with people who'll make him look good. That's not Goldberg, and it certainly isn't present day Shawn Michaels or Triple H. Guys like AJ are perfect for him as they'll bump like crazy and are a decent size for Taker to physically dominate.

So you're looking at the likes of AJ, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Aleister Black... I know they went with the Boneyard match because of COVID but if Mania had gone ahead as normal, I reckon him and AJ would have had a decent match.

[I've been a good boy]

Shad Gaspard has gone missing. They've stopped looking for him apparently

https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/05/18/former-wwe-wrestler-shad-gaspard-missing-after-swimming-at-a-beach/

[ScottishKopite]

Shad Gaspard has gone missing. They've stopped looking for him apparently

https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/05/18/former-wwe-wrestler-shad-gaspard-missing-after-swimming-at-a-beach/

Just seen this what a shame.

[rakey_lfc]

Read he ordered the lifeguards to save his son first in the process of being rescued from the rip tide. Ultimate and unbelievable sacrifice, just unimaginable.

[Americano12345]

Read he ordered the lifeguards to save his son first in the process of being rescued from the rip tide. Ultimate and unbelievable sacrifice, just unimaginable.

It is completely unbelievable and very sad. The ultimate sacrifice to save your own kid. Absolutely tragic

[CornerFlag]

Other horrible news was the passing of 411mania's Larry Csonka.  Absolutely helped to keep my fandom going with his reviews on that site.  Great writer, even better man.

[damomad]

Other horrible news was the passing of 411mania's Larry Csonka.  Absolutely helped to keep my fandom going with his reviews on that site.  Great writer, even better man.

Same here, for a few years Larry's reviews were the only thing keeping my interest going. I didn't know his as a person but everything I've read about him says he was a top man. There is a fundriasing page for his family going:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/larrymania-living-on-in-his-girls?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

[I've been a good boy]

RIP Shad Gaspard, his body's been found

[ToneLa]

RIP Shad Gaspard, his body's been found

Very sad

Still, he directed the lifeguards to save his son rather than him (a wave then pulled him under)

A hero.

[tubby]

Devastating story, hope the kid doesn't end up messed up because of this.

[rakey_lfc]

Hopefully the family can take some comfort in the fact they managed to recover the body instead of living with that unknown and seed of doubt.

Horrible, horrible story!