Official Pro-Wrestling Thread (WWE, TNA, ROH etc.)

[Francis]

Just another thing...

Vince McMahon's "Bret screwed Bret" speech really made sense to me. No doubt Bret gave the WWE many year of tremendous service, and I quite liked his matches. But there's lots of great WWE wrestlers who had tremendous matches who never got the oppotunities Bret did. Tito Santana is the first one who comes to mind. Greg Valentine is another fine wrestler who got stuck wrestling Brutus Beefcake. There are others too.

Bret gave a lot to the WWE, but I like to think the WWE gave back to him by marketing him properly, having wrestlers lose to him night after night etc. And when the company asks him to do something in return, he says no.

I was recently watching the Four Hosemen DVD and it's interesting when Tully Blanchard was leaving the NWA to go to the WWE, he was having horrendous problems with the management. They were underpaying him and shafting him and neglected to give him plane tickets to the next city etc. What did Tully Blanchard say when he was about to leave the company? "Do you want the belts tonight in Philly, or tomorrow?"

Tully never imagined of leaving the company without losing the belts because it would be bad for business. He understood that the business was bigger than him, and that while he was getting shafted, other wrestlers had to feed their families and earn a living.

It's interesting that so many wrestlers just naturally act by saying, "I'm leaving, but I'll lose the belts before I go". Ricky Steamboat was another who was IC Champ but made sure he dropped the belt before the left. Bret didn't think that way. He wanted to go out with his head up.

 

[duffer]

Just another thing...



Bret gave a lot to the WWE, but I like to think the WWE gave back to him by marketing him properly, having wrestlers lose to him night after night etc. And when the company asks him to do something in return, he says no.

You really over-simplified the situation, although I agree with the end game that he should've given the belt up.

 

[DJellett]

Wow. That TNA tag match was breathtaking.

Makes me miss London and Kendrick so much....

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Watched TNA last night, was quality. It's so awesome to see Christian and AJ together.

 

[sledger]

Hmm, sadly its looking like Carlito will be leaving the E soon, again fed up with a lack of a push/decent angle, understandable tbh, he's been buried for far too long, after looking like a really decent prospect. His recent rant at HHH in a press conference struck me as being pretty much career suicide anyway.

 

[duffer]

Have a link to that press conference sledger? Always love hearing more wrestlers shoot on Trips.

 

[DJellett]

Interesting bit of fun on WWE.com; play with the draft yourself!

RAW DRAFT PICK PREDICTIONS:
Chuck Palumbo
Matt Hardy

SMACKDOWN DRAFT PICK PREDICTIONS:
Mr. Kennedy
CM Punk
The Miz
John Cena
John Morrison
Shelton Benjamin

ECW DRAFT PICK PREDICTIONS:
Gregory Helms
Funaki
Snitsky
Ted DiBiase
Vladimir Kozlov
Shad

 

[sledger]

Have a link to that press conference sledger? Always love hearing more wrestlers shoot on Trips.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Carlito was doing promotion for the WWE Friday in Santiago, Chile and said some interesting comments on Triple H.

Upon being asked about Triple H's marriage with Stephanie McMahon, he said: "That put me in problems, but for that I am here and it does not matter to me. My opinion is that was a very intelligent scene of its part, I believe that therefore is champion now and therefore has been champion in several occasions, the road is done him easier. We that are true fighters and we do not depend on people inside the business to rise from position, do not we have that benefit, we have to fight more and to give the maximum. To other they give them the championship in a dish of gold, of platinum and I cheer me by him", indicated.

Carlito then added: "Supper, although there are many here that hate him, you do not know how much he works and how much he worships his fanatics. You only they see it for television and I know that to Supper they are put it for the mouth, by the eyes and the ears, but at the same time they would have that to appreciate the effort and everything that does, not only inside the quadrilateral. Always it is doing promotions on a worldwide basis, has few free days, he dedicates him the fanatics. No matter how more they hate to John to Have supper they have to respect it", affirmed.

"To Triple H never I have seen him doing promotions, him do not I see travelling to Chile, Paraguay, places thus, he always is comodito in his house and that indicates who gives you one hundred percent and who not", Carlito added.

and then the second bit I found.

#1: "I may get in trouble, but that's why I'm here. My opinion is that it was a smart move by [HHH]. I think that's why he's champion now and has been champion in the past, it's easier to him. We, the real wrestlers, don't depend on people in the business. We don't have that benefit. We have to deliver the maximum in the ring. Others are given championships on a gold plate, I'm happy for him."

#2: "Well I know I'll probably end up with problems but f--- it. It was a smart move on his part [to marry Stephanie McMahon]. That's why he's a champion now and has been for a couple of times. That makes your job a little easier, having people to help you backstage meanwhile us wrestlers break our asses off."

During the press conference, Carlito also said that he has been discriminated against in WWE because of his Latin heritage, although he didn't specify anything. Carlito said his heritage makes things harder for him, but he doesn't regret being Latino.

Good on him tbh, career suicide certainly, but at least he's got the balls to actually speak up about it.

 

[duffer]

Good on him tbh, career suicide certainly, but at least he's got the balls to actually speak up about it.

Absolutely, although his career was going nowhere anyway so in that sense he had nothing to lose. Just confirming what we all knew I guess.

 

[sledger]

Absolutely, although his career was going nowhere anyway so in that sense he had nothing to lose. Just confirming what we all knew I guess.

A shame, but like you say, its not like the majority of people who care didn't know this anyway, I wouldn't have thought he'll remain with the company for much longer, gone by the end of the year I expect, and I bet its not the last time we see this sort of thing happen either.

 

[Jono]

Should spit an apple in Triple H's face on his way out.

 

[sledger]

WOW. Some very interesting and unexpected moves for the draft....

HHH to Smackdown!! This is a really huge move, very surprised...but as i'm going to see Smackdown in November, i'm thrilled.

Similarly Jeff Hardy and Kennedy moving to Smackdown is also a huge pull!.

Interestingly...Kane has been moved to RAW, but yet he keeps the ECW title....which strikes me as a bit dumb, but this in truth should freshen a lot up, be interested to see if they can keep this interesting.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Very, very pleased with the Draft myself from a personal POV. Delighted to be able to see Kennedy, Jeff and HHH in person in a few months, plus MVP who I was sure was moving to RAW. Let's have a look at the Draft in depth:

To RAW:

Batista: No-brainer really, he was getting dull on SmackDown. Plus, I don't have to suffer him when I'm there.

Rey Mysterio: Another no-brainer, he's been on SD for his entire five or six years in WWE.

CM Punk: Well, he needed to go somewhere to get away from the ECW booking team, and RAW is as good a place as any, especially with HHH no longer there.

Kane: Was thinking yesterday that I'd enjoy this, and I'm sure I will.

Michael Cole: Not sure I like this one. JR is the voice of RAW, and Cole and Foley were just beginning to strike up a good rapport.

Potential feuds in the immediate future:
Cena vs Punk
JBL vs Kane
Burchill vs Batista


To SmackDown:

Triple H: This is the one NO-ONE expected. Props to Triple H for going through with it, seeing as every single member of the IWC thought he never would. Hope it's a long-term thing, could get interesting.

Mr. Kennedy: A Kennedy vs Edge feud has been in the pipeline for ages - would be undoubted gold. Hope he gets a big push.

Jeff Hardy: Another guy who'll probably get a big push out of this. Will be an interesting change of scenery for him.

Umaga: Everyone knew this was happening for about the last 6 months. Enough said.

Jim Ross: Again, like I say, not sure about this. He and Foley could work well together, though.


Potential feuds in the immediate future:
Triple H vs MVP
Kennedy vs Edge
Undertaker vs Umaga
Jeff Hardy vs The Great Khali (I don't like it any more than you do...)


To ECW:

Matt Hardy: Given that ECW is going to be sharing wrestlers with RAW from 1st August, this isn't as bad as it looks. He'll probably get an ECW title reign, some good feuds with Shelton and Morrison, and an eventual move back to RAW out of it. Shame to waste the fact that he's so over at the moment, though.

Potential feuds in the immediate future:
Hardy vs Morrison


Overall, I'd say the Draft looks very interesting to me - it's supposed to be about "shaking things up", and no-one can deny that that's exactly what they've done. Looking forward to the next few months, particularly on SmackDown. Triple H's interactions with La Familia will be something to look forward to.

 

[Barney Rubble]

be interested to see if they can keep this interesting.

Sorry sledger, couldn't help but point this out.

 

[sledger]

Sorry sledger, couldn't help but point this out.

Haha good spot, shocking on my part though.

Interesting situation regarding the world titles though, this looks very much like Cena will go over HHH at Night of Champions, couldnt have two world titles on one brand, and none on the other (unless you count the ECW title, which nobdoy does).

 

[duffer]

Just a word of caution on the Trips trade; the last time he was traded to Smackdown he used to bury Booker and The Dudleys and came straight back, so really have to wait this one out.

If he does stay over I really like how the card opens up for Punk and Jericho. Rey Rey on Raw will also be pretty cool too. Only downside is Batista being on the flagship program now.

Potential feuds in the immediate future:
Triple H vs MVP
Kennedy vs Edge
Undertaker vs Umaga
Jeff Hardy vs The Great Khali (I don't like it any more than you do...)

- Could be good, but putting Trips anywhere near an up and comer always scares me a bit.

- Edge and Kennedy could be awesome, wouldn't mind this.

-Umaga needs some momentum before he goes into a big feud. He's lost most of his credibility these past few months, no longer a monster in my mind.

- Funny, I wouldn't mind it. It intrigues me a bit like Show and Khali did, despite knowing how much of a trainwreck the match would be. Although I'd hate to see Jeff carry the feud and matches only to job to a big guy, but being the WWE I suspect that's the direction they'd take.

Overall draft was okay, might go back to watching Raw for a few weeks at least.

 

[masterblaster]

Haha good spot, shocking on my part though.

Interesting situation regarding the world titles though, this looks very much like Cena will go over HHH at Night of Champions, couldnt have two world titles on one brand, and none on the other (unless you count the ECW title, which nobdoy does).

I think that's how it'll go down. Cena wins against Hunter, leading to either a Hunter vs Edge fued for the World Title or perhaps even a Hunter vs Undertaker feud later on.

 

[masterblaster]

Just a word of caution on the Trips trade; the last time he was traded to Smackdown he used to bury Booker and The Dudleys and came straight back, so really have to wait this one out.

If he does stay over I really like how the card opens up for Punk and Jericho. Rey Rey on Raw will also be pretty cool too. Only downside is Batista being on the flagship program now.



- Could be good, but putting Trips anywhere near an up and comer always scares me a bit.

- Edge and Kennedy could be awesome, wouldn't mind this.

-Umaga needs some momentum before he goes into a big feud. He's lost most of his credibility these past few months, no longer a monster in my mind.

- Funny, I wouldn't mind it. It intrigues me a bit like Show and Khali did, despite knowing how much of a trainwreck the match would be. Although I'd hate to see Jeff carry the feud and matches only to job to a big guy, but being the WWE I suspect that's the direction they'd take.

Overall draft was okay, might go back to watching Raw for a few weeks at least.

I'm just happy that they've at least tried to shake things up. It's been so stale for the last few years.

I'm actually thinking that a Triple H vs Edge feud would be pretty spectacular, only Edge should go over every single time in the feud.

This could lead to a Triple H vs MVP feud, and one that has absolute money written all over it, Triple H vs Undertaker.

CM Punk's trade over to Raw establishes him to be next in line for the WWE Championship. Cashing in against John Cena or Randy Orton could do his career wonders. Orton seems the likely opponent for Punk since he's probably the only strong heel on the Raw brand now.

Not sure what to think about Matt Hardy going to ECW, I feel he got a bit of a rough deal with that one.

 

[sledger]

Not sure what to think about Matt Hardy going to ECW, I feel he got a bit of a rough deal with that one.

Yeah I agree with this, just as he is about to establish himself as a serious singles competitor, and he's one of the most over guys on any of the rosters, so a move to ECW wouldnt do him much good tbh. Granted they need to replace CM Punk and put someone decent in to replace him. But Hardy would benefit a lot more from staying on Smackdown or moving to RAW imo. Would have made more sense for them to have built Carlito up over the last month or so and then move him across.

I suppose its possible that Edge may drop the title to Batista and then Dave takes the title over to RAW....and feud with Cena no doubt, if last nights RAW is anything to go by.

The idea of an Edge/HHH feud actually really interests me, though obviously how much it can retain my interest depends on how it pans out (ie. Edge winning the blow off, cleanly if possible).

Either way, Smackdown is now minus a singles title, so i'd guess that Hardy will possibly (though I hope not) lose to Chavo on Sunday, similarly I imagine Kane will lose the ECW title, as it would make zero sense for the ECW champion to be contracted to a different brand. Y2J to retain vs HBK I would have thought, probably with interference from Cade, a win for Jericho here is absolutely neccesary if he is to remain credible, because at the moment he's probably the most credible he's been for a long long time.

 

[Agent TBY]

The last time HHH went to Smackdown, he got traded straight back for Booker T and the Dudleys, so I'm wondering how long this is going to last. He has, however, said in the past that he wanted to feud with Edge more than Cena.

Rey going to Raw is not a no-brainer. He was on Smackdown because of the Latin audience, and I'm wondering what the motivation behind this move is.