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

[duffer]

The problem is there is way too much WWE on television these days and you become over exposed really quickly. There's Raw, Smackdown, ECW and Superstars. There's also TNA Impact too. That's like 8 hours of wrestling on television every week. Even if you are not over exposed, people can't handle that much wrestling on television and just get burned out by the product.

Remember when there was just Raw and Sunday Night Heat? The WWE were at their best for a reason back then. People got great action but WWE always left you wanting more.

I remember back in the day they paraded the brand split as an opportunity to showcase more of their ever growing roster. It worked for a couple of years but eventually the usual suspects began to dominate air time.

I think the bigger issue is that they now have to write three times as much content and thus the quality if there is any is far more thinly spread.

That said they'll never end it. The money they get with 3 diferent tv deals and advertising time is worth too much for them.

 

[sledger]

Hahaha, I think this has to be my favourite Kurt Angle moment ever, what a guy, can't stop laughing, can't believe I had forgotten this.

YouTube - Kurt Angle Sing ***y Boy

 

[GIMH]

I'll make your ankle huuurrrrttt

 

[sledger]

Hahaha, what a guy, is just so funny, ah I miss the Kurt Angle of old, so good on the mic. So believable as well, has just got some awkward smug quality to him that really seems to rile up crowds. I don't think I've ever seen anyone (apart from maybe Edge and Christian) who are so good at getting cheap heat from the crowd as him, but he is so good at generated legit heat as well, what a legend.

 

[masterblaster]

Stumbled across this gem of a clip while browsing Youtube.

YouTube - WWF Raw Is War 13/03/2000 Part 6

Chris Jericho was awesome back then. "He too is an idiot, an imbecile and an ignoramous. Just like you, Jerky!"

Great funny moment there.

 

[sledger]

Stumbled across this gem of a clip while browsing Youtube.

YouTube - WWF Raw Is War 13/03/2000 Part 6

Chris Jericho was awesome back then. "He too is an idiot, an imbecile and an ignoramous. Just like you, Jerky!"

Great funny moment there.

Haha, good stuff indeed, I miss that Chris Jericho, I know that time has gone and everything has moved on etc...but he was comic genius at times, I always used to laugh when he always called Chris Benoit "Mr Roboto". I wish he had actually been able to work an extended program with Taz as well, I remember one match they had in ECW which was awesome.

On a side note, if this were to happen, it would make me change my mind about the guest host concept somewhat, anything to get the Rock back on RAW, unlikely as I think it is.

-- As an update to reports of WWE having interest in The Rock and Steve Austin as guest hosts on RAW, a report in the PWTorch Newsletter says that sources believe WWE might have already extended the invitation to The Rock. The recent Variety report on the guest hosting concept made no mention of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson being in talks to host, but the Torch’s report says that WWE has made its interest known–”the ball is in Johnson’s court,” reads the report.

 

[sledger]

Spoilers Re: Smackdown this week below...

Looks very much to me like they are planning to make Summerslam Jeff Hardy's last match with the company, The reunion with Matt Hardy for presumably what is "one last time" as well as CM Punk cutting a promo on how he promises to retire Hardy in their TLC match suggests to me that he is very much on his way out, I hope not, but it's the feeling I get. That said, it could be that the E have paid attention to what has been said by the IWC on the matter and have attempted a swerve, but we'll see. The rest of the show sounded good value as well.

 

[masterblaster]

ECW was solid this week. I'm interested in where this new William Regal, Ezekiel Jackson and Vladamir Kozlov stable goes from here. With Regal as the leader, it has the potential to put over both Jackson and Kozlov and it could be pretty good. Christian's still the favourite to retain the ECW Championship at Summerslam though.

 

[sledger]

-- TNA iMPACT! beat both WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown in the UK TV ratings for the second week in a row.

Interesting to say the least. I actually watched all of the hard justice ppv last night, and quite enjoyed what I saw. I thought the way a few of the matches ended was badly put together, particularly the main event, but the matches themselves were pretty good. Matt Morgan in particular impressed me.

 

[duffer]

Haha wow. Well done to them. Hope they can somehow translate it over the pond.

 

[sledger]

Haha wow. Well done to them. Hope they can somehow translate it over the pond.

Got to say that this really comes as a massive surprise, as I hardly know anyone over here who watches it on a regular basis, unfortunately it doesn't much look like translating to over in the USA mind you, apparently since the whole guest host thing has been introduced RAWs ratings have actually improved a fair bit.

I do wonder though, that if TNA could massively boost their ratings by trying to work the real life problems of Jeff Jarret living with Kurt Angles wife into some sort of storyline, that sort of IRL thing seems to draw quite big, and really gets the crowd going, just look at the Edge/Matt Hardy feud from a few years back. Having watched TNA, I really am of the opinion that they are only maybe 2 or 3 guys away from really putting forward a challenge to the WWE. I think if they can get Lashley on board full time then that is a major coup, and if Kennedy follows him there then that's gold as well. I really hope they can manage it was well, some competition would do the industry a world of good.

On a side note I saw some rumour about RVD maybe making appearances for ROH soon, which would be itstl, not sure how likely it is though.

 

[duffer]

RVD doing Indys would suit him. He'd barely have to work more than a couple of days a week and they would let him choof as much as he wants. Match made in heaven tbh.

Hope TNA can find a few more guys to add depth to their roster but part of me feels they need to have a breakthrough star of their own, not just grabbing all of WWE's free agents to really elevate their brand. If they can show that they're the place to be for good entertainment and a fresh style of pro wrestling they could be a threat.

Atm they still seem sort of second tier to most casuals, and hoovering up all the guys deemed not good enough for WWE doesn't do them too many favours. They aren't really differentiating their product from Vince's.

 

[sledger]

RVD doing Indys would suit him. He'd barely have to work more than a couple of days a week and they would let him choof as much as he wants. Match made in heaven tbh.

Hope TNA can find a few more guys to add depth to their roster but part of me feels they need to have a breakthrough star of their own, not just grabbing all of WWE's free agents to really elevate their brand. If they can show that they're the place to be for good entertainment and a fresh style of pro wrestling they could be a threat.

Atm they still seem sort of second tier to most casuals, and hoovering up all the guys deemed not good enough for WWE doesn't do them too many favours. They aren't really differentiating their product from Vince's.

I think this is true, but I think there are some exceptions to this. Lashley may have quit the E, but I think he has spent enough time away from the business, that if he were to return and make it big, he could be categorised as a TNA star rather than a failed WWE guy. Kennedy perhaps less so, but arguably he could go the same way.

I think it would be very hard for TNA to make a star completely off their own bat so to speak. Obviously AJ, Samoa Joe and Kazarian are all what most people would call proper TNA raised stars, but outside of the IWC they aren't really given any recognition, I think in order for them to ever make it big they need the ex WWE guys to help put them over to an extent. Tbh I'm not really a fan of any of those three, I think they are all ok, but not as special as the IWC fanboys would have you believe. In some ways I really regret Christian coming back to the WWE, as watching TNA now, you kind of realise how much they miss him. I sympathise with TNA using older talent which are effectively WWE cast offs, as I think to a point it is a good way to help establish your own credibility, however, like you say, there is a very fine line between doing this and just being seen to clear up the E's scraps and repackage them, and I'm not quite sure which side of the line they are on at the moment.

Also I think in terms of different their product from Vince's, less would be more in some instances, I mean, when the TNA management tries to hard to be different, it often has an adverse affect (can't stand the king of the mountain matches, and not that keen on ultimate X either), obvoiusly you need to be different to some degree, but there is a reason why Vince's formula is so successful, and so it would be stupid to try and be a polar opposite.

 

[duffer]

I think it would be very hard for TNA to make a star completely off their own bat so to speak. Obviously AJ, Samoa Joe and Kazarian are all what most people would call proper TNA raised stars, but outside of the IWC they aren't really given any recognition, I think in order for them to ever make it big they need the ex WWE guys to help put them over to an extent. Tbh I'm not really a fan of any of those three, I think they are all ok, but not as special as the IWC fanboys would have you believe. In some ways I really regret Christian coming back to the WWE, as watching TNA now, you kind of realise how much they miss him. I sympathise with TNA using older talent which are effectively WWE cast offs, as I think to a point it is a good way to help establish your own credibility, however, like you say, there is a very fine line between doing this and just being seen to clear up the E's scraps and repackage them, and I'm not quite sure which side of the line they are on at the moment.

Personally I think the only way they can do it is if they find some sort of crossover star. A guy with feet in more than one area of society and with a personality ( a huge long shot but more or less what it will take to be anywhere near WWE). You're completely correct about it being a rather fine line to walk with regards to their perception but I don't think the wrestling talent is so scarce that they have to go after more or less every E guy. Guys like Angle, Christian, Kennedy etc are more than fair enough for mine as they can use them to put over what they have.

Another thing they really need are proper TV deals. Not sure what network or it's significance is but WWE have excellent cable deals and are more or less the flagship programs on some of them. WCW needed Turner to give them the right platform to laucnh from and I can't see TNA really getting too many opportunities to do anything major without that sort of backing.

Also I think in terms of different their product from Vince's, less would be more in some instances, I mean, when the TNA management tries to hard to be different, it often has an adverse affect (can't stand the king of the mountain matches, and not that keen on ultimate X either), obvoiusly you need to be different to some degree, but there is a reason why Vince's formula is so successful, and so it would be stupid to try and be a polar opposite.

This is correct though but I feel the way there are portraying themselves (inadvertently) is that of a second tier version of WWE by their recruiting and the formats of the shows. It's a very tough sell to try and be otherwise as Vince more or less owns the market but hopefully someone can figure a way of brand positioning that can position themselves as a legitimate organisation.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

I think this is true, but I think there are some exceptions to this. Lashley may have quit the E, but I think he has spent enough time away from the business, that if he were to return and make it big, he could be categorised as a TNA star rather than a failed WWE guy. Kennedy perhaps less so, but arguably he could go the same way.

I know that is just an example, but Lashley isn't ever going to be a TNA star. The guy clearly wants to make a career out of MMA and TNA is just a part-time thing for him.

 

[sledger]

I know that is just an example, but Lashley isn't ever going to be a TNA star. The guy clearly wants to make a career out of MMA and TNA is just a part-time thing for him.

True, can always hope though. Just have to hope that TNA can use this in the best possible way while it lasts.

 

[masterblaster]

Just watched these two videos.

YouTube - Kurt Angle Speaks Publicly About His Arrest For The First Time [part 1]

YouTube - Kurt Angle Speaks Publicly About His Arrest For The First Time [part 2]

I felt really sorry for Kurt. Poor guy broke down numerous times during the interview and seemed really genuine. I don't know if I should believe Rhaka Khan or Kurt Angle but I've always been a believer of innocent until proven guilty and I'm hoping Kurt comes out of this a stronger and smarter person.

 

[sledger]

Quick look on a wiki page, and the create a storyline mode for the next Smackdown vs Raw game actually looks very interesting, not sure if this will make it worth shelling out for...but looks interesting all the same.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sledger]

Chris Jericho summing up the thoughts of so many fans in this interview here;

The Baltimore Sun has an interview up with Chris Jericho where he talks about his teaming with Edge ending so quickly, his feud with Rey Mysterio, on WWE's need to create new stars, and more. Here is what he had to say about WWE being in a "crisis period." "We're in a crisis period in WWE and we need to build new guys. When Shawn Michaels came back to Raw, he said, "Whose been built since I left?" On Smackdown we've built [John] Morrison and [Dolph] Ziggler and Cryme Tyme. The Intercontinental title has been rebuilt now with Rey Mysterio. But I can't tell you on Raw who has been built over the last six months. They better do it soon, because when this generation of performers is gone, who will replace them?"

What a guy, has hit the nail right on the head there.

 

[GIMH]

Interesting to say the least. I actually watched all of the hard justice ppv last night, and quite enjoyed what I saw. I thought the way a few of the matches ended was badly put together, particularly the main event, but the matches themselves were pretty good. Matt Morgan in particular impressed me.

Very misleading stat, though. TNA airs on Bravo which is free with any multi-channel package, also I believe (but may be wrong) that the Raw's ratings that they count is the live feed at 2am Tuesday morning rather than the Thursday night repeat. TNA is quite simply nowhere near as popular as WWE over here and I don't think it ever will be. WCW wasn't as popular as it when it was clearly better around 96/97.