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

[masterblaster]

Wrestlemania XIX was one of my favourite Wrestlemania's ever. Stacked card as duffer said and nearly all the matches delivered. Loved Steve Austin vs The Rock and Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar was stellar too. The less said about Triple H vs Booker T the better.

Raw this week was refreshingly good. You kind of forget how good Steve Austin is, but as duffer said again, it felt so right having him back. Austin doesn't seem to give a crap about the script and as a result his promos are so effective and he delivers them with such confidence.

Loved the contract signing between Bret, Vince and Austin. Austin did a great job at really selling the match and I thought Bret was really on his game too. You can tell he's enjoying this run which is great to see.

I'm so looking forward to Wrestlemania. I really think that this Wrestlemania has the potential to be the greatest Wrestlemania since Wrestlemania 17. So many great matches, so much potential. I hope WWE can execute it and pull it off.

 

[masterblaster]

Early ratings:

Raw 3.7
Impact 0.8

The breakdowns should be interesting.

That is an epic ass whooping!

 

[GIMH]

I'm not a Triple H hater, but the 03/04 period is clearly where he acquired his reputation. I don't personally think he's been too bad after that.

 

[masterblaster]

I'm not a Triple H hater, but the 03/04 period is clearly where he acquired his reputation. I don't personally think he's been too bad after that.

Neither do I, but he hasn't been anything special. I think he's realised that Cena, Batista and Orton are money players but has he really done anything for any other talent apart from these three? Spirit Squad were buried and never seen again, he has never put over Chris Jericho ever, never really helped Edge or CM Punk.

Triple H does good business with his buddies and he always has. Sheamus is another example of this. He's a great performer and will go down as an all time great, but he really does choose who he works with and puts over.

 

[duffer]

Are Triple H and Sheamus tight? He put over Batista monstrously big and they both put Benoit over(though most reports seem to say very reluctantly).

 

[masterblaster]

Yep, Sheamus and Triple H are friends. They are apparently work out buddies.

 

[GIMH]

Triple H and Shawn both put Legacy over huge last year. While they may have 'won' the feud, obviously you don't have to lose to someone to put them over and that DX-Legacy feud was what set the wheels in motion for Ted & Cody seeing themselves as Orton's equal. DX put Rated RKO over as well as I remember it

Aside from Jericho and the big three that you mentioned, has there been anyone who he's feuded with that has honestly deserved the rub? At the end of the day as much as people might whine about him, in his prime he was right up there as one of the best ever so it is important that he retains credibility. I just think that people (not anyone here necessarily, but all over the IWC) are quick to point the 'he-married-Steph' finger but Triple H established himself as the #1 heel in wrestling before he and Steph ever got together off screen.

 

[duffer]

Triple H and Shawn both put Legacy over huge last year. While they may have 'won' the feud, obviously you don't have to lose to someone to put them over and that DX-Legacy feud was what set the wheels in motion for Ted & Cody seeing themselves as Orton's equal. DX put Rated RKO over as well as I remember it

Aside from Jericho and the big three that you mentioned, has there been anyone who he's feuded with that has honestly deserved the rub? At the end of the day as much as people might whine about him, in his prime he was right up there as one of the best ever so it is important that he retains credibility. I just think that people (not anyone here necessarily, but all over the IWC) are quick to point the 'he-married-Steph' finger but Triple H established himself as the #1 heel in wrestling before he and Steph ever got together off screen.

Really? I thought he was excellent but wouldn't go that far.

 

[masterblaster]

Triple H and Shawn both put Legacy over huge last year. While they may have 'won' the feud, obviously you don't have to lose to someone to put them over and that DX-Legacy feud was what set the wheels in motion for Ted & Cody seeing themselves as Orton's equal. DX put Rated RKO over as well as I remember it

Aside from Jericho and the big three that you mentioned, has there been anyone who he's feuded with that has honestly deserved the rub? At the end of the day as much as people might whine about him, in his prime he was right up there as one of the best ever so it is important that he retains credibility. I just think that people (not anyone here necessarily, but all over the IWC) are quick to point the 'he-married-Steph' finger but Triple H established himself as the #1 heel in wrestling before he and Steph ever got together off screen.

Are Legacy really over? Are they taken that seriously? I think they are rather 'blah' to be honest and just relevant because of Orton. But that's not neccessarily the fault of Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase are just incredibly bland.

Aside from Jericho and the big three, I think Booker T and RVD when they were both really, really popular back in 2002 and 2003 definitely deserved the rub. The likes of Kane and Big Show have never really gotten a fair shake from Triple H either.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

Wrestlemania 17 = Best Wrestlemania ever... PERIOD!

Who else misses Muhammad Hassan? Guy was classic on the microphone. Had venom behind his words and his arguements were never proven to be wrong. It'd be hilarious whenever someone would be randomly interrupted by that howling arab voice at the start of his titantron.

 

[masterblaster]

Really? I thought he was excellent but wouldn't go that far.

Triple H's peak was during is feud with Mick Foley in 2000 and his awesome matches with Steve Austin. I remember their match from No Way Out 2001 I think that was really something special.

At that time, Triple H was arguably the best all round performer in WWE and that included Austin, The Rock and Foley. After he blew his quad for the first time and came back looking really big and not very athletic, his performance tended to go a bit downhill.

 

[duffer]

Triple H's peak was during is feud with Mick Foley in 2000 and his awesome matches with Steve Austin. I remember their match from No Way Out 2001 I think that was really something special.

At that time, Triple H was arguably the best all round performer in WWE and that included Austin, The Rock and Foley. After he blew his quad for the first time and came back looking really big and not very athletic, his performance tended to go a bit downhill.

Really never saw anything truly "special" out of Trips tbh. Impressive, but nothing groundbreaking for me. Great wrestler, Hall of Famer sure, but I wouldn't put him up as one of the best ever.

@ben: Yes, yes I do remember Hussan. Had so much potential, trust Vince to drop the ball, go anti-American in the nature of their push and then pull that ridiculous beheading stunt with the Undertaker. Could have been a quality ME heel champion.

 

[GIMH]

Really? I thought he was excellent but wouldn't go that far.

Go back and watch his matches from between him turning on DX and blowing his quad. He was immense. Storytelling and psychology in the ring were second to none and on the mic he was amazing. Him and The Rock played off each other beautifully, as did him and Foley, him and Austin, etc...

If he hadn't done his quad I think he'd have been up there with Flair (though you're not a fan of him either IIRC)

Are Legacy really over? Are they taken that seriously? I think they are rather 'blah' to be honest and just relevant because of Orton. But that's not neccessarily the fault of Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase are just incredibly bland.

Aside from Jericho and the big three, I think Booker T and RVD when they were both really, really popular back in 2002 and 2003 definitely deserved the rub. The likes of Kane and Big Show have never really gotten a fair shake from Triple H either.

Hmmm, not sure on Legacy, but whichever way you look at it I don't think DX could have done much more for them.

I've never been HUGELY sold on RVD as a top-level guy. I don't think he has the required attitude to work at the top, and unlike a young Shawn he's not so good that he can get away with it (IMO). When RVD was given the ball, he dropped it.

Personally I don't think Kane or Show have ever deserved a rub from Triple H, but that's just me, I'm not a fan of either. Show's best work for me has been since Night of Champions, he is really excelling in this tag team role.

I also think in wrestling we need to take a step back sometimes and remember that the wrestlers don't have sole control over who wins or loses. No doubt Triple H has a lot of influence but I imagine a lot of the time he's won because other people wanted him to.

 

[GIMH]

Really never saw anything truly "special" out of Trips tbh. Impressive, but nothing groundbreaking for me. Great wrestler, Hall of Famer sure, but I wouldn't put him up as one of the best ever.

@ben: Yes, yes I do remember Hussan. Had so much potential, trust Vince to drop the ball, go anti-American in the nature of their push and then pull that ridiculous beheading stunt with the Undertaker. Could have been a quality ME heel champion.

I guess you and I have different taste in wrestlers, you're not a big Shawn fan either are you?

 

[duffer]

Go back and watch his matches from between him turning on DX and blowing his quad. He was immense. Storytelling and psychology in the ring were second to none and on the mic he was amazing. Him and The Rock played off each other beautifully, as did him and Foley, him and Austin, etc...

If he hadn't done his quad I think he'd have been up there with Flair (though you're not a fan of him either IIRC)


Personally I don't think Kane or Show have ever deserved a rub from Triple H, but that's just me, I'm not a fan of either. Show's best work for me has been since Night of Champions, he is really excelling in this tag team role.

I've seen them, psychology wise, apart from hyping up his "The Game" image, it's nothing I hadn't already seen before and I've never seen him carry a proper stiff and make him look like a superstar like other guys have done.

Wrt Flair. If you've seen one you've seen them all. Thought he was bland, limited and boring. I also was ridiculously put off by his ridiculousdesire to turn every match into some sort of comedy routine. He makes the most important match seem like slapstick. Not doubting his legacy or standing in the industry, just was so overrated.

Think Kane definitely deserved to be put over huge. He had some serious, serious momentum going for him. The Kanerooni and it all went downhill for him.

I guess you and I have different taste in wrestlers, you're not a big Shawn fan either are you?

He's an asshole and i hate the whole "born again" spiel he throws down our throats all the time but as a performer he's been incredible and I think I've been consistent with that.

 

[GIMH]

Fair enough. Not gonna get into a debate with you as well, I'm working (ish) and I like you too much for things to get heated

But

1. Triple H was never meant to be a Foley. We were always meant to believe that he was the best guy going around. While in the 02 feud he never did much for Jericho, let's not forget that Triple H set Y2J on his way to superstardom. He made him look a million dollars all year long, he may have won their LMS but buy did he put Jericho over. And I don't need something to be 'groundbreaking' for it to be good - I just need it to be good. Triple H had all the requirements for what I want out of a top wrestler, personally.

2. Can't agree on Ric Flair, pretty sure we've been there before though.

3. Kane was never worth anything after his one-night title reign in my eyes.

4. Fair enough on Shawn. I don't really care what people like are outside of the ring, just like most of my favourite footballers and cricketers are probably wankers.

On a side note, silver vision are having a Mania sale and I've just ordered the 19 DVD, haha.

 

[duffer]

Yeah but I feel to be truly considered an all time great you need to have brought something to the table which was another level to anyone else. I don't think Trips had/has it in any way.

We're probably going to start arguing personal preferences soon (actually we already are) and you know how these end

 

[GIMH]

I think what this thread needs is a good injection of stats, personally

 

[masterblaster]

I think you're being really tough on Shawn here. I think for the past few years, he's let his performances in the ring do the talking and has hardly shoved his born again lifestyle down people's throats.

 

[GIMH]

Wrestling discussion on here is pretty much better than anywhere on the net. Especially at this time of year.