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

[sledger]

If not watched RAW properly for weeks, need to start doing so over the next few weeks, my Dad is threatening to axe the sky again as part of a protest against footballers' wages

 

[GIMH]

Watch it tomorrow night then ****

 

[sledger]

Seeing as there won't be any World Cup to watch I probably will tbh.

 

[masterblaster]

Just caught up on all of this weeks wrestling as I was travelling for work this past week and missed all the shows. Raw was a great show this week as this Nexus angle heats up. The matches were strong too and even though it was teased that Steve Austin is the GM, I highly doubt that's true.

NXT was an average show and I'm finding it hard to support any of the rookies this season. Last season Bryan Danielson, Wade Barrett and Justin Gabriel really stood out to me and even guys like David Otunga and Heath Slater were charismatic enough to hold your attention. This year apart from Kaval, the rest are not that good.

Smackdown was a solid show but was nothing special. Christian turned on Matt Hardy in the tag match. I'm not sure whether it was an actual heel turn but Christian really does need to turn heel as he produces his best work as a heel. The Drew McIntyre segment at the start of the show was great, meanwhile Jack Swagger continues his transformation to being Kurt Angle.

TNA Impact was a great show this week. The AJ Styles vs Kazarian match was a great sample for what these guys can do. I couldn't believe that TNA would give away the first ever match featuring RVD vs Samoa Joe on television but this is TNA so I tried to enjoy it.

You could sense that the match would've meant so much more if it was on PPV but it was a great match. I'm liking the storyline with Kurt Angle trying to make it up the rankings, I'm liking what they are doing with Doug Williams and Brian Kendrick and I'm liking the way that TNA are pushing the Motor City Machine Guns. I think TNA have finally got some momentum going their way even though a lot of the things they do are still terrible.

Victory Road is on this week and apparently something big is going to happen. I don't think it will be Paul Heyman but it could be someone like Batista coming into TNA. Looking forward to Money in the Bank next week. I'm hoping that The Miz and Christian win the Raw and Smackdown Money in the Bank matches.

 

[Majin]

NXT was an average show and I'm finding it hard to support any of the rookies this season. Last season Bryan Danielson, Wade Barrett and Justin Gabriel really stood out to me and even guys like David Otunga and Heath Slater were charismatic enough to hold your attention. This year apart from Kaval, the rest are not that good.

Disagree with this, Kaval is a gun yeah but I am severely in love with Percy Watson, he cracks me up. His dodgy poses and mannerisms are hilarious, and when he talks he just reminds me of Eddie Murphey with the goofy turned up to the max, I love it. OH YEAH!! I like Husky Harris as well I think he's pretty good. Though, I agree that the group overall aren't as good as the first lot were. Still I think you're selling them a bit short.

Also yeah I think I read somewhere that Austin had confirmed he wasn't the GM, or someone from the WWE had. Would have been awesome though.

Edit: Also what is everyones thoughts on this whole Kane/Undertaker angle going on? I missed the start of it but seeing Kane being a complete evil nutcase recently has been absolutely awesome, I loved the segment between him and Jack Swagger on Smackdown. video is up on the WWE website for anyone who missed it.

 

[Manee]

Just caught up on all of this weeks wrestling as I was travelling for work this past week and missed all the shows. Raw was a great show this week as this Nexus angle heats up. The matches were strong too and even though it was teased that Steve Austin is the GM, I highly doubt that's true.

Yeh, I doubt it is true, but a good little tease and the Nexus angle is certainly being booked very well to the point where one is inclined to watch the next show.

NXT was an average show and I'm finding it hard to support any of the rookies this season. Last season Bryan Danielson, Wade Barrett and Justin Gabriel really stood out to me and even guys like David Otunga and Heath Slater were charismatic enough to hold your attention. This year apart from Kaval, the rest are not that good.

Highly disagree. I think that this season of NXT is better than season 1. The rookies each have more character. Showtime Watson cracks me up, Kaval is obviously unique with his voice and in ring style, MM has an interesting tweener character and obvious star potential, Harris is the natural heel, Riley is a good obnixious heel, Cannon can **** off, and O Neill is a brilliant class act with Eli Cottonwood being genuinely strange.

My reservation is that someone with massive potential like Harris, booked as an evil heel will always struggle with the public vote, unless the thing is rigged somehow, but I'd doubt it, considering how low Harris did come and the fact that Kaval came in first.

Smackdown was a solid show but was nothing special. Christian turned on Matt Hardy in the tag match. I'm not sure whether it was an actual heel turn but Christian really does need to turn heel as he produces his best work as a heel. The Drew McIntyre segment at the start of the show was great, meanwhile Jack Swagger continues his transformation to being Kurt Angle.

I am loving the shameless turning of Swagger into Angle, it is actually quite funny and a good what-if to see what would have happened to Angle had he kept his hair in 2002. Don't think Christian turned heel, more of a build up to the MITB match, but do think he needs a heel turn, captain charisma in his last years of his first WWE stint was comedy gol, and obviously, he is brilliant in the ring.

TNA Impact was a great show this week. The AJ Styles vs Kazarian match was a great sample for what these guys can do. I couldn't believe that TNA would give away the first ever match featuring RVD vs Samoa Joe on television but this is TNA so I tried to enjoy it.

Missed Impact, but do think that things like booking RVD Vs Joe on Impact show the true amateur nature of the booking, that is a big main event match, not a throwaway match with no build up. However, Victory Road looks a brilliant card, the main event is a bit poor, but it is otherwise a very strong card.

 

[Majin]

Completely forgot about Alex Riley, I think he's great, plays his character extremely well and is great on the stick, I actually thought out of all the contestants he did the best in the talk challenge on NXT, though not surprised (or disappointed) that Showtime won it.

 

[Manee]

Completely forgot about Alex Riley, I think he's great, plays his character extremely well and is great on the stick, I actually thought out of all the contestants he did the best in the talk challenge on NXT, though not surprised (or disappointed) that Showtime won it.

I'm gonna rewatch now and note some thoughts...

Percy Watson has an obvious advantage with the topic. He flounders a bit early but always has plenty to talk about and that is a top asset. However, on second thoughts, is it really an asset to be able to improvise a promo, most promos these days are scripted, right?

Kaval has a tricky topic, but can always win fans with that voice. Chasing cheap pops and Matt Striker is right, if a bit harsh, to note it as patronising.

Eli Cottonwood's is bloody hilarious. I'm not sure if it is a personna or he is genuinely strange, but I love it! "I thought he said he didn't have a moustache".

MM has a tough topic but works it well. However, he is a natural heel and so was not cheered in the end but cut a very solid promo.

Husky Harris is the standout. He gets a stupid topic and does well with it, by eventually refusing to play ball with the topic. However, the commentators and I have reservations about how he will cope with the public vote as such a big heel.

Lucky Cannon is an annoying ****, but cut a nice promo - could be a good midcarder. I need the WWE and the WWE needs me was an awesome direction to take the subject at hand.

Alex Riley was brilliant, in hindsight. He was another who got a stupid topic ("pidgeon"). He really is like the Miz mk2. "It's just six pidgeons, hahaha".

 

[GIMH]

NXT is okay but I agree with mb that season 1 was way better - I actually think collectively these guys are a much higher standard but they haven't given me as much reason to care about them as the first lot did, I think the higher standard of pro last time round helped with that as well.

At the minute, Raw is absolutely brilliant, while NXT and Smackdown are both decent. Complete reversal of last year where Smackdown was hot and I could take or leave Raw.

 

[sledger]

Watched RAW today for the first time in a while. Enjoyed the Nexus bit quite a lot, particularly Cena kicking ass at the end. The pop he got when he got back in the ring at the end of the show was one of the loudest I have heard for anyone in absolutely ages. Seemed like the crowd was really feeding off his energy and vice versa. Pleased to see how it has gone, as I wasn't really sold on the way things were going when I saw what was happening last time I tuned in.

Surely building up for the return of the Rock

Also when I'm bored next I'm going to find some UFC forum and start making posts there about how now that Batista is officially training for MMA type stuff it is only a matter of time before he goes over there and becomes the dominant force. Reactions ought to be good. Will keep this thread updated on that.

 

[sledger]

A new wrestling promotion is starting up out of Florida. The promotion, which has quietly been putting together a business plan, is said to have major financial backing. The new promotion is already signing wrestlers up, and along with the contracts, are having them sign confidentiality agreements.

There is no name known for the promotion at this time, but it is known that they will not actively do anything until the fall. A full promotional launch is expected at the beginning of 2011, As of this time, there is no information of TV deals or TV tapings.

Businessman Peter Karoftis is said to be the main backer for the promotion. Karoftis previously worked with Sterling Equities, which is a New York-based investment firm that owns The New York Mets organization, the SNY cable network, and several real estate and investment companies. Karoftis, along with Florida independent wrestler Sean Davis are said to be the core of the company right now.

Also working with the company are Kevin Kleinrock (Viva La Lucha, Wrestling Society X), Cody Michaels (WSX, XPW) and Mister Saint Laurent (longtime Florida promoter). Kleinrock will be working production, while it is expected that Laurent will work on the creative end. Laurent has previously promoted the "I Believe In Wrestling" company, and there may be a crossover between the new company and the "I Believe In Wrestling" talent and wrestling school.

As of this time, the only confirmed name to sign with the company is Sean Waltman. Many wrestlers asked about the company have declined comment, due to the confidentiality agreements.

Interesting. Massive lol at the last paragraph though.

 

[sledger]

Also, RAW this week was gun. Apart from the Brady Bunch thing.

 

[Majin]

Dunno I thought that segment was worth it entirely for Regal's face when he looked down and saw Doink, was classic.

 

[sledger]

I guess it wasn't so bad tbf, did provide some laughs like you say. Not sure why Miz kayfabe injured R-Truth and had him replaced in the MITB by Mark Henry though, from a match pov surely it would have made more sense to have it the other way around. But again, small matter. Hopefully the RAW MITB will be the match of the night, certainly has that potential when you consider who is in it. Very much looking forward to the ME though, am expecting Sheamus to maybe join with Nexus or something.

 

[Majin]

Sucks for Truth but I am guessing they put Henry in there to be the powerful guy the other wrestlers can play off of, I remember there being one MITB where him and Kofi Kingston were in it and I think Kofi did something crazy like charging up a folded up ladder that Henry was holding up trying to get at the case which looked awesome. The Smackdown one already has Show and Kane for that sort of thing but the biggest guy in the RAW one would have probably been Ted DiBiase, so I guess it adds a little diversity to the match.

also if you're still planning to troll an MMA forum about Batista i'd advise not doing it on Sherdog, I think that place has a majority of its members as trolls and about 3 posters who actually post seriously so it'd be lost in a deluge of other troll threads. Should be pretty funny if you can find a decent place to do it though

edit: also, that Air Bourne into RKO was one of the most awesome things i've ever seen, Evan Bourne is a crazy son of a bitch

 

[sledger]

Haha that RKO was sick as. Orton and Bourne are both so hot at the moment.

For anyone who hasn't seen it....

YouTube - Randy Orton RKO on Evan Bourne in Mid-Air

 

[GIMH]

Think I read somewhere that truth is legit injured,hence the attack

 

[sledger]

Think I read somewhere that truth is legit injured,hence the attack

Ah right, did wonder if that was the case. Bit unlucky for him really, was getting his big break. Hope that's not his last shot, as he's not exactly a young gun anymore. Bring back Shelton Benjamin imho

 

[Majin]

Hell yeah, massive ladder matches aren't the same to me without Shelton botching a flipping powerbomb or something like that. I loved him and his missed spots. Would do the most awesome **** in the match out of anybody then ruin it by botching something and that's all anyone would remember. Anyone remember that...thing him and Charlie Hass tried to do in one of the matches, I can't exactly remember the match or who they were doing it to, just that they set a ladder up in a corner, picked the guy up and then both rolled over or something trying to get the guy to slam into the ladder and it just failed miserably, was incredibly slow and had less impact than a Batista spear, it was hilarious.

 

[sledger]

Remember when Kane tried to chokeslam him out of the ring onto the floor at WM21, but Shelton's foot got caught in the ring ropes and he just hung there waving his arms until Tomko (IIRC) helped him get out. After which point the chokeslam obviously took full effect and Shelton was KO'd for the remainder of the match.