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

[sledger]

Sadly, despite wanting to care, I just can't make myself interested in that TNA card. Will check the results of course, but doubt I will watch. Most likely to catch the main event if anything, no interest whatsoever in most of the rest. Quite interested in Jay Lethal v Doug Williams. But at the same time it's not something I would expect to see on the card for what is supposedly the biggest show of the year.

 

[GIMH]

Michael Cole was asked if he thought TNA could overhaul WWE now that they have turned Jeff Hardy heel. Here was his response:

 

[masterblaster]

I'm laughing too. It's really stupid of TNA to turn one of the biggest babyfaces in professional wrestling heel. TNA haven't even gotten the best out of Jeff Hardy as a babyface. If Jeff Hardy had the charisma of a Shawn Michaels or Chris Jericho that could pull of being a great heel as well as a great babyface, then sure go for it but he doesn't and this heel turn seems like a bad decision. But it is TNA and he'll probably be a babyface again in a couple of weeks time.

 

[sledger]

Him working as a main eventer without the power of the WWE machine behind him just flat out doesn't work either. If I saw Kurt Angle vs Mr Kennedy vs Jeff as a midcard match on a WWE ppv, I'd probably be really interested. But when I see it as a main event on a TNA card, it just looks crap somehow.

 

[masterblaster]

Can't believe nobody has commented on Raw this week. I thought it was an outstanding show. The promo at the end of the show between Wade Barrett and John Cena was money. Barrett's a star already and is on his way to being a regular main eventer. He held his own on the microphone this week with Cena. Cena's facial expressions were pretty awesome too.

The Miz continues to be a star and it was great to see Daniel Bryan competitive against Sheamus. The way they jobbed him out last week was terrible and this week saw Bryan looking really strong and hold his own against Sheamus. Raw having CM Punk benefits the brand greatly and I thought his match was Evan Bourne was fantastic.

The Raw team is shaping up well for Bragging Rights. I would've had Daniel Bryan in the team instead of Santino but otherwise it's a good team.

Smackdown was really good this week too with a great match between Rey Mysterio and Cody Rhodes. Both guys really produced and had great chemistry. Rey is probably having one of his best years and Cody Rhodes continues to impress with both is promos and his in ring work. It was great to see Edge play a babyface character and it seems to be getting over with the crowd this time.

The Smackdown team looks pretty good too with Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston and Alberto Del Rio all making the team. I was pretty pumped with Kaval being in the team and I don't quite understand the reasoning to get him out of the team and have Tyler Reks in there, a guy we haven't seen for almost a year.

Two great shows this week for the WWE. NXT was a bit of a miss and TNA Impact is usually dreadful. Bragging Rights is shaping up to be a decent show but I still think it's too many PPV's for WWE and they all come around way too quickly which really damages the build up for the PPV's.

 

[GIMH]

Smackdown doesn't air here til tonight so I scrolled the second half of your post...but yeah Raw was awesome. I only saw it midweek as I've been away with work but yeah it was great. Great promos, great matches, just a great show.

I'm away with work again when Bragging Rights is on so looks like I'll have to wait a few days for that, ugh, want to see my countryman win the title.

Wondering if he'll get a big pop when Raw airs here in November.

 

[sledger]

Haha didn't realise Tyler Reks was still on the roster tbh, thought he had been cut ages ago.

 

[GIMH]

Matt Hardy released

Suppose 90 days is plenty of time to turn Jeff back face

 

[sledger]

Several WWE stars have privately indicated in recent weeks that they are contemplating leaving the organization—and the wrestling business altogether—once their current contracts expire.

Edge, who's current deal with World Wrestling Entertainment expires in two years, has been telling people that he may retire from the wrestling industry once it concludes.

One company insider noted that four other WWE stars have stated in recent weeks that they've completely lost their passion for wrestling, to such a degree that they vow to leave the business altogether once their contracts expire.

A fifth wrestler claims he will leave WWE once his current deal runs out, but will continue wrestling elsewhere.

We'll keep you posted as we get more but it's safe to say there are numerous talents within WWE who are very unhappy these days.

..

 

[masterblaster]

I think everyone saw the Matt Hardy release coming and it's pretty safe to say that he'll eventually end up in TNA. I think in the end he just came across as unprofessional trying everything he could to get himself fired.

As for the other news where some stars are considering retirement, that's not surprising. I can see it being relevant to the guys who were around during the Attitude era and are now seeing business dropping and even evolving. A lot of these guys have been experiencing the grind for so many years now and would be very beat up so it's not surprising.

I don't see someone like Edge going to TNA and could very well see him either become a backstage agent, booker or commentator or just retire altogether. The guy's probably been in more brutal matches over the years than anyone else. Undertaker and Triple H are names that will probably retire soon as well. It becomes even more important for WWE to create new stars something which they've been doing a pretty good job of as of late.

 

[sledger]

Total Nonstop Agony: The Wrestling Retirement Home Where Everyone Slowly Dies | Bleacher Report

Interesting read that. Short and makes a few decent if rather obvious points. I don't think the problems facing TNA and how to solve them are as simple as has been made out here, but it certainly does touch on a lot of truths. Actually TBF, I've not watched TNA properly for months now, but if it's anything like it was when I last actually watched an entire episode, I would imagine that this article isn't too wide of the mark.

 

[sledger]

I think everyone saw the Matt Hardy release coming and it's pretty safe to say that he'll eventually end up in TNA. I think in the end he just came across as unprofessional trying everything he could to get himself fired.

As for the other news where some stars are considering retirement, that's not surprising. I can see it being relevant to the guys who were around during the Attitude era and are now seeing business dropping and even evolving. A lot of these guys have been experiencing the grind for so many years now and would be very beat up so it's not surprising.

I don't see someone like Edge going to TNA and could very well see him either become a backstage agent, booker or commentator or just retire altogether. The guy's probably been in more brutal matches over the years than anyone else. Undertaker and Triple H are names that will probably retire soon as well. It becomes even more important for WWE to create new stars something which they've been doing a pretty good job of as of late.

Apparently MVP is the next high profile name to get cut. Wouldn't surprise me at all, his momentum seems to have completely died and I can't recall the last time I saw him in a match of any significance. Seemed like he would really get his chance to shine when he got drafted to RAW and was put in a match with the the then WWE champion Randy Orton. Guess the face turn that happened around the same time kind of killed his character. Shame really, was an awesome heel when he first showed up on Smackdown a couple of years ago, great promos.

 

[Jarquis]

I haven't watched in ages buthttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/492127-edge-to-smackdown-10-things-we-want-to-see-happen would be epic imo.

 

[masterblaster]

Apparently MVP is the next high profile name to get cut. Wouldn't surprise me at all, his momentum seems to have completely died and I can't recall the last time I saw him in a match of any significance. Seemed like he would really get his chance to shine when he got drafted to RAW and was put in a match with the the then WWE champion Randy Orton. Guess the face turn that happened around the same time kind of killed his character. Shame really, was an awesome heel when he first showed up on Smackdown a couple of years ago, great promos.

Having a read of MVP's Twitter though and it really shows that he doesn't care about his standing in WWE. He just comes across as a guy who has no motivation to get to the top and be a main event player. You can put him in the same category as a Shelton Benjamin or a Carlito in that they've got all the talent in the world but they're just not motivated enough to put in the extra mile. There's a reason why John Cena is WWE Champion for most of the year.

 

[GIMH]

I read something the other day talking about how post-attitude era, wrestlers haven't come through the territories and generally therefore haven't had the same struggle to make it. It leaves them with a sense of entitlement rather than a desire to work hard.

Cena's a great example but also look at the likes of Edge, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio. These guys have an abundance of talent but are always putting 100% into their performance, whether it's Wrestlemania or a house show. Carlito got given a chance by being made an NXT pro and just looked uninterested the whole time. The guy is a joke and it's a shame.

 

[masterblaster]

Agree completely. Look at someone like a Bryan Danielson or an Evan Bourne as well. Both guys have worked so hard in the indies and around the world and you can just tell of their enthusiasm and their passion for being in WWE. Both of these guys put in a lot of hard work as well and give it their best.

The independent scene is probably the closest thing to the territories now and generally the guys from the indies probably are better prepared and more passionate about the industry.

 

[GIMH]

Yep. No great surprise that CM Punk is one of WWE's top performers and Danielson, early days but his performances to date suggest he is on his way. Wade Barrett has been brilliant and looked really hungry, having spent years working the indy scene in the UK and Ireland, as well.

 

[GIMH]

Go and get me a glass of water!

 

[Jono]

Having a read of MVP's Twitter though and it really shows that he doesn't care about his standing in WWE. He just comes across as a guy who has no motivation to get to the top and be a main event player. You can put him in the same category as a Shelton Benjamin or a Carlito in that they've got all the talent in the world but they're just not motivated enough to put in the extra mile. There's a reason why John Cena is WWE Champion for most of the year.

Benjamin isn't a hard worker? What happened to him?

Was so awesome when he first came around

 

[sledger]

I was a huge fan of Benjamin as well. But the combination of not being able to cut a promo and (apparently) not really giving a crap and putting the effort in resulted in him being fired. Shame really, top worker imo. His match with HBK on RAW that one time was just plain awesome.