Wrassle-SLAENT
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Are there any pro wrestling fans here?
It's peak WWE season with the build up to their biggest show, Wrestlemania, with the last pay per view before the big one coming this Sunday. Roman Reigns will put his #1 contendership for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line against fan favorite Daniel Bryan as a result of fan backlash from his Royal Rumble victory.
NXT, WWE's developmental show, continues to put out a better product than the main show with their last PPV-like special receiving very positive reviews.
Ring of Honor continues to put on a good weekly wrestling show and has their 15th Anniversary pay per view coming up on March 1st.
New Japan Pro Wrestling is hot now, with the launch of a WWE Network-like service and their biggest show of the year premiering on US pay per view for the first time last month.
TNA is doing whatever TNA does on a new network.
Discuss!
It's peak WWE season with the build up to their biggest show, Wrestlemania, with the last pay per view before the big one coming this Sunday. Roman Reigns will put his #1 contendership for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line against fan favorite Daniel Bryan as a result of fan backlash from his Royal Rumble victory.
NXT, WWE's developmental show, continues to put out a better product than the main show with their last PPV-like special receiving very positive reviews.
Ring of Honor continues to put on a good weekly wrestling show and has their 15th Anniversary pay per view coming up on March 1st.
New Japan Pro Wrestling is hot now, with the launch of a WWE Network-like service and their biggest show of the year premiering on US pay per view for the first time last month.
TNA is doing whatever TNA does on a new network.
Discuss!
If you like wrestling, check out
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Obnoxious quantities of wrestling content. I didn't think there was that much to cover in the wrestling world, but apparently there is.
http://placetobenation.com/
Obnoxious quantities of wrestling content. I didn't think there was that much to cover in the wrestling world, but apparently there is.
I've actually kind of got my hopes up for Fast Lane. (I was also psyched for the Rumble...)
The build for Bryan/Reigns has been good. I like what they've done to the Reigns character, where's kind of out here teasing heel tactics and a turn for the last couple of weeks.
It should be a good card in general. As bummed as I am at the state of Dean Ambrose, he'll have a good match with Barrett. The Kidd/Cesaro and Usos tag match should be great. There's no way it ends clean, but Cena/Rusev should be fun, too.
The build for Bryan/Reigns has been good. I like what they've done to the Reigns character, where's kind of out here teasing heel tactics and a turn for the last couple of weeks.
It should be a good card in general. As bummed as I am at the state of Dean Ambrose, he'll have a good match with Barrett. The Kidd/Cesaro and Usos tag match should be great. There's no way it ends clean, but Cena/Rusev should be fun, too.
By rodeoclownI've actually kind of got my hopes up for Fast Lane. (I was also psyched for the Rumble...)
The build for Bryan/Reigns has been good. I like what they've done to the Reigns character, where's kind of out here teasing heel tactics and a turn for the last couple of weeks.
It should be a good card in general. As bummed as I am at the state of Dean Ambrose, he'll have a good match with Barrett. The Kidd/Cesaro and Usos tag match should be great. There's no way it ends clean, but Cena/Rusev should be fun, too.
I was jazzed for the Rumble but man they deflated any excitement I had after the lackluster eliminations of Bryan, Wyatt, Ziggler and Ambrose while booking the dinosaurs Kane and Big Show to be the guys to fear. I think they've done a good job in adjusting to the reaction and they've definitely made Reigns more interesting. I'm optimistic to see how things play out at Fast Lane.
I'm pretty bummed about Ambrose, too. He went from main eventing two PPVs late last year to the IC title wasteland, but I guess there's only so much room in the top of the card and it's good they have something for him at least. He's young and he will definitely be a main event player for years.
I'm sure Rusev/Cena will have a dusty finish. They've oddly placed Cena in the midcard for much of the last year (outside of the Lesnar feud), so I have some hope Rusev will go over him at WM. I probably shouldn't keep my hopes up, though. If he beats Rusev, I hope Cena brings back his spinner US title from 04.
Ugh, the Rumble match was such a disaster. The way it was booked, nobody came out looking good. I guess Wyatt eliminated a bunch of guys, but he went out easy, too. Roman didn't do anything, the hot babyfaces like Ambrose and Ziggler didn't even get time to shine. They came in late and then got wrecked.
(But I'm a huge Ziggler mark and I honestly can't stand how they've been booking the dude the last few weeks. From sole survivor, to fired, to eliminated like nothing in the Rumble, to working these nothing tag matches with Ryback. And now he's probably not doing anything at Mania since I'm guessing Orton is coming back to work with Rollins and the Bryan program is off the table, too.)
But here is the great WWE promise! They can fix it with a good a ppv on Sunday!
(But I'm a huge Ziggler mark and I honestly can't stand how they've been booking the dude the last few weeks. From sole survivor, to fired, to eliminated like nothing in the Rumble, to working these nothing tag matches with Ryback. And now he's probably not doing anything at Mania since I'm guessing Orton is coming back to work with Rollins and the Bryan program is off the table, too.)
But here is the great WWE promise! They can fix it with a good a ppv on Sunday!
I liked the end of Raw with the Roman Reigns/Daniel Bryan brawl. Both guys looked credible and both are acting like asses to each other.
By The FrankmanI liked the end of Raw with the Roman Reigns/Daniel Bryan brawl. Both guys looked credible and both are acting like asses to each other.I loved the part when Bryan was on commentary and kinda heeling it up, getting the yes chants going during Reigns' match.
They've managed to turn me around on this match and on Reigns as a character. He seems a lot more natural with his promos now and his one against all mentality is so much better than fairy tale promos. It's basically how I'd figured he'd be as a singles star when he was in the Shield.
By rodeoclownUgh, the Rumble match was such a disaster. The way it was booked, nobody came out looking good. I guess Wyatt eliminated a bunch of guys, but he went out easy, too. Roman didn't do anything, the hot babyfaces like Ambrose and Ziggler didn't even get time to shine. They came in late and then got wrecked.
(But I'm a huge Ziggler mark and I honestly can't stand how they've been booking the dude the last few weeks. From sole survivor, to fired, to eliminated like nothing in the Rumble, to working these nothing tag matches with Ryback. And now he's probably not doing anything at Mania since I'm guessing Orton is coming back to work with Rollins and the Bryan program is off the table, too.)
But here is the great WWE promise! They can fix it with a good a ppv on Sunday!
I was so excited about where Ziggler would go after Survivor Series. For like two months he felt like a credible Rumble winner. Now his best bet for TV time at Mania is a battle royal match or some garbage with Ryback.
I've got to hand it to them for making Reigns look better than he has since the Sheild split. I still don't think he should be main eventing WM since he's only had one singles PPV match in his career, but I feel less sour about it now.
I stopped watching the WWE during the Ruthless Aggression era. Would you say it's gotten better or worse since then?
By J10I stopped watching the WWE during the Ruthless Aggression era. Would you say it's gotten better or worse since then?The matches have gotten better due to the roster, but the booking and storylines have gotten worse.
By Professor BeefBy J10I stopped watching the WWE during the Ruthless Aggression era. Would you say it's gotten better or worse since then?The matches have gotten better due to the roster, but the booking and storylines have gotten worse.
Professor Beef is spot on. In terms of the quality of their roster and their ability to work a quality wrestling match, I don't think the WWE has ever had a more talented roster. But yeah, the booking is an absolute mess most of the time.
NXT is their developmental show/program and it's exceptional. It feels very much like an old wrestling show in terms of its booking but with all of the flairs of modern WWE production. It's the best wrestling show out there now.
I request this thread be renamed Wrassle-SLAENT.
and to keep the thread on topic I hope Roman never wins a belt.
and to keep the thread on topic I hope Roman never wins a belt.
By Face it Tiger..I request this thread be renamed Wrassle-SLAENT.Oh, he's winning at Mania, but I just wonder if they don't have Seth immediately cash in. That makes a lot of sense to me.
and to keep the thread on topic I hope Roman never wins a belt.
My dream scenario is Vince finds some extra money under his couch cushion and gets Lesnar to stick around and he retains. That, or Bryan v. Lesnar in a singles match because that would make for the best story and the best match they could do.
In any situation, Rollins cashing in would be amazing.
In any situation, Rollins cashing in would be amazing.
By Face it Tiger..I request this thread be renamed Wrassle-SLAENT.
and to keep the thread on topic I hope Roman never wins a belt.
Here you go.
By Ben GhaziMy dream scenario is Vince finds some extra money under his couch cushion and gets Lesnar to stick around and he retains. That, or Bryan v. Lesnar in a singles match because that would make for the best story and the best match they could do.
In any situation, Rollins cashing in would be amazing.
I'd honestly prefer a Rollins vs. Lesnar match above all else. Probably wouldn't draw, but it'd be HOT FUCKING FIRE as a match. The stuff they did together at the Rumble was so good.
Barring that, Bryan and Lesnar being forced to team up to take down Lesnar might make for a compelling story. Honestly, with how Brock is now, ANY lone performer beating him almost defies credulity, so a triple threat - while a blatant redo of last year - makes the most sense.
I'd go so far to say that the Triple Threat match at the Rumble is in the running for best triple threat match ever. It was incredible. I'd love a singles match between them.
They added Rowan, Ryback and Ziggler vs Rollins, Kane and Big Show for Sunday.
I can only hope this sets up a Mania match for Ziggler and Rollins.
I can only hope this sets up a Mania match for Ziggler and Rollins.
I didn't even know this thread existed.
My thoughts on wrasslin - fuck WWE. I really hope they just let NXT be it's own brand very soon while letting them have the benefits of the main roster. WWE isn't made to appeal to a fan like me who just wants to see great matches with great storytelling, and that's fine but don't call up people like Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn just to do nothing with them. RIP Paige.
My thoughts on wrasslin - fuck WWE. I really hope they just let NXT be it's own brand very soon while letting them have the benefits of the main roster. WWE isn't made to appeal to a fan like me who just wants to see great matches with great storytelling, and that's fine but don't call up people like Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn just to do nothing with them. RIP Paige.
By OmegaI didn't even know this thread existed.
My thoughts on wrasslin - fuck WWE. I really hope they just let NXT be it's own brand very soon while letting them have the benefits of the main roster. WWE isn't made to appeal to a fan like me who just wants to see great matches with great storytelling, and that's fine but don't call up people like Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn just to do nothing with them. RIP Paige.
While I think many of the NXT callups in recent years could've been handled better and there are numerous problems with WWE's crap booking, I think most NXT callups have been handled relatively well.
Seth Rollins - The top heel on the roster
Roman Reigns - Won the RR and will be headlining Wrestlemania against Lesnar (presumably)
Dean Ambrose - Main evented two PPVs just months after becoming a singles-only wrestler. Super over with the crowd.
Bray Wyatt - Had a three month long program with Cena last year, also had a program with another veteran in Jericho. Main evented a PPV last year. Looks like he's going to be getting a WM program with the Undertaker.
Paige - Has been the bright spot in the divas division the past year despite the abysmal booking. Two time divas champion already.
Bo Dallas - Was starting to heat up before his injury. I think his gimmick goes over the heads of a lot of the general audience and I hope he gets a chance to let it stick.
Adam Rose - Was never going to be anything more than a jobber/joke character. Can't all be winners, eh?
The only one I think they've utterly dropped the ball on is Big E. There's no reason he shouldn't be in the upper mid card or on his way there.
I think most of the problems stem from Vince still being there. I don't think a lot of the problems that you mention are going to change until Vince leaves.
My solution to avoiding too much of WWE's bad TV is to only watch the YouTube clips of Raw and SD and not subject myself to 5 hours of TV where nothing really happens. I watch the PPVs, which is pretty much where anything important or any decent matches are going to occur anymore.
For my weekly TV wrestling fix, NXT and ROH fit the bill fairly well for me.
Big E should probably be in the main event scene. It's a tragedy that he's doing this New Day gimmick now. Unless this is a long con designed to turn him heel and get him there, but I doubt it, since they haven't even hinted a turn for those dudes.
Working with Cena isn't a good thing, because it usually always ends in LOLCENAWINS or you winning by something insanely dumb (kid and the cage match thing, where Cena single-handedly defeated the Wyatt Family) . Neither is working with Jericho in 2014.
as for Paige, divas champion means nothing. That whole division means nothing. It's just a bunch of crazy lesbo tendency characters that flip flop from being heel to face every week. Some of them can actually have a good match but the matches are bathroom breaks. (meanwhile in NXT, the womens Fatal 4way is the main reason I watched the event)
Can't really call Reigns an NXT guy. Dude was there for like 3 months and he's in wrestlings royal family so he was getting a main roster spot regardless.
Seth and Ambrose are great, but I just kind of gave up on WWE. I've seen so many favorites misused for the past 4-5 years that I just don't care anymore. I can't even put the blinders on and have false hope, because I know eventually they'll fuck it up. Reigns winning the Rumble while every fan favorite was eliminated mid rumble just so Big Show and Kane can be the part of the final four in 2015 is just insulting.
Here's to a decade of dominance from Samoan Cena
as for Paige, divas champion means nothing. That whole division means nothing. It's just a bunch of crazy lesbo tendency characters that flip flop from being heel to face every week. Some of them can actually have a good match but the matches are bathroom breaks. (meanwhile in NXT, the womens Fatal 4way is the main reason I watched the event)
Can't really call Reigns an NXT guy. Dude was there for like 3 months and he's in wrestlings royal family so he was getting a main roster spot regardless.
Seth and Ambrose are great, but I just kind of gave up on WWE. I've seen so many favorites misused for the past 4-5 years that I just don't care anymore. I can't even put the blinders on and have false hope, because I know eventually they'll fuck it up. Reigns winning the Rumble while every fan favorite was eliminated mid rumble just so Big Show and Kane can be the part of the final four in 2015 is just insulting.
Here's to a decade of dominance from Samoan Cena
By OmegaWorking with Cena isn't a good thing, because it usually always ends in LOLCENAWINS or you winning by something insanely dumb (kid and the cage match thing, where Cena single-handedly defeated the Wyatt Family) . Neither is working with Jericho in 2014.
as for Paige, divas champion means nothing. That whole division means nothing. It's just a bunch of crazy lesbo tendency characters that flip flop from being heel to face every week. Some of them can actually have a good match but the matches are bathroom breaks. (meanwhile in NXT, the womens Fatal 4way is the main reason I watched the event)
Can't really call Reigns an NXT guy. Dude was there for like 3 months and he's in wrestlings royal family so he was getting a main roster spot regardless.
Seth and Ambrose are great, but I just kind of gave up on WWE. I've seen so many favorites misused for the past 4-5 years that I just don't care anymore. I can't even put the blinders on and have false hope, because I know eventually they'll fuck it up. Reigns winning the Rumble while every fan favorite was eliminated mid rumble just so Big Show and Kane can be the part of the final four in 2015 is just insulting.
Here's to a decade of dominance from Samoan Cena
I agree with you in just about every way and I can't fault anyone for feeling disenfranchised by the state of their product now. Basically what's keeping me watching now is the sheer quality of their roster and on occasion they are allowed to shine and put on great matches. With the Royal Rumble, I was so angry and drained by the end of the Rumble match that I wanted to stop watching, but earlier in the card they put on one of the best triple threat matches I've ever seen.
I say just focus on what you like and seek out other great wrestling instead of worrying about WWE too much. There are so many options now that you can never run out of good wrestling to watch.
To counter one thing you said though, I don't think working with Cena is an instant career killer in every instance. Punk's feud with Cena is what made him a top tier star and his match with Bryan is what pushed him to be the main event guy he is now.
Also, Rollins has been Cena's main rival ever since Hell in a Cell, and he's continued to get more heat, get better on the mic, and in general become the top regularly-appearing heel in the company, simply by virtue of how contemptible he is as a character.
NXT and the performance center have always been a long game. If it produces even one Cena, or a handful of Bryan/Punk/Orton types, it basically pays for itself.
As for Paige - she's done about as well as she could, given the kind of booking the divas on the main roster have to put up with. She's gotten much better on the mic, and she's probably had more watchable matches in the past 10 months than AJ had in several as the face of the divas division. Ultimately, though, unless HHH steps in and basically makes Vince give him control of the women's stuff (or, better yet, asks for some time for it on Smackdown, which nobody gives a fuck about anyway), you just have to accept that it's gonna suck on the main roster and enjoy what we get down in NXT.
Edit: However, I think it's a big mistake for NXT to be "canon" in the WWE Universe. Part of what helps these guys find their characters is the live, organic reaction of the very smarky FSU audience, and you can't just expect people to respond instantly to stuff that was built over the course of months in Florida. For example, Bo Dallas is a very fun character, but he worked because of the year+ of watching NXT try and fail to build him up as some kind of Cena-esque babyface, only for him to be rejected by the audience. Then they kicked into gear with the "oblivious heel who thinks he's a face" stuff, and his "go away" boos became legit heel boos. Having him come in right away with the "motivational speaker who thinks he's great" stuff on Monday Night Raw, though, makes no sense because people have no context for why he's acting like that and why he thinks he's so great. (Though really, a character like that would need a Santino-level wrestler/physical comedian to really "work", as you'd need someone with the grace and wrestling skills to fuck up in such a way as to seemingly luck into victory.)
NXT and the performance center have always been a long game. If it produces even one Cena, or a handful of Bryan/Punk/Orton types, it basically pays for itself.
As for Paige - she's done about as well as she could, given the kind of booking the divas on the main roster have to put up with. She's gotten much better on the mic, and she's probably had more watchable matches in the past 10 months than AJ had in several as the face of the divas division. Ultimately, though, unless HHH steps in and basically makes Vince give him control of the women's stuff (or, better yet, asks for some time for it on Smackdown, which nobody gives a fuck about anyway), you just have to accept that it's gonna suck on the main roster and enjoy what we get down in NXT.
Edit: However, I think it's a big mistake for NXT to be "canon" in the WWE Universe. Part of what helps these guys find their characters is the live, organic reaction of the very smarky FSU audience, and you can't just expect people to respond instantly to stuff that was built over the course of months in Florida. For example, Bo Dallas is a very fun character, but he worked because of the year+ of watching NXT try and fail to build him up as some kind of Cena-esque babyface, only for him to be rejected by the audience. Then they kicked into gear with the "oblivious heel who thinks he's a face" stuff, and his "go away" boos became legit heel boos. Having him come in right away with the "motivational speaker who thinks he's great" stuff on Monday Night Raw, though, makes no sense because people have no context for why he's acting like that and why he thinks he's so great. (Though really, a character like that would need a Santino-level wrestler/physical comedian to really "work", as you'd need someone with the grace and wrestling skills to fuck up in such a way as to seemingly luck into victory.)
By Ben GhaziTo counter one thing you said though, I don't think working with Cena is an instant career killer in every instance. Punk's feud with Cena is what made him a top tier star and his match with Bryan is what pushed him to be the main event guy he is now.
Those guys were given the chance though. I have no hope for Rusev coming out of this feud looking strong.
and I watch NXT, occasionally watch PWG. I would even watch TNA but I'm pretty sure I don't get Destination America so I still get my wrasslin fix elsewhere, but it just sucks that everyone's dream is to make it to WWE just to be fed to forced poster boys.