WWE/NXT/AEW/NJPW Thread

[Real Deal]

WWE Universe was right, THAT WAS AWFUL.

Goddamn does the main event picture absolutely fucking suck compared to the yesteryear's.

Good thing they gave me a great childhood.

 

[Derek]

WOW

Say what you want, but nothing about that show was predictable.

 

[Simmy]

As a guy who no longer finds the time to tune into WWE scheduling each week (but used to watch it religiously), WrestleMania is still the one event a year I don't miss.

And every year (tonight included), it makes me wish I watched more of it. Am thoroughly entertained.

Literally from the moment I posted this the show went from great to massively below average LOL.

 

[LennoxLewis]

Yea it started off very well, went downhill after the Bar showed up. Very unpredictable though, which is something.

 

[The Red Viper]

This was absolutely pointless. I get it, nostalgia is fun.
But I just can't care anymore about these antics, tbh.

You know what would have been fun?

Undertaker showing up as American Badass.

Not this.

Absolute shambles.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Literally from the moment I posted this the show went from great to massively below average LOL.

WWE constantly reminds you that, for everything they get right, they get at least ten things wrong.

If you didn't watch NXT: Takeover last night, you should watch that, though. That was a real wrestling PPV. Every match delivered and the main event was absolutely incredible.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Also, looks like we can officially crown Gargano/Ciampa as match of the weekend.

And possibly the year.

 

[kookoo]

Also, looks like we can officially crown Gargano/Ciampa as match of the weekend.

And possibly the year.

The ladder match was also amazing. And Wrestlemania was not good at all. They should make Takeover on Sunday. That or Vince needs to die...

 

[Jack Brickman]

The ladder match was also amazing. And Wrestlemania was not good at all. They should make Takeover on Sunday. That or Vince needs to die...

Mania started strong, with the IC Title, Charlotte/Asuka (good match even if the ending was a big let down), the Smackdown tag match, and the mixed tag. Bryan's return was fun too, if nothing special. After that, though, it took a shit and finished poorly.

I think Styles/Nakamura needed another five minutes. It felt like they were just hitting the next gear right when the match ended.

 

[kookoo]

Mania started strong, with the IC Title, Charlotte/Asuka (good match even if the ending was a big let down), the Smackdown tag match, and the mixed tag. Bryan's return was fun too, if nothing special. After that, though, it took a shit and finished poorly.

I think Styles/Nakamura needed another five minutes. It felt like they were just hitting the next gear right when the match ended.

Yeah. I have no complaints about the first little bit. Auska losing is where it really started falling fast. Then the mixed tag was surprisingly good. The Cena/Elias bit was funny but I feel like they could have brought Taker in a lot better. I feel like they wasted so much time and they need to sort stuff out to end the PPV at 11... 5-12? I was dying by the end of the night, I don't even know how the crowd was expected to muster up chants. Glad they did though so they ended the match earlier. Both Roman and Brock need to gtfo.

 

[Derek]

IC Title:
****

Great start to the show. Rollins is one of the most over guys they have right now, and considering the result of the main event, putting the title on him right now makes sense.

Smackdown Women's:
***1/2

Good match between two of the top women wrestlers in the world. I like that they ended Asuka's streak last night. My own qualm is that I would have like the match to have gone longer. The extra half star is because Charlotte's entrance was awesome.

US Title:
*1/2

It'd be a single star if I didn't love Roode and Rusev's entrances so much. They put the title on the least over guy in the match. It wasn't a good match, and if there's anybody who hasn't watched yet, just fast forward.

Angle/Rousey vs HHH/Stephanie:
***

I think this match exceeded most people's expectations. I expected Angle and HHH to do most of the work in the ring just for Rousey to finally get ahold of Steph, and finish her quickly. You could tell this was Ronda's first match, but it was impressive nonetheless.

Smackdown Tag Titles:
*

Another match you can fast forward through. I know there was a time crunch, but it's disappointing to see New Day and the Usos wasted like this. Especially since it was the Usos first Wrestlemania main card match.

Undertaker vs Cena:
***

It was not technically sound, nor was it a lengthy brawl, but it was good for what it was, and pretty much exactly what I expected. It was more of a segment than a match, but it was cool to see the Undertaker not look like a complete bum.

Daniel Bryan/Shane vs Zayn/Owens:
***

It was Daniel Bryan's return match, and considering it was thrown together in the last couple weeks before Mania, I think this is the most we could have expected. I'm disappointed that Zayn and Owens appear to be heading to Raw now, but it was honestly just great to see Bryan back at it.

Raw Women's:
**1/2

Nia Jax just flat out isn't ever going to put on a technical masterpiece in the ring, and Alexa Bliss is just a decent in-ring performer. However, I thought these two put on the best match they could have. Bliss pulled so nice moves out of her back pocket to make her look like a credible threat to Jax throughout the match, and Jax finally got the job done with that hellacious Samoan Drop.

WWE Title:
****

I don't think there was much doubt as to whether or not these guys could put on a show. I think we all wish they would have been given another 5-10 minutes, but it seems these two are just getting started with each other. I like the Nakamura heel turn because these two deserve a legit feud with one another. I know Nakamura is over and super charismatic, but those guys often make the best heels, which leads to them being more over than ever when they make the switch back to face. Look at AJ's "Beat up John Cena" run, and how over he is now. Look at The Rock's run as Corporate Champ. I think this could be a special feud.

Raw Tag Titles:
**

This match was meant to make Strowman look unstoppable, and to have a fun crowd moment. It did both. I just wonder where they go from here. Hopefully they drop the titles soon due to whoever Strowman is set to feud with next.

Universal Title:
**1/2

I think we all knew this match was going to be nothing but Superman punches, Spears, and F-5's, and yet somehow we all underestimated just how many they'd throw at us. Outcome was easily the most shocking of the night. Not sure if they just wanted to throw us a curveball, if they're down on Reigns, or if this was a part of Lesnar re-signing. I don't think anybody is particularly excited at the prospect of either one of these guys as champ, so hopefully this opens the door for somebody new to come take the title off Lesnar.



Overall:
***

It was good. As always it felt like they missed some opportunities. Thankfully TakeOver was as close to a ***** show as you can get.

 

[BMAN]

I didn’t even bother watching Brock/Roman. Takeover yet again overshadowed the main show. Styles/Nakamura was so disappointing and sucked compared to their Wrestle Kingdom march

 

[DJTJ]

Wait, people didn’t like the Rousey match? Far and away the best match of the night. Awesome storytelling.

 

[Derek]

Wait, people didn’t like the Rousey match? Far and away the best match of the night. Awesome storytelling.

Who didn't like that match? I haven't seen any negative commentary on it.

 

[DJTJ]

Who didn't like that match? I haven't seen any negative commentary on it.

A lot of the “positive” is how she looked for her first match.

Flat out, that match was incredible. Second best match of the weekend.