WWE/NXT/AEW/NJPW Thread

[bigfoot5415]

Solid ppv.

Not a fan of the finish for the title match. Other than that it was a 7ish out of 10.

 

[DJTJ]

Solid ppv.

Not a fan of the finish for the title match. Other than that it was a 7ish out of 10.

really? felt just the opposite. I had no reason to watch smackdown. I totally do now.

 

[Jack Brickman]

That was a very good PPV given that the card was somewhat underwhelming.

Called that Ellsworth betrayal, although I figured his reasoning would be that he came around to Styles rather than him stupidly thinking he could beat Styles and not Ambrose for the title.

The main problem I had is my general issue with the TLC PPV in general. By the time the end of the night rolls around, you're totally desensitized to chair shots and table/ladder spots. It's the same reason having two ladder matches on one card is a bad idea. There are only so many spots you can do, and you'll inevitably have repeats. That definitely happened tonight, and the Ziggler/Miz match stole some thunder from the Styles/Ambrose match because we'd already seen a lot of it before.

I would have much rather they gave Miz/Ziggler a different stipulation (maybe have that be the Tables match) and let Becky/Bliss have the ladder match, as that would have led to less overlap. Individually both Ziggler/Miz and Styles/Ambrose were great, but Styles/Ambrose just didn't feel as special because of the "been there, done that" vibe.

 

[kookoo]

There were some great spots tonight. That 450 springboard onto the table and the dive to whatever you call the spinning slam in the chairs match. I'm sure there were a few more but those stood out.

 

[Tornicade]

I don't know the Shots in the TLC match seemed a lot more unpolished and reckless than the separate categories match.

Miz used the ladders as torture devices, Corbin used the chair for punishment and th e womens match was just a finisher with the tables.

The Styles Ambrose match looked like a car wreck (the good kind) in comparison.

I liked that Miz got a Clean win.

Also the finish for te styles match was fun and in a way that ultimately did not impact the outcome of the match. AJ styles was on his way to certain victory which he quickly abandoned to take shots as Ellsworth and this was the only reason Ambrose was in position to win anyways when Ellsworth interfered the other way.

essentially Elsworth pushing that ladder over negated what he did playing decoy to put Ambrose on that ladder in the first place.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Well, I think that Ellsworth intentionally was sticking it to Ambrose as well, as Ambrose has been treating him like crap lately. I think on Talking Smack he mentioned that Ambrose would have done the same to him, which is probably true. Ambrose was basically just using him to get at Styles.

 

[Derek]

So, where does Smackdown go from here?

AJ will be getting a new contender surely. Probably the Undertaker, but holding out for Shawn Michaels.

What does Ambrose do after he whoops on Ellsworth? Go after Miz, and the IC title?

American Alpha will likely be chasing the Wyatts now, but I'm sure Slater and Rhyno will get a rematch.

Where does this leave Ziggler? Corbin? Kalisto?

Apollo Crews would be a good feud for Corbin, and could be beneficial to both if they actually give them the time of day.

Smackdown really needs some new blood from NXT because with Cena on hiatus, there is a big time shortage of upper card faces. After Ziggler and Ambrose (who have been involved in the last 2 title feuds, who is there?

I'm thinking Joe debuts at the Rumble, Dillinger should too. Cesar and/or Zayn should come over, too. Zayn/Styles would be great.

 

[Jack Brickman]

They'll probably give Slater & Rhyno the rematch at the Rumble (that's the next PPV with Smackdown guys, right?) and then slow build to Alpha taking the titles off of Wyatt and Orton at Wrestlemania.

I'm not sure who the next challenger is for the IC title. I don't think Ambrose makes sense, really. I'd like to see Zayn get traded to Smackdown and go after it, as he's being given fuck all to do on Raw anyway despite being one of the five best in-ring guys on the entire roster.

Smackdown definitely needs a bit of new blood, though. Their roster is just so thin, and feels even more so with Cena off and Orton about to be a part-timer for a while. I think the main reason they were teasing the Wyatts as defending the tag titles under the Freebird rules is because Orton is working limited dates right now.

I'm really not sure where the world title goes from here. There are reports that Styles might have gotten hurt last night, although the severity is unknown, and the next Smackdown PPV isn't for almost two months so as long as it's a minor injury it shouldn't be a big deal. The Undertaker seems likely, but I too am holding out hope for a Shawn Michaels return leading to a Rumble match. Hell, I wish Michaels would pull a Jericho and just come out of retirement for a year to put on some classic matches with the top talent on Raw and Smackdown. There are a whole lot of potential dream matches there. Styles, Zayn, Owens, Nakamura...I'd love to see Michaels go against all of those guys.

 

[Derek]

They'll probably give Slater & Rhyno the rematch at the Rumble (that's the next PPV with Smackdown guys, right?) and then slow build to Alpha taking the titles off of Wyatt and Orton at Wrestlemania.

I'm not sure who the next challenger is for the IC title. I don't think Ambrose makes sense, really. I'd like to see Zayn get traded to Smackdown and go after it, as he's being given fuck all to do on Raw anyway despite being one of the five best in-ring guys on the entire roster.

Smackdown definitely needs a bit of new blood, though. Their roster is just so thin, and feels even more so with Cena off and Orton about to be a part-timer for a while. I think the main reason they were teasing the Wyatts as defending the tag titles under the Freebird rules is because Orton is working limited dates right now.

I'm really not sure where the world title goes from here. There are reports that Styles might have gotten hurt last night, although the severity is unknown, and the next Smackdown PPV isn't for almost two months so as long as it's a minor injury it shouldn't be a big deal. The Undertaker seems likely, but I too am holding out hope for a Shawn Michaels return leading to a Rumble match. Hell, I wish Michaels would pull a Jericho and just come out of retirement for a year to put on some classic matches with the top talent on Raw and Smackdown. There are a whole lot of potential dream matches there. Styles, Zayn, Owens, Nakamura...I'd love to see Michaels go against all of those guys.

I'm just not sure where Ambrose or Miz goes from here if they aren't facing each other. Unless Ambrose is going to feud with Corbin? I'd still have no idea who'd challenge Miz then.

Ziggler should reform the Varsity Club, and add another legit tag team/stable to the division.

In all honestly, trades and call ups are needed or we're going to keep getting the same feuds over and over again. It's not so much a problem on Raw because they stacked that roster, but Smackdown has major depth issues.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Samoa Joe would be a great addition to Smackdown. You could even bring him in as a face (Smackdown really needs more faces) to feud with Styles or Miz and then have him turn heel after he fails to win the title.

Dillinger would be a great addition to Smackdown as well. You could immediately bring him in and have him feud with Miz. And if he's not the tenth entry in the Royal Rumble, there is no god.

 

[Real Deal]

Where did this HBK returning stuff start again?

 

[Derek]

Samoa Joe would be a great addition to Smackdown. You could even bring him in as a face (Smackdown really needs more faces) to feud with Styles or Miz and then have him turn heel after he fails to win the title.

Dillinger would be a great addition to Smackdown as well. You could immediately bring him in and have him feud with Miz. And if he's not the tenth entry in the Royal Rumble, there is no god.

My thoughts exactly. Joe would get a big pop debuting and running down Styles for all the time he's beat him in the past. Immediately a face title contender.

 

[Derek]

Where did this HBK returning stuff start again?

On again off again rumors since they announced the Rumble would be in the Alamodome. In addition to it being his hometown, the Rumble is typically held in a regular 20k capacity arena, but the Alamodome is 70k+. They're looking to do it big this year.

There hasn't really been much to substantiate the rumors outside of Styles posting some stuff on twitter about ti being a dream match, and posting some photoshopped fan art of a 2017 Rumble poster with him and Michaels on it.

 

[Jack Brickman]

On again off again rumors since they announced the Rumble would be in the Alamodome. In addition to it being his hometown, the Rumble is typically held in a regular 20k capacity arena, but the Alamodome is 70k+. They're looking to do it big this year.

There hasn't really been much to substantiate the rumors outside of Styles posting some stuff on twitter about ti being a dream match, and posting some photoshopped fan art of a 2017 Rumble poster with him and Michaels on it.

Yeah, it was mostly Styles fanning the flames and talking about it as a dream match, coupled with where the Rumble is taking place. It's also the kind of marquee match the WWE could use to sell the Rumble to casual fans and hardcore fans alike. It's a match everyone wants to see between arguably the best current wrestler in the world and one of the all time best workers.

Also, Michaels looked like he was in phenomenal shape when he last appeared at Wrestlemania, so I think that has caused people to talk about a comeback match as well.

 

[Real Deal]

Wrestlers always change their minds but I thought he was pretty damn content about fully retiring. I can see him being a special enforcer/referee or a legend surprise rumble entrant for a quick pop. I'd be shocked if he does a singles match.

70k for a Rumble sounds amazing though. I'm guessing Raw and Smackdown split the 30 or less plus a few legends.