WWE/NXT/AEW/NJPW Thread

[The Oi]

What's Doink the Clown up to? Is he still relevant?

 

[Jack Brickman]

I was honestly thinking about that today. It's either tweener vs heel/tweener or they are possibly turning Bray face. Or you know just making Bray even more unhinged. I'm good with all of the above. I really did like the segment though. All sorts of cheesy, but in a good way

Honestly, it's probably just Vince yet again failing to understand how to book faces and heels.

The problem with Bray as a heel is that we haven't been given a compelling reason to hate him in ages. They've had him feud with Reigns and Cena, both of whom are guys he was the good guy against because the crowds are always at least half against them. He's also lost basically every major feud he's been in for the past several years, which made sure he never felt like a real threat.

That's the issue with Vince's heel booking in general. He builds them up only to have a guy like Reigns or Cena completely neuter them and then it takes them forever to recover, if they ever do. Remember when they were building up Rusev as a monster heel, only to completely destroy all the momentum he'd build up by having Cena beat him in three straight PPVs? He never recovered from that.

What they should have done is have Wyatt retire Taker. That would have established him as a legitimate threat and given him some actual heel heat. Instead, they made sure to make it clear that he wasn't on the same level as Taker, which really derailed his momentum. Being fed to Reigns after didn't help either.

 

[Jack Brickman]

What's Doink the Clown up to? Is he still relevant?

He's not. Mostly because he's dead.

 

[Tornicade]

Honestly, it's probably just Vince yet again failing to understand how to book faces and heels.

The problem with Bray as a heel is that we haven't been given a compelling reason to hate him in ages. They've had him feud with Reigns and Cena, both of whom are guys he was the good guy against because the crowds are always at least half against them. He's also lost basically every major feud he's been in for the past several years, which made sure he never felt like a real threat.

That's the issue with Vince's heel booking in general. He builds them up only to have a guy like Reigns or Cena completely neuter them and then it takes them forever to recover, if they ever do. Remember when they were building up Rusev as a monster heel, only to completely destroy all the momentum he'd build up by having Cena beat him in three straight PPVs? He never recovered from that.

What they should have done is have Wyatt retire Taker. That would have established him as a legitimate threat and given him some actual heel heat. Instead, they made sure to make it clear that he wasn't on the same level as Taker, which really derailed his momentum. Being fed to Reigns after didn't help either.

Rusev did recover for that and then they did the same thing to him with reigns. not only did they give Reigns the title . Reigns didn't do shit with it except go after the main title and right when he could have someone to feud over the title with (Braun Stroman) they move it to Jericho.

When Finn went down they had an opportunity to cycle through Golddust and R Truth heck even Bo Dallas. to put the new guys over instead pulling Cesaro and shamus from the tag team division.

 

[The Oi]

He's not. Mostly because he's dead.

Legends never die, kid.

What was it about 80s and 90s wrestlers where a lot of them were just fat?

 

[Derek]

Honestly, it's probably just Vince yet again failing to understand how to book faces and heels.

The problem with Bray as a heel is that we haven't been given a compelling reason to hate him in ages. They've had him feud with Reigns and Cena, both of whom are guys he was the good guy against because the crowds are always at least half against them. He's also lost basically every major feud he's been in for the past several years, which made sure he never felt like a real threat.

That's the issue with Vince's heel booking in general. He builds them up only to have a guy like Reigns or Cena completely neuter them and then it takes them forever to recover, if they ever do. Remember when they were building up Rusev as a monster heel, only to completely destroy all the momentum he'd build up by having Cena beat him in three straight PPVs? He never recovered from that.

What they should have done is have Wyatt retire Taker. That would have established him as a legitimate threat and given him some actual heel heat. Instead, they made sure to make it clear that he wasn't on the same level as Taker, which really derailed his momentum. Being fed to Reigns after didn't help either.

I just want to point out that Rusev DID recover, it took a while, but he did. Then he was promptly neutered by Reigns.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I just want to point out that Rusev DID recover, it took a while, but he did. Then he was promptly neutered by Reigns.

Fair enough, but he never really got back to the beast that they were building him up as before Cena buried him. Losing three straight to Cena just killed him. He could have been a main event guy after that Cena feud.

Legends never die, kid.

What was it about 80s and 90s wrestlers where a lot of them were just fat?

Vince McMahon has always had a thing for big hoss guys who can't wrestle for shit. He still does, although the sport has mostly moved to a place where even the bigger guys are capable of working pretty well because the majority of them have spent time working the indie circuits against smaller, mobile guys and they've adjusted accordingly.

 

[Real Deal]

So how epic would it be when the Hardy's show up at Raw after 'Mania and those crazy fans chant DELETE?

@BimboColesHair what's your thoughts on the new found Hardy's being valuable in the WWE? I don't even know their ages, but I'd imagine they won't come and do Dudley Boys things. They're coming to delete.

 

[Kizzle]

Iv really enjoyed the past 2 months of WWE programming a lot. Every second is fun.

With that said I also have to disclose my watching method. I watch RAW from DVR and watch only the parts that look cool so that's the beginning and end. So yes I average only about 50 mins watched of RAW. I watch all of Smackdown and NXT and I don't watch 205 Live at all.


Iv been watching this way for 2 months and Iv enjoyed all shows.

If RAW was 2 hours I could watch more of RAW but 3 hours gets me.

 

[Tornicade]

Iv really enjoyed the past 2 months of WWE programming a lot. Every second is fun.

With that said I also have to disclose my watching method. I watch RAW from DVR and watch only the parts that look cool so that's the beginning and end. So yes I average only about 50 mins watched of RAW. I watch all of Smackdown and NXT and I don't watch 205 Live at all.


Iv been watching this way for 2 months and Iv enjoyed all shows.

If RAW was 2 hours I could watch more of RAW but 3 hours gets me.

Well I suggested the Hulu condensed version but I am glad you found a way to watch the show to suit your interest,

 

[Jack Brickman]

Iv really enjoyed the past 2 months of WWE programming a lot. Every second is fun.

With that said I also have to disclose my watching method. I watch RAW from DVR and watch only the parts that look cool so that's the beginning and end. So yes I average only about 50 mins watched of RAW. I watch all of Smackdown and NXT and I don't watch 205 Live at all.


Iv been watching this way for 2 months and Iv enjoyed all shows.

If RAW was 2 hours I could watch more of RAW but 3 hours gets me.

I typically do the same with Raw unless I just have fuck all to do on Monday night. Sometimes it's fun to join the 411 chat for Raw and just crack jokes with the people there. Unsurprisingly, making fun of the shitty parts of Raw is usually more fun than Raw itself.

A good method is to start watching Raw about midway through the second hour on DVR. By the time you fast forward through the commercials and the shittier segments, you've caught up for the last half hour or so.

 

[Tornicade]

Cena referenced the Undertaker on the Miz show.

is it possible he will get the undertaker and the doubles match?

or maybe Shane chooses a champion to fight on his behalf like Vince?

I really don't wanna see AJ vs Shane unless AJ beats the crap out of him

 

[Jack Brickman]

Cena referenced the Undertaker on the Miz show.

is it possible he will get the undertaker and the doubles match?

or maybe Shane chooses a champion to fight on his behalf like Vince?

I really don't wanna see AJ vs Shane unless AJ beats the crap out of him

All indications are that Reigns will be taking on Undertaker, and that Taker will likely be interfering in Reigns' match with Strowman, presumably to get revenge for Reigns tossing him from the Rumble.

This is because, in Vince's mind, if Cena can't take on the Undertaker, he might as well go with the guy he desperately, futilely wishes could become Cena. Should be fun to watch the crowd shit all over that one, though.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Time for a Fastlane preview!

---

Kickoff Show Match - Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa Vs. THE Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar
As far as kickoff matches go, I feel like we could do a lot worse. Tozawa has quickly emerged as the second most over person in the cruiserweight division (after Gallagher), and the WWE seems to have recognized that and are positioning him as a future champ. I'd expect him to pick up the pinfall in this one.
Winner: Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa

---

Sasha Banks Vs. Nia Jax
I don't really care much about this one. Nia's just not a great worker. She's too slow and her style is boring. That said, I'm expecting her to either pick up the win or the match to go to a countout or DQ of some sort.
Winner: Nia Jax

---

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match - Neville (c) Vs. Jack Gallagher
I think this match pretty clearly has the chance to be the match of the night. You've got two great in-ring guys with a fun clash of styles. Gallagher is also very over, and Neville has been doing awesome work since his heel turn. If they give these guys some time, they could steal the show. Neville is likely to win here. I don't think they want to take the title off him just yet, as they're probably setting up a match between him and Aries at 'Mania.
Winner: Neville

---

Raw Tag Team Championship Match - Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (c) Vs. Enzo & Cass
Personally, Enzo's act has already worn thin to me, although the crowd still seems to enjoy it. Add in the fact that he's absolutely horrendous in the ring and I just don't want to see Enzo and Cass win this one. Then again, the Raw tag team scene has just been pretty awful for a while now, so I don't really care much about this one either way.
Winner: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson

---

Sami Zayn Vs. Samoa Joe
This is the other match I think has the potential to be a show stealer. Zayn is probably the second best worker in the WWE right now, which means I'd expect him to get the best out of Joe, who has been largely just okay in the ring since coming to NXT (a lot of good matches but not much I'd call great...kind of like Balor actually). Zayn is doing a great job of getting himself over, but I just can't see Joe losing his first big match.
Winner: Samoa Joe

---

Roman Reigns Vs. Braun Strowman
I think this match really needed some sort of stipulation, because Roman always seems to do his best work when it's not a pure wrestling match. I'd guess that's because being able to use weapons and fight around the ring helps to mask his limitations and the fact that he spams the superman punch about six hundred times in the average match. Odds are high that the Undertaker will show up for this one and cost Roman the match in some way or another. Strowman needs a marquee win as well, and having Roman go over him would derail all of the momentum he has right now (which is why it's on the table...Vince loves to cut heels off at the knees mid-push by feeding them to Reigns or Cena). Still, I think Strowman ends up with the W here.
Winner: Braun Strowman

---

Raw Women's Championship Match - Bayley (c) Vs. Charlote Flair
I guess Charlotte has a last name again. I never did understand why they'd remove the famous last name from the daughter of an all-time great to begin with, but this is the WWE so not a lot makes all that much sense. All indications seem to be that Charlotte will be winning this one, which unfortunately seems to just be a rehash of her feud with Sasha. I thought it was a mistake to give Bayley the title so soon as well. It would have been much more of a moment for her to win it at Wrestlemania. But again, WWE gonna WWE. I'm hoping that Charlotte wins via DQ, which keeps the title on Bayley but keeps Charlotte's PPV streak alive, which I think the WWE really wants to do.
Winner: Charlotte

---

WWE Universal Championship Match - Kevin Owens (c) Vs. Goldberg
It seems like such a shame that they've finally unleashed the Kevin Owens that we all really wanted only to quickly have him drop the title. It seems set in stone that Goldberg is winning this one. I really, really hope that's all a set-up and that there will be some sort of swerve. The obvious would be Jericho interfering, but instead of screwing over Owens, he helps him win. He did promise to do so, after all, and best friends keep their promises. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Lesnar get involved in some manner. Heyman's comment that Lesnar want's Owens to lose could be a swerve as well. Brock doesn't seem to give a shit about the title. What he wants is to hurt Goldberg, and having him lose in front of his kid and break the promise he made to win the title would do more for Brock than having the title on the line at 'Mania. I think Goldberg wins, but via DQ. That keeps him strong but keeps the belt on Owens, which is where it belongs right now.
Winner: Goldberg

 

[Derek]

I really hope the Goldberg victory by DQ scenario is correct. In all honesty, it makes the most sense. We all know Vince doesn't alway do what makes sense though