Pro Wrasslin' Thread: I don't know what I just saw

[nachobro]

I actually got nothing against Cena. I just like seeing Brock knock people around.

[Himu]

I'm not surprised that after a great Wrestlemania, shit just devolved into "Will Cena overcome the odds?" bullcrap again.

It didn't.

They doing this because Daniel Bryan is injured. It was supposed to be Brock v Dbry. But he has a serious neck injury.

[Eric P]

Ambrose/Rollins was a terrible bait & switch, considering it was the one match that could have saved a subpar show.

G1 started tonight

Wish I had time to watch it

Make sure you watch Day 1 if you haven't yet. It might even top Dragon Gate's Dead or Alive as the best show of the year. Everything before intermission was good, and everything after was absolutely fantastic. Nakamura/Shibata has to be one of my top 5 matches of the year so far.

I wasn't a huge fan of the before intermission stuff but the post intermission stuff has been great so far. 

[bork]

I'm not surprised that after a great Wrestlemania, shit just devolved into "Will Cena overcome the odds?" bullcrap again.

It didn't.

They doing this because Daniel Bryan is injured. It was supposed to be Brock v Dbry. But he has a serious neck injury.

It did.  Everything has gone back to Cena again.  That's where their focus is now and it sucks.  And that's why I've stopped watching, again.  Will watch Summerslam but no idea if I'm going to bother with anything on TV for a while.

Am also beyond tired of the whole Authority thing now, too- but they appear to be building up to everything coming to a head at Summerslam Summerfest.

[Himu]

Cena is obviously a transitional champ. And is going to get borked the shit out of him.

Also, I honestly don't care about Cena with Ambrose v Rollins. Which is clearly the current focus.

And Cena's matches the past month have also included Reigns. It has been about Reigns as much as it's been about Cena.

Finally, they currently have a storyline for almost the entire card.

If you've not been watching because of Cena, you've been missing decent stuff, namely Aforementioned Ambrose v Rollins which has been fantastic. Last monday's raw was the best Raw of the year, and unfortunately, there's not really anyone they've built up that can match Bork at SS now that Daniel Bryan has been injured besides Cena, so it makes sense. Cena is losing the belt at SS anyways and he'll back to midcard limbo.

If there's anyone you should be blaming for all of this, it's Kane. Who sucks.

[nachobro]

Cena is one of the few people on the roster who can have the belt for a month or two then lose it without losing anything as a character or losing his place in the company. Not sure who else they could give it to for such a short amount of time and then take a loss to Brock without looking lame as hell.

Also Cena is out this week and he's supposed to be out next week too. It's a nice chance for the rest of the stories on Raw to have some space and breathing room. I don't watch Smackdown but I imagine there will be some good stuff on there as well.

[Himu]

[bork]

Cena is obviously a transitional champ. And is going to get borked the shit out of him.

Yeah...last time people said that...Cena won.   

I expect Bork to win this time though.

Also, I honestly don't care about Cena with Ambrose v Rollins. Which is clearly the current focus.

Yes, it's so much the current focus that they didn't get a match at the last PPV and RAW's main event time slot was filled by Bork...with Heyman addressing Cena.

And Cena's matches the past month have also included Reigns. It has been about Reigns as much as it's been about Cena.

Before Monday I would have agreed with you.  Now he's out of the main event picture and looks to be feuding with Orton.

You're right about Kane sucking.  He's been just awful since returning to the mask gimmick.  Not that he was any better sans-mask, but him being an authority figure was still better than how he's been handled.

I think my problem is that after the last PPV and RAW, I feel like a lot of the focus they put on certain guys is just gone and they've gone back to the same old crap for the SS build. 

On stories, there's still a ton of guys floundering around with nothing going on.  You can see almost everyone in that IC battle royal for that, plus guys relegated to Smackdown like Del Rio.

Speaking of stories, while the divas suck as always, it's nice seeing multiple storylines for them.  That may be a first.  Seriously.

[Himu]

I don't think the diva stories suck at all right now.I'm really big on Paige v AJ, especially after Monday.

I can get why you think they're floundering. But all we can do is wait and see and hope for the best. Kane injuring Daniel Bryan really threw a wrench in their plans.

[nachobro]

I'd be down to see the Orton/Reigns thing turn into a 3 way or 4 way match by adding Cesaro and/or Kane. Then Orton turns on the Authority because he's asspained over HHH bringing in Cesaro.

[Himu]

Are they still going for Reigns v HHH at Summerslam?

[nachobro]

I've read both Reigns/HHH and Reigns/Orton so I dunno which they are doing

[bork]

I don't think the diva stories suck at all right now.I'm really big on Paige v AJ, especially after Monday.

Not the stories...the divas. 

I hated Paige as a face.  She will make a way better heel but she doesn't really impress me in the ring, either.  Then again neither does AJ.  Put Naomi in there already.

[Himu]

I think a big problem with the divas is that they're not allowed to outshine the men, so they neuter their move sets and give them two minute long matches. Paige v Emma is a great match on nxt, and Charlotte v Natayla could possibly be among the best women's wrestling matches of the year. Also on nxt. I say blame WWE sexism. These girls can all wrestle. They're just not allowed to show they can.

[Himu]

http://wrestling-edge.com/backstage-talk-john-cena-possibly-leaving-wwe-movie-career-talents-cracking-jokes/

[fistfulofmetal]

never going to happen. Cena will be wrestling for the rest of his life.

[Himu]

We can dream. That dude is going to be in a wheel chair in ten years with this trajectory.

[nachobro]

I can easily see Cena being a full time guy for another five years.

[Himu]

Not with the way he's building up these injuries.

[nachobro]

Don't worry, once he's done in the ring he's gonna make a great Raw GM

[bork]

LOL, dirt sheets.

Cena's not going anywhere.

...


 :'(

[Momo]

[bork]

WTF!?   

[iconoclast]

We're only 4 days into the G1 and there's already been a bunch of amazing matches. At this rate they might even be able to top last year's event, which was unbelievably good. The only problem with that will be when their bodies are a complete wreck for the rest of the year. Ishii in particular just takes insane amounts of abuse. God knows how much pain that guy must already be in. ;_;7

My highlights so far (best to worst, more or less):

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Day 4)
AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito (Day 4)
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Day 1)
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tomoaki Honma (Day 4)
AJ Styles vs. Kazuchika Okada (Day 1)
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomoaki Honma (Day 1)
Yuji Naga vs. Tomoaki Honma (Day 2)
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Yuji Nagata (Day 4)
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Satoshi Kojima (Day 2)
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Satoshi Kojima (Day 3)

And an honorable mention to AJ Styles for doing the impossible and pulling a good match out of Toru Yano on Day 2. AJ really has been phenomenal ever since he left TNA. For my money he's the best North American wrestler of 2014, hands down. Ricochet and Rollins aren't too far off, tho.

[iconoclast]

http://www.tmz.com/2014/07/27/impact-wrestling-cancelled-spike-tv-tna/

And nothing of value was lost. But seriously, sucks for the guys who are now out of a job. Hopefully this means Kurt Angle will retire before he dies in the ring.

[Eric P]

does this mean that the wwe is the only regular wrestling on tv? (aside from RoH's limited distribution?)

Speaking of RoH, some friends and I are going to go see their Brooklyn thing live.  It's at a baseball stadium which seems weird as shit and it will be the middle of August, so potentially hot as fuck, but we'll see.

[Himu]

http://www.tmz.com/2014/07/27/impact-wrestling-cancelled-spike-tv-tna/

And nothing of value was lost. But seriously, sucks for the guys who are now out of a job. Hopefully this means Kurt Angle will retire before he dies in the ring.

Actually, TNA has been great the last few weeks. The octagon returned, refreshing storylines. Progressive storylines (a black tna champion for one) and they were just starting to get over the stuff that Hulk and his cohorts did to fuck the promotion. tna recently have had low key, MVP, and a fantastic X and Knockouts division.

You can thank Vince Russo for this. spike hates him. He was rehired by TNA without Spike's consent. This is the second wrestling company to be killed by Russo, and by extension, Hulk and Nash. 

TNA has been MUCH better than WWE in recent weeks. To the point that WWE starting ripping their stories off - like having a black stable. But of course when WWE does it, they make them militants.

Finally, Impact losing a tv deal is a huge deal because it devalues the american landscape of pro wrasslin and once again waters it down and offers less variety amid a time period when WWE got a horrible tv deal that cost them 750 million dollars, a tanking WWE network. Basically, wrestling is dying in America. There's your value.

[Himu]

The show was pretty goddamn horrible whenever I tuned in to watch it, so I'm not surprised. Did it ever even get good ratings?

Yes. It was actually starting to be a competitive alternative to WWE. But that hasn't been true for a while now, especially since Hulk and Nash came and WCW'd the company.

[bork]

The show was pretty goddamn horrible whenever I tuned in to watch it, so I'm not surprised. Did it ever even get good ratings?

Yes. It was actually starting to be a competitive alternative to WWE. But that hasn't been true for a while now, especially since Hulk and Nash came and WCW'd the company.

Not sure how much pull Nash had creatively, but he was way before Hogan and Bischoff came in...like at least a year or two.  And Hogan has been gone from TNA for a while now.  You can blame them for the direction the company took in 2010, but the last year or two is not Hogan's fault and is all on TNA for doing some of the stupidest shit ever, including putting Dixie Carter on TV as a HEEL.  I can't believe the show wasn't canceled sooner.  Hope this makes them either get their shit together or flop and ROH or someone else steps up instead.  Good riddance.

[Himu]

Things are starting to get REALLY interesting in the American side of the biz.

http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/330200/Backstage-Heat-On-Randy-Orton-Following-Matches-w--Roman-Reigns-At-House-Shows.htm#JRFUPSoUKT852y0a.99

Apparently, the TNA thing is just the tip of iceberg this week and there's two other big announcements.

From the Meltz:

[Himu]

We are talking bout all this on TSC

http://www.thecoli.com/threads/dirtsheets-this-could-be-a-major-week-in-the-wrestling-business.235283/#post-9402120

[Himu]

http://www.thecoli.com/posts/9403355/

Sorry for the late appearance guys, my phone has been ringing off the hook.

-I can confirm, that according to sources, TNA is leaving Spike. Not canceled. LEAVING. TMZ has been on a bad streak lately, starting with whiffing on the Donald Sterling punishment.

-There is a new home in place and you're all going to be pretty excited about it. Of course plans can change, but as of now, it's looking like it may be somewhat of a possible lock.

-There was some friction between TNA and Spike about pushing black wrestlers on a hick channels. I can confirm, that according to sources, Centric made a strong push to land Impact.

-This is NOT the end of TNA. This was Dixie's decision and she's been planning all along. That's why they invested in new rings, signed new talent contracts, booked future venues.


That's all I have right now. I'll keep you all updated.

But on the other hand:

As noted, TNA does have 2 months to secure a new deal with another cable network but it's going to be very hard for them to get the money that Spike was giving them. WWE didn't get an increase on their deal with NBC Universal and WWE Superstars was cancelled from WGN a few years back and WWE Main Event was cancelled from ION this year so if WWE can't get their shows on other networks then that doesn't bode well for TNA.

- meltzer



Edit:

anddddded, WWE signs Prince Devitt. NXT continues to be the best damn thing.

[iconoclast]

https://twitter.com/AshokaESPN

Ashoka Moore @AshokaESPN  ·  1m
Vince McMahon: WWE Network continues to be the single greatest opportunity to transform WWE's business model.

Ashoka Moore @AshokaESPN  ·  3m
WWE lost $14.5 million in the second quarter and will lay off seven percent of the company's staff.

Ashoka Moore @AshokaESPN  ·  8m
WWE: Company plans to make U.S. version of WWE Network available on over-the-top basis starting Aug 12 in over 170 countries + territories.

Ashoka Moore @AshokaESPN  ·  13m
WWE: 161,000 subscribers since WrestleMania on April 6, ended quarter at 700,000 subscribers, reflecting net addition of 33,000 subscribers.

Ashoka Moore @AshokaESPN  ·  17m
WWE just announced they have 700,000 subscribers to the WWE Network at the end of the current quarter.


Holy shit, 700k is a terrible number. At this rate there's no way the Network is going to stay as is. I'm expecting a price hike and maybe even the loss of free PPVs by next year.

[bork]

I dunno, I think they will do all right once the Network is made available elsewhere.  Not even Canada has it yet.

What I can't stand is way cable companies are reacting to it.  I have U-Verse, which lets you watch shows streaming on your phone or PC.  They actually block RAW -and only RAW- from this service, as some sort of retaliation for the WWE Network.   Yes, punish your customers for no reason whatsoever.

[Himu]

Guys watch tna tonight. Must watch tv.

[bork]

Explain pls

himu pls

[Himu]

They're getting cancelled and we need to see what happens

[bork]

It's taped.     The show tonight would be like 2-4 weeks old.

Also: http://prowrestling.net/article.php?TNA-News-TNA-signs-former-Army-Sergeant-who-lost-leg-while-serving-in-Iraq-38241

THAT'LL WIN 'EM BACK

[nachobro]

Yeah IIRC TNA is still playing the NYC shows. Still kinda worth watching cause it's the best they've been in a while. "Best" being relative, but eh...I watch TNA for carny fuckery and they've always got plenty of that.

At least TNA isn't scared to put their belt on a black dude.

[Himu]

The NYC shows have been great

[Himu]

http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/8-man-team-elimination-dbd-12-chicago

[Eric P]

lol that will be a shit show

ROH is fun but it's so serious and weird.  like the reDRagon tag team are a pair of "metrosexuals?"  in 2014?  just make them wrestling hipsters or something for heat

but if you want actual wrestling hipsters*, there's always Inspire Pro




*not really hipsters but they are young hip funny promo from Austin TX

[Himu]

Y'all need to be watching TNA RIGHT NOW. Got some DOPENESS on

[nachobro]

I'm still catching up. Only seen the first NYC episode.   :'(

[Himu]

Xdivision and the opening tag team match just shat on WWE from a great height.

[nachobro]

What a Raw

Best part was the Bork/Cena promo

[Himu]

So many moments tonight

[Himu]

tna is straight shitting on wwe right now

[Himu]

G1 climax is going on now and you can watch here.

http://www.thecoli.com/threads/japanese-wrestling-discussion-news.33877/page-18

I highly suggest watching ALL of Aj Styles' matches.

Start with AJ v Suzuki. If you like that, and you will if you like wrestling, watch the rest of the matches.

[bork]

What a Raw

Best part was the Bork/Cena promo

(Image removed from quote.)

 

Lost it when he said that 

[fistfulofmetal]

Jamming Seth's theme. I've warmed up to it quite a bit.

[Himu]

We need way more Japanese pro wrestling fans here. 

[pilonv1]

Broke Dad v Laundry Matt

[Eric P]

We need way more Japanese pro wrestling fans here. 

too many WWEaboos, not enough weeaboos?

[pilonv1]

I just don't have the time to watch rasslin right now. Same thing happened during G1 last year

[Himu]

(Image removed from quote.)

Broke Dad v Laundry Matt

I'd pay to see this

[Himu]

GFW is sounding awesome.

https://twitter.com/gfwwrestling/status/496715875316027395

It truly is global and it looks like Jarrett is making it a global territory based system. Basically NWA but international. Can't wait. If he gets PWG and New Japan this thing is legit.

Also Jim Ross said he's interested in doing English commentary for New Japan with CM punk. He said on his podcast he's more than willing to talk about it with Punk. That'd be a great way to make NJPW more popular in North America.

[Eric P]

ha ha

holy shit that South African promotion

http://www.wwp.co.za/main/wwp-superstars/


one of the hardest things for me and njpw is the language barrier. i enjoy watching it, but i feel like i'm missing crucial information.  it's like trying to dive into a whole new comics universe written in a foreign language.  you can enjoy the pictures and kind of get the storytelling but you'll probably miss the nuances

[Himu]

Yep!

MR WRESTLING! He even uses a leg drop

[nachobro]

lol a new jeff jarrett promotion. is he gonna hold the championship in it for five years again like he did with TNA?