The Wrestling Discussion Thread

[FearlessRoar]

“You Never Know”: Stone Cold, Matt & Jeff Hardy, John Cena, & Undertaker WrestleMania Returns Teased Again on WWE Social Media Amid Heavy Speculation​

We are less than two weeks away from witnessing one of the biggest WrestleMania in the history of WWE, WrestleMania XL. The stakes are high on the fortieth anniversary of the Premium Live Event with many titles on the line and some feuds reaching their natural conclusion. Despite the presence of many stars have been confirmed, fans still wish to see a few more of them at the marquee event. Amidst all the fan speculation, WWE has dropped a major hint which suggests the return of many fan-favorite stars.

Blockbuster names such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, Matt Hardy, and Jeff Hardy making appearances at the Show of Shows were teased by WWE’s social media handles.

Taking to Instagram, WWE posted multiple clips featuring various stars making a surprise cameo at WrestleMania over the years. John Cena marked his entry in the first clip when he came to help The Rock against The Wyatt Family at WrestleMania 32. Apart from that, a clip of The Hardy Boyz, who made their return to WWE at WrestleMania 33, also surfaced. Fans could also see ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin’s clip along with Cody Rhodes’ clip from WrestleMania 38 in the post.

This post does nothing but add to the already existing speculations of the return of many major stars. One such tag team duo is that of the Hardy Boyz. The tag team duo has been dropping hints about their return to WWE in the recent past. It all started with Matt Hardy reminiscing about their WrestleMania win from 22 years ago.

Apart from that, he has been posting things along the same lines. However, what started the conversation was that he was spotted on the 03/18 episode of Monday Night Raw. This appearance happened just a few weeks before WrestleMania XL.

Are Steve Austin and John Cena making their return to aid a grand narrative?

While The Undertaker has been making appearances on WWE's behalf, he is not involved in any form of rivalry. However, Steve Austin and John Cena might soon get involved in one. On the latest episode of Raw, fans saw Dwayne Johnson bash Cody Rhodes, leaving him bloodied. However, he was doing so in front of Austin’s and Cena’s posters present outside of WWE.

“You Never Know”: Stone Cold, Matt & Jeff Hardy, John Cena, & Undertaker WrestleMania Returns Teased Again on WWE Social Media Amid Heavy Speculation

After repeated teases by Matt Hardy, WWE has dropped a major hint which suggests the possible return of many stars this year

www.essentiallysports.com

 

[shaz619]

Cena got himself exposed and has mainly been a jobber for WWE recently.

He has tainted his legacy and I don’t want to see this shameless satan worshipper in any capacity.

WWE should make Sting a handsome offer for perhaps a stare-down with Taker instead

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

@RedwoodOriginal What’s happening with MJF and the bidding war of 2024? has his contract expired, has he signed a new deal? any chance he jumps ship?

Rumor is AEW got him signed to a long-term deal a while back. But they are probably going to try to play this up in storyline.

As it stands, he's dealing with an injury and healing up.

 

[shaz619]

Rumor is AEW got him signed to a long-term deal a while back. But they are probably going to try to play this up in storyline.

As it stands, he's dealing with an injury and healing up.

I think he has outgrown his role there, maybe he should spend a bit of time in Japan and then think of a possible run in the WWE. He got age on his side, but I don’t see any value for his career, if he continues to work for AEW outside the stupid money Tony Khan is willing to pay him. He reminds me a little of Punk in a similar position, the WWE system helped take him to the next level and I think, MJF is in a similar spot in that his talents need that set up to bring out his very best.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I think he has outgrown his role there, maybe he should spend a bit of time in Japan and then think of a possible run in the WWE. He got age on his side, but I don’t see any value for his career, if he continues to work for AEW outside the stupid money Tony Khan is willing to pay him. He reminds me a little of Punk in a similar position, the WWE system helped take him to the next level and I think, MJF is in a similar spot in that his talents need that set up to bring out his very best.

I disagree. I think with the amount of creative freedom he has in AEW, the fact that he is making big money and that he is being presented at the top are all big positives. If he can continue being involved in compelling angles and hot feuds he continues building his resume and enhancing his value. The benefit of that is when he finally gets ready to go to WWE, not only will he have a massive offer on the table but he will be coming in as a top guy who will be expected to given the creative freedom to be himself kind of like the top guys in WWE right now are given.

At his age, he has plenty of time on his side. Going to Japan doesn't help him in any way I feel. Not only will it be tough on his body but he is never going to make anything close to what Tony is paying him. Plus, his character work and promos will never get the focus they deserve because that stuff isn't really that important in Japan.

Cody wasn't even doing anything remotely good in AEW for the last year of his run. And look at the hero's welcome he got in WWE.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

@shaz619 This could be interesting. Ariel Helwani is known for asking tough questions from the people he interviews. I don't know if you recall his infamous interview with Tony where Tony basically gave him nothing and then later on his show Helwani ripped the interview and Tony to shreds for stone-walling him, which was quite entertaining.

I don't think AEW would have gotten Punk to sign an NDA about the All In incident since he was suspended and fired not long after that. Which means it is possible that we could finally hear his side of the story on that whole fiasco.

CM Punk Announced For First 'Shoot Interview' Since Rejoining WWE - WrestleTalk

CM Punk has been announced for his first sit down 'shoot interview' since rejoining WWE after previously having been fired from AEW.

wrestletalk.com

 

[shaz619]

I disagree. I think with the amount of creative freedom he has in AEW, the fact that he is making big money and that he is being presented at the top are all big positives. If he can continue being involved in compelling angles and hot feuds he continues building his resume and enhancing his value. The benefit of that is when he finally gets ready to go to WWE, not only will he have a massive offer on the table but he will be coming in as a top guy who will be expected to given the creative freedom to be himself kind of like the top guys in WWE right now are given.

At his age, he has plenty of time on his side. Going to Japan doesn't help him in any way I feel. Not only will it be tough on his body but he is never going to make anything close to what Tony is paying him. Plus, his character work and promos will never get the focus they deserve because that stuff isn't really that important in Japan.

Cody wasn't even doing anything remotely good in AEW for the last year of his run. And look at the hero's welcome he got in WWE.

Punk had creative freedom in ROH to, if he stayed there he would have been limiting himself. A talent such as MJF is capable of bringing out his best even without that creative freedom. And when we look at all those who have jumped ship, namely Jade Cargil, Punk and Cody; they have been allowed to thrive as themselves, am sure all the knives were out when Cody left and how he would end up as Stardust etc he has thrived under Vince and the new regime. If they bring in MJF, it wont be to take away from what he does best already, that’s actually happening to him right now in AEW.

If we’re being honest AEW is a sh!t show, we are seeing what that creativity is doing for Edge or even the ‘CEO’. MJF hasn’t been involved in a truly compelling programme for almost a year now. And he has already experienced the highs and lows of being an AEW wrestler, for his career; what more is there to do down there, it has always been about AEW being a launch pad for bigger things. His stock has taken a bit of a bit due to terrible booking and I am more concerned then ever for his next steps.

There is incentive to work in Japan or Mexico or even Europe to tighten his ring work, add new layers to his game between the ropes, the depth down there is not what it use to be, but you can identify ways to extract more out of your work with the right attitude which somebody like Daniel Bryan had, it’s what made him the best the willingness to learn and incorporate all wrestling cultures. MJF isn’t going to get any worse at promos working in those places.

For his all round pedigree, there is no doubt in my mind that he would benefit massively from the WWE system and resources available there, I think he has already proven himself but he got a few more years to develop a bit, which was why I thought foreign wrestling territory wasn’t the worst idea because there’s scope to tweak things there and add more to ring pedigree.

Am disappointed for AEW but with their current state, those genuinely concerned for their career legacy and progression; will most likely look to leave

 

[shaz619]

@shaz619 This could be interesting. Ariel Helwani is known for asking tough questions from the people he interviews. I don't know if you recall his infamous interview with Tony where Tony basically gave him nothing and then later on his show Helwani ripped the interview and Tony to shreds for stone-walling him, which was quite entertaining.

I don't think AEW would have gotten Punk to sign an NDA about the All In incident since he was suspended and fired not long after that. Which means it is possible that we could finally hear his side of the story on that whole fiasco.

CM Punk Announced For First 'Shoot Interview' Since Rejoining WWE - WrestleTalk

CM Punk has been announced for his first sit down 'shoot interview' since rejoining WWE after previously having been fired from AEW.

wrestletalk.com

That Tony interview and subsequent burial by Ariel after was epic, to be fair to Tony, is he getting better lmao not entirely but I may have heard him try to explain why he can’t talk rather then being an ignorant idiot.

This is interesting but I don’t know if Punk will say much due to the NDA’s which Tony may have had him sign, unless they expired man people made big money of them NDA’s Ace Steel ran to the bank for sure

 

[BunnyRabbit]

@RedwoodOriginal What’s happening with MJF and the bidding war of 2024? has his contract expired, has he signed a new deal? any chance he jumps ship?

If he hadn't re-signed with AEW, Tony would have been making sure MJF's debut with WWE wouldn't have remained a secret. Guess he's re-signed with AEW.

 

[shaz619]

If he hadn't re-signed with AEW, Tony would have been making sure MJF's debut with WWE wouldn't have remained a secret. Guess he's re-signed with AEW.

Have you seen what they’ve done to Edge up there

Any talent who wants to make a name for themselves in the business should avoid the company with a barge pole, they are even better off in TNA

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Have you seen what they’ve done to Edge up there

Any talent who wants to make a name for themselves in the business should avoid the company with a barge pole, they are even better off in TNA

Edge looks nothing like the powerhouse he was presented as in WWE. Think Edge realized it while making his debut as well when he went to the audience to get fired up and instead got a cold response. Edge is just there to have fun with Christian I feel, plus he would have been given more money by Tony as he usually does.
In another world, a feud between a cold, conniving and opportunistic Edge and MJF would have been a heat magnet. But I don't think AEW audience especially the crowds in attendance cares about it much.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Punk had creative freedom in ROH to, if he stayed there he would have been limiting himself. A talent such as MJF is capable of bringing out his best even without that creative freedom. And when we look at all those who have jumped ship, namely Jade Cargil, Punk and Cody; they have been allowed to thrive as themselves, am sure all the knives were out when Cody left and how he would end up as Stardust etc he has thrived under Vince and the new regime. If they bring in MJF, it wont be to take away from what he does best already, that’s actually happening to him right now in AEW.

If we’re being honest AEW is a sh!t show, we are seeing what that creativity is doing for Edge or even the ‘CEO’. MJF hasn’t been involved in a truly compelling programme for almost a year now. And he has already experienced the highs and lows of being an AEW wrestler, for his career; what more is there to do down there, it has always been about AEW being a launch pad for bigger things. His stock has taken a bit of a bit due to terrible booking and I am more concerned then ever for his next steps.

There is incentive to work in Japan or Mexico or even Europe to tighten his ring work, add new layers to his game between the ropes, the depth down there is not what it use to be, but you can identify ways to extract more out of your work with the right attitude which somebody like Daniel Bryan had, it’s what made him the best the willingness to learn and incorporate all wrestling cultures. MJF isn’t going to get any worse at promos working in those places.

For his all round pedigree, there is no doubt in my mind that he would benefit massively from the WWE system and resources available there, I think he has already proven himself but he got a few more years to develop a bit, which was why I thought foreign wrestling territory wasn’t the worst idea because there’s scope to tweak things there and add more to ring pedigree.

Am disappointed for AEW but with their current state, those genuinely concerned for their career legacy and progression; will most likely look to leave

Tbh, I don't think ROH in 2005 is comparable to AEW in 2024. ROH was great but at the end of the day it was still just the biggest indie promotion. It didn't have national TV like AEW does. Plus MJF's situation is different to Cargill, Punk and Cody.

Punk is Punk...there is no one like him and he is going to be the most talked about star wherever he goes. It wasn't about the money for him. Out of the goodness of his heart he wanted to make a difference for AEW. And he did. But the children he worked with didn't want to continue to allow that to happen. Cargill had reached her ceiling in AEW. It was just an endless line of squash matches and her wrestling wasn't getting any better. Whereas, Cody had legit go-away heat and he wasn't going to be World Champion so what was the point any way?

MJF still has alot of guys he can have interesting feuds with. And I don't see him as the type who just wants to have endless 20 minute classics. Yeah, he clearly loves it but he's in it for the long haul. He's more Ric Flair than he is Bryan Danielson. And going to Mexico or Japan would be a step down for him because the money isn't going to be anywhere near what he is making now and neither will he have as many eye-balls on him. It has to be either WWE or AEW where there are enough guys he can have compelling feuds with, the money is good and he has enough eye-balls on him.

AEW is a hot mess but you still get to see great things. Whether its a great match or a great promo or a great feud. And as a wrestling fan, I would want MJF to make AEW better because a) he is one of the only people who can and b) a strong AEW is beneficial for pro-wrestling in general. I can understand you wanting to give up on AEW but personally I still have alot of hope because when I look at that roster it is stacked. MJF, Samoa Joe, Danielson, Edge, Christian, FTR, Mox, Swerve, Ricky Starks, Darby, Ospreay, Okada, Omega, Eddie, Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs...those are all guys that any wrestling company in the world would want to have on their roster. Its just how they are used that has to improve.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

On a lighter note guys, you people are just too ardent wrestling fans and may get a great pay check from WWE, AEW. If you render your services to them.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Edge looks nothing like the powerhouse he was presented as in WWE. Think Edge realized it while making his debut as well when he went to the audience to get fired up and instead got a cold response. Edge is just there to have fun with Christian I feel, plus he would have been given more money by Tony as he usually does.
In another world, a feud between a cold, conniving and opportunistic Edge and MJF would have been a heat magnet. But I don't think AEW audience especially the crowds in attendance cares about it much.

Have you seen what they’ve done to Edge up there

Any talent who wants to make a name for themselves in the business should avoid the company with a barge pole, they are even better off in TNA

As weird and confusingly booked as this Edge-Christian feud was, I will give them credit for one thing: they delivered on the blow-off match. It wasn't a work-rate classic or anything but it was exactly what it needed to be. A very WWE-style match with lots of bells and whistles infront of a hot Toronto crowd that was with it every step of the way. And its things like this why I like AEW. Because Edge even said that this is the match that he wanted to have when he came back in 2020. So credit to Tony Khan for making it possible. And for the first time in god knows how long they actually drew significantly more viewers for the main-event.

My only hope is that now Edge can do something more interesting than what he has been doing for the majority of his WWE run and ever since he got to AEW.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

On a lighter note guys, you people are just too ardent wrestling fans and may get a great pay check from WWE, AEW. If you render your services to them.

They couldn't afford us..

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Despite this Edge/Christian feud I would totally mark out for Edge & Christian reuniting as a tag team down the line and finally having that dream match with FTR.

 

[shaz619]

Tbh, I don't think ROH in 2005 is comparable to AEW in 2024. ROH was great but at the end of the day it was still just the biggest indie promotion. It didn't have national TV like AEW does. Plus MJF's situation is different to Cargill, Punk and Cody.

Punk is Punk...there is no one like him and he is going to be the most talked about star wherever he goes. It wasn't about the money for him. Out of the goodness of his heart he wanted to make a difference for AEW. And he did. But the children he worked with didn't want to continue to allow that to happen. Cargill had reached her ceiling in AEW. It was just an endless line of squash matches and her wrestling wasn't getting any better. Whereas, Cody had legit go-away heat and he wasn't going to be World Champion so what was the point any way?

MJF still has alot of guys he can have interesting feuds with. And I don't see him as the type who just wants to have endless 20 minute classics. Yeah, he clearly loves it but he's in it for the long haul. He's more Ric Flair than he is Bryan Danielson. And going to Mexico or Japan would be a step down for him because the money isn't going to be anywhere near what he is making now and neither will he have as many eye-balls on him. It has to be either WWE or AEW where there are enough guys he can have compelling feuds with, the money is good and he has enough eye-balls on him.

AEW is a hot mess but you still get to see great things. Whether its a great match or a great promo or a great feud. And as a wrestling fan, I would want MJF to make AEW better because a) he is one of the only people who can and b) a strong AEW is beneficial for pro-wrestling in general. I can understand you wanting to give up on AEW but personally I still have alot of hope because when I look at that roster it is stacked. MJF, Samoa Joe, Danielson, Edge, Christian, FTR, Mox, Swerve, Ricky Starks, Darby, Ospreay, Okada, Omega, Eddie, Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs...those are all guys that any wrestling company in the world would want to have on their roster. Its just how they are used that has to improve.

I wasn’t comparing like for like promotions but the position of each wrestler. CM Punk reached his ceiling in ROH, but he took his career to the next level when he left, CM Punk actually got better in the ring and eventually broke out with his personality. Likewise MJF is in a similar spot, he has done everything there is to do in AEW really and best of all he got to work a programme with arguably the best all round talent of his era. There really is no better schooling then that, but now am afraid he’s in a position where the booking is so atrocious that he risks damaging his credibility. As for comparisons. OG ROH compared to present ROH is like comparing a folklore legend with dead corpse being feasted on by rats, and what is AEW anyway now, they are beneath peak ROH, AEW have absorbed the worst of the independent scene and the end product is an outlaw mud show on national television. I don’t even think they remotely compare to peak TNA, I will say they do well on PPV even though personally am not a fan of what they are doing now.

When the inmates are running the asylum why should Cody have stuck it out there, he has been a great diplomat but Punk exposed their company, if Cody was still there what would he be doing right now? I can’t imagine the sight, either way when you let go of big names and they get over somewhere else, it’s a bad look for AEW really, there’s no saving face there at all.

Financially it would but if he gets better in the ring it’s a plus point, Ric Flair could be Ric Flair also because he had dance partners on a level playing field, Bryan didn’t always, he has suggested himself he thinks workers should look to travel because it helped him see things differently. I don’t see AEW doing MJF the performer any better then what we have seen alreadg and as for eyeballs those are dwindling weekly. He’s a generational talent but they’ve done little to develop their roster.

Personally I don’t see those names being used better than what we’ve seen already. I don’t trust Khan and least of all the EVP’s.

 

[shaz619]

On a lighter note guys, you people are just too ardent wrestling fans and may get a great pay check from WWE, AEW. If you render your services to them.

I would love to sign one of Tony Khan’s NDA’s to secure my future

 

[shaz619]

I will agree that losing MJF would be a huge loss for AEW, they can’t afford that and he is keeping the sinking ship somewhat afloat, but when will MJF realise that he needs to get out before he goes completely under… this is the exam question

 

[BunnyRabbit]

On a lighter note guys, you people are just too ardent wrestling fans and may get a great pay check from WWE, AEW. If you render your services to them.

Tell the bosses at WWE HQ, we'll be listening to their propositions!

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Tbh, I don't think ROH in 2005 is comparable to AEW in 2024. ROH was great but at the end of the day it was still just the biggest indie promotion. It didn't have national TV like AEW does. Plus MJF's situation is different to Cargill, Punk and Cody.

Punk is Punk...there is no one like him and he is going to be the most talked about star wherever he goes. It wasn't about the money for him. Out of the goodness of his heart he wanted to make a difference for AEW. And he did. But the children he worked with didn't want to continue to allow that to happen. Cargill had reached her ceiling in AEW. It was just an endless line of squash matches and her wrestling wasn't getting any better. Whereas, Cody had legit go-away heat and he wasn't going to be World Champion so what was the point any way?

MJF still has alot of guys he can have interesting feuds with. And I don't see him as the type who just wants to have endless 20 minute classics. Yeah, he clearly loves it but he's in it for the long haul. He's more Ric Flair than he is Bryan Danielson. And going to Mexico or Japan would be a step down for him because the money isn't going to be anywhere near what he is making now and neither will he have as many eye-balls on him. It has to be either WWE or AEW where there are enough guys he can have compelling feuds with, the money is good and he has enough eye-balls on him.

AEW is a hot mess but you still get to see great things. Whether its a great match or a great promo or a great feud. And as a wrestling fan, I would want MJF to make AEW better because a) he is one of the only people who can and b) a strong AEW is beneficial for pro-wrestling in general. I can understand you wanting to give up on AEW but personally I still have alot of hope because when I look at that roster it is stacked. MJF, Samoa Joe, Danielson, Edge, Christian, FTR, Mox, Swerve, Ricky Starks, Darby, Ospreay, Okada, Omega, Eddie, Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs...those are all guys that any wrestling company in the world would want to have on their roster. Its just how they are used that has to improve.

The bigger problem for AEW is not the depth of their roster but the plans and the absent creative that goes into mapping months long programs. They need to hire writers. Otherwise, AEW is like a jungle. With no real plan in place for next years etc.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I wasn’t comparing like for like promotions but the position of each wrestler. CM Punk reached his ceiling in ROH, but he took his career to the next level when he left, CM Punk actually got better in the ring and eventually broke out with his personality. Likewise MJF is in a similar spot, he has done everything there is to do in AEW really and best of all he got to work a programme with arguably the best all round talent of his era. There really is no better schooling then that, but now am afraid he’s in a position where the booking is so atrocious that he risks damaging his credibility. As for comparisons. OG ROH compared to present ROH is like comparing a folklore legend with dead corpse being feasted on by rats, and what is AEW anyway now, they are beneath peak ROH, AEW have absorbed the worst of the independent scene and the end product is an outlaw mud show on national television. I don’t even think they remotely compare to peak TNA, I will say they do well on PPV even though personally am not a fan of what they are doing now.

When the inmates are running the asylum why should Cody have stuck it out there, he has been a great diplomat but Punk exposed their company, if Cody was still there what would he be doing right now? I can’t imagine the sight, either way when you let go of big names and they get over somewhere else, it’s a bad look for AEW really, there’s no saving face there at all.

Financially it would but if he gets better in the ring it’s a plus point, Ric Flair could be Ric Flair also because he had dance partners on a level playing field, Bryan didn’t always, he has suggested himself he thinks workers should look to travel because it helped him see things differently. I don’t see AEW doing MJF the performer any better then what we have seen alreadg and as for eyeballs those are dwindling weekly. He’s a generational talent but they’ve done little to develop their roster.

Personally I don’t see those names being used better than what we’ve seen already. I don’t trust Khan and least of all the EVP’s.

While MJF was garnering praise for his all round ability as a wrestler, Dominik has been the closest second who no one batted an eye on, and suddenly he's one of WWE's biggest heat magnets and is a 10 times better worker than what he was when he debuted. In WWE MJF will be able to work his way in the mid card for a while going unnoticed before eventually getting called up to the top card.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

As weird and confusingly booked as this Edge-Christian feud was, I will give them credit for one thing: they delivered on the blow-off match. It wasn't a work-rate classic or anything but it was exactly what it needed to be. A very WWE-style match with lots of bells and whistles infront of a hot Toronto crowd that was with it every step of the way. And its things like this why I like AEW. Because Edge even said that this is the match that he wanted to have when he came back in 2020. So credit to Tony Khan for making it possible. And for the first time in god knows how long they actually drew significantly more viewers for the main-event.

My only hope is that now Edge can do something more interesting than what he has been doing for the majority of his WWE run and ever since he got to AEW.

Both Edge and Christian deserve far better than giving feud enders on a weekly tv show. It's the crowd that usually doesn't get behind these legends that robs the match of its appeal.

 

[shaz619]

As weird and confusingly booked as this Edge-Christian feud was, I will give them credit for one thing: they delivered on the blow-off match. It wasn't a work-rate classic or anything but it was exactly what it needed to be. A very WWE-style match with lots of bells and whistles infront of a hot Toronto crowd that was with it every step of the way. And its things like this why I like AEW. Because Edge even said that this is the match that he wanted to have when he came back in 2020. So credit to Tony Khan for making it possible. And for the first time in god knows how long they actually drew significantly more viewers for the main-event.

My only hope is that now Edge can do something more interesting than what he has been doing for the majority of his WWE run and ever since he got to AEW.

Imo I seriously doubt he can have a better match there then the match he had with Randy at Backlash. I mentioned they are not terrible at PPV or the WCW styled PPV’s on their weekly broadcast, but everything in between and beyond is questionable

 

[shaz619]

While MJF was garnering praise for his all round ability as a wrestler, Dominik has been the closest second who no one batted an eye on, and suddenly he's one of WWE's biggest heat magnets and is a 10 times better worker than what he was when he debuted. In WWE MJF will be able to work his way in the mid card for a while going unnoticed before eventually getting called up to the top card.

I think both made it to ESPN’s list of the best wrestlers <30

Without a doubt, Dominik has really come along and I think he has the momentum

 

[shaz619]

Both Edge and Christian deserve far better than giving feud enders on a weekly tv show. It's the crowd that usually doesn't get behind these legends that robs the match of its appeal.

I mean to be fair to both, this is what they personally wanted to do as well.

As you said, their show needs a booker, Tony Khan talks a lot about not making the mistakes of his predecessors but he is in WCW 2000 territory. You never give the keys to your house to your employees, no matter how good you think they are.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship​

The Scottish Warrior will finally get his chance to win a world title in front of the masses as he faces World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins at The Showcase of the Immortals.

McIntyre has been on a personal vendetta ever since Jey Uso was traded to Raw late last year, becoming a bitter version of the Superstar that was once beloved. The Scottish Warrior has placed The Visionary in his path for his quest to win gold in front of the WWE Universe since his previous two world title wins occurred in empty arenas.

Despite McIntyre’s mean streak, The Scottish Warrior was unable to defeat Rollins the two times he challenged him at WWE Crown Jewel and WWE Day 1, partially due to Money in the Bank cash-in attempts from Damian Priest.

After defeating Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, LA Knight and Bobby Lashley inside the Elimination Chamber, McIntyre can finally claim the World Heavyweight Title when he faces The Architect at WrestleMania.

Source: WWE

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I wasn’t comparing like for like promotions but the position of each wrestler. CM Punk reached his ceiling in ROH, but he took his career to the next level when he left, CM Punk actually got better in the ring and eventually broke out with his personality. Likewise MJF is in a similar spot, he has done everything there is to do in AEW really and best of all he got to work a programme with arguably the best all round talent of his era. There really is no better schooling then that, but now am afraid he’s in a position where the booking is so atrocious that he risks damaging his credibility. As for comparisons. OG ROH compared to present ROH is like comparing a folklore legend with dead corpse being feasted on by rats, and what is AEW anyway now, they are beneath peak ROH, AEW have absorbed the worst of the independent scene and the end product is an outlaw mud show on national television. I don’t even think they remotely compare to peak TNA, I will say they do well on PPV even though personally am not a fan of what they are doing now.

When the inmates are running the asylum why should Cody have stuck it out there, he has been a great diplomat but Punk exposed their company, if Cody was still there what would he be doing right now? I can’t imagine the sight, either way when you let go of big names and they get over somewhere else, it’s a bad look for AEW really, there’s no saving face there at all.

Financially it would but if he gets better in the ring it’s a plus point, Ric Flair could be Ric Flair also because he had dance partners on a level playing field, Bryan didn’t always, he has suggested himself he thinks workers should look to travel because it helped him see things differently. I don’t see AEW doing MJF the performer any better then what we have seen alreadg and as for eyeballs those are dwindling weekly. He’s a generational talent but they’ve done little to develop their roster.

Personally I don’t see those names being used better than what we’ve seen already. I don’t trust Khan and least of all the EVP’s.

I don't think he has reached his ceiling in AEW. And I don't think its that bad for him. He's probably one of their highest paid stars. featured at the top and he's only 26 years old/ There's also no telling where he'll be in WWE if he goes there right now when there are already a plethora a top guys in key positions. He has still not worked with the likes of Christian, Edge, Swerve, Ospreay, Okada, Eddie Kingston. And there is a potential for something great with all those feuds.

AEW is not doing so well right now but we shouldn't forget all the great things AEW has given us. To name a few things; Punk's entire babyface run but especially Punk v MJF, Punk v Kingston, Punk v Mox and Punk v Samoa Joe...FTR v The Briscoes...Danielson and his endless list of classic matches. The list of great matches, promos and feuds is pretty significant. And it has given a platform to guys like Darby Allin, MJF, Ricky Starks who might not have gotten to where they are right now if it wasn't for AEW. I couldn't even have imagined seeing Punk and Joe in the ring again until a couple of years ago and AEW made it possible infront of 80,000+ people. Sure, the performers deserve just as much credit but so does AEW for providing them with that platform. I like ripping on AEW just as much as the you but I think its important to acknowledge the importance of AEW in pro-wrestling. You need a viable second promotion where guys can go if they can't go to WWE. And just besides that competition is necessary in pro-wrestling. Alot needs to improve and I hope it does because a healthy AEW is good for pro-wrestling.

Inmates running the asylum cuts both ways. In the case of someone like Punk or MJF you can get magic. But then you can get garbage too in the case of someone like the Bucks. With Cody, I think its important to note that his stuff fell in the latter category. I don't know if he was trying to be Dusty when they started AEW or he was just in his head too much but he was involved in some very BAD stuff that he came up with and booked himself in. At one point during the pandemic he was working matches with the most obscure indie wrestlers every week. Then we had that UK v USA nonsense where they couldn't get the weight machine to work and Cody did his infamous promo about fathering a mixed race baby. He would tease heel turns and then not turn as he was getting heavily booed. So for him, it was the best decision to leave AEW and go to a place of structure where he could just be a talent. And I'm glad he did because now he's the hottest babyface in the business. Bucks probably had a big role in running him off but I don't think that was the reason he left. I think it was a combination of not wanting to turn heel, not seeing eye to eye with Tony anymore, wanting to be World Champion and being annoyed with the Bucks and their games backstage.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Imo I seriously doubt he can have a better match there then the match he had with Randy at Backlash. I mentioned they are not terrible at PPV or the WCW styled PPV’s on their weekly broadcast, but everything in between and beyond is questionable

I wouldn't call it a great match or even compare it to the Backlash match. But it was a really good rasslin' match. Where there is interference, fighting in the crowd, tons of gimmicks. And the fact that they were in Toronto is what made it so enjoyable.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Both Edge and Christian deserve far better than giving feud enders on a weekly tv show. It's the crowd that usually doesn't get behind these legends that robs the match of its appeal.

I agree with you that blow-off matches should be reserved for PPVs. Especially when you have two big stars like these two involved. But I think this one needed to be in Toronto so I think it worked out in the end. Crowd was very hot for this match and one of the reasons why it worked.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

@shaz619 There are rumors that AEW is going to book Bryan Danielson v Nigel McGuinness for All In 2024. I dunno about you but I would love to see that match and I can't think of a better place than Wembley. When I think back to the golden years of ROH the one feud that stands out most is Danielson v McGuinness. And how great would it be to see Nigel come out to Oasis's in the Bushes infront of a stadium crowd?

Speaking of Nigel, he is easily my favorite wrestling commentator right now. He is an absolutely amazing color commentator. It amazes me how WWE let him go and how AEW have him on their B show.

 

[shaz619]

I don't think he has reached his ceiling in AEW. And I don't think its that bad for him. He's probably one of their highest paid stars. featured at the top and he's only 26 years old/ There's also no telling where he'll be in WWE if he goes there right now when there are already a plethora a top guys in key positions. He has still not worked with the likes of Christian, Edge, Swerve, Ospreay, Okada, Eddie Kingston. And there is a potential for something great with all those feuds.

AEW is not doing so well right now but we shouldn't forget all the great things AEW has given us. To name a few things; Punk's entire babyface run but especially Punk v MJF, Punk v Kingston, Punk v Mox and Punk v Samoa Joe...FTR v The Briscoes...Danielson and his endless list of classic matches. The list of great matches, promos and feuds is pretty significant. And it has given a platform to guys like Darby Allin, MJF, Ricky Starks who might not have gotten to where they are right now if it wasn't for AEW. I couldn't even have imagined seeing Punk and Joe in the ring again until a couple of years ago and AEW made it possible infront of 80,000+ people. Sure, the performers deserve just as much credit but so does AEW for providing them with that platform. I like ripping on AEW just as much as the you but I think its important to acknowledge the importance of AEW in pro-wrestling. You need a viable second promotion where guys can go if they can't go to WWE. And just besides that competition is necessary in pro-wrestling. Alot needs to improve and I hope it does because a healthy AEW is good for pro-wrestling.

Inmates running the asylum cuts both ways. In the case of someone like Punk or MJF you can get magic. But then you can get garbage too in the case of someone like the Bucks. With Cody, I think its important to note that his stuff fell in the latter category. I don't know if he was trying to be Dusty when they started AEW or he was just in his head too much but he was involved in some very BAD stuff that he came up with and booked himself in. At one point during the pandemic he was working matches with the most obscure indie wrestlers every week. Then we had that UK v USA nonsense where they couldn't get the weight machine to work and Cody did his infamous promo about fathering a mixed race baby. He would tease heel turns and then not turn as he was getting heavily booed. So for him, it was the best decision to leave AEW and go to a place of structure where he could just be a talent. And I'm glad he did because now he's the hottest babyface in the business. Bucks probably had a big role in running him off but I don't think that was the reason he left. I think it was a combination of not wanting to turn heel, not seeing eye to eye with Tony anymore, wanting to be World Champion and being annoyed with the Bucks and their games backstage.

He isn’t going to top that programme with CM Punk, one of the best feuds/rivalries of the past 5 years. I think we need to get out this mindset of being given everything on a platter the moment you show up, you have to sell MJF to a global audience before we’re talking world championships and main event runs; some of the best ever went through that process, I think there would be more of a problem if he was jobbing etc and consistently in poor programmes, but recent history suggests his talents would not be wasted and in any case the experience would be valuable; there is scope to do something new and evolve in the process, a change of scenery presents a challenge and that’s what MJF needs, to be out his comfort zone to be at his very best. There’s not a whole lot of people to work with and honestly he could go through those names in the next 18 months and he wont be in any better position then he is now, if he wants to do AEW a charity by staying there it’s a different story, sure he will be rewarded for it to but they need him more than he needs them.

I recognise they had a nice little purple patch and I enjoyed it to, but it was very short lived. When we’re talking creative freedom it does work both ways, but you still need a system in place, some order/structure and experienced professionals running the show, that’s something they have never had. Tony Khan wants to cosplay as a promoter and make best friends with the entire locker room, he is doing more to hurt the competition to WWE scene then doing it any considerable favours so it is difficult to support that, years from now I don’t think a big network is going to give pro wrestling another chance, the best shot we had and we put this garbage on TV, the worst kind of independent wrestling with no intention to grow the product beyond the niche audience.

When there’s a night and day difference between his run there and in the WWE, questions have to be asked. Remember Tony Khan has taken on the role of a lead booker, so when Cody is putting out some of the worst segments of his career and Edge is doing the same, and majority of the roster, sure the creative freedom is not doing them any good, but the lead booker should be accountable, especially when said talent leaves and makes x more money then they made you. And you ought to know the backstage politics better then most and his relationship with the so called EVP’s, he’s a professional and AEW are fortunate he has remained tight lipped. That Punk presser should have provided some insight though. I just think he left because he saw what his ceiling was in AEW, what would he be doing there now? and ultimately wrestling is in his blood, he’s a Rhodes so legacy matters more than any blank cheque from Tony Khan

 

[shaz619]

@shaz619 There are rumors that AEW is going to book Bryan Danielson v Nigel McGuinness for All In 2024. I dunno about you but I would love to see that match and I can't think of a better place than Wembley. When I think back to the golden years of ROH the one feud that stands out most is Danielson v McGuinness. And how great would it be to see Nigel come out to Oasis's F***ing in the Bushes infront of a stadium crowd?

Speaking of Nigel, he is easily my favorite wrestling commentator right now. He is an absolutely amazing color commentator. It amazes me how WWE let him go and how AEW have him on their B show.

If there’s one thing AEW do get right, it’s the PPV for the smark fan! I think you could make a movie out of the backstory here, there’s so much to work with. And honestly, am a big Nigel mark, in my view he is the best pro wrestler we ever produced and 10x the wrestler Ospreay is. It would be a shock to me if he returns because he hasn’t worked since his health issues.

Essentially, Daniel Bryan went onto to have the sort of career which Nigel should have had, all his opportunities were cut short because of his health. There’s natural competitive bitterness there because he didn’t get to have that major run with WWE but the commentary gig was a little compensation. When Bryan won the WHC for the first time he was thoughtful about Nigel’s situation and actually contacted him when he won, he didn’t want that animosity to be there and they shared a strong friendship which translated to a thrilling rivalry.

For Nigel to have gone through all of that to a match at Wembley is just surreal and I can’t really believe it, I don’t know if he’d be ready for it either, Bryan is the perfect opponent but it would be an uphill task even for him. If it got booked, surely it would have to be the main event.

Absolutely, he has done the best colour in the business, I don’t think Haitch would have dropped him and Tony is stupid enough to have that dork in a mask lead the commentary for Dynamite instead

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I mean to be fair to both, this is what they personally wanted to do as well.

As you said, their show needs a booker, Tony Khan talks a lot about not making the mistakes of his predecessors but he is in WCW 2000 territory. You never give the keys to your house to your employees, no matter how good you think they are.

But is tony a renowned booker known for his expertise at the business end? Nah. This is why he needs to hire writers. Tony's philosophy to me feels like PPV based. Just put on the best PPV i can and everything will be fine. But the thing is there is no real direction on how to move things on the weekly tv. Seems like he doesn't care much about the weekly tv either. Just ask the talent what they want to do every week and it will be fine. Meanwhile the ratings are declining and they aren't really drawing new fans to their product either. At best he'll host sort of a mini ppv at dynamite for to garner interest at their weekly product sporadically. More often than not, talent would want to do the thing they like or find easy to do, but the booker and writers are their to push them out of their comfort zones to make a compelling weekly tv.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I agree with you that blow-off matches should be reserved for PPVs. Especially when you have two big stars like these two involved. But I think this one needed to be in Toronto so I think it worked out in the end. Crowd was very hot for this match and one of the reasons why it worked.

I haven't seen it yet. I saw their last two matches and in the first one, the crowd was sorta hot, but then it in the second, which was a better worked match, the crowd was pretty meh. I haven't seen the third one yet. I just haven't found AEW very enjoyable in a while apart from watching some YT segments.

 

[shaz619]

But is tony a renowned booker known for his expertise at the business end? Nah. This is why he needs to hire writers. Tony's philosophy to me feels like PPV based. Just put on the best PPV i can and everything will be fine. But the thing is there is no real direction on how to move things on the weekly tv. Seems like he doesn't care much about the weekly tv either. Just ask the talent what they want to do every week and it will be fine. Meanwhile the ratings are declining and they aren't really drawing new fans to their product either. At best he'll host sort of a mini ppv at dynamite for to garner interest at their weekly product sporadically. More often than not, talent would want to do the thing they like or find easy to do, but the booker and writers are their to push them out of their comfort zones to make a compelling weekly tv.

He takes the lead on their ideas, he gives them the go ahead to come up with storylines but he takes the lead and tries to plan ahead but his booking specifically to get talent over is non existent. PPV is pretty much dead to, majority of entertainment and sport is driven by streaming, it’s not a get out of jail free card like it use to be

 

[shaz619]

@BunnyRabbit Have you seen footage of Johnson start to whip Cody while the cameras stopped rolling lol

 

[BunnyRabbit]

@BunnyRabbit Have you seen footage of Johnson start to whip Cody while the cameras stopped rolling lol

no i haven't. do you have the link?

 

[shaz619]

no i haven't. do you have the link?

Try this mate

https://twitter.com/x/status/1773755964501668164

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Try this mate

https://twitter.com/x/status/1773755964501668164

i so wanted them both to break characters and start laughing.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

@shaz619 The best thing AEW has done this year has been Tony's twitter's rant on Jindar and Hook. His rant made an obscure Jindar the biggest face in pro wrestling for a week.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

WWE did such a lousy job by having Heyman randomly telling Roman was the architect of Cody's beatdown by the Final boss.
They could have simply had Roman show up by the end of the beatdown on Raw.

 

[shaz619]

WWE did such a lousy job by having Heyman randomly telling Roman was the architect of Cody's beatdown by the Final boss.
They could have simply had Roman show up by the end of the beatdown on Raw.

When did Heyman say that? it’s a reasonable adjustment, that was my initial feeling, if they had Roman’s shadow looming over Cody at the end, I think that would have been a nice way to close out

 

[shaz619]

@shaz619 The best thing AEW has done this year has been Tony's twitter's rant on Jindar and Hook. His rant made an obscure Jindar the biggest face in pro wrestling for a week.

He got his twitter confidence back it seems, saying AEW is where the best wrestle; meanwhile Daniel Bryan simultaneously shows up in CMLL

 

[shaz619]

AEW: Where the Best Fumble

 

[hassan918]

SmackDown results: March 29, 2024​

• Pretty Deadly def. Randy Orton & Kevin Owens
• Austin Theory & Grayson Waller def. The Street Profits
• New Catch Republic def. Legado del Fantasma
• Bianca Belair def. Dakota Kai; Jade Cargill obliterated Damage CTRL

 

[BunnyRabbit]

When did Heyman say that? it’s a reasonable adjustment, that was my initial feeling, if they had Roman’s shadow looming over Cody at the end, I think that would have been a nice way to close out

In a random backstage promo at SD yesterday when Roman wasn't even present. Also said something like it will Jimmy vs Solo because that's what the Tribal Chief has ordered as well. I can't even begin to say how pathetically they did that segment on SD. Like he just randomly blurted it out. it was a pathetic paul heyman promo by his standards.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

He got his twitter confidence back it seems, saying AEW is where the best wrestle; meanwhile Daniel Bryan simultaneously shows up in CMLL

He tweetfights Bischoff and gets confidence from AEW twitter marks hyping him up. It's comically tragic.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1118769426130122

@shaz619 @RedwoodOriginal bet you didn't know about this.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He isn’t going to top that programme with CM Punk, one of the best feuds/rivalries of the past 5 years. I think we need to get out this mindset of being given everything on a platter the moment you show up, you have to sell MJF to a global audience before we’re talking world championships and main event runs; some of the best ever went through that process, I think there would be more of a problem if he was jobbing etc and consistently in poor programmes, but recent history suggests his talents would not be wasted and in any case the experience would be valuable; there is scope to do something new and evolve in the process, a change of scenery presents a challenge and that’s what MJF needs, to be out his comfort zone to be at his very best. There’s not a whole lot of people to work with and honestly he could go through those names in the next 18 months and he wont be in any better position then he is now, if he wants to do AEW a charity by staying there it’s a different story, sure he will be rewarded for it to but they need him more than he needs them.

I recognise they had a nice little purple patch and I enjoyed it to, but it was very short lived. When we’re talking creative freedom it does work both ways, but you still need a system in place, some order/structure and experienced professionals running the show, that’s something they have never had. Tony Khan wants to cosplay as a promoter and make best friends with the entire locker room, he is doing more to hurt the competition to WWE scene then doing it any considerable favours so it is difficult to support that, years from now I don’t think a big network is going to give pro wrestling another chance, the best shot we had and we put this garbage on TV, the worst kind of independent wrestling with no intention to grow the product beyond the niche audience.

When there’s a night and day difference between his run there and in the WWE, questions have to be asked. Remember Tony Khan has taken on the role of a lead booker, so when Cody is putting out some of the worst segments of his career and Edge is doing the same, and majority of the roster, sure the creative freedom is not doing them any good, but the lead booker should be accountable, especially when said talent leaves and makes x more money then they made you. And you ought to know the backstage politics better then most and his relationship with the so called EVP’s, he’s a professional and AEW are fortunate he has remained tight lipped. That Punk presser should have provided some insight though. I just think he left because he saw what his ceiling was in AEW, what would he be doing there now? and ultimately wrestling is in his blood, he’s a Rhodes so legacy matters more than any blank cheque from Tony Khan

I agree with you on that. There is clearly no structure in place and level of professionalism is also very questionable. And the majority of it stems from Tony not having the balls to put his foot down. He can't say no to people. He wants everyone's dreams to come true and for everyone to be his friend. I mean can you imagine Vince or any other famous promoter from history allowing Punk to just bury his company and its executives like that? I'm glad Punk said what he said. He needed to expose those empty headed f**** and on top of that it is something hilarious that is forever etched in wrestling history. But if you look at it from Tony's POV, he was sitting next to his top star as he was burying his company.

Still I have hope for AEW despite everything that is wrong with it. And I attribute that to the sheer talent that happens to be employed by them rather than Tony Khan. With MJF, if he is signed to deal he will probably be there for 2-3 years. What will be interesting is what will happen when he leaves Tony at that time? Will AEW even have anyone then that will be anywhere close to MJF? Because if not then it could really hurt AEW.

Yeah definitely. I think it was always about Cody returning to WWE and proving everyone wrong by becoming a top star. And he did just that with his indie run and AEW run. All In, AEW and all that was a big step towards making that original goal possible, but AEW or the indies were not where he was meant to be at the end of the day. He is exactly where he needs to be.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If there’s one thing AEW do get right, it’s the PPV for the smark fan! I think you could make a movie out of the backstory here, there’s so much to work with. And honestly, am a big Nigel mark, in my view he is the best pro wrestler we ever produced and 10x the wrestler Ospreay is. It would be a shock to me if he returns because he hasn’t worked since his health issues.

Essentially, Daniel Bryan went onto to have the sort of career which Nigel should have had, all his opportunities were cut short because of his health. There’s natural competitive bitterness there because he didn’t get to have that major run with WWE but the commentary gig was a little compensation. When Bryan won the WHC for the first time he was thoughtful about Nigel’s situation and actually contacted him when he won, he didn’t want that animosity to be there and they shared a strong friendship which translated to a thrilling rivalry.

For Nigel to have gone through all of that to a match at Wembley is just surreal and I can’t really believe it, I don’t know if he’d be ready for it either, Bryan is the perfect opponent but it would be an uphill task even for him. If it got booked, surely it would have to be the main event.

Absolutely, he has done the best colour in the business, I don’t think Haitch would have dropped him and Tony is stupid enough to have that dork in a mask lead the commentary for Dynamite instead

I couldn't agree with you more. Nigel is one of the greatest wrestlers not to have wrestled for a major promotion. His career as you mentioned is really tragic though considering both; he and Bryan both had a history of concussions and he didn't get the job for WWE because he told the truth, while Bryan lied about it and got hired.

I didn't know that Bryan called him after that match. That's really sweet. Tbh, Nigel was an integral part of making the American Dragon, and vice-versa so I can understand it. That feud and those matches really put both guys on the map as arguably the best technical wrestlers on the indies. Nigel had that TNA run but it was a major disappointment for me outside of his matches with Angle. He was booked like absolute s*** but then again what else can you expect from 2010 TNA?

Did Nigel retire because of his health issues or out of sheer despair?

I agree it would be incredible. Nigel is still in great shape and has teased the match numerous times since before last year's All In. But ofc Bryan got injured before All In so he didn't wrestle anyway. But they shouldn't miss the opportunity this year by booking Bryan against some 50 year old Japanese veteran. And Tony, of all people, being the wrestling mark that he is, should understand the significance of this match.

Btw have you seen this interview of Nigel? Apparently he is a professional magician as well and even does shows lol. Anyway this is a really funny interview in which he demonstrates his magic skills while answering questions.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He got his twitter confidence back it seems, saying AEW is where the best wrestle; meanwhile Daniel Bryan simultaneously shows up in CMLL

Bryan is just focused on having all his dream matches now. He is wrestling freaking Blue Panther next week. I didn't even know Blue Panther was alive lol. How old must he be? 70?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He tweetfights Bischoff and gets confidence from AEW twitter marks hyping him up. It's comically tragic.

What's worse is that he can't even win a twitter fight with Eric Bischoff

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

WWE did such a lousy job by having Heyman randomly telling Roman was the architect of Cody's beatdown by the Final boss.
They could have simply had Roman show up by the end of the beatdown on Raw.

Let's see what they do on the go-home RAW. Fact is, Roman wasn't on the show so we should wait to hear what he has to say before writing him off.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Let's see what they do on the go-home RAW. Fact is, Roman wasn't on the show so we should wait to hear what he has to say before writing him off.

But timing is the key. In retrospect it might work, but in the present it sure felt like a useless episode of SD.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Jade Cargill's debut pretty much reaffirmed my opinion of her. She looked like a natural under the spotlight. If she can even manage to be a passable wrestler, she will be one of the biggest stars in women's wrestling...a female Goldberg.

 

[Suleiman]

WWE did such a lousy job by having Heyman randomly telling Roman was the architect of Cody's beatdown by the Final boss.
They could have simply had Roman show up by the end of the beatdown on Raw.

They should’ve had Roman show up at the beat down too, Rock with that segment now has eclipsed him completely in this feud.

It feels like Rock v Cody more than anything. Either way I’m all for it.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

But timing is the key. In retrospect it might work, but in the present it sure felt like a useless episode of SD.

I think they just wanted to give the midcard matches some build before Mania which is understandable considering how much TV has been given to Rock/Roman/Cody/Seth is oast few weeks

I'm just interested to see what they have to say because Roman did come out of it looking bad. So lets see. It could be good or it could be stupid or illogical

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I agree with you on that. There is clearly no structure in place and level of professionalism is also very questionable. And the majority of it stems from Tony not having the balls to put his foot down. He can't say no to people. He wants everyone's dreams to come true and for everyone to be his friend. I mean can you imagine Vince or any other famous promoter from history allowing Punk to just bury his company and its executives like that? I'm glad Punk said what he said. He needed to expose those empty headed f**** and on top of that it is something hilarious that is forever etched in wrestling history. But if you look at it from Tony's POV, he was sitting next to his top star as he was burying his company.

Still I have hope for AEW despite everything that is wrong with it. And I attribute that to the sheer talent that happens to be employed by them rather than Tony Khan. With MJF, if he is signed to deal he will probably be there for 2-3 years. What will be interesting is what will happen when he leaves Tony at that time? Will AEW even have anyone then that will be anywhere close to MJF? Because if not then it could really hurt AEW.

Yeah definitely. I think it was always about Cody returning to WWE and proving everyone wrong by becoming a top star. And he did just that with his indie run and AEW run. All In, AEW and all that was a big step towards making that original goal possible, but AEW or the indies were not where he was meant to be at the end of the day. He is exactly where he needs to be.

You better file for trademark of All That before Tony makes it another AEW ppv.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You better file for trademark of All That before Tony makes it another AEW ppv.

LOL I think Tony probably has some cringe names in mind before he runs out of ideas. Knowing him he probably has a list

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I think they just wanted to give the midcard matches some build before Mania which is understandable considering how much TV has been given to Rock/Roman/Cody/Seth is oast few weeks

I'm just interested to see what they have to say because Roman did come out of it looking bad. So lets see. It could be good or it could be stupid or illogical

The way Roman's being sidelined for the entirety of this feud has me thinking it will 90% be stupid or 10% sheer genius if they can make him look like the master planner on the final episode before Mania.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

They should’ve had Roman show up at the beat down too, Rock with that segment now has eclipsed him completely in this feud.

It feels like Rock v Cody more than anything. Either way I’m all for it.

After many years has Mania's main event felt like this Momentous.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Dwayne is just 10 mins of in ring action away from proving he still is one of the best in the business and the biggest draw in pro wrestling. His character work has been exceptional and refreshing. Much better than what many wrestlers plan for their characters to be like.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

@shaz619 @BunnyRabbit I'm sure just about everyone has Drew McIntyre as the favorite to win the WHC at WrestleMania. But what if Damien Priest cashes in his MITB briefcase, makes it a Three Way and wins the belt instead? For Rollins, it would be poetic justice 9 years on. For Drew, it would go hand in hand with his whole conspiracy that everyone is out to screw him. It would be a way to elevate Priest who can have a good run as Champion till Punk comes back. And...it would be a heck of a moment.

Only downside is that Drew's credibility stands to get hurt by this. But then again, why did you book Priest to win the briefcase if you had no intention of doing anything with him?

 

[shaz619]

I couldn't agree with you more. Nigel is one of the greatest wrestlers not to have wrestled for a major promotion. His career as you mentioned is really tragic though considering both; he and Bryan both had a history of concussions and he didn't get the job for WWE because he told the truth, while Bryan lied about it and got hired.

I didn't know that Bryan called him after that match. That's really sweet. Tbh, Nigel was an integral part of making the American Dragon, and vice-versa so I can understand it. That feud and those matches really put both guys on the map as arguably the best technical wrestlers on the indies. Nigel had that TNA run but it was a major disappointment for me outside of his matches with Angle. He was booked like absolute s*** but then again what else can you expect from 2010 TNA?

Did Nigel retire because of his health issues or out of sheer despair?

I agree it would be incredible. Nigel is still in great shape and has teased the match numerous times since before last year's All In. But ofc Bryan got injured before All In so he didn't wrestle anyway. But they shouldn't miss the opportunity this year by booking Bryan against some 50 year old Japanese veteran. And Tony, of all people, being the wrestling mark that he is, should understand the significance of this match.

Btw have you seen this interview of Nigel? Apparently he is a professional magician as well and even does shows lol. Anyway this is a really funny interview in which he demonstrates his magic skills while answering questions.

Bryan won the WHC on the same day Nigel retired, it’s funny how life is right? and that was Bryan in his ultimate high remembering his rival, and then there’s Bill, never called Bret or checked up on him, nor changed in the years that followed despite making millions on the back of ending a legends career and you get why Bret is still bitter about it, I totally understand, Bill’s a scumbag.

A big part of it was his health, he tested positive for hepatitis B sadly and despair played a huge role to and he was severely depressed for many years, I think a WWE deal fell through to and he always wanted a run there. People can say what they want about Michael Cole but he has always been a top top bloke, when NXT UK came about, Cole bought Nigel into the WWE so he could have some closure.

I think Nigel goes into great details about his struggles on a Network documentary it’s called Chasing the Magic I think. If you watch that, it alone will sell a PPV match with Bryan, every wrestling smark fan in the UK is aware of his story.

Lmao @ that vid, I vaguely knew it, am sure it was a great outlet for him.

The true successor to William Regal and a pioneer of european strong style

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The way Roman's being sidelined for the entirety of this feud has me thinking it will 90% be stupid or 10% sheer genius if they can make him look like the master planner on the final episode before Mania.

The only thing that gives me hope is how well they have booked this feud so far. If you look at it, the progression of this feud has been based on very simple cause and effect. When Rock went full heel there was suddenly more spotlight on him than Roman and it was evident. So Rock came out and changed the perception by acknowledging Roman Reigns and that was a powerful segment that brought more credibility to Roman. Then Cody came out and said The Rock was 'Roman's sidechick' so the Rock came on RAW and showed Cody that wasn't the case either. Now they've gotta put credibility on Roman again so he comes out it looking like an even bigger heel than The Rock. Because ultimately, its Cody v Roman that's the main-event.

 

[shaz619]

@shaz619 @BunnyRabbit I'm sure just about everyone has Drew McIntyre as the favorite to win the WHC at WrestleMania. But what if Damien Priest cashes in his MITB briefcase, makes it a Three Way and wins the belt instead? For Rollins, it would be poetic justice 9 years on. For Drew, it would go hand in hand with his whole conspiracy that everyone is out to screw him. It would be a way to elevate Priest who can have a good run as Champion till Punk comes back. And...it would be a heck of a moment.

Only downside is that Drew's credibility stands to get hurt by this. But then again, why did you book Priest to win the briefcase if you had no intention of doing anything with him?

Priest is likely to win and I hope he gets a strong push, but honestly I just feel Seth has done such a terrible job with the belt that it would be like winning another mid card title. This is why I think the championship needs someone like a Drew, CM Punk or heck am throwing Rock’s name there! they will sell the title better so that it would mean a lot more when somebody like Priest cashes in.

Priest is still a little raw and it’s a big ask, for him to carry the strap but then again there’s a low bar set by Seth

 

[shaz619]

Jade Cargill's debut pretty much reaffirmed my opinion of her. She looked like a natural under the spotlight. If she can even manage to be a passable wrestler, she will be one of the biggest stars in women's wrestling...a female Goldberg.

I got Brock Lesnar debut vibes there, should have thrown the Kabuki warriors around a bit more. She just has the IT factor man, I want her to just be a powerful badass, let the others dance around her, Jade is a breath of fresh air

 

[shaz619]

The Tower Of London had the same notoriety of the RKO but on the independent circuit, dare I say it wowed me as a kid as much as the Styles Clash

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Priest is likely to win and I hope he gets a strong push, but honestly I just feel Seth has done such a terrible job with the belt that it would be like winning another mid card title. This is why I think the championship needs someone like a Drew, CM Punk or heck am throwing Rock’s name there! they will sell the title better so that it would mean a lot more when somebody like Priest cashes in.

Priest is still a little raw and it’s a big ask, for him to carry the strap but then again there’s a low bar set by Seth

I actually want Drew to win myself. I think he is compelling enough where he could make the belt mean something. Funny how its usually the belt elevates the individual, here its the opposite because of how what Seth's run. And Priest yeah he's not at the main-event level yet for me. But somehow him cashing in seems like a very likely possibility in my mind. I think the probability of this outcome will increase if Judgement Day lose the tag belts.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I got Brock Lesnar debut vibes there, should have thrown the Kabuki warriors around a bit more. She just has the IT factor man, I want her to just be a powerful badass, let the others dance around her, Jade is a breath of fresh air

As great as Charlotte and Becky are, they don't have that massive star power. I don't think any female wrestler in North America has ever had that to be honest. But Jade has the potential to shatter that ceiling.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Jade and Rhea Ripley both tbh.

As great as Charlotte and Becky are, they don't have that massive star power. I don't think any female wrestler in North America has ever had that to be honest. But Jade has the potential to shatter that ceiling.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Do you know that World Wrestling 'Entertainment' (WWE) is just entertainment and scripted fights, with not even real punches?

 

[shaz619]

As great as Charlotte and Becky are, they don't have that massive star power. I don't think any female wrestler in North America has ever had that to be honest. But Jade has the potential to shatter that ceiling.

I do think Charlotte has that bro, she’s seldom seen that way because her star is often taken for granted. Her name obviously helps but I just love her work between the ropes. Becky got over then fizzled out a bit, Ronda’s initial run was pretty good all things considered but you just think her impact in MMA was far greater, without her opening the PPV door for women though, you don’t get the modern women’s revolution.

 

[shaz619]

Jade and Rhea Ripley both tbh.

I admire Rhea and her work with the Judgement day has been fantastic, in fact she is a big part of why Dom is so over as a heel. But as a singles women's performer, the booking of her title run has been a shambles to say the least

 

[shaz619]

@RedwoodOriginal With Nigel’s illness, are you confident in AEW’s medical clearing him? also, do you think they will make the stupid decision of making blood a big part of the storyline or will it be banned completely. Daniel Bryan would also be risking his health.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

@shaz619 @BunnyRabbit I'm sure just about everyone has Drew McIntyre as the favorite to win the WHC at WrestleMania. But what if Damien Priest cashes in his MITB briefcase, makes it a Three Way and wins the belt instead? For Rollins, it would be poetic justice 9 years on. For Drew, it would go hand in hand with his whole conspiracy that everyone is out to screw him. It would be a way to elevate Priest who can have a good run as Champion till Punk comes back. And...it would be a heck of a moment.

Only downside is that Drew's credibility stands to get hurt by this. But then again, why did you book Priest to win the briefcase if you had no intention of doing anything with him?

I would like Drew to win WHC and Cody to win Universal Championship regardless of what happens. Like Drew have been on the receiving end for far too long now. He was out of the title pic after having to job to Seth repeatedly until Punk went down injured. If Trips books him to lose again, it will become clear than Trips has that Vince tantrum thing where every WCW guy had to lose. It will be pretty boring to say the least as Seth has nowhere to go after Mania with this title. Put it on Drew, he'll definitely make it more interesting and put a prize on it. Though i think they're going to have Bloodline enter the match helping drew win the title. Drew was shown in discussion with Heyman on Raw too. But Damien isn't championship material. He could have been a good opponent for Gunther though, but i am not sure if he has the chops to carry the top title.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

The only thing that gives me hope is how well they have booked this feud so far. If you look at it, the progression of this feud has been based on very simple cause and effect. When Rock went full heel there was suddenly more spotlight on him than Roman and it was evident. So Rock came out and changed the perception by acknowledging Roman Reigns and that was a powerful segment that brought more credibility to Roman. Then Cody came out and said The Rock was 'Roman's sidechick' so the Rock came on RAW and showed Cody that wasn't the case either. Now they've gotta put credibility on Roman again so he comes out it looking like an even bigger heel than The Rock. Because ultimately, its Cody v Roman that's the main-event.

That has been the problem with this mania. that it has felt like a Rock vs Cody more than Cody vs Roman. Unless they can do something magical in the last SD, everyone will still have the same feeling that Roman is just a tamed kitten in presence of Dwayne.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I admire Rhea and her work with the Judgement day has been fantastic, in fact she is a big part of why Dom is so over as a heel. But as a singles women's performer, the booking of her title run has been a shambles to say the least

Rhea has been booked like a face even though she's a massive heel. Sometimes i feel that her booking has been perfect, other times i feel like it's just been stretched without much captivating feuds.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I do think Charlotte has that bro, she’s seldom seen that way because her star is often taken for granted. Her name obviously helps but I just love her work between the ropes. Becky got over then fizzled out a bit, Ronda’s initial run was pretty good all things considered but you just think her impact in MMA was far greater, without her opening the PPV door for women though, you don’t get the modern women’s revolution.

I meant the ability to cross over to other avenues of entertainment like Hollywood. Charlotte is the biggest star in women's wrestling but I don't see her as someone who could maybe be an action movie star one day. With Jade and Rhea I see that...the potential to enter the mainstream and the public imagination. Because their look and natural charisma stands out when compared to other female wrestlers in the business.