Wrestling Discussion Thread II

If that's just for the old stuff (or network exclusive content) then I don't see me getting it.

masofdas wrote:

but we are unlikely to get the same as the yanks due sky whom will continue to show RAW & SD.

But the Yanks don't get Raw or Smackdown on the Network either.

It might be worth a punt around the Royal Rumble - I usually buy the Rumble and Mania anyway.

If it gets the PPVs and NXT live for that price then I'll buy in, with WM31 at the end of March this first 6 months should go all the way up to it.

I don't know then Jay, but apparently our won't be the same because of Sky.

The only thing I could see Sky taking from the Network is NXT, but if that stays then our Network will be identical to the US Network.

~

About RAW...

Spoiler:

Dusty's this millennium's Dennis Pennis.

A damn shame indeed.

Also...

Spoiler:

That spoiler makes me really sad, you all know I'm a fan of Rusev and I think he could have a cracker of a match with The Rock it's the feuds they are putting him that are the main problem.

I actually think Rusev is one of the few things WWE is doing right currently, his PPV matches have that "can anyone beat him" vibe that Lesnar... well, should've have.

This week's Raw though...

Spoiler:

Yeah, the builds to the last couple of PPVs have been atrocious. Summerslam was a properly built PPV was a solid card, and it was the best PPV bar Wrestlemania 30 - there might just be a correlation there.

Rumble rumours:

I think Rusev is alright - big guys that can move always get a thumbs up from me - but the whole Vladimir Putin/'USA is keech' shtick was getting old before Jack Swagger was getting hammered by him. I'd like to see more layers added to the characters. Speaking English is a bit 'meh'. Personally, I thought he looked a bit small-time in the segment with The Rock (with his swimming trunks and Woolworths Goodie Bag medal), but it'll not do him any harm as a one-off. WWE definitely seems committed to him.

The Rumble chat:

Spoiler:

slazo wrote:

I actually think Rusev is one of the few things WWE is doing right currently, his PPV matches have that "can anyone beat him" vibe that Lesnar... well, should've have.

They've just seemed really throw away to me, I just got less interested with each opponent they have given him not to mention he isn't actually undefeated (never been pinned) but he technically lost via DQ vs Roman Reigns.

Rumble thoughts :

RAW:

Rumble:

So, why are we spoilering Rumble chat?

I guess we put it in tags in case any of us didn't want to know about the Rumble this year, but I think that's everyone who posts in here chimed in about the Rumble so I'd say it's fair game now.

What did you guys make of smackdown 15? I thought it was really good, well paced with solid matches (the best being Rusev vs Ziggler) & it was great seeing all the classic smackdown clips from years ago as well.

I hope they can get that show back to its best as I hate seeing the mess it's currently in. (needlessly padded with too many Raw rebounds)

A possible future mania match:

I saw the YouTube highlights of the fifteenth anniversary of SmackDown, and it looked a good laugh. Agreed that SmackDown as a whole is in 'a bit of a mess' - there's nothing spontenous or important that ever happens on it. Fair play, you might get the odd good match (Ambrose and Cesaro had one a few weeks back), but mostly it's very missable.

~

Believe it or not, TNA are holding their Bound For Glory event today, but they've pre-taped so many episodes of iMPACT for the future that it's already well-known that it had no effect on, well, anything. The World Champion and Tag Champions aren't on the card. Neither is Bobby Roode, Mr. Anderson, Austin Aires, and the Hardy Boys are nowhere around. It genuinely looks worse than any of the SmackDown-only PPVs that everyone hated a decade ago, where we had to put up with pish like Modercai, Luther Reigns and Orlando Jordan (...at least those cards had Undertaker/Angle/Mysterio etc on them).

We knew months ago that Bound for Glory would be in Japan and focus on there promotion not just TNA.

It is a weird one but your likely to see good WRESTLING though from the Japanese wrestlers.

I should really watch some NJPW or NOAH stuff sometime, been meaning to see what else is out there. Same goes for AAA whenever that starts airing in English.

And yeah, SmackDown was pretty good all things considered, though having most of the highlights be from the first five years kinda sums up the show nowadays.

slazo wrote:

though having most of the highlights be from the first five years kinda sums up the show nowadays.

A bit harsh there, though I do agree that the show has to improve WWE are always going to use a majority of highlights from the attitude era as it's their most successful period but I thought it had a good mix of things like shield taking out Undertaker, Gunn & Palumbo etc.

Slazo wrote:

I should really watch some NJPW

NJPW is probably the best promotion going right now. I'd recommend giving this a read (it's a little bit out of date - all the champions have changed. AJ Styles is their world champion at the moment). They had a PPV today actually - King of Pro Wrestling. This guy uploads all their major shows - good for keeping up to date.

I recommend checking out the G1 Climax from this year - it's a good primer to the top guys in the company with a lot of fucking brilliant matches to boot.

Oh, and this guy translates a lot of NJPW promos and books - good for getting the backstory to some of the matches. Although, the backstory often isn't necessary, so long as you know who's in what stable their motivation isn't more complex than "I want to win" or "I hate you" or "I want you to respect me".

The reason Jarrett turned up at a conference is because GFW, his company, is going to be the PPV carrier for NJPW's biggest show in January. Jim Ross has expressed an interest in doing commentary for the event, which could be very cool although I do hope JR's commentary is still up to scratch as he seems to have grown somewhat bitter over the last couple of years.

Our very own ICW launched their on demand service today, here's a run down of what you get for yer £3.75

http://wrestleropesuk.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/major-content-news-for-insane-championship-wrestling-on-demand-service/

The biggest thing for me there is the fear & loathing VII show from last night at the barrowlands goes up at 9pm tonight.


Oh aye a wee thing called the WWE network launches tonight as well.

Shame about the WWE Network launch being dingied at the last minute, but there's a crackin' heel promo to be had in that. I hope Wade Barrett takes responsibility.

~

I notice that I didn't post anything about Ryback's return, but to be honest I'm still calming down about it.