GRcade

its a lot better than the last couple of years under Kevin Dunne quick camera cutting

Currently watching RAW now. To say it’s been quite the episode would be an understatement. Best one I can remember since probably one of those post WrestleMania episodes. Been a long time since I felt like sticking with the full 3 hours as there’s usually a horrible lull as they try and fail to get a 2 hour show through 3, but this has really zipped by. There’s been storylines running throughout, with something happening in practically every segment. Okay so most of the wrestling was lousy (we really are back in 98), but highly compelling television. Great to see the crowd so visible again, standing up constantly, making noise, holding up signs, just like old times. Chicago have always been great and this was no exception.

I presume the more understated stage again is simply due to the building being unable to accommodate the usual one, though I think it looks a bit better myself - especially having the crowd behind it from certain angles.

This felt more like a RAW from 1997 or something when the show suddenly changed. CM Punk, Drew McIntrye and Seth Rollins promo reminded me of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels’ many confrontations, where it had a load of references to things that were probably going over the head of many, at points clearly going off the rails, but thoroughly entertaining whether you’re entirely in on it or not (for example I think the Drive-Through and Experience are the names of Jim Cornette’s podcasts; CM Punk asking Drew who gave him the chosen one moniker - which was Vince McMahon).

I don’t know how common an insult “Wankfest” is to the American audience but the fact it escaped the censors over dipshit, holy gooseberry fool, strawberry floats and whatever else was on there tells me not very. But I think we’re getting a good indication of what’s coming to Netflix.

They’ve certainly done a good job readjusting and setting the stage for Mania in a couple of weeks, though it still feels like the Main Event is Cody Rhodes vs The Rock instead of Roman Reigns, especially after the conclusion of this show.

KK wrote:Currently watching RAW now. To say it’s been quite the episode would be an understatement. Best one I can remember since probably one of those post WrestleMania episodes. Been a long time since I felt like sticking with the full 3 hours as there’s usually a horrible lull as they try and fail to get a 2 hour show through 3, but this has really zipped by. There’s been storylines running throughout, with something happening in practically every segment. Okay so most of the wrestling was lousy (we really are back in 98), but highly compelling television. Great to see the crowd so visible again, standing up constantly, making noise, holding up signs, just like old times. Chicago have always been great and this was no exception.

I presume the more understated stage again is simply due to the building being unable to accommodate the usual one, though I think it looks a bit better myself - especially having the crowd behind it from certain angles.

This felt more like a RAW from 1997 or something when the show suddenly changed. CM Punk, Drew McIntrye and Seth Rollins promo reminded me of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels’ many confrontations, where it had a load of references to things that were probably going over the head of many, at points clearly going off the rails, but thoroughly entertaining whether you’re entirely in on it or not (for example I think the Drive-Through and Experience are the names of Jim Cornette’s podcasts; CM Punk asking Drew who gave him the chosen one moniker - which was Vince McMahon).

I don’t know how common an insult “Wankfest” is to the American audience but the fact it escaped the censors over dipshit, holy gooseberry fool, strawberry floats and whatever else was on there tells me not very. But I think we’re getting a good indication of what’s coming to Netflix.

They’ve certainly done a good job readjusting and setting the stage for Mania in a couple of weeks, though it still feels like the Main Event is Cody Rhodes vs The Rock instead of Roman Reigns, especially after the conclusion of this show.

The smaller stage was done to get more people into the arena after it sold out. It enabled them to sell seats above any behind the stage.

twitter.com/thewrestlingin1/status/1772265761978917097

There were a number of posts on twitter Sunday evening showing the seats but I can’t seem to find them now.

Also I found it funny they allowed wankfest in. Cody obviously did that on purpose as he knew his international audience.

I loved the punk comment about Drew and Vince

WWE have announced SmackDown and Clash at the Castle for the OVO Hydro in Glass Cow, Scotland for 14th and 15th June. Capacity of around 12,000.

That makes 3 PPV events for them in Europe coming up, with France in May, Scotland in June, and Germany in August.

https://www.wwe.com/catc-2024-presale-registration

if only there was an actual castle less than 60 miles away that is capable of holding events

Prototype wrote:if only there was an actual castle less than 60 miles away that is capable of holding events

It's an odd choice for a ppv name. The Cardiff one made sense as they were a stones throw from a castle. But if all our UK ppvs are now going to be called clash at the castle (unless it's MITB etc) then that's just a gooseberry fool name it sounds like such a pre attitude era ppv name.

Amd listen to Micheal cole say that glasgow is a stones throw away from Edinburgh castle.

Only 60 miles away, that’ll do them.

‘We are in [insert U.K. venue]’

*stock footage pans to a night shot of Big Ben, red double decker bus, black cab and tower bridge*

Just been looking at the Euro 2024 schedule, and in an IMPECCABLE bit of timing by WWE, the SmackDown taping on 14th June in Glasgow goes head-to-head with the opening match of Euro 2024, which is Germany vs Scotland.

Thankfully the night of Clash at the Castle goes up against Spain vs Croatia (5pm) and Italy vs Albania (8pm) which isn’t too bad.

AEW have also fired a load of people. I think this is the first time they’ve actually started releasing people that are under contract. One of the most notable names unfortunately is ring announcer and Spanish commentator Dasha Gonzalez (Kuret), along with Stu Grayson, Dalton Castle’s “Boys”, Anthony Henry, Grayson, Gravity, Slim J, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl and Parker Boudreaux.

KK wrote:Just been looking at the Euro 2024 schedule, and in an IMPECCABLE bit of timing by WWE, the SmackDown taping on 14th June in Glasgow goes head-to-head with the opening match of Euro 2024, which is Germany vs Scotland.

Thankfully the night of Clash at the Castle goes up against Spain vs Croatia (5pm) and Italy vs Albania (8pm) which isn’t too bad.

AEW have also fired a load of people. I think this is the first time they’ve actually started releasing people that are under contract. One of the most notable names unfortunately is ring announcer and Spanish commentator Dasha Gonzalez (Kuret), along with Stu Grayson, Dalton Castle’s “Boys”, Anthony Henry, Grayson, Gravity, Slim J, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl and Parker Boudreaux.

That timing is ridiculous. That's a huge game for Scotland. You wonder, did they do their research and decide to go ahead anyway or have they not factored it into the decision at all and will possibly get caught out.

I heard they want people to buy double tickets again like they did for MITB and SD last year in London.

How do we think the main events of Wrestlemania are going to go down then? I can’t see Roman/Rock losing the tag match but surely the Sunday Cody needs to win right? Can’t let Roman hold the belt for much longer

ITSMILNER wrote:How do we think the main events of Wrestlemania are going to go down then? I can’t see Roman/Rock losing the tag match but surely the Sunday Cody needs to win right? Can’t let Roman hold the belt for much longer

My assumption is Rock and Roman win on Saturday and Cody on Sunday but it also seems very obvious. Including the rumoured Austin and Cena assistance for Cody. I would love Roman to retain though now with how it's all actually paned out so far

I'm expecting Seth to lose his title as well.

I assume Drew gets involved in the tag match on the Saturday as well, I did have a thought though of Seth turning on Cody and joins the Bloodline

I assume Drew gets involved in the tag match on the Saturday as well, I did have a thought though of Seth turning on Cody and joins the Bloodline

I’m also thinking Rock and Reigns win on night one, and when it looks like all hope is lost on night two, Steve Austin walks out like Backlash 2000 revisited and saves the day. Rock somehow walking out with the WWE title would be an intriguing outcome. Are Rock and Reigns both off after Mania? By the sounds of it, an unofficial stipulation has been added by Reigns that if he loses against Rhodes he’s going to leave.

As they’re in Scotland soon, good odds that they’ll leave Drew McIntyre’s title win until then.

Drew wins at Mania
Damian cashes in
Drew wins it back in Glagow

^That seems almost certainly like what's going to happen. I'm not sure if Priest will cash in at Mania to give Drew his moment, maybe on the post-mania RAW?

Rawrgna wrote:Amd listen to Micheal cole say that glasgow is a stones throw away from Edinburgh castle.

In American terms, it is a stone's throw from Edinburgh. In the US I think the two cities would just about be part of the same metro area. Which I, of course, find highly offensive.

Show was a bit of a disappointment last year from what I remember, but they usually like to save some big stuff for the post-WrestleMania RAW such as an NXT debut or title change. Dolph Ziggler cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase one year against Alberto Del Rio.

I know it’s unlikely but I do hope they have managed to strike a deal to allow Dustin Rhodes to appear with Cody in some form. Delivers a shattered dreams to Rock

Kind of gutted that Clash is in Glasgow. Literally have no wish to spend the kind of money needed to get there, and it's Glasgow which was a hell hole last time I went! And I'm not dissing Scotland, been all over the place up there as I love the place, but Glasgow was by far the worst! Like Bath on Meth!

However, imagine Priest cashes in and takes the title from Drew. Drew wins the title back in Glasgow, I can't imagine a hotter reaction for anyone in their "home" town (even Punk might struggle in Chicago to get that kind of reaction as it would be so rare in the UK). Still tempted to go, but it's a lot of money literally for one evening.