The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[Codename 47]

Sounds like gooseberry fool's about to go down tonight on Raw I was just on my way to the shops when this Jericho thought popped into my head Let's say he is going after Punk...going back to what he said about it being 'the end of the world as you know it'...what if he was referring to Punk's world? What if his plan was to win the Rumble and then challenge Punk at 'Mania where he will not only take Punk's title but reclaim the moniker 'best in the world'. Two things you could say are Punk's entire world right now. Without them you could almost say he's 'nothing'. Coming up with an explanation for what Jericho meant is pretty damn hard

It's quite possible that the 'end of the world' thing he said was just his new character's way of saying he was going to win the Rumble. Just like the likes of Sheamus, Barrett, Miz, etc all said they would do. If his plan is to go after Punk it's more than possible that he'll be in the Raw Chamber match and win that to book his place at 'Mania to face Punk.

A Sheamus/Bryan match would be pretty good i think. Could be why we've seen Bryan in matches with two of the biggest men in the WWE at the moment. If he can hang with them, then it's no less believable that he could pose a legit threat to Sheamus. Still, part of me would love to see Sheamus challenge Undertaker. I really don't want to see HHH vs 'Taker for a 3rd time.

[Skippy]

Sounds reasonable. Best way (and a totally plausible way) to explain away Jericho's comment last week is for him to tell Punk that the "it's the end of the world as you know it" was directed at him and not the audience as we thought. He planned on winning the Rumble to get to his man but so did everyone else, then you have him laying out his plan to face Punk by winning the Chamber and that's exactly what happens.

[Barley]

Thanks to Zellery, Skippy, Mockmaster and Drumstick for the links. This thread and the peole in it

[KK]

PWinsider.com are also reporting Jericho was supposed to win the Rumble, & was changed because Vince McMahon thought it had become too obvious.

His views on the Rumble can be read here: http://www.pwinsider.com/article/65427/ ... s.html?p=1

On an aside, & not associated with this particular article, for whatever reason Dave Scherer of that website doesn't seem to like Dave Meltzer. Don't know the backstory on that one.

[captain red dog]

Went into this cold with no spoilers and really enjoyed the event. They played the Rumble proceedings perfectly with the funny bits until the mid point when things got serious. Not entirely convinced Seamus was the best choice for winner as he isn't main event Mania level yet but at least they made it unpredictable which surely has to be the goal of the Rumble. Agree they need to do something with Y2J tonight to make some sense of his character. Perhaps have him flip out that his dream return was ruined.

Thought the cage match was actually quite good for what it was. Henry is clearly performing hurt so hopefully they will give him time to heal. Thought the Punk/Ziggler match was good but having done it so much on Raw recently it did feel a retread. Glad Awesome Kong is back, the diva division REALLY needs her.

Wish New Age Outlaws would come back. Road Dogg can still perform and frankly the tag division is crying out for some kind of legendary team to return. Also, Snake and Sock needs to be done if only to fill out the division.

[KK]

The programmes WWE have announced for their new YouTube.com/wwe channel:

• Zack Ryder (old show will be getting a make-over, with a new name & under direct WWE control)
  
• WWE Inbox (Superstars respond to fan questions!)
  
• Are You Serious?
  
• WWE Presents (archive footage)
  
• WWE Outside the Ring
  
• Superstar Toyz (superstars showing off their stuff)
  
• Backstage Fallout
  
• Santino's Foreign Exchange (Santino sitcom)

I see no reason why we won't be able to watch it. YT are paying WWE for the material.

[captain red dog]

Ryder's show sounds like its going to suck from now on then.

[KK]

I thought 'Are You Serious?' (bro?) might be Ryder's show, but obviously not.

[Prototype]

Pretty poor, booking was on an almost TNA like level.

Let's not get silly now...

[IronMaiden]

WWE Facebook says the Raw Elimination chamber will be Punk vs Ziggler vs Jericho vs Truth vs Miz vs Kofi . Filled with starpower that one, also shows that they've almost definitely abandonned Cena being the champ at Mania. Thank God.

[Codename 47]

Good to see Kofi make the Raw Chamber. He obviously won't win it but i wonder if it's potentially a slow return back up the upper midcard/main event scene. He was pretty unlucky to have been 'stuck' with Evan Bourne what with the disciplinary problems he's been having.

One thing i'm wondering though, if Punk wins the Raw chamber, how will the number one contender for the title then be decided. But yeah i do agree though, i'm glad that Cena most likely won't be facing Rock for the title.

[Hank Scorpio]

http://www.wwe.com/shows/eliminationcha ... 12-preview

[A J Styles]

Kingston?

I am enjoying TNA's product more after watching RR, it was ok but it's still the same wrestlers in the same PG matches. Plus TNA habve the best heel around at the moment Bully Ray.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Just finished watching the Rumble. Haven't had a chance to read any of the comments on here so i'm coming in blind.

I really enjoyed all the individual matches. Even the Diva's match was watchable. Probably because i still can't get enough of the Bella's asses in those catsuits

I was very worried that Punk was going to be screwed out of the title. So glad that it didn't go that way. Although i did like the idea of Punk being screwed, then winning the rumble by eliminating Jericho. Jericho then wins the title at the Rumble and fight Punk at Mania. Logically that all makes sense.

But the Rumble itself left me a bit cold. I just found myself so disappointed with many of the moments. The funny bits were pretty good. I like how they had the commentators all come in. Personally i would have had Booker come in straight after Lawler, just when he was about to be eliminated and save him, but then have them get eliminated shortly after.

I still to this day never understand with all the rules in the Rumble how people who aren't in the rumble can eliminate someone. What is that all about?

Kharma's back = a good thing.

Mick Foley's in ring career really is over now. He can hardly move.

I was very disappointed to see Sheamus win the rumble over Jericho though. I know there's a lot of love on here for Sheamus but personally i really wanted to see Jericho win. So naturally i ended up really disappointed at the end which has seen me have a real downer on the whole event now.

Also why do we always have to have the final 4 stare down? what is that all about. I would also like one rumble where the final 2 don't stop and point at the WM sign. I know i'm nit picking and probably getting old but this really annoys me

Also one finally thought. Orton eliminating Big Show all on his own with what appeared to be one arm. What even happened to the day when it would take 6 men to eliminate someone like the Big Show?

[KK]

...also shows that they've almost definitely abandonned Cena being the champ at Mania. Thank God.

What they give with one hand, they take with the other; we've got another month of the Kane, Ryder, Eve, & John Cena saga to contend with.

Cena is going into his biggest match ever coming off probably his worst feud ever. I mean you'd have to go back to the days of B-2.

[KK]

Mick Foley's in ring career really is over now. He can hardly move.

Yeah, watching him 'running' down the aisleway kinda sucked.

We almost got a Wardrobe Malfunction on one of the Bellas during the Divas match (while she was in the corner about a minute before Kelly Kelly came off the top).

Kane's wig/extensions nearly came off as well.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Mick Foley's in ring career really is over now. He can hardly move.

Yeah, watching him 'running' down the aisleway kinda sucked.

We almost got a Wardrobe Malfunction on one of the Bellas during the Divas match (while she was in the corner about a minute before Kelly Kelly came off the top).

Kane's wig/extensions nearly came off as well.

strawberry float i missed that and i've just deleted it from my planner. I'm guessing that will be edited from the replays

[tomvek]

Just putting on the Royal Rumble

Should be finished it just before Raw.

[Codename 47]

Yeah...Foley did look kinda in bad shape. He was never exactly ripped i know but he did seem to be at that point where he can't really do too much in the ring. I actually thought he could make for a good appointment for 'Taker....not so sure now. I actually like how Booker is the only commentator that talks about Cardio and stuff I know he made reference to it when talking about Foley and a couple others. King made a comment about how Foley got a 'genuine pop' and not a 'cheap pop'. I'm not sure but it sounded like it was a dig at someone.

It looks like we had two choices with Cena either we put up with him in the title picture or in a kinda godawful feud. I would've have said it might have been a decent idea to like put him in a feud with a up and coming mid-carder while he 'waits' for the Rock, like a Cody Rhodes or someone, but there's no way he'd lose that feud ahead of the one with The Rock.

[Pontius Pilate]

King made a comment about how Foley got a 'genuine pop' and not a 'cheap pop'. I'm not sure but it sounded like it was a dig at someone.

I don't think it was a dig at anyone. Foley apparently made the term "cheap pop" famous.

"Mick Foley, aka Cactus Jack/Mankind/Dude Love, helped make the 'cheap pop" popular. He is known for giving shout outs to whatever city he is in, so that he can get a quick cheer."