The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[Something Fishy]

Just been watching, really good to see them give the punk and Bryan match the respect it deserved and talk it up as two self made great wrestlers against each other. Wrong winner mind.

Very good points made above too. I think Danielson should be rewarded for carrying him by getting the strap. Then they should have it go back and forth if punk performs as he can.

[Ginga]

The problem Punk has is (as back in the RoH days and even more so when he did IWA-MS and he was interviewed and shocked the crowd were more into Delirious then him in their first match together) he can get lazy very easily, especially with gooseberry fool opponents and no motivation. He knows he can do a half assed job and be better then the entire roster. He got picked up on this a lot and got a lot of heat from the crowd in the days - If you had Punk working back in the 90s then you'd have a motivated and harder working Punk, one that would have really strived to the title Best in the World gimmick. I hope a series between Punk and Danielson happens because it's the sort of work that will give Punk a push when he watched Daniel carry him.

Yeah, I agree. I hope this leaves him with a determination to prove himself and we get the benefit as viewers. I think they are doing the right thing having these two feud.

[captain red dog]

I'm amazed people could watch Bryan v Punk and think one was carrying the other. Frankly that was one of the best joint performances I have seen in a long while and both guys pulled their weight.

EDIT: Would love to see a rematch, maybe a ladder match but they really need to build this feud as Punk/Bryan should be a Mania match and not used up so early.

[Chocolate Jim]

Just finished watching OTL .... Ding ding ding accumulator win I £10 from wrestling mental. Paddy power must have lost so much money

[KK]

WWE released videos earlier today stating the the "revolution is coming" on May 28th (next Monday). WWE have since pulled the videos from its website & .com. Perhaps they've changed their mind again.

Funny ongoing skits involving Colt Cabana & Marty DeRosa looking at the hilarious relationship between wrestlers & the creative team:

[KK]

IGN.com have interviewed Stephanie McMahon on RAW going 3 hours this July...

WWE RAW has had three-hour episodes from time to time, but soon, that will be the show’s permanent new running time. At USA’s Upfront event yesterday, WWE’s Stephanie McMahon and John Cena announced that RAW will go from two hours to three hours beginning on July 23rd, the night RAW airs their special 1000th episode.

At the event, I spoke to McMahon, asking her about the challenges in filling an entire extra hour of content on the show each week - something she told me they were excited about.

Said McMahon, “It’s going to be the first-ever regularly scheduled three-hour program on television and I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on it thus far! You know, we do a three hour show called a Pay-Per-View almost every month and Monday Night RAW, we’ve done three hours before, so we feel great about it. “

As far as changes to the show, McMahon remarked, “This is going to be the most interactive show in television history. Our audience is going to have the chance to effect something in the show every week.” As far as what the audience would be determining, she said it would be, “Matches, stipulations, anything and everything. Different things every week.”

Stephanie, who is the Executive Vice President, Creative, for WWE, used to have a notable on-camera presence on RAW, but is rarely seen on the show these days. When I asked if she might show up on RAW again anytime soon she smiled and replied, “Who knows? Maybe you’ve got to tune into the 1000th RAW on July 23rd!”

Regarding the 1000th episode, she told me, “It’s so much fun when we have an event episode, because you really get to plan around it and the creative flows and its just a lot of fresh faces and old faces. It’s great.”

As we were finishing our conversation, I couldn’t resist asking her about The Rock, who has already said he’ll be at WrestleMania next year, but not in what capacity. When I tried to find out if he might actually have a match, she replied, “Hmm, I think I’m gonna have to let that one unfold!”

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/w ... hree-hours

See if you can spot where Stephanie is talking ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS.

[Chocolate Jim]

Who the hell did Cody piss off btw! Him and Miz have been totally totally buried

[KK]

According to sources, people close to Ric Flair and TNA have confirmed that the two sides are at a major impasse, as there is a ton of heat on Flair for conduct outside the ring. One TNA source described the situation as, "being at the point it's not worth keeping Flair around." There have reportedly been a number of incidents involving Flair at local establishments and bars in Orlando since coming to the company. Sources say that Flair was banned from drinking at the Hard Rock Cafe in Citiwalk due to an incident with him "acting inappropriate", leading to venue management banishing him.

There have been reports from talent in TNA that Flair has not been able to cover bar tabs repeatedly, and company management getting a call from the hotel and/or bar seeking payment. The most recent incident at the hotel TNA utilizes for their wrestlers and staff, which the company has had a great relationship with for years. This was reportedly the last straw in the situation, as Flair was pulled from the Louisiana house shows and the final TV Tapings before Impact Wrestling goes live on May 31st.

Many have compared this to the situation on the European tour last year, where TNA's Craig Jenkins, after several days of fronting Flair money to cover a bar tab, refused to do so again. Flair then screamed at Jenkins in front of the entire crew and refusing to get on the TNA tour bus to head to the next date, and was then left behind. Publicly, Flair blamed the matter on the company not giving him "advances" like he would get when touring for WWE, citing that he was "used" to that treatment.

Many forces within the company have been against having him as a regular since he came into the company, noting that while he carries a high price tag, he hasn't translated into drawing money or ratings for the company. And now with these issues, it seems, as all they are getting is "Ric Flair level behavior," not "Ric Flair level performances."

Others within the company feel that Flair and WWE put them in a "no win situation" when Flair was announced for the WWE Hall of Fame, noting that the company had no choice but to allow him to go in, or else they would look like they were denying Flair and the fans. Flair reportedly did not know that he was getting inducted but he publicly told fans he would be there "on stage" before a deal was signed that would allow him to appear.

Spike TV sources also note that there have also been a number of requests from the network end to keep Flair dressed and not have him near nude/in his wrestling gear and bleeding on TV at his age. There was even an order of arrest out for him if Flair did not pay the agreed settlement by a certain date. That order was issued because Flair had missed several agreed dates for payment of the settlement. The money was eventually paid and the NWA World title belt, which Highspots.com was holding as collateral, was seen displayed at WWE AXXESS this year. Most believe that WWE paid the debt and acquired the belt for their archive.

While it has not been confirmed, the word going around TNA this weekend was that Flair was finished with the company.

Unfortunately since leaving WWE, Flair has had several issues. He signed for a number of appearances with Ring of Honor, and then pulled out citing his relationship with WWE. Most feel that Flair realized ROH weren't going to use Reid Flair following a drug arrest. When Flair didn't pay back an advance given to him, ROH filed a lawsuit against him Flair also had issues with Highspots.com over money owed to them.

Falling off the wagon. I think TNA may as well get rid of him because he's bringing nothing of tangible value to television, or seemingly anywhere else.

[Something Fishy]

I'm amazed people could watch Bryan v Punk and think one was carrying the other. Frankly that was one of the best joint performances I have seen in a long while and both guys pulled their weight.

EDIT: Would love to see a rematch, maybe a ladder match but they really need to build this feud as Punk/Bryan should be a Mania match and not used up so early.

There was a lot of good moves both ways to be fair. It was bloody good.

[IronMaiden]

Flair clearly doesn't want to be in TNA. It's pretty sad actually.

[Slimgrady]

WWE should bring Flair back!What with the extra hour of raw to fill every week theres surely something he could bring to the table.......except actually wrestle!!

[Jam-Master Jay]

Would probably still wrestle better than half of the roster.

[KK]

During ring introductions for the participants in the Fatal 4-Way Match for the World Heavyweight Championship at Over the Limit last night, Lilian Garcia incorrectly announced Sheamus' billed weight as 227 pounds, rather than 267 pounds. In another glaring miscue, Garcia announced Hunico as a match participant seconds after Hunico proclaimed Camacho as wrestling. Michael Cole took the opportunity to once again denounce her ring announcing ability, say he wasn't surprised by the mistake considering the source. Garcia also drew the ire of fellow ring announcer Justin Roberts for mishandling ring introductions for the Intercontinental Championship Match between Cody Rhodes and Christian. Something happened between Lilian Garcia and Justin Roberts where Lilian stormed off; live crowd could see it. She had apparently botched something. It was the ring announcement of the Cody Rhodes/Christian match and they were arguing and she stormed off.

Watched the recording just now and it was Justin Roberts who did the ring introductions on the Rhodes match.

[Chocolate Jim]

During ring introductions for the participants in the Fatal 4-Way Match for the World Heavyweight Championship at Over the Limit last night, Lilian Garcia incorrectly announced Sheamus' billed weight as 227 pounds, rather than 267 pounds. In another glaring miscue, Garcia announced Hunico as a match participant seconds after Hunico proclaimed Camacho as wrestling. Michael Cole took the opportunity to once again denounce her ring announcing ability, say he wasn't surprised by the mistake considering the source. Garcia also drew the ire of fellow ring announcer Justin Roberts for mishandling ring introductions for the Intercontinental Championship Match between Cody Rhodes and Christian. Something happened between Lilian Garcia and Justin Roberts where Lilian stormed off; live crowd could see it. She had apparently botched something. It was the ring announcement of the Cody Rhodes/Christian match and they were arguing and she stormed off.

Watched the recording just now and it was Justin Roberts who did the ring introductions on the Rhodes match.

I thought she looked epically moody when Cena was grabbing the water bottles

[Dark Ritual]

So, just started watching the PPV.

*PPV starts with a strawberry floating battle royal...IN strawberry floating PROGRESS*

（╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

[KK]

Ted Dibiase seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.

[Slimgrady]

Ted Dibiase seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.

Not sure if I care yet......................... Senior or Junior?

[KK]

Last time Junior was on TV he was doing his 'DiBiase Posse' thing, much to the amusement of Cole.

[Slimgrady]

Im pretty sure he's injured or something.

Last of the old NXTs is on,its been real yo

[Codename 47]

Ted Dibiase seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.

Despite always watching Smackdown...i'll be honest i'd literally completely forgot all about Ted Dibiase. In fact if you hadn't mentioned him i doubt he would have ever got another mention in this thread until he got future endeavored or whatever Last I remember he was involved in a feud with Hunico and Camacho..

Was Lillian Garcia always this mistake prone? I was glad when she came back but since her return there have been so many strawberry float ups it seems. Tripping up, getting people's names wrong, etc.