The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[Return_of_the_STAR]

WWE Night of Champions
Pre-show Battle Royale for a shot at the US title later
Winner: Tyson Kidd
Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. Battle Royale Winner
Winner (worth 2): Antonio Cesaro
R-Truth and Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
Winning Team: Kane and Daniel Bryan
Loser: R-Truth
Layla (c) vs. Kaitlyn
Winner: Layla
Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
Winner (worth 2): Randy Orton
Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio
Winner (worth 3): Sheamus
CM Punk (c) vs. John Cena
Winner (worth 3): CM Punk

BONUS
Caped Chameleon & Zellery vs ROTS & Dante
Winners: ROTS & Dante
Prototype & Hank Scorpio vs Dangerblade & Codename47
Winners: Dangerblade & Codename 47

[KK]

Former WWE creative writer Court Bauer recently spoke to Fight Club Chicago about his time with the WWE, and in particular on the subject of RAW continuing following Jerry Lawler's heart attack...

"You can always debate that, but on the flip side, if he had died obviously it's a whole new ballgame. They were in the process of trying to stabilize him and perform CPR. You had roughly about an hour left in the show. I'm sure you can coordinate with USA network to just jump into a re-run of one their programs and just be joined in progress.

Their is a lot of pride in promoters like Dana White in that the show must go on and when you can't do that, it's like your worst case scenario and its catastrophic. In this case, I felt they did a great job in regrouping by the end. It's still so peculiar to me seeing a ten minute promo between Cena, Punk and Bret Hart. It just felt so weird and their was such a disconnect from it because real life was unfolding and there was something very real and crazy going on backstage.

From a business point of view, yes you are living to your obligation with the USA Network, but I don't think any of that will capture anyone to buy Night of Champions. It will be a blur to people with what was said between Punk and Cena."

You can listen to the full interview at http://www.sportstownchicago.com/fightclub

Could have just stuck on anything from the WWE archive really.

Aspects of the promo at the end sunk in - mainly because Cena cut one of the best promos of his life - but most of that last hour is a blur. I haven't a clue what AJ & Booker T were on about when they came out, or what stipulations were added to Sunday. Will catch up with that I'm sure come SmackDown.

[captain red dog]

I think they handled it about right to be honest. Cutting the show off would have been a lot more jarring and upsetting for a lot of people. It could have been particularly upsetting for the kids watching. By staying on air they were able to give updates directly to the bulk of their audience.

[Prototype]

Thanks Rog. I'm definitely winning it this time. #ProtoPredicts Do we have a list of the participants in the battle royal?

I assume I'm the only one ordering this show?

[YouSmellOfWee]

I'm just watching the rock epic journey wwe special I recorded earlier from sky sports and one thing that puzzles me is how they've forgotten how to allow talent to develop, vince and triple h keep saying in the show that rock was allowed to develop his character, talk freely on the mic etc. stuff that they just don't allow now.

That's the PG-era for you. Everything needs to be heavily scripted. The only exception I can think of in recent years is some Punk promos.

You mean those Punk promos that were all okayed backstage? Those 'unscripted pre-approved' promos?

[Dig Dug]

WWE Night of Champions

Pre-show Battle Royale for a shot at the US title later
Winner: Tyson Kidd
Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. Battle Royale Winner
Winner (worth 2): Antonio Cesaro
R-Truth and Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
Winning Team: Kane and Bryan
Loser: R-Truth
Layla (c) vs. Kaitlyn
Winner: layla
Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
Winner (worth 2): Randy Orton
Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio
Winner (worth 3): Sheamus
CM Punk (c) vs. John Cena
Winner (worth 3): John Cena by DQ

What a bland card.

BONUS
Caped Chameleon & Zellery vs ROTS & Dante
Winners: ROTS & Dante
Prototype & Hank Scorpio vs Dangerblade & Codename47
Winners: Prototype & Hank Scorpio

[Dangerblade]

I'm just watching the rock epic journey wwe special I recorded earlier from sky sports and one thing that puzzles me is how they've forgotten how to allow talent to develop, vince and triple h keep saying in the show that rock was allowed to develop his character, talk freely on the mic etc. stuff that they just don't allow now.

That's the PG-era for you. Everything needs to be heavily scripted. The only exception I can think of in recent years is some Punk promos.

You mean those Punk promos that were all okayed backstage? Those 'unscripted pre-approved' promos?

Maybe "unscripted" is the wrong term to use. What I'm getting at is the fact that Punk (and Rock, come to think of it) is the only guy I can think of in the past couple of years where you look at his promos and think a lot of it is his own work, rightly or wrongly.

If that doesn't make sense, then sorry, but I know what I mean

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I'm just watching the rock epic journey wwe special I recorded earlier from sky sports and one thing that puzzles me is how they've forgotten how to allow talent to develop, vince and triple h keep saying in the show that rock was allowed to develop his character, talk freely on the mic etc. stuff that they just don't allow now.

That's the PG-era for you. Everything needs to be heavily scripted. The only exception I can think of in recent years is some Punk promos.

You mean those Punk promos that were all okayed backstage? Those 'unscripted pre-approved' promos?

Maybe "unscripted" is the wrong term to use. What I'm getting at is the fact that Punk (and Rock, come to think of it) is the only guy I can think of in the past couple of years where you look at his promos and think a lot of it is his own work, rightly or wrongly.

If that doesn't make sense, then sorry, but I know what I mean

I know what you mean DB and agree with you. Whilst the general gist of punks promos are likely discussed and approved beforehand, the bulk of his promo is adlibed.

[systematic]

Looking good!

[Cosmo]

Looking nude.

[Corazon de Leon]

[tomvek]

The return of the king

[Jam-Master Jay]

He really doesn't look his age.

Handsome bastard.

[Dig Dug]

Saw this again and its still funny.

[KK]

The RAW replay on Sky Sports last night featured the following...

• Bret Hart/CM Punk in-ring confrontation
• R-Truth and Kofi Kingston vs. Cesaro and Miz
• CM Punk vs. Randy Orton
• Randy Orton & Jerry Lawler vs. CM Punk and Zolph Ziggler
• Prime Time Players backstage with AJ Lee
• Kane and Daniel Bryan vs. Prime Time Players (a few camera angle edits, and the sound of Lawler breathing was removed, but it was still evident something was happening. Crowd chanting "Jerry, Jerry" was left in)
• Recap of Bret Hart and CM Punk
• David Otunga vs. Sheamus (redone commentary from Michael Cole, acknowledging Del Rio's match earlier in the show, which never aired on this Sky edit)
• Short recap of the Kane/Bryan tag match
• Kane and Daniel Bryan backstage with Dr. Shelby
• Match card for Sunday (no commentary)
• Bret Hart, John Cena and CM Punk interview in-ring segment (rather than show Cole updating everyone on Lawler, they had extended shots of Hart shaking fans hands, the referee briefly notifying Cena of something - presumably that Cole was talking - and Punk on the stage. Worth noting Cole was not visible on the tron, instead they were just playing the RAW graphics). Show ended as normal with Cena raising Hart's hand.

[Drumstick]

WWE Night of Champions
Pre-show Battle Royale for a shot at the US title later
Winner: Tyson Kidd
Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. Battle Royale Winner
Winner (worth 2): Antonio Cesaro
R-Truth and Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
Winning Team: Kane and Daniel Bryan
Loser: R-Truth
Layla (c) vs. Kaitlyn
Winner: Layla
Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
Winner (worth 2): Dolph Ziggler
Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio
Winner (worth 3): Sheamus
CM Punk (c) vs. John Cena
Winner (worth 3): CM Punk

BONUS
Caped Chameleon & Zellery vs ROTS & Dante
Winners: ROTS & Dante
Prototype & Hank Scorpio vs Dangerblade & Codename47
Winners: Prototype & Hank Scorpio

[IronMaiden]

WWE Night of Champions
Pre-show Battle Royale for a shot at the US title later
Winner: Brodus Clay
Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. Battle Royale Winner
Winner (worth 2): Antonio Cesaro
R-Truth and Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
Winning Team: Kane and Daniel Bryan
Loser: R-Truth
Layla (c) vs. Kaitlyn
Winner: Layla
Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
Winner (worth 2): Dolph Ziggler
Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio
Winner (worth 3): Sheamus
CM Punk (c) vs. John Cena
Winner (worth 3): CM Punk

BONUS
Caped Chameleon & Zellery vs ROTS & Dante
Winners: Caped Chameleon & Zellery
Prototype & Hank Scorpio vs Dangerblade & Codename47
Winners: Prototype & Hank Scorpio

[J. Vengeance]

WWE Night of Champions
Pre-show Battle Royale for a shot at the US title later
Winner: Zack Ryder

Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. Battle Royale Winner
Winner (worth 2): Antonio Cesaro

R-Truth and Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
Winning Team: Kane and Daniel Bryan
Loser: Kofi Kingston

Layla (c) vs. Kaitlyn
Winner: Layla

Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
Winner (worth 2): Randy Orton

Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio
Winner (worth 3): Sheamus

CM Punk (c) vs. John Cena
Winner (worth 3): John Cena

BONUS
Caped Chameleon & Zellery vs ROTS & Dante
Winners: Caped Chameleon & Zellery
Prototype & Hank Scorpio vs Dangerblade & Codename47
Winners: Prototype & Hank Scorpio

[KK]

Used to promote Bound for Glory:

[YouSmellOfWee]

http://www.tout.com/m/rwwluj