The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[KK]

A lot of what the announcers say, in particular Cole, is fed directly from Vince McMahon. When you know what to listen out for, you can sometimes call it a mile off. For example, Vince McMahon hates pronouns. Dunno why, it's just another of his ridiculous pet peeves. So when Josh Mathews started using them on SmackDown last Friday (& Todd Grisham before him) 'Cole' went on the offensive & started questioning what he was doing. He also apparently doesn't like the word "belt", so when Cole slipped up on Raw a few months ago, he somewhat sarcastically corrected himself. McMahon wants stories over naming of moves (probably because he doesn't know them himself), so when Striker mentions some obscure name I wouldn't be surprised if Vince is in the headset directing Cole &/or Lawler to start taking the piss. History is seemingly another one - references to Bob Backlund the other week led to much amusement again. Almost like 'This is 2011, what are you doing mentioning him for?'.

The constant chatter from Vince on commentary was the reason Mick Foley left - he'd had enough of the never ending abuse.

The reason there was so much confusion in commentary regarding Alex Riley is that he was not supposed to go out when he did. He was supposed to hang on when thrown over, which is why the announcers were asking about him after he had been eliminated and didn't call his elimination.

I don't know this as a fact, but as Kevin Nash as Diesel was getting up, one of the referees told him something. He then did the stare down spot with Big Show, so that may have been a backstage audible based on him being so over and trying to do something for him.

Lots of stuff coming out of the Rumble. Most of the talk coming out relates to the reaction that both Kevin Nash and Booker T received, which blew away every one else on the show (we did get live reports who said Cena and Booker both had the loudest reaction followed by Nash, but nobody else close). Booker signed a long-term deal but was slated to be a manager who did some wrestling and coaching, but he may get a run out of this because he can still go. Nash was only scheduled for a short-term, but they were open to doing business with him as a possible trainer or coach but not in the ring. Based on crowd reaction, both may get a little run out of things. As TV is being rewritten, their roles tonight will probably give a good clue as if there are any substantive plans for both. We have heard a few ideas thrown around for Booker with main-level guys.

http://www.f4wonline.com

[Drumstick]

wow according to the sweepstakes i had Kevin Nash amazing

We sure did, buddy.

[Poncho]

I did have a sneaking suspicion that Riley went out too early. You could tell something was up by Cena's reaction.

[KK]

Wonder if he'll be punished for it. Cena beats him tonight in 20 seconds, or something.

[Adam Pollard]

I'll post a pic tomorrow of my annotated notes from watching the Rumble. Needless to say it involves a lot of anger in the direction of John Cena. Buries guys routinely worse than Triple H ever did.

Awesome Rumble though.

[sw26]

Just watched the Booker/Nash returns on Youtube, and God damn is that how bad the WWE commentary is these days? Jesus strawberry float - Matt Striker is just cringeworthy, and everyone talks over each other to the extent that you can't hear a damn thing anyone says at times. Embarassing.

[Jam-Master Jay]

Royal Rumble 2011

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RSZX2J27
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O9LYR7Y9

Dual-link .AVI.

I find it best to tune out the commentary unless they have a decent talent with them.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I'll post a pic tomorrow of my annotated notes from watching the Rumble. Needless to say it involves a lot of anger in the direction of John Cena. Buries guys routinely worse than Triple H ever did.

Awesome Rumble though.

Although i see your point based on this rumble. I would disagree that he routinely burries people. Cena has by the nature of his storyline for the past 6 months buried a lot of new young talent, but in the past he's actually always been pretty good at putting people over. Whenever he's had matches with people that you know he is going to beat he still manages to allow them decent offence and take a beating himself before he pulls out the win from no where.

Anyway tonight i'm expecting a shift in the storylines as Nexus begin to fued with Orton and Cena fueds with the Miz.

Also i read a comment about the Big Show and Nash having a stare down at the rumble but i didn't see that at all, when did it happen? when Nash walked back up the ramp and Show came down?

And on the commentary thing i agree that the three of them together do talk over each other too much, i'm sure originally they used to allow each other time but now they seem to constantly argue and interupt each other.

[Floex]

Must admit, I popped at the spinnerooni

[Balloon Sod]

Great pops, and great to see those 2 in the Rumble.

But...Striker using the words 'mark out moment'? What on earth was he thinking? No wonder Vince gave him gooseberry fool.

[NBK]

Just finished the Rumble there.

Echo pretty much everyone else's comments. Very good overall but just ruined by the gooseberry fool they put on with Cena and Hornswoggle, it was an utter embarrassment. Hornswoggle's head scissors on Tyson Kidd was beyond the realms of any kind of believability and was a spot too far for me. I was hoping Punk would win it but I suppose they'll be doing something with him and Orton after his run in during the title match (unless I've missed something about previous history they have).

Great reactions for Booker and Diesel, reminiscent of Jake The Snake coming back at.....'96, I think?

Glad to see the new blood getting a good outing, here's to Cena being nowhere near the main event at WM. It's never going to happen, I know, but one can hope. Jesus, he's awful.

[Prototype]

Glad you got to see it without it being spoiled, NBK. Sorry, just got your PM.

Kevin Nash on WWE.com "It was nice wrestling in front of a crowd"

[Mafro]

Just remembered that Booker didn't have his amazing pyro

[NBK]

Glad you got to see it without it being spoiled, NBK. Sorry, just got your PM.

Kevin Nash on WWE.com "It was nice wrestling in front of a crowd"

No worries mate, I figured you would probably still be recovering from PPV burn out

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Glad you got to see it without it being spoiled, NBK. Sorry, just got your PM.

Kevin Nash on WWE.com "It was nice wrestling in front of a crowd"

If he calls kicking a couple of people and then getting beaten up a crowd but yeah i get his point.

People cheering Nash.

He can't do anything, and all he cares about is his pay.

I know, as i said earlier, he looks in good shape, muscle wise but he can't fricking move, he is so slow. I notice he didn't try to step over the top rope like he used to either, was that because he couldn't lift his leg up high enough or something. But i have to admit i understand why some would cheer him for the one night only but if he sticks around it can only be a bad thing surely.

[Prototype]

Glad you got to see it without it being spoiled, NBK. Sorry, just got your PM.

Kevin Nash on WWE.com "It was nice wrestling in front of a crowd"

No worries mate, I figured you would probably still be recovering from PPV burn out

I woke up at 9.30 and had to head out and didn't finish work til 10pm.

Utterly knackered but it was worth every minute.

[Prototype]

Kevin Nash is a bit of a knob.

Diesel, however, is the man. How can you not pop for that theme music?

[NBK]

Glad you got to see it without it being spoiled, NBK. Sorry, just got your PM.

Kevin Nash on WWE.com "It was nice wrestling in front of a crowd"

No worries mate, I figured you would probably still be recovering from PPV burn out

I woke up at 9.30 and had to head out and didn't finish work til 10pm.

Utterly knackered but it was worth every minute.

That's pretty good going! I used to do that every month, no longer though You can't beat going into work on 3 hours sleep after watching a top rate PPV, worth it just to watch people's reactions.

[KK]

I haven't read this article myself, but..

An article in the latest PowerSlam Magazine notes that Vince McMahon is expected to step down from his post as Chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment in 2011 or 2012 and hand over the reigns of the company to Levesque. McMahon, however, would remain with the organization in an advisory role.

I'd be STUNNED if that happened. Never mind that, what on earth would Vince do with himself? Vince doesn't even take time off for a cold, let alone stepping aside as Chairman. In fact he doesn't take time off for anything.

I've read that Triple H will be doing a lot more going forward, but that's it.

[Prototype]

Glad you got to see it without it being spoiled, NBK. Sorry, just got your PM.

Kevin Nash on WWE.com "It was nice wrestling in front of a crowd"

No worries mate, I figured you would probably still be recovering from PPV burn out

I woke up at 9.30 and had to head out and didn't finish work til 10pm.

Utterly knackered but it was worth every minute.

That's pretty good going! I used to do that every month, no longer though You can't beat going into work on 3 hours sleep after watching a top rate PPV, worth it just to watch people's reactions.

To me, the thought of going to work on 4 hours sleep is a lesser evil than having it ruined.

IT'S STILL REAL TO ME DAMMIT.