The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[KK]

TNA are booking what is a essentially a WWF PPV for Final Resolution next month. Predicted at the moment...

• Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Morgan with Mr. Anderson as Special Guest Referee
• RVD vs. Rhino in a First Blood Match
• Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Jarrett in an MMA match
• Pope vs. Abyss in a Casket match
• Robbie E vs. Jay Lethal for the X title with Cookie hung in a steel cage above the ring (Jerry Lawler, who had a nose bleed; Paul Bearer; & Chyna, who bent the bars, being the most memorable in recent times).

Varying bits of news...

Eric Young ended up signing a new contract. It was the deal that was originally offered to him, with no minimum guarantee of dates and less than he was looking for.

The word we’ve heard on the Undertaker is that when they did the surgery last week, the shoulder was far more damaged than expected. Undertaker is still saying not to count him out of Mania, but it’s at best going to be touch-and-go and the feeling is even when he comes back, he’ll only be able to be used for limited dates, even more than before. There is no idea for a Mania main event right now because his match was going to be the key match on the show. There's a possibility that if he does come back, it will be against Kane.

When doing media, Shawn Michaels said that he wished he would have had a chance to do a match with Sting. He said doing such a match would tempt him to come out of retirement, although he’s pretty much reiterated he doesn’t want to do another match.

We don’t have a number on the WrestleMania advance but based on what is available, it appears tickets sales are the slowest in years.

CM Punk is now calling WWE Superstars with Scott Stanford.

The Raw TV taping in Manchester, UK, drew 9,300 and $630,000. The 11/9 SmackDown TV tapings the next night was far from a sell out and only drew 5,900 and $500,000.

Backstage during the Swagger vs. Bryan match on the 11/15 Raw, a lot of talent was watching the monitor openly talking about how they wish JR could call their matches. The biggest pop backstage during the show was Mae Young calling LayCool “sluts" and "bitches.” A lot of the talent was holding back laughter and even Vince was said to be good natured about it. Everyone was glued to the monitors during the Piper segment as well.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I would like to massively dispute the UK TV taping figures. The MEN holds around 18,000 for the set up for Wrestling, if they really only drew 9,300 then i think it would have been very obvious as the arena would have been half empty. Also if there really were only 5,900 at SD then it will be very obvious on TV. I can't see how they could hide it the arena would be only a quarter full.

Also on Alex Riley, i hope he doesn't get sacked over the drink driving thing. Ok i agree it's wrong and he shouldn't have done it, but assuming he isn't a cock, WWE should give him a second chance, make him do some charity, promotional work, go on a tv show to talk about why he regrets drink driving etc.. However if he is actually an idiot (ala Jeff Hardy) then maybe the should take the opportunity to get rid.

[IronMaiden]

I know it's totally counter productive and everything, but NXT is the highlight of my wrestling viewing week now. The commentary and stupid contests are amazing. Also AJ, Aksana and Kaitlyn .

[gaminglegend]

Dynamite with his daughter, he ain't seen her for 15 years, those whose read Bret's book will know who she is and her story. The image links are on facebook I can't imagine Tom having facebook.

[Ginga]

I thought RAW was really great this week. However...

It's pretty obvious Michael Cole shouldn't be working on-camera. Look, forget the kayfabe stuff and the in-jokes because I gather he's trying to create a character - the guy just can't cut the mustard as an anchor on live TV. For a start, he's hopeless at story telling or selling talent. It doesn't surprise me that he's simple given up on trying and based his whole act on burying people because it masks a thousand flaws.

The closest thing he's got to a wrestling background is being bitched out by Austin in backstage skits during the '90s and it shows. While JR lends gravitas and calls bouts like someone would serious competition (it's nice to have physical and technical information thrown-in) I'm almost certain Cole doesn't understand angles or how to work a match. He drones on. It's akin to getting 'potatoed' by a stiff everytime he underplays a twist or repeatedly goes after mistakes.
Which is ironic because he can't go a single segment without making one of his own. Some of them are just flat-out ridiculous - 2011?
He's also not funny - his attempts at wit are so ham-fisted and delivered so poorly that something tongue in cheek comes across as offensive or just cringe-worthy.

There's also a difference between buzzwords/catchprases and idiotic cliches. The ones that were supposed to be taken seriously until you realise everyone thinks you're a moron so you go with it....ala "Vintage" and "Viper".
Half the time I don't know if he's saying the most ridiculous gooseberry fool in his head because it's an in-joke to snigger at later or if he thinks "Randy Orton is going to that place in his head he likes, the place where he hears voices" is not entirely strawberry floating ridiculous.

The little skit with JR was funny...but only because it was so close to the knuckle. I don't think King wants to be there with him. Christ, it takes something when he's covering up mistakes and facepalming. The "bland leading the bland" line was fantastic

In summary, Michael Cole is an irritating little gooseberry fool. He has always been dislikeable. From his days in a bow-tie and tux to presenting Livewire and now replacing JR. I hope he's caught on a DUI

I'm also convinced about 99% of those in attendance had no idea who Tony Atlas or Tito Santana were. The reaction to Chavo Classic was, quite literally, non-existent

[Irene Demova]

Just starting the latest Raw, the alternate titles are stupidly better than the current ones

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I thought RAW was really great this week. However...

It's pretty obvious Michael Cole shouldn't be working on-camera. Look, forget the kayfabe stuff and the in-jokes because I gather he's trying to create a character - the guy just can't cut the mustard as an anchor on live TV. For a start, he's hopeless at story telling or selling talent. It doesn't surprise me that he's simple given up on trying and based his whole act on burying people because it masks a thousand flaws.

The closest thing he's got to a wrestling background is being bitched out by Austin in backstage skits during the '90s and it shows. While JR lends gravitas and calls bouts like someone would serious competition (it's nice to have physical and technical information thrown-in) I'm almost certain Cole doesn't understand angles or how to work a match. He drones on. It's akin to getting 'potatoed' by a stiff everytime he underplays a twist or repeatedly goes after mistakes.
Which is ironic because he can't go a single segment without making one of his own. Some of them are just flat-out ridiculous - 2011?
He's also not funny - his attempts at wit are so ham-fisted and delivered so poorly that something tongue in cheek comes across as offensive or just cringe-worthy.

There's also a difference between buzzwords/catchprases and idiotic cliches. The ones that were supposed to be taken seriously until you realise everyone thinks you're a moron so you go with it....ala "Vintage" and "Viper".
Half the time I don't know if he's saying the most ridiculous gooseberry fool in his head because it's an in-joke to snigger at later or if he thinks "Randy Orton is going to that place in his head he likes, the place where he hears voices" is not entirely strawberry floating ridiculous.

The little skit with JR was funny...but only because it was so close to the knuckle. I don't think King wants to be there with him. Christ, it takes something when he's covering up mistakes and facepalming. The "bland leading the bland" line was fantastic

In summary, Michael Cole is an irritating little gooseberry fool. He has always been dislikeable. From his days in a bow-tie and tux to presenting Livewire and now replacing JR. I hope he's caught on a DUI

I'm also convinced about 99% of those in attendance had no idea who Tony Atlas or Tito Santana were. The reaction to Chavo Classic was, quite literally, non-existent

Agreed, although i thought the match between Swagger and Bryan was good anyway, how much more exciting did JR make it. I think his commentary takes every match up a whole level, he really gets you involved and believing in each match.

Also yes, no one seemed to know who Atlas, Santana and Chavo Classic were. The stupid thing about that is that Atlas has been in WWE recently so people should have at least popped a bit.

[Skippy]

Backstage during the Swagger vs. Bryan match on the 11/15 Raw, a lot of talent was watching the monitor openly talking about how they wish JR could call their matches. The biggest pop backstage during the show was Mae Young calling LayCool “sluts" and "bitches.” A lot of the talent was holding back laughter and even Vince was said to be good natured about it. Everyone was glued to the monitors during the Piper segment as well.

[/quote]

It needs to be said again, Piper is just incredible on the mic!

[KK]

I would like to massively dispute the UK TV taping figures. The MEN holds around 18,000 for the set up for Wrestling, if they really only drew 9,300 then i think it would have been very obvious as the arena would have been half empty. Also if there really were only 5,900 at SD then it will be very obvious on TV. I can't see how they could hide it the arena would be only a quarter full.

Dunno about Raw, as I thought that looked pretty full up too. But SmackDown was definitely tarped off. The entire upper deck was dark.



Take away most of the hard camera section, & then the production area. SmackDown as of late can't draw gooseberry fool, thus they seem to be using smaller venues for it now.

Just watched Monday's RAW. Jim Ross is still the absolute BEST. It was an honor and a thrill to hear him to do commentary on my match.

[Pell]

Maybe they took Iron Sheik's mic down to avoid another repeat of this:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2byhw ... -sheik_fun

[KK]

The Bryan and Vinny Show always have funny quotes & drops from the Sheik, usually interspersed with music & revolving around either Hulk Hogan, his massive cock or strawberry floating people in the ass & making them humble.

Sheik: I strawberry float her with my ten inch coc...
Howard Stern: ALRIGHT

[Caped Chameleon]

Maybe they took Iron Sheik's mic down to avoid another repeat of this:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2byhw ... -sheik_fun

I thought that was going to be the infamous shoot interview, still great impression



Iron Sheik

[KK]

Source: F4Wonline.com

Following Old School Raw, WWE are considering bringing back WCW Nitro for one night sometime in 2011, to coincide with WrestleMania in Atlanta and The Best of Nitro DVD.

Don't care what anyone else says - BEST. IDEA. EVER.

You'd have to get Tony Schiavone.

[Balloon Sod]

But TNA has all the WCW talent

They'd need Sting, Goldberg, Flair, Hogan and Bischoff for it to mean much. And if they got them, I think they'd be mad to waste them on that show.

That said, anything to make wrestling exciting.

[KK]

I'd prefer the WCW ethos of great, high flying cruiserweight matches & more international talent.

They could probably get Goldberg, though.

[Balloon Sod]

I wonder if Triple H would come out as Terra Rizing?

[Jam-Master Jay]

Source: F4Wonline.com

Following Old School Raw, WWE are considering bringing back WCW Nitro for one night sometime in 2011, to coincide with WrestleMania in Atlanta and The Best of Nitro DVD.

Don't care what anyone else says - BEST. IDEA. EVER.

You'd have to get Tony Schiavone.

YES. GOD. strawberry floating YES!

This crossed my mind so many times during the old skool RAW show. It would be immense. Perfect way to put some focus on Goldberg if he is inducted into the HoF.

[KK]

Hope the WWE ask TNA for their own Nitro ring mats back. Just for the laughs.

[PES Fan]

SVR 2011 is £23 at gameplay

£25 at GAME for hitman edition

http://www.game.co.uk/Games/Xbox-360/Fi ... kdown+2011

[Mockmaster]

But TNA has all the WCW talent

They'd need Sting, Goldberg, Flair, Hogan and Bischoff for it to mean much. And if they got them, I think they'd be mad to waste them on that show.

Yeah, it could be WCW Invasion 2001 all over again, without the major players.

However, after the lengths they went to with Old School RAW, I have slightly higher expectations.