The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[Pell]

WWE: Extreme Rules 2010
World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton (Extreme Rules Match)
Winner (triple points):Jack Swagger
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Match)
Winner (triple points): John Cena
Edge vs. Chris Jericho (Steel Cage Match)
Winner: Edge
Triple H vs. Sheamus (Street Fight)
Winner: Sheamus
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk (If Punk loses, his head gets shaved)
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Straight Edge Society to get involved? (Yes/No): Yes
JTG vs. Shad Gaspard (Strap Match)
Winner: Shad Gaspard
Win by four corners (Yes/No): No
Beth Phoenix vs. Michelle McCool (Women's title)
Winner (double points): Michelle McCool

[gaminglegend]

I am not happy Mickie being released nor Shelton. Fair enough Shelton can be argued never got a chance to build a character either

a) He doesn't have one/Can't create one to us fans
b) He wasn't given enough push

But Mickie To think that gooseberry fool like Kelly Kelly is still there and Vickie G who can't wrestle. and what about Katie? strawberry floating WWE.

[Corazon de Leon]

I'm thinking of entering GRAPL even though I'll barely be watching any WWE, because I think it will be fun to use my special WWE BRANDED WACK-O-RESULTS GLASSES! Wish I'd wore them last year.

Also ditch the tag thing, I got raped in the bum last year by that.

I didn't like the tag thing either, tbh. But I'm not bothered about it. Also, I've only watched one PPV this year and about 40 mins worth of WWE TV, and I still compete, so you may as well keep going

[KK]

WWE: Extreme Rules 2010
World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton (Extreme Rules Match)
Winner (triple points): Randy Orton
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Match)
Winner (triple points): John Cena
Edge vs. Chris Jericho (Steel Cage Match)
Winner: Edge
Triple H vs. Sheamus (Street Fight)
Winner: Sheamus
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk (If Punk loses, his head gets shaved)
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Straight Edge Society to get involved? (Yes/No): Yes
JTG vs. Shad Gaspard (Strap Match)
Winner: Shad
Win by four corners (Yes/No): Yes
Beth Phoenix vs. Michelle McCool (Women's title)
Winner (double points): Beth Phoenix

[blackoutHERO]

I'm thinking of entering GRAPL even though I'll barely be watching any WWE, because I think it will be fun to use my special WWE BRANDED WACK-O-RESULTS GLASSES! Wish I'd wore them last year.

Also ditch the tag thing, I got raped in the bum last year by that.

I didn't like the tag thing either, tbh. But I'm not bothered about it. Also, I've only watched one PPV this year and about 40 mins worth of WWE TV, and I still compete, so you may as well keep going

I just guess without any prior knowledge.

[KK]

I think Orton will win by DQ, keeping the strap on Swagger but technically giving the win to Orton. So yeah, Orton.

How can Orton get Disqualified in an Extreme Rules match? That's like some strawberry floating moron booking a DQ in, oh I dunno, a steel cage match...

[Zellery]

WWE: Extreme Rules 2010
World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton (Extreme Rules Match)
Winner (triple points): Randy Orton
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Match)
Winner (triple points): John Cena
Edge vs. Chris Jericho (Steel Cage Match)
Winner: Edge
Triple H vs. Sheamus (Street Fight)
Winner: Sheamus
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk (If Punk loses, his head gets shaved)
Winner: CM Punk
Straight Edge Society to get involved? (Yes/No): Yes
JTG vs. Shad Gaspard (Strap Match)
Winner: Shad Gaspard
Win by four corners (Yes/No): No
Beth Phoenix vs. Michelle McCool (Women's title)
Winner (double points): Beth Phoenix

[Corazon de Leon]

I think Orton will win by DQ, keeping the strap on Swagger but technically giving the win to Orton. So yeah, Orton.

How can Orton get Disqualified in an Extreme Rules match? That's like some strawberry floating moron booking a DQ in, oh I dunno, a steel cage match...

It's the WWE. The way Swagger's title run is going, I can easily see him losing but holding on to the belt.

[Zellery]

Shelton is a great wrestler but seemingly has no charisma, and unfortunately you actually need the charisma part over the actual wrestling ability in the WWE.

Mickie getting fired is

[Rog]

I think Orton will win by DQ, keeping the strap on Swagger but technically giving the win to Orton. So yeah, Orton.

How can Orton get Disqualified in an Extreme Rules match? That's like some strawberry floating moron booking a DQ in, oh I dunno, a steel cage match...

That was brilliant. You can have a DQ in a cage match except if you're Anderson. And they have DQs in a cage but ignore them in regular matches

Drumstick: If you were disappointed in that Impact then you should never watch it in it's usual state. For Impact that match was about 4 times as long as matches usually go.

And Pell entering GRAPL

[Zellery]

Rog has put the new rule in of getting an additional 5 point bonus if you come top, so people can't get consistently high scores but never win a PPV.

[gaminglegend]

WWE: Extreme Rules 2010
World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton (Extreme Rules Match)
Winner (triple points): Jack Swagger
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Match)
Winner (triple points): John Cena
Edge vs. Chris Jericho (Steel Cage Match)
Winner: Edge
Triple H vs. Sheamus (Street Fight)
Winner: Sheamus
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk (If Punk loses, his head gets shaved)
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Straight Edge Society to get involved? (Yes/No): Yes
JTG vs. Shad Gaspard (Strap Match)
Winner: Shad
Win by four corners (Yes/No): Yes
Beth Phoenix vs. Michelle McCool (Women's title)
Winner (double points): Beth Phoenix

[Rog]

Rog has put the new rule in of getting an additional 5 point bonus if you come top, so people can't get consistently high scores but never win a PPV.

It was to save my wallet.

[Zellery]

Rog has put the new rule in of getting an additional 5 point bonus if you come top, so people can't get consistently high scores but never win a PPV.

It was to save my wallet.

That too

[Corazon de Leon]

Rog has put the new rule in of getting an additional 5 point bonus if you come top, so people can't get consistently high scores but never win a PPV.

I never won a PPV.

[Zellery]

Rog has put the new rule in of getting an additional 5 point bonus if you come top, so people can't get consistently high scores but never win a PPV.

I never won a PPV.

Nor me, that was my joke.

[KK]

Eric Bishoff has posted a new blog on his website...

Who You Gonna Listen To?

I have enjoyed reading many of the comments that have been posted over the last couple of weeks on my Facebook page as well as many Internet sites.

The comments and observations ranged from interesting and constructive criticism of both TNA and WWE, to the juvenile ramblings of those who must derive some kind of sad validation and perverted self-worth by watching the reaction that their profanity laced diatribes generate [A knock on the Bryan & Vinny Show?]

As usual, some of the self proclaimed experts who portray themselves as the representatives of the collective consciousness of millions of fans who watch wrestling around the world, jumped on my comments and posted them on their own sites complete with commentary that would suggest that they know how I think, who I listen to with respect to the direction of the product, my role within TNA etc.

And as usual, they were wrong.

While I can’t possibly answer all the questions that come to my Facebook page, or am I willing to respond to the assertions of these digital Svengali wannabes, I thought I might address some of the broader questions and recent statements:

1. I DO differentiate between the IWC (Internet Wrestling Community) and the Internet in general as well as social networks like Twitter, Facebook etc. Clearly there is a duplication of IWC readers and members of my Facebook page given the nature of my role in the industry and the frequent references of my Facebook page on many of the IWC sites.

2. I DO NOT use or am influenced professionally by what I read on my Facebook or Twitter Page. I do enjoy reading (some of) the comments and do encourage constructive criticism and exchange by fans in hopes of developing a site where rational adults can discuss the current product(s) and get feedback from someone who is in the industry.

3. I DO read some of the IWC sites from time to time most notably: http://www.prowrestling.net, http://www.pwtorch.com and http://www.pwinsider.com. Sometimes I check in on them to see what kind of comments current talent are making to the Internet, sometimes just for a chuckle, and on some rare occasions information. I must say that when it is information or news that I am looking for, I only go to http://www.prowrestling.net as in my experience Jason Powell’s site is the only one who attempts confirm and source check news before posting it.

4. I DO NOT think I am more intelligent that the IWC (but I wouldn’t be afraid to play scrabble with any of them!)

5. I DO make it a point to call bullshit on them when they get it wrong.

Which is probably why this past couple of weeks have generated so much digital banter. Most of the writers of these sites love to criticize, analyze, predict and claim to know the motives and mindset of those in the business. But they hate it when they are the subjects of such critique.

A Little History:

For those who have followed my career or have read my book, you know that my feelings about “dirt sheets” and the websites that have evolved from them, dates back to the early 90’s.

As on air talent for WCW and before getting into management, I was often in the presence of wrestlers who would complain about reviews they would get from certain sheets. Given that this was long before the Internet and realizing that the subscriptions for these rags were minimal at best, it really didn’t seem to matter to me what was said in these “dirt sheets”.

It was only after getting into management in 1993 did I realize just how much of a pervasive and negative influence these dirt sheets had on the business.

During this time, it became apparent to me that very few people within Turner Broadcasting had any real interest in or knowledge of WCW. The one person who did have a strong interest in professional wrestling was an executive within TBS on the programming side of the company. This individual subscribed to one of the sheets and followed them in great detail. Since no one else in Turner really understood how or cared to learn anything about the business, they relied on this executive to be the “expert” on any subject on the professional wrestling business.

After all, he knew all the names, had a sense of the history of the industry and could use the insider terminology to underscore his firsthand knowledge of the business!

The problem was this person was just a fan, with no real understanding of, or experience in the business, but was worst of all; he was highly influenced and biased based on what he read. What made it worse was that I wasn’t the only one who knew that much of the “knowledge” or opinion of TBS corporate had of WCW was based on one fans opinions that was heavily influenced by one dirt sheet writer.

Fast-forward to 1995 and the launch of Nitro.

I was faced with a huge challenge that was either going to be the end of my career or a defining moment. Many of the senior management of WCW at the time were people who had been with the company before I arrived as a talent in 1991 and a few were a part of the original NWA that Ted Turner bought out of bankruptcy and turned in to WCW. Truth be told, they were a part of the problem and not a part of any solutions.

When I first met with these people to discuss everyone’s thoughts on what this new show should look like, I kept hearing the same old recycled crap I had been hearing for years. I knew that NITRO had to be different and went about trying to create a new format and formula for the show.

About this same time I was asked by the President of TNT to take part in a series of research efforts that might help shape the new show. I won’t go in to boring details about this project, but suffice to say that I was fascinated with much of what I heard from non-biased consumers of the product with no agendas. I was able to use much of what we learned in these groups and integrate it with the basic formulas that my own experience taught me after 8 years in the business, and my own vision of what would make NITRO’s format different.

The rest is history and many of the elements of NITRO and it’s strategy and format became the “new” format and strategy for WWE and Raw.

I am not trying to “put myself over”. My point is that contrary to what the on-line version of most dirt sheets would have you believe, I do listen to what fans have to say about the product. I just tend to tune out the opinions of those who are obviously influenced by the writers of IWC sites and those individuals who cater to them, as I do not believe that these opinions reflect those of the general viewing audience

In my opinion, IWC sites generally reflect the negative opinions and “misery loves company” mentality of the obsessive-compulsive minority.

My partner Jason Hervey and I work with many of the top television executives and networks in the industry today. As creators and producers that supply new shows to these networks, we often work with research companies that provide input and direction that help shape not only the programs a network produces, but the network itself. The data that is available today is mind numbing. This information gives producers/writers and networks the ability to zero in on the key elements that make any product work.

I am not suggesting for a moment that qualified research alone will take the place of experience, instinct and talent. Entertainment will always be art, and art will always be about unique talent, experience, and instinct. But those who have an open mind to this insight and learn how to integrate it with the art, and can delineate between the most vocal minority and the real audience, can take any genre to new levels and evolve with the market.

And those who don’t will be on the outside looking in and bitching about those who are.

One noticeable absence is of course the Wrestling Observer/F4Wonline.com.

[Zellery]

Has Katie Lea been released too?

[Cardinal Chunder]

She was release when Paul Burchill went, I think.

[Prototype]

That's what happens when you're given a pirate gimmick.