The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[KK]

Talking of voice changes, it's always interesting to go back and hear whose has changed the most. Most notable I've spotted in recent times being: Vince McMahon, Ric Flair, Paul Heyman, Jim Ross and Lilian Garcia (Christ, how bad was she ten years ago).

[KK]

Fantastic article on WWE.com...

WWE composer Jim Johnston's 10 favorite entrance themes



Back in 1974, pop music artist Kiki Dee released the hit single “I’ve Got the Music in Me.” The title of that song came to mind while talking to the man who has been credited with composing entrance themes for WWE Superstars for nearly three decades, Jim Johnston. We at WWE Classics wanted to find out what goes into creating a Superstar’s music, so we visited Johnston in his expansive Stamford, Conn., studios. Sitting comfortably around countless guitars, massive amplifiers and a grand piano, the musician revealed that his compositions always begin with a blank page.

“I’m relatively uninformed. A lot of times, I’m told there’s a new Superstar, and their name is ‘blank,’ ” Johnson explained. “After that, it gets kind of sketchy, so I ask for some footage of the talent so at least I can see how they move. That’s always the starting point for me. A talent’s size and appearance go a long way to determining what I need to produce.”

Somewhat surprisingly, a Superstar’s persona is not a vital ingredient for Johnson’s creations.

“I think it’s good that I don’t get too much information, because it could easily take me in the wrong direction,” Johnson said. “I try to react to what I see. I look at the footage and think, ‘What’s this person really like?’ If I feel something, I try to draw that out in composing their music.”

The one thing that Johnston rarely gets is input from the Superstars themselves.

“It can really confuse the issue,” he admitted. “Many times a Superstar will tell me what kind of music they like to listen to, but that has nothing to do with what would be a good theme for them. I sort of approach it like a movie. These themes are a soundtrack to the movie of this person. It really has to do with the story.”

And after all these years, Johnston still finds composing Superstars’ themes challenging. Sometimes the formation can be obvious, while other times it’s like figuring out the solution for a Rubik’s Cube.

“The whole process of composing is a mystery. I don’t really know where it comes from,” Johnson said. “Sometimes I’ll sit down and something just shows up. As an example, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s theme came really fast. I just picked up a guitar and played that groove. Very easy. It’s most difficult to me when an individual doesn’t have a lot of personality.”

Having learned a little about Jim Johnston’s craft, WWE Classics asked the musician to compose a list of his 10 favorite WWE Superstar themes. Needless to say, this was a very challenging proposition for him, to where the following themes (to name a few) made his “honorable mention” list:

“S.O.S.” (Kofi Kingston)
“Here Comes The Money” (Shane McMahon)
“Girls In Cars” (Strike Force)
Gangrel/The Brood Theme
Dude Love Theme

And now, in no particular order, here are Jim Johnston’s 10 favorite entrance themes. These songs should be played loud.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Randy Orton
The Prime Time Players
D-Generation X
Hakushi
Ultimate Warrior
Maria
Val Venis
Triple H
The Undertaker

Full feature at: http://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lis ... te-themes/



Has to be a dead cert for the WWE Hall of Fame. Man's a genius.

[Dig Dug]

Anyway Powerslam have their awards out:

Reader Awards:
Wrestler of the Year: CM Punk (43% of the vote)
Match of the Year: The Undertaker vs. Triple H (48%)
Feud of the Year: CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan (48%)
Babyface of the Year: Jeff hardy (34%)
Heel of the Year: CM Punk (33%)
Tag Team of the Year: Christopher Daniels and Kazarian (58%)
Wrestling Show of the Year: WWE Extreme Rules (35%) (Wrestlemania 28 came 2nd despite having 4 matches nominated for worst match of the year )
Character/Personality of the Year: Daniel Bryan (73%)
Worst Wrestler of the Year: The Great Khali 31% (Cena normally wins this award and lost by 1% this year)
Worst Match of the Year: John Cena vs John Laurinatis (40%)
Commentator of the Year: John Bradshaw Layfield (46%)
Wrestling Company of the Year: WWE (63%)

Alternative Awards (not voted for):
Most Preposterous Exaggeration/Lie of the Year: WWE for claiming that Sheamus struck Big Show with 31 chair shots after their match at Survivor Series.
Blu-Ray/DVD of the Year: C.M.Punk: Best in the World
Strangest Commentary Team of the Year: JBL and Josh mathews
Most Underrated Character: John Laurinaitis
Comeback of the Year: Paul Heyman (Matt & Jeff Hardy get mentions for getting clean of drugs)
Nose-Dive of the Year: Matt 'Tensai' Bloom (From Japan's most dangerous foreigner to worlds biggest jobber)
Powerslam Cover Star of the year: C.M. Punk (issue 216 was the best selling of the year)
Cover Flop of the Year: Sheamus (Issue 211)
Smartest Wrestler of the Year: Brock Lesnar (Wrestled 2 matches and earned $3 million dollars)
Best New Gimmick: Daniel Bryan
Worst New Gimmick: Natalya farting
TV Programme of the year: WWE Raw 1000
Worst TV Programme: Christmas Eve Raw
Most Startling Physical Transformation of the Year: Ashley Massaro (she looks terribad in the photo they included)
Absurd finish of the Year: the Rock Pinning John Cena Clean (the only guy who can beat Cena clean isn't even a full time wrestler)
Mark of the Year: Ric Flair
Best Segment, Angle or Storyline: Brock Lesnar attacking Shawn Michaels.
Worst Segment, Angle or Storyline: WWE's exploitation of Jerry Lawler's heart attack.
The John Cena Award (Kayfabe-wrecking cartoon comeback of the year): John Cena for the third year running.
Beard of the Year: Daniel Bryan
Most startling wrestler Tattoos: Chris Mordetzky
Most Pointless Signing: TNA signing 'King Mo' Lawal
Apathetic Wrestler of the Year: Mr. Anderson
Strangest Outside the ring Story of the year relating to a pro wrestling person: Hulk Hogans sex tape scandal.
New Star of the Year: Kazuchika Okada

[Johnny Ryall]

Well gooseberry fool that nWo set didn't last long.

[KK]

Most Startling Physical Transformation of the Year: Ashley Massaro (she looks terribad in the photo they included)

Kind of reminds me of Sunny, though at least Ashley is (supposedly) happy, so that's the main thing.

[Dig Dug]

Here's the new tattoo Chris 'Masters' Mordetzky got.


Damn.

[Banjo]

Will he bring out a T-800 gimmick?

[Zellery]

Bet that cost a fair bit.

[KK]

i’m so sorry to Glasgow & Nottingham, Dr wont clear @BrookeTess and I cuz we got the flu buggy, we are staying behind while bus drives on .

Glasgow Scottland… I am so so bummed to be sitting n the back w/@hemmepowered… very sick with a bad stomach bug. Fingers crossed we r better

Probably ate at Burger King and weren't used to eating HORSE, which ran wild on their immune system. Or something.

[Psychic]

For those of you who are the betting kind, some markets are now up on Oddschecker here.

Team Hell No to win their match @ 4/1 looks a bit big to me.

[Dark Ritual]

For those of you who are the betting kind, some markets are now up on Oddschecker here.

Team Hell No to win their match @ 4/1 looks a bit big to me.

I love how Billy Gunn has better odds than Zack Ryder.

[KK]

Take this with a pinch of salt for the time being, but...

We have heard from an anonymous emailer that Todd Pettengill was recently spotted at WWE Headquarters and he could be hosting The Best of WWE In Your House. At the moment we cannot confirm this, however we hope to have more information in the coming weeks.

Now lets all cross our fingers.

[1cmanny1]

That is pretty cool.

[Hank Scorpio]

For those of you who are the betting kind, some markets are now up on Oddschecker here.

Team Hell No to win their match @ 4/1 looks a bit big to me.

Any reason why their that big odds ?

[KK]

Because it needs reposting EVERY YEAR till the end of time:



Easily in the top ten worst finishes to a PPV main event of all time.

[Codename 47]

For those of you who are the betting kind, some markets are now up on Oddschecker here.

Team Hell No to win their match @ 4/1 looks a bit big to me.

Any reason why their that big odds ?

I think a lot of people are convinced that Hell No will be splitting up quite soon. Bryan should be in line for a single push sometime this year I imagine.

I'm still not convinced that it's a lock that Cena will win the Rumble but despite being the overwhelming favorite he's odds of 8/13 which aren't too bad. I remember last year everyone thought Jericho would win it only for Sheamus to pull off the shock. I'm not sure who my pick for the Rumble is to be fair. I've got a sneaky feeling for Randy Orton. Would love Wade to win it but i doubt it. My rank outsiders are a returning Lesnar or Undertaker.

[Dig Dug]

That video, poor Desmond Wolfe. He's Heb B clear now and fit to wrestle again, whether he wants to after all he's been through though...

[Mockmaster]

So, following on from what is happening with the GGC megathreads, we have decided to lock and split up the Wrestling Thread to encourage debate.

The following new threads will be created:

RAW
Smackdown
NXT
PPVs
TNA
Ring of Honour
Retro
Independent Wrestling
Japanese Wrestling
Womens' Wrestling
Wrestling Podcasts
Kayfabe

[KK]

*dies*

[Return_of_the_STAR]

So, following on from what is happening with the GGC megathreads, we have decided to lock and split up the Wrestling Thread to encourage debate.

The following new threads will be created:

RAW
Smackdown
NXT
PPVs
TNA
Ring of Honour
Retro
Independent Wrestling
Japanese Wrestling
Womens' Wrestling
Wrestling Podcasts
Kayfabe

strawberry float off