CM Punk & Wrestling's Best Storyline in Years...

[zappy]

but i do have to say that i like ambrose leaving with the title

[blastmaster]

Good main event. Kinda glad they are sticking to their guns, but roman blows. Hopefully we get DB vs. Zigs now.

[GUCCI CONDOMS]

nattie looking fine

She's really grown on me

[GUCCI CONDOMS]

Honest observation: have Bryans in ring skills deteriorated significantly?

[blastmaster]

Honest observation: have Bryans in ring skills deteriorated significantly?

Neck injury combined with falling into the WWE moveset formula. So, yea.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Speaking of Countdown, there's something peculiar about the Smackdown epic moments episode. JBL gets shot with a tranquilizer dart by AJ Lee (w/ Big E Langston). Then they show him in the ring feeling the effects of the dart... as WWE Champion. He's got the Bashams and Orlando Jordan in his cabinet, and he's feuding with Big Show's full head of hair.

Did Chris Benoit originally shoot him with the tranquilizer dart or something?

No. What had happened was JBL was feuding with the Big Show with a running gag that Big Show was an animal and he was going to shoot him with a tranquilizer dart. Amy from JBL's Cabinet was put in charge of it and she accidentally shot him in the face with it backstage. It's in the ring that JBL got groggy.

The road to No Way Out 2005 was a troubled one.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

I don't like how they have HHH speaking for Sting. "I know why you did it-uh." I guess they want to keep Sting mysterious... or are they afraid of exposing subpar promo skills? It'd work better for me if Sting himself explained why he decided to show up and target HHH.

I don't think Sting's ever been a subpar promo.

Rather, I think they realize that Sting's character in his Crow-regalia worked best as the silent observer. His entrance after 14 years gives him a real mystique and they want to maintain that aura, which I'm all for. Look at how great the build for Sting-Hogan at Starrcade '97 was. I think they're going that route. Plus, with Reigns turning his promos into Papa Beaver's Storytime, it's great having a silent badass character again.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Honest observation: have Bryans in ring skills deteriorated significantly?

Not his skills, per se, but his speed. He's tried to adjust for it by ordering his matches Japanese style since his return, rather than having the varying tempo we've grown accustomed to, it's been more-so a slow build during every match.

If you just watch the closing 5-10 minutes of every Bryan match since his return, it looks like he's never lost a step. It's just he isn't wowing us right out of the gate and taking us on his older types of journeys anymore. Ultimately, while he's still adjusting to it, I think it'll be better in the longrun and he'll get his new style so perfected that he goes back to being the absolute best on the planet anywhere he goes as he's been for the past 15 years.

[Pizon]

Speaking of Countdown, there's something peculiar about the Smackdown epic moments episode. JBL gets shot with a tranquilizer dart by AJ Lee (w/ Big E Langston). Then they show him in the ring feeling the effects of the dart... as WWE Champion. He's got the Bashams and Orlando Jordan in his cabinet, and he's feuding with Big Show's full head of hair.

Did Chris Benoit originally shoot him with the tranquilizer dart or something?

No. What had happened was JBL was feuding with the Big Show with a running gag that Big Show was an animal and he was going to shoot him with a tranquilizer dart. Amy from JBL's Cabinet was put in charge of it and she accidentally shot him in the face with it backstage. It's in the ring that JBL got groggy.

The road to No Way Out 2005 was a troubled one.

Why did they show AJ Lee w/ Big E shooting JBL with the dart, though? Why not use the original footage of Amy Weber?

[Pizon]

I don't like how they have HHH speaking for Sting. "I know why you did it-uh." I guess they want to keep Sting mysterious... or are they afraid of exposing subpar promo skills? It'd work better for me if Sting himself explained why he decided to show up and target HHH.

I don't think Sting's ever been a subpar promo.

Rather, I think they realize that Sting's character in his Crow-regalia worked best as the silent observer. His entrance after 14 years gives him a real mystique and they want to maintain that aura, which I'm all for. Look at how great the build for Sting-Hogan at Starrcade '97 was. I think they're going that route. Plus, with Reigns turning his promos into Papa Beaver's Storytime, it's great having a silent badass character again.

I wasn't much into WCW, so I was never a fan of Sting. (I did re-watch the Clash of the Champions where Rick Rude beat Sting for the US Title, which was always a favorite show of mine on the strength of Paul Heyman's performance.) I don't find the Sting-HHH storyline compelling without knowing Sting's motivations. HHH is saying it's because Sting is bitter WWE won the Monday Night War. And Sting doesn't dispute it. Oh, OK.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Speaking of Countdown, there's something peculiar about the Smackdown epic moments episode. JBL gets shot with a tranquilizer dart by AJ Lee (w/ Big E Langston). Then they show him in the ring feeling the effects of the dart... as WWE Champion. He's got the Bashams and Orlando Jordan in his cabinet, and he's feuding with Big Show's full head of hair.

Did Chris Benoit originally shoot him with the tranquilizer dart or something?

No. What had happened was JBL was feuding with the Big Show with a running gag that Big Show was an animal and he was going to shoot him with a tranquilizer dart. Amy from JBL's Cabinet was put in charge of it and she accidentally shot him in the face with it backstage. It's in the ring that JBL got groggy.

The road to No Way Out 2005 was a troubled one.

Why did they show AJ Lee w/ Big E shooting JBL with the dart, though? Why not use the original footage of Amy Weber?

I'd imagine because it's a clip of someone being shot in the face. Not sure though. Also probably because the former are more recognizable.

I don't like how they have HHH speaking for Sting. "I know why you did it-uh." I guess they want to keep Sting mysterious... or are they afraid of exposing subpar promo skills? It'd work better for me if Sting himself explained why he decided to show up and target HHH.

I don't think Sting's ever been a subpar promo.

Rather, I think they realize that Sting's character in his Crow-regalia worked best as the silent observer. His entrance after 14 years gives him a real mystique and they want to maintain that aura, which I'm all for. Look at how great the build for Sting-Hogan at Starrcade '97 was. I think they're going that route. Plus, with Reigns turning his promos into Papa Beaver's Storytime, it's great having a silent badass character again.

I wasn't much into WCW, so I was never a fan of Sting. (I did re-watch the Clash of the Champions where Rick Rude beat Sting for the US Title, which was always a favorite show of mine on the strength of Paul Heyman's performance.) I don't find the Sting-HHH storyline compelling without knowing Sting's motivations. HHH is saying it's because Sting is bitter WWE won the Monday Night War. And Sting doesn't dispute it. Oh, OK.

You missed out on the Sting build then, one of the best in wrestling history. From the night after Fall Brawl '96 to the night after Starrcade '97, Sting didn't say a word. He went mute because he felt WCW turned their back on his and he also hated the nWo. You weren't sure why he wasn't saying anything. And it was brilliant because it left so much to the imagination. I actually like not knowing Sting's reasoning, as opposed to Michael Cole going "Remember what Sting said on Raw last monday" four times in between replay clips of Sting talking. Maybe Trips is being a touch too verbose to pull it off, but I'm digging Sting's presence on WWE TV.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Also, this circa-2000 video of the WWF Superstars trying to figure out the lyrics to the Raw is War theme is my favorite thing right now

[Brougham33]

So the face who gets the biggest reaction and puts on the best match possible isn't cracking your top 5 Mania matches?

Reigns vs Lesnar
Cena vs Rusev
Sting vs Triple H
Rollin vs Orton
Taker vs Wyatt

Crowd was weak last night, I thought the Bray segment as awesome, as was the main event. Not cool with Reigns kicking out of the Knee+ and winning out of nowhere with a spear, but Reigns did look strong.

[GUCCI CONDOMS]

So the face who gets the biggest reaction and puts on the best match possible isn't cracking your top 5 Mania matches?

Reigns vs Lesnar
Cena vs Rusev
Sting vs Triple H
Rollin vs Orton
Taker vs Wyatt

Crowd was weak last night, I thought the Bray segment as awesome, as was the main event. Not cool with Reigns kicking out of the Knee+ and winning out of nowhere with a spear, but Reigns did look strong.

I'm thinking the weak crowd played in wwe's favor. There was not really any booing of reigns when he won...

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Best part of the whole night was Cody's post-match promo.

[ObeseJesus]

So the face who gets the biggest reaction and puts on the best match possible isn't cracking your top 5 Mania matches?

Reigns vs Lesnar
Cena vs Rusev
Sting vs Triple H
Rollin vs Orton
Taker vs Wyatt

Yeah, there are way too many matches that could/should happen at this point. To add on:

Dolph vs. Bryan? (hopefully Sheamus doesn't get in the way of this)
Bad News Barrett vs Dean Ambrose (IC title)
Divas championship
Tag team championship (Cesaro/Kidd, Usos, Ascension, PT Players, New Day)
Goldust vs. Stardust
Miz vs. Mizdow
Plus something involving: Big Show, Kane, Rowan, Ryback, Luke Harper, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do the Andre battle royal again to use some of these guys and possibly bring up a couple of NXT guys.

[blastmaster]

Ryder vs Rose is really heating up on Twitter and had been quite funny. I hope it leads to Ryder getting back on TV.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Ryder vs Rose is really heating up on Twitter and had been quite funny. I hope it leads to Ryder getting back on TV.

This was actually much funnier than I expected. Good looks.

I always feel bad for Ryder because I feel his had like legs cut out from him like nobody before or since, and I liked a lot of his work, but this might be my favorite thing he's done in about a year - https://twitter.com/ZackRyder/status/568564114949328896" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[907]

I'm always confused when I see people lamenting what happened to Ryder. Dn't get me wrong, it's cool that the dude got himself over and all, but he's never been ANYTHING but a total shitstain in the ring. Like, dude just can't work at all. He makes Sandow look like Rollins X D-bry, crossed with a young Dynamite Kid.

Ryder got a lot farther than he should of, based on skill alone. He was in an angle with Jern Cena, for fucks sake!

[hustler]

I'm always confused when I see people lamenting what happened to Ryder. Dn't get me wrong, it's cool that the dude got himself over and all, but he's never been ANYTHING but a total shitstain in the ring. Like, dude just can't work at all. He makes Sandow look like Rollins X D-bry, crossed with a young Dynamite Kid.

Ryder got a lot farther than he should of, based on skill alone. He was in an angle with Jern Cena, for fucks sake!

disagree. his charisma makes up for any in ring lackings. also, the charisma is much harder to teach/improve, whereas the wrestling is just a matter of practicing and learning. he's 100% self made, and to dismiss him like that is really short sighted. how many wrestlers have made it that far with literally no help?

im pretty sure you are just clouded by hate because he represents the cocky alpha male frat bro which you are completely unable to relate with. u hate the alphaera. u hate me and gucci. u hate hashtags. so obviously u hate zach ryder.
#STAYPREDICTABLE

[battlecatmeowstab212]

I'm always confused when I see people lamenting what happened to Ryder. Dn't get me wrong, it's cool that the dude got himself over and all, but he's never been ANYTHING but a total shitstain in the ring. Like, dude just can't work at all. He makes Sandow look like Rollins X D-bry, crossed with a young Dynamite Kid.

Ryder got a lot farther than he should of, based on skill alone. He was in an angle with Jern Cena, for fucks sake!

Truth be told, success in wrestling comes down to two things:

1) Can you make the crowd react?

2) Can you sell merchandise?

Ryder did both of these exceptionally well. During The Rock's promo on the night of his first match in seven years, Madison Square Garden was chanting "We Want Ryder."

He could, and should, have gone farther. But for someone who the fans legit organically loved, they made him the sniffling loser doofus in absolutely every angle he was tangentially involved it. He grabbed the "brass ring" better than anybody in terms of "maximizing your minutes, kid" and was punished on air for it until the fans couldn't do anything else but give up. Then he was given absolutely no television time so he couldn't evolve his character, and what we're left with is the thing that was cool for a while in 2011 but remains a perpetual reminder not to get our hopes up, and that's why the fans hate him so.

Ryder as an underdog with limited moveset is lame. The Ryder who was a credible threat in WWECW that had a great match with Christian and retired Tommy Dreamer was awesome.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Also, as if you needed any further proof, Raw Is Cody.

Promo from fallout that has to be frontrunner for Best Promo of 2015 thus far:

[Brougham33]

Awesome promo, dude even hits on his own wife before going in. Glad they are making this about the attitude era vs the youth.

[blastmaster]

Great promo. Decent Raw.
So glad they didn't take the tag titles away from Cesaro and Kidd.
Injecting Zigler into the IC title scene works, but I'd much rather see him take on DB.
The Orton angle is dumb. There is no need to back track.

[Pizon]

Yeah, seems like they're trying something "different" by starting Orton and Rollins off together, but it makes no logical sense that he's even acting like he's on the same page with the guy who almost ended his career.

[Pizon]

This AJ-Steph stuff has to be to set up a match at Mania, right?

I'd actually like to see Steph eat a Black Widow.

[907]

I'm always confused when I see people lamenting what happened to Ryder. Dn't get me wrong, it's cool that the dude got himself over and all, but he's never been ANYTHING but a total shitstain in the ring. Like, dude just can't work at all. He makes Sandow look like Rollins X D-bry, crossed with a young Dynamite Kid.

Ryder got a lot farther than he should of, based on skill alone. He was in an angle with Jern Cena, for fucks sake!

disagree. his charisma makes up for any in ring lackings. also, the charisma is much harder to teach/improve, whereas the wrestling is just a matter of practicing and learning. he's 100% self made, and to dismiss him like that is really short sighted. how many wrestlers have made it that far with literally no help?

im pretty sure you are just clouded by hate because he represents the cocky alpha male frat bro which you are completely unable to relate with. u hate the alphaera. u hate me and gucci. u hate hashtags. so obviously u hate zach ryder.
#STAYPREDICTABLE

His gimmick never bothered me, but I can't remember one good/memorable match he ever had. To me, that's what matters. To each their own, though.

[zappy]

I'm always confused when I see people lamenting what happened to Ryder. Dn't get me wrong, it's cool that the dude got himself over and all, but he's never been ANYTHING but a total shitstain in the ring. Like, dude just can't work at all. He makes Sandow look like Rollins X D-bry, crossed with a young Dynamite Kid.

Ryder got a lot farther than he should of, based on skill alone. He was in an angle with Jern Cena, for fucks sake!

disagree. his charisma makes up for any in ring lackings. also, the charisma is much harder to teach/improve, whereas the wrestling is just a matter of practicing and learning. he's 100% self made, and to dismiss him like that is really short sighted. how many wrestlers have made it that far with literally no help?

im pretty sure you are just clouded by hate because he represents the cocky alpha male frat bro which you are completely unable to relate with. u hate the alphaera. u hate me and gucci. u hate hashtags. so obviously u hate zach ryder.
#STAYPREDICTABLE

His gimmick never bothered me, but I can't remember one good/memorable match he ever had. To me, that's what matters. To each their own, though.

when was the last time you saw him in a match that wasnt a squash or him against like kofi kingston

[GUCCI CONDOMS]

http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling3/kot ... leeze.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very long read, but that is a compilation of dirt sheet rumors since the 80's. Really entertaining shit...

[Pizon]

http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling3/kot ... leeze.html

Very long read, but that is a compilation of dirt sheet rumors since the 80's. Really entertaining shit...

231. One of the Bushwhackers once entered a shower and put his mouth around Adrian Adonis' dick. When Adrian jumped, the Bushwhacker said "Blew your gimmick, mate!"