The Wrestling Thread

[MrMichael]

I seriously doubt it. Impact sucks really badly. TNA can throw as many people as they want but when Hornswoggle is getting more ratings than TNA, the **** has really hit the fan. I dont want to see segments of Foley going to finishing school and Jarrett doing some plumbing. Its so goofy that I hate TNA. Im fine with WWE doing a bit of goofy comedy with Cheech and Chong since they put over a reasonable product with twice as many viewers and with reasonable, \'sensible\' booking but the dross on TNA is so cringeworthy that I shout **** YOU when TNA finishes.

The really sad thing is that TNA has by far the more interesting roster, many of those guys are capable of such great exhibitions of wrestling its a crime they're so badly used. Before the whole Bischoff/Hogan thing it never bothered me that much as it was only one step up from inde and different enough from wwe to make it interesting. And sometimes, despite all the Russo booking, they did just let their guys go. Now, without that, the shows are just infuriating, and most of the real talent is getting buried under a sea of Bischoff and Hogan's self-promotion.

[MrMichael]

lol, tna opens with a huge swerve, Sting heel turn!

Edit 1 - Followed up by a good length X-division triple threat (Daniels - Williams - Kaz) and Shannon Moore's return. Good show so far.

Edit 2 - Wow, RVD debuts, beats Sting in 2 moves but then Sting goes mental with the bat and destroys him. Never thought it was possible for Sting to get heat, but they've got him it tonight. Shame there wasn't a proper match there but this turn has been very well done.

[MrMichael]

TNA just owned Raw. Not flawless by any means, but it was way better than the Jan 4th show.

[Matt]

Worst. Gimmick. Ever.

Along with the Gobble-dee-gooker.

It was better than having everyone pretend he wrestles from beyond the grave and having the lights switch off whilst he gets in the ring and stands there.

[MrMichael]

Worst. Gimmick. Ever.

Along with the Gobble-dee-gooker.

The Shockmaster says hi

[MrMichael]

This made me giggle....



When i flicked to Raw after Impact finished did I really see Cena taking on about 10 men?

[Imy]

lol, tna opens with a huge swerve, Sting heel turn!

Edit 1 - Followed up by a good length X-division triple threat (Daniels - Williams - Kaz) and Shannon Moore's return. Good show so far.

Edit 2 - Wow, RVD debuts, beats Sting in 2 moves but then Sting goes mental with the bat and destroys him. Never thought it was possible for Sting to get heat, but they've got him it tonight. Shame there wasn't a proper match there but this turn has been very well done.

Heel sting rarely works, he's got to a stage where like Taker people love him too much too really boo him.

[MrMichael]

Heel sting rarely works, he's got to a stage where like Taker people love him too much too really boo him.

This time it did. You're right, its always been an epic fail in the past, but the booking this time was great.

First the swerve in the Hogan/Abyss - Flair/AJ confrontation, hitting the faces with his bat etc. Not enough to put him over as a heel there, but then backstage he gets Dixie Carter by the throat (she never really gets involved in kayfabe). So she sets him a match v a mystery opponent.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd8hvAWb3Sg"]YouTube- *NEW* RVD DEBUT TNA IMPACT 9.3.10 ROB VAN DAM[/ame]

After that clip finsihes Sting keeps going nuts with the bat, returns to the ring several times, must have hit rvd 20 times, plus a couple for Hogan who came out. Then he just walks off without a word. He was badass, and was getting **** loads of heat by the end.

Genius to have him beatdown RVD like that, and he's well over as a heel now.

I'd have him beat the **** out of Jeff next

[johnly]

This time it did. You're right, its always been an epic fail in the past, but the booking this time was great.

First the swerve in the Hogan/Abyss - Flair/AJ confrontation, hitting the faces with his bat etc. Not enough to put him over as a heel there, but then backstage he gets Dixie Carter by the throat (she never really gets involved in kayfabe). So she sets him a match v a mystery opponent.

After that clip finsihes Sting keeps going nuts with the bat, returns to the ring several times, must have hit rvd 20 times, plus a couple for Hogan who came out. Then he just walks off without a word. He was badass, and was getting **** loads of heat by the end.

Genius to have him beatdown RVD like that, and he's well over as a heel now.

I'd have him beat the **** out of Jeff next

I enjoyed Impact, pretty solid stuff. The X division match was top. Crowd went nuts for RVD, there was too much Hogan though. All in all was pretty much a better show than Raw. They will struggle next week though with Stone Cold being at Raw.

Ratings are in too Impact drew a 1.0 which is on a par/slightly less than what ECW used to get on Sci-Fi and Raw drew 3.5 rating which is fair standard for them

[MrShawnMichaels]

I watched Impact and one of the things for me is now glaring is that Russo knows how to book shows which have no program. He has set up a gazillion programs but I doubt they will continue for the next month.

What a stupid move having the main event at the start and it lasting all of three minutes. Learned nothing from that. Illogical. Sting turning heel never works - he was still getting cheers. Hogan and Abyss doing a bladejob but neither are mad at Sting for attacking at them. Stupid.

Segment with Sting and Dixie was unconvincing. Neither Taz nor Tenay sold that.

Brooke and Jennifer's boobs in a segment. She was concerned for her dad's safety, not like she was last week.

Kazarian and Daniels in a promo. Doug Williams then came out. Boring throughout. Bischoff came out and talked. He gets cheered for some reason. I see him as a blind Pied Piper. He said the X Division is not the heart, but the adrenaline. I thought the heart meant more. Sucks to be Kazarian, he has his title match in a triple threat. Some spots but a very long match with Doug Williams outside a lot but he won with the Chaos Theory. Shannon Moore came out at the end, beat the crap out of Williams. Sucks to be Kazarian - he loses out to Moore at the PPV.

Dixie shoots on Sting calling him 'Steve'. Sting is in a match with someone later tonight. Yes, it's a 'surprise'.

Taylor Wilde and Sarita, Beautiful People w/ Lacey von Erich, Tara and Angelina Love in a triple threat for the Women's tag titles. Did they mention why the titles are on the line? Daphne with the Knockout belt hit Tara for the Beautiful People to steal it. Crap match with Tara botching a few spots. This was a nice time filler in a packed show.

Pope and Christy interview. Woffie attacks Pope's ankle with a chain. When Vince said Bret's leg should be fine for Wrestlemania, which was at the time five weeks away, I now believe him after seeing Pope doing moves last week with a dodgy ankle.

Sting walking down some stairs. Taz teased RVD with 'Mike, what you doing at 4:20?' Talk about blunt.

Tenay talks about how he has known Sting and he was surprised with his heel turn. Wasn't he heel on both WCW and TNA already?

Sting - RVD in an awfully short match. I wonder whether Van Dam knew he would be battered like this when he signed. Sting still getting cheered when coming in whilst Taz was adamant they were booing him. There was even one guy bowing towards him. Crowd chanted for RVD and he came through the crowd. He beat Sting with a rolling thunder. Sting beats him with a bat, leaves, comes back and beats him more, leaves again, beats some refs and goes back and beats RVD more. Hogan comes out and Bubba the Love Sponge tries to stop him. I hate Bubba, he shouldn't be on TV. Sting pummels Hogan with the bat. Local jobbers working as Security escort him back, Sting follows and beats the crap out of Security. Bubba unfortunately doesn't get hit. Sting doesn't play a convincing heel. It's almost as if he doesn't want to play it.

Nash and Young come for a promo, where's Crosby? . I like how Nash calls them Waltman and Hall despite being mates with them. Hogan supposedly signed a contract for a tag match at Destination X. Crowd chant 'Hall is wasted' The other side chant 'No he's not'. This crowd is split into two. The cynical and optimists. Meanwhile, security joins Nash and Young. Why? Hall calls Nash a sellout and says Hogan doesn't run the show anymore after what Sting done to him. He says his sticking point is the money. Hall calls for Bischoff who's sitting on a deck chair. Bischoff says it's fine, money's no problem but they've got to go if they lose. Pac slaps Young, Young jumps Pac. Bischoff feels pissed at that and calls for an impromptu match between Pac and Young. Young wins with a piledriver. Pac looks like fool and what's the point in the PPV match? It's obvious Hall and Waltman will get the contracts.

Army coming in for Angle's segment with Anderson. I've mentioned this before about booking. Angle's had his revenge by getting his medals back so what's the point in the match at the PPV? This beatdown made no sense. This beatdown should have happened at the PPV. What a crock. Something so promising with Anderson's promo a few weeks back is already finished three weeks before the PPV.

Bubba and Hogan sitting together. Bubba telling him stop, Hogan says it's his last shot. Why? Is the show ending tomorrow? Earl Hebner wants a second chance. I'm sure he has turned heel ten times. Bubba convinces him that Hebner deserves a chance like everyone else. Hogan forgives him quickly and books him in the main event with Flair, the man who paid him off a few weeks back.

Jarrett and Storm talk. Beer Money end up beating up Jarrett with Foley as special ref with a suit and trainers. Do this stupid gimmick properly, not half arsed. Foley rings the bell, Beer Money continue where they left off. Jarrett comes back after Storm spits in Roode's eyes by mistake. Foley passes the barb wire bat to Jarrett. Slick Johnson stops Jarrett. Beer Money get their finisher and the win. Foley seems pissed, Jarrett loses and what a stupid segment. I don't know who I'm more pissed off at, Foley or the bat.

Brooke Hogan cries when she meets Hulkie. It's like looking in a mirror, minus the beard and blood. She says he is more than the Hulkster, he's her father. Hogan says its his last chance (what?) and she has nothing to worry about. Brooke wants Hogan to promise its his last match because of the **** the family has been through.

Main event again. Lots of blood from Flair and Hogan. Abyss pins Styles clean. Sham. Anyone heard of booking properly to a main event? Wolfe comes at the end and attacks Abyss with the chair. Pope comes with a healed ankle and tries to clean house. Jeff Hardy runs down, cleans house and we assume he does the Swanton as Impact went off the air.

This show did a 1.0 for a reason. It was high energy and certainly better than the last couple of weeks but some of it is poorly constructed.

[MrMichael]

lol, that's a pretty thorough summary, but although I generally agree with most of your points some of them are just nit picking imo. Some of the angles and what not were a bit shoddy, but there was such energy in the broadcast that it overrode most of the niggles for me. And it was certainly better than the ****e that was on Raw.

The Hogan - Flair segments weren't my favourite, however they were better than I expected they would be. Personally i thought the Sting heel turn was very well booked, the initial swerve and backstage with Dixie to set it up, then the RVD beatdown to cement it. If they go ahead and push Sting into a proper programme with RVD he'll have a chance to keep that heat too. Don't think I've ever seen anyone as instantly over in the IZ as RVD was.

Scott Hall delivered a pretty decent promo actually. I enjoyed the quick Young - Pac fight, it came over as very intense and pushed Young as a player in this feud. I hope there isn't a predictable Nash turn on him at the ppv.

The X-div match I thought was very good, long but not too spotty. I hope Bischoff lives up to his word about focusing on that division. Generation Me v MCMG announced for the ppv will be a ton of fun.

Beer Money work better as tweeny-heels than as faces, so I was fine with the Jarrett segment

Bubba can **** right off. Some of the crowd chants about him were very funny.

As their second attempt at a live Impact I thought it was definitely more cohesive than the Jan show and infinitely better booked. Still a lot of nonsense going on, but it was fun nonetheless. I'm very unsure though if they can maintain that and then improve further, rather than sinking backwards again.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Raw was a numbers show this week. Nothing too spectacular but enough to progress with the individual storylines.

Shawn Michaels and Undertaker performed well (again) with their promo. Michaels has gained some confidence and thinks the Undertaker only cost him his match last week because he is scared. Shifts the balance to the viewer. They could have a stip possibly next week when Michaels faces Jericho (talk about blockbuster) that should he win, he gets a title shot after Wrestlemania to more doubt in the viewers about Michaels' future.

Womens match was nothing spectacular. Again, like the TNA match, it was ok but it now showcases Eve as a possible contender to Maryse for her women's title.

ShowMiz and Truth and Wisdom was a segment purely to get Truth and Wisdom over. Did it work? I personally didn't like how they done it and would have done an impromptu fight rather than a 'preview' match but they've still got Smackdown and the next two weeks.

Cena had an interview with Josh Matthews. I have to say, I have been impressed with Cena compared to his previous feuds. Maybe Batista has been that good as a heel. Cena's promos have a more real feeling to them compared to his cheesyness before.

Legacy vs Orton. I have no ****ing idea as to where this is going. They've tried every possibly angle and match between these three. I thought this would have been the PPV match but they've done it on Raw. Only thing I can think of is a tag match with someone joining in with Orton. No direction.

Batista's interview was sheer class. He came across pure careless for Cena and his line about 'giving his word as WWE Champion that he won't interfere' was classic heel stuff. I love heel Batista.

Triple H came out talking about opportunity and young wrestlers and compared himself to Sheamus. The only difference I can think of is the steroids and the tan. Anyway, he put Warrior over big time, possibly pleading for a Hall of Fame induction, Cena and Batista as well. Sheamus said something and they brawled and that was that. Triple H not in a title match since Wrestlemania 17 when he lost to Undertaker.

Bourne - Regal in a Money in the Bank quali. These have all been squash matches, have no idea why. Bourne won with a shooting star. Skip Sheffield is hilarious. I hate Heath Slater and his stupid hair.

McMahon v Cena in a gauntlet match which included Kozlov, McIntyre, Swagger, Henry and Batista. This was only to get Cena more over with the fans and with that mindset that he is facing so much backlash from the owner and it isn't just a fight against Batista but also against McMahon. What it certainly does do is show who McMahon also rates as a heel. Worryingly that list includes Kozlov.

As I said, it was numbers Raw. Next week, it will get a huge number with Austin and Bret Hart both in the ring plus Michaels in the ring for the last time in singles competition on Raw against Jericho, Triple H v Orton (again) and Cena v Big Show. Reasonable card for a show two weeks before Wrestlemania. Smackdown awaits.

[MrShawnMichaels]

lol, that's a pretty thorough summary, but although I generally agree with most of your points some of them are just nit picking imo. Some of the angles and what not were a bit shoddy, but there was such energy in the broadcast that it overrode most of the niggles for me. And it was certainly better than the ****e that was on Raw.

The Hogan - Flair segments weren't my favourite, however they were better than I expected they would be. Personally i thought the Sting heel turn was very well booked, the initial swerve and backstage with Dixie to set it up, then the RVD beatdown to cement it. If they go ahead and push Sting into a proper programme with RVD he'll have a chance to keep that heat too. Don't think I've ever seen anyone as instantly over in the IZ as RVD was.

Scott Hall delivered a pretty decent promo actually. I enjoyed the quick Young - Pac fight, it came over as very intense and pushed Young as a player in this feud. I hope there isn't a predictable Nash turn on him at the ppv.

The X-div match I thought was very good, long but not too spotty. I hope Bischoff lives up to his word about focusing on that division. Generation Me v MCMG announced for the ppv will be a ton of fun.

Beer Money work better as tweeny-heels than as faces, so I was fine with the Jarrett segment

Bubba can **** right off. Some of the crowd chants about him were very funny.

As their second attempt at a live Impact I thought it was definitely more cohesive than the Jan show and infinitely better booked. Still a lot of nonsense going on, but it was fun nonetheless. I'm very unsure though if they can maintain that and then improve further, rather than sinking backwards again.

I'll give it a few weeks until Russo realises he can't make Sting a heel. He's tried it so many times but the idiot can't get through his head. One thing I forgot to mention was how come they didn't mention anything about Samoa Joe? If he's been kidnapped, something must have been said? Where are the police in this?

You do know what will happen with the X Division? They will be the opening matches on Impact and the PPVs. It's trademark Bischoff.

Second attempt was probably better booked but Hogan said it, 'it is the biggest show they've done'. Might I add, wasn't the Jan 4 show the biggest show they've done? Russo's good at capturing the imagination but his booking and program planning is poor. If you've ever watched Wrestlemania 15, Triple H's performance was vintage Russo. He had a double swerve during the PPV. When I watch Impact, I go with a no surprise mind. Russo is so weird in his booking, I wasn't surprised with half the crazy **** he comes up with. Hardy main eventing this week in a tag match with RVD against Styles and Wolfe. Guess the jobber??? Isn't Hardy going to court soonish?

[MrMichael]

Well by the end of that Rvd segment Sting was getting proper boo'd. Its the most over I've ever seen him as a heel. Have to see if they can run with these foundations now

Don't start with the "where are the police" thing, how many times has Vince been blown up in his limo? Or run over by Austin in a monster truck. How about Trips breaking into Orton's house with a sledgehammer? Etc etc etc

Anyway, Joe wouldn't go to fat camp willingly, kidknapping was the only way

Next weeks show sounds ok from the spoilers, with the exception of a Nasties segment. That might be saved by Brother Runt And its Hardy v AJ, Angle/Pope v Anderson/Wolfe from what I've just read.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Well by the end of that Rvd segment Sting was getting proper boo'd. Its the most over I've ever seen him as a heel. Have to see if they can run with these foundations now

Don't start with the "where are the police" thing, how many times has Vince been blown up in his limo? Or run over by Austin in a monster truck. How about Trips breaking into Orton's house with a sledgehammer? Etc etc etc

Anyway, Joe wouldn't go to fat camp willingly, kidknapping was the only way

Next weeks show sounds ok from the spoilers, with the exception of a Nasties segment. That might be saved by Brother Runt And its Hardy v AJ, Angle/Pope v Anderson/Wolfe from what I've just read.

I only talk about the police because of what Russo constantly bangs on about in regards to his storylines - 'realism'.

NXT is my favourite wrestling show. Awesome story line progression and there is some character building in the ring as we're learning quite a bit from each of the rookies.

Show started with a tag match between David 'A List' Otunga and R-Truth v The Miz and Daniel Bryan. Otunga and R-Truth dominated on The Miz for the majority of it, Bryan tagged himself in, had Otunga in a heel lock, The Miz tagged himself in to Bryan's dismay, they argued, R-Truth with a drop kick, Otunga with the pin. After the match, The Miz and Bryan argued some more and Bryan teased a slap to The Miz who ducked, which got a huge pop. Daniel Bryan without winning a match in three, is by far the most over rookie on the show.

Carlito v Heath Slater (this goofy ****er with the ginger hair) was an ok match which allowed Slater to show he has little ring psychology but reasonable technical skill and is a bit of a mover for a big guy. Slater surprisingly won with a roll up and he and Christian celebrated.

Jericho's Mancunian Wade Barrett v Justin Gabriel. With a Brit and a South African in the ring, the crowd chanted USA, presumingly for Matt Hardy and the ref. This match should have been shorter but it sent a good message at the end. Gabriel hit Barrett with a cool 450 splash, Jericho beat him at the end with his jacket, more like whipped and got him in the Walls. Good ending.