The Wrestling Thread

[MrMichael]

I hate the name, and I think the concept will be hard to maintain long term, but it almost sounds interesting enough to watch regularly while its fresh.

Why oh why did they have to call Brian Danielson "Daniel Bryan" though? Just reminds me of his real name every time I hear it. I struggle to think of him as a rookie like, but I'm glad he's getting over, some of his work in ROH was amazing.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Ratings are in.

Raw did 3.4
NXT did 1.0

Impact did a 0.9 (only one small part of Hogan's match did 1.0)

Let's here the spin after seeing Wade Barrett and David Otunga beat Hogan, Flair, Nash, Angle, Foley, Hall.

By the way, with Raw having Austin as Guest Host, Bret and Vince contract signing, will the Impact tapings get a 0.5?

[MrMichael]

Seriously though, as if it won't take an awfully long time for Impact to even be competitive.

What matters to me, and every proper wrestling fan, isn't ratings, its how good the shows are to watch. Was Raw 3.5 times better than Impact? Was it hell. As long as it does well enough to survive, which it should... Spike aren't stupid, they know what they're taking on here. Their highest rating show (UFC) draws 1.5 max too.

Has Raw improved since TNA started to make this play? Yep, at least its not a total embarassment now. Don't get me wrong, there are huge problems with some of Tna's programming, an awful lot of it perhaps, however I'd far rather see 2 companies competing than I would the one just wallowing along getting progressively worse and worse and worse.

Comparing NXT's ratings on Tuesday to TNA's on Monday is just fatuous. TNA outdrew NXT/ECW when it wasn't up in the same time slot against the most successful show in the history of the business. And why list "Hogan, Flair, Nash, Angle, Foley, Hall"? FFS man, tna has a ton of fresh talent, some of which is getting a chance to shine. More of which hopefully will as time goes on. Hey, its not as if Raw isn't centered next week around a retired guy, a guy who'll die if he ever wrestles properly again, and a 60-yr old who ain't even a wrestler now is it?

And its not like the only 5* wwe match in the entire of 2009 wasn't between Taker and HBK, not exactly spring chickens them either.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Seriously though, as if it won't take an awfully long time for Impact to even be competitive.

What matters to me, and every proper wrestling fan, isn't ratings, its how good the shows are to watch. Was Raw 3.5 times better than Impact? Was it hell. As long as it does well enough to survive, which it should... Spike aren't stupid, they know what they're taking on here. Their highest rating show (UFC) draws 1.5 max too.

Has Raw improved since TNA started to make this play? Yep, at least its not a total embarassment now. Don't get me wrong, there are huge problems with some of Tna's programming, an awful lot of it perhaps, however I'd far rather see 2 companies competing than I would the one just wallowing along getting progressively worse and worse and worse.

Comparing NXT's ratings on Tuesday to TNA's on Monday is just fatuous. TNA outdrew NXT/ECW when it wasn't up in the same time slot against the most successful show in the history of the business. And why list "Hogan, Flair, Nash, Angle, Foley, Hall"? FFS man, tna has a ton of fresh talent, some of which is getting a chance to shine. More of which hopefully will as time goes on. Hey, its not as if Raw isn't centered next week around a retired guy, a guy who'll die if he ever wrestles properly again, and a 60-yr old who ain't even a wrestler now is it?

And its not like the only 5* wwe match in the entire of 2009 wasn't between Taker and HBK, not exactly spring chickens them either.

Ratings don't indicate how many times better a show is compared to its rivals. Ratings show how progressively worse Impact has gone since the January 4 show, where it was at 1.2 to a 0.9. 300,000 viewers have switched off in TWO MONTHS!

Has Raw improved since TNA moved to Monday nights? Has it heck. At times, it seemed as if they were daring viewers to watch TNA on Monday night. The womens and the Orton handicap were poor matches. It was as if McMahon was begging viewers to switch but viewers didn't.

TNA would outdraw ECW. Hell, I could make a tv show and make it outdraw ECW. That show sucked HUGE! If TNA can't beat NXT on 'the biggest night of the company's history', they won't survive for much long. When you have a bunch of losers and geeks from WCW, a FAILED and DEFUNCT company, working for TNA, you aren't going to be successful. Hiring Vince Russo, and god knows how he's still in a job after so many ****ing ****ty years at TNA, is probably the biggest mistake Jarrett ever made.

I have no problem watching Flair and Hogan wrestle but when the faces get the revenge on the go home show, WHAT'S THE ****ING POINT IN WATCHING THE MATCH THE NEXT WEEK? McMahon's tormented Hart and fans want to see Hart get his revenge at the PPV. That's how booking works. Either Austin beats McMahon up, as per usual, or Hart reveals he doesn't have a broken leg in a swerve which has meant McMahon is now locked in a match against a guy who's wanted his revenge since 97.

Your experienced wrestlers are bound to have the match of the year. A match with Shawn Michaels, be it TV or PPV, is going to be good because he's a ****ing awesome worker. TNA probably have more gifted workers: Angle, Sting, Wolfe but it's so frustrating watching talented guys being jobbed and buried by the oldies and being made to perform ass backwards writing.

[MrMichael]

Are you Lance Storm in disguise?

http://www.stormwrestling.com/030910.html

To be honest I think he overdoes it in that, Impact wasn't that bad at all.

Nah, I kinda agree with most of what you say, I just enjoy seeing a lot of the guys they have @ TNA wrestle, and when they're allowed to on the occasional ppv, its worth it.

Did you ever get round to watching the Angle - Wolfe match from a couple of months ago? It was fab.

The rest, well, its often a shambles, and barring the production, Hogan and Bischoff haven't changed that. In fact arguably they've made it worse. I choose to watch Impact now only because you never know from week to week what you're going to get, wheras I've been finding Raw especially impossibly dull and predictable for as long as I can remember. Doesn't mean Impact's good, just that I find it a more entertaining watch when a bit stoned.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Are you Lance Storm in disguise?

http://www.stormwrestling.com/030910.html

To be honest I think he overdoes it in that, Impact wasn't that bad at all.

Nah, I kinda agree with most of what you say, I just enjoy seeing a lot of the guys they have @ TNA wrestle, and when they're allowed to on the occasional ppv, its worth it.

Did you ever get round to watching the Angle - Wolfe match from a couple of months ago? It was fab.

The rest, well, its often a shambles, and barring the production, Hogan and Bischoff haven't changed that. In fact arguably they've made it worse. I choose to watch Impact now only because you never know from week to week what you're going to get, wheras I've been finding Raw especially impossibly dull and predictable for as long as I can remember. Doesn't mean Impact's good, just that I find it a more entertaining watch when a bit stoned.

Lance Storm is ****ing spot on. It was an awful show to start this 'war' which by the way isn't.

Wait, you find Raw boring and predictable but you enjoy Impact because it's 'surprising'? You're exactly who Russo loves. A fan who loves a swerve for no logical reason. Why do TNA need surprises now? They are so far behind WWE, they need as much exposure as possible. The whole RVD ordeal was a shambles. It was all over the internet the guy was going to come, why didn't they make it official and do the whole shebang and draw in some people? RVD came through the ****ing crowd! What's that about? He's going to be one of the men to launch Impact, supposedly, to the next level and the fans can't even pop properly because he comes through the crowd. Great going. Explains the 0.98 rating.

Get this, this is how organised TNA were. RVD got this 16 hour beating from Sting only because Hogan was stuck in the other studio filming his 55 vignettes which ranged from Bubba The Love Sponge telling him he's busted and broken to Brooke saying the same thing. Brilliant planning. I can't wait to see Jeff Hardy pin the champion before he goes to court whilst Styles still has a match with Abyss at the PPV. This company is unbelievable.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Smackdown was most definitely better than Raw and we started to see some momentum going into some of the feuds especially CM Punk and Rey Mysterio which was awesome.

Show started with Mysterio coming out with his family, which screamed ANGLE, from the start. He came out talking about the Universe is his family and how he wants to share his family with the Universe as it was his daughter's ninth birthday. Crowd was great at this, huge chant for Happy Birthday, Rey proceeded on singing Happy Birthday until CM Punk came out and finished the song. He was an unbelievable asshole and I loved him. He challenged Rey to a match and then called him a coward amongst other things. Rey was backing away and Punk slapped Rey. Rey got his family out of the ring and got himself out and Punk continued singing Happy Birthday. Great start to Smackdown.

Miz had a match against R Truth. No real quality in this but it was used to put Truth over Miz and continue the feud with Daniel Bryan, who was at ringside, with the Miz. Finish came about when Miz tried to cheat and use the ropes to get the pin and Bryan pushed his feet. Miz was astounded, Truth done the Lie Detector and got the win.

Drew McIntyre had his defeat chalked off again at the request of McMahon and had to fight in a winner takes all match against Aaron Bolo, a jobber from Seattle, for the IC title and a spot at the MITB match. McIntyre won in 20 secs. He'll probably win the MITB. Best part was McIntyre going to Matt Striker and making him say McIntyre is going to Wrestlemania and raise his arm aloft.

Big Show took on Morrison in a match to make Big Show seem valuable to the match at Wrestlemania. Show dominated with loads of slaps, chops, blocks and punches. Morrison tried a few high fliers, one didn't work which was met by a big punch. Show got the pin and walked with the two belts.

Teddy Long met Tiffany at the back. She was happy to join Smackdown. Vickie Guerrero didn't want Tiffany anywhere near Smackdown because she drove ECW down. I agreed. Long said Tiffany is now a Diva. Guerrero smirked and booked her in a match against Michelle McCool - I howled.

Hart Dynasty v Cryme Tyme was a match to showcase Undertaker can use the chokeslam, last ride, tombstone and Hells Gate.

Michelle McCool v Tiffany was awful. McCool did some pushups and then was forced to take some clunky offence from Tiffany. They continued to fight on the outside and Guerrero steamtrained into Tiffany calling for the DQ. McCool kneed Tiffany and Beth Phoenix made the save. God knows why. And parity was restored.

Gallows vs Kane was the main event on Smackdown. Not that it mattered. Gallows beat on Kane for large periods, Kane did the usual comeback from the top rope and chokeslam. Punk interrupted and nailed Kane with the GTS. Mysterio came out and they brawled over the barricade. His street clothes and mask looked kinda goofy.

THE HIGHLIGHT REEL returned to Smackdown with Edge being the guest. 'Spear, spear, spear' all over the arena, guess that's the tag line for this match at Mania. Good promos, back and fourths from both. Jericho called Edge selfish for looking out for himself only and going out injured, Edge said his injuries are the result of hard work and risk taking. Jericho said facing him was a risk and he hasn't been a success by himself. He also rushed his recovery and Jericho will make him pay and put him back out for six months. Edge said he will make Jericho ex champion and Jericho beat him down with the mic and whipped him with his suit jacket. Edge got some offence, went for the spear and Jericho nailed him with the title.

All in all, good show and a fine flow throughout with the destination being Wrestlemania.

[MrShawnMichaels]

Ratings are in: Raw 3.7, Impact 0.8.

Raw started with Austin cutting a promo about how great it is to be back and was boosting the main event between Hart and McMahon's contract signing. He was great. He looks a lot leaner too.

Cena came out for his Wrestlemania Revenge match against Big Show (from Wrestlemania XX) and it was rubbish, these two can't work a match to save their lives. Mid way in the match, Batista came out in his gear and his belt. Show went for the chokeslam and got a two count. Cena then went for the Attitude Adjustment, Batista distracted the ref, Show racked the eyes and hit a punch and got the win. Crap ending.

Sheamus was out to face Evan Bourne but instead proceeded to knock him out with the mike, the kick and the Razor's Edge and cut a really good promo about wanting to take the top guy of the company out at Wrestlemania.

Kelly Kelly vs Maryse was an utter shambles. Kelly Kelly isn't even a wrestler. Kelly got a few moves in but Maryse won. Maryse had a post match beat down of Kelly, Gail Kim and Eve Torres came to Kelly's rescue until Michelle McCool and Layla beat down on Kim and Torres. Vicki Guerrero was smiling at the top of the ramp. Please don't have this match at Wrestlemania.

Shawn Michaels came out for the second Wrestlemania Rewind match of the evening. With Michaels fighting Taker at WM and Jericho being champion, no way was there going to be clean winner and so it ended up that way. Nine minutes of little wrestling and Jericho left to lose on countout. Edge jumped him from behind and performed the spear in the ring. Michaels somehow disappeared somewhere. The writers are trying to get the spear over but Jericho just attacked Edge with the belt on Raw. Weird writing this.

Austin apparently booked Orton v DiBiase v Rhodes at Wrestlemania in the worst feud leading this PPV. They've ran this down to the ground. Orton had an interview in which he buried his opponents at Wrestlemania, which made no sense and looked forward to his match with Triple H. This was awful. Orton is not even over as a face and gets no reaction from the crowd at all.

Triple H vs Randy Orton rewind match from last year. Lots of punches and slams exchanged, Orton misses the RKO, Triple H gets some offence, hit the pedigree and Legacy jump Triple H and then beat down on a defenceless Orton. Triple H comes back into the ring to beat Legacy, for no apparent reason, and then WHITE FLASH, it's Sheamus who delivers his kick. Rhodes takes Orton to the outside and delivers Cross Rhodes. Match next week is Triple H and Orton v Legacy and Sheamus.

Batista v Kingston was to show Batista's cockiness in the ring but it also showed why Kingston isn't in the MITB match. He was awful and made quite a few cockups. Batista dominated early, Kingston did some high flying things, Batista bled from a kick, he got mad and battered Kingston into a pulp and won. Best part was at the end, he seen a fan with a Cena t shirt and went up to him and the guy ducked as if he was going to get punched as Batista had feigned to punch him in a heelish way. The guys around him laughed and so did Batista. I mean, who wears a bright orange John Cena t shirt in the public at that age?

Main event was the contract signing. Bret Hart came out first and looked goofy in his cast and crutch. Couldn't sell it properly at all. Vince came out and mocked Hart and didn't do his proper strut, which is my favourite part. Austin came out and demanded they both sign and announced Stu Hart will be in the HOF. McMahon said he gave Hart a choice to not sign and prove he is a coward or sign and get his ass kicked. Hart said he would kick Vince's ass with two broken legs and he wanted it to be No Holds Barred fight and signed the contract. Vince said HELL YEAH and Austin laughed. Vince said Bret was being screwed by Vince, not like 13 years ago when Bret screwed Bret and he looked reluctant but then signed the contract. Austin said it was official and walked up. Austin looked back and said "There is one thing I forgot to tell you, I'll let Bret tell you himself." Vince turned round and the cast was on the table and Bret proceeded in beating Vince with his cast twice and threw the table over him too. That was an awesome segment.

Looking back, it was a promising Raw which probably did a good rating because of Michaels wrestling his last match on Raw for a long time, Austin turning up and the contract signing. No real build for any other matches besides the god awful Legacy split up, Triple H-Sheamus, Cena-Batista and McMahon-Hart. The go home show should be a matter of a few mixed matches and making sure nothing is ****ed up.

[MrShawnMichaels]

So Mr Michael, what was Designation X like?

I'm sure watching Last Call Scott Hall's hairy belly was well worth it.

[MrMichael]

The X-division matches were great, utter spotfests obviously though only having 4 people in each helped keep the cluster**** factor down just a little. Tell you what, those Generation Me lads can really go, with experience they culd be great. MCMG rightly went over though.

Most of the rest was very meh, most obvious swerve ever by Nash (actually Hall looked relatively ok although his Razor's Edge was weak), Anderson - Angle was just about ok..... and then there was the Main Event. AJ - Abyss. Never going to be great.... but then came the booking. Really, I can't adequately describe it, you actually have to watch it. I know you'll love it. Even had me despairing.

[MrMichael]

Epic lolz

From Goldberg's twitter......

YES.. I am in negotiations with the WWE. Looks like 'ole Hogan and TNA missed the boat. Shame for the fans they didn't even try..

Oh dear, Brett Hart is one thing, but bringing Goldberg back? Vince

[Imy]

Epic lolz

From Goldberg's twitter......

Oh dear, Brett Hart is one thing, but bringing Goldberg back? Vince

I think Goldberg can still cut it, he would have been a good attraction for TNA.

[Jayesh87]

I have a goldberg t-shirt

[MrMichael]

I think Goldberg can still cut it, he would have been a good attraction for TNA.

Goldberg was never really ever to cut it.

His gimmick was his unbeatable push, but that's impossible to book successfully long-term. Yeah he was massively over in wcw, and yeah I marked for him at the time, but his wwe run showed it couldn't be replicated for him without the push. Technically he really was never a very good wrestler really.

TNA has enough problems with the likes of Flair and Hogan running amock without adding Bill to the mix. Imo

[Bender]

No way Goldberg .....brilliant news