WWE/Professional Wrestling

[Bray Wyatt]

Didn't see a thread started but us "marks" enjoy discussing what is going on in the world of wrestling so I figured we could have a place to talk about that here

 

Any thoughts on whats shaping up for a good Wrestlemania season? Do you prefer raw or smackdown? Fast lane is this Sunday, goes Owens retain? Who are your favorites and what rumors Do you hear?

[ExiledInIllinois]

Didn't see a thread started but us "marks" enjoy discussing what is going on in the world of wrestling so I figured we could have a place to talk about that here

 

Any thoughts on whats shaping up for a good Wrestlemania season? Do you prefer raw or smackdown? Fast lane is this Sunday, goes Owens retain? Who are your favorites and what rumors Do you hear?

My +80 year old, half-blind (macular degen) father prefers I think: Smackdown, he sits 4 inches from TV and watches from the corner of his eyes! Everything else is radio to him! On high volume too! ;-)

 

My wife's grandmother who died in late 1980s liked wrestling too. She was off the boat from Italy... Would roll down her socks and drink Genesee (Gen-Ah-ZEE... Jaahnny (Johnny) Get me another Gen-Ah-ZEE!) while watching pro-wrestling.

 

Hope that helps! ;-)

[KermitMcDermott]

I don't watch every week but keep an eye on it. I was a huge fan up until about 2007.

 

I mostly watch for Luke Harper since he's from Rochester and saw him on the local indy scene for years. I think a three way between him/Bray/Orton at Mania would be cool.

 

I'm glad guys like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe are finally in the company. They wasted too many years in TNA.

 

I get a big kick out of Enzo Amore. He's great on the mic.

 

I'm glad Angle is getting inducted into the HOF. He was the best performer in WWE around 99-2000, IMO.

[The Poojer]

And you can't teach that!!!!

 

I don't watch every week but keep an eye on it. I was a huge fan up until about 2007.

 

I mostly watch for Luke Harper since he's from Rochester and saw him on the local indy scene for years. I think a three way between him/Bray/Orton at Mania would be cool.

 

I'm glad guys like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe are finally in the company. They wasted too many years in TNA.

 

I get a big kick out of Enzo Amore. He's great on the mic.

 

I'm glad Angle is getting inducted into the HOF. He was the best performer in WWE around 99-2000, IMO.

[Beef Jerky]

WWF

[Bray Wyatt]

I don't watch every week but keep an eye on it. I was a huge fan up until about 2007.

 

I mostly watch for Luke Harper since he's from Rochester and saw him on the local indy scene for years. I think a three way between him/Bray/Orton at Mania would be cool.

 

I'm glad guys like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe are finally in the company. They wasted too many years in TNA.

 

I get a big kick out of Enzo Amore. He's great on the mic.

 

I'm glad Angle is getting inducted into the HOF. He was the best performer in WWE around 99-2000, IMO.

I'm from Rochester as well so am a big Harper fan, he is so agile for a big guy. I watched the attitude era and took a hiatus for awhile and came back a few years ago. Angle was a favorite of mine back and I heard he is supposed to have a bigger role after Wrestlemania perhaps a GM or something

 

I never got to watch TNA (hard to find when it is on and what channel) but I like what I see from Samoa Joe and Styles esp. it's crazy to think that they were a big feud in TNA and now WWE is making a lot more money off of them

WWF

What does the World Wildlife Foundation have to do with wrestling?? ; -)

[Maury Ballstein]

 

Today's wrestlers are bums.

 

Nature Boy > all

 

[jr1]

Buddy Landell and Sade

 

Edited March 4, 2017 by jr1

[KermitMcDermott]

^^^^ hahaha This is my favorite old school corny wrestling video.

 

[ChevyVanMiller]

I'm not an avid follower like I was in my teens and twenties, but I do like the Deliverance vibe of the family that you take your screen name from.

 

Here's a pic from a few years ago of my girlfriend and I dressed as the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth for Halloween. We won top prize at the party we were at.

 

Oh, Yeahhhhh!

 

 

 

[billsfanmiami(oh)]

https://youtu.be/BxtCTaCxDUc

[BillsPride12]

I'm not an avid follower like I was in my teens and twenties, but I do like the Deliverance vibe of the family that you take your screen name from.

 

Here's a pic from a few years ago of my girlfriend and I dressed as the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth for Halloween. We won top prize at the party we were at.

 

Oh, Yeahhhhh!

 

 

 

IMG_0647.JPG

Awesome costumes man!

[26CornerBlitz]

@SInow

Big Show says Shaq “looks like Jabba the Hutt” and his fitness is to blame for cancellation of Wrestlemania match http://on.si.com/2m6q3HX

[Bray Wyatt]

I'm not an avid follower like I was in my teens and twenties, but I do like the Deliverance vibe of the family that you take your screen name from.

 

Here's a pic from a few years ago of my girlfriend and I dressed as the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth for Halloween. We won top prize at the party we were at.

 

Oh, Yeahhhhh!

 

 

 

IMG_0647.JPG

Well done my man!!

@SInow

 

 

 

 

 

Big Show says Shaq looks like Jabba the Hutt and his fitness is to blame for cancellation of Wrestlemania match http://on.si.com/2m6q3HX

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't necessarily care for the match, but I do wonder if it is a work. The big show did bust his ass to lose weight and now he may not have a match at mania so I am sure he is kinda pissed. Edited March 4, 2017 by Bray Wyatt

[Johnny Hammersticks]

It's still real to me dammit!!!!

[shrader]

I'm not an avid follower like I was in my teens and twenties, but I do like the Deliverance vibe of the family that you take your screen name from.

 

Here's a pic from a few years ago of my girlfriend and I dressed as the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth for Halloween. We won top prize at the party we were at.

 

Oh, Yeahhhhh!

 

 

 

IMG_0647.JPG

I won't lie, I was hoping for zombie costumes

[Maury Ballstein]

It's still real to me dammit!!!!

That video is the best thing to ever grace the interwebs

 

 

I can't watch modern day wrestling but I know some

Folks still enjoy it.

 

In case the newbies haven't seen this gem.

[Captain_Quint]

That video is the best thing to ever grace the interwebs

 

 

I can't watch modern day wrestling but I know some

Folks still enjoy it.

 

In case the newbies haven't seen this gem.

I havent watched that in a long time. Never gets old...

[Hammered a Lot]

I'm not an avid follower like I was in my teens and twenties, but I do like the Deliverance vibe of the family that you take your screen name from.

 

Here's a pic from a few years ago of my girlfriend and I dressed as the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth for Halloween. We won top prize at the party we were at.

 

Oh, Yeahhhhh!

 

 

 

IMG_0647.JPG

No comment

[Hurricane]

I always went to ECW when they would come to the Flickenger center in downtown Buffalo... But then Vince bought them out and there whent that..

[ChevyVanMiller]

No comment

Whatdaya mean, "No Comment." I'm thinking of wearing this to the opening tailgating this year.

[The Poojer]

Fastlane time. Looking forward to seeing Goldberg crush Kevin Owen

[Bray Wyatt]

The cruiser weight match on the pre show was good. Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa have good chemistry

[Marv's Neighbor]

As a person who used to go to the Aud , Friday nights, in the late 50's- early 60's I can't watch WWE. No midgets, no German bad guys, not much entertainment value at all any more.

[Eric Moulds on my A**]

Goldberg is 50.. let that digest while we watch him jackhammer KO. I was skeptical when he came back but he's shown he can still hang and perform at a high level.

[jr1]

Hardys Ring of Honor contract is long term http://www.wrestlingnewsworld.com/hardys-will-not-return-wwe-roh-contract-long-term/

[The Poojer]

pretty sure ring of honor is a south philly based organization. Would love to be able to see jeff hardy locally

 

 

Hardys Ring of Honor contract is long term http://www.wrestlingnewsworld.com/hardys-will-not-return-wwe-roh-contract-long-term/

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

I'm getting kinda sick of WWE and their same old ****, starting to get into New Japan. Los Ingobernables de Japon!

Seeing Goldberg beat um up again is the coolest thing though. The Broken Hardys act is hilarious too, a little bummed that Impact lost them as I don't get ROH's channel.

[KermitMcDermott]

The broken Hardy's were the biggest thing IMPACT had going and they were let go. A perfect example of why the company has been a total failure.

 

I'd really like to see them back in WWE however ROH is a solid alternative.

 

EDIT - Now there's rumors that the deal is not long term.

Edited March 6, 2017 by KermitMcDermott

[KermitMcDermott]

According to PWInsider.com, O’Neal has said that negotiations between himself and WWE are back on. O’Neal said:

“I’ve talked to somebody high up in the organization, and they – we’re back talking again. I just want the people to know it had nothing to do with me, despite what you hear.”

Hoping this gets done.

Edited March 6, 2017 by KermitMcDermott

[ChevyVanMiller]

Tonight Rick Rude joins the WWE 2017 Hall of Fame class.

[The Poojer]

one of my bigger complaints is the lack of talent....one night after a pay per view event, big cass and enzo are wrestling again against anderson and gallow....too quick a turnaround, you need to let these things fester to build up the rivalry....and bringing out seamus and cesario doesn't help....bring out lesser teams to wrestle

[The Poojer]

and i am a big kofi kingston fan, but this new day stuff is ridiculous....let him wrestle on his own, stop with the cartoon antics, that being said, i did enjoy the bootie-o's cereal

[Bray Wyatt]

one of my bigger complaints is the lack of talent....one night after a pay per view event, big cass and enzo are wrestling again against anderson and gallow....too quick a turnaround, you need to let these things fester to build up the rivalry....and bringing out seamus and cesario doesn't help....bring out lesser teams to wrestle

There are other teams/people they could build up, creative (particularly on raw) seems to not be able to build a mid and lower card. I'm not sure it's a lack of talent as it is the booking

[dpberr]

Professional wrestling today takes itself too serious, IMO. Believe it or not. I'm not a wrestling fan but the wrestlers of yesterday were more actors, less professional athletes.

 

You legitimately thought Macho Man and the Ultimate Warrior were completely out of their minds.

 

The guys today are more professional athletes than they are actors.

 

Back in the day you had a guy with a parrot and gigantic snake (Koko B Ware, Jake Roberts), guys who's final move was cutting hair, (Brutus the Barber) guys who carried lumber as a weapon (Hacksaw), guys who carried instruments as weapons (Honky Tonk Man) and ridiculous Cold War stereotypes like Sergeant Slaugter, the Iron Shiek and Nikolai Volkov.

Edited March 7, 2017 by dpberr

[Bray Wyatt]

Professional wrestling today takes itself too serious, IMO. Believe it or not. I'm not a wrestling fan but the wrestlers of yesterday were more actors, less professional athletes.

 

You legitimately thought Macho Man and the Ultimate Warrior were completely out of their minds.

 

The guys today are more professional athletes than they are actors.

 

Back in the day you had a guy with a parrot and gigantic snake (Koko B Ware, Jake Roberts), guys who's final move was cutting hair, (Brutus the Barber) guys who carried lumber as a weapon (Hacksaw), guys who carried instruments as weapons (Honky Tonk Man) and ridiculous Cold War stereotypes like Sergeant Slaugter, the Iron Shiek and Nikolai Volkov.

They have had to cut things like that out mainly due to concussions etc. Sting used to have his bat, I think that was the last real weapon that was consistently carried to the ring unless I am mistaken.

 

Chair shots are not done to the head any more, they are either jabs to the stomach or straight across the back

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

one of my bigger complaints is the lack of talent....one night after a pay per view event, big cass and enzo are wrestling again against anderson and gallow....too quick a turnaround, you need to let these things fester to build up the rivalry....and bringing out seamus and cesario doesn't help....bring out lesser teams to wrestle

I think about the year-long storyline that WCW used to build up to Sting vs. Hogan, the only time Sting drew truly big money...to build it they took Sting out of the ring for over a year. That could never happen in today's environment. Imagine Roman Reigns or Cena or someone not injured, not filming a movie, but actively there building a storyline for a year even while not wrestling and not necessarily showing up every single week. It would never happen- today stories do not get that time to fester because the company is publically traded and constantly thinking about what numbers they'll have to show the shareholders THIS quarter. They need Roman Reigns on television and wrestling every single week.

 

In the early years of Hulkamania, Hogan never wrestled on TV at all. If you wanted to see Hogan wrestle you ordered the PPV. It kept him fresh and kept his matches feeling like a big deal. And he wasn't an Undertaker-like part timer, he was in the Reigns chair carrying the company. Now WWE has 3 hours of Raw to fill every week and you better believe their top full-time stars are wrestling on every show. The result is we see the same matches over and over again (if memory serves, Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston once worked 15+ televised matches in one year), and wrestlers get stale in a year when it used to take a decade.

 

I saw Jessie Ventura interviewed somewhere talking about how he hates the way they stand in the ring face to face and talk and look at each other for 20 minutes. Before there was so much TV time to fill in-between the big matches, that was never the case. The viewer never got to see that. Wrestlers, matches and storylines were kept fresh. If you wanted to see them face-to-face in the ring you ordered the PPV and watched the match.

 

Some of it is the natural way the game has changed as media has changed, some of it is WWE not having the incentive or desire to take risks or shake anything up. Even if more 'seasoned' fans are getting bored, they're not too worried about it. They proved during the Cena years they don't necessarily need everyone to be happy when they're marketing the show to children.

 

 

Off topic but what gets me the most is how they seem to hold people down. Cesaro for example is an absolute beast. Like Daniel Bryan he was known as a top talent before WWE even called him. He had a 2 of 3 Falls match with Sami Zayn in NXT a few years ago that was just incredible. He's the kind of guy, like a Bryan, who you just let him go out there and wrestle amazing matches and he will get over with the audience just by working his ass off and showing people a wrestling match like they've never seen before. Now Raw has expanded to 3 hours and there's time to burn, but they refuse to just unleash the guy. They refuse to just say "we're going to book you in 20-minute matches with good opponents, go out there and show off your world-class talent." It would be beyond easy to get Cesaro over, its all in the wrestling, he does it himself. They refuse to unleash him. He's always saddled with the Real American thing or the Sheamus thing or he's inexplicably kept off TV or he's jobbing, working an 8-minute match and losing. It seems like they have a few handpicked people who they want to be stars, and if you're not a chosen one then the company is prepared to pull your legs out from under you to keep you in the midcard, and keep the kids focused on Roman Reigns and the like.

 

Paul Heyman said on the Stone Cold podcast that Vince once told him, "all your money is right here, Paul," and he outlined just his face. To Vince, the face is the moneymaker...if you don't have the face then the office doesn't get behind you as a big star who can draw money and carry the business, no matter how well you can act, how much fans like you, how good you are in the ring. Even if wrestling fans all love you, you don't have the face to put on a poster or on a talk show to draw over the crossover fans, the mainstream non-wrestling viewers. So avid wrestling fans who have already seen the pretty faces come and go, and have come to appreciate talent over size or looks, are naturally going to be disappointed by who they decide to push.

 

There's stuff I like don't get me wrong, I try to just appreciate the talent. They have an unbelievable talent roster in my opinion.

 

/rant

[Roundybout]

They have had to cut things like that out mainly due to concussions etc. Sting used to have his bat, I think that was the last real weapon that was consistently carried to the ring unless I am mistaken.

 

Chair shots are not done to the head any more, they are either jabs to the stomach or straight across the back

That might have been Trip's sledgehammer that was the last one brought out. I forget when the last time he used it was...might have been a Lesnar match.

[Just Jack]

I saw Jessie Ventura interviewed somewhere talking about how he hates the way they stand in the ring face to face and talk and look at each other for 20 minutes. Before there was so much TV time to fill in-between the big matches, that was never the case. The viewer never got to see that. Wrestlers, matches and storylines were kept fresh. If you wanted to see them face-to-face in the ring you ordered the PPV and watched the match.

South Park did an episode where their entire wrestling show was skits and it was very popular. Once they actually started fighting for real, everyone left.

[John from Riverside]

A few pro wrestler encounters

 

When I was a teenager i was a meat cutter for golden coral steakhouse......as I am cleaning the salad bar and who comes in but Koko B Ware and his wife

 

Now....compared to other wrestler's he looked small but let me tell you....that guy is huge. He was very cordial and wife was really nice and I cut them a steak special and took good care of them (he did not have his parrot at the time)

 

While up at Universal Studios "The Rock" was filiming the scorpion king and took some time to talk to me a bit.....cool guy

 

In the beginning stages of my daughter's acting (when you start out in this you do a lot of non paid stuff in indie films) my daughter met a actress named Dee Dee Bigelow........who was the sister of the pro wrestler "Bam Bam Bigelow".....a lot of older actress/young actress mentoring went on with that (the indie film had the rodrigez kids)

 

In the last years of my daughter's acting career we were in the final auditions of a movie that was going to feature several professional wrestler's....this was right before her car accident that she never returned back to Hollywood from......I was dissapointed because I really wanted to meet several of the actors and wrestler's that were going to be in the cast.

Edited March 8, 2017 by John from Hemet