The Wrestling Thread: Rich Folk Only

[GrinWithoutaKat]

What is the point in the draft? I get they just want to piggyback on the buzz of the NFL draft, but it felt like 90% of the picks were just staying were they were.

[Rawrgna]

Agreed unless they go back to single brand PLEs again then the draft doesnt really matter all that much

[KK]

Currently just over an hour into SmackDown at the moment and it’s not been a particularly good show. In fact it’s been horribly formatted. I don’t know if the opening segment overran enormously and fudged the rest of the programme but there’s a balance to be struck between matches that needlessly go 15 minutes and nothing bouts that go 2 minutes. Coupled with the dire Draft and I’m wishing I’d gone with the ‘Tube highlights like I normally do.

[GrinWithoutaKat]

Found this far too funny...

https://youtu.be/cUhyLbHRBn8?si=N0vy9b2RtPuMjNUm

[ITSMILNER]

Yeah, I don’t see what the point of this draft was most people stayed as they were

[Ploiper]

has dismantled the smackdown tag scene a bit, lose the final testament, lwo and new catch republic and only gain diy. should have at least given smackdown an nxt tag team.

[Jam-Master Jay]

I'm glad Damage CTRL are gone from Smackdown so they can stop being fed to Jade and Bianca at least. There are a lot of factions on RAW now.

This angry troll version of Drew has been great the past few months, hopefully he and Punk can heal up and stay healthy for a fun feud this year.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Yeah, I don’t see what the point of this draft was most people stayed as they were

Yeah pointless, they should have just opened up one of the shows and said the GMs have agreed to a trade, here’s the list of those moving, thanks.

[KK]

John Laurinaitis has done a U-turn, now opting to corroborate Vince McMahon’s account of things in full (having previously claimed he was also a victim of McMahon).

John’s attorney Edward Brennan:

John Laurinaitis has filed a Motion today fully joining in and adopting Vince McMahon’s motion to compel arbitration.  Mr. Laurinaitis corroborates Mr. McMahon in publicly declaring that Ms. Grant’s allegations of sexual abuse and coercion in her Complaint are completely unfounded.  My client will fight these false allegations together with Mr. McMahon in the proper forum, arbitration.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

John Laurinaitis has done a U-turn, now opting to corroborate Vince McMahon’s account of things in full (having previously claimed he was also a victim of McMahon).

John’s attorney Edward Brennan:

John Laurinaitis has filed a Motion today fully joining in and adopting Vince McMahon’s motion to compel arbitration.  Mr. Laurinaitis corroborates Mr. McMahon in publicly declaring that Ms. Grant’s allegations of sexual abuse and coercion in her Complaint are completely unfounded.  My client will fight these false allegations together with Mr. McMahon in the proper forum, arbitration.

I wonder if he earned a nice extra pay packet for that decision.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

twitter.com/WrestleTalk_TV/status/1786123799814906168

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Did anyone watch SD tonight. It was on 6 to 8 live as it's in France.

The crowd was absolutely electric. Amazing. Clearly long overdue taking some premium shows there.

Also anyone know how the ticket prices compared to Scotland. Were they also combo tickets? SD and backlash.

twitter.com/solsrvca/status/1786455827542356139

twitter.com/EliteClubS0B/status/1786456810830143798

twitter.com/EliteClubS0B/status/1786471516944687296

[KK]

Currently watching it now. Maybe because I don’t watch these things every week anymore, but I find the pacing of some of this stuff seriously hard work. The opening half hour was taken up by at least 10 minutes worth of entrances, commercial breaks, 3 backstage segments, plugs for sponsors (PROGRESSIVE!!), FOX programming and recaps of prior episodes.

In terms of the crowd and look of the show however, absolutely superb. These international events always garner a fantastic and very engaged crowd response - they practically respond to every move, irrespective of how mundane it is. I think the North American audience, give or take a few cities like Chicago, are a little burnt out as it’s not a novelty any more like it is for places like France or Puerto Rico. For some reason Liverpool was complete garbage once but that was an anomaly (Vince McMahon actually came out during a commercial break and told the crowd to wake up). The more of these they can do abroad the better. Having wrestling late on a Friday night rather than during the week also suits me down to the ground (just like the old days!).

The fact ringside isn’t lit up like a Christmas tree because they didn’t take the LED boards over has been a boon as well.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

twitter.com/WrestleTalk_TV/status/1786507809837731971

[KK]

Every single match tomorrow evening should be entertaining thanks to the crowd.

The design and logo of that PRIME bottle at ringside wouldn’t look out of place on SmackDown! circa 1999.

[KK]

One of the best opening matches to a WWE PPV that I can remember.

Seems The Rock with one side of the Bloodline vs Roman Reigns and the other side of the group seems to be the obvious direction here.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

twitter.com/WrestleTalk_TV/status/1786813138341417097

Heyman's facial reactions are the MVP of the bloodline at the moment.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

twitter.com/WrestleTalk_TV/status/1786813138341417097

Heyman's facial reactions are the MVP of the bloodline at the moment.

[Mafro]

One of the best opening matches to a WWE PPV that I can remember.

Seems The Rock with one side of the Bloodline vs Roman Reigns and the other side of the group seems to be the obvious direction here.

Rock, Tonga, Loa and Solo vs Roman, Usos and Jacob Fatu in a war games match will be glorious.

[KK]

The woman’s tag match completely fell apart for about 4 minutes following the realisation Kairi Sane wasn’t the legal woman, but the ending sequence was great.

Crowd also got to witness a title change, which they deserve to be frank.