The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania XL - 6/7 April 2024

[KK]

If you're a bit cynical you could look at the ratings and think they've now just given up on that third hour, which is routinely the lowest of the 3. During the close of the match I also heard one of the women shout out "1 minute", which was how much time the show had left to run. They've gone from having a long overrun to now rigidly sticking to the 3 hours.

RAW was better than last week, but that's not exactly saying much. The recapping, adverts, jobber matches, and video packages seem determined to drive viewers away. It's like the show is now designed for YouTube clips, and the 1 hour 30 international/Hulu edit is also far more enjoyable.

I think it's fair to say Vince McMahon also doesn't give a gooseberry fool about The Revival, who now need reviving.

[BAKA]

So... now I want to watch Dragon Gate... I can't afford them all.

Well done Neville / PAC!

[KK]

RAW did its lowest viewership ever last night (2,286,000). Taped shows for Christmas Eve/New Years Eve will probably send them below 2m.

They don’t seem to care though. They’re making LOADSAMONEY. For now.

[KK]

So Daniel Bryan’s new gimmick is ‘heel militant environmentalist’, against excessive consumerism.

[JV]

Dynamite Kid has passed away, on his 60th birthday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-46457116

To be honest, given the multiple health issues he’s had I’m impressed he made it this far.

[Drumstick]

For some reason, Matt Hardy made an appearance on the Australia vs. India cricket coverage this morning.

[Mafro]

twitter.com/RusevBUL/status/1070536443314008064

[Mafro]

ZSJr vs Ibushi for the NEVER title at Wrestle Kingdom confirmed!

[Dangerblade]

ZSJr vs Ibushi for the NEVER title at Wrestle Kingdom confirmed!

What? It's Ospreay vs. Ibushi

[Mafro]

That’s what I meant Got it confused with the Ishii vs ZSJr for the Rev Pro title.

[BAKA]

Caught up with the World Tag League final. So good. Sanada's beard looked superglued on. Can't wait for WK13.

[Mafro]

Yeah he needs to get that trimmed and stop bleaching it.

[NBK]

Caught up with the World Tag League final. So good. Sanada's beard looked superglued on. Can't wait for WK13.

I'm a bit behind on NJPW, last thing I watched was Omega vs Ibushi vs Codey at King of Pro Wrestling.

Seeing the pace that the promotion tends to move at I've probably missed at least 672 MOTY contenders.

What should I be watching to catch up? (ignoring anything with Tama Tonga in it, obviously)

[BAKA]

I'm a bit behind on NJPW, last thing I watched was Omega vs Ibushi vs Codey at King of Pro Wrestling.

Seeing the pace that the promotion tends to move at I've probably missed at least 672 MOTY contenders.

What should I be watching to catch up? (ignoring anything with Tama Tonga in it, obviously)

I don't think you've missed too much. KOPW was in October(?). The Super Jr. Tag League at Power Struggle had some great matches, pretty much everything with Bushi and Takagi is worth a watch. Jericho vs EVIL was great too and Suzuki vs Ishii. All the main events from last night's show, Ospreay's return, the title match with Ibushi and the World Tag League final. Dangerblade is probably the best person to ask.

[NBK]

I'm a bit behind on NJPW, last thing I watched was Omega vs Ibushi vs Codey at King of Pro Wrestling.

Seeing the pace that the promotion tends to move at I've probably missed at least 672 MOTY contenders.

What should I be watching to catch up? (ignoring anything with Tama Tonga in it, obviously)

I don't think you've missed too much. KOPW was in October(?). The Super Jr. Tag League at Power Struggle had some great matches, pretty much everything with Bushi and Takagi is worth a watch. Jericho vs EVIL was great too and Suzuki vs Ishii. All the main events from last night's show, Ospreay's return, the title match with Ibushi and the World Tag League final. Dangerblade is probably the best person to ask.

Cheers, I'll start going through them tonight. Pretty much done with WWE (NXT aside) so now have more time to spend on NJPW

[Mafro]

There was literally 92 matches in the World Tag League.

[NBK]

There was literally 92 matches in the World Tag League.

That sounds like an offer to rank them all from best to worst for me (including the night they were on, match length and what order everyone came to the ring in).

So kind

[KK]

Atrocious crowd attendance on RAW tonight. They’ve sent Seth Rollins out to start the show to tell everyone how much the show sucks, that Brock Lesnar hasn’t wrestled on the show since 2002, and the ‘toilet humour’ and matches are terrible, under the guise of blaming it all on Corbyn. Even admitting to the record low ratings.

[coldspice]

I'm a bit behind on NJPW, last thing I watched was Omega vs Ibushi vs Codey at King of Pro Wrestling.

Seeing the pace that the promotion tends to move at I've probably missed at least 672 MOTY contenders.

What should I be watching to catch up? (ignoring anything with Tama Tonga in it, obviously)

I don't think you've missed too much. KOPW was in October(?). The Super Jr. Tag League at Power Struggle had some great matches, pretty much everything with Bushi and Takagi is worth a watch. Jericho vs EVIL was great too and Suzuki vs Ishii. All the main events from last night's show, Ospreay's return, the title match with Ibushi and the World Tag League final. Dangerblade is probably the best person to ask.

Cheers, I'll start going through them tonight. Pretty much done with WWE (NXT aside) so now have more time to spend on NJPW

The WTL final itself was very long and not great IMO, but the rest of the show was good.

[coldspice]

Wrestle Kingdom 13 full card has now been confirmed. I was worried by them booking 2 three-way tag matches, but the rest of the line-up looks amazing and this should easily be the show of 2019.

PRE-SHOW: NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match
Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Will Ospreay – NEVER Openweight Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & Shingo Takagi) vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (c) – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. – RPW British Heavyweight Championship
Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (c) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA) vs. Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) – IWGP Tag Team Championship
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Juice Robinson – IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
KUSHIDA (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito – IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega (c) – IWGP Heavyweight Championship