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

[NBK]

Just the 4 matches announced for War Games tonight, so looks like everything is getting a long time. Unless there’s the patented WCW Bonus Match added.

That tends to be the way with the NXT ppvs, 4 or 5 matches with a 2 1/2 or 3 hour running time - definite quality over quantity. Any extra matches are normally shown as part of the weekly episodes.

Saying that, this is the first one that I'm not fully convinced will deliver, possibly down to the Gargano and Ciampa focus again (albeit over separate matches). Will happily be proven wrong though, they've been consistent high points in the WWE calendar.

How wrong I was.

[BAKA]

The crowd very much Team SmackDown. I hope they finally 'win' SS this year.

Praying that Lars goes to Raw too. Don't want him ruining SD. Weird way to announce his call up.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

This tag SS match is just a spot fest. I find them so boring. Always full of botches and noticeable sets where they constantly have to position themselves unnaturally for the next move.

[KK]

This has been one of my least favourite PPVs for quite some time. The contrived RAW vs SmackDown template, multiman tag matches that don’t mean anything, and no championships on the line.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

This has been one of my least favourite PPVs for quite some time. The contrived RAW vs SmackDown template, multiman tag matches that don’t mean anything, and no championships on the line.

I do hate the forced brand rivalry. It makes all the backstage segments seem so fake. The one where they've just added bayley and Sacha was a perfect example.

So like a really hate you all but I want to show that raw is the superior brand.

[BAKA]

The reaction to Nia Jax.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Well done WWE for using the heat against Nia instead of punishing her.

[BAKA]

Enzo apparently in the second row, behind long haired guy, in the white hoodie. Weird considering the CW championship match is actually on the main show for a change.

Surely they wouldn't? Then again... Crown Jewel, Nia Jax and Corey Graves joking about Nakamerica burning down, when they're currently in California...

And he got kicked out apparently...

[KK]

- RAW won after team SmackDown was distracted by Drake literally pissing himself.

[KK]

Enzo apparently in the second row, behind long haired guy, in the white hoodie. Weird considering the CW championship match is actually on the main show for a change.

Surely they wouldn't? Then again... Crown Jewel, Nia Jax and Corey Graves joking about Nakamerica burning down, when they're currently in California...

And he got kicked out apparently...

The most hilarious thing is it didn’t even make TV because they were with the international announce teams at the time (just prior and into the opening 10 seconds of the RAW vs SmackDown Tag team championship match). What a moron.

[BAKA]

SD can still draw I think? But that would require Lesnar and Rousey losing... so yeah, I guess Raw have won. Curious booking, aren't they currently in the process of selling SD to Fox?

[KK]

Eliminating Samoa Joe in under a minute.

[KK]

SmackDown hasn’t won a match the whole main show (5-0).

FAKE EDIT: And now make that 6-0.

[BAKA]

Shocked it wasn't a squash, but not a patch on Lesnar vs Styles from last year. Or even his match with Joe.

The whole card was bizarre, felt booked to troll the fans.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I wonder if SD got hammered to further Shane’s heel turn. He may come out this week and go crazy about how much everyone sucks etc

[BAKA]

The Network is showing Starrcade on Sunday!

[KK]

twitter.com/beckylynchwwe/status/1064570639342886912

[captain red dog]

Reading everything that has happened this week, it sounds like backwards booking of ridiculous proportions. They seem so much like WCW in 2000 recently. Bad luck with injuries and ridiculous booking.

[KK]

What I found ridiculous last night on RAW was Ronda Rousey coming out smiling, completely no sold her neck (remember when that chair stomp was used to write people out for at least a couple of weeks?), and then defeated Mickie James in under 5 minutes. Thank God she was covered in bruises quite frankly, otherwise you'd never have known one of the worst beatdowns ever had taken place the night before. Rambo or Terminator-esque stuff.

Then again they did that all the time with John Cena.

[KK]

Just seen that The Rock has been in Richmond, London for the past two months. Appears to be having a good time on the basis of his Instagram.

The size of his gym/tent that’s been erected in the garden...