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

[KK]

12am. PPV is back to full length too, with a scheduled 4am finish.

The card for tonight:

WWE Championship: Bobby Lashley (c) with MVP vs. Drew McIntyre

Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs Bianca Belair

Bad Bunny and Damian Priest vs. The Miz and John Morrison

Steel Cage: Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon

Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins

Tag Team Championship: The New Day Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods (c) vs. AJ Styles and Omos (debut match)

Tag Team Turmoil Number 1 Contenders match for Night 2: Naomi vs. Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose vs. The Riott Squad Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott vs. Natalya and Tamina vs. Billie Kay and Carmella

[KK]

twitter.com/LanaWWE/status/1380936742283399173

Appears to have made her day.

[captain red dog]

KK promised a 12am start, I'm currently stuck on some shitty pre-show!

I swore I wouldn't waste my life staying up for this, but KK is fully responsible for my 7 year old spending most of the day on his ipad tomorrow whilst I sleep this shite off!

[KK]

I thought Corazon de Leon was talking about the pre-show!

There’s at least normally some Live wrestling on the show though (R.I.P Sunday Night Heat) but I think because of weather issues (as of around an hour ago there was heavy rain and lightning storm warnings) literally nothing of interest has happened on the Kick Off. Not even backstage interviews.

[Corazon de Leon]

Why on Earth would I be asking about the pre-show starting?

Can't believe they haven't had a pre-show match at all.

No chance those fans are properly distanced!

[KK]

WWE calls their pre show the Kick Off.

Starting the show off with a new WWE signature, McMahon (looks and sounds terrible), fans, tits and the national anthem. 10/10. Would watch again.

[KK]

Oh God, it’s all gone downhill.

They’ve had to pause the show already because of the bad weather.

Sarah Schreiber is a terrible interviewer. Which by WWE standards is quite an achievement.

[captain red dog]

Oh God, it’s all gone downhill.

They’ve had to pause the show already because of the bad weather.

It's all gone to gooseberry fool! I don't get the delay, they have 25,000 fans there risking Covid and getting stuck by lightning but they can't send two wrestlers out to fight!

[KK]

Pack it up folks, the highlight was the tits and the anthem.

[Corazon de Leon]

If McIntyre hadn't gifted Rangers a personalised WWE Title I'd probably be supporting him in that match.

[captain red dog]

Have to say it is really great to see fans back, but stopping for weather, safe or not, makes them look worse than even WCW!

[KK]

Only thing comparable to this I can think of off the top of my head is In Your House Beware of Dog which ended up getting delayed to another night because of a power cut due to a thunderstorm.

I think these promos are the first time they’ve done them so obviously unscripted on a main show in years.

[captain red dog]

Samoa Joe in a clear rain poncho. I've seen it all.

[KK]

Michael Cole promising the show will start in 5 minutes as they’re wearing ponchos and it’s pissing down behind them.

I don’t ever want to hear ‘it might rain at Wembley Stadium’ as an excuse for not having a WWE PPV ever again.

[KK]

twitter.com/uketeacher/status/1381042039056429058

[KK]

And we’re starting. Not with wrestling but with Hulk Hogan and Titus O’Neil. Oh Brother.

[Corazon de Leon]

Apparently there's a hard midnight end time to the PPV, set down from the owners of the stadium, so they're gonna have to start cutting stuff.

[KK]

Apparently there's a hard midnight end time to the PPV, set down from the owners of the stadium, so they're gonna have to start cutting stuff.

I was just thinking, for those watching on conventional PPV there’s going to be a time frame on that as well.

But they’ve still found time for Hulk Hogan and Titus O’Neil to talk absolute gooseberry fool for 5 minutes.

One of the most creative sets WWE has had on one of their shows for ages though. I really miss stuff like that in wrestling.

Some fans wearing masks, some not bothering.

[KK]

The commentators having to stand in front of the ring because the weather has taken the electrics out at the announce table.

Bobby Lashley with the Hurt Lock (aka The Master Lock, made famous by “The Masturbate” Chris Masters) over McIntyre.

[captain red dog]

Sunday morning fans, ignore this post if you don't want spoilers, I've tried to hide it but if you have a brain the following is a spoiler.

Was not expecting that! I guess they have either lost faith in Drew or are waiting for a post Covid event.

Sorry hope that's not a spoiler for you casuals, just hard to talk about it live for us hardcore fans (because it's still real to us dammit).

Edit, I see KK as our God and master doesn't mind so I'll post spoiler free for as long as I stay awake

Edit 2: KK with the quick edit, but I wonder if we should bother, true wrestling fans should take the pain and the tiredness!