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

[captain red dog]

Not really sure what AEW could do. The allegations could never be proven and it wasn't like there were multiple people making similar claims. That may be blind luck for Darby, but I don't see how he could justifiably be punished for something based on one allegation, which wasn't really criminal in nature. At least with Sammy there was cast iron proof of what he said, he was banged to rights.

[Prototype]

It sets a dangerous precedent when you expect someone to be suspended or fired on the basis of an allegation

[ITSMILNER]

My god, that was a goosebump inducing reaction, I will be snapping that new CM Punk ringer shirt up once the website is working anyone ordered a tee from AEW’s shop before? They have something called global AEW store, I wonder if it’s UK based or at least close enough that I won’t get stung on import charges or anything.

All these signings will also help AEW shift their videogame to a wider audience in 2022, especially amongst lapsed and casual fans. I'd imagine that's something else playing into Tony Khan's decision making. Think of the big names which will now be absent from WWE 2K22 this year, a franchise which in previous years has been heavily reliant on using legends to prop up WWE's current lack of star power. From 2K20 alone, you've got to think that all these names will now feature in AEW's game instead: Sting, Ric Flair, Daniel Bryan, Bray Wyatt, Rusev, Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, Big Show, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Jake Roberts, Christian, Dash Wilder, Scott Dawson, Andrade and Aleister Black. AEW will be the first wrestling game CM Punk has been in since 2K15.

Really looking forward to AEW’s game but I wonder how the roster will pan out as they seem to have cross over with talent from other companies like IMPACT and NJPW? Potential for guys from those feds being able to make it into the game hopefully.

[captain red dog]

To be fair, the AEW roster is strong enough on its own without the additional talent. I could see them doing some DLC packs though, with NJPW, CZW, and Impact wrestler packs.

Damn Wednesday seems so far away now after all that buzz. It reminds me of the old days in the 90s when you'd have an absolutely awesome Raw, then you'd have to wait a whole week for the next episode and it was excruciating! AEW cannot be faulted for their booking of this in my opinion. The only thing I could fault them on over the last month is the labour's of Jericho ending in a bit of a damp squib, and that is being picky. Maybe would have been smart to hold off on the end of that for All Out, but All Out is going to be pretty stacked now.

One of the best bits last night was just after the very first pop, before Punk walked out. It quietened down as people waited and you could tell they were partially expecting it to be an MJF swerve. Thank god they didn't do that though!

[coldspice]

I've seen a few people moaning about Allin being Punk's first opponent, which is a totally insane take, he is absolutely the perfect guy for this.

My issue is that considering the recent allegations against Darby Allin from his ex that he shouldn’t be in that spot until that’s been properly looked into. More baffling when you consider how they treated Sammy Guevara after his accusation.

Was lovely to have Punk back though.

That's understandable (I honestly don't know about the situation to judge), but the people I saw complaining were doing so from a WWE brained booking point of view.

[KK]

Really looking forward to AEW’s game but I wonder how the roster will pan out as they seem to have cross over with talent from other companies like IMPACT and NJPW? Potential for guys from those feds being able to make it into the game hopefully.

They could do AEW vs the World, though when WCW did it in 1997 on PS1 and N64 they had real wrestlers from international promotions and just changed all the names for licensing reasons. Done properly though it’s a brilliant idea but would be a monumental undertaking development wise. CRD’s idea of DLC packs would work better.

[teh bork]

It sets a dangerous precedent when you expect someone to be suspended or fired on the basis of an allegation

Considering the nature of said allegation and the impact of the speak out movement last year I’d expect an investigation at least and some public acknowledgement of it, not being ignored. I’m not saying he needs a suspension or fired, but not doing anything at all isn’t a good look.

You’re right though it’s an allegation, but a serious one, ignoring it and then pushing the person accused just leaves a bitter taste for me.

[captain red dog]

It sets a dangerous precedent when you expect someone to be suspended or fired on the basis of an allegation

Considering the nature of said allegation and the impact of the speak out movement last year I’d expect an investigation at least and some public acknowledgement of it, not being ignored. I’m not saying he needs a suspension or fired, but not doing anything at all isn’t a good look.

You’re right though it’s an allegation, but a serious one, ignoring it and then pushing the person accused just leaves a bitter taste for me.

I don't know what they can investigate though. It's an allegation from one person, and nobody as far as I know has corroborated it. There isn't any evidence due to the nature of the allegations, nobody else has come forward as far as we know to make other allegations like has happened with Speak Out. The allegations themselves weren't actually alleging criminality from what I read.

It's not an ideal situation, but in this case it would really be stretching it to take action when there isn't really any possibility of corroborating what happened. I'd be surprised if they hadn't spoken to Darby to get his side of it, but other than that it isn't really appropriate to take action at this time.

If we had multiple claims, or even recordings or messages that back up these claims, I could see a need to take action. I'd be surprised if the allegations were true that there is absolutely nothing that can prove it, no witnesses, no text messages, no audio recordings. Without any of that, they can't really punish the guy based on what we know.

[Rawrgna]

the complete silence from the commentary team for the first 2 minutes completely sold the Debut for me just so you could hear the Huge pop when the Static kicked in without having a Micheal Cole screaming "OH MY COULD IT BE!? IT IS, ITS CM PUUUUUNK"

[KK]

3 million views on YouTube for both CM Punk videos on YT, over 5 million on Twitter.

If you think about the 10pm time slot, you’ve got to be looking at least a million viewers, what has TNT had in the last 25 years aside from WCW that has given them that type of audience apart from the NBA? TNT must be over the moon, especially when you consider they’re getting AEW relatively cheap.

WWE’s big idea is to now book Logan Paul again for RAW.

[KK]

If you currently search #SummerSlam on Instagram, this has been posted repeatedly (at least a 100 times) by a solitary account.

Sometimes wrestling really does attract some of the weirdest fans in the world.

[Slimgrady]

My god, that was a goosebump inducing reaction, I will be snapping that new CM Punk ringer shirt up once the website is working anyone ordered a tee from AEW’s shop before? They have something called global AEW store, I wonder if it’s UK based or at least close enough that I won’t get stung on import charges or anything.

I just ordered it! I went pwtees because they have the proper ringer shirt, for some reason AEWs global shop just has a plain white tee version of it, kinda looks like a knockoff.
The global shop is Spain based, got one tee off them before, good quality and relatively quick. Can’t remember about charges.

[KK]

Poor behaviour from WWE here:

twitter.com/WrestlingInc/status/1429235758477430785

They’ve continued to promote this match right up until SummerSlam despite knowing for a week it was unlikely to take place, but I guess they feel as it’s not real PPV any more they can get away with it.

WWE also just announcing that WWE 2K22 has been delayed from its normal November release window until March 2022. New trailer featuring Kane. Who says desperation with the roster hasn’t set in…

Celebrity Tiffany Haddish just called Damian Priest the new “National champion”, leading to Pat Mcafee to sarcastically mutter “national champion” on commentary.

Apparently the servers for the drinks are also down in the building so fans can’t currently get a drink.

[KK]

Becky Lynch is back! Or as Michael Cole sold it:

“One of the biggest stars on the planet”

She then promptly squashes Bianca Belair in about 8 seconds and wins the title.

[ITSMILNER]

My god, that was a goosebump inducing reaction, I will be snapping that new CM Punk ringer shirt up once the website is working anyone ordered a tee from AEW’s shop before? They have something called global AEW store, I wonder if it’s UK based or at least close enough that I won’t get stung on import charges or anything.

I just ordered it! I went pwtees because they have the proper ringer shirt, for some reason AEWs global shop just has a plain white tee version of it, kinda looks like a knockoff.
The global shop is Spain based, got one tee off them before, good quality and relatively quick. Can’t remember about charges.

Yeah I noticed that they just had a plain version of it on the global store, I’ll try PWTee’s instead

[Fade]

Becky Lynch is back! Or as Michael Cole sold it:

“One of the biggest stars on the planet”

She then promptly squashes Bianca Belair in about 8 seconds and wins the title.

I don't understand why they do this.

You spend months and months building up this monster championship and then have them lose to one slam. This is the kind of gooseberry fool aim talking about when I say WWE doesn't respect long term booking.

It's like watching DBZ, having Goku spend 6 episodes learning how to power up and then having Frieza kill him with one energy blast

Maybe Becky wasn't ready to do a full match but there were 1000 other ways they could have done that segment.

Watching clips on Reddit seems like the right way to keep consuming WWE.

twitter.com/adampacitti/status/1429295409684520961

[coldspice]

Reminder that you don't have to keep consuming WWE at all. It is not a requirement. Wrestling fans are so weird man.

[Fade]

I only 'consume' it because clips of it get voted to the top of Squared circle, if they didn't I wouldn't see them.

Nothing weird about that.

As much as I dislike the company they still employ some wrestlers I like to see.

[KK]

twitter.com/adampacitti/status/1429295409684520961

The Ultimate Warrior Farmer Brock Lesnar.

[Jam-Master Jay]

The nostalgia hit hard for that Edge entrance last night.