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

[RJ Badman]

I'm interested to see the Thunderdome set I have to admit.

I mean, I hope I'm wrong, and again that VR thing I mentioned would really garner my interest (especially with Retribution who could, like, threaten the viewer or something) but I can't help but think it's gonna look like some kind of reverse-Fightbox.

(lol Fightbox more like Shitebox)

They seem to be stuck with a mid 2000s HBO boxing style presentation which is beyond stale.

I believe I've mentioned this recently but I'll never understand why in a post-kayfabe world they're going for a legit sports presentation.

[Rawrgna]

Only if they make it a one to one recreation of the thunderdome from Mad Max with Either Drew or Roman being the wwe version of Max

[RJ Badman]

Well we know HHH is incredibly gay for Mad Max so don't be surprised if Steph shows up like this:

[RJ Badman]

Oh dear:

On Tuesday, WWE opened up their applications for the first “ThunderDome” broadcast, which will take place on this Friday night’s SmackDown. According to Ryan Satin of Prowrestlingsheet.com, the applications maxed out in a matter of minutes.

The guidelines for participation can be seen below. They include:

Not sharing their link with anyone else.
Being respectful.
Not smoking.
Not making any political statements or endorsements.
Not being offensive or violent.
Not disparaging WWE or its talent/sponsors.
Not promoting third-party brands.
2020 WWE ThunderDome
Terms and Conditions of Participation

You have been selected to participate in the 2020 World Wrestling Entertainment (hereinafter known as “WWE”) ThunderDome fan program. By participating in the 2020 WWE ThunderDome (hereinafter referred to as the “WWE ThunderDome”), you agree that you are 18 years old or over and you agree to comply with the following terms and conditions (hereinafter referred to as the “Terms”).


Given the unique opportunity of WWE ThunderDome, every fan is expected to participate and appear on his or her screen throughout the duration of the event. Any extended absence from the screen may result in his or her WWE ThunderDome seat being reassigned to a replacement participant or otherwise discontinued. We reserve the right to not allow you to participate or to immediately terminate your participation at any time in the WWE ThunderDome for no reason or for any reason at our sole discretion including but not limited to if your behavior is inappropriate or violates any of these Terms listed below:

1. The custom link you have been provided is specific to you. You may not share, forward or otherwise disclose the link to anyone else. No one other than you will be permitted to appear or participate in the WWE ThunderDome. No unauthorized people will be allowed on camera.
2. You must provide your own device and other necessary equipment. Subject to any local law obligations, the WWE is not responsible for any loss of or damage to devices or equipment caused by your use of any of the software or other platforms utilized as part of the WWE ThunderDome. We urge you to limit your internet capabilities to solely the device used for participating in the WWE ThunderDome. This means no one in your household should be using your internet connection for other streaming purposes during your participation (e.g. streaming services like Twitch, Netflix, YouTube etc.) We reserve the right to terminate or refuse participation in the WWE ThunderDome if we determine, in our sole discretion, that the video or audio connection to the WWE ThunderDome is unclear or unstable.
3. Your behavior while participating in the WWE ThunderDome must be, and must appear to be, appropriate and respectful at all times. Your behavior while participating in the WWE ThunderDome must be, and must appear to be, appropriate for a family-friendly, all-aged television audience at all times.
4. You may not smoke or appear to smoke any substance, which includes making any gestures imitating smoking. We reserve the right to terminate or refuse participation in the WWE ThunderDome if you appear to be intoxicated or otherwise under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other substances.
5. You may not say or do anything during your participation in the WWE ThunderDome (whether or not you are appearing on the television broadcast at the time) that, in the sole discretion of WWE:
* constitutes a political statement or endorsement;
* is or could reasonably be considered offensive, obscene, discriminatory or distasteful, including, without limitation, making or appearing to make any obscene or lewd gestures, or saying or appearing to say any obscene or lewd words or statements (including, without limitation, cursing);
* is violent in any way;
* disparages or reflects adversely the WWE or any of its athletes, sponsors, or affiliates;
* promotes, infringes or violates the rights of any third-party; or
* promotes the brand of any third-party.
6. Your attire must be appropriate and must remain on at all times. We reserve the right to not allow you to participate (or to immediately terminate your participation) if you are not appropriately attired (as determined in our sole discretion). Your attire may not contain any immoral graphics, images or texts, any political statements, slogans, logos, images, texts, or graphics, or any logos, graphics or other commercial identification of third parties (other than the WWE, its athletes and sponsors). Officially licensed WWE clothing is preferred.
7. The environment and background you are in during the WWE ThunderDome must also be appropriate. It may not depict logos, graphics, images or other commercial identifications of non-WWE parties (including, without limitation, signs or product placements), any immoral graphics, images or texts, or any political statements, slogans, logos, images, texts, or graphics. We reserve the right to not allow you to participate (or to immediately terminate your participation) in the WWE ThunderDome if your environment or background are deemed to be inappropriate (as determined in our sole discretion) or if you alter the environment or background once you have entered the WWE ThunderDome to one that we deem to be inappropriate (also as determined in our sole discretion).
8. By participating in WWE ThunderDome and inputting your name below, you certify that you understand you will be photographed, videotaped or otherwise recorded (video and/or audio) by WWE (“Footage”). You grant WWE the sole, irrevocable and exclusive right, including the right to authorize others, to use and incorporate the Footage, in whole or in part, in conjunction with other photographs and footage, and the right to use your image, name, screen name, voice, likeness and/or biographical information (collectively, “Likeness”) in connection with the exploitation, advertising, promotion and/or packaging of the Footage or any WWE initiatives, promotions or campaigns and/or any product into which the Footage may be incorporated, including but not limited to, inclusion as part of the WWE ThunderDome of another WWE program, editorial, commercial, trade, print, advertising, promotional, radio, television, home video, motion picture programs, sound recordings, video games, social media related activities and games or for any other purpose at such times and in such manner as WWE may elect throughout the world in perpetuity (and in any event for a period of not less than one hundred years as permitted under local law obligations or, where not so permitted, for a period of fifty years or the longest period which is permitted), and to broadcast, exhibit and/or exploit the same in any and all media, whether now or hereafter known or devised (including, but not limited to, television, radio, motion pictures, streaming, downloads, online, physical media, print and public display) (“Products”). Subject to the separate data protection notice set out below, you grant any other consents, waivers and permissions it may otherwise be necessary or desirable to give under, and to the fullest extent necessary permitted by, local law obligations to enable WWE’s use of the Footage and/or Likeness in the Products. You further acknowledge and agree that WWE shall be under no obligation to use or exploit the Footage and/or Likeness; that you shall not be entitled to any payments, residuals, monies or other compensation arising out of WWE’s exploitation of the Footage and/or Likeness in any manner, that subject to local law obligations you hereby release, discharge and agree to save and hold harmless WWE, its licensees, successors and assigns, parent corporation, subsidiaries and affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, advertisers, insurers, and representatives from any and all claims of liability arising out of any use of the Footage and/or Products; and that the Footage shall be the sole and exclusive property of WWE in perpetuity. In this regard, the Footage shall be deemed created for the benefit of WWE as a work made for hire as defined in the United States Copyright Act of 1976 WWE, its designees and broadcasters may edit or alter the Footage without your approval and without notice to you but if you do own any rights in the Footage (including but not limited to the right to exploit, copy, distribute, edit, broadcast, perform, communicate to the public, participate in the benefits of resale, transform and create derivative works) you hereby assign them to WWE, free of charge, on an exclusive and worldwide basis, and for the full term of protection, as and when they are created, for all purposes whatsoever, including but not limited to commercial use, advertising and marketing. If necessary or desirable, including as a result of local law obligations, you will enter into any further agreement or undertake any other action as deemed necessary by WWE to give effect to the above. If you choose to allow a minor appear in the WWE ThunderDome, you are certifying that you are the parent or legal guardian of that minor and are agreeing to these Terms on behalf of you as well as the minor.
9. By participating in WWE ThunderDome, you assume all risks incident to participation and hereby waive any and all claims or potential claims arising from such risks and participation, subject to section 11 below.
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11. Local law obligations may restrict the ability of WWE to limit its and other persons’ liability to you and to impose liability on you to them. If you are resident outside of the United States, sections 10 and 11 only apply to the extent permitted by local law obligations and if local law obligations do not allow such provisions in certain circumstances then they will not apply in those circumstances.
12. Outside of the United States, WWE acknowledges that there are certain mandatory local rights and laws (including without limitation in respect of unfair consumer terms) which may not be excluded, restricted or modified or may only be limited to a certain extent (“local law obligations”). Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies the local law obligations except as permitted by such laws.

It's gonna fkin look like this innit:



(But bigger with all the screens set up like a cross between arena seats and the asylum from PS3 Twisted Metal)

[gaminglegend]

[tweet][/tweet][tweet][/tweet]

I'm interested to see the Thunderdome set I have to admit.

I mean, I hope I'm wrong, and again that VR thing I mentioned would really garner my interest (especially with Retribution who could, like, threaten the viewer or something) but I can't help but think it's gonna look like some kind of reverse-Fightbox.

(lol Fightbox more like Shitebox)

They seem to be stuck with a mid 2000s HBO boxing style presentation which is beyond stale.

I believe I've mentioned this recently but I'll never understand why in a post-kayfabe world they're going for a legit sports presentation.

It’s as if they are still chasing acceptance or viewing as a legitimate sport despite not being a legitimate sport. Yes it’s pure athleticism & demanding just as any if not more than some sports, but it’s also pantomime. They brag about ‘Entertainment’ so much yet seem destined to fight to be seen the other way too.

They want to be Disney whilst also being the NFL.

[KK]

Say hello to the look of WWE programming for at least the next 6 weeks...

[Kanbei]

I'm glad to see they are trying something different. They must be saving a ton of money not having to move equipment around so certainly worth doing something like this.

[RJ Badman]

Jesus I didn't expect to be so dead-on with my 'Dome photoshop up there.

They're barely using the hard camera too as if they don't want to show too much of the people on the screens - and the crowd noise (what little there is) is piped in and sounds more fake than that on the chase. So... WHY DO IT THEEEEEN

It's the THunderdome, if you're gonna have wraparound screens put some stormclouds on them instead of a sea of gurning cretins.

[KK]

They’ve got some major production company to help them out with it, apparently; I guess they were ‘inspired’ by how much the fake crowd noise has improved things like football matches worldwide and this is their not-as-good attempt at it.

[captain red dog]

I really liked Brodie Lee vs Cody on Dynamite this week. Brodie really turned it up and was absolutely fantastic. He was so good, he managed in one match to take Dark Order from being some weird S&M act to seeming like a genuine threat!

[KK]

‘First female commentator in WWE’ to describe Renee Young on the SS Kick-off. Poor Lita (she did Heat on MTV) and Sunny (Shotgun Saturday Night).

[Return_of_the_STAR]

‘First female commentator in WWE’ to describe Renee Young on the SS Kick-off. Poor Lita (she did Heat on MTV) and Sunny (Shotgun Saturday Night).

She’s the first play by play commentator though isn’t she? I know she often did colour commentary but I don’t think another female has done play by play.

[KK]

Was Renee doing play-by-play on NXT? I don’t think I was watching at that point.

Kinda cool to see WWE bring back the pyro above the ring tonight for SS. Haven’t seen that in years.

The fans on the screens seem a bit more animated tonight than they did on Friday.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Was Renee doing play-by-play on NXT? I don’t think I was watching at that point.

Kinda cool to see WWE bring back the pyro above the ring tonight for SS. Haven’t seen that in years.

The fans on the screens seem a bit more animated tonight than they did on Friday.

She’s definitely done lead commentary on a few events. They made. A big deal about it at the time.

[gaminglegend]

I watched some of Summerslam last night & honestly think now I’ll take a break until crowds return. It’s just not the same, add in the thunder dome & fake crowd noise I just can’t deal

[Rawrgna]

But this is the only time the BIG DAWG will get overwhelming cheers Maggle

[KK]

For some bizarre reason WWE has added another PPV, Payback, to their schedules for next Sunday.

I'm thinking a Triple Threat with Reigns, Fiend and Strowman may be on the cards after last night's result. Imagine if Bray is only champ again for a week!

[captain red dog]

They can't book Reigns in a title match yet, it's just booking them into a corner. If he doesn't win, he will look a complete fool. If he does win, better start looking for a new gimmick for Bray.

I actually felt the slight face turn they did for The Fiend seemed to really help the character. The goofy stuff doesn't work for a heel as you can't have the face looking scared as gooseberry fool. But if Fiend is scaring the bad guys, it works so much better.

[Slimgrady]

So was “mister money in the bank” meant to be balls deep in Mandy Rose somewhere after that Universal title match last night or what? Seemed like prime cash in time.

[The Watching Artist]

the best thing was Pikachu