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

[coldspice]

If anyone wants to break away from watching WWE and needs a full time wrestling nerd to guide them in the right direction based on their tastes, feel free to hit me up for recommendations

[KK]

So they’re actually sticking with a proper brand split this time? So Rollins and Wyatts feud is over?.......what?!

They’re doing Wyatt and Rollins again at Crown Jewel in a Last Man Standing. There’s also a yet to be revealed trade that has taken place between FOX and USA in storyline that means someone is changing brands again. Could be Wyatt. I think they’re going to announce it on their new WWE Backstage show tonight.

Knew Bischoff wouldn’t last (Heyman probably won’t either) but wasn’t expecting him to be gone this quick. Can’t wait to hear what the reasons were.

[Slimgrady]

Is Rollins not the captain of team Hogan for that gooseberry fool show?!

[KK]

Well he was, but that also just adds to the comedy of errors that wasn’t addressed last night, including the Mean Street Profits and a mystery partner vs The O.C. being hyped and set up earlier in the night on RAW (and by WWE on social media) but then it just didn’t happen with no explanation.

Never mind about things changing a week later, there’s not even any continuity on the same show.

I’m presuming WWE will address Rollins no longer being in the match next week.

They’re still doing SmackDown Live on Friday as well. So the wrestlers have got to fly to Saudi Arabia and then as soon as the show is over on Thursday night get right back on another plane for SmackDown. WWE also has a conference call on Thursday morning (usually featuring Vince McMahon and Triple H) so is Vince even going to this Saudi show?

[Rog]

AEW Dark episode 2 for those who need a reminder:


Main event is looking like Omega vs. Janela in an unsanctioned match.

[coldspice]

I thought all 3 matches were decent. Omega/Janela was a fun plunder match.

[Rog]

I thought all 3 matches were decent. Omega/Janela was a fun plunder match.

Yeah all 3 were watchable but the main event is definitely worth half hour of everyone's time.

[Slimgrady]

NWA Power(rr) was a great show again this week. Looking forward to their PPV in December to see if they’ll keep a stripped back old NWA PPV look.

[KK]

I like how AEW has even brought back the box beside the ring which the cameraman stands on to film from the corner apron, exactly like WCW.

I thought all 3 matches were decent. Omega/Janela was a fun plunder match.

Couldn’t believe that move off the top rope onto the backrest of the chairs. If ever there was a move that’s going to give you back problems, there it was.

[KK]

Starting the programme off with pyro smog filling the building.

Just like old times!

[KK]

Trust the tech to fail me tonight during this GREAT show. First the Fite TV app on Android crashed. Then my broadband died and took ages to restart (why are routers so slow?), then the whole software on my TV locked up completely and required a restart, at this point I’m thinking what the strawberry float else can go wrong, and then I couldn’t get the Fite app on my phone to load either. Missed the majority of the women’s title match.

RAW? Oh sure, no problems there...Brutal.

Not much storyline development on this show tonight, with zero interviews in the arena, but a load of excellent matches on a wrestling-heavy programme, and an outstanding video package hyping Cody Rhodes and Chris Jericho. And a very amusing jumbo Ted Turner head in the crowd.

[Mafro]

Went too ed after the Lucha Bros match so will catch up on the rest later this morning.

That Omega vs Janela match on AEW Dark was fantastic.

[KK]

You’ll never guess what WWE is advertising for SmackDown next week (25th October)...

Cain Velasquez and WWE Champion Brock Lesnar will both be appearing Live.

WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan face off prior to their battle at Crown Jewel

Roman Reigns vs. King Baron Corbin

RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will face Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley

RAW superstars "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Rey Mysterio will also be in attendance.

They’ve killed the brand split AGAIN.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

You’ll never guess what WWE is advertising for SmackDown next week (25th October)...

Cain Velasquez and WWE Champion Brock Lesnar will both be appearing Live.

WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan face off prior to their battle at Crown Jewel

Roman Reigns vs. King Baron Corbin

RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will face Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley

RAW superstars "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Rey Mysterio will also be in attendance.

They’ve killed the brand split AGAIN.

I thought Bray Wyatt was drafted to SD?

[KK]

They’re now advertising Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt in a steel cage match for the WWE Universal title on the first RAW of November, so I guess something is going to happen in the coming weeks to move him again. They’ve already drafted Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss back to SmackDown. strawberry float knows what they’re doing.

Maybe Bray is winning the belt at Crown Jewel?

[Rog]

This guy is Chad Gable and his nickname is Shorty, here's why......*video package plays*

HE IS SHORT. You don't need a video to tell us that.

[KK]

That’s Shorty G, to you.

[Prototype]

People laughed at "Finn Balor"...

[KK]

RAW was thoroughly boring this week, but if I was WWE I'd be rather worried about the reaction Cain Velasquez is currently getting. Twice now he has come out to almost no reaction, and I can only think that much of the WWE audience don't know who he is. To a layman he looks out of shape (even though I'm sure he isn't), and then as if to reinforce his physically unimposing stature (despite being, what, 6ft?) he got into a bad amateur wrestling encounter with Shelton Benjamin, and threw punches that looked so unconvincing the crowd started booing him. Cain probably in the back of his mind was thinking 'God, I don't want to legit hurt this guy' therefore it just looked awful.

Crown Ghoul has a reputation for bad matches, so next week could be providing some more what with this and Tyson/Strowman. If his match with Lesnar is bad, then I think that's Cain up gooseberry fool creek with the audience.

[tomvek]

Just how green is Velasquez though? I know he was training in Mexico and looked good considering his experience. Maybe he still needs time finding his way in the ring? I don't blame him for what you're describing KK. I haven't seen the show but I'd assume WWE haven't done a great job building him and letting non UFC fans know who he is or why they should care. Just WWE trying to rush something big for their payday PPV. Built right, it could have been a really interesting one for Mania.

On a side not, last week's Dynamite was excellent. So many enjoyable matches and a show that builds nicely. Don't know if they'll ever be WWE huge, but I love what they're doing. As long as they're making money and people are happy, may it continue for a long time.