The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[Kanbei]

Punk/Cena was great, really should've been the Wrestlemania Headline match that. It'll be criminal if that never happens.

Although the segment wasn't funny Barrett and Sheamus have some great chemistry, it really should be the WHC match

[HailToTheKingBaby!]

I think there's different options for cena/rock/punk/taker:

1) cena vs rock and punk vs 'Taker - Punk says if he can't have a title shot he'll take the next best thing and end the Undertakers streak. I think if this happens, it could be the end of the streak too. 'Takers health sounds like its not great so this could be his last Mania and its mean he'd go out with a nice round 20 wins.

2) rock was saying last week who he'd like to face out of respect etc.. when Cena interrupted. Maybe though Rock was going to say 'Taker. Maybe somehow could switch to Punk vs Cena at 'Mania with a Rock vs 'Taker streak vs title match. Would make the matches more interesting so long as Rock/'Taker can plan the match well enough that its not just an hour of rest holds.

3) long shot - maybe Stone Cold shows up to take on punk in a long hinted at feud with 'Taker facing someone else entirely (or noone if his health isn't up to it).

[captain red dog]

I second the notion that this generation really should see a Punk vs Cena WM headliner. It will be a crying shame if that never happens due to guest returns of attitude era stars. At least once the attitude era came in we didn't have WM being hijacked by the 80s stars. Heck, even when Hogan did come back it was at least at the end of the era and didn't go on last (rightly or wrongly).

That said, the first 10 minutes of Punk/Cena was rest hold transitioning to rest hold (they even went into a rest hold very near the start). Rock wouldn't have been given any slack there and neither should these two if it really bothers people. The finale half of the match was excellent however, even if a few of the reversals were a little over the top. Cena's hurricanrana was an absolute tragedy though!

Still, it left me wishing these two were in the Mania main event which is probably job done and job not done if that makes sense! The rest of Raw was pretty weak. I noticed HHH apparently came out unplanned in the story but somehow found time to tape up!

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I second the notion that this generation really should see a Punk vs Cena WM headliner. It will be a crying shame if that never happens due to guest returns of attitude era stars. At least once the attitude era came in we didn't have WM being hijacked by the 80s stars. Heck, even when Hogan did come back it was at least at the end of the era and didn't go on last (rightly or wrongly).

That said, the first 10 minutes of Punk/Cena was rest hold transitioning to rest hold (they even went into a rest hold very near the start). Rock wouldn't have been given any slack there and neither should these two if it really bothers people. The finale half of the match was excellent however, even if a few of the reversals were a little over the top. Cena's hurricanrana was an absolute tragedy though!

Still, it left me wishing these two were in the Mania main event which is probably job done and job not done if that makes sense! The rest of Raw was pretty weak. I noticed HHH apparently came out unplanned in the story but somehow found time to tape up!

I think he's always taped up otherwise those parts of his body will fall off.

On how mania is shaping up, a match that bothers me is the possibility of the shield in another 3 on 3 match especially is sheamus and ryback are part of it. I really have no interest in it as its basically already been done.

[KK]

WWE RAW averaged 4,706,000 viewers and a 3.4 rating.

Hour 1: 4,860,000
Hour 2: 4,700,000
Hour 3: 4,560,000

[Skippy]

Surprised nobody mentioned this, but it looked like Trips got a little too excited about returning last night

[KK]

I thought it was just the water he'd poured over himself on the stage.

[Cosmo]

I imagine HHH's Twitter got bombarded with piss remarks after that.

[Skippy]

I thought it was just the water he'd poured over himself on the stage.

Why ruin it?

[1cmanny1]

I thought it was just the water he'd poured over himself on the stage.

How did most of it end up there though? It looks like a contained puddle, did he pour it down his pants?

[Balloon Sod]

With his short hair, expanded waist, jeans and shirt, he looks like Triple H at a Legends of The Ring indie show, especially when he picked up that chair.

[KK]

WWE SmackDown Tapings

WWE taped this week's episode of SmackDown on Tuesday night from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Social Media SmackDown opened with World Heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Damien Sandow. They had a verbal exchange before the match.

Match 1: Del Rio got the win with his cross armbreaker submission hold.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Kane are shown arguing. Later tonight, they will get a rematch against the Prime Time Players, except this time - Kane will be the one that's blindfolded and Bryan will have his arm tied behind his back.

Match 2: Antonio Cesaro defeated The Miz in a Best of 3 Falls Match to retain the United States championship, 2 falls to 1.

A video aired hyping Fandango's début for later in the show.

Randy Orton and Sheamus are shown talking backstage. Orton will face the Big Show later in the show.

Jim Ross interviewed Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger in the ring. JR played up his history with Swagger, a fellow Oklahoma native, but Swagger played the heel and trash talked the Oklahoma Sooners. Zeb Colter started ranting about anti-immigration issues and said at WrestleMania, an English speaking American will finally be World Heavyweight Champion again. JR and Colter got into an argument, which led to Swagger knocking off JR's cowboy hat and getting in his face. Alberto Del Rio ran out to make the save and cut a promo on Swagger.

Match 3: The Prime Time Players defeated Team Hell No in a non-title match. Kane was blindfolded and Bryan had his arm behind his back. The finish came when Kane and Bryan started arguing during the match, which allowed Titus to roll up Bryan up for the win. After the match, Kane and Bryan hugged, but Bryan then slapped Kane in the face.

Backstage, the Big Show was interviewed and said he's going to make an impact later tonight against Randy Orton.

Match 4: Sin Cara defeated Heath Slater (with 3MB).

Backstage, Fandango is interviewed by Matt Striker. Striker mispronounced his name several times - which lead Fandango to call off his début. He says he will début when Striker can get his name right.

Main Event: Randy Orton vs. Big Show ended in a No Contest when The Shield ran in. Sheamus came out to even the odds. The Shield beat down Orton and Sheamus. Big Show knocked out Roman Reigns and Ambrose and Rollins ran away. Big Show choke slammed Orton, but Sheamus then hit Big Show with a Brogue Kick and knocked him out of the ring.

[1cmanny1]

Cesaro won. Shame no one saw it.

[KK]

10. So does WWE have a wellness policy or not? How can Swagger get arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana last week and not only avoid suspension, but star in multiple segments on Raw? Weed the People.

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom ... ena-climbs

I noticed Sky or WWE edited off a backstage confrontation Wade Barrett and Jack Swagger/Zeb Colter had on last weeks SmackDown.

Ric Flair is set to appear on an upcoming episode of Celebrity Wife Swap on ABC.

ABC must have told him that he was going to be on this programme in the early 70s, and therefore been rehearsing ever since.

[Psychic]

Hey, I badgered my wife into doing this nerdfest as well. Follow her at @StephMcMahon!

This can only end well.

[KK]

Let the hilarity commence. Still waiting on Vince (who apparently detests Twitter)...

[Cosmo]

A few places around the country will be airing the Nigel McGuinness documentary towards the end of May.

It's official... Eros Comedy is proud to welcome former Ring Of Honor world champion, TNA superstar and British wrestling great Nigel McGuinness back home along with his superb documentary 'The Last Of McGuinness'. Chronicling the last year of his storied grappling career, this is a brutally honest account of a man coming to term with the end of his time in the spotlight. A must see for any wrestling fan, would be wrestler or anybody that's ever dreamt ever reaching the peak of their profession.

We will be hosting five special preview screenings of 'The Last Of McGuinness', each followed by an exclusive Q&A with the man himself, Nigel McGuinness. There'll also be a post show meet & greet with autograph and photo opportunities included. Guaranteed to be a memorable night and an incredible insight into the world of professional wrestling.

The dates and locations for the screenings are:
Sunday 26th May: MANCHESTER, The Comedy Store (Afternoon presentation)
Monday 27th May: GLASGOW, The Classic Grand
Tuesday 28th May: NEWCASTLE, The Stand
Wednesday 29th May: BIRMINGHAM, The Glee Club
Thursday 30th May: LONDON, The Garage

Put these dates in your diaries. Ticket information and on sale dates will be published by the end of the month. Rest assured that Eros Comedy is committed to bringing unique, exciting shows to wrestling fans for a fair price

https://www.facebook.com/ErosComedy

Might have to try and get tickets for the Birmingham screening.

[Dark Ritual]

Glee Club isn't too far from me...

[Cosmo]

Bollocks, my F4W/WON sub has run out and I can't afford to renew. There's a new Figure Four Daily with Lance Storm up now as well.

[Psychic]

For anyone who didn't watch Raw, WWE have put the main event up on Youtube in full. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already.