2014 Pro Wrestling Thread

Observer from Dec. 22:


- Right now, the WWE is still strongly behind Reigns as the focus face for the next year, with Ambrose as a back-up option. This is despite Reigns clearly being uncomfortable reading promos, and the crowd reaction to him being good but not great. If he has a health setback of some sort, then they’d shift focus to Ambrose. Daniel Bryan is out of the equation because of his health problems.


Meltzer points out that from a “going forward” standpoint, it makes sense to turn Cena right now, although they won’t. Turning Cena and having him bring the authority back would set him up as a major heel for Reigns to dethrone eventually, plus it would allow them to turn Lesnar, who could probably be used better this point as a departing face than a lame duck heel. On the heel side of the roster right now is just Rollins, part-time Lesnar, meh standbys Kane and Big Show, a cooled off Wyatt and a midcard Harper. Rusev has also been cooled way off.


- Raw dipped to a 2.65 rating, its second lowest of the year, and only 3.51 million viewers, its lowest total since Christmas Eve 2012. This is despite being the show after a PPV. TNA, which is finishing with “Best Of” shows on Spike, did 746,000 viewers and was beaten out by Cops re-runs. Numbers are also cratering for Lucha Underground, despite a lot of promotion on the networks it runs on. It fell from 41,000 viewers to 31,000, 26,000 and 16,000.


- Speaking of TNA, Destination America has decided its initial time slot will be Fridays 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. It’s unknown why they have decided this. There will be a replay on Saturday mornings. Josh Mathews will be the lead announcer, and Tenay will be doing “investigative pieces.”


- NXT Revolution got a perfect 100 percent approval rating from 182 Observer readers. Of those 182, 168 thought the best match was Zayn vs. Neville. In contrast, TLC only got 25.1 percent approval, with 32.6 percent giving it a thumbs-middle rating, and 42.3 percent thumbs down.


- There is a long overview of the class action lawsuit against the UFC. While it’s probably unlikely to succeed, one thing that probably will come out during discovery is a true handle on how much the UFC is making, and how much of that is going to fighters. This could also have WWE ramifications. If it turns out, for example, that the talent in those sports is getting around 10 percent of the revenue, talent is understandably going to be very pissed.


- The co-host for the New Japan show with Jim Ross will be Matt Striker, after they passed on Mauro Ranallo (money) and Tenay (under contract to TNA). John Pollock of the Fight Network was the finalist, but they went with Striker because they thought he had more name value. Meltzer also said he was contacted, although late in the process.


- AJ Styles may have accidentally crippled a guy with the Styles Clash a few weeks ago, after the Japanese wrestler took it incorrectly. Conversely though, this has gotten him over more with the Japanese fans.


- Alberto Del Rio, a.k.a. Alberto El Patron, has signed a deal for multiple shows with Ring of Honor. He starts Jan. 3. It’s unknown if he took a discount to sign, since he had been out of their price range in the past. TNA has allegedly offered him $400,000 for a one-year deal, but requires exclusivity to them, so he’s balked at it, because he can make more money doing Mexican wrestling and other indies. He has also received an offer from Bellator.


- While Lesnar still might re-sign with the WWE, it’s believed UFC has the inside track on signing him now, because the WWE is unlikely to agree to another contract with his current terms. He would either have to agree to more dates, or less money.


- Photos surfaced of the Undertaker at an airport, and he looked really old, and not in wrestling shape at all. WWE wants him in some role for Mania though, because he is contracted at $1M+ per year.


- There are no plans for Jericho or Mysterio in the short-term. Jericho is wrestling at some house shows, but he isn’t supposed to be on TV in the near future. Mysterio was supposed to be in a storyline leading up to and past Survivor Series, but that came and went.


- Orton is still filming The Condemned 2, which is why he hasn’t re-debuted yet. He’s booked on house shows started Dec. 26.


- Edge and Christian will be the Raw guest hosts on Dec. 29, to promote their appearances on an episode of Haven together.


- WWE has offered a developmental deal to Sesugh Uhaa, 27, who wrestles in the indies as Uhaa Nation. While he’s shorter than their usual wrestler, he’s said to have the muscular frame McMahon usually likes. The Young Bucks were invited to a September WWE tryout camp but turned it down. Tommy Mercer (Crimson in TNA) had a tryout last week.


- Jimmy Uso and Naomi have been dropped from the Total Divas cast. Alicia Fox and Paige are taking their place. Summer Rae was also dropped.


- Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas were interviewed recently, after WWE trademarked Benjamin’s name. He said there isn’t currently a plan for him to go back, but he would if asked. Haas said he wouldn’t, because he’s happy with a regular job and he’s coaching youth wrestling.

 

So is this setting up Lesnar to be CM Punk's first opponent in UFC?
Cue up Jim Ross yelling, "AWWW, SONOFABITCH!"

 

The E has totally screwed themselves over with their dumb decisions and politics.

Look at how they were after WM. On the face side, you had Bryan as champ, Cena, three Shield guys, Ziggler, and an emerging face in Cesaro. On the heel side, you had Evolution, the Wyatts, Rusev was just starting, and a part-time Lesnar.

Now, it's much worse.

 

So we're getting to that point where the "Road to WrestleMania" starts soon and, honestly, I can't remember a year that seems so blah. If the Mania card were finalized today. what would we be looking at?

Main Event: Lesnar vs. Reigns for the WWE title (Shoot me)
Sub-Main Event 1: HHH vs. Sting? (Shoot me again)
Sub-Main Event 2: Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt? (Could be good but doubtful)
Sub-Main Event 3: Cena vs. ??? (I guess this could be a number of people right now. Rollins? Rusev? Orton? Show? None sound remotely interesting)
IC Title: Ziggler vs. ??? (He's feuding with Harper now but that won't last. Other contenders, I suppose, are Cesaro, Sheamus, Barrett and ...?)
US Title: Rusev vs. ??? (No one cares.)
Divas Match: Nikki Bella vs. ??? (No one cares)
Miz vs. Mizdow? (Assuming they continue on the path toward their break-up)
Tag Titles: Usos vs. Ascension? (Assuming Usos take the belts back and the Ascension gets the call up?)
Lost in the shuffle: Ambrose, All of the other NXT guys, AJ, Paige, etc.

That sucks balls.
Now, if I were booking it, I'd completely change everything up.

Main Event: Cena vs. Ziggler, WWE Title Match
Divas Match 2: Battle Royal or something similar to cool crowd down
Sub-Main Event 2: Lesnar vs. Undertaker, Retirement Match
Divas Match: Paige vs. AJ
Sub-Main Event 1: Rollins vs. Reigns
Ambrose vs. Orton
IC Title Match: Barrett vs. Kofi
Sub-Main Event 3: HHH vs. Sting (Because, you know, Sting)
US Title Match: Rusev vs. Sheamus
Miz vs. Mizdow
Opening Match: NXT Money-in-the-bank style contest where winner gets a main-roster contract. Owens vs. Zayn vs. Breeze vs. Neville vs. Itami vs. Balor vs. Bull Dempsey vs. Baron Corbon
Preshow: Tag Titles: Usos vs. Ascension

 

Observer from Dec. 29:


- Rampage Jackson announced that he was claiming breach of contract from Bellator, and signing with UFC. He announced it on a UFC show, so it’s believed that he must have a pretty strong claim to do so. It’s believed to be a clause in his Viacom/Bellator contract related to bonuses. It’s seen as a move that weakens Bellator more than it helps UFC, since he was one of Bellator’s few draws and he’s not much of a fighter nowadays.


The wrestling impact? Brock Lesnar now has even more leverage when it comes to negotiating with WWE, UFC and Bellator, since the latter is believed to be desperate for marquee name talent now. UFC is also looking for boosts here and there, since 2014 was probably their worst PPV year since 2006, because of all of the injuries to top level talent. WWE people believe that Lesnar is leaning toward going back to the UFC, and as a result, less shows and angles have been built around him in terms of future planning, regardless of his WWE contract status.


- Morale in the WWE is currently very poor, following McMahon’s remarks about talent on Austin’s podcast. Triple H attempted to give a speech to the locker room to boost morale, but it wasn’t well received and seen as a clear attempt at damage control. However, Triple H is well-liked by most of the NXT wrestlers, and morale there is generally very good. (Speaking of “FU”s to the crew and talent, the WWE has booked July 3 and July 4 as working days… in Japan.)


From NXT, Adrian Neville is expected to be the next call-up. Their initial idea for him was to put a mask on him and make him a Mighty Mouse-like character for kids.


- AJ Lee is out with an injury, and she’s been hurt for a while, since around when her program with Nikki started. The hairspray finish is kind of a belated injury angle. She is in a weird spot with the company. Even without Total Divas, she’s clearly the most-popular woman wrestler, and she has some heat inside of the company because of Punk.


- Both Kevin Nash and his son Tristen were arrested Tuesday night / Wednesday morning. Allegedly, Tristen came home drunk and belligerent, and he and Kevin got into a fight. Police determined Kevin to be the primary aggressor and arrested him. Then, a couple hours later, they arrested Tristen and charged him with domestic assault and battery after receiving a 911 call from Mrs. Nash and her brother about his behavior. Mrs. Nash refused to give any statements to police.


- The New Japan PPV show that will be broadcast in English by Jim Ross and Matt Striker is having some minor issues getting clearances. There is still time for the issue to be ironed out though. The show itself is selling at a much quicker pace than previous big Toyko Dome PPVs.


- Speaking of PPV, the WWE PPV business isn’t dying as much as they thought. Even with Survivor Series being given away on the Network, they had 33,000 North America buys and 70,000 overseas buys. Most of the buys came from Canada and the UK, where there is some issue getting the Network, but at least 20,000 came from the US. They’re doing between 20,000 and 50,000 PPV buys for even their minor shows still.


- TNA tickets for the tape shows on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9 are moving slowly, and the price has been discounted 50 percent as a result. A slew of “Best Of” shows are scheduled for Destination America in January, in addition to new shows.


- Reno Anoa’i is a contestant on American Idol this year. He is the great nephew of Afa and Sika, and a cousin of Samu, Afa Jr. and Roman Reigns.


- Punk’s UFC debut is seen as more likely for late 2015, as opposed to a July 2015 timeframe that was first rumored.


- Eva Marie has disappeared from WWE TV, but she is on the cover of Muscle & Fitness: Hers. She’s not in Total Divas that much this upcoming season, which has a couple “jump the shark” moments. Examples: a teased lesbian relationship, the wrestlers eating spiked brownies (which would be a wellness violation if true), and a worked shoot separation between Natalya and Tyson Kidd.

 

If they actually put a mask on Neville and make him some kind of hero......

 

It's almost like The E and NXT are completely different companies. I'm enjoying NXT more and more. I look at Raw and don't pay a lot of attention to anything without Ambrose, Rollins or Paige. Some of it is complete shit.

Neville might as well beg to stay in Florida.

As for Reigns, I really want to pull for the man, but the character needs a lot of work. He needs a better move set othwr than punches. He needs a better personality on the mic. He needs new gear and new music. Ambrose and Rollins moved on from The Shield. Reigns is holding on like some d-bag who won't let go of an ex. The E had a great opportunity to re-introduce the guy and blew it.

 

Reigns should probably just be Reigns, which seems simple, but still. Just put him out there in the traditional wrestling boots and trunks, and let him go. He's one of the biggest and most muscular dudes on the roster, yet they have him in a vest.

 

I wish they'd bring back the guy he was in FCW. He actually was allowed to showcase some of his personality, and I couldn't help but -- obviously -- see a bit of the Rock in him coming out.

 

I saw it somewhere, but I think it was Meltzer's site in which he speculated on a Cena heel turn in which he won the title, lost it when Rollins cashed in, and became a heel, by bringing back the Authority when Rollins refused to give him any title shots.

Which makes little sense, because Cena automatically would have received a title shot just by losing to Rollins.

 

I read that as well, though I can't remember if it was Meltzer or someone else on one of the Facebook pages I follow.

 

Meltzer suggested a Cena turn most recently by having him use The Authority against Brock, which would turn Brock in the process and help to freshen his character, and let Heyman go into full "crowd appeal" mode. Then, that would establish Cena as a Hogan-like heel and gravitational force to build up for Reigns to take down, either at Mania this coming year or in 2016.