2015 Pro Wrestling Thread

Well, in all fairness, a bunch of the kiddies are probably wondering what all the excitement is about with this middle aged man in facepaint and a trenchcoat.

 

Probably. Still something you won't get to read too often.

 

Observer for Jan. 26:

- USA announced on Jan. 15 that Tough Enough would be back this year. A casting call was posted on Craigslist, and it’s believed that they will use a couple complete newbies to supplement some of the Orlando folks they have under contract already. A host hasn’t been announced, but it’s believed to be Austin’s job if he wants it.

- Alberto Del Rio debuts on Lucha Underground on Feb. 11; the angle has already been taped.

- Negotiations with Jim Ross to announce for Lucha Underground fell through. He and Josh Matthews also got into a bit of a Twitter back and forth. Some think that Matthews was touchy because he took comments Ross made in his interview with Dixie Carter as being interested in a TNA job. However, Ross has rejected TNA multiple times in the past.

- Ring of Honor might drop iPPV shows. Because of all the broadcast problems with them, after issuing refunds, they’re coming out in the red on them. There is a worry that WWE might have killed the wrestling PPV business for all companies with the $9.99 rate.

- Velvet Sky might be done with TNA. She was the only major performer currently on TV to not get a visa for the England shows coming up.

- Mania is in Cowboys Stadium for 2016, and the 2017 show is believed to be headed to Philly or Orlando.

- WWE stock dropped to $10.05 per share, its lowest close in years, and the value of the company is $758M. Cash on hand is believed to be low.

- Cesaro is now losing to Jericho on house shows. Why? Who the eff knows.

- Cody Hall, the son of Scott, debuts in New Japan on Feb. 2, as part of the Bullet Club stable.

- Bellator signed Kimbo Slice, 41, who hasn’t fought in two years. Bellator and UFC both really, really want Lesnar for either legit or “spectacle” fights.

- The Wrestler of the Year, chosen by voters, was Shinsuke Nakamura, edging out AJ Styles. Daniel Bryan was the top-ranked WWE guy at #5, and Cena, Rollins and Lesnar were #8, #9 and #10 respectively. It’s a reader poll. Ronda Rousey was the MMA MVP, taking 551 first place votes – Chris Weidman was in second with 75. Rousey also got Most Outstanding Fighter, and Biggest Draw. Most Outstanding Wrestler was won by AJ Styles, with Sami Zayn in at #7, and Rollins #10.

The Young Bucks won tag team of the year, with the Usos ranking #4. The Dust Brothers were #7, and Harper and Rowan were #8. WWE did well in Most Improved, which can be bad or good, depending on perspective. They had the top five spots – Rusev, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Rowan and Harper. Heyman took the Best On Interviews award, with Stephanie McMahon #5, Ambrose #8, Wyatt #9 and Lana #10. Heyman also took Best Non-Wrestler. Cesaro was voted Most Underrated for the second straight year.

New Japan easily took Best Promotion, with 779 first place votes; WWE got 4, and finished sixth. ROH was second with 16 first place votes. TNA didn’t receive any first place votes and didn’t make the top 10. NXT got Best Weekly TV Show.

The highest ranking WWE match was The Shield vs. The Wyatts, Feb. 23, which came in #6. The only other in the top 10 was Bryan vs. HHH, April 6 (Mania). The winner was the brutally stiff fight between Styles and Minoru Suzuki, Aug. 1:

- The show also took year-end honors, with Mania coming in a distant third.

Spoiler-y stuff about possible Rumble entrants:

- WWE is currently face heavy, after they turned Lesnar, and with Orton coming back to feud with Rollins as a face at some point, and Daniel Bryan back. Even a guy like Bray Wyatt is a cult babyface. After Rollins, the top heels are Kane, Show and then Rusev. Sheamus is healthy, and ready to return as well.

Booked for the Rumble are Ziggler, Ryback, The Miz, Mizdow, Ambrose, Bryan, Big Show, Reigns, Rusev, Los Matadores, Fandango, Justin Gabriel, Goldust, Stardust, R-Truth, The Usos and Wyatt. That’s only 20, so the rest will be deep roster or developmental (Sin Cara, Titus O’Neill, Swagger, Otunga, Alex Riley, Rowan, Curits Axel) or surprises (DDP, Jericho). They will probably debut a person if they can, with Sami Zayn’s name having been floated out.

 

It's to the point where I'm so used to shitty commentary that it doesn't bother me anymore. It's not going to change anytime soon.

 

I'm trying to save up for a WM vacation package for 33 or 34 for me and my dad. We want the whole deal: Axxess tickets, Hall of Fame, 'Mania, Raw. But an eastern location is going to kill my budget because of air fare out of Iderho. Might have to wait another year if it's Philly or Orlando.

 

I'm thinking if the triple threat goes on last then maybe it means Reigns wins the Rumble, avoid going off the air with the crowd possibly crapping all over it.

 

Of the obvious among the other 10 Rumble spots, you've got to figure Orton (as a surprise return) and Kane are there. Jericho has denied he'll be in it, but take that for what it's worth. You know Kofi will be in it for his traditional highlight spot, so figure Big E will be there as well. I didn't see Harper and Rowan on that list, but they make too much sense not to be in it, even if they have other matches on the card.
I also heard a rumor the other day that the Dudleys are one (or two) of the surprises. That would be neat.

 

That Styles/Suzuki match was great. You got to love a match in which a good part of the psychology is working the finger.

 

Cheap Heat was floating the idea of a Dudleys' return, which would be cool, since the show is in Philly. So, you figure there will be at least one ECW guy, whether it's them in a tag team spot vs. The Ascension or Tommy Dreamer in the rumble. All of them are on "per date" deals with TNA I believe.

 

Apparently, Roman Reigns' promo on Smackdown included something about Andre the Giant "not needing to remind us every week that he was a giant." Um...

 

From what I saw on one site's comments, it wasn't as bad as it sounded in the overall context. Basically he was saying Andre was so great he didn't have to remind everyone he was a giant, unlike Show, who he was speaking to.

 

Except, you know, that Andre's NAME, which he carried with him 24/7, had the word GIANT in it.