2017 Pro Wrestling Thread

So apparently TNA or Impact Wrestling, whatever they're calling themselves now, has laid claim to the Broken Universe copyright.

Check out The Broken One's Twitter account for the article.

 

Observers from March 6:

- TNA has lost the Hardys, Drew Galloway, Mike Bennett, Maria and Jade. Their contracts all expired. For the Hardys and Galloway, the sticking point is TNA’s new negotiating stance; they want exclusivity, to control outside bookings, and to get 10 percent off those bookings. The Hardys claim TNA also reneged on a deal to give them creative control, while TNA said they left because WWE offered them.

They’re bringing in and building around Matt Morgan, 40, and Bruce Prichard, Konnan and LAX are expected to be back too.

- Shaw vs. Big Show for Mania appears to be off. Both have been talking about the match like it isn’t going to happen.

- Beth Phoenix will be enshrined in the WWE HoF this year. Going forward, they want to have one woman per year in the Hall.

- Kurt Angle is scheduled for tapings after Mania.

- Erick Rowan is training for his return.

- The first two seasons of Lucha Underground should be on Netflix on March 15.

- Jack Swagger, 34, is gone from WWE. He got his release sometime around March 1. He hadn’t been on TV since Dec. 3, and last worked on Jan. 23. He could try MMA, but he’s likely to draw more interest from Mexico, Japan and UK promotions.

- Samson is moving to the main WWE roster soon.

- Cody Rhodes is working indy shows, TNA and ROH matches, all on “per day” contracts. He hasn’t signed anything long-term with anyone.

- Isabel Lahela, 22, has signed with WWE. She’s a weightlifting champion and was featured in Maxim, Playboy and Esquire.

- AJ Styles was chosen as Wrestler of the Year, getting 462 first place votes. Top 10, in order: Styles, Okada, Naito, Kenny Omega, Kento Miyahara, Tanahashi, Chris Hero, Volador Jr., Kevin Owens and Nakamura. The Top 10 was similar for Most Outstanding Wrestler (the technical award).

Best box office draw was Connor McGregor, who got 1,005 of the 1,023 first place votes cast. Feud of the Year went to McGregor vs. Diaz (677 votes / 3,582 points), followed by Cena vs. Styles (38 / 940). Charlotte vs. Sasha was #4, Miz vs. Dolph #7. (Worst feud? Titus vs. Darren Young.)

Tag Team of the Year was the Young Bucks (599 / 3,801). Top and only WWE team was the New Day at #5 (11, 365). Most Improved when to Matt Riddle (WWE development), with the Miz (2), Alexa Bliss (4), Kenny Omega (7), Charlotte (8) and Braun Strowman (9) in the Top 10.

Most Overrated: Roman Reigns (242 / 1,516), followed by Strowman (72 / 719) and Baron Corbin (57 / 564). Also in the Top 10: Cody Rhodes (#4), Brock Lesnar, Sheamus, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins (7 to 10). Most Underrated: Cesaro, Neville, Sami Zayn, Luke Harper are the top four, with Rusev at #6.

New Japan got promotion of the year (618 / 4,215), followed by UFC, WWE (69 / 988), ROH, Evolve, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, CMLL, Progress, Dragon Gate and Revolution Pro. Lucha Underground was #12, and TNA got 0 points. TNA also got Worst Promotion of the Year. For best weekly TV show, New Japan was #1, Smackdown #2, NXT #6, Lucha Underground #7, TNA #8, and Raw last at #9.

Taahaski vs. Okada on Jan. 4 for New Japan got Match of the Year. Styles was in the #4 match, when he was still with that promotion, vs. Nakamura. Cena vs. Styles on Aug. 21 was the only WWE match in the Top 10.

Best Announcer went to Mauro Ranallo (279 / 2,199), edging out Corey Graves (172 / 1,910). David Otunga got Worst Announcer (260 / 2,018), “beating” Matt Striker, Bryon Saxton, Josh Matthews, JBL and Michael Cole, in that order.

Best show was New Japan’s Wrestle Kingdom from Jan. 4. Best WWE show was Takeover Dallas on April 1 (#4), the Cruiserweight Classic finals (#6). Nothing else made the Top 10. Mania “won” worst show, with Clash of Champions #5, Fast Lane #7.

 

Yeah - Observer said this was a point of contention between Matt Hardy, who claims it was his original idea, and TNA, who says that because he did so while employed by them, the concept belongs to them. It could be an interesting legal case, because the Hardys were on a contract that allowed them to take indy bookings and work for other promotions anyway.

 

His wife's Twitter account is telling quite an interesting story.

 

Observer from March 13:

- Although Matt Hardy has said they’ve signed the most lucrative contract in ROH history, most insiders think this is a work. Their only future advertised booking is April 1. Adam Cole is also a free agent as of May, and he could be WWE bound.

- On Talking Smack, Miz and Daniel Bryan were going off the cuff at one another, with Miz needling Bryan about not being about to wrestle again. Bryan retorted by saying to watch him 18 months from now. This is interesting, because that’s when it is believed his contract ends with WWE.

- Lesnar vs. Goldberg is expected to end with a Lesnar squash. Goldberg’s contract ends at Mania.

- Originally, it was supposed to be Cena vs. Taker, but Vince has always wanted a Reigns vs. Taker match. It’s unknown who’s favored to win.

- Similarly, Nia Jax has been pulled from the title four-way, and it’s instead currently planned to be Bayley vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks.

- Kairi Hojo of Stardom has signed a three-year WWE contract. She will probably start in NXT, but could work up to the main roster.

- WWE claims it hasn’t released Swagger, but he’s trying to do an indy booking on March 10 with Alberto Del Rio.

- Dana Brooke is competing in fitness competitions again; she finished 14th of 14. This is why she’s lost some weight recently. WWE hasn’t publicized it, unlike when she did it in the past.

- From readers, Fastlane got 68 percent thumbs down, 22.6 percent thumbs middle, 9.4 percent thumbs up. Neville vs. Gallagher got best match.

 

A company that likes to stiff its employees and has done more magic tricks than David Copperfield to stay afloat, really thinks it's in a position to drive a hard bargain?

 

Just what we need. A second straight PPV main event for the Universal title ends in a squash. Yay.

Oh. And the time for a Reigns vs. Taker match was three years ago, when a Reigns win to end the streak as a Shield member would have made him much more than suffering succotash.

 

I get your feelings, but honestly it's the only thing I want to see from Goldberg right now. A 30-minute squash would be fine by me.

 

30 minutes? I'm thinking 30 seconds.

 

Mauro digitally fist bumped me on Twitter, so there's the highlight of my week.

Raw was garbage again.
- So your embarrassed former world champ doesn't want an immediate rematch? I understand KO wants to get back and Jericho...by taking the US title? Why? Jericho hasn't shown that the title means shit to him. And by saying the world title can wait, well, way to keep devaluing a belt that no one has taken seriously since it's debut. Here's a hint, WWE: it has nothing to do with red. It's because we know that one day, when brand extension ends again, that will not be the title that sticks around. Nothing is replacing the classic world title and it's lineage, no matter what that title looks like.

- Goldberg, poor guy. You know I'm a huge mark for Goldberg. It's cool that they put the belt on him for a bit, like they did for Hogan in 2002. It's nostalgia. But even now I see that Bill should have squashed Brock in November, took a bow, and said, "Thank you, good night" then rode off into the sunset. What is the purpose of putting a meaningless belt on him via squash only to lose it via squash to a guy who will be gone until late July? Does nothing for Goldberg. Does nothing for Brock (who never looked weak even if squashed because he's booked to murder the other 99.9 percent of the locker room). Does nothing for the title.

- Reigns vs. Taker. Somehow, Roman will still be the face, no matter how loud people boo him. Does The E think that they can turn Taker heel in three weeks? Sure, they can do through the motions, but the crowds aren't falling for it. This will likely be a shit show. Now, one thing about Braun. I don't think he looks cowardly for stepping out on Taker. Yes, he works as a monster, but he was getting a decent face pop against Roman. If you look at this as Braun working face with Taker as a face, then Braun is showing respect by ceeding the yard to Taker. (And this also works if you have a short-term memory and forget that he faced off against Taker a few years back as part of the Wyatts, just like The E wants you to do. Long-term history only works when it's convienent for the next video package.)

- Sasha is in a title triple threat by beating Bailey...or was she supposed to beat Charlotte a week later? I think Cole really confused things. Anyway, who gives a shit? We're getting a retread of last year with Bailey instead of Becky. There are now only three women on Raw.

- Is Seth wrestling? Is he not wrestling? Is Joe wrestling? Is Triple H wrestling? Is Sami wrestling? Is Braun wrestling? Why do I not see the tag champs? Who are the tag champs? I don't know what's going on with most of this roster when it comes to WrestleMania. At least we've got that Steph story line going for us with Foley. Thank goodness the biggest show of the year is only three weeks away.

SmackDown
- I love everything they're doing. It's simple, but well done. I feel like I know where the WM card is heading, so now I get to enjoy the build over the next three weeks. Stories make sense. Grudges are personal and have passion. Mauro makes me feel like a real fight with stakes is happening.

Talking Smack
- Did Daniel Bryan allude to maybe leaving to wrestle in 18 months when his E contract is up? Holy shit. Wonder how much shit he's going to take for that little slip.

 

I was IN THE ARENA (actually in the hard-camera section, on free tix from a friend who worked with WCW at the time ...). Up to that moment, the highlight of the night was finally seeing Ric Flair wrestle in person. I actually gave Naitch a standing O when he entered the building, as I respect the greatness.

So, as a lifelong Hulkamaniac, I was really shocked. Like, the silent mouth-open kind of shocked. The whole thing felt out-of-body to me.

rb

 

I would bet a healthy portion of my next paychecque that Brock-Goldberg will NOT go last at Mania. At this point, Wyatt-Orton is a way better finish.

rb