2008 Running Pro Wrestling Thread

I was at that show...May 2, 2005 Raw in Boston, the night after Backlash in Manchester, NH. One of the best matches of that year.

 

Ouch...nice classic touch with the cage, though. Glad I don't spend $ on PPVs anymore...

I haven't seen a whole lot of Benjamin, but when I have seen him I've been impressed. Clearly a lot of mat skills with the amateur background, and he's got the physical tools as well...when he was in the IC mix in the past, he had some good matches.

However, with the way the WWE style has changed, it seems like he might have been a few years too late...? Thoughts?

 

Good link, there's a top-notch stream on there. Women's title match is coming up now.

 

Another bullshit finish to UT/Edge. . . what a surprise.

Orton's new music kicks ass.

 

I read today on one of the shitty, third-hand sites that must piss off the real wrestling reporters that McMahon felt the storyline was much better with the Undertaker chasing Edge, rather than Edge trying to get back at the Undertaker. I think I agree. I certainly wouldn't care if the Undertaker held the belt and Edge and his posse were chasing him. Now, at least, we've got something new, though I keep thinking about how much the value of the belt is plummeting without it being around someone's waist.

The PPV itself wasn't that bad - I didn't watch much of Cena/JBL, any of the tag match or any of the women's match - but I'm glad I didn't pay for it. The HBK/Jericho match was about 80% of its potential, which is still better than many could do, and I'm a big fan of them continuing the Matt Hardy vs. MVP angle with Jeff coming in. For those who didn't see it, MVP issued an open challenge, Matt answered, said he wasn't wrestling, but he knew who would - and Jeff emerged.

I'd give it a B-minus, which is a lot better than usual.

 

who won the cage match?

 

Triple H. Pretty good one, too.

The match began with Orton, right after the bell ringing, dashing for the still-open door. He got halfway out before he was caught. It's smart, cheap instincts like that which make me appreciate a good, cunning heel.

 

Anyone who employs classic heel tactics is OK in my book...

 

Yes, but in my mind, having Vickie take actions that cheapen the belt are attempts to elevate heel status. Sort of like, if Edge can't have it then no one can. Now, whether it's a good idea or not remains to be seen.

The card is pretty stale. The draft needs to happen, and Vince really needs to shake the rosters up. Last year just didn't do enough.

 

I think his in-ring style fits in quite well. Problem is, he's not a very good talker. He is exhibit "A" (with Umaga exhibit 'B') for the need for managers. He was pretty over as a heel when he had his "Mama" in his corner. He could use Flair, or Teddy Long (In another stereotypical African-American heel faction), and be a lot more effective.

Especially with the blonde hair, I could see Shelton in the 1980s in a Butch Reed role (although more high-flying) and have Slick as his manager.

 

The show kinda sucked. Undertaker-Edge was really good but ruined by another horrible Vickie Guerrero ending. Cage match was decent, but honestly I expected more.

 

With a lackluster PPV on Sunday, you can only imagine that One Night Stand -- TWO weeks later -- is really gonna suck in San Diego on June 1.

Wonder if Rey Mysterio will make an appearance for it, though.