2009 Running Pro Wrestling Thread

Ok, I'll say it. Raw tonight was awesome.

Yes, the Chavo match sucked balls but other than that, every match tonight was right on point.

The Womens Battle Royal was decent and would have been good if it was a standalone. That Beth Phoenix actually got a title shot later in the night--and that it was a strong match--made me even happier.

Jericho vs. MVP was solid. Loved the finish. Same for Show vs. Henry, though I wish that had gone to completion.

Liked what they did in the Fatal Four way and i'm really warming up to Kofi as a fighting champion. Looking forward to his (hopefully inevitable) push.

As for the Orton-Cena-Rhodes thing, I was kind of hoping for a replay of the DiBiase vs. Orton match a couple weeks ago but I'm glad with the way it played out. Orton's RKO at the end was actually unexpected. That doesn't happen much.

Overall, I've decided that I'm OK with Raw doing guest hosts IF and only IF the guest hosts are former wrestlers who know what they're doing. I'm not optimistic about next week's show.

Oh, and one last note. I know they're lame but I especially love the cheesiness of the DVD promo spots. Those damn spots were hilarious.

"Oh, lord knows you haven't had enough opportunities."

 

I agree. I thought the whole Orton-Cena-Cody-Dusty booking was outstanding. The unexpected RKO was the cherry on top.

 

Who was the victim?

And the DVD spot was hilarious.

 

Orton RKO'd Dusty and the way they set it up was amazing. Completely out of left field and you didn't know what Cody was going to do in retaliation. Great work.

 

So, did Cody do anything?

 

Here's a thought: Maybe they had Chavo dress up in a cow costume as a subtle dig at Vickie.

 

But the running joke had been that she was a pig. Given the context, I don't think anyone was thinking Vickie. They were thinking Jesus Christ, not this shit AGAIN

Disagree with those who thought the Orton RKO on Dustah was unexpected. I could tell by the way Orton was standing with his back to him that he was getting ready to drop him. Also, why would Cena knowingly be a referee in a match between two people who hate him, one of whom is his Breaking Point opponent? Wouldn't he have the slightest inkling something might be up? He must be the stupidest good guy this side of Sting.

TNA spoilers are up, but nothing of any real consequence. There's an eight-man tournament for the two spots opposite Kurt Angle in the next PPV title match, and you can probably figure out who they'll go to when you see the pairings.

 

Yeah, I read his book too, and I was disappointed that that part wasn't a bit more fleshed out. Then again, since Wrestling With Shadows is out there, the Screwjob doesn't really need a ton of explanation.

There are a surprising amount of really good wrestling books out there. While most of the WWE-released ones stink, the non-WWE ones - Jericho's Around The World in Spandex, the Death of the WCW book by the Figure Four Weekly guys - are pretty good. I also really like the Ring Posts blog run by the Baltimore Sun. It's written by an ex-WCW Magazine guy who is now an assistant editor at the Sun.

 

I think they're screwing the pooch with the Breaking Point concept.

There's no way in hell you're having guys like John Cena, the Undertaker and DX (all of whom are now booked in submission matches) tapping out or saying "I quit" (which I think is the stip for one of the matches). Midcard faces, maybe. But when was the last time a main event face submitted in a PPV match in WWE?

So basically, you either have to have them go over, or you guarantee a shitty non-finish.

 

I'll call it now - a repeat of the 1999 Royal Rumble finish will happen.

 

There's ways around it. Someone could get knocked out. There could be a ref stoppage due to blood or injury. And figure on Rhodes or DiBiase tapping in that match.

And there's plenty of screwjob possibilities. Among them:
* He quits, but he really didn't quit. Like the time Mankind "quit" during a match with The Rock when Shane McMahon recorded him yelling "I QUIT" during an interview and playing it over the speakers when Rock had him in a submission hold.
* Someone quits on his behalf. Think Owen Hart when Bret lost the world title to Bob Backlund or when Backlund lost to Iron Shiek because Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel. Maybe it's legit, maybe it's a heel turn.
* Crooked ref decides someone quit
* Unintentional submission, like someone clawing out of a sharpshooter or an ankle lock, and the ref takes it to be a tap out.
* Montreal.

And since it's only the top matches, we don't have to be subjected to a Kane-Khali I Quit match. So there's that.

 

The DX/Legacy match will almost assuredly end with Rhodes or DiBiase tapping. That's a no-brainer.

I was mainly referring to the two championship matches. Again, unless the face goes over, with all those scenarios you outlined, you're guaranteeing a screwy finish.