2014 Pro Wrestling Thread

Give yourself one of these, too, Bradley ...

 

Seems like the E is hotshotting a couple of things. Rusev vs. Show and Ambrose vs, Cena with a contract to face Rollins on a pole.

Where is Russo these days?

 

This week’s Observer:

- The Rock is teasing a program with Triple H for Wrestlemania in some interviews he’s been doing. Past booking ideas: Triple H vs. Batista in Batista’s retirement program (seemingly back burnered for now) or Austin vs. Triple H in the Superdome with McMahon in Austin’s corner (Austin was never on board for it).

The Rock’s appearance on Raw was kept as a complete surprise. Even on the booking rundown, it was billed as a Big Show segment. As a result, the rating for the show was a 2.6, the lowest of the year so far.

Other potentials for Mania: Sting vs. Undertaker, if Taker is up to it. Sting’s second choice was Triple H, who now seems booked with Rock. Hogan is pushing for a match with Cena, but it’s unclear if he can pass a physical, and even if he can, if the WWE would be willing to let him do it. (He’s 61.)

Despite Reign’s injury, it’s believed he’s still being booked for Lesnar, with Ambrose as a back-up plan. Given his health, there’s currently nothing for Daniel Bryan, so it’ll take another fan push to get him on the card somewhere. Cena vs. Brock at the Rumble is likely, with Rusev interfering and setting up Rusev vs. Cena for Mania.

Lesnar will probably only be on the bigger shows now – There is a chance he doesn’t return until Rumble. He’s paid per date, and it’s seen as effective to have him hold the told but not defend as kind of like a bully.

- If Austin was to come back, it’s speculated that it’s 2016 at Mania at Cowboys Stadium, or never. He’s had multiple big money offers to come back since 2003 and never really shown a ton of interest.

- TNA made a play for CM Punk through an intermediary, offering him a Hogan-like money deal that would probably have some booking power as well. However, he said he wasn’t interested. He did appear backstage at an OVW show on Oct. 4, but he didn’t make an appearance and his presence wasn’t advertised. He was there to see friends and old trainers.

- Although there is still tension between Michael Elgin and ROH over his visa issues, the current public airing is a work.

- Rumble is expected to be 40 guys this year, as opposed to 30.

- Triple H and Stephanie are releasing workout videos in time for Christmas.

- Jericho will be back for the European tour, because the WWE has injuries on the top level and depth issues, but it’s unclear if he’ll be on TV for any of it.

- Top 10 merchandise sales for September: Cena (way more than everyone else), Reigns, Usos, Wyatt Family, Lesnar, Sting, Sheamus, Bryan, Ambrose and Hogan. It’s seen as good news for the Usos and Lesnar (high despite being a heel), and Sting (high even though he’s never been on TV). Bad for Daniel Bryan (out of sight, out of mind).

 

I think of this every time I see any of the ______ on a Pole matches. It should be banned for all time just because it makes people think of Russo. I would also forever ban the scaffold match if I could, although I don't think any promotion has done it in decades anyway.

 

Show doing the tomahawk chop,before chopping Rusev. That is known as knowing your audience.

Show ain't winning this, at least cleanly, but I've been entertained so far.

 

After seeing that match, is it weird that I'd be excited to see a Show-Henry-Rusev triple threat match at Hell In a Cell?

 

Two other thoughts while they're in my head...

1) I like how they're planting the seeds of an Orton-Rollins feud. Its slow evolution makes a lot of sense, and they ought to be able to kick it in once the Cena-Ambrose-Rollins feud winds down in a few weeks.

2) Mizdow mirroring the Miz's selling outside the ring was pretty funny. He really does do a good Miz impersonation. I went to a house show about a month ago, and Miz and Mizdow were on the card in separate matches. Mizdow's mannerisms -- the way he moved, got in the ring, even worked some of the moves -- were spot-on. It's probably a better acting job than Miz put on in "Marine 3."

 

Mizdow might just be the best awful gimmick they've stuck him with. I laughed my ass off the first time I saw him mimicking what Miz was doing, including selling a punch or something during a match.

 

Well, this seems kind of odd: After Raw ended, the WWE announced they've released ring announcer Justin Roberts.

The guy seemed pretty good at his job and I don't really understand letting a ring announcer go unless there's a compelling reason.

What's more, comments after the story say Roberts got into a heated argument with Michael Cole at ringside tonight during a commercial break and gave him a one-finger salute. However, the announcement said Roberts' contract wasn't renewed, which suggests this was planned for a while, so I don't think the argument had anything to do with it.

My biggest memory of Roberts will always be selling the Daniel Bryan tie choke like a champ.

 

I'm sure there have been some backyard groups, but the last time I can think of a scaffold match at a prominent company was ECW with Tommy Dreamer and Brian Lee around '95 or so.

Then there was that infamous match with New Jack and Victor Grimes about 10 years ago when New Jack threw Grimes off with the intent to kill or or cripple him for revenge from their botched fall in ECW a few years earlier.

 

At what point does Seth Rollins get pissed off that the champion is nowhere to be found, thus making his briefcase pointless. It would be nice if they address this in the coming weeks/months of Lesnar absentia.

 

I think it's actually the easiest way to justify Triple H putting Reigns in a program for the belt - Like, maybe they "lose control" of Lesnar at some point, and that's part of the reason why he and Heyman aren't around. Have Lesnar give Triple H an F-5 at one point, after he's curbstomped Cena or Rollins or someone else at a PPV. I think Lesnar actually gains mystique / aura the more he's away from the ring.