2015 Pro Wrestling Thread

Observer from Dec. 21:

- Reigns was originally scheduled to win the title at Survivor Series from Rollins. However, the plan was changed when Rollins got injured. Raw went up 27 percent, to 3.867M, the largest since Aug. 31. Amusingly, while they kayfabe are talking about Triple H being injured, he posted a photo of himself being just fine on social media a day or two after. Anyone else probably would have been disciplined.

Right now, there isn’t a clear “top heel” for Reigns to face, since Sheamus is clearly a transitional guy. Triple H is there as a failsafe, but Ambrose or Owens are options as well. The Rock is not expected to be available for Mania. Other options are less likely – turning Cena, or trying Taker or Lesnar, since they’d likely be cheered over Reigns. A “face vs. face” match with Cena at some point is likely.

- Mauro Ranallo is taking over as lead announcer on Smackdown when it moves to USA Network. He’s considered to be the best active announcer in the business by Meltzer. His first taping is Jan. 5, although he’s already with the company and observing the product. Michael Cole actually started the process of reaching out to Ranallo, in September.

- TLC got 73.5 percent thumbs up from readers, which was 119 votes. Thumbs down, 12.3 percent (20), and thumbs middle, 14.2 percent (23). Best match was tag title ladder match with 97 votes, followed by Sheamus vs. Reigns (37) and Ambrose vs. Owens (9). Worst match, Wyatts vs. Team Extreme (52) and Rusev vs. Ryback (46), with the rest of the card getting between 10 and 15 votes. The show did sell out, but it’s believed that ticket brokers bought too aggressively, and were unable to unload all of their stock.

- Barrett is hurt again, this time with a nerve injury in his neck. He got a stinger a few weeks back and had been trying to work through it. He’s still awaiting test results on the severity of the injury.

- Styles said nobody from WWE has contacted him. According to Meltzer, he’s probably going to go with whatever company, or combination of companies, earns him the most. He’s been doing DDP Yoga and said he’ll be 100 percent for the ROH PPV on Dec. 18.

- Mysterio hurt his knee in his second match with Lucha Underground, but it was just a strain with a partial tear, not a full out tear.

- Jeff Hardy has had complications recovering from his broken leg from a dirt bike accident, and he needs a second surgery. He won’t be back until late 2016. His contract and Matt’s contract expires in 10 to 12 weeks with TNA.

- An NXT Takeover was officially announced for April 1 in Dallas, the Friday of Mania weekend.

- Coca Cola has signed on as a WWE sponsor, which is a client they’ve been trying to get for decades. NBC worked hard to book the deal.

- Total Divas’ new season starts Jan. 19, which is head to head with the debut of TNA Impact.

- Regal had pain from his neck surgery and wasn’t at some NXT tapings. He should be back in 2016.

- There is no real change to Daniel Bryan’s injury situation, but talk of a third opinion had died down, and the company has offered him announcing and training jobs. He’s been more pessimistic in interviews lately, although there is always the chance that this is a swerve.

- A planned Shane McMahon DVD from the WWE was cancelled.

 

I can confirm this as I was checking out Stubhub a half-hour before the preshow started out of morbid curiosity (I got Royal Rumble tickets for this arena an hour before the show started a few years ago for 1/3rd face value) and found second-row seats, across camera, for $115 each. They normally retail for either $300 or $400 and come with a souvenir chair.
It's a great way to get seats if you've got balls of steel and are willing to wait until the final minute. A friend of mine has done this for Mania for years and always gets incredible seats at the last possible moment.

 

With all the fuss over Steve Harvey and Miss Universe, you just know that the E is going to spoof something like that tonight with the Slammys.

 

Every year I watch Owen Hart Slammy clips on this day and every year I still laugh.

 

It being the WWE, they're more likely to do it at the 2016 Slammys.

 

You must mean the 2036 Slammys. You know, nostalgia and all.

 

These Slammys have been fail so far. It feels like half the winners aren't even at the arena.

 

Yep, I called it, with Paige playing the role of Miss Columbia and R-Truth playing the role of Steve Harvey.

 

What's more surprising: Keith Richards is still alive or that Ric Flair is still alive?

 

That says something if they can't even get Brock in his own hometown.

 

Very good cage match. The Slammys were an utter waste.

 

As they most always are.