2015 Pro Wrestling Thread

The last time I really marked out was when ECW joined the WCW "invasion" when Tazz, the Dudleys, Raven, etc., turned on the WWE. Then, Paul Heyman cut a great promo about how everyone forgot about ECW.

Then, starting an hour after that and continuing for months, it all went to shit when it was "revealed" that Stephanie McMahon was behind it all. It's still the most badly botched storyline in wrestling history, but damn, the first 15 minutes of it were awesome.

 

The last time I audibly shouted while watching wrestling was when Taker jobbed to Lesnar at Mania 30.

Now, did I say "oh hell fuck yes" to myself when Owens' music hit? Yep. Didn't jump up or shout though lol

 

I won't lie. For me, it was watching Goldberg beat Hogan for the belt and see the Georgia Dome crowd explode. I was in my mid-teens at the time, and I've lived in the Atlanta area my whole life, so of course I'd go for the former Falcon/Georgia Bulldog.

 

He was literally hanging from the rafters.

 

Last time I was stunned was when Lesnar beat Taker.

Two other mark-out moments from years earlier was when Heenan made his speech about Flair coming to WWF in '91 and Hall interrupting Nitro.

 

Here are my top 5 markout moments:

1. Steamboat beats Savage at WM III.

This is my greatest markout moment of all time probably due to my age more than anything else. There's just something special about this match that I'll always remember.

2. First Wargames.

Watching Dusty, Koloff and The Road Warriors demolish Flair, Tully, Arn and Luger was one of the highlights of my young wrestling life. This match was just brutal and the crowd is so into it you can't even hear poor JR on commentary half the time.

3. Sting's "gift" from Lex Luger.

As a huge Abdullah the Butcher fan I can honestly say I marked out like crazy when good old Abby popped out of that big box and proceeded to beat the crap out of Sting.

4. Shawn Michaels Kip Up (circa 2002)

I hadn't marked out for anything in wrestling until Summerslam 2002 when Michaels fought in his "unsanctioned match" with HHH. Watching the old Shawn Michaels magic return for the first time in 5 years was a mark out moment in itself but when he busted out the kip up I went nuts.

5. Hogan = 3rd Man

I was never really a Hogan fan. In fact I was always a fan of the heel wrestlers so when Hogan joined Hall and Nash I almost had a heart attack. This was a great moment for me just because I never thought it would happen but in wrestling you can never say never.

 

Another big one for me was: KOTR 98 - HITC Taker - Foley. Obviously you know why.

 

Not in any particular order:

Brock beating the Streak.
Brock returning the first time the night after Mania.
Hogan as the third man.
Scott Hall "you know who I am" on Nitro.
Sting showing up on Raw the first time.
Seth Rollins cashing in at Mania.
Rollins' heel turn.
Sami Zayn debuting on Raw.
Owens killing Cena.
Warrior.

 

So it was the night after Payback 2014 and arguably the most successful stable this millennium came to a shattering end with this moment which will forever live on in wrestling folklore. The Shield had just beaten Evolution on two straight pay per views and were at their strongest point. Nobody was specualting about the WWE pulling the plug on the stable yet Rollings turned his back on Ambrose and Reigns to change the landscape of the WWE in shocking fashion.

So my question is this. What do you think of the way Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns have been booked in the subsequent 12 months. Did they force feed us Roman Reigns too much? Should Ambrose be in the positon Rollins finds himself? Is The Authority a good thing for Rollins as champion?

I am dying to hear what you all think a year on from The Shield disbanding. With all three of them in the main event picture over the past few weeks it seem apt to talk about them all at this point.

 

I think the three characters have been done fantastically, with my long gripe being that Reigns hasn't developed much of an identity outside of what he was when the group was together. Same music, same entrance, same attire, same everything.
To his credit, Reigns was phenomenal at Mania and I wouldn't mind seeing him carrying the title a year from now but Ambrose and Rollins have developed in a great way since that faction broke and it's been nice to see.
Contrast that with what's happened to all three members of the Wyatts and it's night and day.

 

J-O-E

 

My one complaint with Rollins is that The Authority interferes in his matches way too much. I get that they're trying to make him a cowardly heel, but at some point he needs to stand on his own as champion to build some credibility. Even if it's just for a PPV or two. Winning clean, without any interference whatsoever, would do wonders for him. He can use dirty tactics if he wants to, just leave Kane and the midgets at home for once.

Reigns doesn't do it for me, but you can't fault WWE for trying. It's not like they buried him.
Ambrose got lost in the shuffle for a while, but seems to have found his footing. I'm looking forward to his one-on-one feud with Rollins for the next month or two. It should be a chance for both of them to shine.

One of the amazing parts of the past year, to me, is how seamlessly they've moved into a new era. Every six or seven years there seems to be an infusion of new blood or a major change in direction, and we're certainly in one right now. Orton and Cena are really the only long-term veterans anchoring the card right now. Maybe Sheamus and Ziggler, too, who are older than you probably realize. Looking at the matches from Payback, you have a dozen guys who made their main roster debut in 2010 or later.
It's a new era.