2024 Pro Wrestling Thread

I'd attribute it more to rust. I don't think he had a major injury late in his career, did he?
He's just been relying on muscle memory and playing the hits in his limited appearances because that's all he's had to do. And to be fair, that's what those matches called for. He was getting the nostalgia pop, not trying to put on 30-minute Meltzer classics.
If he's back as a full-timer, I'm sure he'll put in the kind of effort required to go out on a high note. He's always been the type that rises to those kinds of mental challenges.
I just hope he stays healthy all the way through and does get to finish on his terms like Sting did.

 

I remain perplexed that these people are having press conferences after the conclusion of scripted events.

 

I hope the Cena tour looks more like “John Cena US Open challenge” Cena than what we’ve gotten recently.

his last few runs have been, to be blunt, wastes of time. Theory, Solo, yuck and yuck. The Reigns feued was OK but besides that we’re talking pre-pandemic for his last great stuff. And the Taker Mania was awful too. He hasn’t had a good Mania match since when? Rusev 10 years ago?

And by good I mean an important upper card story worth investing in, not the match quality (accepting that Bray in Tampa may well have been but got COVID’d)

 

To piggyback off your last point, could there be a Cena-Wyatt6 storyline that incorporates the match that never happened? Ties up a loose end, and they can’t torment Shorty G forever.

 

I think Cena kinda addressed that last night when he threw the challenge out to the locker room.

The feud with Theory was a waste as Theory is nowhere near the main event scene. The Solo feud helped briefly, but other than the brief table spot at WM, it didn’t really do much for Solo. He’s more moved up due to the absence of Roman.

 

I don't think I want him anywhere near the Wyatts. That feels like a storyline that would drag down, in terms of mood and time, what should be a more upbeat and fun run for everyone. A Cena-Wyatts feud seems like something that would take three months, and then he comes out in a weird place they have to figure out how to pivot from.

I think the general path is obvious. A strong showing at the Rumble, if not a victory, or a win at Elimination Chamber that gets him a title shot at Wrestlemania. They get the belt on him there to break the record and give him a brief run until Summerslam. Or, he could win next year's MITB and cash in right away since he doesn't have time to waste, win it, and then be a transitional champion to pass the baton to someone else.
Then he winds down with a greatest hits tour — a mini-feud or some one-off matches with his old rivals Orton, Punk and Owens, perhaps a banger against Cody or Rollins, leading up to the retirement match at what I assume would be Survivor Series. Unless they push it to whatever the December PPV is now to goose a number in what's normally a lull.

 

Not sure how this who disgruntled worker angle with Brooks Jensen in NXT will end up, but I'm intrigued. Love this post (if you watched "Young Rock," you'll get the reference).

 

I think I lean towards keeping Cena away from the Wyatt6. But if Bo kind of has this unmasked meta character that goes along with Howdy that evolves by next spring….. man Cena could do some good work with that. But I do agree, no spooky shit needed.

He’s never faced this version of Cody, that would be special. He’s got a LOT of history with Rollins, Owens. Then obviously they can re-visit Punk, Styles and Orton.

He’s never faced Gunther or McIntyre.

 

Only problem is he said ‘Mania is his last match.

I like him working with the Wyatt6. Putting them over would be a great final act.

 

I didn't see the promo, but in the presser he said he was staying through the end of 2025 and working 30 to 40 dates. He clarified it'll be his last Wrestlemania, not that Wrestlemania will be his last match.

 

Interesting phrasing from Adam Pearce in regards to McIntyre/Punk.

 

So much cheesy awesomeness packed into 30-something seconds.