Professional wrestling thread

It's a title belt. Not like they mean too much these days.

 

Title belts in Russo's world are only good as foreign objects.

Speaking of TNA, the new batch of spoilers are odd. But then they've always got odd character development issues, guys turning with little explaination (Daniels) or going off into five feuds at the same time.

One spoiler probably depresses ROH fans: Senshi-Homicide on Xplosion, a match that would go 60 and flirt with ***** if in an ROH ring, left to die as a throwaway meeting on a show nobody watches.

 

Daniels has always been better as a heel.

 

And speaking of depressing spoilers, on this week's Heat (don't look if you're one of the 60 people in the country who give a damn about Heat): Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Cryme Tyme beat Haas and Benjamin and Johnny Nitro.

WGTT's eternal burial is hardly news, but who or what did Nitro do to fall as hard as he did? Two months ago I thought he stood a decent chance of getting the MITB briefcase push, and now he's doing job duty to Duggan and Cryme Tyme? Could be worse, though. Could be Kenny, who lost to CHUCK PALUMBO in a dark match. Who knew he'd be missing the Spirit Squad right about now?

 

World's Greatest Tag Team? Perhaps they should add the question mark to the name. When are Benjamin and Haas' contracts up? They should leave WWE and go the TNA/indies route where they'll shine.

 

The funny thing with Haas is they cut him last year with wife Jackie Gayda. Gayda signed on with TNA, and it was assumed that Haas would follow suit. Except they signed him back, so he could do ... nothing.

A manager might help, and anything's possible (hell, who would have guessed Cade and Murdoch would ever get a Raw angle better than "jobbers who run in against top face and get killed despite number advantage"?). But I'm not holding my breath.

 

You hit the nail on the head. God, what a waste. ROH never even booked that match, either, so TNA had a chance to build something downt he road that NO fan had seen yet. First off, Low Ki (I refuse to call him Senshi) has been totally wasted in TNA, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, if TNA can screw up Samoa Joe, then I guess they can screw up anyone. I've always thought Low Ki would be a perfect fit with LAX and then, eventually down the road, you babyface Homicide or Low Ki and have them feud. But, I guess if you do that, that's one less spot for a WWE reject.

As for RAW last night, well, I'm as big of an HBK fan as there is, but the main event sickened me. Is it really necessary to bury Edge (and SmackDown!) right out of the gate? There was no need for Michaels to win that match, let alone win it clean. The writers had so many outs to give Edge the win, it wasn't even funny. They could've had the concussion cost Michaels. They could've had Orton do a run-in and cost Michaels. Or (*gasp*) they could've just let Edge win!?!
Instead, it was another chance for Vince, Steph and Co. to let the fans know that RAW is the "superior" brand.

 

Here are (finally) some good photos of the Impact tapings, including the new title belts.

http://mattboom.smugmug.com/gallery/2851460#152918039

 

I was confused about the HBK-Edge ending until someone on another board mentioned that this was pretty much the way they booked Angle when HE moved to Smackdown to win the world title at the last minute because of an injury to the champion. He had his final match on Raw with HBK and lost. Clean, I think.

What I'm not sold on is having HBK beat Edge clean to set the stage for an angle advancing a match that had been set an hour before, was taking place in six days and involves Randy Orton, who shouldn't be looking like Raw's top heel on their go-home show for Judgement Day. I don't care for the Great Khali push any more than anyone else, but why not let him be the dominant guy at the end of the show?

Unless the match sets up a vague point in the future where HBK jumps to Smackdown to challenge Edge (or Edge pops in on a Raw to get his win back). Funny how they made a big deal about Edge leaving Raw, as though he won't be on the show again within three months for one reason or another.

And nothing says "golden era of wrestling" quite like "new push for Snitsky".

 

HBK is HHH's buddy. 'Nuff said about his win over Edge. Like I've said before, I'm not HBK's biggest fan and this just enhances it.

 

By the way, for those who wondered earlier, Dave Scherer (www.pwinsiderelite.com) reported on his hotline that Randy Orton is being kept active because he's scheduled to feud with Triple H when the McSon-In-Law returns in July or August. As we all know, ya gotta keep HHH happy and lookin strong, right?

And Claws, I see where you're comin from, but I think the blame lies more with creative. Sure, I understand you want HBK to look strong, but why do it at the expense of one of your world champions? I'm not saying HBK's an angel, cuz he's far from that, but that's a creative issue, right there.

 

I agree with you that it was a bad decision. HBK has to keep his big game rep now that Taker's out, Edge is leaving and Orton is in the doghouse. Cena and Kahli aren't good and you have to have another reason to watch Raw and they think keeping HBK near the top is one way to do it while HHH is still out.

By the way, will Mysterio come to Raw upon his return or will he go to Smackdown? Chavo can only hope he stays on SD.