RAW Superthread

The Nal

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Has Ronda Rousey been booed yet? It won't be long if she hasn't as she has the personality of a wet plank of wood.

No but won't be long before she is. They should've just let her loose on the mid carders and as opposed to holding her hand for months and at WM

SlickRic

Luger was Vince's choice once upon a time. Listening to crowd reactions was important then, because a wrong move by WWE could mean a loss of lots of money. they then turned to Bret, because had to go with what the show going fans went with.

Diesel was Vince's choice once upon a time. Listening to crowd reactions was important then, because a wrong move by WWE could mean losing the war. then they turned to HBK, and ultimately Austin.

the change of business model in WWE has meant that Vince just doesn't have to care too much about live fan reaction to make his money. It's about merch, branding and marketing. and that's fine. he has future proofed the business brilliantly.

Since he took over wrestling in the US, fandom has gone down. House show attendance has gone down. Less people watch the product. It's less in the mainstream (hence the reliance on bringing in the likes of Lesnar and Rousey to boost mainstream appeal) than before. but with the Network and guaranteed advertising contracts, it's fine. The business makes all the money it needs; in fact more than it ever did.

That is whether they have Reigns in the spot he's in or not.

i have no problem with Reigns. i wouldn't boo him. I think he's actually fantastic in his role. I think he's an excellent worker. I think, especially in this feud, he as a character is believable in how he's delivering his performance. I honestly think he's super, and is suffering in front of live crowds because of previous booking, and the fact he was pushed strongly, just as Bryan was making his comeback and the live fans (at least) felt he should be given his run.

Reigns is great.

but i don't understand how we can categorically say that there is nobody who is viable as an alternative. we just don't know. because nobody apart from Roman Reigns is pushed like Roman Reigns. until someone is given a lengthy run in that spot, similar to him, it's impossible to know if anyone else can do better. Reigns is doing fine, but what if someone else was given that chance?

if a guy is pushed like a star, he's a star. it's a self fulfilling prophecy. if you book nobody else like a comparable star, then it's unlikely anyone else will be seen as a star, and therefore it's very hard to supercede Reigns.

because Reigns was 'chosen', he wasn't pinned for a year or so after his debut (at least).
he set records for Rumble eliminations.
he kept the cool Shield entrance.
etc etc etc

basically he has always been ludicrously strong. he has always been positioned as a star. he didn't really have to prove to Vince that he could do better than Cena before being groomed as a star. Vince just saw him, looked at his credentials, and went with it. and again, that's fine. but you can't ignore that Reigns has been given chances that others just aren't. that's life, and people need to deal with it. but it is what's happened.

who is to say that (for argument's sake) Rusev or Balor or Joe were afforded the chance to be booked ludicrously strongly, and consistently so, over a period of time, barely ever being out of the main event, that they wouldn't perform well? yes, Vince has little reason to change things, but why is Reigns given opportunities others aren't?

the only honest answer is simply 'he was chosen', and that's just how it's going to be until someone else beats him, in spite of inferior booking.

i'm looking forward to Lesnar v Reigns. it'll be superb. And Reigns must win. but I don't think it'll be the coronation Vince would ideally want. but he doesn't care. his business model doesn't need 'smarks' to love his main star anymore. he gets their money through the Network anyway.

and more power to him I suppose.

HandsomeBob

I'm happy to let Ronda develop as she goes as she doesn't look like she'll get pushed to the title straight away. As long as they show care in how they position her she should be ok. They might be better off letting the Steph feud run with maybe Steph getting a few lackeys.

My general concern about introducing legit fighters remain a concern as a) makes rest of the roster look less legitimate and b) that all round presence and presentation is found to be lacking. Devile for example doesn't seem to have a lot of ring presence in spite of having actual ring experience.

Happy to hold my hands up in regards to Baszler though and admit she has massive potential. Have been impressed by what I've seen in NXT.

Ronda is the star but Baszler seems to have the female Brock thing down well.

IncognitoMan

Reigns still having the Shield entrance and very similar gear is one of the things that annoy me most about him tbh. It just doesn't make any sense.

He could be great but the way they are going about it is just wrong imo.

The Nal

IncognitoMan wrote: »

Reigns still having the Shield entrance and very similar gear is one of the things that annoy me most about him tbh. It just doesn't make any sense.

He could be great but the way they are going about it is just wrong imo.

Thats been WWE since post Attitude. No character development whatsoever. Same entrances and characters, same moves, same promos, same match over and over again. Blandy Orton has been the same character for 15 years, as has Cena, Bray Wyatt has been the same character for 6 years. Thats the entire length of Austins WWE run and just shy of Hogans first run, pre trial.

They should know if a character isn't working after 6 months, not 6 years. Which is the case with Wyatt.

The lack of character development means theres not a whole lot of consequences in winning or losing a match. Lose? So what, just come out and cut another boring promo the night after. Same for a win. The Cena/Taker match is completely inconsequential. Couldn't care less who wins. Theres no story there.

Russo and Austin discuss it here.

2ndcoming

It seems to me the overall writing and building for lots of mid-tier / women's feuds is generally better lately than it has been in a long time but as soon as it gets to Mania season they feel they have to shoehorn in the big names anyway they can and to hell with the rest.

In many ways it's a shame they don't have WCW to come in and steal the "veterans" like Cena, Orton etc to force them to really go for it and build the new talent, there's plenty there to work with.

Lesnar, Orton, Shane McMahon, Cena, Taker, Angle, Rousey, Triple H, Stephanie. That's 9 spots at a minimum being taken from talent that either a) has a future or also in many cases b) can work a match.

sky88

Jonh boy trolling everyone

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhEK9kQgfuZ/

Insect Overlord

Anybody staying up late to watch this tonight?

sky88

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Anybody staying up late to watch this tonight?

Tempted but probably shouldnt with work but ill stay up for 1st segment and see from there

Lithium93_

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Anybody staying up late to watch this tonight?

Nope, I'll watch the highlights/best bits on YouTube, and if something worth my attention happens, I'll go in search of it..

Lithium93_

Definitely Mania week, though there's gonna be a whole lot more than the WWE invading Louisiana this week.

https://twitter.com/ProWrestlingMag/status/980805226654560256

Tonight: #RAW
Tues: #SDLive
Weds: #WWENXT
Friday: #WWEHOF
Saturday: #NXTTakeOver
Sunday: #WrestleMania 34
Monday: #RAWAfterMania
Tues: #SDLiveAfterMania
Weds: #NXTAfterMania

NEARLY 30 HOURS OF WRESTLING!

Lithium93_

Here's what on tap, courtesty of WWE.com..

Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle to meet Triple H & Stephanie McMahon face-to-face

The last time Stephanie McMahon was in the same ring as “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey back on March 5, she was handily taken down by the first UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

Triple H and Stephanie are intensely competitive, and it’s clear that Rousey’s takedown of the Raw Commissioner and Kurt Angle’s excruciating Angle Lock on The Game — a move he’s all too familiar with — have only fueled their WrestleMania preparation.

Adding an interesting layer, as reported on WWE's official Twitter account, the WWE Universe will be able to be a part of this face-to-face meeting by asking questions to the respective pairs with the hashtags #TeamRousey and #TeamMcMahon.

Will Roman Reigns be ready for WrestleMania?
This past Monday night on Raw, Roman Reigns’ suspension was lifted, and The Big Dog saw fit to incite a brawl with Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, despite suffering a vicious beating at the hands of The Beast Incarnate one week prior.

Reigns is clearly worse for wear after once again being brutalized by The Beast, but he will nevertheless challenge Lesnar for the Universal Title at WrestleMania.

What’s going through Reigns’ mind as that title bout approaches? Will he attempt to stagger The Conqueror before The Show of Shows, despite his previous attempts ending in disaster?


Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor collide in battle for WrestleMania momentum
Even though Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor share a mutual enemy in Intercontinental Champion The Miz, the intensely athletic Superstars are intent on reminding each other in recent weeks that it will be every man for himself in WrestleMania’s Triple Threat Match for The A-Lister’s title.

Bálor defeated Rollins on the March 12 Raw, and The Kingslayer has been determined to get another opportunity against the Bálor Club leader before WrestleMania. After Bálor and Rollins laid waste to The Miz this past Monday night, The Extraordinary Man ambushed The Architect and held the Intercontinental Championship above his head. How will Rollins respond when he clashes with the first Universal Champion six nights before The Show of Shows?

Will The Undertaker respond to John Cena’s WrestleMania challenge?
Week after week, John Cena attempts to provoke The Undertaker, and The Deadman’s silence has spoken volumes.

This past Monday night, The Cenation Leader defeated The Phenom’s brother Kane in a No Disqualification Match, all the while attempting to antagonize his would-be WrestleMania opponent by using The Undertaker’s signature taunts and even a Chokeslam in his battle against The Big Red Machine.

The Undertaker has one more week to respond to Cena’s challenge to a match at The Show of Shows. Will The Deadman rise from the depths on the final Raw before WrestleMania to give Cena an answer, one way or the other?

Can Alexa Bliss evade Nia Jax until WrestleMania?
After Nia Jax decisively defeated Alexa Bliss’ bestie Mickie James this past Monday night, the calculating Raw Women’s Champion attempted an ill-advised cheap shot on The Irresistible Force, prompting Nia to chase off Little Miss Bliss, who once again narrowly avoided a Jax beatdown.

Jax affirmed that there will be nowhere to hide come WrestleMania, but can the so-called Goddess of WWE truly avoid the nigh-unstoppable Nia until then?

And finally....

Who is Braun Strowman’s partner?
Braun Strowman has beaten both Raw Tag Team Champions in back-to-back weeks, leaving Sheamus & Cesaro curious — and no doubt anxious — about who The Monster Among Men has chosen as his partner in their title bout at WrestleMania.

Raw General Manager Kurt Angle has stipulated that Strowman must find a partner if he is to challenge The Bar at The Showcase of the Immortals. That being the case, will Strowman reveal who he will be tagging with on Raw?

PTH2009

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Anybody staying up late to watch this tonight?

Just out of work and off tomorrow so I'll try and stay up

Id say triple h/Steph looking strong will close the show or takers return ???

Wonder what the big dog will do tonight

Lithium93_

PTH2009 wrote: »

Just out of work and off tomorrow so I'll try and stay up

Id say triple h/Steph looking strong will close the show or takers return ???

Wonder what the big dog will do tonight

Hopefully have his ass kicked again and again by Brock Lesnar.

SureYWouldntYa

Lithium93_ wrote: »

Hopefully have his ass kicked again and again by Brock Lesnar.

I mean what else can they do? Reigns can't get much of an upper hand, there's odds to overcome on Sunday

Anything other than tug of war plz........

ERG89

PTH2009 wrote:

Wonder what the big dog will do tonight

Take a dump on Lesnar's lawn & dig up his flowers before chasing his cat up a tree.

Lithium93_

Oh this debate won't end in a brawl :pac:

PTH2009

Bit of a ufc press conference vibe off this

Lithium93_

PTH2009 wrote: »

Bit of a ufc press conference vibe off this

And Coach is the WWE version of Dana White :pac::pac:

sky88

Why couldnt it be cole or corey or renne or chuck anyone but coach

J. Marston

They haven't used Homer's make-up gun on Ronda this week.

Good move.

Lithium93_

No Stephanie, Ronda isn't gonna lose to you on Sunday...

PTH2009

Going through a table didn't hurt Ronda much

She had triple h in a strong choke hold

sky88

Bit of a car crash and a bit great exactly what i love from wwe segments

xpletiv

Coach is a billion times better since he went and came back. Time at ESPN did him very well.

J. Marston

Absolution girls are very poor.

nazmoalex

That trophy for the women's battle royal looks like ovaries.

xpletiv

Miz struggling to stay heel talking about his girl

Actually huge amount of chat about it from him, very happy from him, he sounds so proud.

Coach was away for 10 years... didnt seem that long!

xpletiv

Rollins vs Finn, what a match that was. Miz was class on commentary too

sky88

Rollins and finn great match

The ic title will steal the show at mania im sure of it