RAW Superthread

Ridley

The White Wolf wrote: »

Just so I'm clear...that is Alexa possessed by the Fiend that I'm supposed to believe can beat the sh1t out of Asuka?

Does it matter? Whether she's possessed or tapping the same power source as teh Fiend it has the same result.

The White Wolf

Ridley wrote: »

Does it matter? Whether she's possessed or tapping the same power source as teh Fiend it has the same result.

Just trying to get their logic right in my head so I can understand how I'm expected to accept Asuka being buried.

2ndcoming

hynesie08 wrote: »

The viewers who have eyes on the product aren't going anywhere, they're not going to not watch because the surprise is spoiled. wwe needs the rumble to Mania network bump, for shareholders if nothing else.

With the Network being flogged to Peacock they don't even really need that any more.

PTH2009

I knw it was a massive accomplishment for Edge getting back in the ring after his injury but please we all know the story now just move on wwe please

hynesie08

2ndcoming wrote: »

With the Network being flogged to Peacock they don't even really need that any more.

I've theorised for a while now that Vince has his eyes on the exit door, and selling up to a real TV network would be his crowning achievement (we make movies pal) and when the rumblings of fox buying out wwe were around I thought those were the end days, but the crazy bastard held on.....

I'm not saying it will happen (I think he'll be found dead at his desk) but creating the network, getting the 2 million subscribers, selling it for a billion dollars, running the biggest sporting event in the US during a pandemic (mania is scheduled for 30k, superbowl is only 22.5) and then cashing out when the q2 report comes out and the stock goes up........ I could see it.

Ridley

The White Wolf wrote: »

Just trying to get their logic right in my head so I can understand how I'm expected to accept Asuka being buried.

Asuka's fault for not being Charlotte Flair.

PTH2009

Wonder will we see Edge 'be injured and wrote off' for a few weeks. He needs to move on from this 'hard journey back and i believe in this and that' stuff

PTH2009

That was an odd enough segment

Finally the Sheamus turn on Drew

PTH2009

Oh great were getting Edge vs Orton again, think there will be a few shenanigans by Bliss and the Fiend

seandotcomm

In a world where they didn't have to bring back Bad Bunny.... they brought back Bad Bunny

PTH2009

Preist should of went to SD

Wtf is this rapper guy ?

Ridley

I'd make a joke about how the rest of Retribution must have been stuck in a wet paper bag at the Rumble but no-one here would believe that the bag didn't have better things to get on with that night.

The White Wolf

Edge's promos are great but it says it all that it takes a legend to be able to call out the WWE Champion for acting like a goof. Nobody else would allowed to call out Vince's booking like that.

Interesting that Carlito stuck around, another run?

Loughc

The White Wolf wrote: »

Interesting that Carlito stuck around, another run?

He's been given the MVP role, wrestle occasionally and then will have a producer role back stage. I wouldn't be surprised to see him paired up with younger talent soon.

The White Wolf

Loughc wrote: »

He's been given the MVP role, wrestle occasionally and then will have a producer role back stage. I wouldn't be surprised to see him paired up with younger talent soon.

Nice, is it confirmed? Great to see him back in the fold.

Lord TSC

seandotcomm wrote: »

In a world where they didn't have to bring back Bad Bunny.... they brought back Bad Bunny

PTH2009 wrote: »

Preist should of went to SD

Wtf is this rapper guy ?

The thing that strikes me is that while I have no clue who Bad Bunny is, he genuinely seems like a decently enough big deal, at least in American. So I can give them a pass for it, because I think celebrity involvement does have its purpose. Also seems like a genuine fan of wrestling too.

I know the Bliss stuff will probably turn a lot of people off cause it’s sports entertainment and not pure wrestling. But credit where it’s due to her, Bray and Orton, they seem to be the only ones taking advantage of the fact the shows aren’t in front of live audiences. Due to the pandemic, how wrestling is taped has changed drastically, but by and large, WWE haven’t taken advantage by turning that negative into a positive. Pre-taped sections cut in absolutely have a role in storytelling but they seem the only ones taking advantage of it.

I worry a bit about Drew. I like Drew, I think he’s great. But I’m looking at “Dream” matches and I’m not sure if there’s any that makes me think “that’s a Mania main event match”. That’s not me saying I want Edge vs Orton as it either, mind. But Drew vs Edge feels a bit of a weird match up. Especially since they’ve split them up again for now, I’m not sure there’s a story there. Edge vs Orton, or even Edge vs Miz (the guy who retired vs the guy who has never taken a day off) would have a background story. Edge vs Drew, to me, needed a different build than rumble winner vs young superstar.

Ideally, a grizzled old veteran story for Edge should have had months of a build, with him coming close, doubting himself, etc. instead, he went coast to coast in the Rumble (despite a long lay off) and seems hooked exactly as he was ten years ago....

Loughc

The White Wolf wrote: »

Nice, is it confirmed? Great to see him back in the fold.

Big Dave Meltzy said it so there's a 50/50 chance :pac:

Ridley

Lord TSC wrote: »

I worry a bit about Drew. I like Drew, I think he’s great. But I’m looking at “Dream” matches and I’m not sure if there’s any that makes me think “that’s a Mania main event match”. That’s not me saying I want Edge vs Orton as it either, mind. But Drew vs Edge feels a bit of a weird match up. Especially since they’ve split them up again for now, I’m not sure there’s a story there. Edge vs Orton, or even Edge vs Miz (the guy who retired vs the guy who has never taken a day off) would have a background story. Edge vs Drew, to me, needed a different build than rumble winner vs young superstar.

Focus will be on Reigns this year anyway methinks.

LineOfBeauty

I thought I'd give it a go this morning given that I watched the Rumble. The Sheamus turn on Drew could not have been more flat, both in how it was set up (20 year friendship equating to 2 months of screen time friendship where the end result was inevitable) and the execution (Sheamus dropping him with his Brogue Kick after Edge left the ring, like it was an afterthought).

Other takes were that this show had a million distraction finishes. It's the worst finish that they consistently do and yet it's the finish that they seem to use the most. I swear nearly every match on this show had a distraction finish.

They really hate Riddle. He gets destroyed by Lashley, then they mention twice that he tapped while in the ropes. If this was a guy you're trying to make into a main event guy, you don't have him tap out in the ropes.

The Alexa stuff can get in the bin. Pure rubbish.

But Meltzer says it looks like Edge is challenging Reigns, and the build to that could be quite good with 3 excellent promos involved (Heyman being the 3rd).

Rock Lesnar

Just seen a picture of Orton, man those burn scars heal fast

RollieFingers

They keep out-doing the previous weeks wrestlecrap with all the Fiend Alexa stuff each and every week, it's almost impressive in a way. Alexa going for the Warrior possessed by Papa Shango look in 92 this week.

Itssoeasy

Loughc wrote: »

Big Dave Meltzy said it so there's a 50/50 chance :pac:

Plans my change then is what you’re saying. That’s meltzers normal reply when stuff he’s said would happen didn’t happen.

The White Wolf

Not being funny but I don't, and I'm sure many others don't either, watch professional wrestling just to see a card full of O'Reilly and Balor type matches (of which come with their own threshold of suspension of disbelief).

Wrestling needs characters like The Fiend and more thinking outside of the box type thinking. The Alexa stuff is getting tedious but that just comes with the territory of trying something different.

It's an industry that thrives on variety and we should hope that continues.

ReganBrady

Yes, it’s a fantastic way to make stronger champions you have, sometime fans get bored and then next week we see the change. Also, there could be the possibility as to find another cruiserweight for Kendrick to beat, also many times for the PPVs the booking feels slapdash, it seems strange or I may need to watch it again carefully as not in the fast forward mode to know it in a better way and see what I am missing.

LineOfBeauty

The White Wolf wrote: »

Not being funny but I don't, and I'm sure many others don't either, watch professional wrestling just to see a card full of O'Reilly and Balor type matches (of which come with their own threshold of suspension of disbelief).

Wrestling needs characters like The Fiend and more thinking outside of the box type thinking. The Alexa stuff is getting tedious but that just comes with the territory of trying something different.

It's an industry that thrives on variety and we should hope that continues.

Why? Why does wrestling need that? You can have outlandish characters but the issue with The Fiend and Alexa (outside of it being utterly naff and taking up big spots) is that it's completely universe breaking. In no entertainment medium would a character that destroys the universe of the show be permitted. This dude can literally shoot fire at you, possess you, and has killed at least a couple of other pro wrestlers yet we're supposed to accept that?

Also the "it's a variety show" thing is a nonsense. It's not. Vince tells you it is and you believe him but it's not. You can have a perfectly good wrestling show without possessed puppets and never let anybody tell you otherwise.

Really stuck out at Mania.

How the **** are you supposed to take two guys like Drew and Lesnar seriously after following that **** show of a short film between Cena and Wyatt.

Smacruairi

LineOfBeauty wrote: »

Why? Why does wrestling need that? You can have outlandish characters but the issue with The Fiend and Alexa (outside of it being utterly naff and taking up big spots) is that it's completely universe breaking. In no entertainment medium would a character that destroys the universe of the show be permitted. This dude can literally shoot fire at you, possess you, and has killed at least a couple of other pro wrestlers yet we're supposed to accept that?

Also the "it's a variety show" thing is a nonsense. It's not. Vince tells you it is and you believe him but it's not. You can have a perfectly good wrestling show without possessed puppets and never let anybody tell you otherwise.

The undertaker disagrees with you.

Ridley

It's a presentation thang. Not many are unhappy with Undertaker's command of lightning, Balor tapping into his darkness with face paint or Mick Foley being three people with a shirt change.

Smacruairi

Ridley wrote: »

It's a presentation thang. Not many are unhappy with Undertaker's command of lightning, Balor tapping into his darkness with face paint or Mick Foley being three people with a shirt change.

Think the above poster was going further than presentation.

CastorTroy

So Rhea for Smackdown or waiting to bring her in later?