He's like the Hollywood Hogan of the division.

As far as I can remember, Cena hasn't "tapped out" since his first WWE Championship victory at Wrestlemania 21. Although, he has lost via submission to Rusev and Kurt Angle ever since. He has definitely tapped out to Jericho, Benoit, and Angle in the past.

I was a bit disappointed with the headbutt that Vince took on the Sin City SmackdownLive episode. Not only was it unnecessary, it sends a conflicting message backstage. I remember reading Chris Jericho's book and how Vince fined Batista a hefty amount for blading during a cage match on RAW.

The rules don't apply to mad old Vinnie.

ouch

Progress uploaded chapter 55 to their on demand service today. It may be my favorite top to bottom show this year. The build ups were great and every match ending was incredibly satisfying. Definitely go out of your way to see it.

Maybe the ring is trying to tell him something.

Oh no!

The ring is so afraid of Pentagon Jr, it broke it's own arm!

I think he took the "larger than life" line of "Holding Out for a Hero" too far.

Wish he would have hung himself.

I agree

yikes thread took a dark turn

Would you say that it took a Pentagon Dark turn?

I searched Mike Bennett to find out if he was still working for the WWE. His Wikipedia page says "On August 29 episode of SmackDown Live, Kannelis was defeated by Bobby Roode, solidifying his status as a mid-card jobber."

He is someone who could really do with being sent to NXT being repackaged with the possibility of being recalled to the main roster.
Wouldn't know how it would work with his contract though , guessing he brings In more than most guys on the NXT brand and whether they would think he was worth doing that with .

I've never really seen his work from before apart from a few matches in TNA but from what I heard he's worth persevering with.

I've heard mixed things. Some people love him, some people think he's really bland. I wonder if he was kind of misrepresented to Vince a bit. A lot of people think of him as a traditional WWE-mold guy, but when you look at him, he really isn't.

To be fair a bit, he's also currently dealing with trying to get clean from a drug addiction which is why he's barely been used in recent weeks. Having access to WWE's rehab program has helped him out a lot.

The "Power of Love" gimmick is pretty terrible but WWE has only spent very little time building it due to outside issues. Even then, everyone usually speculates and jokes he only got hired because he came as a package with Maria who the WWE was interested in a lot more and for a longer time.

He's basically Skip but without even getting to talk.

Interesting thought, though...

The original Kingdom are all WWE talent now...

Listening to Batista's interview on Jericho podcast, I found myself scratching my head as to why the WWE would not be receptive to someone of his fame and Hollywood success? A final feud with Hunter doesn't seem like the worst thing ever. Besides, there's a good chance that Batista might be well received by the fans with respect to his success in the Guardians franchise, Spectre, and the upcoming Blade Runner film.

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media...q2q3exkm9v.png

Batista could be over as a face with the fans in a comeback if they don't butcher it so unbelievable bad like they did last time.

With their cost-cutting I doubt they could afford him right now. Besides what is really in it for him? He's a big star and why risk injury after the movies are hits. There was a "What if" if he was considered the gimmick actor in the big budget Guardians but he has had great success.

Triple H will really want that match with Batista now.

From what he said on the podcast he wants a better final run. He wasn't happy with how WWE handled his return; he was adamant he should return as a heel but they tried to force him as a babyface.

To be fair the timing of his last run was unfortunate. The crowd wanted Daniel Bryan - and only Daniel Bryan.

It's a totally different scenario now. Not only is Bryan off the table (and there's nobody the audience is really getting behind), but Batista is becoming a bonefide star in Hollywood, his role as Drax will likely score him some points with audience where there is crossover.

"WHAT AN ACT OF COWARDISM!!!" :'(

Funny that: I remember giving WWE too much credit, as I thought that's what they were banking on since they want so badly to make a homegrown Hollywood star factory that they were trying to bank on him being over as to why they tried to forcefeed him as a face to try to ride that proverbial gravy train of cross promotion/mainstream media attention Vince has always been super fond of...


...but then later learning that important folks in the company thought Guardians of the Galaxy was going to flop, and it was just a piss-poor booking decision backed by nothing.

In fairness nobody predicted the incredible success of GOTG.

No, but anyone who was paying attention to Marvel's track record would have told you it wouldn't be the flop WWE thought it would be.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are proud to sponsor one of the hottest global athletes who appreciates the importance of branding and precious metals, <a href="https://twitter.com/KennyOmegamanX">@kennyomegamanx</a>. <a href="https://t.co/tamQDCqNBd">pic.twitter.com/tamQDCqNBd</a></p>&mdash; BrandIt (@BrandItOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandItOfficial/status/909581114380926977">September 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I have a perception that Hunter is like a big brother who likes to keep Batista in check. Like "I know what's best for you, buddy." kinda shtick.

TNA/Impact/GFW rumored to be getting another name change. Mainly just them going back to the Impact name as a company.

Seems the future status of Jeff Jarrett in the company is a lot more murkier than previously reported and Anthem supposedly no longer willing to finish the legal paperwork needed to merge GFW with Impact.

Lol, it was a part of the Marvel machine. No way was it going to flop.

Fuck jameson

In more fairness, tell that to The Inhumans.


But Figgy hit the point I was trying to make square in the head. WWE wasn't paying attention to a trend that has been popular for like the last decade? Even if it wasn't the runaway success it turned out to be, management pretended it was going straight to SyFy with 3am timeslot and Bat's career trajectory make less noise in Hollywood than HHH did in Blade 3.

They had the perfect timing to make him the type of "part-time/big match" attraction Brock Lesnar is now, and do nothing but raise the profile of everyone with a de facto pimping of his movie... but instead wanted to shoehorn him as a full time top babyface only because he "fit the mold" when nobody was having it and couldn't care less about what was going on outside of their bubble, as seems to happen more often than it doesn't.

Anyone who thinks the HHH is going to have his finger on the pulse of popular culture should study that whole incident.

"Say... would you like a chocolate covered pretzel?"

I don't think that, but I do think that the creative/booking will likely make more sense and be better planned out and the talent will be given more freedom.

Yeah, I don't think WWE will suddenly get good again... but there's hope. He grew up as a fan when wrestling was fucking huge. I think that mindset brings something WWE sorely needs.

I think he understands "wrestling." NXT is actually a booked show, with certain talent being protected, belts meaning something, etc. He's also got a lot less time to fill, fewer PPVs, talent move on, and it honestly hasn't always been that great. It's just been better comparatively. And it's left quite a few talent completely unprepared for the real world of WWE.

And when Triple H is up there, he is still that ego-driven performer. He sprayed his stink all over that initial Kevin Owens title win. I honestly don't know how far it'll go before he ages another 20 years randomly and that will be it for him. I could see him selling and retiring to an island somewhere.

There would need to be less wrestling on a weekly basis for them to have any chance of booking consistently good shows and storylines. It's all filler and replays and the same matches over and over again.

Two hours each for Raw and Smackdown and one joint PPV a month to build towards. That way certain match's can have time to breathe and you can do an 8 week build for some feuds.

Less is more.

Adam Blampied, Adam Pacitti, Jack the Jobber, King Ross, and Sam Driver have all left WhatCulture in one go.

Either WhatCulture dicked them on pay or something, or they've all decided to go work on another project together.

"Why I left <s>Buzzfeed</s> WhatCulture"

as someone who watches their youtube shows, they were often constrained by WhatCulture. Hopefully this means bigger and better things in the future for them. I find them entertaining most of the time.

The only problem is that YouTube don't put ads on wrestling now, so fuck knows what they're planning.

Holy shit. I actually thought Adam Blampied WAS WhatCulture. Did he not create it? Weird.

I don't even know what WhatCulture is.

Well whatculture is fucked lol

And yeah i find the whatculture stuff to be factually inaccurate a lot of the time which pisses me off. Little things but basic wwe history isnt hard to get your research right on.

Those guys were running a significant chunk of the production on WCPW too so it could effectively kill that promotion, meaning WWE's biggest UK "competitors" are both dead in the water.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Whoa! Hell of a bump kid! <a href="https://t.co/y5BNnHf8uO">pic.twitter.com/y5BNnHf8uO</a></p>&mdash; Heenan Ivory Wayans (@JaimsVanDerBeek) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaimsVanDerBeek/status/910225159323213824">September 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Take it easy! <a href="https://t.co/yUiqsYfFgo">pic.twitter.com/yUiqsYfFgo</a></p>&mdash; Heenan Ivory Wayans (@JaimsVanDerBeek) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaimsVanDerBeek/status/910225258954686464">September 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


:lol:

I kinda wanna do the Jericho cruise next year but its too expensive

Better hit the Blackjack tables

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1RleenBy7A4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This is just...fantastic lol

matt matt matt

I found out about Blampied, Jack, Pacitti, Ross, and Sam leaving WhatCulture listening to Steve And Larson today. It makes perfect business sense for them all to leave at the same time and do their own thing. They've built a brand, comradery, and following and can now do their OWN videos and make ALL of the money from it.

I have no idea who Blampied, Jack, Pacitti, Ross, Sam, WhatCulture, or Steve and Larson are.................

I know they really want two women's divisions, but even if they were insistent on keeping two, I'd like the Four Horsewomen on a show together. That can then be "their show." It'd make sense to have Carmella on that one, which means that she'd be your "Diva" in the ranks, which would mean that Alexa Bliss would go to the other roster, and she can rule there if you are really intent on pushing her. That can also be the Nikki Bella show. Naomi can be there too, and I guess Nattie can be the "real wrestler" in the ranks. Keep Nia Jax with the Horsewomen and have Tamina on the other show. I think by splitting up the Horsewomen you can of ignore a natural synergy that is there to explore, and it's frustrating to try and see shows go in other directions and kind of lose sight of those core players.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oqo-9mjAfX0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


ooh :wtf:

That is brutal.

I saw that too. I hope its not some bs work

Ziggler stole his gimmick from A-Ry

https://youtu.be/juCc62FexA8

Teddy for a complete fuckup spoke some sense

What the hell is happening here?

Heenan being awesome.

New Day cameo on Adam Ruins Everything was funny last night

I downloaded this but just haven't gotten around watching it. Plus I'm out of weed and need to be high to properly appreciate 2 hours of Teddy Hart talking.

Loved this match as a kid:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mN5RKXK8y8M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

will not watch it. just talking about that little clip posted.

Just dawning on me... Did Triple H and Test even have a match after Triple H married Stephanie?

How the fuck do you have a wrestling storyline where a dude interrupts a wedding by showing the groom that he drugged the bride and married her against her will and not even have a match between the guys? lol

He had a tag match with Kane against Xpac and Triple H which he lost but that was it.

He would try to attack HHH outside of matches but DX would jump him so he would focus on them but generally ended up losing each match against them. Shortly after he formed T&A.

Apparently he beat road dogg once:

<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr class="chequered"><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Smackdown! Taping
Dec 28th 1999</td><td width="22%">Big Boss Man & Prince Albert</td><td width="9%">def. (pin)</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td>handicap tag</td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Monday Night Raw
Dec 27th 1999</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td width="9%">def. (DQ)</td><td width="22%">Kane</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr class="chequered"><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Smackdown! Taping
Dec 21st 1999</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td width="9%">def. (pin)</td><td width="22%">Road Dogg</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Smackdown! Taping
Dec 14th 1999</td><td width="22%">Kurt Angle</td><td width="9%">def. (DQ)</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr class="chequered"><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Monday Night Raw
Dec 13th 1999</td><td width="22%">Billy Gunn & Road Dogg</td><td width="9%">draw (NC)</td><td width="22%">Test & Triple H</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Sunday Night Heat #72
Dec 12th 1999</td><td width="22%">Al Snow</td><td width="9%">def. (pin)</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr class="chequered"><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Smackdown! Taping
Dec 7th 1999</td><td width="22%">X-Pac</td><td width="9%">def. (pin)</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF Monday Night Raw
Dec 6th 1999</td><td width="22%">Triple H & X-Pac</td><td width="9%">def. (pin)</td><td width="22%">Kane & Test</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr class="chequered"><td>http://profightdb.com/img/flags/us.gif WWF MSG Show (Dec '99)
Dec 4th 1999</td><td width="22%">X-Pac</td><td width="9%">def. (pin)</td><td width="22%">Test</td><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>

<iframe width="459" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2gzinqeATXY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What an Annis

How do you mean?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cena is still a house show draw. No evidence yet that Reigns is. <a href="https://t.co/zZbmVYFrWn">https://t.co/zZbmVYFrWn</a></p>&mdash; Brandon Howard (@BrandonThurston) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston/status/910296706893455360">September 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He was perfect. When he got scared of wrestlers he actually dipped out. I dont know why more havent taken that trick and used it. As a kid it really made me feel like all hell was breaking loose.

Because Vince is in charge of every little thing now. If you don't follow the script, you risk losing your job.

Seems the future of Lucha Underground could be decided as early as the end of October. Last update from the Observer in regards to finances and a 4th season doesn't look good.

Main issue is the group who funded both Season 2 and 3 pulled out and no replacement has stepped in for the funding LU needs to continue. Another issue is contracts since some talent have already been able to get out of its strict terms and others hinted they want out the moment this season ends.

Going to be a real shame if they do end up shutting down since they were very entertaining as a promotion.

Looks like you did a pretty shitty job of completing the survey :shifty:

Thought this was quite interesting.

<div style="width: 500px; height: 400px; ██████████ relative;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/d8eah/rmdkxm" frameborder="0" width="500px" height="400px" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; ██████████ absolute;"></iframe></div>

I did not know that The Velveteen Dream was on Tough Enough.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1YprNvFJCI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Don't believe everything you read. Hennessey and weed.

Is Alistair Black any good? I find myself so uninterested in the whole super-serious disciplined warrior nonsense. It's been done by CM Punk, it was kinda done by Seth Rollins. They all look the same, they all have the same styles, I just find myself not interested in it at all.

Plus, unless you're actually a gimmicky character (so a competitive martial artists type doesn't count), kicking something out of someones hand and then sitting down cross-legged with a super serious look on your face just seems daft to me. Kinda has me :roll:

I has these weird feelings about his initial presentation. He got this big superstar entrance, which is good, but I liked that things were treated with parity in NXT, and he broke that. I think he wrestles too "normal" for a guy who is given that kind of vibe. I dunno, maybe he will develop. The foundations seem there, but he does carry that indy stinky a bit.

I remember when he debuted they did this thing where he stepped outside and when they interviewer walked out to catch him, he had vanished. Seemed like they were going for a "supernatural" thing with him but I haven't seen anything like that since.