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Alexa was absolute cringe there. Is she usually better than that?

Curious as to why there is a Slammy there.

While not completely wrestling related, find it really interesting and puzzled how Rock's recent film (Jumaji) not only crushed Cena's recent film (Ferdinand) but also made almost $1 billion in theaters.

Need to check the math but believe Jumaji also out-earned all of Cena's films combined as well.

Ferdinand was released around the same time as Star Wars, if I remember correctly. Surprised so many people are seeing Jumanji, because it looks like a pile of shit.

Jumanji looks better than Ferdinand, and The Rock, and probably Kevin Hart, are bigger Hollywood draws than John Cena is right now.

No way does Jumanji look better than Ferdinand. One looks like a harmless kids film and the other looks like a big, sloppy pile of remake. But you're right about The Rock being bigger in Hollywood. I wouldn't look too much into this like it's wrestlers drawing houses though. People are dumb enough to go and see Jumanji when it's released around nothing else.

Why does he have on gym teacher shorts??

Just had the realization that WrestleMania 34 marks 17 years since WrestleMania 17, arguably their greatest WrestleMania ever. It now sits, chronologically, right in the middle.

More so than looking forward to the Royal Rumble Match for any genuine reason, I'm looking forward to seeing what a shit-show it is. This is going to be...interesting.

I was thinking of matches they could do for Triple H that would genuinely get me interested in him being at WrestleMania. About the only thing I can think of is Luke Harper randomly attacking Triple H and making him bleed. The angle is, I guess, that Harper is a loose madman and Triple H, horrible babyface though he is, hobbles through life with random Harper attacks.

Trying to listen to a podcast talk about Raw 25 but there are none up yet.

The geniuses at "Pro Wrestling Torch" have a Raw 25 preshow podcast and an upload today where they talk MMA.

Smart.

MMA would be more interesting than that train wreck.

Yeah, I wanted to hear the hate.

I can't wait to hear what Bryan Alvarez says about it. He's one of my favorites to hear go off on onto a rant.

Occasionally, I wish Brian Last would sit down Cornette and get him to watch more modern wrestling too. Cornette would have a field day ripping apart that show.

what podcast is he on?

He does the Wrestling Observer ones with Dave Meltzer, Mike Sempervivi and Vinny. They've got a pay window, but snippets pop up on YouTube.

So this has probably been talked about before but surprisingly CM Punks 'pipe bomb' speech is number 2 on the Raw 100 top moments.

At the end of this speech he says he has a personal story about Vince, now I've read online that this was just a cue for backstage to know he had finished but this has been disputed.

Has it ever been mentioned what this story was ?

Pretty much nothing. If you want to hear some personal stories about CM Punk and Vince McMahon, listen to the podcast with Colt Cabana.

I'm sure it was just a cut-off point. If allowed to talk, Punk probably would have just gone into the well-known ironies of Vince McMahon being a bully whilst promoting an anti-bullying campaign.

Washing away the day of bad wrestling with some classic stuff. This time I've gone a bit more modern: Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle from SummerSlam 2001. I was a new wrestling fan when I first saw it, and I didn't appreciate the ring work perhaps as much as I should. I've always liked Angle, but the face/heel dynamics of this felt weird and like it played with credibility dynamics, and the Invasion angle, even to fresh eyes, was clearly a mess.

That being said, I've heard such good things about this match. I figured I should really revisit it, and I thought I must have sometime over my younger years. I think the one I've seen more of is Unforgiven, where Angle wins the belt, because I don't remember Angle's gear. This should be good.

Yeah, Punk said "You know how we do this whole bullying campaign-" and then he got cut off. Seemed as good a place as any to stop it.

Wow rewatching Warrior's speech at Raw after his induction to the Hall of Fame knowing that he will die just a day later. You can see how unwell he looks and out of breath.

Austin's so good on the mic as a heel, but there is this undercurrent underneath everything that is just goofy. Austin feeling like Vince wants to replace him with Angle is perfect egocentric star shit. "A hug used to mean something" -- not so much.

The stare-down between Angle and Austin in the aisle to start the match is epic. Austin going into full bad-ass mode is just what this needed to sell Angle as a guy who can fight him. He's worth the skin off the back of the knuckles. JR's commentary is prime too. When Angle takes Austin down and starts pummeling him, JR simply states "Angle is trying to kick Austin's ass." That's some classic Mid-South choosing of terminology to position Angle in the viewers' minds as something to get behind.

Something I've noticed watching Bret Hart recently is how good he is at calling back to action earlier in the match. If the heel pulls him by the hair, he'll get that heel by the hair later in the match. Against Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam '91 is a great example of that. So is the Cage Match with Owen. I like how Austin chains together three suplexes, but then gets upped by Angle who rolls a billion Germans.

The Stunner out of nowhere is...an interesting touch. Modern eyes make it seem like just another spot where someone hits their finishing move randomly. From memory, the intention here seemed to be to make Angle look like a resilient son of a bitch for kicking out. His shoulder getting up just in time makes for a great near fall.

Austin hitting his second Stunner is bringing back memories, haha. Austin goes for the kill, and I remember as a kid thinking "C'mon, Kurt." Ha at Austin telling Earl Hebner to put Angle back in the ring. Angle's selling off the posting is great.

Oh, shit, that's right -- he goes into the post A LOT. Austin's heat in this match is vicious. Lots of cool spots and counters. Angle dragging Austin back into the ring is a thing of beauty. Austin looks good surviving as he does, and Angle takes so much punishment and keeps on fighting.

Great ending. The referees take better bumps than the guys today.

Paul London's face ( well I think it's Paul London) as Vince walks backstage before he gets blown up.

He was fired for that face.

It looked like the inspiration for 'Broken' Matt Hardy.

Roman is easily one of the best wrestlers WWE has had in the main event. His offense is AWESOME and his selling is quality, not that he's HBK or something but for his character he sells very well. It sucks he gets treated the way he does, but it is what it is. He's a great wrestler.

I concur with Fragile X. The Big Dog is a solid worker and worthy of the "locker room leader" moniker. The lad has had some bad luck with respect to his rise to main event status coinciding with the WWE Universe's innate desire to see Daniel Bryan back in the main event picture and possibly with the Heavyweight title around his waist. You can't necessarily blame them since we never got a proper title "reign".

Tye Dillinger has entered the Royal Rumble

I actually hope they don't make him #10 again.

Send out some random heel or Curt Hawkins at #10 and then have Dillinger enter at #11 and throw him out for taking "his number".

lol @ the thought of any plans outside of entrance order until the last 6 or so. They have barely cared.

I dunno, they pretty deliberately gave Tye #10 last year

Thought it was funny that Dean blurted out that Sami drew #8 in some backstage segment early in the show

Was 100% sure they'd have forgotten about it by the time they got to the actual match

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The best part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/raw25?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#raw25</a> was when Vince McMahon deliberately poured beer all over his son on purpose, just to be a jerk. <a href="https://t.co/5CdX7AQxgq">pic.twitter.com/5CdX7AQxgq</a></p>&mdash; Matt Singer (@mattsinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattsinger/status/955870916474540033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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They should have done something like this last year. Makes no sense for him to be #10. It also makes no sense for him to be in the Rumble given how much of a non-factor he has been.

It's weird because this year they've not even announced half the field yet but everyone that's been announced has "declared their entry."

Like...that's all you have to do? Shouldn't jobbers be signing up on day 1 because this is their only realistic chance to earn a Mania title match?

I miss when nearly everyone had to qualify.

Last year people just declared they were entering. And there was someone, I can't remember who, that had trouble declaring themselves for some reason. This is why the WWE is broken and not even the Rumble matters anymore.

Dave has said that he thinks the Network subscriber numbers are low, because the WWE is offering three months to lapsed subscribers for $1.99. That this is coming around the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, where interests will naturally be piqued, is what as Meltzer speculating.

Frankly, I'm glad. I canceled by sub last year when Jinder Mahal won the WWE Title. When you tell me that nothing in your history matters like that, I am going to follow suit. I wasn't watching the PPVs anyway, because they couldn't grip me. Easiest decision to cut back on. The WWE wants 8+ hours a week out of me (Raw, SmackDown, NXT, 205 Live and Main Event) on weeks when they don't run PPVs. If you're going to ask for that sort of investment from me, you better be worth the money I could have made working. And to then ask for more money on top of that? Heading into the Royal Rumble, I am not enthused. I'm anticipating a show with a cold Royal Rumble Winner (either Roman Reigns again or Shinsuke Nakamura, who my fandom has been beat out of). I also know I am getting two Royal Rumbles in an era where the Rumble has not been a very good match. I'm seeing a Handicap Match for the WWE Title with two mid-carders challenging, and a Universal Title match with a green lug that looks like someone fused Eugene and Kurrgan and Kane in 2018. Triple H still wrestles and usually wins.

I hope more and more people decide to stop paying $300 to see Billy Gunn beat up fresh talent and pay $9.99 to see more episodic content in a show that they tell you doesn't matter.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It makes sense now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEMMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWEMMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/P9uYlBRnFu">pic.twitter.com/P9uYlBRnFu</a></p>&mdash; Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/955929426872750080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Jinder Mahal showed more in that backstage segment than he ever has as a professional wrestler.

If ADR does come back I hope he has a chef gimmick and challenges Brock for the title.

"This Sunday you will no longer be the Beast Incarnate.... But the 'Beast Con Carne'....perro"

P.S. Why do they make Becky wear clothes? I think even Gertner would agree that it would at least distract from her face.

:heart: Becky Lunch

She was on Lilian's podcast and said covering up her abs was a personal choice. No matter how hard she works on her body, she's very self conscious about her body image.

Well, that's a shame for her.

I hope you find the comfort in your body to get even more over, Becky.

Yeah. Apparently when she posts picks that shoe skin and stuff it's because she thinks the lighting is perfect and she sees the slightest imperfections in herself.

Very unfortunate seeing as I'd pay money to eat off of her abs.

I've heard her make comments about the company getting her to cover up, but they could have been jokes.

Samir Singh has a torn ACL. Is he the good Singh?

There's a good singh?

Better*

Not as useless**

The biggest problem with Roman is and pretty nearly always was WWE booking. Well, except at the very beginning... he was kinda terrible, so it was about 50/50. However, that burden of blame has leveled towards the company over time. Not going to guess a split number, but if they were on a seesaw as a scale, Reigns is very clearly dangling his feet in the air while Vince & co have their asses firmly planted on the ground.

So thirsty to manufacture the next beloved box office draw; to try to create from whole cloth a carbon copy of The Rock, that they essentially forgot *how* to build a wrestler. Most of his own shortcomings, he was able to get through with time, effort, and practice. But trying to hotshot, shoehorn, and force-feed him to the masses, and not even once take the simplest path (turn him heel, let the heel turn run its course, and turn him babyface when the crowd is ready for that redemption story) was an absolute gimmie card that the company just simply left on the table. I constantly maintain that if they just bit the bullet and turned him heel at the beginning instead of dumping all this external marketing/endorsement attention at him and hoping he gets over by osmosis, they would have been able to reap the benefits of having him come full circle and be beloved organically by now.

All they had to do was *admit* he was the hand-picked, corporate champion with "the look" and a rocket up his ass. Even the horribly failed Jinder run could have had potential salvagability to it if they took the training wheels off. And by training wheels, I mean the Singh Brothers. You have a paper champion with nothing but tainted wins, and nobody is going to buy the guy as "the man". While true that heels cheat, they shouldn't *need* to cheat ALL the time in much the same way as the champion shouldn't constantly lose non-title matches. Contrary to what they always say, wins and losses actually do matter. Maybe not in a numerical context like in actual sports, but it can have a bearing on someone's career. Like the "one more match" shtick from Christian would have gotten over better if he weren't the heel of the equation. Or if, say, a guy who's supposed to be a babyface always ends up counting lights. After awhile, who wants to cheer for that loser?

The wrinkle with Daniel Bryan "getting over by losses" was the fact that the crowd knew he was getting screwed both kayfabe and for real. They wouldn't extend that type of logic to turning Roman heel, since it was a pretty poorly kept secret that he was being groomed to be the next top guy. Be it to "swerve" the IWC or out of spite or whatever, they sabotaged their own business to be supposedly smarter than the smarks. Big deal. Now that ship has sailed, and you've firmly cemented the guy as Cena-lite; the guy who's only there so little kids buy action figures, and they even had to go so far as to re-form The Shield temporarily for some damage control.

So, even with the unforeseen setbacks of emergency surgery, injury, mystery sickness, and wellness policy violations, the bigger botch on his career trajectory continues to be how he is handled as a talent.

Poor Samir. I don't really care about the Singh Brothers but it sucks to see anyone get injured, especially with something that usually keeps you out for close to a year like a torn ACL.

Pair 'em with the good Uso. Problem solved.

She should champion the cause about self-image issues. Kinda like with Sasha and her hairline or AJ Lee and her mental imbalances. And I know by my wording that I seem like I'm making jokes of this, but I'm not. It prob'ly would do good to confront that demon in more ways than just us nerds drooling over her midriff whenever she is comfortable enough to bare it.

Or have him enter the Women's rumble at #10 in a wig.

Oh, absolutely. I think it's an important lesson for people to learn that performers at that level, who are frothed over by nerds, still feel shitty about themselves.

Just watched Bret Hart vs. 1-2-3 Kid from Raw sometime in 1994. I don't know if I've ever seen this match, sadly. Sean Waltman was so good. I'm officially a Bret fan now. When I had 15-year-old boy syndrome, I don't think I got him, but his faces when he calmly kicks out of near falls in that match are brilliant. Love JR on the call. Great story. Kid got great shine at the start, Bret made him look amazing. The restarting of the match because Bret is a such a babyface and it kicking up gear, with Kid going to the well with moves that have already worked too many times. Great finish -- both guys looked great.

Sometimes I love wrestling.

Roman Reigns needs to change his attire, his music, his tron graphics and stop having 50/50 matches with The Miz where he gets school boyed and tossed around by a guy with half his muscle density.

He also needs a personality.

Oh yes, that too.

So basically everything then.

He's got a motor when he really needs to go.

And his selling as a babyface has gotten a lot better. He just needs a good heel run first.

You can see the charisma too. It's just locked behind this nothing character that doesn't even have a recognizable identity.

I agree. If only he was a different person entirely, he would be good.

Just going through the SummerSlam Ladder Matches to see which is my favorite today. HBK vs. Razor was so good. Michaels looks good in blue. Weird that he never really used it more during any of his singles stints. HBK seemed to have trouble getting the belt down and has that hissy fit at the end. Classic Michaels.

Now onto HHH vs. Rock from 1998. It's crazy how much more charismatic than HHH Rock is. I forgot about the yellow ladder, haha. I wish the WWE still had colored ladders. As a kid, I loved little details like that. I also used to love how Ladder Matches would start off as a match and then break into using the ladders for spots, etc.

"Let's go Rocky!" "Rocky sucks!"

HHH can't help working like a heel. By the way, DX is so lame, haha.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamRude?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamRude</a> had a BLAST <a href="https://twitter.com/TheGarden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheGarden</a> last night!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEMSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWEMSG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexaBliss_WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexaBliss_WWE</a> <a href="https://t.co/oFuZL2mS87">pic.twitter.com/oFuZL2mS87</a></p>&mdash; Nia Jax (@NiaJaxWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NiaJaxWWE/status/946030183953453056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Their younger brother Dan will be the next breakout star. Needs to come in and feud with Fandango.

The current US Title design is coming up on 15 years. I think that has to be the longest continuous run for a WWF/E title belt in history? Maybe you can count the versions of the WWF Tag Team Titles that didn't really change until 2002.

They must have put the new logo on it at least right?

Yeah, but I don't really count that. I mean, I'm sure they've replaced the physical belt too, but they haven't really given it much of an overhaul at all, which is weird, because it's one of the grosser belts they've had, haha.

Yeah, but 'Murica!

"The American flag is gross" - Noid 2018

I like the WCW US Title

https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...20110108171208

Yeah, just make it a little more vibrant and there you go.

Remember Dreamers hardcore title?

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/...c6-600x400.jpg

JBL had a custom hardcore title too.

What belt is under the license plate? Or is that actually it's own belt?

I think the Euro belt was.

Shame. I liked the European belt. Nice design

I always enjoy when Big Meltz owns the neckbeards on Twitter daily


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@davemeltzerWON</a> listen to your show every morning en route to work , don’t you agree Punk should have Main evented WM 29 with rock and cena?</p>&mdash; C-LO (@christian_loret) <a href="https://twitter.com/christian_loret/status/955984676170158080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Actually I don't. <a href="https://t.co/cBEtaoxgUC">https://t.co/cBEtaoxgUC</a></p>&mdash; Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/955994634425024512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You agreed with Rock vs Cena 2?</p>&mdash; All NBA (@__AllNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/__AllNBA/status/955994799798177798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A rematch of the biggest money match in pro wrestling history was the right move. Watering it down in a three-way would have been the wrong move. <a href="https://t.co/B9ELIXhkmD">https://t.co/B9ELIXhkmD</a></p>&mdash; Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/955995461172654081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ummm the biggest money match was Andre vs Hogan at wrestlemania 3 .... and you call yourself a journalist lol</p>&mdash; Garrett Nornes (@gFuNk1997) <a href="https://twitter.com/gFuNk1997/status/956008667781959681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WWE's biggest PPV buy rate of all time was WrestleMania 28 where the first Rock vs. Cena match happened. Maybe you should have your facts straight before you try to outsmart a journalist who's been doing this for 30+ years.</p>&mdash; Mr. Michael �������� (@Mr_JkyllHyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mr_JkyllHyd/status/956020039450333184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You are really talking to the wrong person about a subject you don't know. <a href="https://t.co/R0tz0uCHrB">https://t.co/R0tz0uCHrB</a></p>&mdash; Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/956017225034534919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have been watching wrestling as a kid since the mid 80s . I know what draws and doesn’t draw. If you love japan so much just move there and leave us real fans alone.</p>&mdash; Garrett Nornes (@gFuNk1997) <a href="https://twitter.com/gFuNk1997/status/956018753854197761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You are nothing compared to Hulk Hogan.</p>&mdash; Garrett Nornes (@gFuNk1997) <a href="https://twitter.com/gFuNk1997/status/956019502004801536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Please, I'm trying to make the outside world think wrestling fans aren't as bad as the perception and you're ruining it.</p>&mdash; Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/956021866421989378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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That last one is great. I might add that to my sig..

https://streamable.com/6m9sw

Carmella handing Asuka a literal "L"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Should we start Spring Break announcements during raw next Monday? <a href="https://twitter.com/GCWrestling_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GCWrestling_</a></p>&mdash; Bad Boy Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) <a href="https://twitter.com/JANELABABY/status/955986260983713792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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:lol:

I wanted to find Metlzer's net worth, but it's under review

Hahaha, Meltzer.

I love Dave.

WWE need to start doing an annual or quarter women's PPV/Network Event. It's quite obvious that the cards on the super shows are way to crowded and the workers just don't get enough time in the ring. Hard to imagine I know, with 3 hours of Raw and 2 of Smackdown, plus every PPV is at least 4 hours lately.

Salty Meltzer is the greatest. Especially since all these twats believing that con man Bruce Prichard's nonsense about Meltzer. It's amazing.

WWE Network is finally adding WWWF All Star Wrestling episodes in March. About damn time.

What's he been saying?

That Meltzer is full of shit and just makes stuff up

Fandango beat Chris Jericho at WM 29. Just saying.