I know it is cool to shit on the guy, but I think he could have been better unchained. Inversely, if JR came into the business when Cole did and got micromanaged to death, nobody would be singing his praises now.

Semi related: Mrs. Ambrose has already be ruint. When she started on the desk, she sounded like she was actually there calling shit. Now, she literally sounds like she is being fed every sound byte and repeating it verbatim. Kind of like the old Smackdown games with King's commentary quips that could (and were) inserted anywhere in a match.

I wonder, on a scale, where everyone would fit in people appreciating what they can do in the booth if they were allowed to just "be". Pretty sure Cole would be seen in a better light. Not so much for someone like Saxton, who always sucked ass. He was better in the ring, and that's not saying much.

Apparently Seth Rollins is currently injured but its not serious enough to jeopardize his Mania plans.


Another potential blow for RAW involves Elias since its rumored he's getting his tv time cut by a lot if his feud with Jeff Jarrett isn't successful. Apparently WWE thought his face run would have been a big hit with casual fans but he wasn't generating anywhere near the merch sales nor outside interest they were expecting. Making things worse is the rumor of WWE doesn't think he has the charisma or skills needed to be a big star.

Veneral Disease.

None of those are as retarded as Velveteen Dream. Also, Big Poppa Pump was a nickname, he still had his Scott Steiner name.

Pretty sure once he hits the main roster, it won't be too hard to change his name to "The Velveteen Dream" Patrick Clark or whatever dumb shorter version Vince deems fit....

Meh. This is the more common thought process (particularly on here) then just flat out admitting the guy isn't great.

Remember, he started under the tutelage of JR. Maybe he'd have been alright and as I've said, he's passable when he's "unchained". But he's no authority and is frankly just quite rigid.

I agree. I enjoyed Michael Cole and Tazz on Smackdown during the original brand extension. He's certainly more than bearable when he's not overproduced (Beast in the East, Original UK tournament etc.). How was his work in the 2018 May Young Classic tournament? Also, while his heel run was tragic, his NXT season 3 compilations are quite amusing.

I wonder how confusing it must have been for the crowd in attendance.

Matt Hardy has lost a lot of weight. Loved his short run with the WCW/WWE Cruiserweight title when the weight limit was 220 lbs.

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery...10817b13d0.jpg

Why do I have a thing for Lacey Evans??

https://media1.tenor.com/images/6417...temid=11301251

Cause you're straight?

She's a very attractive person.

Yes.:lol:

That was easy.

Correct

I laughed so hard at this video.

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For me, it's a couple of things. The pin up model look does it for me. That and she has that genuine bitch vibe that reminded me of Sunny.

This.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/205Life?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#205Life</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HideoItami?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HideoItami</a> <a href="https://t.co/3MCBXasLJ1">https://t.co/3MCBXasLJ1</a></p>&mdash; Gentleman Jack Gallagher (@GentlemanJackG) <a href="https://twitter.com/GentlemanJackG/status/1092459469349507073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bossman had one of the best face turns ever

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Lol now Heavy Machinery have lost their surnames

Everyone does eventually.

Wrestlemania 40 Main Event: Steve vs Mark w/ special guest referee Jake

lol I remember his promo at Wrestlemania shortly after the face turn (which I'm pretty sure was in Toronto). He's full of babyface piss and vinegar and it's awesome but for some reason at the end is like "... AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" lol like wtf, had nothing to do with his character. Classic WWF.

That was a beautiful video. Sad that Kenta never got to himself here in the US, in WWE. However I am so happy for him that he will get to be where he wants and he will have a chance at career redemption.

So what do you think will happen with this International superstar shake up. Can see Pete Dunne getting a transfer to NXT ( don’t think they will put him on the main roster), Rhea Ripley and Toni Storm to NXT. Maybe send Danny Burch and his partner to NXT UK.

I think the only “international” element will be that it’s held in Canada.

Who’s the last team to go into the EC for the Women’s Tag Titles? Do they put the Sky Pirates (Shirai & Sane) or do they chuck two random SDL women together?

Would be really fucking stupid if the Sky Pirates weren’t even in it. They’re literally the best female workers wwe has.

It should be Sky Pirates vs Sasha and Bailey at mania. I don’t even care if the bff’s win it, but that should be the match

No! We need to shoehorn The Bellas and/or Trish & Lita on the Card.

Naomi and Carmella

Nah you Dumbass more people care about Trish/Lita than 2 japan women.

You know what, the more I think about it, it’s fine. I honestly would rather see io shirai and kairi sane fight for the nxt women’s title rather than move up to the main rosters botched booking.

WWE announces a Women's Tag Team Division in their best team isn't in it and they have to shoehorn people together like Alicia Fox & Nikki Cross.

Supposedly NXT is rumored to be getting their own set of women tag titles which is pretty dumb since they have even fewer women's tag teams than the main roster does. Even if you include NXT UK, it still would be a pretty dire division.

Okay, I was thinking about this before I heard the news. Since NXT is where the women get treated really well, it would make sense for them to be "competitive" and put together a genuinely great tag team scene, probably led by Io Shirai & Kairi Sane.

It seems silly at first, but it will no doubt turn out better on the main roster, if just for the Takeover matches. They might get some genuine tag teams together too.

To me, the more ridiculous title right now is the North American one. The belt looks good, and I guess it hasn't hurt anyone yet, but what is the point? Adam Cole and Ricochet got runs, but are either of them better off for them? It's just...another belt. If a belt gets someone more over, then I guess it serves a purpose, and I tried to head canon that for those guys, but it doesn't really make a difference if they are fighting over something physically tangible or not.

Only reason the North American belt exists is due to NXT's roster getting too bloated in talent due to WWE's hoarding issues.

On paper, its just meant to give a meaningful reason for non-NXT title feuds but its been handled pretty poorly which is a bit ironic since its meant to be the equivalent of the IC/US belts and those don't get handled well on the main roster.

All charges against Michael Elgin have been thrown out. AEW?

Apparently only an Order of Protection filed against him was dropped.

The case and charges against him are still on-going based on court documents. Also still has a separate lawsuit that is also on-going.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This, by the way, is unrelated to the lawsuit Elgin filed last February. <a href="https://t.co/zYutJ2oMBc">pic.twitter.com/zYutJ2oMBc</a></p>&mdash; Adam Lash (@newfoundmass) <a href="https://twitter.com/newfoundmass/status/1092858551989608448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Then no AEW.

I hope not.

I don't even mean because of the legal issue. Even if all that evaporates in a puff of bullshit, Big Mike is still just generic and boring as all get out and should stay in Japan or something.

Vince would likely shorten it to "Velvet". :roll: Velvet vs Almas for the US Championship at Backlash.

I still don't think it's that bad anymore, and I hated it when I first heard it myself. And someone here nitpicked about about Scott Steiner like I figured would happen, instead of just taking the point about "Big Poppa Pump" simply being a fucking stupid collection of words bestowed upon a man. Marketable, yes. Memorable, absolutely. Also, dreadful and absurd.

Velveteen Dream is something that gets less cringeworthy upon repetition. To some of us, moreso than others. It is a dumbass name, but a dumbass name that works. If that shit gets nearly as over on the main roster* as in NXT, nobody will see him any other way for the rest of his goddamn life.


*if they don't job him to death or leave him off TV for weeks at a time. Misuse would be the first hurdle for how big he can become.

I wasn't saying he's the best thing ever. I'm saying his "atrociousness" is overblown. It isn't an all-or-nothing thing. I remember a long number of years ago when someone around here said Big Show has the charisma of "an old boot" (yes, I was around back then, but more occasionally lurking than anything else). This was still when he was solidly in the constraints of being a generic giant. It wasn't until an SNL appearance years later until people got to see otherwise, and in turn, he actually got put in positions to show more of himself in WWE.

He might have been mentored by JR, but he doesn't have the leeway JR has in the booth. That's akin to someone being mentored on the stick by Paul Heyman; Paul E is one of the best who ever did it, but he pretty much also has carte blance to say whatever the fuck he wants. Joe Blow NXT callup most likely won't have such a luxury. If he had the ability to consistently do over the years what he did on A Beast In The East or post production redubs with Tazz during the Heyman run of Smackdown, there might be a higher opinion of him now.

Renee Young is okay, but dramatically less so when it literally sounds like she's getting fed what she's supposed to say word for word with pauses in between one cringy statement to the next just long enough to be the next line for her to repeat. Not saying she's the next Heenan, but pretty sure her stock would rise if she were allowed to ginuinely react and speak about the matches she's supposedly watching and commentating on. It doesn't mean she's terrible, but it does mean she doesn't get to work on becoming better.

The bigger problem is that WWE needs to ease up on trying to create human teleprompters for shit writing for all facets of talent.

I just think people make too many excuses for Michael Cole. He stank during the Attitude Era as well.

And I think Renee, while hamstrung on commentary (as is everyone else), is wasted in the booth even if she had free reign. She's great doing interviews. And I mean that 100% as a compliment. Gene Okerlund was a very mediocre commentator but was brilliant as the event centre/interview guy. Frankly, why woud I want to hear Renee commentate even if she had freedom? What would she bring to the able? Certainly no PBP pedigree. However, she's a brilliant facilitator (or a least very good), so why waste those talents?

The duo of Jim Ross and Paul Heyman was the best wrestling announcing tandem of all-time. Their work together in 2001 was amazing.

fixed boss

Undertaker is clearly AEW

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lacey Evans putting her kid in blackface is completely unsurprising <a href="https://t.co/YZYSTJEV9n">pic.twitter.com/YZYSTJEV9n</a></p>&mdash; Matt (@GoodBrotherMatt) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodBrotherMatt/status/1093193608658857985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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I still stand by the idea that Tamina/Nia win and they pair up becky and charlotte at fastlane

WM36 likely headed to Tampa btw (I know not everyone reads news & rumors thread)

Not sure when WWE will make official

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First i've ever seen pics of a much slimmer John Tenta.

Since i know none of y'all got kids it's a character from a kids show and probably her favorite from the show.

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/852...0&odnBg=FFFFFF

Get a life and stop being BITCHES!

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I actually might have cut her some slack if the character looked like a werewolf, but that’s literally a black chick with dog ears.

Love it!

<blockquote class="reddit-card" data-card-created="1549500447"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/anujs3/a_rare_yokozuna_interview/">A rare Yokozuna interview</a> from <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle">r/SquaredCircle</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ve been laughing at this <a href="https://twitter.com/WWERollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWERollins</a> action figure for 10 minutes. Lmao <a href="https://t.co/VbECxNhZju">pic.twitter.com/VbECxNhZju</a></p>&mdash; Pineapple Finger Guns ™ (@BarkFu) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarkFu/status/1092980874969337857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The Matt Riddle/Drew Gulak match from tonight’s NXT was tight.

I think we shouldn't care so much about this, let's look at the intentions, not the action in this case.

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If I remember, Lacey gave a pretty lame excuse afterwards to why its not blackface. Something about it can't be blackface since its a cartoon or ignoring that the character is lighter in skin tone than what she painted.

Then again she's also said and done a bunch of dumb type stuff on social media before as well.

I don't think Lacey is racist, just a bit clueless

Dumb move by blonde chick. Hope this doesn't ruin her career.

The Gingertaker

Just found out that Shad Gaspard was body scanned for Kratos in the recent God of War.

You actually made it look worse. If it were just a werewolf costume that went horribly awry, that’s...fucking dumb. But that she literally painted her white kid up to be black? Yeah...not cool.

:y:

It surprises me how much this dude has done outside of WWE. Surprised he hasn’t turned up wrestling anywhere else. Had a lot of charisma and seems to have life by the balls.

Again stop crying it's really not that serious but continue with your selective outrage.

ahaha you let your kid watch a show about whores.

That's a black werewolf stripper.

Good costume for a white kid.

Whoa, whoa, whoa whoa!

They're smuts not whores.

:shifty:

<iframe src='https://gfycat.com/ifr/GoodIdleBubblefish' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' allowfullscreen width='640' height='689'></iframe><p> <a href="https://gfycat.com/GoodIdleBubblefish">via Gfycat</a></p>

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Stick to watching Hannah Montana and ICarly instead of a show you have no clue about.

:lol:

I'm sorry what channel does Werewolf Whores come on?

I'm loving this name.

Too bad there's no racial slur for blacks starting with W.

And too bad those ain't latino. Wetback Werewolf Whores sounds so cool.

There should keep y'all busy a few days.

https://m.youtube.com/user/MonsterHigh/videos

Eh, it might be considered pretty serious to a lot of your talent, fans and sponsors. I don’t see those clips of Piper popping up in the Mania highlights packages anymore. My outage is only selective in the sense that it’s come up here. I disapprove of anyone painting up their daughter in blackface, but it’s not always posted in this wrestling thread.

Every character looks like they should be on HBO’s Hookers at the Point. What’s the first scene on the show? Taking the whole football team in the locker room?.

She's so fucking awful.

That’s not even all of them.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">EXCLUSIVE: Everybody at <a href="https://twitter.com/FullSail?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fullsail</a> (including <a href="https://twitter.com/KaylaBraxtonWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KaylaBraxtonWWE</a>) is all about the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BugezCruise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BugezCruise</a>... and we've got the proof in this unaired moment from tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWENXT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWENXT</a>! <a href="https://t.co/8lu53OE33l">pic.twitter.com/8lu53OE33l</a></p>&mdash; WWE NXT (@WWENXT) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1093328904230588416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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:lol: at his rockstar scream.

I must be getting even more cynical, because I don't find that sort of shit entertaining at all. Like, he might be good and at least he tries, but that was pretty lame in front of a pretty lame audience.

When does AEW start?

On an unrelated note, I wish they didn't bombard Kayla's face with so much makeup. Are freckles considered unattractive?

Quite the indie gimmick that'll get over in front of 200 neckbeards and flop on the main roster

Yeah.... said it in another thread, but NXT really doesn't help prepare rasslers with what to expect and how to get over on the main roster since the NXT fans eat anything up.....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThrowbackThursday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThrowbackThursday</a><br><br>Keep Pro Wrestling Weird<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TBT</a> <a href="https://t.co/wTT3YNI01f">pic.twitter.com/wTT3YNI01f</a></p>&mdash; Will Mahoney (@HeelWillMahoney) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeelWillMahoney/status/1093526044865224704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Chicken and Tap Water: The Chris Benoit Story.

I feel like he's Adam Rose 3.0 and No Way Jose 2.0.

Triple H and Vince McMahon have very different goals. I think Triple H is still trying to "get over" in his position. NXT is a niche programming thing designed to get people in the door and provide content for the Network. It's in his best interest to make sure effort goes in to getting talent over for that audience.

Vince has got 5+ hours a week to fill. He wants drones he can plug in. If you're not going to come in and be over, then he'll just move on to someone who can be. He's not about to try and put effort into carefully crafting a journey around someone arbitrarily unless he wants to.

Can someone explain what's going on with Aries? Is he really deranged or just shooting a bit too hard?

https://i.imgur.com/ovv7BSU.png

Probably a mix of both. He pulled similar antics with his feud against Johnny Impact the last time he was in the company. His recent stuff against Sami Callihan do seem to be more legit resentful.

Also pretty much might have spoiled Impact's big announcement of a former champion appearing at their Mania weekend show with his recent antics.

Pretty much. NXT has been pretty good at churning out comedy gimmicks every so often but a terrible track record when it comes to handing them over to Vince and Creative.

Then again, same can be said for the bulk of NXT callups.

The guy appears to have a ton of charisma and a good look.

They're fucking, of course.

In Vince/creatives defence, what can you really do with gimmicks like this. Hey Brock, next month we want you to fight the guy who plays an air guitar.

Feud him with Elias I guess and have Santino come back and play his air trombone. Start an air band. They get pigeonholed from the beginning with gimmicks like this. I know I don't really watch current wrestling but when I see a guy like Eric with his looks and charisma, I'm getting him as far away from comedy as possible.

You can get some fun and usage with the gimmick but it is a very low ceiling for success. Like maybe something leaning more towards 3MB era Heath Slater for possible inspiration or direction if he sticks with the gimmick.

With No Way Jose, Vince and/or Creative didn't even bother to at least try something with him before losing all interest and relegating him into irrelevance. At least with Adam Rose, they had something interest for a bit with the goofy Bunny storyline and some potential with his heel turn.

What can you do with stuff like this? At least change their gimmicks when they get called up. Especially when there's clearly something there to work with. They don't HAVE to keep the gimmicks they use in NXT. I don't get why they do that. They should be calling up the wrestler, not the wrestler and the gimmick.

Like then I see this new Eric guy, I immediately thought Inigo Montoya from Princess Bride/Ravishing Rick Rude. The hair, the physique, swooning ladies off their feet .The ladies love him but the guys hate him because women find him irresistible.

That's the direction i would go I with him. That's a gimmick you could put high on your card.

WWE's been horrendous when it comes to transitioning wrestlers from NXT and supposedly its due to them not really keeping tabs or caring what goes down there.

Its also due to Triple H having to balance needing to prove to investors he can run a company and knowing Creative is going to botch the handling of call-ups.

Even when NXT hands them gimmicks that are very flexible or useful for the main roster, WWE still finds a way to botch things like with the recent batch of callups.

Braun's been the best raw talent got from NXT and Creative still found ways to botch his stardom rise and popularity.