That'd be a bummer. I was similarly disappointed that Bayley's supplemental gear for her big match with Charlotte was then carried over to all of her regular taping appearances. I generally avoid NXT spoilers because I like watching the show each week, but he'll be in regular gear for at least the next month, as he wrestled at the Friday tapings in normal gear.

If it is true, the endgame is that Hunter uses it as an excuse to wear the crown and cloak every time he comes out for anything ever.

[Edited on December 13, 2014 at 11:05 PM. Reason : 7]

12/13/2014 11:00:37 PM

Didn't watch the show tonight, but reads like a lot of guys injured themselves to try and get a crowd reaction, and it wasn't that good. Thank God the Rumble is next month.

Results:

New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) def. Goldust & Stardust
Dolph Ziggler def. Luke Harper to win the Intercontinental title in a ladder match
Miz & Mizdow retain the tag titles over the Usos with a DQ belt shot
Big Show def. Erick Rown in a stairs match
John Cena def. Seth Rollins in a tables match
Nikki Bella retains the Divas title over A.J. Lee with a pinfall win
Ryback def. Kane in a chairs match
Rusev def. Jack Swagger quick to retain the U.S. title
Bray Wyatt def. Dean Ambrose in a TLC Match

Lesnar and Cena for the WWE title at the Royal Rumble. (Seth Rollins has the briefcase. I'm scared he's cashing in at Mania after Reigns beats Lesnar, which would sum up the current state of booking perfectly.)

Reigns gave an interview and said he'd be back in action at the Rumble.

I just watched the 1989 Royal Rumble. This is the one right before Savage turns on Hogan leading up to WrestleMania V. Big John Studd was victorious last throwing out Dibiase. It was hilarious early on the over-selling Mr. Perfect and some other wrestlers were doing for Andre.

Where does Akeem "the African Dream" rank on all-time silly WWF gimmicks? It's a gimmick they would never be able to get away with today, and this man only a year earlier was One Man Gang.



[Edited on December 14, 2014 at 11:44 PM. Reason : .]

12/14/2014 11:39:05 PM

The funniest thing about Akeem is that a white guy named "The African Dream" billed from "Deepest, Darkest Africa" is outside the top five in both silliest and most racist WWE gimmicks of all time.

Show was pretty bad overall. Once again, they made the mistake of putting Ziggler on first and nobody could hang. Harper was also great; they were both killing themselves and bleeding from multiple places in the opening ten minutes. Gnarly spot where Harper dove to the outside and got tangled in a ladder and his arm looked broken.

Everything else was a snoozer until the end, and a lot of the heat of Ambrose/Wyatt got killed by crowd fatigue, since really only Ambrose's last dive through the Spanish table topped anything from the opening IC match. Ambrose had some fun character work in the last third of his match (watched himself on the gimmick monitor, grabbed the second-biggest ladder and yelled "I can't carry the big one!" etc.), but that's about it. Finish was stupid.

Reigns returned and did all of his signature spots in fifteen seconds to save Cena from a combination of Big Show and the cruiserweights, then cut a really bad promo backstage.

My complimenting Heyman is nothing new, but he did two things worth talking about. In the pre-show, he used Punk's podcast comments to put over Ryback: "You might have heard this online, but Ryback hurts people. People don't like to wrestle against him because he's dangerous." After the show, Renee asked him if he had consulted with Brock on the Cena result, and he said that was a confidential conversation. When she asked again, he very agitatedly explained to her what confidential meant, and remained agitated for the rest of the post-show.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE WRESTLING WORK IS AMPLIFY REALITY AND REACT TO THINGS LIKE A REAL PERSON.

12/15/2014 2:01:06 AM

I'm finishing NXT from last week instead of watching Raw or catching up on TLC tonight. In no way do I doubt this being a good decision.

12/15/2014 11:38:35 AM

12/15/2014 12:27:30 PM

from WON:

Quote :

"Raw did 3.51 million viewers last night, the lowest rating for the show since a Christmas Eve show in 2012. It was the lowest non-holiday audience for Raw since December 3, 2012, a show that did 3.43 million viewers, and one of the lowest rated non-holiday episodes since 1997. The number can't be attributed to the NFL, since the game did 11.07 million viewers, a below average number. Plus it was the day after a PPV show, when the audience, in particular for the first hour, should be way up. The three hours were: 8 p.m. 3.70 million viewers 9 p.m. 3.48 million viewers 10 p.m. 3.39 million viewers"

12/16/2014 10:30:54 PM

Watching Raw for the first time since before football season. I agree with everything that's previously been said about the Ascension. This is from JBL, the heel announcer, talking about this heel tag team after they say they're so much better than Demolition and the Road Warriors:

"These guys could not carry the Road Warriors' bags."

1/5/2015 8:55:33 PM

To be fair, that's not heel announcer JBL talking, that's "locker room respect" JBL. All bets were off once that promo started.

1/6/2015 12:04:11 PM

watch this promo from Roman Reigns on last week's Smackdown...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFWb4Ia3r0

...and then realize that this is their pick to replace John Cena for #1 guy in the company

1/12/2015 10:38:16 PM

And last night's may have been worse

1/13/2015 8:55:54 AM

Find the January 7th show on Dailymotion. Very good and fun.

[Edited on January 14, 2015 at 10:05 PM. Reason : /]

1/14/2015 9:51:15 PM

Finishing up watching the Tokyo Dome show from January 4th (Japanese WrestleMania). Dave Meltzer rated the Shinsuke Nakamura-Kota Ibushi match in the semi-main as 5 stars.

Also, here's a picture of the IWGP champion Hiroshi Tanahashi with Jim Ross, who was there with Matt Striker doing English commentary.



[Edited on January 14, 2015 at 11:43 PM. Reason : /]

1/14/2015 11:41:51 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z55UrEEooh8

A guy took Roman Reigns' recent promos and mashed them all together on Youtube. It's less than flattering to say the least.

1/17/2015 12:17:10 AM

Wrestling Observer Awards were released yesterday (voted on by subscribers). If anyone has interest in any category, I can list, but I found this one pretty funny and spot-on:

Quote :

"WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER 1. JOHN LAYFIELD (165): 1,378 2. Jerry Lawler (125): 1,287 3. Michael Cole (146): 1,252 4. Taz (36): 655 5. Alex Riley (49): 399 6. Vampiro (9): 288 7. Matt Striker (33): 264 8. Mike Tenay (4): 93 9. Tom Phillips (8): 78 10. Byron Saxton (4): 61 The theme here is that the three voices of Raw battled in a close race for worst, with John Layfield, 48, winning. This is more an indictment of the decision making as to what Raw announcing is supposed to be as much as the guys themselves. Lawler and Cole finished second and third last year behind Taz, who fell to a distant fourth, while Layfield moved from fifth to first. Layfield also placed third last year for best announcer, while falling out of the top ten this year. The problem was a combination of overexposure of himself for five hours a week, the job description from up top, and a very repetitive feeling product. "

1/22/2015 8:22:38 PM

maybe they can turn reigns in to a goldberg type character

1/23/2015 1:36:22 AM

Royal Rumble tonight!

1/25/2015 9:52:31 AM

My lady friend grew up in Japan where evidently wrestling was/is still kind of a big deal, so finally started watching some with her brother (I think it's New Japan?). Surprised at the number of Americans on the show. Gotta say, it's not bad from what I've seen (only seen 2-3 shows with English commentary) & I like how a lot of the entrances are so over the top, really makes it feel like the wrestlers are a big fucking deal

Anyway, prior to this introduction to Japanese wrestling, Royal Rumble was typically the 1 night a year I'd watch wrestling, so will be tuning in tonite

To give us a little more incentive/rooting interest we drew names on who'd win and have a few bets going on. I picked last and chose Dean Ambrose & John Cena. GF went first and got Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton, her brother picked Roman Reigns and Rusov. I was told that I've already lost

1/25/2015 10:56:51 AM

Cena's not in the Rumble and Ambrose has an extreme outside chance based on who wins the title match.

Some people are arguing that Ziggler has a shot but I just don't see it as a clash of styles match with Brock; if they're doing that, they're going to use Bryan.

Orton should be back tonight but I don't see him in the title picture at Mania, so he's out.

I really hate this, but it'll probably be Reigns. Unless it's the Rock, which is almost worse?

1/25/2015 12:33:54 PM

^^ If it was a bigger crowd, it was likely New Japan. Have him show you Shinsuke Nakamura.

There's now a weekly New Japan match on AXS (used to be HDNet) on Friday nights if you get that channel. TV commentary done by Mauro Ranallo (Showtime boxing) and Josh Barnett (former UFC heavyweight champ that's done pro wrestling in Japan). They're just showing individual matches that were very good to great from the past 2 years.

Actually a lot of wrestling is being produced for U.S. TV at the moment, which is good because WWE has sucked since Summerslam.

Quote :

"WWE Raw - Monday nights on USA WWE Smackdown - Thursday nights on SyFy WWE Network you can subscribe to TNA Impact - Friday nights on Destination America Ring of Honor - on Sinclair network TV affiliates (check listings) Lucha Underground - Wednesday nights on El Rey Network, in Spanish on UniMas New Japan - Friday nights on AXS"

What's everyone think is happening with the WWE title? Lesnar is done with WWE the night after WrestleMania at the moment. Do they make the title switch now or have him defeated at Mania? I think WWE have completely wasted Lesnar as champion. The guy beat Undertaker at Mania, destroyed John Cena, and then...nothing.

One of the guys in this picture for a match tonight does not belong...



Also, THE ASCENSION~! vs. the New Age Outlaws.

[Edited on January 25, 2015 at 4:12 PM. Reason : .]

1/25/2015 4:11:00 PM

It's dumb to switch the title now. Brock can elevate the casual draw no matter who he wrestles; no one else can.

Brock/Bryan would be the best match, with a Shield three-way as a sub-main that puts over Ambrose after all the dickering they've done with him lately. Don't think there's a chance that's gonna happen but still.

1/25/2015 4:22:07 PM

I think Lesnar vs. Bryan has to happen before Brock leaves, because it's the only match I can think of that I am really excited to see. However, Reigns is Vince's Chosen One even though he's been falling flat on his face lately, and I don't think they're having Bryan win the WrestleMania main event two years in a row.

1/25/2015 4:24:04 PM

Half the reason why I'm buying WWE Network for tonight is the empty Rumble match roster announced so far. They're gonna need like 10 more guys to fill out the Rumble, and at least a few have to be surprises (RVD? Dudleyz?).

1/25/2015 6:36:21 PM

well Justin Gabriel won't be one of them, he quit the promotion this weekend

here's the Rumble participants so far:

Quote :

"Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Rusev, Wade Barrett, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Goldust, Stardust, Big Show, Kane, Miz, Damien Sandow, R-Truth, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, Fandango, Luke Harper"

And we open the show with the New Age Outlaws.

1/25/2015 8:04:55 PM

Title match starting in a couple minutes. Doing entrances now.

People at the building said that when they did the superstar single promos for why guys were going to win the Rumble, everyone booed Reigns.

1/25/2015 9:02:00 PM

when Cena came out, the Philly crowd was signing "John Cena Sucks" to his entrance theme

early in the match, Lesnar got up Rollins for an F5, Mercury and Noble get in the ring to save him, and Lesnar gives Mercury and Noble each a German suplex at the same time

[Edited on January 25, 2015 at 9:06 PM. Reason : .]

1/25/2015 9:03:14 PM

Lesnar retains in a quite insane match. He was out for a bit and they brought out a stretcher. Cole said he hears Brock has a broken rib from the EMTs. My guess is Seth cashes in after the Rumble match, because it's 9:38pm and the Rumble is about to start.

#1 Miz
#2 R-Truth

[Edited on January 25, 2015 at 9:38 PM. Reason : .]

1/25/2015 9:28:12 PM

Bubba Ray Dudley #3!

1/25/2015 9:42:26 PM

So they have Bray Wyatt (who they're pushing a lot in this match so far, 6 eliminations already) eliminate Daniel Bryan midmatch.

Next visual is the next entrant Goldust with "Shattered Dreams" up on the Titantron.

1/25/2015 10:09:43 PM

haha the crowd is shitting all over this after Daniel Bryan went out

booing Roman Reigns

1/25/2015 10:13:35 PM

the last half of this match the smallest guy in it has been Cesaro

1/25/2015 10:30:00 PM

never thought I'd hear a "We want Rusev" chant

1/25/2015 10:39:01 PM

Rusev's not been eliminated unless the announcers missed it.

Crowd shitting all over Reigns. They had to bring out the Rock to protect him.

Reigns wins.

1/25/2015 10:40:13 PM

Pretty shitty Rumble. Highlight of the show was easily the world title match, although they're 20 minutes short, maybe Rollins is cashing in.

[Edited on January 25, 2015 at 10:41 PM. Reason : .]

1/25/2015 10:41:28 PM

THE AUTHORITY CAN'T STAND IT! AND NEITHER CAN THE FANS!

1/25/2015 10:44:57 PM

Never thought last year's debacle could be topped. I was wrong.

1/25/2015 10:47:33 PM

What a disappointing finish. Really felt like they needed 40 guys instead of 30 after realizing who didn't make it into the rumble. No Orton? Bo Dallas? No NXT? C'mon, they could have done better. And watching Show and Kane systematically eliminate everyone else..from a storyline perspective, I get what they're doing, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

I wanted to be surprised, not figure out what the ending was going to be twenty, thirty minutes before it was over.

Either way, Reigns is going to need help if he's going to be "credible" going into the ring with Lesnar.

1/26/2015 12:09:39 AM

They did it again. And this was a bigger fuckup than last year, given they pulled the rug out before 15, instead of at 30.

1/26/2015 7:47:34 AM

http://time.com/3682093/cancel-wwe-network-royal-rumble/

Hilarious.

1/26/2015 8:00:14 AM

What would have been a more suitable outcome?

1/26/2015 8:11:55 AM

This was exponentially worse than last year, because the match itself was such garbage.
Off the top of my head, here's what could be improved:
- Daniel Bryan in the final 4, even if he doesn't win.
- Kane and Big Show nowhere near the final 4(although the only positive of the match was Kane getting the elimination record, he deserves it)
- Dolph entering LONG before #30. The guy worked the entire Survivor Series match, but got < 3 minutes in the Rumble?
- Far more notable eliminations for Bray and Rusev. Rusev's elimination looked like an afterthought. Bray owned the match more than anyone, and yet he gets casually dumped with Ryback and Dolph.


That title match was THE SHIT though

1/26/2015 8:52:17 AM

Due to monster snowstorm in the northeast, Raw tonight in Hartford and Smackdown tomorrow in Boston may be axed. Governor of Connecticut has already issued a travel ban in the state.

Quote :

""They'll air last night's Royal Rumble for free in Raw's spot. Calling it now. (With heavy, heavy crowd sweetening to make it look like the fans loved Roman Reigns.)"

[Edited on January 26, 2015 at 11:56 AM. Reason : .]

1/26/2015 11:38:32 AM

No worries, HHH has his shovel ready

1/26/2015 1:46:17 PM

^ha

they should just go empty arena; they haven't done that since McMahon canceled the RAW after Benoit went crazy, and haven't had a match in one since Rock/Foley(if my memory is correct)

as far as what the RR match did wrong, pretty much everything. Bubba Ray and Bryan came in way too early, Ziggler came in way too late. having the outcome the exact same as last year (everyone knew Batista/Reigns was going to win, hated the idea, cheered for the last person left (Reigns/Rusev) to express diapleasure). hell, even the Rock couldn't save Reigns. given how WWE "understands" the fans, they'll have Rusev next year since he got "cheered" this year. Reigns wasn't what people wanted, it was just a better alternative to Batista. this year, they had several options and ignored them. Ambrose, Ziggler, hell, even someone like Bad News Barrett. and no one wants to see 800 year old veterans like Kane and Big Show in the final 4. I was big Kane and Show fans...15 years ago. now, let the new guys shine. I understand they can still go, but they aren't going to be around forever. same thing behind people being sick of seeing HHH and Flair and Hogan wrestle.

and let us not forget Orton was there, and they didn't use him. Orton/Lesnar hasn't been done to death (like Cena/Lesnar) and actually gives Lesnar a credible threat without forcing Cena 2.0 down everyone's throat. instead, he sat in the back. terrible booking all around in the RR match. at least the Triple Threat WWEWHC title match delivered; Rollins is legit.

1/26/2015 2:18:01 PM

Raw a studio show tonight

Quote :

"WWE News: RAW and Smackdown live shows officially postponed, full details on what's to come Monday, 26 January 2015 12:00 By Josh Nason and Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Due to a major snowstorm in the Northeast, WWE announced Monday afternoon that Monday's RAW in Hartford, CT, and Tuesday's Smackdown in Boston, MA, have been postponed. Smackdown instead will air live from Hartford on SyFy Thursday, while the Boston show has been canceled with refunds available from the point of purchase or they can be used for the organization's next appearance in the city, a Saturday, 6/27 house show. Tickets for the Hartford show will be honored Thursday, and what was scheduled for Raw tonight will be condensed onto that show. Tonight's RAW show on USA Network will be a three-hour studio show from Stamford, CT, with interviews and presumably matches."

1/26/2015 4:52:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Q4EVpIFIk

1/27/2015 8:02:24 PM

http://slickdeals.net/f/7627994-wwe-network-free-for-month-of-february-2015?v=1&src=tdw

1/29/2015 3:25:19 PM

so this was put on a re-air of Raw on TV this week, interview rehearsal footage of Daniel Bryan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR8veIjaEgQ

2/1/2015 7:41:51 PM

Seth Rollins Dick Pics

2/11/2015 1:18:41 PM

did he even rack focus? Seth Rollins deworming agent Dean Dome Cambria Suites 23

2/11/2015 1:42:23 PM

^^^ what a fail...can't see it....and where are the pics of dudes girlfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOWSERS

2/12/2015 12:02:25 AM