2017 WWE wrestling thread

[nate82]

OK I might watch ESPN again on Nov 7th.

 

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2017/07/26/ric-flair-30-30-trailer-espn

[patrickgpe]

This will be awesome

[jerichoholicninja]

It's a totally weird thing to say, but I've only cried twice while watching wrestling. The first time was Ric Flair's retirement ceremony on Raw after he lost to Shawn Michaels and then again watching the his 30 For 30. It got real emotional toward the end.

 

On a lighter note, though, any fans of WCW should check out the What Happened When Mondays podcast with Tony Schiovane. Tony talks about his experiences working with WCW. The real Tony is a lot different from the guy who did commentary ringside for so many years and is a lot more interesting.

[Outlander]

Listening to Schiavone talk about some of the PPVs, especially the Halloween Havoc's have been hilarious. The one he did about Bobby Heenan shortly before his death is also great. He really has a nice sense of humor and that surprised me because he was seemed like such a jerk on Twitter only a few years back.

[patrickgpe]

I thought the 30 for 30 did a very good job of telling his story. I think Flair has realized where he has messed up in life but wouldn't change a bit of it. I liked the line "Wrestling gave me everything and I paid the price". perfect summary of his life.

 

It was cool to see the Undertaker out of character. There were some things that I didn't know about (drinking 15 drinks a day, quitting wrestling only to be chased down by Vern Gagne in a bar and told he is not quitting.

[jerichoholicninja]

I thought the 30 for 30 did a very good job of telling his story. I think Flair has realized where he has messed up in life but wouldn't change a bit of it. I liked the line "Wrestling gave me everything and I paid the price". perfect summary of his life.

 

It was cool to see the Undertaker out of character. There were some things that I didn't know about (drinking 15 drinks a day, quitting wrestling only to be chased down by Vern Gagne in a bar and told he is not quitting.

 

I thought that was kind of interesting. A lot of times when people live a life like he has they either regret it or at least admit they should have done things differently. Ric fully owns to everything he did and has no shame or regrets about it. I'm not taking a moral stance on it either way, I just found his perspective interesting.

[jjgott]

Yeah I thought it was pretty well done.

 

However, I watched with my wife who had no idea who Ric Flair was and she just came away from the whole thing thinking he was a big jerk (she used a different word that I don't think would pass the filter here).

[superfly]

You get a middle finger....you get a middle finger...EVERYBODY GETS MIDDLE FINGERS!!!!

 

Vince McMahon taking Stone Cold stunners at 72 is impressive.

[patrickgpe]

Well it wasn't the best stunner in the world, but still impressive.

 

Looks like Taker hung it up today officially, so no truth to the Cena - Taker rumors at WM.

 

Not sure why they did't wait until the rumble for the Hardy - Wyatt match.

[jerichoholicninja]

Crap, was gonna watch Raw tonight. Do they have replays anywhere? I know a few years ago that had very condensed episodes available but I'd like to see the whole thing.

[jerichoholicninja]

Watched most of Royal Rumble last night. Haven't watched wrestling in about 5 or 6 years so I hardly knew anyone. I've got to say, in terms of in-ring ability, the guys they have now are great. So many with actual skills instead of just jacked up freaks with 5 moves. They have women wrestlers too, not just T&A models. But it would be nice if more of them weren't so gimmicky and dressed like cartoon characters. And being in Philly it was an amazing crowd. However, there was nothing that made me want to get back into watching. Nothing storyline wise grabbed my attention.

[patrickgpe]

Crap, was gonna watch Raw tonight. Do they have replays anywhere? I know a few years ago that had very condensed episodes available but I'd like to see the whole thing.

I know you can watch RAW the following day on the USA app. The do show the condensed show on Hulu or else you can see highlights on the WWE Facebook page.

[patrickgpe]

Nothing storyline wise grabbed my attention.

 

Its the calm before the storm. The Rumble is the kickoff traditionally to all Wrestlemania storylines. I will agree with you, that it has been pretty weak of late, storyline wise.

[patrickgpe]

my 2 cents on the rumble, is that they got both matches correct. Unlike the past few years where their decision was baffling (orton, reigns, batista), they set up 2 wonderful WM matches. Didn't overthink it, both choices were obvious, the only other man i could see wining was Balor, but we saw that match before and his push has been stalled.

 

I wish is was asuka vs Charlotte and not Bliss but I will take it.

 

I thought Ronda looked very awkward doing the tradional Wrestlemania sign pointing. I am curious on how she will do in the ring (I think she will be good), but will be a mess on the mike.

[LouisEly]

Crap, was gonna watch Raw tonight. Do they have replays anywhere? I know a few years ago that had very condensed episodes available but I'd like to see the whole thing.

I thought you cut the cord, but if you have cable and the Universal HD channel they replay both RAW and Smackdown on Saturday nights back to back at least twice each. It's literally their entire Saturday night programming.

[Outlander]

I thought Ronda looked very awkward doing the tradional Wrestlemania sign pointing. I am curious on how she will do in the ring (I think she will be good), but will be a mess on the mike.

Have to say that sign pointing has always looked so silly and goofy to me no matter who does it, wish they would stop doing it.

[superfly]

Rhonda ain't no joke no more. Whew

[paul253]

So......I’ll start this thread off by fully admitting I’m a dork when it comes to wrestling. I don’t watch it much anymlre but was I was a huge fan in the 80s and 90s, as was my best friend. So last night we decide to draft wrestling teams and have them compete in Survior Series styles matches. His brother judged the teams to see who would win and I’m pretty sure I got hosed big time. I want to post the matches here to see what people think. The key is that every wrestler is in his prime and it’s a survivor series style match. And I apologize for some of the obscure wrestlers. So here goes:

 

Match 1:

team 1) The Rock. Stone Cold, Shawn Micheals. Macho Man, Sting

Team 2) Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant. Undertaker, Goldberg

 

Match 2:

Team 1) HHH, Bret Hart, Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, The Giant

Team 2) Hall, Nash, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesner

 

Match 3:

Team 1) Yokozuna, DDP, John Cena, CM Punk Roddy Piper

Team 2) Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose

 

Match 4:

Team 1) Bautista, Chris Benoit, Scott Steiner, Mr Perfect Kane

Team 2) Vince, Shane, Edge, Rick Rude, Chris Jericho

 

Match 5:

Team 1) Sid Justice, Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, Ken Shamrock, Mick Foley

Team 2) Booker T, Lex Luger, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan

 

Match 6 (when one member is eliminated the whole team is out

Team 1) Legiom of Doom, Steiners, Hart Foundation (Bret and the Anvil), Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian

Team 2) New Age Outlaws, Demolition, Harlem Heat, Team 3D/Dudleyz, Powea kid Pain

 

Match 7)

Team 1) Orient Express, Power and Glory, APA, the Rockers, Money Inc

Team 2) British Bulldogs, Bludgeon Brothers, Nasty Boys, Beer Money, Strike Force (Santana and Martell)

 

All matches are straight up matches. No cheating. No double crosses. No problems between teammates. I’m a dork but helo me out.

[patrickgpe]

looking at your matches, they seem pretty even handed to me. therefore i am going to go as a feel as sp

 

Match 1, team #2. I think having andre and goldberg in their primes gives them an advantage.

match 2, team #1, have a pretty strong opinion on that. braun, triple h, bret and AJ. wow what a team.

match 3, team #2, hard to pick against yokozuna, but what a group team #2 is

match 4, team #1, always hard to pick against Y2J, but you have 2 Vince and Shane. team #1 is filled with some of the better technical wrestlers out there and a Demon.

match 5, very close, but will give the edge to team #2.

match 6, again very close, but slight edge to team #1. mostly because of hardy boyz and edge/ christian.

match 7, i must admit there are some obscure ones for me (orient express, power and glory). so i have to give the edge to team #2. as I know all of these teams.

 

 

thanks that was fun.

[paul253]

I appreciate the participation.

[buckeyesteve]

Match 1 - tie. seriously that could be argued either way and I wouldn't disagree. But I'd take team 2 because of Andre. But after I typed that...I'm still not sure. ha.

 

Match 2 - I thought team 1 immediately and I'm sticking with it..but after debating it...they are close.

 

Match 3 - Team 1 and this was easy for me. Plus they would kill on the mic!

 

Match 4 - Team 1 but ONLY because of Vince and Shane on the other team. They're not full time wrestlers so I take team 1 but their other 3 are great. But Team 1 one has no fluff.

 

Match 5 - Team 2. It's like a big vs little match...I'll take the big guys (and Daniel bryan)

 

Match 6 - Team 1. But I loved the New Age Outlaws....Team 1 is just deeper to me all around.

 

Match 7 Team 2. The most meh pairings of the list imo.

[Invader3K]

Match 1:

team 1) The Rock. Stone Cold, Shawn Micheals. Macho Man, Sting

Team 2) Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant. Undertaker, Goldberg

 

- Match is an epic encounter, but I agree with sentiment above that Andre is the difference maker. I think Andre and Hogan would end up the survivors here, to tease a future matchup.

 

Match 2:

Team 1) HHH, Bret Hart, Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, The Giant

Team 2) Hall, Nash, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesner

 

- Very tough one to decide here. I think Hall and Nash get counted out brawling with opponents outside the ring. Flair, Angle, and Lesnar win the match.

 

Match 3:

Team 1) Yokozuna, DDP, John Cena, CM Punk Roddy Piper

Team 2) Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose

 

- Pretty even match here again. I think Cena overcomes the odds, and Piper hangs along for the ride.

 

Match 4:

Team 1) Batista, Chris Benoit, Scott Steiner, Mr Perfect Kane

Team 2) Vince, Shane, Edge, Rick Rude, Chris Jericho

 

- Vince gets eliminated early by getting pinned, and none of his teammates bothering to save him. Shane takes one of his insane once every few years bumps, by getting knocked off the top of a ladder that is under the ring for some reason, and going through the announce table. Kane hits Jericho in the face with a cup of hot coffee, and pins him. Perfect and Rude both get pinned off a back suplex spot. Edge goes on a run, eliminating Benoit and then Kane, but falls victim to the Batista Bomb and then a Steiner Recliner. Batista and Steiner end up the survivors, and do a big pose down after the match.

 

Match 5:

Team 1) Sid Justice, Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, Ken Shamrock, Mick Foley

Team 2) Booker T, Lex Luger, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan

 

- Team 1 has a bit more star power here. I think Foley, Hardy, and Mysterio are your winners.

 

Match 6 (when one member is eliminated the whole team is out

Team 1) Legiom of Doom, Steiners, Hart Foundation (Bret and the Anvil), Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian

Team 2) New Age Outlaws, Demolition, Harlem Heat, Team 3D/Dudleyz, Powea kid Pain

 

This is a tough one to call. Powers of Pain are the weak link, and I think they would set up a chain of eliminations, after Warlord makes a stupid mistake and gets knocked out and counted out. I could see all of Team 1 surviving this one.

 

Match 7)

Team 1) Orient Express, Power and Glory, APA, the Rockers, Money Inc

Team 2) British Bulldogs, Bludgeon Brothers, Nasty Boys, Beer Money, Strike Force (Santana and Martell)

 

I think Team 2 would work together better here. The Bulldogs end up the only surviving team.

 

Fun exercise!

[paul253]

I appreciate the participation. My buddy lives in Atlanta and comes up once a year and we like to do this. I posted the matches here because we let his brother judge and had lunch on the line and his brother had my buddy winning every single match. I thought I got hosed. I won’t say which teams are mine but in the three responses so far I’ve won 2 of 3. Anyone else care to give their opinion?

[AKCheesehead]

Tangent: This past weekend on a road trip we listened to some Sirius XM, the Outlaw Country channel. It turns out Hillbilly Jim has a show on Saturdays and Sundays. Good stuff!

[AKCheesehead]

RIP Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Gone too early at age 63.