wrestling The Big Wrestling Thread!

[MightyJordan]

 

[LOC Veteran]

So anyone see the Rumble? Eh it was alright, not sure what anyone else expected but the outcomes of pretty much every match was what I expected. The only surprise so to speak was a certain wrestler coming out to help another wrestler, which I was like....why? But, I guess that huge amazing surprise for the men's rumble match didn't happen? Or if it did and it was the guy who came in at #2 - wasn't much of a surprise. More like a pleasant enough return I suppose though. Still most of the matches were fun enough, especially the Smackdown Women's match cuz Asuka and Lynch can put on a good show it seems. The tag match with Shane and Miz vs the Bar was pretty fun also. If not predictable. The Lesnar vs Balor match, not sure what people expected but whatever. And the two Rumble match winners were pretty much expected (even if one wasn't even in the match originally I think?) so uh go WWE booking!?

 

I guess this is what we are going to do leading up to and going in for Wrestlemania. So, sure fine I guess. Not the worst thing in the world.

[MightyJordan]

I stayed up to watch it. Well, most of it; fell asleep a few times during it (didn't expect it to go 5 hours). As nice a twist it was to see Becky jump in and win the rumble match, she did ruin my bet. 😛

[MightyJordan]

 

[MightyJordan]

 

[LOC Veteran]

So while Monday Night Raw is going on, some interesting stories have been put out there:

 

Jeff Jarrett Signs Deal With WWE - Wrestlezone

 

He'll be both a producer (and I assume that includes creative as well these days?) AND an on-air talent. Slapnuts is back baby!

 

Shane Helms Finalizing Deal With WWE - Wrestlezone

 

He's also going to sign to be a producer and a full time trainer at the performance center.

So yeah, two quality signs if true. You can hate Jeff Jarrett all you want as an in ring doody head - he's still got a keen mind for the business and its smart of Vince etc to sign him and not let AEW pick him up. Same thing with Helms, and I still say he's one of the most underrated talents the WWE squandered late in the attitude era. He could have easily been a main event guy, or at least high mid carder going for the IC or US title.

 

*Edit* Also I don't know if anyone posted this over the past week or so, but WWE also picked up Abyss and Sonjay Dutt from Impact. I think Dutt is going to actually return to an in ring performer and as for Abyss I would assume they signed him as a producer or trainer. But they could still use him in the ring as well as he's in decent shape for his age and all the bumps he's taken over the years now. I would still like to see Abyss at least come face to face with Undertaker once heh.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

So what was the deal with Nia Jax in the men's rumble match?  I mean what was the point of the booking behind that?

 

WWE claim to be progressive and pushing women's wrestling and then they pull a weird move like that.

[MightyJordan]

5 hours ago, Human.Online said:

So what was the deal with Nia Jax in the men's rumble match?  I mean what was the point of the booking behind that?

 

WWE claim to be progressive and pushing women's wrestling and then they pull a weird move like that.

Having men and women wrestle each other is technically as progressive as it gets. They need to be braver and do it more often to break the stigma of intergender wrestling. It works well in Lucha Underground and various other indies, so there's no reason why it can't work in WWE (provided the advertisers don't throw a Lou DiBella-esque tantrum over it).

[MightyJordan]

Quote

Dean Ambrose, a main event wrestler for WWE since debuting with The Shield in 2012, has given his notice to WWE that he will be finishing up when his current contract expires at the end of April, according to three PWTorch sources. He broke the news to management this weekend, including directly in a meeting with Vince McMahon, after being offered a new contract and a raise weeks ago.

 

He is expected to finish up shortly after WrestleMania, although it’s possible WWE would write him out of storylines sooner. This could explain why he was rather unceremoniously eliminated from the Royal Rumble on Sunday night and did a clean job to Seth Rollins on TV on Raw last night.

 

Sources tell PWTorch that Ambrose has been long frustrated with the creative direction of his character and reached a breaking point recently. He’s indicated to WWE management this weekend he’s not interested in negotiating further and made it clear this isn’t about trying to get more money. One of his colleagues on the roster, when asked tonight about Dean’s demeanor lately and if there were any signs of discontent, said “he’s pretty much impossible to read.” He added, though, that Dean “hates hokey sh–” and, since so much of his character has been portrayed as hokey in the last few years, he’s not surprised that would have built up frustration leading to a breaking point.

 

Top management in WWE and a small circle of friends of Dean knew about his decision this weekend, but it wasn’t well known at the Rumble or Raw among most of his colleagues.

https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/01/29/dean-ambrose-leaving-wwe-shortly-after-wrestlemania-when-his-contract-expires-in-april/

 

 

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

36 minutes ago, MightyJordan said:

Having men and women wrestle each other is technically as progressive as it gets.

I don't disagree.  But that's not what happened.  It was a circus.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

13 minutes ago, MightyJordan said:

https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/01/29/dean-ambrose-leaving-wwe-shortly-after-wrestlemania-when-his-contract-expires-in-april/

 

 

You can just see it.  Moxley was was an utter brawler who could draw upon technique to get the job done and went to whatever lengths possible; Ambrose was Doink wearing a chestplate.

[MightyJordan]

Looks like it's official:

 

[MightyJordan]

 

[MightyJordan]

39 minutes ago, MightyJordan said:

Looks like it's official:

 

Definitely official now.

 

[LOC Veteran]

Hideo Itami Being Granted Release From WWE as per Wrestlezone and Fightful

 

Quote

Hideo Itami’s stint within the WWE has come to an end.

 

According to a report from Fightful, the 205 Live star has requested, and will be granted, his release from the company. He wrestled his last match tonight, as he lost to Akira Tozawa. There will be a 90-day no compete cause, so don’t expect to see him on the independent circuit immediately.

 

Itami debuted in NXT back in 2014. However, injuries plagued his career and hurt several of his pushes. Over the past two years, he had been a part of the 205 Live roster. He most recently got pinned at the Royal Rumble Cruiserweight Championship match.

 

[MightyJordan]

 

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[Blue-Vision]

WWE is the new WCW. Sadly they've *been* WCW since 2001, so ...

[MightyJordan]

 

[MightyJordan]

 

In case the timestamp doesn't work, Halftime Heat starts at 6:04:18

[MightyJordan]

 

[MightyJordan]

 

[MightyJordan]