The Wrestling Thread

[RCBH928]

Is pro wrestling popular in Japan let alone women wrestling? Not that I know but I wouldn't imagine the Japanese youth are interested in pro-wrestling today. I know it was popular in past decades.

[Raging Justice]

I miss Serena Deeb:



One of the few girls there who can wrestle at a high level and even hang with the joshis.

Is pro wrestling popular in Japan let alone women wrestling? Not that I know but I wouldn't imagine the Japanese youth are interested in pro-wrestling today. I know it was popular in past decades.

It's a niche thing, but enough people are into it for it to be profitable. There are several companies operating over there like Noah, DDT, NJPW, Dragon Gate, and several women's promotions like Stardom, TJPW, Ice Ribbon, Actwres girl'Z, Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling, etc. NJPW and Stardom are the most successful promotions over there. Several former WWE stars have wrestled in NJPW including Chris Jericho, Brock Lesnar, and Hulk Hogan. NJPW's creator the late Antonio Inoki is in WWE's Hall of Fame. AEW's next pay per view is being held in his honor

I usually see lots of adults in the Japanese crowds, sometimes with their kids. There's definitely an international audience too as I remember a few years ago Bullet Club t-shirts were selling out at Hot Topic (a place that I would imagine caters to a young demographic).

[Raging Justice]

I don't know why this is so hilarious to me:



I can't believe Willow Nightingale jobbed to this person:



I got nothing against Julia Hart, but her mediocre booking, the fact that she never speaks, and the cringeworthy high school goth girl entrance music makes it very hard to take her seriously. Even though Willow Nightingale has done nothing to stand out recently, the first NJPW Women's Strong champion should not be jobbing to Julia when she's gone toe to toe with one of Stardom's best AND the Ring of Honor women's champion. This is why people hate women's wrestling in AEW

I gotta mention Julia's cringe music again. Did she miss the memo that the House of Black are supposed to be a badass, scary, black metal inspired group? Instead her music makes me think of these guys:



I guess in all fairness I should criticize what WWE is doing with the women on Raw too. They brought back Nia Jax and had her destroy everyone including Rhea Ripley. Really? Was anyone clamoring for Nia Jax to return? Oh, and let me not miss the chance to point out how shitty her entrance music has always been as well. For the sake of comparison, this is the kind of entrance music Awesome Kong used to have when she was a monster within TNA's women's division:



That's like music for a fucking gladiator, and here was her WWE theme:



That's horror movie music right there. Those are the kind of themes a monster should have, not this shitty pop music crap:

[Reprise]

I don't know why this is so hilarious to me:

Haha yeah, I saw that a while ago and laughed. I love Christian's current heel run. And unlike some of the other older guys, he can actually still have a great match without needing the other guy to completely carry him. Christian is in phenomenal shape, fair play.

I hope *if* the rumours are true about Edge going to AEW that they don't immediately turn Christian face and book Adam and Christian as a nostalgia tag team.

[Raging Justice]

I don't know why this is so hilarious to me:

Haha yeah, I saw that a while ago and laughed. I love Christian's current heel run. And unlike some of the other older guys, he can actually still have a great match without needing the other guy to completely carry him. Christian is in phenomenal shape, fair play.

I hope *if* the rumours are true about Edge going to AEW that they don't immediately turn Christian face and book Adam and Christian as a nostalgia tag team.

So many memes you can do with Christian:







I didn't believe all the Edge rumors, but if it does happen that's pretty big for AEW. Jesus. Seeing Edge, Christian, and the Hardy boys all in AEW. Who would have predicted that back in 2019.

[Reprise]

I didn't believe them either. I put them in the same place I put those Goldberg rumours haha. They seem to have heated up a bit again in the last few days though.

If he did get signed, it would be huge for AEW. Not as huge as it would have been if he had chosen them to sign with to return out of retirement, but still fairly huge.

[Markies]

I don't think the Edge run will be very long. I think he has one foot out of the door and is ready to hang it up.

What I think will happen is him doing some Solo Dream matches first.
Edge Vs. Kenny Omega would be a great match.

Then, he slowly reunites with Christian and them doing a final farewell with the Hardy's and the Dudley's.
All three of them were so influential to the Tag Team Division and many teams after them, especially the Young Bucks.
A final curtain call between all three teams of TLC.

[Reprise]

I don't think Edge would have a long run either, if he did sign. It would definitely be just to have have a few dream matches and then close his career out with Christian.

Would Dudleys work with AEW? Do Impact and AEW still have a bit of a working relationship?

It would be cool, but these guys are so old now. Even if the others are still ok, I get no enjoyment out of watching the Hardys wrestle now.

[Raging Justice]

I don't think Edge would have a long run either, if he did sign. It would definitely be just to have have a few dream matches and then close his career out with Christian.

Would Dudleys work with AEW? Do Impact and AEW still have a bit of a working relationship?

It would be cool, but these guys are so old now. Even if the others are still ok, I get no enjoyment out of watching the Hardys wrestle now.

I think Impact and AEW are pretty much always open to working with other companies, and NJPW has worked with Impact recently and we know they have a working relationship with AEW as well.

The Dudleys were recently on Impact as they celebrated 1000 episodes. They've also recently signed a Legends contract with WWE. I don't think a Legends deal requires them to actually wrestle or perform for WWE, it's more about merchandize and using their likeness for things. I don't know whether or not is allows them to perform elsewhere however.

I will never forget the crazy ladder matches and TLC matches the Dudleys, the Hardies, and E & C have had. It really linked their careers together for a while.

[Reprise]

They've also recently signed a Legends contract with WWE. I don't think a Legends deal requires them to actually wrestle or perform for WWE, it's more about merchandize and using their likeness for things. I don't know whether or not is allows them to perform elsewhere however.

It should be ok. RVD is on a Legends contract and has had a couple of appearances with AEW now.

Wrestlemania 17 was the first 'Mania I had watched that actually felt like a big deal and worthy of the kind of hype that surrounds the event now. Previously I think I had only watched WM 14, 15 and 16, which were pretty weak to varying levels. That TLC match blew me away. I absolutely loved that time in WWE. WWE in the year 2000 and 2001 right up until the Invasion angle was their peak.

Back to AEW, who the hell is the guy in the mask? It's (if you believe the dirt sheets) not Adam Cole and he is legitimately injured.