The Wrestling Thread

[Raging Justice]

Kind of interesting I was talking about how I'm losing interest in wrestling, and we get this negative story regarding Stardom, which has been suffering a lot from injuries (including Tam Nakano and Natsupoi) and had a recent corporate shake up (which I actually didn't know about until now)

https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/st ... this-week/

Yeah, it seems like AEW and WWE are both in a bit of a lull at the moment. I really haven't watched much WWE at all since 'Mania and I haven't watched much AEW since Wrestledream.

WWE is a weird one, because the fans online act like it is super hot right now. Even when all the Punk return rumours were going on, both the fans and (reportedly) WWE were saying they don't need him for a cheap pop, because their product is so hot. It isn't though. I stopped watching because the Bloodline story just became so incredibly nonsensical and ludicrous, creating a consolation prize belt for Seth to win is dumb and nothing really seems to be going anywhere. Cody is boring too and I didn't care one bit about his feud with Lesnar or anything he has done lately.

AEW doesn't seem to be something anyone can agree on what direction it should go in, at least from what I see in the various AEW groups. I think part of the issue is it is just impossible to recreate that feeling and that excitement they had as a new company, along with the "shocking" debuts they had over the years. They can improve their storylines and improve their booking, but I think they will suffer either way. Weaknesses have been exposed and I don't know if and how they can fix them. They still have great matches and great wrestlers in the company, but it's just cooled off a bit.

WWE has star power going for them right now and business is good, so objectively you could say that the product is hot. Creatively though, I am finding it boring. Roman Reigns represents a ceiling no one can break through, and I don't like that the main event picture is revolving around people I ended up not liking in AEW. At this rate, I doubt the future looks bright for LA Knight. He's got too much competition with Punk, Cody, and Orton and WWE has a tendency to fall back on proven talents rather than pushing someone new unless it's someone Vince McMahon is in love with like John Cena or Roman Reigns. LA Knight would need a massive ground swell of support like Daniel Bryan got in 2014 to make it to the top, but those type of WWE fans don't exist any more. The current fanbase are docile, submissive, normies who do as they are told.

AEW needs focus and some discipline backstage...Tony Kahn is not the guy who is going to make those things happen. The Being the Elite youtube series came to an end recently, another sign that AEW just isn't what it used to be. It's interesting that QT Marshal is said to have left because he doesn't like the direction of the company. AEW is largely being carried by its talent right now. The company is a mess, but guys like Swerve, Christian, MJF, and Cassidy are still fun to watch and the match quality of AEW can't be denied.

[Raging Justice]

You know I've said before how LA Knight reminds me of Stone Cold Steven Austin and The Rock. Well now I guess you can add Hulk Hogan to that list as well:

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/hulk ... -superstar

"He's a rising superstar and I love the guy to death, man. I love watching him on TV too.

LA Knight has a lot of old school in him, you know? He goes in there and he grinds and he stays on it. But his cadence is what attracted me. It's like, 'Let me tell you something, brother.' He'll say, 'Let me talk to ya.' Same thing. 'Let me tell you something, brother.' 'Let me talk to ya.' It's the same cadence. It's the same vibe. And he's got it down, man. He learned quick. He's a quick study. And man, the application, the practical application, the way he nails things, his placement in the ring, his timing is impeccable. And he's a heck of an athlete. Good looking kid, man. Built like a Greek god. So, it's all coming his way and he's very consistent. I haven't met him but he seems like a really, really, really good person." - Hulk Hogan

He name dropped Knight alongside Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns. That's good company to be in. Interesting too that Hogan didn't mention Cody Rhodes or CM Punk.

[Reprise]

WWE has star power going for them right now and business is good, so objectively you could say that the product is hot. Creatively though, I am finding it boring

That's what I mean. WWE always has star power though. They are very good at that, even in the years where their shows have been pretty weak. They are great at making their guys look like a million bucks. AEW really struggles with that. They have too many guys and Tony needs to get someone good helping out with the writing and booking. It's so bizarre how they just happily let their stars disappear and don't explain their absences. It really impacts on how people view them and limits their potential to get over with the crowds and viewers. Half the time, you hear somebody is injured a few weeks after they just disappeared and you think couldn't AEW have explained that? Other times, the dirt sheets claim that they haven't got any creative plans for them. What? That's ridiculous. It's even worse when a wrestler is off injured, heals and is ready to return, but they don't come back for ages because they're trying to "figure out creative plans". Thunder Rosa has apparently been cleared for a while now and is a perfect example. How can you not have clear plans for her? Particularly whilst you have people like Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Toni Storm and Ruby Soho just kinda farting around not doing a whole lot. Is Saraya even still around? Haven't seen or heard much of her since she lost the title.

Anyways... so WWE really is just doing a retread of the real life/kayfabe feud between Hangman and Punk, huh?

Seth may as well have said "I love this place! I care about this place! This is MY home! I will NOT be defending this championship against you, no for the first time in my life I will be defending World Wrestling Entertainment FROM you!"

[Reprise]

There are rumours that Sasha Banks might return to WWE. I am sure Fightful reported that talks between Mercedes and AEW cooled off.

Tony would be mad to let Mercedes to slip through his fingers. Sign her and then do something - anything - to fix the women's division.

[Raging Justice]

Mercedes is the last shred of hope there is for AEW's women's division. If they lose her, then it's over.

A Britt Baker/Mercedes Monet feud is literally the only thing that could make people care about the women's division again. It would be a chance to hand Britt Baker the ball and see if she's been right about all the bitching she's done. Let her show the world if she can really re-invigorate the women's division given the right time, attention, and booking.

In fact, I'd even say Mercedes paired up with someone like Jamie Hayter could be exciting. I'd imagine Mercedes might also enjoy working with a few of the joshis there like Shida. A feud with Riho with Mercedes as a heel could be great too if handled right. I would have Riho bleed for the first time on AEW television in a brutal beatdown by Mercedes.

[Reprise]

Yeah, that would be awesome. I miss Jamie Hayter actually, I wonder when she will return.

[RCBH928]

I am not sure what WWE star power has. Current roster sucks compared to past eras of wrestling. I checked this LA Knight guy, looks interesting but he seems to be copying Steve Austin too much. Not sure if he is trying to be a copy cat, similar personalities, or WWE told him to do a Steve Austin act to see if they can gain viewers. He even does the two hands up on top rope like Steve Austin.

Screen Shot 2023-12-14 at 12.01.08 AM.jpg (110.87 KiB) Viewed 9537 times

[Reprise]

I don't know if it's because I don't watch much WWE and I am missing something, I know lots of guys (Raging Justice included) are big fans of LA Knight, but for whatever reason, whenever I see the guy, this is what I see:

[Reprise]

AEW is in trouble, perhaps.

It is being reported that negotiations have reopened between WWE and Warner Bros Discovery, particularly as a result of their recent signing of CM Punk. It is also being reported that there is now a very real possibility that WBD will not be continuing their partnership with AEW (their current contract is coming to an end very soon and a new deal has not yet been agreed).

Cheers, Jack Perry

[RCBH928]

I don't know if it's because I don't watch much WWE and I am missing something, I know lots of guys (Raging Justice included) are big fans of LA Knight, but for whatever reason, whenever I see the guy, this is what I see:

Are you referring to me in that image? If so, you are not wrong.

Why WBD does not want to sign with WWE because of CM Punk?