Wrestling Discussion Thread (WWE, TNA, ECW, WCW, etc.) - Page 234

 

Oh I'm well acquainted with PAC due to his work in Dragon Gate/PWG and it's funny that NXT is where the actual wrestling is now when it used to be Smackdown years ago before it basically became RAW 2.0.   I'm not the biggest fan of the WWE but NXT definitely has a different feel to it than their other shows.

Some highlights from the star of the show last night: the audience

 

This was honestly my favorite part of RAW.

 

This Fandango theme download thing has gone berko!  Last I heard, it was #4 on the Amazon MP3 Download list, had gotten to #11 on the UK iTunes Top 40, and had reached #15 on the Aussie iTunes chart as well!  Mind = blown.

 

And watch the internet give him zero fucking credit credit for this. HOW many times did he lift Cena up (or was slammed himself) after that injury?

 

I kinda feel like Fandango is doomed now that the smarks are behind him. WWE never forgave Ryder for that. Expect to see Kane pushing him off of high places very soon.

Watching the Ziggler/Del Rio MiB turn-in again (thanks for the video embed, Dave Jarvie), I'm still struck by how strongly Del Rio sells himself as going down fighting with the heart of a champion while still selling the leg. This guy's so goddamn good. Here's hoping we get a nice, long program between the two wrestlers over the title this year. They both ought to be in the spotlight.

I was really enjoying tonight's raw until that stupid Fandango promo. I don't get it. He did absolutely nothing to impress me. Jericho ram circles around him at Wrestlemainia.

 

Yeah. Ohno vs. Regal was the uber shit this week. Been awhile since I seen a "two guys just beat the fuck out of each other" match worth while. And Graves/Rollins this coming week should also rock.

Excruciatingly bad RAW last night. The Fandango followup went over like a wet fart. The Ziggler followup consisted of a good, but short promo (His "Cool Story, bro" to Del Rio was actually kinda funny) followed by getting dominated then PINNED CLEAN by Jack Swagger (!). Ryback turned full heel in an endless taped segment and then got no crowd reaction when he came out live. Wade Barrett jobbed out clean to R-Truth. Cesaro jobbed clean to Kofi Kingston. Punk gave a promo to cover him taking some time off. There was more Cena than ever combined with a stale Shield appearance.

 

Brock Lesnar's rather fun demolition of 3MB aside, it was garbage from top to bottom. 

 

Oh shit yeah.  That was a great match, and man did they let it breathe.  So great to see 10-15 minute wrestling matches on WWE programming.  Really looking forward to Graves/Rollins.  Not completely sold on Graves yet, but he's getting there.

I know I've never posted on this thread, but that's because I've been perennially behind. I'm only catching up with Wrestlemania tonight. My impressions? I like Fandango. Taker vs. Punk was fantastic: both guys sold the hell out of it, and I'm glad that Taker preserved the streak - I'd love to see the guy retire with it intact, and I say that as a Punk fan. Cena vs. Rock? You guys already spoiled me on this, and although Dwayne is a part-timer, and Cena has proven game... I have scars from the Nu-Metal Wars, I can never get fully behind Cena's schtick. I've have preferred Rock winning, though the pin was beautifully set up and the resolution to the match was wholly satisfying.

If Vince and Hunter were smart the main even for WrestleMania 30 should be Punk vs Jake the Snake. Have Jake come in at the rumble at 13 or 25 and win the match. This would be a match of the decade just based on the promos. This is the perfect Cinderella story. A man who never won a title and has lived his life as a walking example of hard living wins and wins big.

 

To be fair, the Rock won last year when no one expected him to, so there shouldn't be any Rock marks out there pissed about this.

 

Cena is injured apparantly. I hope this forces WWE to push, push, push new stars, but I doubt it. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the end of an era: Japaenese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi's final match:

 

The greatest in ring worker this business has ever seen...

I saw that Kenta Kobashi was retiring but did not get to see his last match. Thanks for the link a hell of a send off for one of the best. 

Kobashi and Misawa were the first wrestlers that got me into Japanese wrestling. I discovered them via their work in NOAH but then my eyes were really opened when I dug into their work in 1990s All Japan. Here were two gifted wrestlers that put it all on the line in every singles and tag match they ever competed in. It's a real shame that Kobashi/Misawa couldn't have teamed one last time but this final match is a great way to send off a true legend of the sport.

Kenta Kobashi/Samoa Joe was my introduction into Kobashi.  Hell of a wrestler.  Probably delivered one of the best looking suplexes in the business.

 

The July 1995 match where they team against the Holy Demon Army (Jap Tag Teams have such cool names) maybe the greatest  Tag match ever. Certainly top 3.

 

On a completely different topic, here's the link to the NY TImes profile/interview with WO editor Dave Meltzer.