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***Official Pro Wrestling Thread*** (13 Viewers)

Sting to have neck surgery

“Yeah, MRI’s and neurologists have been looking at it, Dr. Maroon out of Pittsburgh, he’s looked at it. He’s telling me that I’ll have to have a surgery … The dust only in the last couple weeks has kind of started to settle a little bit for me, just trying to get so much done in life but now it’s time to go get this thing taken care of. No, I’m hoping (they don’t have to do a fusion surgery). I know that’s one of the techniques that they use and I’m not sure if Dr. Maroon will have to do that or not. I’ve got two spots in my neck that are troublesome. I guess it’s called cervical spinal stenosis. That’s what it is.

I have two areas in my neck where the spinal canal, which holds the spinal cord, it’s kind of choked off in two different locations. Lucky that a catastrophe didn’t happen that night, long story short. I’ve gotta go get it fixed. I guess John Cena had something very similar, he had his fixed, and Dr. Maroon has done several of the WWE guys up there and all with great success.”
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:lol: Yes shocking that it's Christmas time and people have something better to do than watch this atrocity of a product....

Has there ever been a worse lead in to a "PPV" than that Reigns/Sheamus promo? :lmao: Came off like 2 middle school kids rehearsing their lines for the school play. The promos were so bad and put everyone to sleep that it didn't even matter what happened after it.

http://rajah.com/node/50109

In what is internally considered a big disappointment, the December 19th WWE live event at The Forum near Los Angeles, California has only sold under 5,000 tickets, despite Brock Lesnar working the show. John Cena was also advertised for the show originally, which only makes the figure that much more of a let down.

With the 12/19 date being just over a week away, it will obviously not be a live WWE Network special like his first two live events in Tokyo and Madison Square Garden were, as WWE would have begun the advertising by now, especially with ticket sales not moving as well as one would expect.

Lesnar is also scheduled to return to WWE television in the near future, as he is booked for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January. He will be appearing on multiple upcoming RAW shows starting in a couple of weeks.

One RAW date he is scheduled for that is particularly interesting is February 8th in Seattle, Washington, as it is a few weeks after the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, but a few weeks before the WWE Fast Lane pay-per-view. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that this indicates Lesnar will be working three pay-per-views in a row, as WrestleMania 32 follows the Fast Lane pay-per-view in February.

 
Even though I can see Jerry World from my house (insert Palin joke here), the ticket prices and the creative team as of right now has me out on going to Wrestlemania. I will most likely go to the hopeful NXT show on Saturday night and maybe some of the probable indie festivities around town that weekend. But as for the Super Bowl of Wrestling, I'll watch from my TV.*

*opinion subject to change if they fix this #### anytime soon.

 
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?

 
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hagmania said:
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think the injuries aren't even really a part of the problem. I mean, this isn't an actual sporting competition, they can tell whatever stories they want with whomever they want and it is entirely within their control. If they chose to have, let's say, Kalisto beat Sheamus for the title at Royal Rumble, there is a way to tell that story without it being stupid. It isn't like, for instance, the Cowboys losing Romo and Dez and basically being done 2 weeks into the year. WWE can control who is good or bad, and control wins and losses accordingly.

The writing is 100% of the problem. Who's available to perform is basically irrelevant. I highly doubt these current writers could make prime Stone Cold seem interesting. Its really unfortunate too, because from an athletic standpoint and a depth standpoint, this is probably the best crop of wrestling talent ever in one company. Look at how many main event caliber guys are out, and look at how many quality wrestlers are left. It should still be very easy to keep people interested in the product. Its just this crappy, pointless booking that ruins it.

Monday was a great example of that, when the Wyatts came out and faced off with the League of Nations, the crowd was 100% behind it, because it represented something fresh and different, and Bray Wyatt as a face could be awesome and so very easy to do. Frankly there isn't a character in the company that would be easier to book as an anti authority guy, who is committed to making change by destroying the status quo, which is sort of what he was in his NXT run a few years back. Then the Dudleys came out, and all the fans interest, rightfully evaporated.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
hagmania said:
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?
Click to expand...
It's more than that.

It hasn't always happened, but under ideal conditions, when a top star (or stars) is out, it opens up so that new talents can rise to the top level. Think how The Rock, who had been building, really exploded as a top face in 1999 when Austin was hurt. Then when the star/stars return, you have new top level talent to mix with the returning talent, leading to a loaded main event scene. Why has this not happened with Cena and Rollins out? Milquetoast booking combined with scripts for the wrestlers and a desire to book them all with the same cookie-cutter mold.

Project Reigns continues to be at the top of the card. He has talents and they had been doing a good job of getting him organic support after the fans rebelled against his overpush earlier this year. But he is not Cena 2.0, nor should he be. He should be booked as a 1980's Schwarzenegger-style face. Shows up to fight, winks at the camera, drops a one-liner sometimes (never repeating it), and beats people up. No long promos, no soul-searching, etc. Play to his strengths and hide his weaknesses, don't expose them. Heyman Booking 101.

Sheamus is similar. A bit better on the mic but whose primary skill set is strong-style wrestling. His trouble is he was midcard for so long and he was never built up properly to make his return to the main event seem credible (a common complaint among the MitB winners when they win the title). Either he should have been laying out the midcard or he should have never won his cash-in.

These are your top two stars at the moment.

They are greater indicators of the system-wide problems within WWE right now. The 50-50 booking insures no one will build enough momentum to amount to a significant force in the minds of the fans. The cookie-cutter approach to promos and marketing insures that no one will stand out as truly unique in the minds of the fans (except in terms of how they show their weaknesses in not being able to be crammed into the one-size-fits-all mold). So we are left with a lot of interchangible pieces vaguely distinguishable from each other.

The solutions are so obvious, it's frustrating.

1) Don't give wrestlers scripts. The most interesting talent today,The New Day, quite obviously deviates from script. As a result, they stand out as a fresh act that has organically built a reaction with the fans. They are always adding something too; the trombone, unicorn horns, etc. Let the other wrestlers build their own promos. A writer will not be anywhere as invested in a wrestler as the wrestler him/herself.

2) Show strengths, hide weaknesses. Don't put Reigns in a position where he has to deliver a 10-minute soliloquy. Have him be that action hero with a quick one-liner.

3) Listen to the fans. Don't tell us who to like, listen to who we like and react accordingly. One of the most fun times to be a fan was in the spring/summer of 2013. Daniel Bryan was having amazing match after amazing match. Sheamus, Orton, Cesaro, Swagger just off the top of my head. And while Bryan was winning, his opposition was looking very good in those matches as well. He organically built a following to the point where the crowd wanted Cena to choose him as his Summerslam opponent. And he did. That can happen again with so many talents if they take off the handcuffs and listen to the results. People are begging for an Ambrose push, a Cesaro push, and will be ready to get behind other talents once given a reason to.

4) Make matches matter. More title matches, more #1 contenders matches, more matches with clear stakes. There were some fun RAWs just a few weeks ago. First the night they were setting up a new challenger for Seth Rollins at Survivor Series, with play-in matches followed by the fatal four-way for the title shot. Then, the tournament matches for the vacant title. This will also let wrestlers who win meaningful matches be build up in the fans' eyes and allow the development of huge-level main-events.

Note - all of these things can be done while still keeping the product TV-PG.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
travdogg said:
hagmania said:
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think the injuries aren't even really a part of the problem. I mean, this isn't an actual sporting competition, they can tell whatever stories they want with whomever they want and it is entirely within their control. If they chose to have, let's say, Kalisto beat Sheamus for the title at Royal Rumble, there is a way to tell that story without it being stupid. It isn't like, for instance, the Cowboys losing Romo and Dez and basically being done 2 weeks into the year. WWE can control who is good or bad, and control wins and losses accordingly.

The writing is 100% of the problem. Who's available to perform is basically irrelevant. I highly doubt these current writers could make prime Stone Cold seem interesting. Its really unfortunate too, because from an athletic standpoint and a depth standpoint, this is probably the best crop of wrestling talent ever in one company. Look at how many main event caliber guys are out, and look at how many quality wrestlers are left. It should still be very easy to keep people interested in the product. Its just this crappy, pointless booking that ruins it.

Monday was a great example of that, when the Wyatts came out and faced off with the League of Nations, the crowd was 100% behind it, because it represented something fresh and different, and Bray Wyatt as a face could be awesome and so very easy to do. Frankly there isn't a character in the company that would be easier to book as an anti authority guy, who is committed to making change by destroying the status quo, which is sort of what he was in his NXT run a few years back. Then the Dudleys came out, and all the fans interest, rightfully evaporated.
Click to expand...
travdogg said:
hagmania said:
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think the injuries aren't even really a part of the problem. I mean, this isn't an actual sporting competition, they can tell whatever stories they want with whomever they want and it is entirely within their control. If they chose to have, let's say, Kalisto beat Sheamus for the title at Royal Rumble, there is a way to tell that story without it being stupid. It isn't like, for instance, the Cowboys losing Romo and Dez and basically being done 2 weeks into the year. WWE can control who is good or bad, and control wins and losses accordingly.

The writing is 100% of the problem. Who's available to perform is basically irrelevant. I highly doubt these current writers could make prime Stone Cold seem interesting. Its really unfortunate too, because from an athletic standpoint and a depth standpoint, this is probably the best crop of wrestling talent ever in one company. Look at how many main event caliber guys are out, and look at how many quality wrestlers are left. It should still be very easy to keep people interested in the product. Its just this crappy, pointless booking that ruins it.

Monday was a great example of that, when the Wyatts came out and faced off with the League of Nations, the crowd was 100% behind it, because it represented something fresh and different, and Bray Wyatt as a face could be awesome and so very easy to do. Frankly there isn't a character in the company that would be easier to book as an anti authority guy, who is committed to making change by destroying the status quo, which is sort of what he was in his NXT run a few years back. Then the Dudleys came out, and all the fans interest, rightfully evaporated.
Click to expand...
Even from just watching, you could tell all the air was let out of the crowd.

 
I do think Smackdown moving to USA could be a really good thing. Cross promotion is easier. Maybe figure out a way to make that show important.

 
Thunderlips said:
travdogg said:
hagmania said:
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think the injuries aren't even really a part of the problem. I mean, this isn't an actual sporting competition, they can tell whatever stories they want with whomever they want and it is entirely within their control. If they chose to have, let's say, Kalisto beat Sheamus for the title at Royal Rumble, there is a way to tell that story without it being stupid. It isn't like, for instance, the Cowboys losing Romo and Dez and basically being done 2 weeks into the year. WWE can control who is good or bad, and control wins and losses accordingly.

The writing is 100% of the problem. Who's available to perform is basically irrelevant. I highly doubt these current writers could make prime Stone Cold seem interesting. Its really unfortunate too, because from an athletic standpoint and a depth standpoint, this is probably the best crop of wrestling talent ever in one company. Look at how many main event caliber guys are out, and look at how many quality wrestlers are left. It should still be very easy to keep people interested in the product. Its just this crappy, pointless booking that ruins it.

Monday was a great example of that, when the Wyatts came out and faced off with the League of Nations, the crowd was 100% behind it, because it represented something fresh and different, and Bray Wyatt as a face could be awesome and so very easy to do. Frankly there isn't a character in the company that would be easier to book as an anti authority guy, who is committed to making change by destroying the status quo, which is sort of what he was in his NXT run a few years back. Then the Dudleys came out, and all the fans interest, rightfully evaporated.
Click to expand...
travdogg said:
hagmania said:
I've been reading the thread from page 1 and everyone was pretty complimentary of the product just a year and a half ago. All the injuries threw a wrench in the works?
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think the injuries aren't even really a part of the problem. I mean, this isn't an actual sporting competition, they can tell whatever stories they want with whomever they want and it is entirely within their control. If they chose to have, let's say, Kalisto beat Sheamus for the title at Royal Rumble, there is a way to tell that story without it being stupid. It isn't like, for instance, the Cowboys losing Romo and Dez and basically being done 2 weeks into the year. WWE can control who is good or bad, and control wins and losses accordingly.

The writing is 100% of the problem. Who's available to perform is basically irrelevant. I highly doubt these current writers could make prime Stone Cold seem interesting. Its really unfortunate too, because from an athletic standpoint and a depth standpoint, this is probably the best crop of wrestling talent ever in one company. Look at how many main event caliber guys are out, and look at how many quality wrestlers are left. It should still be very easy to keep people interested in the product. Its just this crappy, pointless booking that ruins it.

Monday was a great example of that, when the Wyatts came out and faced off with the League of Nations, the crowd was 100% behind it, because it represented something fresh and different, and Bray Wyatt as a face could be awesome and so very easy to do. Frankly there isn't a character in the company that would be easier to book as an anti authority guy, who is committed to making change by destroying the status quo, which is sort of what he was in his NXT run a few years back. Then the Dudleys came out, and all the fans interest, rightfully evaporated.
Click to expand...
Even from just watching, you could tell all the air was let out of the crowd.
Click to expand...
I was excited for a minute, when they introduced a mystery partner, then it was Rhyno... um, yay?

 
Watching TLC kickoff show, I was wondering how long this whole LoN gimmick would last. I don't think they will ever be a top tier stable but bring Cesaro, Kidd, Swagger, and Neville together with Zeb for a United Nations gimmick to fight them. Maybe Ryback if Kidd's injury prevents him from coming back in the next few months. A few more stables like that and hopefully by next Survivor Series we can have a "traditional" Survivor Series. Add Apollo Crews to New Day and there you have the 4th member and another stable.

 
Bogart said:
Even though I can see Jerry World from my house (insert Palin joke here), the ticket prices and the creative team as of right now has me out on going to Wrestlemania. I will most likely go to the hopeful NXT show on Saturday night and maybe some of the probable indie festivities around town that weekend. But as for the Super Bowl of Wrestling, I'll watch from my TV.*

*opinion subject to change if they fix this #### anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Where are they doing the HOF?

 
HobbesAB said:
Bogart said:
Someone is going to die in a ladder match someday soon.
Click to expand...
I am surprised there haven't been more serious injuries when they do these matches. Speaks to the athleticism of the men and women involved.
Click to expand...
It's thrilling while it happens, but I always feel a little dirty after. Wish they'd pick a few big spots instead of doing 20 of them. For example, big E powering out from under the ladder was a cool spot that was still (relatively) safe. The Uso splash to the outside was totally unnecessary.

 
Brilliant match between Owens and Ambrose, with a great finish. You expect the Owens win after he fingers out of Dirty Deeds, but instead we get a reversal and pin by Ambrose. He is going to be a fun IC Champ.

 
WWE being able to put on an event this good without Rollins, Cena, Brock, Taker, Orton, and Cesaro says something. It's like they know what they are doing.

 
The ppvs are always good because it's strictly wrestling, not story telling and the performers are extremely talented and can deliver in big spots.

 
Bogart said:
Brilliant match between Owens and Ambrose, with a great finish. You expect the Owens win after he fingers out of Dirty Deeds, but instead we get a reversal and pin by Ambrose. He is going to be a fun IC Champ.
Click to expand...
Hoping getting the strap off of KO puts him in the title hunt now

 
Props to HHH for taking those bumps. Props for WWE to go with this angle, if they do it right. And by right is that Reigns is fired Monday and doesn't show up on TV again until the Rumble.

The crowd with a "Thank You Roman" chant and real pops for Reigns. Good for him. Guy is working his ### off.

 
Bogart said:
Props to HHH for taking those bumps. Props for WWE to go with this angle, if they do it right. And by right is that Reigns is fired Monday and doesn't show up on TV again until the Rumble.

The crowd with a "Thank You Roman" chant and real pops for Reigns. Good for him. Guy is working his ### off.
Click to expand...
Hey, Roman's super hot, and half the roster is out right now...I know, let's take him off TV for 6 weeks.

 
JB Breakfast Club said:
Bogart said:
Where is Ambrose at the end? Where is Barrett? Just seems sloppy not to have everyone out there.
Click to expand...
Ambrose is already passed out in a gutter somewhere. Plus, too many guys muddy the water. This was Roman's ascension. He has to do it alone.
Click to expand...
Perhaps HHH and Steph told them if they go out there they're fired. Or Barrett laid a trap for them or something. I guess we'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out.

 
JB Breakfast Club said:
Bogart said:
Props to HHH for taking those bumps. Props for WWE to go with this angle, if they do it right. And by right is that Reigns is fired Monday and doesn't show up on TV again until the Rumble.

The crowd with a "Thank You Roman" chant and real pops for Reigns. Good for him. Guy is working his ### off.
Click to expand...
Hey, Roman's super hot, and half the roster is out right now...I know, let's take him off TV for 6 weeks.
Click to expand...
That's why it would take real guts to take him off TV.

 
JB Breakfast Club said:
Bogart said:
Where is Ambrose at the end? Where is Barrett? Just seems sloppy not to have everyone out there.
Click to expand...
Ambrose is already passed out in a gutter somewhere. Plus, too many guys muddy the water. This was Roman's ascension. He has to do it alone.
Click to expand...
I agree with all of that. Maybe you have Ambrose come out and Barrett takes him out at the top of the ramp. Puts all the pieces out there, and doesn't get too crowded in the ring.

It's nitpicking. Loved the PPV and really enjoyed the ending. The only other thing I would have done different is I don't have a single Wyatt Family get eliminated.

 
Bogart said:
JB Breakfast Club said:
Bogart said:
Props to HHH for taking those bumps. Props for WWE to go with this angle, if they do it right. And by right is that Reigns is fired Monday and doesn't show up on TV again until the Rumble.

The crowd with a "Thank You Roman" chant and real pops for Reigns. Good for him. Guy is working his ### off.
Click to expand...
Hey, Roman's super hot, and half the roster is out right now...I know, let's take him off TV for 6 weeks.
Click to expand...
That's why it would take real guts to take him off TV.
Click to expand...
Guessing they go Austin vs Vince style "Im not going to fire you, Im going to make your life a living hell" ... I like it

 
That tag team ladder match was insane. That Uso/Kalisto (?) spot may have been the most insane I've ever seen.

Liked what they did with Reigns after the match.Thank god they stopped the crying Reigns crap.

Solid PPV. But utlimately what's important is how/if they follow up to not continue to see Raw ratings plummet.

 
Yeah, that opening match was awesome. Kind of a hokey finished but I'm sure New Day fans marked out.

Sheamus is doing alright as a main event heel. The dude is huge. Let Roman do a program with Triple H. I hope John Cena wins the Royal Rumble.

 
KiddLattimer said:
Bogart said:
JB Breakfast Club said:
Bogart said:
Props to HHH for taking those bumps. Props for WWE to go with this angle, if they do it right. And by right is that Reigns is fired Monday and doesn't show up on TV again until the Rumble.

The crowd with a "Thank You Roman" chant and real pops for Reigns. Good for him. Guy is working his ### off.
Click to expand...
Hey, Roman's super hot, and half the roster is out right now...I know, let's take him off TV for 6 weeks.
Click to expand...
That's why it would take real guts to take him off TV.
Click to expand...
Guessing they go Austin vs Vince style "Im not going to fire you, Im going to make your life a living hell" ... I like it
Click to expand...
You mean the story line they've been using continuously since 1997? Yeah, keep doing that... :thumbdown:

 
Tom Servo said:
KiddLattimer said:
Bogart said:
JB Breakfast Club said:
Bogart said:
Props to HHH for taking those bumps. Props for WWE to go with this angle, if they do it right. And by right is that Reigns is fired Monday and doesn't show up on TV again until the Rumble.

The crowd with a "Thank You Roman" chant and real pops for Reigns. Good for him. Guy is working his ### off.
Click to expand...
Hey, Roman's super hot, and half the roster is out right now...I know, let's take him off TV for 6 weeks.
Click to expand...
That's why it would take real guts to take him off TV.
Click to expand...
Guessing they go Austin vs Vince style "Im not going to fire you, Im going to make your life a living hell" ... I like it
Click to expand...
You mean the story line they've been using continuously since 1997? Yeah, keep doing that... :thumbdown:
Click to expand...
Haha fair point... theyve been trying to do it for a while but if Reigns is going to go crazy bad a** in an Austin style way I can get behind it. Sure beats the "gee whiz I'm gonna beat you bro" crap they've been having him do the last 6 months.

 
Craig_MiamiFL said:
That tag team ladder match was insane. That Uso/Kalisto (?) spot may have been the most insane I've ever seen.

Liked what they did with Reigns after the match.Thank god they stopped the crying Reigns crap.

Solid PPV. But utlimately what's important is how/if they follow up to not continue to see Raw ratings plummet.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the follow up is going to be huge here. So many great ways they can take this. You just pray they don't blow it, but you kind of expect them to. I'd probably start with Reigns confronting Ambrose for not being there last night. Be very quick and to the point, then just walk away leaving Ambrose confused and worried.

 
I wonder if Charlotte trending toward heel might open the door for Bayley to finally make her debut. All the "divas" that matter are heels except Becky. Bayley could come in with all her goodness and pureness of heart and try to convince her friend Charlotte that her dad's ways are not the best ways. Bayley has a big match against Nia Jax at Takeover this week and could easily pass the torch.

 
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