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***Official Pro Wrestling Thread*** (9 Viewers)

Not a huge surprise but Vince came across as such a huge douche in the Netflix documentary. I haven’t watched in years but Shane seems like a legit good dude.
Shane is probably the only sane member. I’ve been working last 8 days and came down with a cold or something so I haven’t had a chance to watch. However I’ve seen Shane is the only one from what I’ve read or seen coming out any good. You feel sorry for the guy as it seems he always tried doing the right thing.

He’s also well respected in the business by talent for the bumps he took
I doubt there are many things you don’t already know but still a fun walk down memory lane. The Shane rift seemed to start when he approached Vince about buying the UFC and was basically laughed at and ridiculed by Vince, Steph and HHH. Obviously funny that it would have been a genius move and the UFC basically bought the WWE years later.
I have to admit that Shane's "Daddy, buy me a company so I can run it and prove my worth," stance made me LOL for real, because nothing says I can do it on my own more than running a company your billionaire daddy bought you.
 
MORE EXCITING NEWS!!! 🔥🔥🔥

THE ENTIRE AEW LIBRARY IS CONFIRMED TO ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON MAX

WBD's CEO of U.S. Networks Kathleen Finch confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the AEW library will also be available on Max.

“The benefit now to WBD is to introduce this terrific event to a streaming audience, the Max audience, which may not have been exposed to AEW in any great way until now, starting in January, is going to have it every Wednesday and Saturday nights, as well as the library available to stream. So we are really excited about the growth opportunity and the excitement opportunity that the fandom can bring once we’ve got a new platform to expose AEW to."
 
An all-time classic by Drew and Punk last night. That was awesome stuff.

That shot Punk hit on Drew with the metal locker / case seemed pretty legit. Drew was bleeding bad.
A planned spot. You can always tell when a spot is planned where someone is busted open, as the camera usually pulls away from them so we don't see them blade or whatever they to do to draw blood, and we didn't see Drew on camera for a good 10-15 seconds after he got hit by the toolbox, just like the camera pulled away from Punk for about the same amount of time earlier in the match when he got busted open. The staples in his head are probably a work as well. Brutal matches like that often work even better when fans wonder if what they saw was real (like when Brock busted Orton's head open at SummerSlam). Punk and Drew both did an awesome job.
 
An all-time classic by Drew and Punk last night. That was awesome stuff.

That shot Punk hit on Drew with the metal locker / case seemed pretty legit. Drew was bleeding bad.
A planned spot. You can always tell when a spot is planned where someone is busted open, as the camera usually pulls away from them so we don't see them blade or whatever they to do to draw blood, and we didn't see Drew on camera for a good 10-15 seconds after he got hit by the toolbox, just like the camera pulled away from Punk for about the same amount of time earlier in the match when he got busted open. The staples in his head are probably a work as well. Brutal matches like that often work even better when fans wonder if what they saw was real (like when Brock busted Orton's head open at SummerSlam). Punk and Drew both did an awesome job.
While I agree it was a planned spot, as soon as I saw it live I felt it was harder than was intended.
16 staples. Don't think it was supposed to be that bad at all.
 
An all-time classic by Drew and Punk last night. That was awesome stuff.

That shot Punk hit on Drew with the metal locker / case seemed pretty legit. Drew was bleeding bad.
A planned spot. You can always tell when a spot is planned where someone is busted open, as the camera usually pulls away from them so we don't see them blade or whatever they to do to draw blood, and we didn't see Drew on camera for a good 10-15 seconds after he got hit by the toolbox, just like the camera pulled away from Punk for about the same amount of time earlier in the match when he got busted open. The staples in his head are probably a work as well. Brutal matches like that often work even better when fans wonder if what they saw was real (like when Brock busted Orton's head open at SummerSlam). Punk and Drew both did an awesome job.
Brutal? That match made what ECW use to do look tame. That was child’s play compared to what Foley, Onita, muta, Funks etc use to do.
 
Such an unsafe work environment….

Fightful reports WWE sources claim AJ Styles is legitimately injured.

There WAS a planned injury angle for AJ on the show Friday. However WWE sources say AJ was actually injured during a spot gone wrong.

"The flip where he sold the knee was to be a work. The move where he landed on the knee was legit"
 
An all-time classic by Drew and Punk last night. That was awesome stuff.

That shot Punk hit on Drew with the metal locker / case seemed pretty legit. Drew was bleeding bad.
A planned spot. You can always tell when a spot is planned where someone is busted open, as the camera usually pulls away from them so we don't see them blade or whatever they to do to draw blood, and we didn't see Drew on camera for a good 10-15 seconds after he got hit by the toolbox, just like the camera pulled away from Punk for about the same amount of time earlier in the match when he got busted open. The staples in his head are probably a work as well. Brutal matches like that often work even better when fans wonder if what they saw was real (like when Brock busted Orton's head open at SummerSlam). Punk and Drew both did an awesome job.
While I agree it was a planned spot, as soon as I saw it live I felt it was harder than was intended.
16 staples. Don't think it was supposed to be that bad at all.
Again, the staples are probably a work. Besides, wrestlers are a different breed, and the ones that go into a Hell in a Cell know that it is gonna be a rough one. No one comes out of those unscathed.
 
Janel Grant’s attorney asks for court to disallow NDAs so other employees current and ex, and contractors can be asked to come forward.

Janel Grant’s attorney Ann Callis sent a letter last night to WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis asking that WWE waive NDAs with other former WWE employees and contractors.

SPECIFICALLY mentioning the other four women that Vince has paid and had sign NDAs.

Callis: "WWE cannot move on from its sordid past while its victims remain silenced."

The letter indicates copies were sent to Nick Khan (WWE President), Paul Levesque (WWE Chief Content Officer), Ari Emanuel (TKO/Endeavor CEO), Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and (now-retired long-time McMahon attorney) Jerry McDevitt.

The text of Callis's letter:

World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (“WWE”) has said that it “takes Ms. Grant’s allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact.” In other words, WWE would like the world to believe that it has reformed its workplace culture.

But if WWE is truly committed to change, it must allow survivors to speak their truth without fear of reprisal.

We call upon WWE to publicly waive enforcement of its non-disclosure agreements (“NDAs”) to allow its former and current employees and contractors (including wrestlers contracted to perform under the WWE brand) to speak out about sexual misconduct, sexual assault, harassment, and workplace aggression or disputes concerning the toxic culture at WWE.

This includes releasing women who signed NDAs related to sexual misconduct by former CEO Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and other WWE leadership and employees as conditions of settlement.

The toxic and sexualized culture at WWE during Mr. McMahon’s tenure as CEO and Chairman was open and notorious. Yet what has been publicly reported is only part of the picture.

We have had witnesses come to us confidentially and describe a sexualized culture at WWE that victimizes women and men. We have received reports that many victims are currently afraid to come forward because of punitive non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements.

For example, as The Wall Street Journal reported on July 8, 2022, Mr. McMahon paid over $12 million to at least four women to secure their silence about his sexual misconduct.

Our client is just one of an untold many. We therefore also ask Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis to affirm that survivors and WWE employees who witnessed abuse may speak about their experiences without fear of retribution and retaliation.

WWE cannot move on from its sordid past while its victims remain silenced. Survivors deserve an opportunity to share their experiences on their terms. Forced silence only deepens the wounds of sexual abuse. Survivors are revictimized every time they are muzzled and forced to live in fear of attack from a multi-billion-dollar business that can hire an army of lawyers to bury them in legal fees if they speak the truth.

Even unenforceable NDAs, like the one our client was coerced to sign, have a chilling effect because individuals do not have the will or resources to fight them.

WWE must clarify that any NDAs that it has entered are not intended to prevent disclosure of sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault, and disclaim and waive any claims it may have under those NDAs if current or former employees and contractors choose to speak out.

We urge WWE to quickly and proactively release its current and former employees and contractors from any obligations under any WWE-executed NDA that would prevent them from discussing sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault during their time at WWE without delay.

WWE wants people to believe the company has changed—this is its chance to prove it."

 
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Reoccurring trend in WWE these days. SDL lost more more then 800k viewership from last years

SmackDown last week: 1,568,000 0.45

Smackdown this week: 1,518,000 0.47

SmackDown this same week last year: 2,319,000 .64
 
So glad I don’t live in NJ. They don’t need another mania. They’ve had like 10 in the last 15 yrs I feel like

According to Sports Business Journal, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority are using $7.125 million of federal pandemic relief funds in order to “assist Metlife Stadium in securing and hosting WWE Summerslam 2025.”

This money is coming from the American Rescue Plan, which is money that the state received during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money in that fund, which came from the federal government, was to “respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.”
 
Per source the Netflix documentary didn’t do WWE any favors. Nothing earth shattering if you are a wrestling fan but those mainstream who don’t watch WWE is getting a lot of backlash. Endeavor has told current employees to not speak publicly of the Mcmahon case as technically WWE is part of the case.

Those in the company who weren’t aware of certain things are a bit uneasy after watching it. The documentary did zero favors for Vince and his family including Triple H. Many felt Shane (Vince’s son) came away with a lot more sympathy from viewers and more support from many.

There’s also those who believe Shane was pushed aside for Steph and Hunter to run WWE despite Shane’s interest over the yrs. Hunter would start pr claims while Shane was with the company having people leak negativity on Shane as he saw Shane as a rival for power within the company. Shane left do to this along with not wanting to be part of his fathers illegal activities.

A few believe Hunter knows more about the sexual assault case there lets in but has yet to be personally named in the suit other then part of the company. This isn’t to say people don’t believe Paul will get away with anything. In March controversy surrounding his wife Steph McMahon after a friend of former diva Ashley Masserò accused Steph of covering up Ashley’s rape while on tour for troops in Kuwait in 06 by a Dr in the army. The stories being told at that time by others is that Steph covered it up not to upset WWEs sponsor with US military. This is why Grants Attorneys want it so important for other women who signed NDAs to have these dropped to come forward.

Morale in the locker room is still high but recently hit a bit of a low now that WWE has decided to shorten number of matches on PPVs. This is because talent on those cards get paid extra for the appearance plus part of the merch sales.
 
Dancing for those Meltzer stars!!! 🤣

And they wonder why they're performing in 90% empty buildings these days....
To be fair, it is always tough sledding in the minor leagues. They probably feel like they have to do that kind of ridiculousness to get attention, but it creates the wrong kind. Too bad, because they have some great talent there and put on good matches, but it often gets dwarfed by silliness like in that clip and some at the top acting like the company is their personal playground.
 
Bryan Alvarez provided an extended health update on Killswitch/Luchasaurus during today's WOL:

“I don’t want to say it’s a career-ending issue, but it could be a career-ending issue. He's not back in the gym and he will not be back in the gym for a while and he’s not going to be back wrestling, probably, for a while. Hopefully, he will be back wrestling in a while.

Apparently, there were complications. He ends up getting this flu and bad oxygen uptake as a result of whatever else, turned into pneumonia. And apparently he’s at high risk for a relapse, is what I was told. The big concern is that after all of this, they’ve been running test after test, and apparently there may be permanent damage.

They found calcification in a heart valve and his body is not producing iron and so he’s got a whole bunch of tests that he apparently has to take. It’s bad. It’s bad enough that he’s out of the hospital, apparently, but he still has to do oxygen.”
 
WWE fans are weird

There was a fan incident at the hotel where #WWENXT talent was staying at last night. A male fan was allegedly caught trying to take photos of the female talents feet as they made their way through the hotel and was ejected not once, but twice from the hotel.

Source: PWInsider
 
Backstage frustrations about the match between Zelina Vega, Natalya, Lyra Valkyria , Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs Unholy union and Pure Fusion Collective. The match was just over 7 minutes long and felt more like the Diva’s era. Most of the match took place during commercial break. The match didn’t really do anything for any of the stars. No sense of direction for these woman. The 2 hour show time may be foreshadowing who is going to get left behind/lost in the shuffle until Raw moves to Netflix.

Source: Fightful
 
Martha Hart rejects the comments Vince McMahon made over Owen Hart's death being an accident?!

After the release of McMahon's documentary on Netflix, Martha wrote a statement recently & adamant about anyone, let alone Vince McMahon, rewrite that history involving her late husband?! This is what Hart stated:

“The real truth is that on May 23, 1999, out of a desire to cut costs and achieve a ‘quick release’ effect that a rigging expert specifically warned against, WWE hired unqualified riggers to arrange a stunt in which Owen was to rappel from the rafters.

“As a result, the riggers used incorrect equipment that caused Owen to fall to his death. It was pure negligence that killed my husband.”

“What the documentary fails to mention is that the equipment used was never meant for a rappelling stunt,” Martha says in her statement. “Instead, a harness meant for dragging stunt people behind cars on movie shoots was used with a sailboat clip meant to release under a load of only six pounds of pressure. Had WWE hired qualified riggers who followed proper protocol that included redundancy, as is typical practice, and used the correct equipment, Owen would not have died that night.”

"Can't blame Martha Hart here in her statement"?! ......

Source: Martha Hart
 
It was a really bad botch. Like it wasn’t even close. Props to Randy for being professional and trying to sell it still

Fightful Select: There is no heat internally on Je'Von Evans for the missed RKO spot on last night's NXT.
 
Fightful Select: Word spread backstage and among AEW talent that on MVP’s first night in AEW, he went to Chris Jericho’s locker room to talk their past issues.

While specifics of their conversation weren’t disclosed, those within All Elite Wrestling said their heat was resolved and won’t be a problem going forward.

MVP was praised by numerous people backstage for addressing the issue directly and not letting it linger.

MVP and Jericho have been seen interacting backstage since then, including last week’s AEW “Dynamite”.

Jericho and MVP allegedly had a altercation that got physical in early 2020 on Jericho‘s cruise, that spilled over when the two ran into each other at a hotel in late 2022, with MVP challenging Jericho to a fist fight, in which Jericho told MVP he “didn’t fight jobbers.”
 
For all of his faults, you can tell Punk loves the idea of pro wrestling and I guarantee he wants the young guys to be trained to do it the right way in the ring (storytelling, ring psychology, etc.).
Meltzer has no credibility left, but even he knows that AEW is a sinking ship. Tony has enough money to keep it from sinking to the very bottom any time soon, but will anyone be surprised if AEW is no long around in 5-10 years?
 
For all of his faults, you can tell Punk loves the idea of pro wrestling and I guarantee he wants the young guys to be trained to do it the right way in the ring (storytelling, ring psychology, etc.).
Meltzer has no credibility left, but even he knows that AEW is a sinking ship. Tony has enough money to keep it from sinking to the very bottom any time soon, but will anyone be surprised if AEW is no long around in 5-10 years?
I doubt it is (re: AEW in 5-10 years). Tiny Con will have a meltdown before then. (And not just a Twitter one). Its already rapidly approaching the level of current TNA wrestling (which is a better product and probably the better investment for upside by a network as it'll cost nothing)

Hard to see him handing reigns over to anyone as he hasn't done so for the non-existent creative. It's Indy wrestling with a TV deal. Why no one watches and why their attendance is rapidly dwindling. Very rapidly
 
This is the truth. From reddit:

Unfortunately, AEW lost its biggest heel. It wasn't Omega, it wasn't MJF, it wasn't Jericho (implying that they ever lost him in the first place). It was Vince McMahon. He was the common enemy that AEW fans could always rally against.

AEW had a bad angle? "I'm sure they will somehow find a way to salvage this unlike Vince". Tony Kahn screwed up with something big time? "Well, he's just inexperienced, Vince would have made things 10 times worse". With the regime change, not only is WWE making a better product, but people actually want to enjoy the show now instead of ****ting on the product 24/7.

That was my problem with AEW since day one. What's the point for a "Western mainstream alternative to the WWE" when people don't want an alternative anymore. Even if he didn't get chased out, Vince was way closer to his last day on the job than he was his first.
 
Oba Femi lost his belt last night. Dude fn rocks. Love his look, love his work. He isn't portrayed as only a big, dumb monster.

Keep it going with this one HBK.
 
For all of his faults, you can tell Punk loves the idea of pro wrestling and I guarantee he wants the young guys to be trained to do it the right way in the ring (storytelling, ring psychology, etc.).
Meltzer has no credibility left, but even he knows that AEW is a sinking ship. Tony has enough money to keep it from sinking to the very bottom any time soon, but will anyone be surprised if AEW is no long around in 5-10 years?
I doubt it is (re: AEW in 5-10 years). Tiny Con will have a meltdown before then. (And not just a Twitter one). Its already rapidly approaching the level of current TNA wrestling (which is a better product and probably the better investment for upside by a network as it'll cost nothing)

Hard to see him handing reigns over to anyone as he hasn't done so for the non-existent creative. It's Indy wrestling with a TV deal. Why no one watches and why their attendance is rapidly dwindling. Very rapidly
Tony's booking is basically "spin the wheel this week and see what it lands on." Remember the Buckaroos attacking him and beating him up? Outside of him wearing a neck brace the next day to the NFL draft yet still magically moving his head all around as if nothing was wrong :lol: , where was the follow-up with that?

Even with Bryan Danielson, one of the best ever, supposedly on the verge of retiring to a large degree, almost no one is watching or going to most of their events. It doesn't bode well.
 

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