CI Wrestling Thread #56

[GeraldV]

And last gripe about last night's show: having to watch both commercials on the broadcast and seeing that mat with 500 ads on it was just a bit too much for me. Anyone else feel that way?

I did like the camera work and the broadcast looked better on streaming IMHO.

 

[Nightwish84]

Last night was for the lapsed fan imo. The Attitude Era ending sent millions away who never came back. We got Dwayne the businessman, not Rock: The Final Boss. If he's unable to clear his schedule, creative probably doesn't know what to do with him when he wants to show up. And kayfabe is dead so he probably doesn't see an issue being friendly with Cody on air as Dwayne.

On Hogan, that was hilarious. WWE won't stop the association and I understand why, but that's a warning shot by fans. Hogan has been getting some boos the last several years. I guess WWE wants to rehabilitate him but when you've said racist things, lie about everything, go all in on politics, and grift by selling "pro-American" beer as if we now have to have stuff for the left and stuff for the right, that makes you divisive. Even if you love him being MAGA, cool, but then he lies in every interview and said racist shit. Plus grifting is lame. He's a few years away from telling me to buy gold coins in an ad on some AM radio station. It's just hard to explain allll that away and then be like "but but Hulkamania..." And it's not all politics because Taker interviewed and endorsed a candidate and was cheered last night.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

HHH and Steph were at Mar a lago on NYE. People are just sick of Hogan. He got booed at mania too (a couple years ago)

 

[Booker Noe]

Not smart to roll him out in California.

 

[JonathanW]

Decent Raw so far but nothing like a WM card.

They'll slowplay the Rock stuff but who knows if he or creative has confirmation he'll be available. Cena set aside a year for WWE. Rock is never going to do that. Rock on NXT tomorrow night is insane though (Eddie Thorpe shoved Ava down last week I think).

Can't wait to see the numbers this is getting as I think Ripley made a couple million more fans instantly. Even if she's not your type you can still see her as an action star.

Actually remove the WWE makeup and Rhea is quite attractive, kind of like Gal Gadot.

 

[Creed Bratton]

That rapper dude smoking weed live on Raw walkin down the aisle with Yeet.

That’s somethin.

He has a medical condition that makes it okay. 😂

 

[JonathanW]

I think they switch it up, the Liv - Rhea rivalry is getting old, and maybe create a Rhea - Nia one and a Liv - Tiffany one

 

[Wesley91581]

I think they switch it up, the Liv - Rhea rivalry is getting old, and maybe create a Rhea - Nia one and a Liv - Tiffany one

Ya Nia was on raw and they moved her to sd last year so idk they flip her back?

Actually would like to see bayley move to raw. Shes just kinda treading water on sd right now.

 

[sefus12]

I agree about Jey. He's insanely popular but doesn't really wow anyone in the ring. I wonder if they are just riding that wave until Jimmy gets fully healthy and they can go back to tagging full time. You nailed it on Drew. I don't think the crowd will ever turn on him. He's done everything to try and get them to (calling them idiots, liars, turncoats, etc) but they still keep cheering. I think he'll be a badass tweener champ before 2025 is up and eventually keep the same attitude but full on face.

I really hope you are right. Dude has more of a championship look/aura than damn-near everyone in the company, and his in-rink skill is really good for a big guy. He’s added a few moves to his repitoire and both the bicycle-ish kick and that pick-up power bomb from last night were incredibly impressive. Hate that WWE had Uso kick out of the Claymore, but hopefully that’s just a one-time thing as we saw it in every match last night, many times where it didn’t make sense (Liv kicking out of Rhea’s finisher? Come on…).

 

[TCurtis75]

I’m guessing they are prepping a Rhea Charlotte program with Charlotte supposed to be back at the Rumble. Not sure what they do with Liv going forward but I could see a split between here and Raquel with a resulting feud.

 

[sefus12]

I think they switch it up, the Liv - Rhea rivalry is getting old, and maybe create a Rhea - Nia one and a Liv - Tiffany one

Please no. We don’t need Nia hurting Rhea.

 

[TCurtis75]

I really hope you are right. Dude has more of a championship look/aura than damn-near everyone in the company, and his in-rink skill is really good for a big guy. He’s added a few moves to his repitoire and both the bicycle-ish kick and that pick-up power bomb from last night were incredibly impressive. Hate that WWE had Uso kick out of the Claymore, but hopefully that’s just a one-time thing as we saw it in every match last night, many times where it didn’t make sense (Liv kicking out of Rea’s finisher? Come on…).

Drew would be a great anti-hero kind of like SCSA back in the day. He wasn’t really a face during that run but he also wasn’t a heel. The crowds just loved him no matter what he did.

 

[GeraldV]

I think the reason the crowd won't turn on Drew is that he is so damned funny on social media. He could pull off being a bad ass good guy, but when he posts a meme just killing whoever he is feuding with the crowd can't help but like him.

For example, the CM Punk feud.

 

[billCgmx]

For better or worse, here's my opinion.

Watched Raw but not on Netflix. The wrestling was good. But who wants to tune in when 2/3 of the show is just talking? This is the reason why I dreaded Raw and Smackdown becoming 3 hour shows. Hated the black ring mat with advertising all over it. Can't believe some fans liked it while criticizing the blue mat used on Smackdown.

I thought we would get a few surprises but basically nothing tonight. Did anything happen on this Raw to make you want to subscribe to Netflix and tune in next week? Not for me.

 

[Wesley91581]

For better or worse, here's my opinion.

Watched Raw but not on Netflix. The wrestling was good. But who wants to tune in when 2/3 of the show is just talking? This is the reason why I dreaded Raw and Smackdown becoming 3 hour shows. Hated the black ring mat with advertising all over it. Can't believe some fans liked it while criticizing the blue mat used on Smackdown.

I thought we would get a few surprises but basically nothing tonight. Did anything happen on this Raw to make you want to subscribe to Netflix and tune in next week? Not for me.

I won’t sub until peacock loses the PLE to Netflix - I can catch enough of what happened on raw it’s not worth it just to sub for basically 2 dollars an episode especially when cbb is on espn mondays.

 

[K-mac18]

Hogan getting booed out of the building was hilarious.
The finish to Punk and Rollins was the exact same as Punk and Moxley from All Out 2022.

I'm sure it's leading to something eventually but wasn't a big fan of "Corporate Rock" and how they just ignored what happened with Cody.

If (when) another company does that you hear no end of complaining.

Also this was funny too.

 

[Nightwish84]

Eh, lots are complaining about the Rock/Cody thing. Busted Open has a long clip on YT ripping it apart and fans didn't understand what we got and/or wanted Rock to turn on Roman. It tells me last year's buildup was special and that's not happening this year. Rock took himself out of the equation even if it didn't make sense. Maybe he returns next month and we're all "here we go" but I doubt it. This might be the year of Cena and Punk winning WWE gold again and in '26 it's Rock vs Reigns or Rock and Cody.

I dunno, the positive is you're left guessing. Everything, like last year, is sort of unpredictable right now which is good overall.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

 

[Wesley91581]

 

[GeraldV]

There’s a bunch to like about that Guilia for sure, but I’m a fan of her finisher. The Northern Lights Bomb looks really good.