The women’s rumble match exposed the women’s division a bit. Especially with so many names from NXT and then the winner being someone who hasn’t been involved in a match in over a year. Outside of Rhea Ripley they haven’t really built anyone up to the required level, beyond Liv Morgan (and that story has been and gone).
Even the established names like Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair are just a bit bland now IMO.
Great to see Alexa Bliss back though, and she will hopefully give the division the kick it needs.
Ladder match was brutal. There were about 3-4 spots that looked like they would cause certain injury.
Agree with the comments made earlier about Cody’s role as the chasing underdog being better suited to his character. I think he’s done an incredible job as a natural babyface as a whole though. In the last 20 years, how many people have successfully been the face of the company as a pure babyface without the live crowd aggressively turning? Even John Cena and Roman Reigns would get booed out of the building regularly. By comparison, Rhodes has managed it brilliantly and deserves a lot of credit. A switch in character is probably due in the next 6 months though.
And then the men’s rumble….
I’m not a Jey Uso fan really. His entrance is the best in the company and there’s no doubt he’s ridiculously over. But his matches and mic work don’t do anything for me at all. That said, he’s done a brilliant job building himself up to where he is now. Honestly, who would have thought that a member of the Usos would be doing this a few years ago pre-Bloodline?
Strongly expect it to be a ‘Night One’ main event though, possibly against Gunther. I actually expect him to win as well. Commercially he’s done everything they could expect, and then some. Whatever it is about him, it clearly works.
If so, the real main event is still completely up in the air and could go in a few different directions.
A wild guess here…..The Rock/Roman thing has fallen through and they may still be figuring out what version of Plan B to go with. Hope I’m wrong.
The women's roster is coming along. All of the NXT stars in the rumble are ready for the main roster, there's just not the space for them atm. Only a couple of former stars this year whereas previously it's been half of the rumble! The only one in it who isn't main roster ready is B Fab. Alexis probably had the biggest pop of the night so the future for the women is looking very bright.
No issue with Charlotte winning it. The men's has had that happen a few times (Cody) and people were expecting Cena.
No idea where they are going with anything but looking forward to it!
The women’s Rumble really lacked any storytelling. It was a case of “here is a woman…..here is another woman….and another woman”. And the winner just ends up being a big name with zero build behind it. Might as well have been simulated on WWE 2K24.
I don’t disagree about the talent they have in their ranks. It just doesn’t get used well enough in the women’s division. Rhea vs Liv is the only proper storyline that felt big over the past year. Does anyone really get excited about the likes of Nia Jax or Bayley anymore? Even if they’ve been around a while, their characters have just become boring and repetitive.
The contrast with the men’s rumble was vast on that front, where there were so many different layers and moments they could rely on that had some build. Even the lower/mid card stuff like Chad Gable and the luchadores had been given some thought.
And whilst it could be interpreted as slightly contrary to the point I’m making, it would have been nice to have just 1 nostalgia surprise in the men’s match. We don’t see it too often nowadays, but in a match that goes on for well over an hour I’m sure they could find a couple of minutes for it. Give the fans that moment for a pop, rather than the anti-climax entrances of Andrade, Santos Escobar etc that just add nothing.
I agree with the lack of story telling in the women's rumble. When they first had it it was the main event now it's the opener and plays second fiddle to the men's. I would have it main eventing a PLE in June or so and have the winner getting a shot at Summerslam, which is just another PLE imo with nothing special.
I don't want to see Nia Jax on TV and I like Bayley still. I get your point though. They're not doing a lot with a load of the women.
I was slightly surprised at the lack of surprises in the Rumble too. One of the biggest "surprises" was AJ Styles who's only been gone 4 months, coming out to his old music. The whole thing with IShowSpeed was silly, but there's mileage in it for views and laughs.
The Elimination Chamber will be very interesting now, I assume it will be an All Star cast, Punk, Reigns, Rollins, Cena and then 2 from Paul, Priest, McIntyre, Owens, Zayn, Jimmy Uso, Fatu, Sikoa, depending on which way they're going storyline wise
I *really* want them to pay off the teases of Jacob Fatu/Bron Breakker at some point. I don’t care if it involves two heels, the crowd would be hot for it.
Breakker is very natural on the mic…Fatu not so much. But he definitely makes up for it in ring.
I *really* want them to pay off the teases of Jacob Fatu/Bron Breakker at some point. I don’t care if it involves two heels, the crowd would be hot for it.
Breakker is very natural on the mic…Fatu not so much. But he definitely makes up for it in ring.
Have you not heard Fatu recently on his ring walks? He's great on the mic
Good point regarding the women, the only wrestlers from back in the day that could hang with the current women would be Chyna (would have been incredible), Ivory, Jacqueline, Victoria, Lita and maybe Trish? The rest were just fit that got in cat fights more or less. Might be forgetting a few.
Problem is with the divas is the lack of charisma. Rhea definitely has it, she's well over atm, Liv is good, just a bit small and unbelievable as a wrestler. I also like Bayley and Asuka, after that, missing some characters.
I actually think Nia Jax is good as well for the division. She's really embraced the heat she gets and makes whoever she is against elevate a bit.
There's no questioning the skill though, there's so many good women wrestlers now it's a joke. They never could have done a women's rumble in the 90s and it be watchable. Unless you were just perving of course.
I *really* want them to pay off the teases of Jacob Fatu/Bron Breakker at some point. I don’t care if it involves two heels, the crowd would be hot for it.
Breakker is very natural on the mic…Fatu not so much. But he definitely makes up for it in ring.
Have you not heard Fatu recently on his ring walks? He's great on the mic
Maybe 'not natural' is the wrong way for me to have put it. He's clearly confident and has bags of charisma.
But having heard a couple of his recent promos since breaking away from Solo, it seems like he might be a bit one dimensional. Has that intense 1980s promo style, where its very shouty and 100% all in from the get go. There aren't too many places to go once you open like that all the time.
The top players all have the ability to speak on a sliding scale and vary it up week to week. That might not suit Fatu, but you typically need that in your locker for any major character development that doesn't get repetitive.
I *really* want them to pay off the teases of Jacob Fatu/Bron Breakker at some point. I don’t care if it involves two heels, the crowd would be hot for it.
Breakker is very natural on the mic…Fatu not so much. But he definitely makes up for it in ring.
Have you not heard Fatu recently on his ring walks? He's great on the mic
Maybe 'not natural' is the wrong way for me to have put it. He's clearly confident and has bags of charisma.
But having heard a couple of his recent promos since breaking away from Solo, it seems like he might be a bit one dimensional. Has that intense 1980s promo style, where its very shouty and 100% all in from the get go. There aren't too many places to go once you open like that all the time.
The top players all have the ability to speak on a sliding scale and vary it up week to week. That might not suit Fatu, but you typically need that in your locker for any major character development that doesn't get repetitive.
I don't like him, think he looks way OTT. You look at past bodyguard enforcer types like Deacon Batista, you got the feeling they had a decent ceiling.
I just don't see it with Fatu. I was actually more warming more to the idea of Solo but I'm not sure where they go with him now. I think Fatu is the better wrestler than Solo and he looks like a nutter, but something is missing for me, like Jey Uso.
Someone like Bron on the other hand who is in a similar position to Fatu I see going really far.
Solo’s purpose served to help bring back Roman Reigns as a face and so they could do the whole Bloodline civil war story. Beyond that, I’m not sure what relevancy they can give back to him. They might be able to get a Fatu/Solo story going, but again, it will be to put Fatu over.
There’s no way Solo feels like a main eventer in his own right.
Solo’s purpose served to help bring back Roman Reigns as a face and so they could do the whole Bloodline civil war story. Beyond that, I’m not sure what relevancy they can give back to him. They might be able to get a Fatu/Solo story going, but again, it will be to put Fatu over.
There’s no way Solo feels like a main eventer in his own right.
Would like to have seen Roman and the Usos Vs. Rock, Solo and Fatu in a 6 man.
Could have eventually lead to a WM night 1 of Uso vs Fatu and Solo vs Usos main event tag titles. Then night 2 Rock vs Roman.
Don't think this will happen for a number of reasons now, especially now Jey is being pushed so hard in a singles run.
Not sure if we will ever see Rock vs Roman now but it definitely felt like it was heading that way.
Solo’s purpose served to help bring back Roman Reigns as a face and so they could do the whole Bloodline civil war story. Beyond that, I’m not sure what relevancy they can give back to him. They might be able to get a Fatu/Solo story going, but again, it will be to put Fatu over.
There’s no way Solo feels like a main eventer in his own right.
I thought a heel Rock running the bloodline with Solo, Jacob and pinky & perky and feuding with Roman, Sami and the Usos would've been good. Solo has potential but isn't main event ready yet. Maybe the Bloodline angle has had its day now, did seem a bit early to have Solo feuding with Roman though,
Kevin Owens appreciation post. Imagine prime Taker vs Owens in a Hell in a Cell, the bumps Owens would be willing to take and how good he could make it look while holding his own.
I love that they're letting him do the piledriver and making such a big deal over it. Screenshotted these earlier, thing of beauty.
I really don't get the Joe Hendry fascination. I guess its one of those things that is viral and a bit of a meme and so has some traction. Bit like the Tye Dillinger 'ten' thing a few years ago.
And to quite an extent we're seeing it play out with Jey Uso. The entrance is so over that it has taken him to main event status, but the substance beyond that is very much up for question. The promo on Raw was bloody awful. Made me realize that the entrance alone is enough to put everyone in that audience in such a pumped mood that they'll just go along with anything he says and does from that point. But when you're just watching him from home trying to cut a promo - its really quite awkward.
I really don't get the Joe Hendry fascination. I guess its one of those things that is viral and a bit of a meme and so has some traction. Bit like the Tye Dillinger 'ten' thing a few years ago.
And to quite an extent we're seeing it play out with Jey Uso. The entrance is so over that it has taken him to main event status, but the substance beyond that is very much up for question. The promo on Raw was bloody awful. Made me realize that the entrance alone is enough to put everyone in that audience in such a pumped mood that they'll just go along with anything he says and does from that point. But when you're just watching him from home trying to cut a promo - its really quite awkward.
His staccato promo delivery is quite grating, yes. He's deliberately pausing for people to say "Yeet" after every sentence and it breaks up the flow of what he's saying.
It really doesn't help that when it's all said and done he has about 7 moves and they're all done by other people, better! Superkick (everyone on the roster) open hand slaps with a dance break (Rikishi) hip check in the corner (Rikishi) stinger splash (Sting) samoan drop (everyone remotely Samoan) Superfly splash (Jimmy Snuka) and the world's shittest spear (my God is it shit)
I really don't get the Joe Hendry fascination. I guess its one of those things that is viral and a bit of a meme and so has some traction. Bit like the Tye Dillinger 'ten' thing a few years ago.
And to quite an extent we're seeing it play out with Jey Uso. The entrance is so over that it has taken him to main event status, but the substance beyond that is very much up for question. The promo on Raw was bloody awful. Made me realize that the entrance alone is enough to put everyone in that audience in such a pumped mood that they'll just go along with anything he says and does from that point. But when you're just watching him from home trying to cut a promo - its really quite awkward.
I could 100% understand why people wouldn't like Jay's promo from RAW. I liked it personally because It felt very real and very unlike other wrestling promos. He could never have expected to be in this position a few years back and that came across. It was genuine emotion.
I disagree about him just being about his entrance, he had a huge pop when he almost won the title at SNME and I think that convinced them to put the title on him. Two of the biggest criticisms of WWE over the years is not pulling the trigger when somethings hot and not making new stars. They are doing both here, even if I think he might have only a short run at the top and he'll have to turn heel again.
I really don't get the Joe Hendry fascination. I guess its one of those things that is viral and a bit of a meme and so has some traction. Bit like the Tye Dillinger 'ten' thing a few years ago.
And to quite an extent we're seeing it play out with Jey Uso. The entrance is so over that it has taken him to main event status, but the substance beyond that is very much up for question. The promo on Raw was bloody awful. Made me realize that the entrance alone is enough to put everyone in that audience in such a pumped mood that they'll just go along with anything he says and does from that point. But when you're just watching him from home trying to cut a promo - its really quite awkward.
I could 100% understand why people wouldn't like Jay's promo from RAW. I liked it personally because It felt very real and very unlike other wrestling promos. He could never have expected to be in this position a few years back and that came across. It was genuine emotion.
I disagree about him just being about his entrance, he had a huge pop when he almost won the title at SNME and I think that convinced them to put the title on him. Two of the biggest criticisms of WWE over the years is not pulling the trigger when somethings hot and not making new stars. They are doing both here, even if I think he might have only a short run at the top and he'll have to turn heel again.
I think his performance in the arena is what gets the live crowd on side. It’s hard for the crowd to not get behind him when he’s put them in such a great mood with that entrance. I’d probably cheer him if I was at an event!
Being one half of a twin brother tag team is quite possibly the most difficult position to start from to then go and forge a singles world title match at Mania. So he deserves a ton of credit. It’s like taking Charlton to the Premier League title.
It’s been quite an unorthodox set up, as we’re effectively getting a rematch of Saturday Night’s Main Event (which had a clean finish).
He will most likely win the belt so there can be that big moment. But I just struggle to see him having that mic ability to really carry in-depth storylines for weeks/months on end.
All in all, I see it being a bit of a Kofi Kingston type run. The build and Mania moment will be popular, but the part after that where he has to establish himself as a top name as the norm? Not so sure.
Just jumped on here to share a tale from a stag do from a decade or so ago maybe longer
Down Bournemouth, bump into another group of lads in a strip club as you do. They are wrestlers and I'm not totally naive to wrestling in as much as I could tell you who stone cold Steve Austin is, mick Filey, hulk hogan, the rock etc but not a real fan, anyway, all jocks too this lot or most of them at least but I didnt know any of them. Anyway a right laugh and fucking units, made the bouncers look like little lumps of butter and sugar.
Among them and those who have since made it are the ones who appeared on the world of sport wrestling run, Grado who was a scream but very hard to understand especially 12 pints down and Joe Hendry who is now making massive waves in big wrestling and had the strippers fighting over him, fairbplay to him as I cant imagine there was a lot of cash in wrestling on shows down in Bournemouth and anywhere in the UK so to have stuck at it that long needs some respect
All in all, I see it being a bit of a Kofi Kingston type run. The build and Mania moment will be popular, but the part after that where he has to establish himself as a top name as the norm? Not so sure.
Exactly that, but Kofi is main event talented unlike Jey! Heel New Day are one of the highlights of Raw.
Just jumped on here to share a tale from a stag do from a decade or so ago maybe longer
Down Bournemouth, bump into another group of lads in a strip club as you do. They are wrestlers and I'm not totally naive to wrestling in as much as I could tell you who stone cold Steve Austin is, mick Filey, hulk hogan, the rock etc but not a real fan, anyway, all jocks too this lot or most of them at least but I didnt know any of them. Anyway a right laugh and fucking units, made the bouncers look like little lumps of butter and sugar.
Among them and those who have since made it are the ones who appeared on the world of sport wrestling run, Grado who was a scream but very hard to understand especially 12 pints down and Joe Hendry who is now making massive waves in big wrestling and had the strippers fighting over him, fairbplay to him as I cant imagine there was a lot of cash in wrestling on shows down in Bournemouth and anywhere in the UK so to have stuck at it that long needs some respect
The things people have to go through in this country to make it as wrestlers are insane. Most normal people wouldn't bother. Sounds like you bumped into an ICW tour but going back a decade before them people would have travelled down from Scotland to wrestle at Bournemouth for about £40 all in including expenses. I've seen a guy Moonsault off of the Balcony at York Hall for that.
There are stories of people picking up American imports (on very decent money) from Heathrow and not even getting their petrol paid for. All part of paying your dues by promoters taking advantage of young people chasing a dream. It's even worse in Holywood.
Thankfully there's a scene here now and those chancers are a thing of the past to an extent.
Comments
Even the established names like Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair are just a bit bland now IMO.
Great to see Alexa Bliss back though, and she will hopefully give the division the kick it needs.
Ladder match was brutal. There were about 3-4 spots that looked like they would cause certain injury.
And then the men’s rumble….
I’m not a Jey Uso fan really. His entrance is the best in the company and there’s no doubt he’s ridiculously over. But his matches and mic work don’t do anything for me at all. That said, he’s done a brilliant job building himself up to where he is now. Honestly, who would have thought that a member of the Usos would be doing this a few years ago pre-Bloodline?
Strongly expect it to be a ‘Night One’ main event though, possibly against Gunther. I actually expect him to win as well. Commercially he’s done everything they could expect, and then some. Whatever it is about him, it clearly works.
No issue with Charlotte winning it. The men's has had that happen a few times (Cody) and people were expecting Cena.
No idea where they are going with anything but looking forward to it!
I don’t disagree about the talent they have in their ranks. It just doesn’t get used well enough in the women’s division. Rhea vs Liv is the only proper storyline that felt big over the past year. Does anyone really get excited about the likes of Nia Jax or Bayley anymore? Even if they’ve been around a while, their characters have just become boring and repetitive.
The contrast with the men’s rumble was vast on that front, where there were so many different layers and moments they could rely on that had some build. Even the lower/mid card stuff like Chad Gable and the luchadores had been given some thought.
I don't want to see Nia Jax on TV and I like Bayley still. I get your point though. They're not doing a lot with a load of the women.
The Elimination Chamber will be very interesting now, I assume it will be an All Star cast, Punk, Reigns, Rollins, Cena and then 2 from Paul, Priest, McIntyre, Owens, Zayn, Jimmy Uso, Fatu, Sikoa, depending on which way they're going storyline wise
Breakker is very natural on the mic…Fatu not so much. But he definitely makes up for it in ring.
Problem is with the divas is the lack of charisma. Rhea definitely has it, she's well over atm, Liv is good, just a bit small and unbelievable as a wrestler. I also like Bayley and Asuka, after that, missing some characters.
I actually think Nia Jax is good as well for the division. She's really embraced the heat she gets and makes whoever she is against elevate a bit.
There's no questioning the skill though, there's so many good women wrestlers now it's a joke. They never could have done a women's rumble in the 90s and it be watchable. Unless you were just perving of course.
Walking like a fembot and looking like a wax model. Why do people have plastic surgery.
But having heard a couple of his recent promos since breaking away from Solo, it seems like he might be a bit one dimensional. Has that intense 1980s promo style, where its very shouty and 100% all in from the get go. There aren't too many places to go once you open like that all the time.
The top players all have the ability to speak on a sliding scale and vary it up week to week. That might not suit Fatu, but you typically need that in your locker for any major character development that doesn't get repetitive.
I just don't see it with Fatu. I was actually more warming more to the idea of Solo but I'm not sure where they go with him now. I think Fatu is the better wrestler than Solo and he looks like a nutter, but something is missing for me, like Jey Uso.
Someone like Bron on the other hand who is in a similar position to Fatu I see going really far.
Could have eventually lead to a WM night 1 of Uso vs Fatu and Solo vs Usos main event tag titles. Then night 2 Rock vs Roman.
Don't think this will happen for a number of reasons now, especially now Jey is being pushed so hard in a singles run.
Not sure if we will ever see Rock vs Roman now but it definitely felt like it was heading that way.
Raw was good, not giving too much away with where they are going, but giving you something at the end.
I love that they're letting him do the piledriver and making such a big deal over it. Screenshotted these earlier, thing of beauty.
That really would open the Forbidden Door
And to quite an extent we're seeing it play out with Jey Uso. The entrance is so over that it has taken him to main event status, but the substance beyond that is very much up for question. The promo on Raw was bloody awful. Made me realize that the entrance alone is enough to put everyone in that audience in such a pumped mood that they'll just go along with anything he says and does from that point. But when you're just watching him from home trying to cut a promo - its really quite awkward.
He'll face Cena this year.
It really doesn't help that when it's all said and done he has about 7 moves and they're all done by other people, better! Superkick (everyone on the roster) open hand slaps with a dance break (Rikishi) hip check in the corner (Rikishi) stinger splash (Sting) samoan drop (everyone remotely Samoan) Superfly splash (Jimmy Snuka) and the world's shittest spear (my God is it shit)
He desperately needs his own moveset and finisher
I disagree about him just being about his entrance, he had a huge pop when he almost won the title at SNME and I think that convinced them to put the title on him. Two of the biggest criticisms of WWE over the years is not pulling the trigger when somethings hot and not making new stars. They are doing both here, even if I think he might have only a short run at the top and he'll have to turn heel again.
Down Bournemouth, bump into another group of lads in a strip club as you do. They are wrestlers and I'm not totally naive to wrestling in as much as I could tell you who stone cold Steve Austin is, mick Filey, hulk hogan, the rock etc but not a real fan, anyway, all jocks too this lot or most of them at least but I didnt know any of them. Anyway a right laugh and fucking units, made the bouncers look like little lumps of butter and sugar.
Among them and those who have since made it are the ones who appeared on the world of sport wrestling run, Grado who was a scream but very hard to understand especially 12 pints down and Joe Hendry who is now making massive waves in big wrestling and had the strippers fighting over him, fairbplay to him as I cant imagine there was a lot of cash in wrestling on shows down in Bournemouth and anywhere in the UK so to have stuck at it that long needs some respect
The things people have to go through in this country to make it as wrestlers are insane. Most normal people wouldn't bother. Sounds like you bumped into an ICW tour but going back a decade before them people would have travelled down from Scotland to wrestle at Bournemouth for about £40 all in including expenses. I've seen a guy Moonsault off of the Balcony at York Hall for that.
There are stories of people picking up American imports (on very decent money) from Heathrow and not even getting their petrol paid for. All part of paying your dues by promoters taking advantage of young people chasing a dream. It's even worse in Holywood.
Thankfully there's a scene here now and those chancers are a thing of the past to an extent.