Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[[Q]]

Wow, the women's hardcore match for the title tonight on raw is a must-see!

[Andrew]

The division has had a really strong year. The frequent title switches aren't ideal, generally speaking, but it also helps create the idea of great competition and intense rivalry with two evenly matched opponents. At least it's not changing every other week. For the story they're trying to tell, I'd give the booking a pass on that. That match quality is a big factor there too, obviously.

[Lean]

I've missed Raw yesterday. I have to watch the Women's Title match.

205 Live starts today, and apart from Graves and Mauro, Austin Aries joins the commentary team. I hope the Cruiserweights get the mainstream fans' appreciation they deserve in this show.

EDIT: It really would have made much sense if the Cruiserweights were on Smackdown with this new show happening just right after Smackdown. So far so good, the crowd has been receptive to them.

[Lean]

RICH SWANN NOW THE CRUISERWEIGHT FUCKING CHAMPION!This may lead to a three-way feud with Bryan Kendrick and TJ Perkins.

The crowd loved the matches. This is better than how they're being booked on Raw.

[zzcoolj21]

@Lean 2017 Swann needs to get the push Kofi deserved

We have to protect this champion

[Lean]

ALL NIGHT LONG!

[zzcoolj21]

So our WWE champion is AJ Styles
our Universal champion is Kevin Owens
our NXT champion is Shinsuke Nakamura
And our Cruiserweight champion is Rich Swann.

2016 man.

[Lean]

I bet Samoa Joe is going up soon. And I do hope he ends up on Smackdown.

[Andrew]

The booking may leave something to be desired at times, but we've had some new names and excellent works receive pushes this year. It could be worse.

[Lean]

TLC is an okay PPV. Although I got asleep on Corbin and Kalisto's match.

I was expecting Undertaker to return after the main event to challenge Styles for the title. Ellsworth interfering was a bit expected but made sense because he beat Styles three times and he thinks he can beat him again for the title. The Wyatts winning the tag titles was great, although I would prefer Bray to hold a singles title and have Orton and Harper hold the tag titles. Alexa winning was a surprise, but she's been great on the mic and is improving in her ring work. Her interview on Talking Smack had her crying already, and then just went back being heel again. She's so adorable.

Daniel Bryan and Miz's continuous back-and-forth verbal attacks make me think that Bryan would have one more match against Miz. But that's just wishful thinking.

[Axel The Great]

My brother follows WWE like a fanatic (he's 10 years old) so I take him to watch it every time they're in Houston. I haven't kept up with it much recently, but I was pleased with the match quality from the major matches at last night's show.

I really liked the Orton-Wyatt vs. Rhyno-Slater match, and the ending was what the crowd had been chanting the whole match. Orton RKO. Also, I liked the ending of Miz vs. DA match. Ellsworth's seemingly unintentional costing of the match for Ambrosse leaves me curious as to whether we may see a triple threat match between them and AJ Styles for the title in the future.

I stayed for 205 Live, which took me by surprise since I thought the show was over after Smackdown. I was rather underwhelmed by it, but the Kendrick vs. Swann title match more than made up for it. First time I've seen Swann wrestle, but I really like his character and was glad he retained the Cruiserweight title. Only reason I stayed was for the 6-man tag main event they announced before it started, which ended up being worth it.

[Lean]

So Undertaker appeared on Raw to announce he's entering the Rumble match in three weeks. During the promo, Strowman was shown backstage looking at the TV watching the Undertaker.

There goes my dream AJ Styles/Undertaker match at WrestleMania. Or a feud with Cena for a match at WrestleMania as well.

Weeks after my most recent post, I still take Smackdown over Raw. It's still the better-written show, and they shake up the matches constantly to keep things fresh. Baron Corbin, for example, will take on Cena tomorrow.

And I don't understand Steph's character. Sometimes she favors faces, but for the most part, she's heel.

EDIT: As for 205 Live, I think the best way to not have the crowd leave is to have it before Smackdown.

[Andrew]

Yeah, Steph's character is about as consistent as JBL's analyst persona. Are they faces? Are they heels? Depends on the moment, really.

I'd much rather see Taker wrap up his career (as I assume this is a farewell tour) against Cena or Styles than Strowman, but that definitely was a heavy hint to drop.

[Lean]

Me too, give Taker the farewell match he deserves. Not a match with Strowman. If they're going for Cena-Taker, I hope it's for the title. Have him retire as champion, he deserves it.

Jericho won the US title, which makes it more likely for Roman to win the Universal title at the PPV and then main event Wrestlemania AGAIN.

[[Q]]

Was never the biggest fan of the Undertaker although I did like some of his moves, and pulling HBK out from wherever to advertise for his movie was a bummer as I don't like the born-again Christian HBK at all. Thought about a lot of these older wrestlers and figured my top 3 favorites are Jericho, Owen Hart, and Mr. Perfect so I was happy to see Y2J win the only title that's eluded him. It's been a while since he's won a title.

The Rumble match will be interesting with a lot of big names. It was pretty lame as once HHH came out at 30 you knew he would win. But this year, there could be a number of possibilities as well as a debuting Kenny Omega?

[Lean]

Are rumors true that Omega's NJPW contract is up?

[Andrew]

Still speculation at this point, but he could be WWE-bound.

[[Q]]

Are rumors true that Omega's NJPW contract is up?

I think he tweeted that he has to think about his future, which sounds like he's about to be a free agent

[Andrew]

It sounds like he might also be trying to play it cool so that a potential WWE debut is a surprise...perhaps in the Rumble, as with AJ Styles last year?

[zzcoolj21]

I'll take anything he says with a grain of salt. That whole group loves to tease like this.

[[Q]]

It sounds like he might also be trying to play it cool so that a potential WWE debut is a surprise...perhaps in the Rumble, as with AJ Styles last year?

I agree a lot of newly signed talent get told to deny it to anyone that asks.

[Lean]

I've read somewhere that Cena posted a photo of Omega just like how he posted a photo of AJ last year before the Rumble.

[Andrew]

He's posted pictures of Kenny from South Park.

[JaoSming]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcDHQNvjNtA

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Dang.

Meanwhile, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka passed away at age 73. It's been interesting to see the reactions, given the fact they were looking to re-open the murder case involving his ex-girlfriend back in the 80s. Definitely seeing some heated discussions between people defending him and wanting to uphold "never speak ill of the dead", and those who view him as a fallen star and are looking at things from the perspective of his ex-girlfriend's family.