Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[[Q]]

It's essentially the violin intro + the regular song. I wish they'd have the dude's extra violin during the actual song. Still cool though.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/wwemusic/article/cfos-wwe-entrance-music
CFO$ goes over their favorite NXT songs including Shinsuke's which shows a cool video of the guy who did the original violin. Really cool stuff.

[Lean]

People are clamoring for this violinist to perform Nakamura's entrance with her band in a future Takeover event:

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Also put together a concept for the NXT Championship, applying the custom sideplates idea from the 2014 WWE Championship:

[Lean]

KEVIN OWENS IS THE NEW UNIVERSAL CHAMPION! YES! YES! YES!

[[Q]]

wow, did not see that one coming. definitely got swerved there at the end

great alternative to finn's reign. rollins does not deserve it for continuing to injure people

[Andrew]

Great result that shows a commitment to building new main event stars. I have to admit that I'm kind of concerned about HHH's involvement, as there's the potential to make the moment more about him than Owens, but I'm probably getting ahead of myself there. For now, I'll just enjoy that they've strapped someone new (well, new in terms of being a main eventer on the main roster), and it's a deserving worker in Kevin Owens.

[[Q]]

phpBB [video]

It's DAMN true.

[Lean]

Awesome. I wish they get one with Heath Slater in it.

[Lean]

Seen Raw, and the Sheamus-Cesaro best-of-seven series is now 3-0 for Sheamus. The next three matches are on the live events schedule on London, here in Manila, and in Shanghai. Cesaro took match #4 in London and most likely the match here and in China. Felt sad for Cesaro since the matches are not televised. Making the series 3-3 when they go back on Raw next week.

[bigh0rt]

I assumed that their Best of 7 would all be televised events, no?

[Andrew]

Apparently their most recent match at a live event is part of the series. Even if Cesaro evens up the series, it doesn't really do much for him if it's not happening on TV. Great for the fans at the live events though, I suppose.

[Lean]

The next two will be here and on China, so yes they won't be on TV. The good side here is that there won't be time constraints on live event matches so they can go all-out.

[[Q]]

Nxt is coming here to LA next month. I'm hoping to pick up tickets tomorrow when they go on sale. The other events are saying ringside seats are only $20? Hard to believe, but I hope it's true.

[Lean]

Punk just tapped from a rear-naked choke. And he seems happy after the fight. The crowd was pretty receptive of him, and he came to the Octagon to "Cult of Personality". Guy's got balls for doing that.

Friday's live event was fantastic, and the way how Raw ended shaped up the booking for the show. As expected, Cesaro won. Cena was mostly cheered, and Reigns got booed out of the building surprisingly. Jericho cut a promo and said the Philippines stinks and Manila was the anus, leading to the crowd chating the president's name (why, I don't know). Jericho's antics brought the crowd back to life. Main event was Rollins, Zayn and Owens for the Universal Title. Crowd sang Sami's theme, loudly-popped for Rollins, and surprisingly popped for Owens as well. During the match, the crowd chanted "N-X-T", sang the Olé song and chanted "Crossfit Jesus". Overall, the experience was fascinating.

Now here I am hoping that NXT would have a show here as well. I hope you can watch the NXT show, Q.

And Jojo's pretty hot too.

[[Q]]

Man I was so hyped when I heard cult of personality. Once gall went for and hit that double leg take-down I knew it was over because he's a brown belt in jiu-jitsu. Against a white belt. I personally know what that's like on the white belt end of the fight.

My cousin's husband wound up getting pre-sale tickets for that nxt event so looks like we are going and it will be glorious!

[Lean]

Me too, I think Gall proved a point that Punk doesn't belong there, making quick work of him. That said, Punk's interview with Rogan just sounded like a face promo:

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During Friday's live event, the crowd kinda died down midway of the show. I think they got tired cheering. So I can only imagine how Jon felt sitting live at WrestleMania. I hope you get to enjoy the NXT live event, Q.

I read somewhere (probably wreddit) that during live events: merch were limited to Cena items only. Last Friday, I was disappointed that there were no merch sold before the event. They opened it up after the event, at only the ground floor where the ringside seats were. And mostly were Roman Reigns merchandise!

[[Q]]

Well, that's how they sell os much Cena/Reigns merch: only offer Cena/Reigns merch.

and that caulifower ear though. ouch.

[Andrew]

Conor McGregor gave Punk credit, while taking another shot at the WWE. You know what? Forget the weight divisions, and set him up against Brock Lesnar. Let's see if he'll still talk trash when that fight is actually a possibility.

This would also keep Lesnar well away from the WWE. Orton hasn't been cleared to work Backlash, so again...what does Lesnar really do for the company? Everyone gets squashed, the same old story is told in every predictable Lesnar match, and other works get legitimately hurt. Just send him back to UFC.

[Lean]

Seen Backlash last night, it's a nice PPV. My only problem is the commentary. JBL and Otunga speak at the same time Mauro does. They're both poorly timed.

Also, it seems like the only Cesaro-Sheamus match counted for their best-of-seven during the WWE's tour was the one in London, they billed the one they have today as "match #5".

[[Q]]

CM punk made $500,000 for his fight lol

[Lean]

I can see other fighters pissed about that.

[Andrew]

While it was really unfortunate that injuries put an end to Corey Graves' in-ring career before it could really begin, and it's great that he's still found a role in the company so he can be a part of the business, I'm really not a fan of his commentary. He's kind of JBL-lite: too obnoxious, and his heel shtick is more about burying the faces than making them seem sympathetic while he's praising the heels. Saxton is also pretty bland.

I really think all the colour commentators need to go back and watch some of the WWE Network (only $9.99!), taking notes from the likes of Jesse Ventura, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, and Jerry Lawler in his prime alongside Jim Ross. Or perhaps Vince and creative need to do that, since they're most likely instructing them to commentate this way. I'm not sure that the colour commentary has been this bad since I've started watching professional wrestling and the WWF/WWE. When Michael Cole comes across as the most charismatic person on the RAW announce team, you know it's bad.

[bigh0rt]

It's a good thing Kane got that important Win at Backlash over Bray Wyatt. Definitely good for the arcs of both their characters. I don't think Wyatt has a PPV win in the last 2 years. Or really a culminating Win in any feud he's had.

[[Q]]

I hate Corey graves so much. He's just like jbl where he buries faces but praises the ones that he likes. Makes no sense, but it's obviously what Vince likes if jbl has lasted this long

[Andrew]

It's a good thing Kane got that important Win at Backlash over Bray Wyatt. Definitely good for the arcs of both their characters. I don't think Wyatt has a PPV win in the last 2 years. Or really a culminating Win in any feud he's had.

For a moment there, it looked like Wyatt might be getting some proper storylines and be built up again. So much for that, apparently.

I hate Corey graves so much. He's just like jbl where he buries faces but praises the ones that he likes. Makes no sense, but it's obviously what Vince likes if jbl has lasted this long

It seems he's forgotten what makes heel announcers entertaining. They're meant to favour the heel wrestlers, but do so in an entertaining way that makes you get behind the faces even more (and laugh at their logic for supporting the heels). The current approach is just annoying (and not in an amusing or entertaining manner), and doesn't really get anyone over.

[Lean]

I have no quips against Graves. My problem is with Saxton and Otunga. Both guys should be commentating Main Event and Superstars instead.