Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[Lean]

This past Smackdown, Cole and Matthews did the Booker T Bingo themselves.

An instance where Booker T cracked me up laughing out of his commentary when he said that "Sin Cara reminds me of a young man named.... Booker T."

[yeahnah]

So I haven't followed the big 'E since around '07, can anyone give me a brief-ish overview of what went down? Much appreciated

[Andrew]

- John Cena and Randy Orton firmly established as the top guys in the company
- Jeff Hardy returned, got the biggest push of his career, threw it away due to personal demons, now back in TNA
- DX reformed a few times
- HBK retired at Wrestlemania 26, putting his career on the line against Undertaker (who's now undefeated)
- CM Punk became a main eventer
- ECW died a merciful death
- NXT produced some new talent and an initially hot angle with a stable called Nexus, with the newcomers running roughshod over the company
- Bret Hart returned and has worked a few matches, in a limited capacity (as much as he can following his stroke)
- Vince has been Vince, sometimes a face, sometimes a heel. Currently written off TV, in kayfabe relieved of his duties
- HHH has scaled back his in-ring work, currently on the on-screen COO of the company. Does of course have a big role backstage in reality.
- The Rock returned to WWE TV making several live appearances, is set to wrestle at Survivor Series in November and Wrestlemania 28 next year

[koberulz]

You forgot:
- Jerry Lawler is sidelined with anal bleeding.


That has to be the most bizarre thing said on a wrestling show. Ever.

[Andrew]

"That's our Cole!" *canned laughter*

[[Q]]

That has to be the most bizarre thing said on a wrestling show. Ever.

i completely agree with you here

does anybody else think that Zack Ryder could be the next big main eventer to come from nowhere? just like guys like shawn michaels, john cena, randy orton, etc.

[shadowgrin]

does anybody else think that Zack Ryder could be the next big main eventer to come from nowhere? just like guys like shawn michaels, john cena, randy orton, etc.

lol. Those guys didn't come from nowhere bookings-wise, they were already good mid-carders? before they got their main event push. Shawn Michaels was in a successful? tag team and Cena was still rapping.

[Andrew]

Well, Ryder did have a run as a tag team champion with Curt Hawkins.

If he keeps up the grass roots movement to drum up fan support, which has worked pretty well so far, I think he could possibly work his way up into a bigger role. Main eventer is a bit of a stretch at the moment but it could get to the point where they've got no choice but to do something with him and that could be his big break. Just a matter of timing (and of course, politics) but with the amount of work he's putting into his character, it could happen.

[shadowgrin]

Well, Ryder did have a run as a tag team champion with Curt Hawkins.

In a period where championships and tag teams especially mean nothing to the WWE. I want moar Cena!

[[Q]]

well yeah obviously main eventing is something he won't do for a long time, but randy orton was a nobody 5 or 6 years ago (before evolution)
so in 3-5 years, who's to say that some of the guys ahead of Ryder aren't gone? guys like him would have to step up and fill that role.

[shadowgrin]

Then Zack wouldn't have come out of nowhere then if takes him that span of time to be booked as a main event. At this point in his career (I'm guessing) Zack is more well known than Orton was in his pre-Evolution days.

[koberulz]

randy orton was a nobody 5 or 6 years ago (before evolution)

That was abut eight years ago. He held the WHC seven years ago.

[[Q]]

i personally like guys getting built up over longer periods of time like this instead of giving them monster pushes from the get-go like shaemus, ADR, and sin cara.

[Andrew]

Me too. Sheamus has ultimately worked out I think but in the beginning he went from squashing jobbers to winning a major championship way too quickly. It was out of the ordinary, you've got to give them that, but it felt way too soon at the time.

[Lean]

At least Zack has a set of moves, including the Tiger Bomb. Not the Five Moves of Doom.

[Andrew]

Even with the Five Moves of Doom, Cena's not a bad worker. All wrestlers have their own FMOD, Cena's just a little more limited than others beyond that. He's not a bad worker though, that's a title reserved for someone like The Great Khali.

The Rock and Stone Cold (following his neck injury, at any rate) weren't that much more diverse in their movesets, but they were still entertaining. The problem with Cena remains his character and the way he's booked. Make that interesting, it doesn't matter that he's not busting out 450 splashes and a whole range of different holds.

[deihatein]

My only gripe with the Five Moves of Doom is that it's damn predictable. I wish Cena or Orton adds more moves along with it.

[Andrew]

When it comes down to it though, everyone has them.

[deihatein]

When it comes down to it though, everyone has them.

Fuck.

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Eh, still not a huge fan of Barrett's work or character but that was pretty good.

[Lean]

Wade sucked on that segment. But I do like how he cuts promos.

[Lean]

ADR wins, Henry retains, Cody has the old IC title back. I already see that Cena will win #13 in the next PPV.

[JaoSming]

Well, if he is indeed teaming with the Rock at Survivor Series, then it'd be silly to have the title on him.

[Andrew]

They didn't even have Cena take the pinfall. Like his character needs protecting.

[Lean]

Really, I can't recall when was the last time Cena got pinned clean, without any interference, "controversy" and such.

Also, for good times sake:

phpBB [video]

I just love how technical guys were back then.