Official WWE/TNA Wrestling Thread

That's solid. There's a serious veteran presence in that lineup.

 

Bryan/HBK would be a dream match, like Bryan/Angle

 

AJ Lee just retired from wrestling. Not really shocking I think everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

 

@WWE: BREAKING: AJ Lee (April Mendez) has decided to retire from in-ring competition with WWE. We wish AJ the very best.

This really sucks. I guess CM Punk had something to do with that.

So whenever Kane, Bryan, Cena, or Dolph are out, we all chant "AJ Lee! AJ Lee! AJ Lee!"...right? *ThumpsDown*

 

Not surprised

 

The Maskedman breaks the news that Rousey did in fact sign a multi appearance deal with the WWE and that the 100% set in stone plan for WM32 is a double retirement match between Undertaker and Sting.

 

Are you referring to what he said in the Podcast? He did say Rousey signed a multi-appreance deal but I don't remember him saying Sting/Undertaker is set in stone though. I thought he was just speculating that he wouldn't mind seeing them wrestle because they looked fine at WM31. I might have to go back and listen, maybe I missed it.

I think it will probably end up happening because the majority of fans want to see the match and again the whole 100k fans thing at WM.

 

An hour left to go, but a QUALITY RAW with regards to in ring work. Creative spots, long matches and moved some stories forward.

 

I think he said that it is a lock for WM32 on the grantland podcast.

 

Yeah just re-listened to it, he didn't say it was a lock, he said it is what everyone is talking about and it is legitimately in WWE's plans but all of it should be taken with a grain of salt because Rock vs. Brock was pencilled in for the past 2 years and plans were changed but Taker/Sting looks like that's where they are going. I think this is more of him speculating then anything else as far as inside knowledge.

 

So Austin shot down the rumors that he has heat with the WWE for the WM, Podcast and Tough Enough stuff on this podcast today. Just kind of sounds like the WWE really didn't have anything for Austin to do at WM so he decided to stay home. The Tough Enough stuff was suppose to start filming in Feb but got pushed back to March/April when he already is scheduled to film his Red Neck Island reality shows so the scheduling just wouldn't work out. It does sound like there was an issue or two with his podcasts because he didn't go into too much details there but bottom line (no pun intended) even if there is some heat there if the WWE needs Austin for something I'm sure they will work it out.

Also in something that makes no sense to me, Dean Ambrose was held off RAW last night because the WWE wanted him to continue to sell the Luke Harper powerbomb table spot. Ok I get it but this is a guy who broke a ladder in half at WM and the next night wrestled John Cena. I don't get it.

 

Smackdown is moving to the USA network in 2016. Newest season of Tough Enough will air on the USA network on June 23rd.

I think the move to USA will help Smackdown, wonder if it will continue to be taped or if USA will want them to do it live.

 

Did anyone listen to the Jericho / Cena podcast? Curious if it was worth my time or not.

 

Pretty good.

 

Was planning on listening to it tomorrow. The one complaint I have about the WWE Network is that their live streaming is atrocious. glitchy, jumpy and generally unwatchable. Once it is in the can, so to speak, I can sit and enjoy. But I avoid live events like the plague.

 

I've actually been having the opposite problem. The live streaming works 99% of the time, sure sometimes there's a glitch or freeze here and there but overall it works fine. For WM I think the TV feed froze maybe 3 or 4 times in the 4 plus hours I was watching. Watching non live content for the last month or so has been awful with all the glitches, freezing, loading etc. and at times is unwatchable. It's actually been a problem for most people for awhile too. Don't understand how the WWE can keep having these problems though, especially when I have zero issues with other similar programs like Netflix, Hulu or YouTube.

What do you watch the Network on? Most of the time my Apple products (iPad, Apple TV, iPhone) works fine but my Samsung Smart TVs, BluRay player and PS3 have issues on them a lot.

 

Get a better internet connection you Bum.

 

I usually watch on my iPad. I gave up with my Samsung TV. It is impossible.

This is the lazy answer. All other streaming services work perfectly fine, especially on my iPad. WWE is the only one that has problems. The problem is most likely on their end.

Also, I watched the Jericho/Cena podcast. A couple of nice nuggets of information, but it was a complete softball interview. It was clear that Jericho and Cena are friends, which is probably why there wasn't really any hard hitting questions/answers. The few times Jericho tried to pretend to ask tough questions, Cena gave such obvious corporate, politically correct matches which is so annoying. Dude is so affected that he can't even let his guard down and answer a question honestly. Makes you want to roll your eyes.

 

The problem is absolutely on their end. It's been going on since February. Hopefully they are working on fixing these problems because like you said all other streaming services aren't having these issues.

And 100% agree with you on Samsung. Same thing happens with my PS3. Apple products are the only ones that seem to work.

I forget what the Twitter handle is but the WWE has a Network Tech Support Twitter account and if you search for it you see tons of people complaining about similar problems. All the WWE Tech Support does is ask them to do a internet speed test then to delete the app and reinstall it (but shockingly it doesn't help). So they do know there is a problem.

Yeah I watched the Podcast last night. The heel turn stuff was interesting although some of those details already came out before but you're right it was a softball interview. I respect the hell out of Cena, but yeah he was in pure corporate PC mode (which to be honest with you I'm not sure if he's not like that 24/7) and Jericho wasn't really asking hard hitting questions either. They both were kind of going through the motions. But that's what you're going to get when the WWE is involved.

I do like these interviews though and its stuff like that that should be on the Network instead of some of the other silly new shows they're planning. I think this Jericho interview segment is going to happen once a month on the Network but I do prefer Jericho's or Austin's podcasts when they're not under the watchful WWE eye.

 

Austin asked some pretty pointed, hard questions, even if he knew the answers would be relatively benign. Jericho sort of disappointed me in his questions. The interactions between the two were good, as they obviously have a great relationship, but it would have been nice to get further behind the scenes or something.

 

Jericho mentioned the interview on his nonwwe podcast and said it was going to be like a Johnny Carson interview, fun but don't expect hard hitting questions. That wasn't what he was there for.

 

Probably the main reasons why the WWE decided to continue with Jericho instead of Austin.

Meltzer is reporting today that Vince was unhappy with the way the Austin/Triple H interview came off.

 

WWE Network is adding 1998 Attitude RAWs next week.

 

I think that's much to do about nothing. WWE Network promoted the hell out of that interview and they still put it in their rotation on the network.

I think Jericho's podcast appearance has to do with his upcoming DVD / Doc release.

 

Jericho signed a deal with the WWE to do these types of interviews once a month.

I wouldn't say it was much to do about about nothing as Austin confirmed on his podcast he was in talks for the same deal but "for whatever reason no deal could be reached".

I think something happened with the WWE and Austin but I think both parties will get over it and do business when need be.

 

I think he was talking about "Tough Enough" and the issues with scheduling.

If the WWE really took offense to his questions, then they needed to have a producer listen to Austin's podcasts beforehand. His views would have been crystal clear. I am guessing that the WWE has a "pet set" of producers, that are not always on the same page as Vince.

 

Austin spoke about both the Tough Enough deal and his WWE Network Podcasts seperately.

There was clearly an issue(s) with Austin's two Network Podcasts that someone (most likely Vince) didn't really like and the change was made. I'm sure the WWE was well aware of what Austin talks about on his Podcasts, they probably figured Jericho would be a safer choice moving forward for whatever their reasons.

 

Well this news kind of sucks but Dave Meltzer is reporting that Daniel Bryan is "not doing good" health wise and has been hidden in tag team matches and back stage segments as a result. Meltzer is also speculating that he wouldn't be shocked if Bryan dropped the IC title soon due to being in such rough shape.

Doesn't sound good at all consider the guy basically sat out all of last year with a neck injury, I wonder if this is the beginning of the end of his career. If he's really in such bad shape I hope he decides to hang it up before he ends up in a wheel chair.

If he has to drop the IC title, I'd love to see him drop it to Finn Balor and have Balor go on a long IC title run.

 

That breaks my heart if true. Was wondering why Bryan didnt wrestle last night (6 man tag dark match after RAW)......I love the guy. Hope Balor and Neville (whos doing fantastic so far) steps in and does well.

Hope Meltzer is wrong here. Doubt it. But hope :/

 

According to people at the show yesterday Bryan participated and took bumps all throughout the 6 man tag. Hopefully this is BS. Bryan wouldnt be taking bumps during dark matches if he was in bad shape.

And supposedly the title wasnt defended on raw cause they're splitting the title defenses US title - Raw.....Ic Title - Smackdown.

So hopefully this is truth.

 

I and read a while back that Smackdown was basically going to be Bryan's show. Still, it is odd to not have him on RAW in front of a live audience for two straight weeks unless something else was going on.

 

I hope it's not true either but Meltzer has a pretty good track record. Also obviously there's a difference in working tag team matches and wrestling for 5 minutes total of in ring time compared to a 10 to 15 minutes of a non stop singles match.

The Bryan being the "face of Smackdown" stuff was way back in January. That was the rumor when they switched from Friday to Thursday.

I guess we'll see in time but definitely something to keep our eyes on, especially how he's booked from now until Extreme Rules.

 

This is horrible news if true.

On the bright side...loved the Neville-Ziggler match and liked the finish. Keep Dolph out front. Having him job to Neville as a nod to the home town crowd would have been weak.

 

Bryan just head butted Ziggler 700 times a couple weeks ago, took two huge bumps on his neck from Harper prior to that.....if thats "protected" id hate to see him unprotected lol

 

And not for nothing but Bryan continues to do the diving head butt from the top rope and to a lesser extent his flying knee. You'd think after seeing the way Dynamite Kid and Benoit ended up the WWE or wrestlers in general wouldn't continue to do spots like that, especially after a bum neck. I hate how he keeps doing that move.

On Jericho's podcast he talked about not changing his style because of the injury, but I don't know, maybe he should. And maybe he will now.

 

Bryan in a tag team match at the Smackdown tapings.

 

The RAW ratings were down 23% from last Monday, which went up against the highest rated NCAA Finals. This past Monday was one of the least watched RAWs in the modern era that was not during the football season or holiday season getting 3.66 million views. I'm sure some of it had to do that it was taped but I'm sure Vince is chalking it up to not enough McMahons or Triple Hs around.

 

According to fans at Smackdown tapings they are taking this crowd editing to the brink now....by piping in "ohhhsss" and "ahhhhss" during certain moves IN THE ARENA. They are literally predetermining the crowd reactions now. This on top of reports they muted or edited heavy cheers for Cesaro and used them for Orton on the tv broadcast for RAW and I just am getting a bad taste in my mouth. Let wrestling fans be heard or NOT heard......people feel bad for big show because hes getting "please retire" or "you're a fatass" chants....but as a veteran and as other Wrestlers have said, any reaction is better than NO reaction. So if the fans are sitting on their hands, let it be.....instead Vince pipes in ****ing crowd noise.

No word on if Roger Goddell is fining Vince McMahon a 2nd round pick for his efforts.....

 

Piping in crowd noise is nothing new, WWE has been doing it since the 1980s. Sometimes it's painfully obvious. Like when you hear the crowd going wild but watch them and literally no one is moving.

 

I was under the impression it was edited over the tv broadcast, but actually piping the noise in the arena was new. I may be wrong.