Wrestling In The Time Of COVID-19: the new thread

[Gurke and Hare]

Does people going to the main roster not happen as part of the draft? The name kind of implies it does.

[BeardFaceMan]

Well like Big E said to Sami on air recently, you've been here a while, you know better than to look for logic.

[Deanjam]

Does people going to the main roster not happen as part of the draft? The name kind of implies it does.

No they do it at random times instead, like Keith Lee going up and having to drop the NXT title a month into his reign. Then they don't really know what to do with him on Raw. Then there was Mercedes Martinez who was called up as part of the Retrebution storyline and then randomly sent back to NXT while the rest stayed on Raw.

No forward planning, as you might expect.

[An Actual Propeller]

Rarely post here these days, but just like to say that today's NJPW G1 A Block final show was maybe the best wrestling show this year, certainly the best of the lockdown era. Thanks!

[up_the_hampipe]

Goldberg says he's going to be on Smackdown tonight. NOOOOOOO!!!

[Deanjam]

Goldberg says he's going to be on Smackdown tonight. NOOOOOOO!!!

Pins Reigns in 15 seconds by dropping him on his head with a botched Jackhammer, to win the title. Screams "YOU'RE NEXT" so hard it shatters the Thunderdom. Vince dies from over-ejaculation.

[Deanjam]

Rarely post here these days, but just like to say that today's NJPW G1 A Block final show was maybe the best wrestling show this year, certainly the best of the lockdown era. Thanks!

I look forward to seeing it.

[kitsofan34]

Ben Carter's signed with WWE. Bird brain move.

[Deanjam]

Ben Carter's signed with WWE. Bird brain move.

Don't think it's official yet, just spilled by Miro. Seems odd. He'll either be on NXT:UK or 205 Live, both of which are graveyards. He had so much goodwill with AEW fans as well.

[Ja'moke]

Miro heavily implied it, and Carter himself tweeted an old interview where he said its his dream to wrestle for WWE, with a countdown timer next to it.

I mean, good for him, if WWE is his childhood dream. I imagine Rollins, being his trainer and all, had a big influence too.

Also, maybe the fact he doesn't have a visa, so he can at least get paid to work NXT UK while WWE sorts all that out for him, which could take months... and probably even longer given the state of the world.

Selfishly, I wanted him in AEW, as I do think he'd be used better there. But we'll see I guess.

[Famous Mortimer]

Don't know how many of you are awake, but WFMU do a wrestling show now, and hosts Darren Mabee and Brett Davis (of "The Special Without Brett Davis" fame) stream live on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jTPVIXyhfU

Funny, and even though I don't really watch wrestling any more, interesting.

[Moribunderast]

Miro heavily implied it, and Carter himself tweeted an old interview where he said its his dream to wrestle for WWE, with a countdown timer next to it.

I mean, good for him, if WWE is his childhood dream. I imagine Rollins, being his trainer and all, had a big influence too.

Also, maybe the fact he doesn't have a visa, so he can at least get paid to work NXT UK while WWE sorts all that out for him, which could take months... and probably even longer given the state of the world.

Selfishly, I wanted him in AEW, as I do think he'd be used better there. But we'll see I guess.

I can never judge a talent for signing/re-signing with WWE because we don't know their personal motivations, desires and situation but, as a fan, I get so disappointed whenever a promising or already-great talent signs or re-signs with WWE. It effectively means they're retired, to me. Someone on the Wrestling Observer board put this Ben Carter thing quite well: "He was on track to be the next PAC, now he's the next Neville."

[BeardFaceMan]

After all the stories you hear from wrestlers about how they are treated there, it's utterly fucking mystifying why someone like Carter would sign with WWE. Not to mention people like Wade Barrett who got burned badly the first time and go back for more. That Vince is one charming motherfucker, you have to give him that.

[Gurke and Hare]

I have no idea how much wrestlers get paid, but would a youngster signing with WWE get significant;y more than they would signing for AEW?

What's the general view of NXT UK? I've quite enjoyed the shows since the restart.

[Ja'moke]

Carter liked a tweet implying the NXT UK/visa thing. Can't blame the lad for wanting to get paid.

[Deanjam]

Gonna try and not spoil the G1, but I'm very happy with who went through to the final in block 2.

[kitsofan34]

Carter liked a tweet implying the NXT UK/visa thing. Can't blame the lad for wanting to get paid.

Wrestling sex criminals in the BT studio.

[Ja'moke]

The end segment of Smackdown between Reigns and Jey Uso was great. Reigns is absolutey killing it in this heel role, and Jey has massively stepped up too.

[BeardFaceMan]

Wrestling sex criminals in the BT studio.

Was this really the week to be pushing Lars after all that instagram shit came out? He must have some amazing blackmail material to still be employed there.

[up_the_hampipe]

Was this really the week to be pushing Lars after all that instagram shit came out? He must have some amazing blackmail material to still be employed there.

There must have been a decision made that they're going to stop firing guys for being creeps. Probably realised they'd have very few employees left.

[Deanjam]

They only punish the people the don't really care about. They obviously see big things in Velvet-in-Teen Dream & Lars Sullivan and so are riding out the criticism.

[BeardFaceMan]

Well if they didnt fire him for being a Nazi gay porn star, they're not going to fire him over this. That's what I don't get, what are they seeing in these guys? It's not that they're the shits, but are they really that special?

[confettiinmyhair]

I can never judge a talent for signing/re-signing with WWE because we don't know their personal motivations, desires and situation but, as a fan, I get so disappointed whenever a promising or already-great talent signs or re-signs with WWE. It effectively means they're retired, to me. Someone on the Wrestling Observer board put this Ben Carter thing quite well: "He was on track to be the next PAC, now he's the next Neville."

I'd argue that Neville had a fairly decent NXT/WWE run. His cruiser heel reign was great.

[up_the_hampipe]

Well if they didnt fire him for being a Nazi gay porn star, they're not going to fire him over this. That's what I don't get, what are they seeing in these guys? It's not that they're the shits, but are they really that special?

Before it was all exposed, I thought Velveteen Dream was going to be the next big thing. He's an immense talent. Shawn Michaels and John Cena were salivating over him to the extreme. But now the dream is over, and Dream isn't over.

[BeardFaceMan]

I'd argue that Neville had a fairly decent NXT/WWE run. His cruiser heel reign was great.

His NXT run was decent, his WWE run is what made him leave the company.

[Deanjam]

He actually did the impossible and got people talking about 205 live with his Bastard gimmick and they rewarded him by having him to job to Enzo. That tipped him over the edge.

[Ja'moke]

I miss PAC.

[BeardFaceMan]

Is he holed up in Newcastle somewhere? I would have thought AEW would let him work some UK indy shows if he's stuck here, if he wanted to. Be nice to see Riho in AEW again too.

[Ja'moke]

Is he holed up in Newcastle somewhere? I would have thought AEW would let him work some UK indy shows if he's stuck here, if he wanted to. Be nice to see Riho in AEW again too.

I assume so.

I was hoping he'd do what Toni Storm, Shanna, and Killer Kelly have recently done. Traveling from Europe to Mexico, quarantining for two weeks, and then crossing into the US. A lot of hassle, sure, but a way around the restrictions. But maybe he doesn't want to risk it.

Are any UK indies running at the minute?

[Gurke and Hare]

Are any UK indies running at the minute?

Rev Pro did some PPVs on FITE, I've not seen anything else. PAC's worked for them before but he wasn't on them. I've not seen any mention of anything else.