Wrestling 2021: The Big Thread Machine

[up_the_hampipe]

He's made me laugh my ass off twice on Twitter recently.

He posted a pic of "Methanie" today too. Respect to the Pillman's for being up for all this (presumably).

[Deanjam]

He posted a pic of "Methanie" today too. Respect to the Pillman's for being up for all this (presumably).

I imagine they are. Brian Sr was synonymous with bleeding reality into fiction. No doubt his son would understand the potential benefit of doing the same.

[Stone Cold Steve Austin]

they're all but saying please watch tonight, we're changing the title https://twitter.com/WWEBigE/status/1437458929198542850

[Deanjam]

Can't wait for the reaction if he doesn't. Anyway, they should have Big E to be the first wrestler to announce ahead of time he's going to get his title shot at Wrestlemania and have him beat Roman clean. But they won't.

[Deanjam]

Somehow the Big E tweet led me to this. Big E cracking up the room with Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat.

https://twitter.com/wiretap804/status/1437468040871006215

[Mobius]

they're all but saying please watch tonight, we're changing the title https://twitter.com/WWEBigE/status/1437458929198542850

"intends" ... so there'll be some fuckery

Lashley Vs Orton for the title, for fans of restholds. I assume there's some interference and they do the same match at the next PPV..

[BeardFaceMan]

Really enjoying some of these Suzuki Incident tweets.

[Ja'moke]

SRS reporting that Gargano's contract is up in December.

[Mobius]

Well he's older than 30 and under 6 foot, so I can see him leaving. Triple H obviously loves him and he's been a big NXT for years, but who knows what the fuck NXT is gonna be going forward.

Another old indie friend of the AEW guys, I can see him coming over.

[Ja'moke]

Gargano is a great wrestler obviously, but he is one I don't think AEW needs. They have so many guys on his level or better at this point. And he isn't big name like Bryan or Owens.

But yeah, he's probably coming over. Like you say, he's old friends with the Bucks and when they did a Reddit AMA years ago they listed Gargano in the first five wrestlers they'd sign if they had their own promotion.

I'd be more interested in DIY coming in as a tag team than a Gargano singles run.

[Mobius]

Big E champion then.

Probably get Kofi'd soon but may as well enjoy the moment whilst it lasts.

[Deanjam]

I like Big E, so very happy for him. But yeah, all depends on what they do with him as champion. Not a fan of the babyface cashing in on the injured heel, but that's modern wrestling for you.

[Huxleys Babkins]

The whole point of wresting is seeing a face battle to the summit against insurmountable odds. That way, not only do you get the pay-off, there's weeks/months/years of build to that pay off that keeps the punters watching.

This isn't that. This is just desperately shoving the belt onto someone loved in a fit of panic. Short termist hotshot booking to stave off a ratings crisis.

Why would you watch any further? They'll bungle the fuck out of this, just as they have every other non "main guy" title run of the past 10 years.

[peanutbutter]

The whole point of wresting is seeing a face battle to the summit against insurmountable odds. That way, not only do you get the pay-off, there's weeks/months/years of build to that pay off that keeps the punters watching.

This isn't that. This is just desperately shoving the belt onto someone loved in a fit of panic. Short termist hotshot booking to stave off a ratings crisis.

Why would you watch any further? They'll bungle the fuck out of this, just as they have every other non "main guy" title run of the past 10 years.

Cant think of an example off the top of my head but I feel like WWE have a track record of abruptly giving someone their first title, having them lose it and making a narrative out of a chase for them to reclaim it. They're definitely really really bad at appreciating the value of a build into a first title reign.

[BeardFaceMan]

I'll never understand why people call Vince a creative genius, the man is fucking clueless. He goes on about how WWE make movies but he hasn't got a clue about story or character. And it's so frustrating because you have a company filled with talented people that are being hamstrung by an old out-of-touch carny.

[Ja'moke]

Happy for Big E, he seems like such a good guy.

What's the deal with Dynamite this week? Only three matches announced and none of them "major," which is surprising given this is one of the biggest crowds they've been in front of, their first show in the Tri-State area, and the show that was originally meant to have Blood & Guts. I expected a big main event.

[up_the_hampipe]

I really hope they give Big E a chance as champion. Honestly, it's hard to picture him as a legit main event star, but he's charismatic, funny and extremely likeable, so I want to see what he can do in that spot.

[sevendaughters]

I think it is an interesting move but yeah in terms of 'wrestling logic' it is daft. The thing with WWE for me is not that the stories are bad (and they really stink) but the whole experience feels like homework drenched in corporate talk. WCW at its dying worst was far better than WWE is now. Maybe now there's a war on Vince will make more weird and interesting moves that gather some energy around the show. But I doubt it. They're in fealty to appearing sellable rather than trying to defeat AEW on their terms.

[BeardFaceMan]

It definitely feels like selling is WWE's priority at the moment, not their product.

[Mobius]

"Against Week 1 of Monday Night Football on ESPN and ABC, WWE Raw last night on USA Network was watched by 1,670,000 viewers on average, the fewest since July 12. 556,000 of those viewers were aged 18 to 49 (0.43 rating), the lowest since July 5."

Not great! Vince probably blaming Big E already.

New NXT today. Curious to see what it looks like and to hear the phrase "NXT 2.0" about a thousand times.

[Gurke and Hare]

What's the deal with Dynamite this week? Only three matches announced and none of them "major," which is surprising given this is one of the biggest crowds they've been in front of, their first show in the Tri-State area, and the show that was originally meant to have Blood & Guts. I expected a big main event.

They've added Mox and Eddie vs 2.0, seemingly as part of what is now the Suzuki Incident storyline. Which isn't really main event material either. Darby vs any other of The Pinnacle would probably be main event level, but probably not Spears. Have they ever done Darby vs MJF?

I do think there's a > 0 chance that Leyla goes over Jade.

[Ja'moke]

Leyla and KiLynn King had a really good match on DARK tonight.

Not watching new NXT but seeing the live tweets and it sounds hilariously messy. Random no name big guys showing up with dumb new names replacing the previously announced NXT originals in tonight's title match.

[Mobius]

Yeah at work so can't watch, but sounds like not my cup of tea.

Kyle O'Reilly just being removed from the match and replaced with "Von Wagner" is hilarious though. I know it's a new show, but just literally shove some no-name into your main event? LA Knight is in the match, despite having a pointless match for no reason earlier in the show, losing to the Steiner kid who was having his first match ever.

They've also got an Italian mafia stereotype character called Tony D'Angelo

And they've already renamed that Steiner kid from Rex Steiner, to Bron Breaker

They're putting the NXT title match before the wedding.

[Mobius]

Ciampa champ

New era, NXT 2.0

[Stone Cold Steve Austin]

So funny Vince/Bruce/Dunn decided NXT was too dark so now they've lit the place up like it's a game show instead. Incredible company

[letsgobrian]

Yeah at work so can't watch, but sounds like not my cup of tea.

Kyle O'Reilly just being removed from the match and replaced with "Von Wagner" is hilarious though. I know it's a new show, but just literally shove some no-name into your main event? LA Knight is in the match, despite having a pointless match for no reason earlier in the show, losing to the Steiner kid who was having his first match ever.

They've also got an Italian mafia stereotype character called Tony D'Angelo

And they've already renamed that Steiner kid from Rex Steiner, to Bron Breaker

They're putting the NXT title match before the wedding.

I suspect someone tipped off the Steiner kid that if he wants to be a Steiner anywhere else after WWE, he can't let them trademark it.

[Ja'moke]

Dan Lambert is bringing Paige VanZant to Dynamite tonight. Can we get Thunder Rosa vs PVZ?

[Custard]

They're now teasing a Hurt Business reunion to battle New Day. Which actually sounds quite good

[Mobius]

Just watching clips on reddit, but really enjoyed Jericho and Lambert going at each other.

[Ja'moke]

The cards for next week are insane. Can't believe we're getting Bryan v Omega this soon, but glad they've kept it non-title.