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Don't feel like going through the thread for details....is CM Punk back or coming back? I just heard an ad on the radio for Raw here at the Resch Center and they're advertising CM Punk will be there.
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da fuck?Comment
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Is this the heaviest singles match ever?
One of the worst matches you'll ever see, too.
All Japan was a great place around 2011 if you like fat guys, since they employed Ryoto Hama at the same time, too:
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Interesting discussion.
I think Austin's best actual in-ring work was before he really blew up, when he could do more than brawl. His knees limited him by about '99 on. His heel work in 01 was actually really great, but mostly for character stuff he did. He was amazing at that, every bit as much as Hogan was fantastic at the babyface empathy.
My issue with Cena is and pretty much always has been his character. Bland, unchanging, etc. Plain boring. Do agree about him getting better with time.
Interesting point out about how in-ring workers and insiders look at a wrestler's skills rather than how fans do. Many wrestlers really don't seem to care much about the "star rating" of a match either. Or at least they claim not to care. They have a more utilitarian view - did the fans get engaged, did it tell the story it was supposed to and did both guys get through it unharmed? If yes, then great success.Comment
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DISH lol.Comment
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NXT will air regularly each Thursday @ 9pm et on the network.
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The never ending Prince Devitt to WWE saga, from the new Observer:
I was told by someone who knows people who talk to Devitt that he either has the option or wants the option to skip NXT in order to sign.Regarding Prince Devitt, even though he is booked for the New Japan Cup tournament, that is not a sign that he has signed his new contract. As of last week, he had not, and was considering the WWE offer. William Regal was the one who brought him to WWE’s attention. He makes a very good living with New Japan, but not close to the level of someone with his same star power would in WWE. However, with New Japan, he’s guaranteed a good spot, in fact he could be the top foreigner in the company this year if he was to sign. With WWE, he’d be starting off at almost 33 and have the handicap of being 187 pounds. Neither are a kiss of death, but both are a handicap, and he doesn’t look old and has a great physique which helps out. But a small guy in WWE has to be tons better to even break even so to speak. At the same time, if he waits a few years, his window of opportunity will start closing and do you want to end your career having the regret that you never tried? There’s also the advantage that working for New Japan, you don’t have the kind of road expenses you have in WWE. There is potential to make more in WWE if you make it to a good level, but a guy like Sami Zayn or Adrian Neville is likely making a lot less and they are both very talented guys. Also, working for Japan, he can live in Ireland but working for WWE, he’d have to move to Florida. He will probably have to go to Orlando just because WWE now has the doctrine that everyone on the main roster has to go through there. But his time there would be short. A lot also depends on the offer. If they greatly beat his New Japan numbers on downside, and actually commit money to him from the start, that greatly encourages them to bring him to the main roster. They don’t like paying people decent money who aren’t contributing on the main roster.
If you look at the bold, smart man. Two guys who gave up big stardom internationally, who are both world class, yet both are stuck in NXT making no money.
On the flip side, in the weird WWE locker room culture, skipping NXT when the protocol is everybody pays those dues will get him instant heat, which will be yet another obstacle to overcome.
All things in that paragraph considered, I would stay in New Japan, which is still growing exponentially. But if he grew up wanting to be a WWE Superstar and that's his life goal, he has to try it. But I don't get the sense he cares about that. This seems like a $$$ & quality of life decision to me. Tough choices.Comment
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So, what, 1500 - 1600 combined in those three cities?The weekend tour opened on 2/14 in Abilene, TX, drawing about 300 fans. Austin Aries beat Chris Sabin to retain the X title in an average match with some comedy, using the last chancery for the finish. Madison Rayne pinned Gail Kim to retain the Knockouts title after a spear. Ethan Carter III pinned James Storm using the ropes. Ken Anderson won a 2/3 fall match over Samuel Shaw. They are doing the match at the house shows even though the angle starting this program hasn’t aired on TV yet. They did the two quick falls with Anderson winning the longer third fall with the mic check. Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards beat the Bro Mans via DQ in a real good tag title match. Robbie E was about to be pinned when Jessie Godderz pulled the ref out of the ring to stop the count, which was ruled a DQ. Magnus beat Samoa Joe in a cage match to keep the TNA title. Looks like they are preparing their Lockdown match. Since they were in Texas, they did the Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich Reunion Arena finish. Carter III slammed the cage door on Joe’s head and Magnus pinned him. Joe laid out Carter III after the match.
They ran 2/15 in Cedar Park, TX before 900 fans, doing the exact same show. On 2/16 in Huntsville, TX, they drew 350 fans for the same show. MVP, unadvertised (he lives in Houston, which is not far from Huntsville), came to the show but didn’t wrestle and just signed autographs.
Last year they did 6500 in San Antonio, 3000 in Corpus.
So of course do go back to either town.
TNA.Comment
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Meltzer noted that TNA often cuts checks to buildings to cover the cost of running them because the shows don't make enough to cover the fee.
So TNA basically PAYS MONEY to run house shows.
Give ROH some credit. They stop going to cities that don't draw (when they burnt out Philly for example, the Carolinas, etc), and they always return to the places that do (Toronto, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York, etc). TNA just does the same dumb shit over & over again.Comment
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And they also ignore what you posted above, the cities where they drew the most.
At this point, when do they cut their losses on at least half of their house shows? It also doesn't help that Garret Bischoff, and probably a couple others, are just sitting home collecting paychecks because they don't want them any more (not a support of Bischoff, he's close to drizzling shits level, just an example.)Comment
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I was talking to a guy on Twitter who promoted the TNA house shows in Tennessee/Arkansas with Randy Hales last month, and he said TNA told them straight up to avoid towns that they'd been to before, and even avoid towns that were close to places they'd been to before.
Here is the conversation: https://twitter.com/kingofkingsport/...23528230170624
TNA = the worst.Comment
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