Shibata needs to survive long enough to have his match with Bryan in New Japan
THEN they can both die in the ring together
FTFY
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April Wrasslin' |OT| 2017 Season Premiere
- Thread starter Bluekaveli
- Start date
FTFY
excelsiorlef
Member
Hidden One
Member
2017 and Jinder managed to get over with WrassleGAF.
Go Juicy Jinder!
Go Juicy Jinder!
Smackdown singles guys, which would now be Tye, Mojo, Sin Cara, Rowan, Ryder, Ziggler, Jinder, and Aiden. Not counting tags like Breezango and The Ascension since their entire division is a mess (even the champions can barely get TV time) and that's a problem that extends beyond them. Also not counting Ellsworth cause he's a valet.
I'm not saying these guys get no attention at all. It's just that much of it feels superfluous because there's no concrete goal for them. They have no title to fight for because the main event guys are using theirs - the US title - while the world title scene gets sorted out. And before that, the IC title was blocked off because Miz, Ambrose, and Corbin were using it. So everything for the lower card story wise just becomes about vague shit like "opportunity."
Yes, it's on the performers to make the most of what they get, but there has to be a story hook to get people invested. That hook doesn't have to be a title all the time, but it gives everyone a constant tangible goal. Right now, these guys don't have that.
On Raw, I actually think it's less of a problem. Raw has the Cruiserweights to round out the low card, and the top of the card is so stacked they're basically forced to spread those guys throughout the show. Plus Raw actually has a functioning tag division, so that's an option for some guys.
But yes, I agree with all you said about the Raw guys. Honestly, I think most of them are hopeless (barring those in the twilight of their careers anyway). Kallisto will be fine with 205 (even though most of the Cruisers seem to have disappeared?), but I don't see where the rest will fit in.
There is nothing in life I love more than strong style, friend.
I'm also a sick freak, excelsiorlef.
God fucking damn it, fix your shirt collar. You're an insurance agent, you big, sweaty, red doofus.
half a moon
Banned
Fuck Juicy Jinder. He looks disgusting and he gave finn a concussion.
Hidden One
Member
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
All the good workers around Nakamura.
As strong as SD's midcard has bizarrely become overnight and as tightly scripted it is, could we justify bringing back the European title?
Honestly, I just miss Al Snow's European Title reign.
Bluekaveli
Member
I'm happy for him and all of the talent of different races(being a minority myself) because usually someone like him is stuck in jobber hell or given a stereotypical gimmick. I'm glad they're just letting him be a bad ass. Just like Mustafa on 205, that promo he cut on his debut was needed and it set a nice tone.
Do I see Jinder getting a title? Not really but it's nice to dream. Give him that us title and when they go over seas watch how they flock to him.
We live in a time when there's a chance for a Japanese wwe heavyweight champion. That's frigging cool.
Hakushi or Tenryu should've been the first. 😜
Jesus Christ that looks so many much worse here. Screw dangerous workers like Jax.
also screw carny ass promotions for pushing people based on their look rather than their in ring ability
like you don't need to be dean malenko but when you're out there botching moves and putting the other worker's life in danger... nia should be on nxt.
Nose Master
Member
#hardbodymahal
Brian_FETO
Banned
I say this as someone who does not wrestle and take bumps for a living:
I feel like if you're supposed to catch someone you should try to catch them instead of waiting for them to graze you
That vid looks like Charlotte got upside down and realized Nia wasn't moving forward to meet her
I feel like if you're supposed to catch someone you should try to catch them instead of waiting for them to graze you
That vid looks like Charlotte got upside down and realized Nia wasn't moving forward to meet her
We'll get a Japanese WWE Heavyweight champion for sure.
But Jinder is just a re-skinned version of 2016 Alberto Del Rio.
I think Vince is ready to push him as one of the top heels for Raw.
The first promotional banners from WWE for Raw are interesting.
Hidden One
Member
Seth in the middle and not reigns?
Hmm.png
Alexa on the poster and not RAW Women's champion Baylee?
Hmm.png
Hmm.png
Alexa on the poster and not RAW Women's champion Baylee?
Hmm.png
half a moon
Banned
Cooked a steak at 2am. omnomnomnom
Bluekaveli
Member
Well Vince loves ADR so maybe he'll show Jinder the same love.
The hell.
Here's the Smackdown banner.
WE'RE IN KO COUNTRY.
Vince loves 2011 ADR. 2016 ADR is totally different.
WE'RE IN KO COUNTRY.
Vince loves 2011 ADR. 2016 ADR is totally different.
half a moon
Banned
I was hongreh
excelsiorlef
Member
Wonder if Owens will get a Smackdown logo influenced shirt
SallyIsNow
Banned
What are you half a moon?
I think you bringing up Corbin means that the opportunities do exist and wrestlers can move up the card if they are able to show that they can hang with the top guys and earn fan interest (heel/face/whatever). Before "blocking off the IC title", Corbin was feuding with Apollo Crews, Kalisto, Ziggler, and Swagger. He proves that you just need to give it time besides kneejerk reactions, especially since the entire list (Tye, Mojo, Sin Cara, Rowan, Ryder, Jinder, and Aiden) besides Ziggler are still fresh into their "pushes", "returns", "debuts", etc. Ziggler should have been one dude that went to Raw since he needs a fresh start or a repackage of some sorts (by all means, put him in a tag team if needed. It helped out Sheamus find breathing room for his character).
Mid-card doesn't need another title on either brand for the mens divisions. Smackdown does need to put more time into their tag-team division, so hopefully New Day showing up gives them a small spark. They recently lost Vaudevillains and Heath Slater & Rhyno, but gained New Day & Primo & Epico. Raw also gained Hardy Boyz, but Smackdown is still lacking in their division, so hopefully Breezeango gets some consideration for TV time for hijinks with New Day. Once Rowan is done with whatever happens with the Wyatt story, Rowan should immediately try to find a tag-team partner since I don't know if WWE will have anything for him to do. Rowan + Ellsworth and Carmella. Rowan for a small jobber stable with The Ascension. Dude seems nice enough and somewhat competent, so I would hate for him to get cut without having any chance like Braun has had on Raw away from Wyatt storylines.
reptilescorpio
Member
Handsome Rusev on Smackdown! Yay!
half a moon
Banned
A hungryman
That is fucking brilliant. It has to happen.
excelsiorlef
Member
Couldn't fit Kevin Owens Show on that but replacing Smack with Kevin and Down with Owens and the WWF Logo with a stylized KO in the same font would work
Or actually yeah make a Vertical SHOW that replaces the ! on the logo.
Tough honestly the current logo works too just again replace Smack with Kevin, Down with Owens and Live with Show
Brian_FETO
Banned
I'd laugh if they took the current "Kevin Owens Show" design and just made it blue
Professor Beef
Banned
Ryback would've caught Charlotte. Would've sold that shit too.
WITH EASE.
WITH EASE.
half a moon
Banned
He has forsaken us
sf2fanatic
Member
Lol you mad.gif
Hidden One
Member
Damn Vince refuses to put ex TNA guy AJ styles in the middle of a poster.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Man, Kevin Owens is really damn good at being a WWE wrestler.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
The entire SmackDown roster is just dudes with great workrate who get huge reactions.
SDL looks awesome.
If Vince had a brain he'd have Nakamura/Styles as a WM main event.
And Charlotte/Becky will be awesome again.
Also don't do triple threats on random episodes of SD.
SDL looks awesome.
If Vince had a brain he'd have Nakamura/Styles as a WM main event.
And Charlotte/Becky will be awesome again.
Also don't do triple threats on random episodes of SD.
half a moon
Banned
He'll have them curtain jerk
The Strokes
Banned
Lol, incredible, she was barely getting something done and already thought that high of herself.
HashtagLapsed
Member
Damn, Shibata's situation sounds sketchy as fuck.
HazySaiyan
Banned
RuRu is on Smackdown? That could be great for him, here's hoping
half a moon
Banned
Is Lana going to wrestle? She had that sessy vignette
British Monsoon
Member
The Shibata thing's a great example of Dave being Dave - anyone else would've talked to their sources, heard "we're not sure if it's a work or a shoot" and then determined that (so fresh off the heels of Honma's legit life-threatening injury) no promotion would be foolish enough to work a serious injury angle. Instead, he went "it could be a work lol" and people kept repeating it, even well after Dave had recanted the statement.
How long is Handsome Rusev supposed to be out for?
Of the current group, Tye probably has the best chance of moving higher in the card once he's run through the gauntlet, as it were. That's still 1 out of 7. Not everyone is going to move up the card. Not everyone should. That's fine; lots of guys have made perfectly good careers for themselves working the midcard. I'm just saying as a viewer, I'd like it if they had more going on storywise than just "I'm here to make a statement!" or some other empty platitude. Give them the midcard belt back and let the main eventers fight for the main event title. Or make a new one. Whichever.
And sure, I'm willing to give it time. My comments were on the state of the title scene as it currently stands, and currently, I don't like the midcarders on Smackdown being completely shut out of any title scene. Hopefully it'll sort itself out following Payback, but considering the guy in my avatar is either going to be challenging former Universial Champion Kevin Owens or Chris fucking Jericho for the US title, it might take a little while.
Fair enough. Still, Corbin is one guy out of how many that were on Smackdown's roster. Apollo didn't move anywhere. Kallisto and Swagger didn't either; the former two ended up on Raw, and the latter ended up out of a job. And remember it was Dean Ambrose, former WWE champion and certified main eventer, who took the title off Miz and kept it. Why? Because Smackdown hadn't built any midcard faces who could take the title off Miz at that point.
Of the current group, Tye probably has the best chance of moving higher in the card once he's run through the gauntlet, as it were. That's still 1 out of 7. Not everyone is going to move up the card. Not everyone should. That's fine; lots of guys have made perfectly good careers for themselves working the midcard. I'm just saying as a viewer, I'd like it if they had more going on storywise than just "I'm here to make a statement!" or some other empty platitude. Give them the midcard belt back and let the main eventers fight for the main event title. Or make a new one. Whichever.
And sure, I'm willing to give it time. My comments were on the state of the title scene as it currently stands, and currently, I don't like the midcarders on Smackdown being completely shut out of any title scene. Hopefully it'll sort itself out following Payback, but considering the guy in my avatar is either going to be challenging former Universial Champion Kevin Owens or Chris fucking Jericho for the US title, it might take a little while.
excelsiorlef
Member
HazySaiyan
Banned
Owens, Nakamura, Zayn and Styles all being on the same brand is pretty damn exciting. Could get some great matches out of this. Owens vs Styles should be fun.
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