CM Punk & Wrestling's Best Storyline in Years...

[Brougham33]

Well goddamn, that clusterfuck segment they put Ambrose in, and Randy Orton completely owning all night made me feel alright about Cena/Orton in the main event of HITC.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Outside of the Big Show-Rusev stuff, I thought Raw was top-to-bottom pretty great.

Lowkey highlight of Raw and Smackdown the past few weeks has been the interactions between Stardust and Miz/Sandow, namely how super excited Stardust is about both, and the spasmodic glee whenever Miz throws his sunglasses to him.

I'm also loving the Dust Brothers as heels far more than I thought I would. We not only get sadistic '96 Goldust back, but we get Cody being genuinely creepy and showing he's easily Top 5 most talented in the locker room.

And Usos are still such a great team. Even when fighting the same opponents 5 or 6 times, the pack so much fresh stuff into the match. With such a silver age of tag team wrestling happening everywhere outside of WWE, I would love if the company signed some of the great teams out there so we could see the Usos mix it up with the Young Bucks or reDRagon or The Addiction etc.

[Req]

the Big Show-Rusev stuff,

so fucking cringe

@Orton when the Rollins bump pushed him into the chair leg.

[Smithee]

Battle, do you think Cody will ever be world champion? I'm a big fan as well and want to lean towards yes but everyone I have ever asked always gives a hard no.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Battle, do you think Cody will ever be world champion? I'm a big fan as well and want to lean towards yes but everyone I have ever asked always gives a hard no.

He can and will absolutely be world champion one day. He's been absolutely dynamite in every role they've put him in. Underdog rookie, spoiled gifted athlete, throwback narcissist heel, deformed comic book villain, hyper-intellectual cartoonish antagonist, legit firery babyface (the program with the authority last year, my goodness, the audience was dying to see him take the belt from Orton), beloved weirdo and now sinister wacko.

Cody's played ALL of those characters, essentially an entire roster, and excelled in every single role he's been given. You talk about maximizing your minutes, there's no game that he can't win.

I'm sure Stardust, if they kick up the creepiness even further, could be in a main event feud as a heel. If they need Cody standing up as the only whitemeat babyface to Lesnar, I'm sure he could win the crowd over that way too.

He's just too good at absolutely everything a wrestler/sports entertainer would need to be good at.

I can see Cody not being someone's cup of tea, but what's the argument for him to be a hard no?

[907]

Battle, do you think Cody will ever be world champion? I'm a big fan as well and want to lean towards yes but everyone I have ever asked always gives a hard no.

He can and will absolutely be world champion one day. He's been absolutely dynamite in every role they've put him in. Underdog rookie, spoiled gifted athlete, throwback narcissist heel, deformed comic book villain, hyper-intellectual cartoonish antagonist, legit firery babyface (the program with the authority last year, my goodness, the audience was dying to see him take the belt from Orton), beloved weirdo and now sinister wacko.

Cody's played ALL of those characters, essentially an entire roster, and excelled in every single role he's been given. You talk about maximizing your minutes, there's no game that he can't win.

I'm sure Stardust, if they kick up the creepiness even further, could be in a main event feud as a heel. If they need Cody standing up as the only whitemeat babyface to Lesnar, I'm sure he could win the crowd over that way too.

He's just too good at absolutely everything a wrestler/sports entertainer would need to be good at.

I can see Cody not being someone's cup of tea, but what's the argument for him to be a hard no?

I hate to say it,because I think Cody is great, but I don't see it happening. If there was still two world titles? Yes. But as it stands, the WWE title is too big of a thing, and he's just not on that level. He's part of an older generation. The next people to win the title who have never held it before are the Shield guys in some order, Wyatt, maybe Russev. I don't think the Cody generation guys who haven't won it yet ever will, sad as that is.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Battle, do you think Cody will ever be world champion? I'm a big fan as well and want to lean towards yes but everyone I have ever asked always gives a hard no.

He can and will absolutely be world champion one day. He's been absolutely dynamite in every role they've put him in. Underdog rookie, spoiled gifted athlete, throwback narcissist heel, deformed comic book villain, hyper-intellectual cartoonish antagonist, legit firery babyface (the program with the authority last year, my goodness, the audience was dying to see him take the belt from Orton), beloved weirdo and now sinister wacko.

Cody's played ALL of those characters, essentially an entire roster, and excelled in every single role he's been given. You talk about maximizing your minutes, there's no game that he can't win.

I'm sure Stardust, if they kick up the creepiness even further, could be in a main event feud as a heel. If they need Cody standing up as the only whitemeat babyface to Lesnar, I'm sure he could win the crowd over that way too.

He's just too good at absolutely everything a wrestler/sports entertainer would need to be good at.

I can see Cody not being someone's cup of tea, but what's the argument for him to be a hard no?

I hate to say it,because I think Cody is great, but I don't see it happening. If there was still two world titles? Yes. But as it stands, the WWE title is too big of a thing, and he's just not on that level. He's part of an older generation. The next people to win the title who have never held it before are the Shield guys in some order, Wyatt, maybe Russev. I don't think the Cody generation guys who haven't won it yet ever will, sad as that is.

What do you think he's missing? Didn't you see how hot the crowd was for him to topple Orton during the Rhodes-Authority fued?

Cody connects with audiences in so many ways and knows how to get them to react just the way he wants. It's masterful. Plus, he's criminally good looking. Now the he's wearing kneepads, I think he has everything to be the guy with the right program.

[907]

I agree with all of that. Sad(ing)ly, I just don't see Vince and Co. having enough faith in him to let it happen. Maybe five to ten years down the line, if things work in his favor, but not anytime soon.

[tehgiftofgab]

Its cause he has a lisp

[blastmaster]

Zigler vs Cesaro two out of three falls should tear the roof off.

[Brougham33]

Yup, hope they don't back to back it with a cell match, want those guys to tear it down. I think Ziggler needs the win more.

[blastmaster]

Yup, hope they don't back to back it with a cell match, want those guys to tear it down. I think Ziggler needs the win more.

Agreed. Zigs building the IC title back up is a good idea. Cesaro needs to turn face and get into the main event scene. Wishful thinking in both cases.

[Brougham33]

[battlecatmeowstab212]

For as much (perhaps rightful) guff we've given both Michael Cole and the Rusev-Show feud, I thought the sit down interview Cole did with Show on Smackdown did as muh damage control in an attempt to make sense of this angle as much as anything possibly could.

I think both of their talents should be commended for that. I think Cole really shines on those sit-down interviews.

[BigCat8]

At the last TV taping in Wheeling, Hanson (who I think brings something totally unique and awesome to ROH) was in the Honor Rumble, and faced Romantic Touch in singles competition. At tonight's taping, he wrestled AJ Styles... random as fuck. I dig the match-up with Styles, I just can't find the logic in his victory over RT putting him in line for a bout with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

At the last TV taping in Wheeling, Hanson (who I think brings something totally unique and awesome to ROH) was in the Honor Rumble, and faced Romantic Touch in singles competition. At tonight's taping, he wrestled AJ Styles... random as fuck. I dig the match-up with Styles, I just can't find the logic in his victory over RT putting him in line for a bout with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

He's probably the biggest hyped new talent ROH has had in about two years, and this is purely speculation on my part, but I'm guessing they see Hanson as a long-timer for the company and want to protect him enough where he can take a loss to AJ early on so that, no matter where AJ is in a year, they can at least say he had a bout with Hanson.

Also, AJ lost the belt about two weeks ago.

Speaking of ROH, it looks like this whole Michael Elgin thing has been a work, and I don't know how I feel about that.

[907]

Anyone else watching HITC? I'm shocked they're giving Ambrose/Rollins the main event. Pretty lackluster show so far. Cesaro/Ziggler was good, but felt like 2/3rds of a match. Why not let Cesaro at least get one fall, and go another7-8 minutes? Cena/Orton on now, it's pretty forgettable so far.

[hustler]

Anyone else watching HITC? I'm shocked they're giving Ambrose/Rollins the main event. Pretty lackluster show so far. Cesaro/Ziggler was good, but felt like 2/3rds of a match. Why not let Cesaro at least get one fall, and go another7-8 minutes? Cena/Orton on now, it's pretty forgettable so far.

im watching it. it sucks. cena is the worst. sheamous sucks, that ymca shit was stupid.

[GUCCI CONDOMS]

Rollins vs ambrose was amazing

[Brougham33]

Yup, glad they gave them the main and they didn't disappoint. Liked the return of Bray, the cell lights on when the camera went back on was a great visual. Oh, and shoutout to the hilarious assholes in production who ended one of the more intense ppv main events with that R-Truth shimmy and smile.

[BigCat8]

At the last TV taping in Wheeling, Hanson (who I think brings something totally unique and awesome to ROH) was in the Honor Rumble, and faced Romantic Touch in singles competition. At tonight's taping, he wrestled AJ Styles... random as fuck. I dig the match-up with Styles, I just can't find the logic in his victory over RT putting him in line for a bout with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

He's probably the biggest hyped new talent ROH has had in about two years, and this is purely speculation on my part, but I'm guessing they see Hanson as a long-timer for the company and want to protect him enough where he can take a loss to AJ early on so that, no matter where AJ is in a year, they can at least say he had a bout with Hanson.

I totally get that part. I just feel like the disparity in competition from month to month is a bit baffling, and probably will be to the folks following on TV as well.

Also, AJ lost the belt about two weeks ago.

That, I was unaware of.

My future cousin-in-law lets me use his Network pass on non-PPV nights. Is the HIAC replay worth watching?

[907]

Rollins vs ambrose was amazing

Except for the ending.

What a fucking stupid way to finish an amazing HITC match, and I'm a huge Wyatt family fan.

Rollins-Ambrose needed and deserved a real ending, with closure on the feud. What we got was the opposite of that.

[Sylissez]

R-Truth bumper was the highlight of the night.

[Brougham33]

Rollins-Ambrose needed and deserved a real ending, with closure on the feud. What we got was the opposite of that.

I disagree, I don't think either guy needed or would have got anything with a clean win. Character-wise, how can you get Ambrose to move on this feud without a swerve. Rollins is just trying to get away from the guy and cash in, and if Ambrose isn't distracted, why would he be doing anything other than trying to kill Seth Rollins. And I like that Bray Wyatt got some legit heat. Other than Ambrose, can you think of anyone else he could do a run-in on and not get cheered?

[GUCCI CONDOMS]

Rollins-Ambrose needed and deserved a real ending, with closure on the feud. What we got was the opposite of that.

I disagree, I don't think either guy needed or would have got anything with a clean win. Character-wise, how can you get Ambrose to move on this feud without a swerve. Rollins is just trying to get away from the guy and cash in, and if Ambrose isn't distracted, why would he be doing anything other than trying to kill Seth Rollins. And I like that Bray Wyatt got some legit heat. Other than Ambrose, can you think of anyone else he could do a run-in on and not get cheered?

I agree, I like the bray wyatt ending for all the reasons you stated, plus I just think it was executed very well.

As far as not getting a payoff between Rollins and ambrose, they can and will go back to that feud whenever they choose. They might even drag it out until mania depending on the health of Bryan and reigns.

[blastmaster]

Odd the Egyptian-ish chanting will be an Ascension thing?

[ThaJim2]

That crowd was horrible. Wish they gave AJ and Pagie a HITC match because what they put on was easily their worst match. Really we need a Cena Brock 3? What does that do for anyone its a waste of a build up of Lesner if he losses. It makes superman look weak if he cant beat Lesner once again. Miz needs more people around him like security, a yoga instructor basically go full Hollywood. How is Shamus the face of the anti bully campaign when most of his gimmick is being a bully?

[LilLeftBrain]

just tuned in for the main event once i heard it was rollins/ambrose HITC and yep that ruled. don't really have any thoughts on the ending cause ihaven't watched at all in a ppv or two but sounded like bray was chanting some our big secret anticon shit

[907]

At the last TV taping in Wheeling, Hanson (who I think brings something totally unique and awesome to ROH) was in the Honor Rumble, and faced Romantic Touch in singles competition. At tonight's taping, he wrestled AJ Styles... random as fuck. I dig the match-up with Styles, I just can't find the logic in his victory over RT putting him in line for a bout with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

He's probably the biggest hyped new talent ROH has had in about two years, and this is purely speculation on my part, but I'm guessing they see Hanson as a long-timer for the company and want to protect him enough where he can take a loss to AJ early on so that, no matter where AJ is in a year, they can at least say he had a bout with Hanson.

I totally get that part. I just feel like the disparity in competition from month to month is a bit baffling, and probably will be to the folks following on TV as well.

Also, AJ lost the belt about two weeks ago.

That, I was unaware of.

My future cousin-in-law lets me use his Network pass on non-PPV nights. Is the HIAC replay worth watching?

I'd watch Cesaro/Ziggler and Ambrose/Rollins, and skip the rest. AJ/Page was good, as was the tag title match, but they weren't anything new, basically the same match the respective wrestlers have been having with each other for a month or so.

[blastmaster]

I dig the ending. Ambrose-Rollins will never have an "ending" and this puts Bray right back in the main event scene in something fresh. Rollins-Orton will be solid. Not sure what you do with Cena now though. pretty sure they want to save Cena-Rusev for Wrestlemania. Luke Harper?