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

[ThaJim2]

So I am going to NXT on Friday what should I know?

I've never watched NXT, but I think I'll be meeting up with you there. Is it like OVW, their lower league from several years ago? I used to go to those shows when I lived in Louisville.

I am trying to find out the storylines and talent shit like that. I don't want to bring a 1-2-3 Kid owns Razor sign and be out of place.

[Sylissez]

So I am going to NXT on Friday what should I know?

I've never watched NXT, but I think I'll be meeting up with you there. Is it like OVW, their lower league from several years ago? I used to go to those shows when I lived in Louisville.

Kinda, but it seems more polished than OVW was. It really is its own universe, with main roster talent coming and going for brief feuds (Cesaro and Sami Zayn have had a fantastic run that will hopefully be picked up when Zayn gets promoted). The fans are a nice mix of people who appreciate good matches, but aren't too cool to get invested and buy in to the craziness, like some indy crowds can be. I think you'll have a good time.

Just found my Jushin Liger mask. Reminds me I need to get a La Parka mask.

[ayentee]

im not familiar with the nxt entrance. is there an a/b comparison on youtube that i could watch?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1filf ... ebut_sport

oh damn thats way doper

[Brougham33]

If the rumors of them coming are true, do you think established guys like Kenta and Prince Devitt are going to have to go through NXT?

I feel like Devitt could elevate and make NXT a lot more interesting, but I think a heel Kenta should go straight to the main roster. Have him aligned with a manager (Heyman?), and put him against Bryan. Given the history they have, I think they have a built in storyline, but the WWE, whether it be pride or just banking on the audiences short attention span, refuses to acknowledge the past.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

If the rumors of them coming are true, do you think established guys like Kenta and Prince Devitt are going to have to go through NXT?

I feel like Devitt could elevate and make NXT a lot more interesting, but I think a heel Kenta should go straight to the main roster. Have him aligned with a manager (Heyman?), and put him against Bryan. Given the history they have, I think they have a built in storyline, but the WWE, whether it be pride or just banking on the audiences short attention span, refuses to acknowledge the past.

They should have at least a month in NXT. It's not so much a demotion as an incredible resource. Both are two of the absolute best on the planet and have been so for the better part of a decade, but given how different the WWE style is, it would allow them to figure out how best to showcase them without making them suddenly appearing on television and having to learn how to swim in front of an entirely different audience.

I mean, I know Lucha is radically different from Puro anyway, but look at Sin Cara.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Also, for those of you curious to learn more about Japanese wrestling, or just watch some absurdly over-the-top ring entrances, I put together this hip-hop guide to New Japan for the Village Voice today - http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/201 ... ip_hop.php

Seriously, Shinsuke Nakamura and Okada's entrances have to be two of the greatest of all time.

[zappy]

i honestly think some of those characters work better in a smaller room where the crowd is more open and involved. i think that environment gets them over almost as much as the booking in nxt

i don't understand how the production value on Adam Rose's NXT entrance is waaaay better than his WWE entrance. Like how does that even happen...

i mean NXT is smaller, so fewer people look like a lot more people

like 15 people coming down the ramp on NXT takes up the whole space, on RAW 15 people looks more like 5 people.

[mike eagle]

just looked at the old entrance for the first time. scale is a factor but also it seems like its more impactful when they start the coverage from the back. they should do that on raw too i think. goldberg style party entrance

[Smithee]

i honestly think some of those characters work better in a smaller room where the crowd is more open and involved. i think that environment gets them over almost as much as the booking in nxt

i don't understand how the production value on Adam Rose's NXT entrance is waaaay better than his WWE entrance. Like how does that even happen...

i mean NXT is smaller, so fewer people look like a lot more people

Yea, and the audio is basically the same the way they do it. It's all about crowd reaction. In the NXT entrance everyone is mentioning he got the "That was awesome!" chant. A good crowd will put you over. I like Mike's idea about a Goldberg style party coming out of backstage, especially after the vignettes. That could be dope. Adam Rose is a potentially fun character, just do something cool w/ it. A sweet entrance w/ a big entourage and that "Be a ROSEBUD!" catch phrase is not gonna cut it, IMO.

[Ramen]

Shinskay could definitely come in and be a top heel IMO. Dude just has that villainous way about him. Doubt he could come in and start kicking people in the head tho.

[Smithee]

Did Vince really just lose 300 mil? Dang. Bout to cancel the network a.s.a.p. and buy some WWE shares on Monday.

[ThaJim2]

Went to the NXT event which was fun as shit. I had no idea on who any of the diva and superstars where and really are. The 2 Diva matches where really good. Travis Tyler was entraining as hell. Bayley did not give me a tshirt. There was some hippie dude that is a great heel.

[Sylissez]

Watching Spring Stampede 2000 on the Network. Holy. Shit. Jeff Jarrett was a midcarder who, without a decent gimmick, was a curtain jerker. He was never a main eventer. He was a horrible promo, a so-so hand in the ring and could never connect with the fans unless he was forced down their throats and thus received X-Pac heat. Which in 2000 WCW was good enough to interpret as legitimate heel heat. Also, Jarrett, at the time being a legit mid 30s, leading the New Blood, just shows how destined to fail this angle was. And fuck Vampiro cause I never liked that guy either. WCW was in full on Red Ships Of Spain mode here.

[mike eagle]

interesting enough i just read this really crazy in-depth interview where basically vince russo accepts zero responsibility for awful things were in those days

http://www.pyroandballyhoo.com/thank-yo ... 1lksd3adk/

[Sylissez]

Just read that. Wow. Dude is so delusional. I love that he has nothing bad to say about anyone who criticized him, and apparently had a great relationship with everyone he ever met.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

I read the Vince Russo piece.

SWERVE!

I ACTUALLY DIDN'T READ IT!

[mike eagle]

kangas, i challenge you to a on a pole match

[Sylissez]

I'd like to be the special guest ref and turn heel/face many times throughout the match.

[alpha]

completely off topic, but do you guys think this move away from PPV will work out for the WWE?

[battlecatmeowstab212]

I'd like to be the special guest ref and turn heel/face many times throughout the match.

There's a January 2000 episode of Thunder where, over the course of a two hour program, either Arn Anderson or David Flair turns face/heel three times. I'm not joking.

[907]

You sure it wasn't Nitro? I don't remember Thunder ever being 3 hours, and I watched WCW until the bitter end.

I read that interview, good to know that even after finding God that Russo is still the worst.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

You sure it wasn't Nitro? I don't remember Thunder ever being 3 hours, and I watched WCW until the bitter end.

I read that interview, good to know that even after finding God that Russo is still the worst.

You're right, it was a two hour Thunder. I guess my fingers were still in disbelief that something so absurd could happen in the same standard wrestling program.

[Smithee]

Seriously, Shinsuke Nakamura and Okada's entrances have to be two of the greatest of all time.

I just Youtubed both guys entrances and omfg. One I saw 8 women on stripper poles workin it and the other I saw a freakin 20 foot long animatronic (sp?) Velociraptor straight out the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios on stage right up next to a legit titan tron look. Damn.

Thanks for that battlecat. That was awesome. Who wants to visit Japan?

[Brougham33]

Did the WWE not have anything planned after Mania? So much potential, and so little being done. I'm happy about it, but if Alicia Fox being pushed is the most interesting thing you got going, shit is not going well. RVD with another title shot we know he'll lose? Ziggler sitting on the bench when now is the perfect time to elevate him. Big E loses his belt and just disappears. They are killing my interest in the Wyatt Family, I still love everything about the character, but the lack of subtlety and him singing every night is not a good look.

completely off topic, but do you guys think this move away from PPV will work out for the WWE?

Yes. In the short term they will struggle, but I think the network is just too good not to work. Even if they increase the price, the WWE just owns so much of the wrestling market, the fans really don't have a choice at this point.

[tehgiftofgab]

did you not watch raw last night? bray is amazing

[ThaJim2]

completely off topic, but do you guys think this move away from PPV will work out for the WWE?

They have not even hit half of their projected subscribers. No one else has made any real money with internet content. So call me skeptical that this will payoff any time soon.

[AXEWOUNDFISTER]

$350 million in 24 hours vince took monday night raw..

[spitboxer]

Anyone notice Action Bronson (if it is him) at ringside right behind the commentators, right after the Paige Alicia match as Alicia did her thing then cuts to commentry. He looks a perfect fit for the Wyatts.

[battlecatmeowstab212]

Anyone notice Action Bronson (if it is him) at ringside right behind the commentators, right after the Paige Alicia match as Alicia did her thing then cuts to commentry. He looks a perfect fit for the Wyatts.

I saw it, he was in the Mr. Belding seats.

[Smithee]

^ Weird, being that it was in London. Did Action Bronson sign a WWE contract?

Battlecat, ever eff w/ AAA? Any thoughts? I have a serious crush on Taya Valkyrie...