11-27-2023, 11:35 AM | #41 |
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You know what’s amazing? That this could happen and Dave Meltzer was told nothing about it by the AEW camp. At what point knowing Punk could show up, do you not spoil it for your enemy?
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11-28-2023, 10:03 AM | #42 |
( ._.)
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"Fans, don't even think about changing the channel, because we've learned that at our competition, Mick Foley, who used to wrestle here as Cactus Jack, is going to win their world title! Heh, talk about putting asses in the seats."
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11-28-2023, 11:38 AM | #43 |
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Pretty good promo. Nothing earth-shattering. WWE just produces safe, generic, sustainable television. It doesn’t insult your intelligence as much anymore (which is crazy if you think about). I mean, it’s mildly goofy in that Akira Tozawa dancing and people talking like no one actually would way. But things are generally pretty logical there now.
I’m curious to see the number. I don’t wonder how many viewers were disappointed he didn’t scorch earth as opposed to how many people were just pleasantly surprised they didn’t hate WWE anymore. |
11-28-2023, 11:45 AM | #44 |
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Triple H definitely makes things flow together week-to-week better than Vince. He’s also doing a really cool thing and rewarding you for paying attention.
Shinsuke Nakamura will make references to rain next week, you watch. |
11-28-2023, 11:49 AM | #45 |
boop/bop/beep
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I'm sure it'll take Punk some time to find his voice in this vastly more sanitized environment (if he finds it at all). I also heard he won't be addressing AEW, per Punk whisperer Nick Hausman (aka Punk himself). So fans wanting the scathing, petty AEW-related pipebomb will be left disappointed.
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11-28-2023, 11:49 AM | #46 |
boop/bop/beep
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11-28-2023, 01:52 PM | #47 |
quesque fuck?
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11-28-2023, 02:25 PM | #48 |
quesque fuck?
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11-28-2023, 04:33 PM | #49 |
quesque fuck?
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11-29-2023, 07:04 AM | #50 |
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Eh, I wasn’t expecting a pipe bomb. I have a feeling they are “saving” him. He’s not even advertised for SmackDown. The most I expected about AEW was something like running with wolves instead of playing with puppies. But I don’t think they even want to acknowledge them. And Punk has friends there.
I agree that the promo didn’t really have a “point.” It just like “listen to how eloquent this man is on the mic.” It wasn’t a money promo, it was he’s the money. We’ll see. |
11-29-2023, 07:34 AM | #51 |
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Holy shit, okay, I watched NXT today though. Totally different vibe to Raw. Was that a normal episode, or did they really kick it up?
SPOILER: show Felt WAY different to Raw. Completely different shows. Anyway, I just have a theory Punk might get involved lol. If that’s what NXT is every week, then no wonder it’s beating Dynamite some weeks. |
11-29-2023, 07:35 AM | #52 |
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Too long didn’t read:
They made fun of AEW on NXT. |
11-29-2023, 07:40 AM | #53 |
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One thing that I hate about modern WWE faces is that they don’t sell…life. Like Bianca Belair comes out dancing and twirling her hair for War Games. That shit helped John Cena irritate people. When a heel does something shit, you get more over if you actually react to it. And not cry or hold your head in despair. Like get mad and start kicking the shit out of people.
You saw wrestlers do that on NXT. Is that something Shawn Michaels lets them do, or is that a new thing? Or maybe something fairly recent? Like, say…maybe the last 2 months or so? |
11-29-2023, 08:17 AM | #54 |
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Oh, and another thing I thought was weird:
Nathan Frazer vs. Ilja Dragunov. Frazer is like this cruiserweight looking kid. He’s quite good in the ring, but he’s got this long hair and has a very similar build to Jack Perry actually (same height). The more I think about it, the weirder that segment seemed. I wonder if during the incident at Wembley, Perry made some sort of comment about Punk’s family? Because Vic Joseph really drilled the point in that you shouldn’t do that. |
11-29-2023, 09:32 AM | #55 |
Shelly Martinez = Ratings
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11-30-2023, 04:29 AM | #56 |
Blander Than Ever
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If this makes Punk happy more power to him. The stuff in AEW became all consuming and now hopefully a line can be drawn under it for good.
I didnt watch Survivor series but saw a clip on social, was there a context for why he came out after the main event? Kinda felt like it shit on Randys big return a little. I saw the crowd on Raw caught some heat on social as well for being flat for his promo like they should just cheer by default which felt weird but its wrestling social media so not a lot else to expect from it I guess. I wondered if that was just the "Philly sports" element. Also Ryback... are we worried yet? Like all these cries for attention I kinda fear that guys gonna be a bad headline in 2024. |
11-30-2023, 09:14 AM | #57 |
Feeling Oof-y
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I don’t thibk coming out after the big babyface win was an accident. If they wanted him to return as the babyface hero you have JD win and then have him come out. He came out to “rain on the babyfaces parade”. He’s being positioned as a disruptive force who’s changed the hierarchy. The dynamic with Seth should be really interesting.
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11-30-2023, 09:16 AM | #58 |
Feeling Oof-y
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And yeah the crowd probably was a bit flat for his promo on Raw. They wanted “pipebomb Punk” and got “ah shucks Punk”. Stupid to criticise the crowd though. LOLIWC
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11-30-2023, 11:37 AM | #59 |
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The show kind of built. Smart to realize you couldn’t top it. There was that energetic buzz around it all night. I can’t remember if it came up in here, but there’s an “insider” account that I am pretty sure is a WWE burner. They said something like “Nakamura hints decoy, Orton won’t be there, Punk is in.” Or something like that. You think “no way” but then it turns out to be scarily accurate.
WWE did little things to cultivate the moment. Triple H has been into it since the White Rabbit stuff with Bray. I’m pretty sure he got Nash to shit on LA Knight to help get him more over. You just had Daniel Cormier come out and say Gunther is his favorite wrestler ever, replacing Randy Savage. |
11-30-2023, 11:39 AM | #60 |
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See if this Okada stuff comes to fruition.
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12-01-2023, 05:47 AM | #61 | |
Blander Than Ever
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Quote:
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12-01-2023, 07:30 AM | #62 |
Feeling Oof-y
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Nah, for me at least, the promo on Raw tells the same story. He literally said “I’m here to make money, not friends” and spoke about how some people in the back are scared of him because he’s the best in the world and it changes the pecking order.
It’s working towards an immediate programme with Seth clearly but can go in so many directions. Seth is gonna point out the hypocrisy of Punk, the whole locker room leader thing (Seth did his whole company man thing that people shit on him for, the whole “Saudi blood money” tweet, etc). One of the best things about Punk is he works so well in both babyface/antihero and heel roles. This run - if he can keep himself issue free and healthy- could be the best of his career. |
12-06-2023, 03:19 PM | #63 |
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If Cm Punk goes to Saudi for the next crown jewel - will you riot?
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12-06-2023, 03:37 PM | #64 |
Feeling Oof-y
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Nah. Nobody cares about the optics of going to Saudi anymore. Punk should cut a vignette swimming in his blood money Scrouge McDuck style.
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12-08-2023, 08:47 AM | #65 |
( ._.)
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Cena went back to Saudi recently right?
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12-10-2023, 04:22 AM | #66 |
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Nice CM Punk appearance on NXT with Shawn Michaels.
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12-11-2023, 02:15 PM | #67 |
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Pretty sure CM Punk has been helping Shawn Michaels with NXT, either in an official capacity or not. Fuck AEW is stupid.
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12-12-2023, 04:58 AM | #68 | |
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Quote:
Another great promo by Punk on RAW. First time I've cared about Seth Rollins since the Shield. |
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12-12-2023, 10:45 AM | #69 |
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Yeah, the NXT locker room has got to be dream after doing time in AEW.
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12-12-2023, 11:13 AM | #70 |
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Just watched the Raw promo. Punk’s finding a flavor, isn’t he? A bit weird to connect Cleveland to Raw, but whatever. I appreciate the history. Can’t get into Seth though.
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12-12-2023, 11:15 AM | #71 |
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He’s just so forced. And his gimmick as the WWE’s boot licker who dresses weird just misses for me. I don’t know why they need to play into this idea that Punk is “controversial.” Makes everyone seem like giant pussies.
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12-12-2023, 12:00 PM | #72 |
CodeBot Engaged...WOAAHH!
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No mention of how he hyped up Cleveland and THAT building for his UFC debut
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12-12-2023, 12:11 PM | #73 |
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The Punk/Rollins story will obviously evolve, but there’s something about Hangman Rollins that just feels so dry.
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12-13-2023, 11:21 AM | #74 |
1-0 TPWW Chess Master
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Punk is hitting his stride. Add in the fact that he is not only at NXT but he is helping is a huge thing. He can compare the way AEW tried to do things with Collision and then help WWE make their product stronger. Everything he has done since he came back has shown that the guy does have leadership but its also a huge middle finger to AEW.
Win win for me. |
12-13-2023, 03:35 PM | #75 |
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This is so great. Next thing is he'll play a part in getting Bret Hart signed as a coach for NXT.
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12-13-2023, 04:17 PM | #76 |
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I thought Bret signed something with WWE earlier this year, but that mustn’t have happened/fallen through.
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12-14-2023, 04:45 AM | #77 |
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Did not know this. If that's the case bring him to NXT and let him work with the younger guys. Learning from both Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Wow.
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12-14-2023, 07:02 AM | #78 |
boop/bop/beep
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12-14-2023, 07:28 AM | #79 |
boop/bop/beep
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12-14-2023, 08:14 AM | #80 |
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I have a feeling Punk has been helping out with NXT creative too. I didn’t really watch much prior to Punk coming back, but I just get that vibe from it.
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