"100,001" Replies (Wrestling Forum)

[Mr. Nerfect]

Can you guys imagine how a Bray Wyatt/Sami Zayn story could go down? I think that is money in the making.

I think that would be really cool. I've imagined it before. It's the sort of thing that I wouldn't actually want to book -- I'd let those guys take it in the direction it needs to go. My guess is that Bray would hate the normality of Zayn, for some reason. He sees him as a false idol, and his adulation as an assault on his purpose.

To be honest, Brock vs. Bray has a really cool appeal to it too. Especially if Wyatt had The Family back on his side. Can you imagine Bray Wyatt standing in the ring with Brock, not looking afraid, only for Harper and Rowan to appear with him and Brock suddenly gets slightly more worried than we have seen him in a long time? Can you imagine the promos Bray could cut on "Mr. Beast; Mr. Ultimate Fighter"?

As for another Sami Zayn feud I'd like to see -- I really want to see The Miz vs. Sami Zayn. Like more than I should. The Miz with his dismissive Hollywood attitude, and Zayn just being a guy that has worked really hard to be a wrestler. Have Maryse fly in for a segment with The Miz, and have Zayn tell her "This guy is a jerk and you deserve a real man" in French as The Miz looks on confused and you can start that thing cooking really fast.

[Evil Vito]

Maybe a winner has a manager that takes control of the briefcase and uses it to bring in a new talent. That could be used to teased a face turn for the true winner.

<font color=goldenrod>A manager supporting his client at MITB only to jump in and grab the briefcase for himself when everyone else is down would be pretty fucking incredible, actually. Imagine Heyman gets saddled with another client while Brock is away and then does this very thing. Okay, I can't really picture Heyman climbing a ladder without laughing but still.

You could have the Authority demand Heyman return the briefcase only for Heyman to say via satellite that he'll only return it to the company if they agree to give his only true client, Brock Lesnar, his deserved title rematch.

Brock wins only for somebody else to come out with the briefcase, hit Lesnar with the case, and reveal himself as the new Paul Heyman Guy/the guy Heyman is truly giving the briefcase to. Hell maybe that could be Reigns himself since we all seem to love the idea of heel Reigns w/ Heyman vs. face Lesnar.

Convoluted? Probably. But I'd still love to see that program.</font>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Did you happen to get that idea from any source or is that your creation? Either way, you should really try and get that idea out there because it is MONEY. I was watching Alberto El Patron's Youshoot last night and he had a quote where he said "In Mexico the fan's don't care about the titles, they are secondary to the mask, and the hair". It made me really think about how unique that is compared to us here in the states. I don't really know how the story could come up, I would like for there to be a reason instead of Rhonda or Steph just outright saying "I want your hair on the line".

I haven't seen anyone else suggest it, but it basically came from me thinking about stipulations that would make Steph vs. Ronda even larger. I mean, I can't imagine Steph particularly wanting to step into the ring with Ronda, hence why it starts as Triple H vs. Rock. But if Rock wins, Ronda gets Steph. But because so much pride is on the line, it's not enough for these two to beat each other up. Ronda wants to leave her mark on Steph forever; and Steph vice versa. Hair vs. Hair came up due to the stipulation between Vince and Donald Trump from WrestleMania 23, as well as thinking back to Molly vs. Victoria from WrestleMania XX.

How exactly does it come up? The hair sponsorship angle would be good enough. Maybe Steph can make a particularly nasty comment to a Diva or a random employee about their hair earlier in the show, so it is fresh in the audience's mind? Or you could have Stephanie introduce it as a way to show how confident she is, and because she wants to send Ronda back to the UFC with her tail between her legs.

[Mr. Nerfect]

<font color=goldenrod>A manager supporting his client at MITB only to jump in and grab the briefcase for himself when everyone else is down would be pretty fucking incredible, actually. Imagine Heyman gets saddled with another client while Brock is away and then does this very thing. Okay, I can't really picture Heyman climbing a ladder without laughing but still.

You could have the Authority demand Heyman return the briefcase only for Heyman to say via satellite that he'll only return it to the company if they agree to give his only true client, Brock Lesnar, his deserved title rematch.

Brock wins only for somebody else to come out with the briefcase, hit Lesnar with the case, and reveal himself as the new Paul Heyman Guy/the guy Heyman is truly giving the briefcase to. Hell maybe that could be Reigns himself since we all seem to love the idea of heel Reigns w/ Heyman vs. face Lesnar.

Convoluted? Probably. But I'd still love to see that program.</font>

Heyman is the perfect guy to get control of the briefcase somehow. I don't know if I am down for him climbing the ladder himself, since it should stand to reason that only a registered competition in a Ladder Match can win it...unless the contract is really poorly worded or something, and Heyman technically can.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Another far fetched idea, but if WWE truly are dead set on making WM 32 mostly a shameless nostalgia show (including Brock/Rock, Taker/Sting, HHH/Austin or whatever the fuck else) it'd be kinda cool if they still had the show be main evented by fresher faces competing for the WWE Title to try and signify a transition. I'll take The Shield competing in a triple threat for the title any time, but to do it at Mania atop a card scattered with legends would be so cool.</font>

[Jordan]

That would be a fantastic way to get the Wyatt family back together and to solidify Brock as face. Stephanie could hire them to deal with her Brock problem.

As for the Miz and Sami, it reminds me a lot of Miz vs Bryan, which I don't really mind but I don't really need. I think that if Sami Zayn truly got more mainstream interest, like a really good film (where he plays brothers with Seth Rogan) that The Miz's jealousy would make for an interesting feud. I could be wrong but I don't know if having Sami Zayn take Maryse makes him look that cool, like I don't know if that is true to his character.

[Jordan]

<font color=goldenrod>A manager supporting his client at MITB only to jump in and grab the briefcase for himself when everyone else is down would be pretty fucking incredible, actually. Imagine Heyman gets saddled with another client while Brock is away and then does this very thing. Okay, I can't really picture Heyman climbing a ladder without laughing but still.

You could have the Authority demand Heyman return the briefcase only for Heyman to say via satellite that he'll only return it to the company if they agree to give his only true client, Brock Lesnar, his deserved title rematch.

Brock wins only for somebody else to come out with the briefcase, hit Lesnar with the case, and reveal himself as the new Paul Heyman Guy/the guy Heyman is truly giving the briefcase to. Hell maybe that could be Reigns himself since we all seem to love the idea of heel Reigns w/ Heyman vs. face Lesnar.

Convoluted? Probably. But I'd still love to see that program.</font>

That would be awesome

[Evil Vito]

Heyman is the perfect guy to get control of the briefcase somehow. I don't know if I am down for him climbing the ladder himself, since it should stand to reason that only a registered competition in a Ladder Match can win it...unless the contract is really poorly worded or something, and Heyman technically can.

<font color=goldenrod>I was under the thought process that Heyman isn't allowed to win it, hence the Authority trying to demand he return it while Heyman stays away from the arena and basically holds it as ransom. Of course if there are any loopholes he can always be sure to remind us that he learned a lot about the legal world from his father.</font>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Heyman could hold it up as a ransom. I'm reminded of Damien Sandow getting his briefcase thrown into the river and being really upset about it. As the winner shouldn't the WWE just do him up a new one? And that they did. Ambrose also ripped up Rollins' and he just had a new one next week. Which makes sense.

There are ways to do it, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure The Authority couldn't just say "New Ladder Match." He's got to find a way to make that contract worth something. Probably the easiest thing is to have it poorly worded so that he can get around it and technically pass it onto Brock or the latest Paul Heyman Guy.

[Jordan]

Just remember that we had 7 matches on the card this year, and only one match comming near 20 minutes. I don't think we will see as many legends as the early reports suggest. The big difference maker would be Austin but I don't see it. 12 years since his last match and he has always seemed content with going out against The Rock. I think the legends will be Sting and The Undertaker, and probably The Rock and Triple H.

Noid, I understand the excitement you have in your booking of Triple H vs The Rock. Whatever happens though we need to know that we will for sure see Rhonda in action. So perhaps If Triple H wins he gets five minutes with Rhonda, if Rocky wins Rhonda gets five with Steph.

I don't think they would add the hair vs hair onto that gimmick already. Hair vs Hair would be an amazing draw if they just announced the match outright.

After establishing Roman Reigns as the new guy this year and Seth as the new bad guy, one or both of them should probably be involved in the title match this year. Roman vs Brock, or Roman vs Cena make sense to me. I can't really think of a match that sells me on a main event for Seth Rollins but if they could come up with one I wouldn't be against it.

Dean Ambrose would have quite a journey to make it to the main event of WM 32 and I don't see that happening. Though that triple threat match really should happen at some point.

[Jordan]

Either way Rhonda armbars a McMahon

[Evil Vito]

Just remember that we had 7 matches on the card this year, and only one match comming near 20 minutes. I don't think we will see as many legends as the early reports suggest. The big difference maker would be Austin but I don't see it. 12 years since his last match and he has always seemed content with going out against The Rock. I think the legends will be Sting and The Undertaker, and probably The Rock and Triple H.

<font color=goldenrod>While he may not be a "legend" on the same level as the guys listed I wouldn't rule out Batista coming back in to do something. When he re-signed in 2014 it was said to be a 2-year deal through WM 32 and Batista said he'd be back for the long term. That was, of course, before anybody had seen how great he was as Drax and him getting other movie offers.

Still, if he's not filming something by the time WM 32 rolls around, I could see him being down for doing something and WWE would probably oblige. Just not sure what.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Oh and Chris Jericho too. If (big if) they have Bryan is still IC champion during next WM season, the guy with the most IC Title reigns ever may want to be the one to end his run. He could do great promo work about how much the belt meant to him and his career.

I know Jericho's said he only wants to come in now to work with young guys and Bryan is hardly young at this point...but it's tough to imagine he wouldn't be enticed to work with a wrestler as good as Bryan in front of 100,000 people as his swan song before maybe hanging it up for good.</font>

[Jordan]

I'd like to see Batista vs Lesnar, that could be epic. And Bryan/Jericho could steal the show. Just thinking about Austin, I think he should be the referee for whatever happens with Rhonda. I'm still hoping for an intergender tag, with Austin as the ref that would be hot.

[Vastardikai]

I wonder if Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ever look back and realize that Cornette knew what he was talking about.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It'd be interesting to hear their thoughts on him. Man, it sounds like Cornette had some great ideas for ROH and just got fucked around. But basically everything I've heard Cornette say on ROH, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens makes total sense.

[Vastardikai]

At the time, Steen felt Cornette was fucking him over and he wasn't going to do anything about his appearance (especially his weight). He goes from Steen to Owens, and he's cut his hair, trimmed his beard, and he lost a fair amount of weight.

And I can't help but think that Zayn could have made more money (and I'm sure he did well for himself) had he cut a promo. On one hand, I understand why he didn't. But at the same time, he rode the Generico train as far as it was going to go and as a good talker with a good look and a great bumper, he probably could have done more without the mask.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd like to see Batista vs Lesnar, that could be epic. And Bryan/Jericho could steal the show. Just thinking about Austin, I think he should be the referee for whatever happens with Rhonda. I'm still hoping for an intergender tag, with Austin as the ref that would be hot.

Brock Lesnar vs. Batista is probably the biggest thing they could do, given that wrestling fans are inclined to cheer Brock and are inclined to boo Batista. There's a lot of similarities between the guys, but enough of a personality difference to really give the match a good dynamic. It was actually on my fantasy card for WrestleMania XXX, before they ran with Batista as the Royal Rumble Winner and Brock ending the streak.

Austin as the Special Guest Ref for the Steph and Ronda stuff also makes sense when you consider the history between Austin and Triple H and The Rock. I know they won't do Hair vs. Hair, but Rock vs. Triple H with Austin as Special Guest Referee where if Rock wins, Ronda gets Stephanie in a Hair vs. Hair Match would be EPIC! Like it could sell Mania on its own epic. Then you've got Brock vs. Batista and...

The Undertaker vs. Seth Rollins. I know people do want to see Taker vs. Sting, but I think at this point that they might just put Sting in as a Hall of Fame attraction, or maybe foil Triple H assistance as revenge for last year. Rollins is the perfect foil for Taker, if you really think about it, and Rollins putting down Taker with a Curb Stomp would get tremendous heat for him. It may not close the show, but working Taker is a main event.

Cena vs. Reigns to close. The current franchise vs. the guy they want to be the franchise. Who do the fans cheer in this one? Probably Reigns, but they may surprise people with a Rock/Hogan moment, where Cena finally gets accepted as the great talent that he is. People seem to like the idea of pairing Heyman and Reigns, but if Brock is going to be with Heyman and a face, maybe Heyman could also be with Reigns as a face. Given that Brock would be tied up with Batista, Reigns going after the title doesn't clash with Brock's agenda...at that point in time. Heyman hyping this match could make Reigns the coolest motherfucker on the planet.

At first I was like "no way they do Bryan vs. Jericho" when you guys suggested it. But the more I think about it, the more I can see it. Jericho himself has said he pitched the match to Vince. I see them hyping it as a wrestling classic that they want to rival to Steamboat/Savage from WrestleMania III, without putting too much pressure on it -- you know. They'll talk about the Intercontinental Title classics. This will be Jericho's best chance to have another amazing match at WrestleMania, and you just know he will put 100% in to achieve the results he wants (like he ever doesn't put that sort of effort in). Plus, if Bryan is still the Intercontinental Champion by this point, I can see them going balls-in with him and letting him break Honky Tonk Man's record. Why not? Have Bryan hold the title until SummerSlam of that year. It'd be a 519 day reign as Intercontinental Champion.

Who do you have Orton fight at the PPV? I guess you've got Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt and Rusev left as your current big stars not booked in this scenario. Oh, and Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler, I guess. There's also the chance an NXT guy will make it big. I can't see them jamming Orton into a Ladder Match. I think he gets to work with a pretty big heel at this show. If they do a Ladder Match for the US Title, then Rusev being in that makes sense. Dean Ambrose being in a Ladder Match looking to redeem himself for last year also makes sense. I guess that leaves Bray Wyatt as the perfect opponent for Orton -- and it'd be believable that Bray would get a win in that match. Maybe Bray indoctrinates Jasper Orton or something during the course of the feud. But maybe they do Orton vs. Balor? You just know that would be hot. Or do they do Wyatt vs. Balor to decide who the New Face of Fear in WWE is? Let's go with that one, because I think having two younger guys face off gives it a different feel to every other match on the card.

Tag Team Titles? Can't see The Usos missing out. It may not make the main show again, but I see The Usos leaving this Mania with the titles. Not sure if Cesaro & Kidd will still be teaming, and it's possible that Cesaro is in the Ladder Match and Kidd works the Battle Royal, but how about another Fatal 4-Way (as much as I hate them), pitting Cesaro & Kidd against The Wyatt Family (back together), The Usos and Sami Zayn & Neville, or something. Or do they turn Owens and have him realize the importance of Zayn's friendship? Let's go with that.

The Ladder Match can have Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Bad News Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Rusev, Neville and Randy Orton as the big star chasing the only title he has never held in WWE -- the US Title -- and to make it feel like this match isn't just the "other guys" thrown together.

The Divas match will likely have to feature Paige, The Bellas, Charlotte and Sasha Banks by this point. I'd rather see The Bellas moved into less ring-focused roles by this point in time, with them maybe doing some sort of valet duty for Bryan and Cena at Mania 32, but I just can't see it. Maybe they do another Vickie Guerrero Invitational and use this to bring back some women of the past -- like Trish Stratus and Lita. I'd rather see Charlotte defending the Divas Title against Paige and Sasha Banks, however, winding down a hot feud with Paige (in which Paige uses her sexuality to lead Ric Flair astray and get under Charlotte's skin as revenge on Charlotte for taking the title off her), but I think the VG Invitational is more likely. I'll suggest the Triple Threat, however. Trish and Lita can have a segment where they congratulate the new champion or get in the face of the two girls who lost or something.

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal can be on the Kickoff show again. Big Show would be looking to repeat. Hideo Itami would be looking for revenge. This would be Tyler Breeze's first WrestleMania. The Miz got close last time, before Damien Sandow messed it up. Damien was the runner-up last time and is looking to improve on that. The New Age Outlaws can be in there. Kane can come back with a classic costume for a bit of a pop. Mark Henry can be in there as a home-state guy and the strongest man in the world. They can get The Great Khali back to appeal to the Indian audience. Maybe some guys outside the company get to make a pay-day here?

That's eight matches, so it's likely the Tag Titles get bumped again, sadly. Or maybe it's the Divas' turn this year, since Steph and Ronda will be representing the women on the main show?

[Mr. Nerfect]

At the time, Steen felt Cornette was fucking him over and he wasn't going to do anything about his appearance (especially his weight). He goes from Steen to Owens, and he's cut his hair, trimmed his beard, and he lost a fair amount of weight.

And I can't help but think that Zayn could have made more money (and I'm sure he did well for himself) had he cut a promo. On one hand, I understand why he didn't. But at the same time, he rode the Generico train as far as it was going to go and as a good talker with a good look and a great bumper, he probably could have done more without the mask.

Sami Zayn really hasn't had much of a learning curve when it comes to using his face and voice in NXT. Could he have had more gravitas on the independent scene without the mask? Sure. But we might also have gotten spoiled and used to a certain quality from Zayn and become quite expectant.

I'm honestly not sure what Steen used to look like in ROH. He still looks like an "indy guy" to me. Did he look much different?

[GD]

I love how Americans think that Khali is the biggest thing to have ever happened in India. You guys have clearly never heard of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or Sachin Tendulkar.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

I watched a bit of nxt yesterday. They've got some smokin' brauds on the show. There was some Aussie bird Emma, and then Alexa Bliss who is unreal. They were the highlights.

All the blokes seem really short, making it seem too much like an Indy show. Think there was only one guy who looked to be over 5'10. Brooklyn guy. Him and his tag partner seemed good. Are they getting pushed up to wwe any time soon? They tried to put "Kevin Owens" over as being as dangerous as Brock Lesnar which seems ridiculous. "Finn Balor" seemed sweet though.

[The Rogerer]

Batista vs Lesnar would be silly. Batista was only getting booed because he was being handed the main event on a plate despite being out of shape and weird looking, in spite of Daniel Bryan. People had warmed to him by the time he left, and that was before Guardians of the Galaxy. You need to build someone up to Brock's level internally.

[Seth82]

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2015/04/sgNyGajCQROEq0UKjzy8_iYpRNQW.gif

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2015/04/SjvXnrSnm2A13u0wKoNg_fhVMiLz.gif

[MoFo]

Daniel Bryan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura being teased is really fucking cool. No way the WWE does it, as I doubt they would really want to give New Japan World any publicity, but there could be a case made for it. The WWE wants the Network to launch strong in Japan, and having an Intercontinental Champion vs. Intercontinental Champion match would be a great way to get more good will in Japan, where they could sign up quite a few more subscribers, if they find a way to make their product really appeal to that market. I'm not sure if having one Japanese guy in development and putting one Japanese guy into the Hall of Fame achieves that goal.

Plus, Shinsuke Nakamura is really awesome and could actually get over stateside.





Is Nakamura that guy who had trials with the WWE but they didn't sign him because he looks like a fat lesbian

[Seth82]

Is Nakamura that guy who had trials with the WWE but they didn't sign him because he looks like a fat lesbian

this is Nakamura.

hardly fat at all or lesbian looking.

He in my opinion is one of Japan's greatest stars right now. He's huge over there.

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/534b45cde4b092d7f2cbfdb6/t/54d94b47e4b0b3595f742cb2/1423526728065/shinsuke+nakamura

[Evil Vito]

Is Nakamura that guy who had trials with the WWE but they didn't sign him because he looks like a fat lesbian

<font color=goldenrod>That would be Takeshi Morishima.</font>

http://www.puroresucentral.com/Images2/morishimanew.jpg

[Innovator]

You're thinking of Morishima.

[Innovator]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>La Parka! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJPW?src=hash">#NJPW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJAttack?src=hash">#NJAttack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KennyOmegamanX">@KennyOmegamanX</a> <a href="http://t.co/qPr27LDlxd">pic.twitter.com/qPr27LDlxd</a></p>&mdash; LARIATOOOOO!!! (@SenorLARIATO) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/584766766338932736">April 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Rammsteinmad]

this is Nakamura.

hardly fat at all or lesbian looking.

He in my opinion is one of Japan's greatest stars right now. He's huge over there.

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/534b45cde4b092d7f2cbfdb6/t/54d94b47e4b0b3595f742cb2/1423526728065/shinsuke+nakamura

Looks like every other Japanese wrestler.

[Hanso Amore]

this is Nakamura.

hardly fat at all or lesbian looking.

He in my opinion is one of Japan's greatest stars right now. He's huge over there.

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/534b45cde4b092d7f2cbfdb6/t/54d94b47e4b0b3595f742cb2/1423526728065/shinsuke+nakamura

"In my Opinion"

What? I dont like jap shit at all and I know hes hands down one of the top 3 biggest stars in japan PERIOD. Why are you adding that modifier?

[Seth82]

"In my Opinion"

What? I dont like jap shit at all and I know hes hands down one of the top 3 biggest stars in japan PERIOD. Why are you adding that modifier?

I said he's huge over there.

I didn't mean to act like it was only in my opinion that he was a great star in Japan.

[Vastardikai]

How many wrestlers wish they had a drop of the charisma that oozes off of Nakamura?

[Droford]

Looks like every other Japanese wrestler.

Japanese Michael Jackson

[Fignuts]

Absurd amount of charisma on Nakamura, considering the stoic culture of Japan.

He's just straight up fun to watch.

[Seth82]

I know I get a lot of shit and laughed at for these posts. I'm fine with that as long as one person learns about our history with these memorial posts.

Steve Rickard was an extremely important and influential person in wrestling's history. He was one of the longest running members of the NWA to my knowledge well into the 1990s.

May he RIP.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2015/04/06/22329156.html

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2015/04/06/rickard.jpg

Steve Rickard, key figure in New Zealand's wrestling history, dead at 85

There were two distinct sides to the wrestling life of Steve Rickard. He was a globetrotting grappler before becoming the most influential and important promoter in the history of pro wrestling in New Zealand. His knowledge of being on the mat earned him respect.

After all, Harley Race and Ric Flair defied the NWA Board of the Directors and exchanged the NWA World title for Rickard in 1984.

It's a well-told story, but worth repeating, since it wouldn't have happened without Rickard, who died Sunday in his native New Zealand, at the age of 85.

Flair and Race switched NWA World title without the approval of the NWA Board of Directors while on a

March 1984 tour of New Zealand. It was Race's idea, in part to help the sagging business of Kiwi promoter Steve Rickard. As Flair said: "If Harley Race okayed it, it was hard for anyone to tell them different."


In 2008, Flair talked about the title change with Simon Sweetman of the old www.nzpwi.com site: "Yeah, well, that's one of those disputed times I'm talking about, that's probably the 17th championship right there ... but it's not one of the ones that officially counts. We did that as a favour to your promoter down there; a man named Steve Rickard. This was before much in the way of TV down your way ... and so we did that, as was the way then, agreed to drop the title, to help build the event, to help promote it. And it worked. It definitely worked. I had a good time down there."

Tours of New Zealand were memorable for many wrestlers from North America, and Rickard was known as a honorable man.

"Steve Rickard was one of the nicest, fairest promoters I ever had the pleasure to work for. I was lucky enough to work for him three separate times," Moondog Ed Moretti wrote in 2009.

Rickard was actually born Sydney Mervin Batt on September 3, 1929, in Napier, New Zealand. Amateur wrestling entered his life at the age of 14, and not long after he started working to support his mother and three younger brothers. He originally was a police detective, but bought the Hutt Park Hotel, and ran that for 15 years.

As an amateur in the 1940s, Rickard was a notable name in the conversation for the national championships. He trained amateurs and later pros.

An atlas is a good companion to figure out all the places that Rickard wrestled, as documented in a magazine article from the 1970s by New Zealand historian Dave Cameron: "Steve Rickard is rapidly becoming known as the greatest globetrotter in wrestling. In recent years he has made numerous trips to Australia, several to Singapore, and has wrestled in Canada, U.S.A., Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and right through the Pacific Islands New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii."

That travel never stopped. Rickard continued to be involved in pro wrestling through the years. He was still on the NWA Board of Directors in 1994 when Shane Douglas famously threw down the NWA World title, and was president of the NWA from 1995-96. The Cauliflower Alley Club honoured him for his work in wrestling with an award at its annual banquet in March 1997 at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City, Calif.

A notable run came as the "son" of the legendary King Kong Czaja in India, working as Young Kong. "The Indians liked him. The name alone was sufficient to draw them to his bouts by the thousands," wrote Cameron. "At one stadium in India he found he was the only European wrestler on the bill, and it seemed only natural that the Indians would want their local favourites to win. Steve was booked against the home star, Tiger Sucha Singh, in a place called Zijayawada. It was a hard scientific contest with Steve taking the deciding fall after about 50 minutes. Spectators were storming the ring from all sides. But there was no need to worry. Steve was hoisted on their shoulders and carried from the ring. This is something a wrestler doesn't expect when in another country."

Historically, though, Rickard's greatest contribution was probably as a promoter, and his rise parallels the story of television in New Zealand.

"We really didn't get TV until '64 and '67 over the whole country. It used to start at three in the afternoon and finish at 10," Bushwacker Luke Williams recalled for the Ring Around the Northwest newsletter in June 2012.

The first professional wrestling show on New Zealand TV was the Australian promotion, Big Time Wrestling, put on by Jim Barnett. Lasted less than a year, but with Rickard involved with Barnett promoting some shows in his home country, it set the stage for his own show.

Rickard taped his first "On The Mat" show in 1973, but he'd promoted for years before that, under the Dominion Wrestling Union banner he had inherited from longtime promoter Walter Miller, and then as All Star Pro Wrestling. With only one main station in the country, TV1, there wasn't a spot for his show; enter the TV2 station needing new programming.

The NZOnScreen.com website addressed the progression from there: "The first 14 episodes were taped in Auckland and briefly in Hamilton after which it found a home at the Canterbury Court Stadium in Christchurch; although the final season in 1983 was shot at the Auckland YMCA. On the Mat ran for a TV half-hour and had two commentators. Rickard described the technical aspects of what was happening in the ring and Ernie Leonard added colour. In 1981 Leonard moved to produce the show and Barry Holland came on as the second commentator and presenter. The commentators would announce the card to camera and then introduce and commentate on each match. Shows generally included two or three wrestling matches, an interview and/or an excerpt from an overseas match (usually from the US)."

The promotion was off and running and resulted in a boom in popularity for pro wrestling again -- it had been really big in New Zealand before in the 1930s.

On The Mat ran from 1975 to 1983, and made stars out of the likes of Mark Lewin, King Curtis Iaukea, Rick Martel and Don Muraco. It also helped set the stage for homegrown Kiwi stars such as the Bushwackers/Kiwis/Sheepherders, and Sivi Afi. Later, he promoted the show "The Main Event."

In his autobiography, Life On The Mat, Steve Rickard talked of two talented performers he helped along the way: "Among the current crop of wrestlers are two who have made it to the top without any amateur back-ground, Peter Maivia and Siva Afi Peter Maivia is rated in the top 10 in the world while Siva is the current New Zealand and Hawaiian Heavyweight champion."

As for the Bushwackers, who were just recognized by the WWE Hall of Fame, it was Rickard who was key to their career. He had known them in New Zealand, and brought them into Hawaii, where he was promoting. Business wasn't great there, but Butch Miller and Luke Williams met Roddy Piper and "Playboy" Buddy Rose, who invited them to come wrestle in Portland, Ore. "[We] did have a USA Visa which Steve Rickard had got for us for 6 months. Thank you Steve, that was a big thing you did for us," wrote Miller in a 2002 online column.

Rickard saw all kinds of untapped markets on the smaller islands and other countries.

British wrestler Earl Black recalled one such attempt by Rickard: "In Singapore, promoter Steve Rickard had managed to get away from the old system of having rounds, like boxing, and brought in time-limit wrestling matches. On one show, a one-hour six-man tag team was advertised. The capacity crowd enjoyed the match, until the fall was taken after forty minutes, and the match ended. They considered that they had been ripped off, and that a one-hour time limit match, should actually last an hour."

The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) told a story of "High Chief" Peter Maivia's return home to Western Samoa for the first time in 15 years, for a bout promoted by Rickard. At stake was The Destroyer's U.S. title, and like Flair and Race and the NWA World belt, it is an unrecognized title change.

"We could have wrestled three times in one day and still packed the house," Beyer recalled with awe. It was one of the easiest nights he ever had. Though the fans were packed so tight their arms reached into the ring, they were putty in the hands of the skilled mat veterans.

"You talk about wrestling somebody and not having to do anything, and have the people want to come in the ring and kill you, that was the kind of match it was," said Beyer. "All I had to do was grab an arm hold on him, boom! Maybe I grab a little hair, pull him down, and those people are halfway coming in the ring." Naturally, Maivia went over, winning the U.S. title and setting off pandemonium. "I worked to where I got disqualified and he won my belt. We went out to dinner later -- the promoter threw a dinner for his family, my family. I said, 'I need that belt, because I'm leaving for New Zealand tomorrow, and I'm taking that belt with me.' I got the belt back, and nobody in America ever knew that, or that the match ever took place."

When Ed Francis decided to end his promotional days in Hawaii, and become a cattle farmer in Oregon, he sold the promotion to Steve Rickard. The Kiwi then brought in two partners, Rick Martel and Peter Maivia.

It was a short-lived partnership, said Martel. "We had some creative differences ... I had the book there. It was really good. I brought in Roddy [Piper]. Hawaii was a small place. ... You had to give them a really good show with hard working guys and you could draw some money. But Peter had just come in from New York, and he was trying to bring in Baron Scicluna, his friends. Nice guys, but hard-working guys they are not. No bumps. In New York, you could get away with that, the millions of people. Different style. In Hawaii, you needed hard-working guys that could take bumps. So Steve and I were kind of locking horns on that and different things. Finally, I just said, 'Look, I can't work this way anymore' and just left. I remember the day I brought Roddy in. I was all excited. 'Oh man, I've got Roddy Piper. The man is great.' I remember we used to fly him in from New Zealand every month. The first show that Roddy was there, it was great, he was giving an interview, it was fantastic, the match, the whole thing. 'Oh Peter, wasn't that great?' (imitating voice) 'Oh, he's okay, he's okay.' That's when I knew."

Rickard didn't promote in Hawaii for all that long, returning to promoting around New Zealand. He had two sons who both entered the wrestling business, and Martel knew them both well.

Tony Rickard was a referee. "Tony was the loud one. Tony loved the business, but he wasn't big enough," said Martel. The other son, Ricky, was a wrestler who had good amateur background; "He was a shy personality, he didn't really like the wrestling business."

Much of the history of pro wrestling in New Zealand was captured in the documentary, Wrestling Spectacular! A Kiwi Century on the Mat, at kiwiwrestling.com.

During the last years of his life, Steve Rickard suffered from dementia, and lived with his son, Tony, in Queensland, Australia. His wife, Lorraine, died in 2010.

[drave]

Honestly, what you do is great. You should try to find some wrestling archiving job or something, if it exists. If not, start a god damn history museum or something.

Do you, Seth82, fuck the haters, they have nothing more creative to do.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Honestly, what you do is great. You should try to find some wrestling archiving job or something, if it exists. If not, start a god damn history museum or something.

Do you, Seth82, fuck the haters, they have nothing more creative to do.

https://careers-wwecorp.icims.com/jobs/3639/media-inventory-assistant/job

[Jura]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZfbUlcM64I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Volare]

Did this get posted in the NXT forum? Cause if not this is fucking can't miss!

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vh_cxvZy0OE?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Honestly, what you do is great. You should try to find some wrestling archiving job or something, if it exists. If not, start a god damn history museum or something.

Do you, Seth82, fuck the haters, they have nothing more creative to do.

Everything he posts is copy and pasted from somewhere else lol

[Rammsteinmad]

I don't get what's so special about Itami doing the GTS now. I know he was the originator of the move, but it doesn't seem like such a big deal to me.

[Volare]

That's what I like about it honestly. The move itself is already over, and now it's the innovator doing it, adds a little bit to me at least in terms of "how damaging a finisher is."

[Emperor Smeat]

http://i.imgur.com/32cAfIr.gif

[Fignuts]

Been watching a ton of japanese women's wrestling lately. Fucking AJW was sooooo good.

[Lock Jaw]

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11084838_802973113112307_323843700_n.jpg
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11015602_1549694455304666_152200353_n.jpg
RUSEV UDREA RUSEV MACHKA

[Volare]

Looks like he cleared the mall.

[Lock Jaw]

RUSEV...... SHOP!!

http://i.imgur.com/jPoEA1S.jpg

[Volare]

Accolade on a mall guard....

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The new <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE">@WWE</a> PPV schedule is up! Pretty clear <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AXELMANIA?src=hash">#AXELMANIA</a> will be running wild in 2015..brother! <a href="http://t.co/VzMjXbph00">pic.twitter.com/VzMjXbph00</a></p>&mdash; Mick Foley (@realmickfoley) <a href="https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/585236982042857473">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Savio]

John helps Wiz's love life:

http://uproxx.com/prowrestling/2015/04/you-cant-leave-me-how-john-cena-saved-wiz-khalifa-and-amber-roses-relationship/

[drave]

Everything he posts is copy and pasted from somewhere else lol

So? No one else is bringing that info. I enjoy reading them myself, and tend to learn a thing here or there when doing so.

[Big Vic]

Wish I could tell Stone Cold that I don't care about the problems he is having with his lawnmower. #FirstTenMinutesOfEachPodcast

[Big Vic]

25 minutes in to the podcast he decides to start the show.

[slik]

WWE has signed an exclusive multi-year deal with Rapper Kid Ink to use his music as theme songs for SummerSlam, Survivor Series, The Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. The deal is said to include past music as well as any music from future albums.

- Ryan Clark, tpww.net

[Rammsteinmad]

Yay.

[Lock Jaw]

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BHYx-L7CYAALmo9.jpg

[Lock Jaw]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/500/795/Daniel-Bryan-CM-Punk-and-Zack-Ryder-after-winning-the-match_crop_650x440.jpg?1324696893

[Jordan]

Sports Illustrated Article on how WWE got covered by ESPN (http://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/04/05/media-circus-wwe-ufc-brock-lesnar-espn-sportscenter)

[Emperor Smeat]

Dirtsheets sponsored by Big Poopa Pump fragrance "Clothesline":

http://i.imgur.com/MqVnJ8k.gif

Whatcha gonna do brother, when a former wrestling star (allegedly) threatens to KILL YOU!?

Well, if you're Hulk Hogan -- you call the cops ... because that's exactly what happened during an alleged incident in San Jose involving Hulk's former wrestling ally Scott Steiner.

Here's what we know ... Hulk's wife Jennifer flew into San Jose for WrestleMania on March 26th -- and claims Steiner grabbed her at baggage claim and said he plans to "kill Terry" [Hulk's real name] as soon as he lands.

Sources close to the Hogans tell us ... Jennifer didn't recognize Steiner and called Hulk immediately -- who took the next flight into S.J. and went with her to file a police report early the next morning.

We're told cops are now investigating Steiner for "felony terrorist threats" -- and so far, officials have already gathered airport surveillance video which we're told shows Steiner confronting Jennifer.

As for Steiner, he's been very public about his dislike of Hogan for years -- and blames him for the demise of WCW wrestling ... where Scott and Hulk were allies in the NWO.

We reached out to Steiner for comment -- who told us, "Typical Hogan. He's just a punk."

Monday's episode of WWE RAW, with Ryback vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton in the main event, drew 3.964 million viewers. This is down from last week's 5.364 million viewers for the post-WrestleMania 31 episode.

For this week's show, the first hour drew 4.300 million viewers, the second hour drew 4.039 million viewers and the final hour drew 3.552 million viewers.
Didn't help that the NCAA basketball title game was a very close and competitive game (22.6 million viewers average). Also probably by the third hour people figured Bryan and other missing stars weren't showing up.

NEW YORK, N.Y., and STAMFORD, Conn. — USA is expanding its commitment to WWE, with reality competition series “WWE Tough Enough” returning Tuesday, June 23, at 8/7 C with a reimagined format and new, live elements. Additionally, SmackDown is coming to USA Network in the first quarter of 2016.

Global Force Wrestling to partner with Bandit Lites, the global leader in event and concert lighting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When Global Force Wrestling brings its fresh, high-energy, fan-friendly brand to Las Vegas for the first taping of its broadcast shows on July 24 at the Orleans Arena, Bandit Lites will light the way.

Bandit, a 22-time winner of lighting company of the year, is the worldwide leader in event and concert lighting. Born in the 1960s in Kingsport, Tennessee, Bandit is headquartered in Knoxville and has offices in Nashville, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company has done all of the lighting for Garth Brooks concerts and specials for years, as well as hundreds of other musical acts including Aerosmith, Queen, Van Halen, Jimmy Buffett, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban. Bandit has lit special events for President Clinton, the NFL and the Make A Wish Foundation, among myriad others.

Bandit also is no stranger to combat sports, having done lighting for the UFC, WCW and WWE, including 16 Wrestlemanias.

WWE has also filed new trademarks, specifically for “Suplex City” and “Balor Club.” The former is of course for Brock Lesnar, the latter for Finn Balor. Balor was part of the Bullet Club in NJPW.

NJPW head of publicity Takahiro Yamamoto told them that “We owe it to an increase of good-looking wrestlers. Also, we put more emphasis on selling goods using the images of popular characters such as Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty to attract female fans.”

"A lot of people keep asking me about the main roster and 'when is your call up to the main roster coming?' For a lot of us at NXT, we believe that NXT is the main roster. We feel like we're on the cusp of creating something very special. It almost feels like a wrestling renaissance right now down in NXT. I want to be a part of that. I want to be like Michelangelo painting stuff and creating art and leaving the wrestling community with something that they can attach themselves too and leave the wrestling business in a better place in five years time."
From a recent interview Finn Balor had with Busted Open: http://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2015/4/6/8354911/finn-balor-wwe-call-up-nxt-main-roster


Some other sheet news include:

WWE is holding another free month for the Network with April and Extreme Rules to be free.
Stone Cold debunked rumors of a rift growing between him and Vince stating contract and schedule issues were the reasons why his podcast was dropped from the Network and won't be on this season of Tough Enough.

[Jura]

So what's the list of Hogan Haters look like?

[Dark One]

Global Force Wrestling to partner with Bandit Lites, the global leader in event and concert lighting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When Global Force Wrestling brings its fresh, high-energy, fan-friendly brand to Las Vegas for the first taping of its broadcast shows on July 24 at the Orleans Arena, Bandit Lites will light the way.

Bandit, a 22-time winner of lighting company of the year, is the worldwide leader in event and concert lighting. Born in the 1960s in Kingsport, Tennessee, Bandit is headquartered in Knoxville and has offices in Nashville, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company has done all of the lighting for Garth Brooks concerts and specials for years, as well as hundreds of other musical acts including Aerosmith, Queen, Van Halen, Jimmy Buffett, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban. Bandit has lit special events for President Clinton, the NFL and the Make A Wish Foundation, among myriad others.

Bandit also is no stranger to combat sports, having done lighting for the UFC, WCW and WWE, including 16 Wrestlemanias.

Jesus Christ. GFW making TNA's announcements and press releases actually look like big deals. I know they finally announced shows, but if they're promoting the fucking lighting company they've hired...

[Bad News Gertner]

I know I get a lot of shit and laughed at for these posts. I'm fine with that as long as one person learns about our history with these memorial posts.

Steve Rickard was an extremely important and influential person in wrestling's history. He was one of the longest running members of the NWA to my knowledge well into the 1990s.

May he RIP.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2015/04/06/22329156.html

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2015/04/06/rickard.jpg

Steve Rickard, key figure in New Zealand's wrestling history, dead at 85

There were two distinct sides to the wrestling life of Steve Rickard. He was a globetrotting grappler before becoming the most influential and important promoter in the history of pro wrestling in New Zealand. His knowledge of being on the mat earned him respect.

After all, Harley Race and Ric Flair defied the NWA Board of the Directors and exchanged the NWA World title for Rickard in 1984.

It's a well-told story, but worth repeating, since it wouldn't have happened without Rickard, who died Sunday in his native New Zealand, at the age of 85.

Flair and Race switched NWA World title without the approval of the NWA Board of Directors while on a

March 1984 tour of New Zealand. It was Race's idea, in part to help the sagging business of Kiwi promoter Steve Rickard. As Flair said: "If Harley Race okayed it, it was hard for anyone to tell them different."


In 2008, Flair talked about the title change with Simon Sweetman of the old www.nzpwi.com site: "Yeah, well, that's one of those disputed times I'm talking about, that's probably the 17th championship right there ... but it's not one of the ones that officially counts. We did that as a favour to your promoter down there; a man named Steve Rickard. This was before much in the way of TV down your way ... and so we did that, as was the way then, agreed to drop the title, to help build the event, to help promote it. And it worked. It definitely worked. I had a good time down there."

Tours of New Zealand were memorable for many wrestlers from North America, and Rickard was known as a honorable man.

"Steve Rickard was one of the nicest, fairest promoters I ever had the pleasure to work for. I was lucky enough to work for him three separate times," Moondog Ed Moretti wrote in 2009.

Rickard was actually born Sydney Mervin Batt on September 3, 1929, in Napier, New Zealand. Amateur wrestling entered his life at the age of 14, and not long after he started working to support his mother and three younger brothers. He originally was a police detective, but bought the Hutt Park Hotel, and ran that for 15 years.

As an amateur in the 1940s, Rickard was a notable name in the conversation for the national championships. He trained amateurs and later pros.

An atlas is a good companion to figure out all the places that Rickard wrestled, as documented in a magazine article from the 1970s by New Zealand historian Dave Cameron: "Steve Rickard is rapidly becoming known as the greatest globetrotter in wrestling. In recent years he has made numerous trips to Australia, several to Singapore, and has wrestled in Canada, U.S.A., Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and right through the Pacific Islands New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii."

That travel never stopped. Rickard continued to be involved in pro wrestling through the years. He was still on the NWA Board of Directors in 1994 when Shane Douglas famously threw down the NWA World title, and was president of the NWA from 1995-96. The Cauliflower Alley Club honoured him for his work in wrestling with an award at its annual banquet in March 1997 at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City, Calif.

A notable run came as the "son" of the legendary King Kong Czaja in India, working as Young Kong. "The Indians liked him. The name alone was sufficient to draw them to his bouts by the thousands," wrote Cameron. "At one stadium in India he found he was the only European wrestler on the bill, and it seemed only natural that the Indians would want their local favourites to win. Steve was booked against the home star, Tiger Sucha Singh, in a place called Zijayawada. It was a hard scientific contest with Steve taking the deciding fall after about 50 minutes. Spectators were storming the ring from all sides. But there was no need to worry. Steve was hoisted on their shoulders and carried from the ring. This is something a wrestler doesn't expect when in another country."

Historically, though, Rickard's greatest contribution was probably as a promoter, and his rise parallels the story of television in New Zealand.

"We really didn't get TV until '64 and '67 over the whole country. It used to start at three in the afternoon and finish at 10," Bushwacker Luke Williams recalled for the Ring Around the Northwest newsletter in June 2012.

The first professional wrestling show on New Zealand TV was the Australian promotion, Big Time Wrestling, put on by Jim Barnett. Lasted less than a year, but with Rickard involved with Barnett promoting some shows in his home country, it set the stage for his own show.

Rickard taped his first "On The Mat" show in 1973, but he'd promoted for years before that, under the Dominion Wrestling Union banner he had inherited from longtime promoter Walter Miller, and then as All Star Pro Wrestling. With only one main station in the country, TV1, there wasn't a spot for his show; enter the TV2 station needing new programming.

The NZOnScreen.com website addressed the progression from there: "The first 14 episodes were taped in Auckland and briefly in Hamilton after which it found a home at the Canterbury Court Stadium in Christchurch; although the final season in 1983 was shot at the Auckland YMCA. On the Mat ran for a TV half-hour and had two commentators. Rickard described the technical aspects of what was happening in the ring and Ernie Leonard added colour. In 1981 Leonard moved to produce the show and Barry Holland came on as the second commentator and presenter. The commentators would announce the card to camera and then introduce and commentate on each match. Shows generally included two or three wrestling matches, an interview and/or an excerpt from an overseas match (usually from the US)."

The promotion was off and running and resulted in a boom in popularity for pro wrestling again -- it had been really big in New Zealand before in the 1930s.

On The Mat ran from 1975 to 1983, and made stars out of the likes of Mark Lewin, King Curtis Iaukea, Rick Martel and Don Muraco. It also helped set the stage for homegrown Kiwi stars such as the Bushwackers/Kiwis/Sheepherders, and Sivi Afi. Later, he promoted the show "The Main Event."

In his autobiography, Life On The Mat, Steve Rickard talked of two talented performers he helped along the way: "Among the current crop of wrestlers are two who have made it to the top without any amateur back-ground, Peter Maivia and Siva Afi Peter Maivia is rated in the top 10 in the world while Siva is the current New Zealand and Hawaiian Heavyweight champion."

As for the Bushwackers, who were just recognized by the WWE Hall of Fame, it was Rickard who was key to their career. He had known them in New Zealand, and brought them into Hawaii, where he was promoting. Business wasn't great there, but Butch Miller and Luke Williams met Roddy Piper and "Playboy" Buddy Rose, who invited them to come wrestle in Portland, Ore. "[We] did have a USA Visa which Steve Rickard had got for us for 6 months. Thank you Steve, that was a big thing you did for us," wrote Miller in a 2002 online column.

Rickard saw all kinds of untapped markets on the smaller islands and other countries.

British wrestler Earl Black recalled one such attempt by Rickard: "In Singapore, promoter Steve Rickard had managed to get away from the old system of having rounds, like boxing, and brought in time-limit wrestling matches. On one show, a one-hour six-man tag team was advertised. The capacity crowd enjoyed the match, until the fall was taken after forty minutes, and the match ended. They considered that they had been ripped off, and that a one-hour time limit match, should actually last an hour."

The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) told a story of "High Chief" Peter Maivia's return home to Western Samoa for the first time in 15 years, for a bout promoted by Rickard. At stake was The Destroyer's U.S. title, and like Flair and Race and the NWA World belt, it is an unrecognized title change.

"We could have wrestled three times in one day and still packed the house," Beyer recalled with awe. It was one of the easiest nights he ever had. Though the fans were packed so tight their arms reached into the ring, they were putty in the hands of the skilled mat veterans.

"You talk about wrestling somebody and not having to do anything, and have the people want to come in the ring and kill you, that was the kind of match it was," said Beyer. "All I had to do was grab an arm hold on him, boom! Maybe I grab a little hair, pull him down, and those people are halfway coming in the ring." Naturally, Maivia went over, winning the U.S. title and setting off pandemonium. "I worked to where I got disqualified and he won my belt. We went out to dinner later -- the promoter threw a dinner for his family, my family. I said, 'I need that belt, because I'm leaving for New Zealand tomorrow, and I'm taking that belt with me.' I got the belt back, and nobody in America ever knew that, or that the match ever took place."

When Ed Francis decided to end his promotional days in Hawaii, and become a cattle farmer in Oregon, he sold the promotion to Steve Rickard. The Kiwi then brought in two partners, Rick Martel and Peter Maivia.

It was a short-lived partnership, said Martel. "We had some creative differences ... I had the book there. It was really good. I brought in Roddy [Piper]. Hawaii was a small place. ... You had to give them a really good show with hard working guys and you could draw some money. But Peter had just come in from New York, and he was trying to bring in Baron Scicluna, his friends. Nice guys, but hard-working guys they are not. No bumps. In New York, you could get away with that, the millions of people. Different style. In Hawaii, you needed hard-working guys that could take bumps. So Steve and I were kind of locking horns on that and different things. Finally, I just said, 'Look, I can't work this way anymore' and just left. I remember the day I brought Roddy in. I was all excited. 'Oh man, I've got Roddy Piper. The man is great.' I remember we used to fly him in from New Zealand every month. The first show that Roddy was there, it was great, he was giving an interview, it was fantastic, the match, the whole thing. 'Oh Peter, wasn't that great?' (imitating voice) 'Oh, he's okay, he's okay.' That's when I knew."

Rickard didn't promote in Hawaii for all that long, returning to promoting around New Zealand. He had two sons who both entered the wrestling business, and Martel knew them both well.

Tony Rickard was a referee. "Tony was the loud one. Tony loved the business, but he wasn't big enough," said Martel. The other son, Ricky, was a wrestler who had good amateur background; "He was a shy personality, he didn't really like the wrestling business."

Much of the history of pro wrestling in New Zealand was captured in the documentary, Wrestling Spectacular! A Kiwi Century on the Mat, at kiwiwrestling.com.

During the last years of his life, Steve Rickard suffered from dementia, and lived with his son, Tony, in Queensland, Australia. His wife, Lorraine, died in 2010.

Not one Tony Garea mention. The fuck is this shit.

[Disturbed316]

http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2015/04/tumblr_nmfuqsXkCG1sbzhteo1_400.gif

[Schlomey]

Other than dropping his 1st name that Neville guy is money.

[Schlomey]

I think of Neville long bottom from Harry Potter. The biggest geek at school

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Neville Neville, Greater Manchester's finest nonce.

[Seth82]

https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/10151437_812185738838406_8700186315866699809_n.jpg?oh=bf8d60d49209e8cf3f43fee9ba057438&oe=5599AC7F

[Mercenary]

https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/10151437_812185738838406_8700186315866699809_n.jpg?oh=bf8d60d49209e8cf3f43fee9ba057438&oe=5599AC7F


booooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

I think of Neville long bottom from Harry Potter. The biggest geek at school

He turned into a bad ass.

[CSL]

Neville Neville, Greater Manchester's finest nonce.

right I see, like that is it

[Heisenberg]

One of the highlights from going to RAW was watching the pyro/smoke guys setting up something I haven't seen before(the smoke ghostbuster machines) and seeing Neville come out to face the Champion.

I wish the crowd audio was in my section, I called matches and yelled at Saxton the whole time

[Lock Jaw]

Hump day, you say?

http://38.media.tumblr.com/454dc45037df40b578e0bb9566902e0f/tumblr_nmewl3jsfz1saykaxo1_400.gif

[Emperor Smeat]

http://i.imgur.com/IY3Chr3.gif

Would be a perfect counter for Rollins to use in the future against Reigns in a match.

[Emperor Smeat]

Dirtsheets sponsored by Dropkick Cola. When the urge to dropkick someone comes by, consider the refreshing taste of Dropkick Cola. New Face Bruising flavor now available at the TPWW Store:
http://i.imgur.com/TgjFtMc.gif

TNA champion Kurt Angle was interviewed by Sports Illustrated today and claimed that when he called Vince McMahon about returning to WWE last year, he was told to contact Triple H, who then told him that the company already had enough talent.

PWInsider.com sources at the time indicated that Angle wanted a part-time deal while WWE told him they were only interested in him if he was willing to commit to a full-time schedule. At the time, Angle was also trying to parlay a part-time WWE deal into helping his acting endeavors.

Angle claimed, "It was as if I was a nobody, that I wasn’t Kurt Angle. From a wrestling standpoint, they just weren’t interested. But TNA not only stepped up, they gave me everything I wanted – the dates, the money, and it’s no secret that I’ve went to rehab in the past, and they gave me time off. You talk about a company that’s loyal to you, and you want to be loyal back. So I didn’t pursue the WWE any further. When it comes down to it, you’ve got to stick with the people who want to take care of you. And [TNA president] Dixie Carter took care of me."

Angle claimed that WWE canceled a meeting with him to discuss returning and also stated that WWE would have made more money this year if they had brought him back. He also recounts his version of the time he and Brock Lesnar decided to legitimately shoot with each other in the ring before a WWE event.
From a recent interview Angle had with Sports Illustrated: http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/04/08/kurt-angle-wwe-tna-brock-lesnar

WWE is advertising that the “First Year” of Monday Night RAW episodes from the Attitude Era will be added to the WWE Network’s video on demand section on April 13th.

This is speculated to be the full year of 1998 episodes judging by the clips shown and perhaps will lead to other full years being added in the near future. April 13th also happens to be the 17th anniversary of the first Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon match in 1998.

TMZ spoke to Scott Steiner about the allegations that he threatened Hogan through his wife Jennifer at an airport during WrestleMania 31 Week. As noted yesterday, a police report was filed and this led to Hulk requesting that Steiner be banned from the WWE Hall of Fame.

Steiner says he did approach Jennifer in the airport but only to talk "some serious smack" about Hogan inducting Randy Savage. Steiner says there were police nearby at the airport t, "so if she felt her life was threatened, why didn't she talk to the cops?" Steiner, who says he has not been contacted by police told TMZ:

"I'm not going to dignify [Hogan's] lies. I didn't put my hands on her."

"I told her Hulk introducing 'Macho Man' into the Hall of Fame is bullsh*t ... He hated him. Everyone knew that."

"It's not my fault Hulk Hogan is afraid of me."

We noted before that AJ Lee likely knew she was going to retire from WWE going into the WrestleMania 31 match with Paige against The Bella Twins. It's believed that AJ didn't inform WWE officials of her retirement until after the WrestleMania match was over because they probably would have had her lose if they knew she was retiring so soon.

Regarding the family of Roman Reigns being upset at WrestleMania 31 over plans changing with the WWE World Heavyweight Title, Reigns' father Sika was said to be furious and while his uncle Afa was not happy, he was not as mad as Sika. While some in the family reportedly wanted Reigns to quit WWE over the loss, Reigns himself took the loss well.


It was noted on last night's WWE RAW that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were absent because they were on a tropical vacation somewhere with no cell reception. Stephanie could be off WWE TV for up to 4-5 weeks if reports of her being overseas with the Eisenhower Fellows Multi Nation Program are true. We noted back in October 2014 that Stephanie was announced as a 2015 Eisenhower Fellow with 8 other executives from around the world. Beginning April 5th, the Eisenhower Fellows in the MNP program were scheduled to go on a 4-5 week trip visiting one or two countries that they selected from a list of 42 potential destinations, including Australia, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and others. We don't know for sure that Stephanie is on the Eisenhower Fellows trip, however Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that it was scheduled to begin April 5th so the dates do match up.

We noted over the weekend that WWE's idea for Ronda Rousey and Stephanie McMahon is not a tag match with The Rock and Triple H but a singles match between the two - Rousey vs. McMahon. While there is no deal in place, there is said to be an understanding between the two sides that they want the match to take place at WrestleMania 32. WWE has wanted to do the singles match between Rousey and McMahon since Rousey attended the 2014 SummerSlam pay-per-view when The Four Horsewomen helped Stephanie with her ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, according to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Obviously there are many factors that would have to be worked out in order for Rousey to compete in a WWE ring due to her being under contract to UFC, if UFC would even consider it. With that said, the Rousey vs. McMahon singles match could easily end up being something like The Rock vs. Triple H with Rousey and Stephanie in their corners.

Other sheet news include:

Chris Jericho is currently rumored to be replacing Steve Austin as one of the hosts for the upcoming Tough Enough season.
SB Nation held a recent poll with WWE wrestlers regarding several huge social issues such as "Is a hotdog a sandwich?" and toilet paper roll etiquette: http://www.sbnation.com/wrestling/2015/4/8/8328459/wwe-nxt-superstars-hot-dog-sandwich-toilet-paper-wrestlemania-axxess-interviews

[GD]

http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/pictures/colonbrothers.jpg &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.guysnation.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/10/Los-Matadores_and_Torito_RAW_1063_Photo_0751-510x286.jpg

[ron the dial]

going to see colt cabana and friends do commentary over bad wrestling matches tonight. hoping for a punk appearance, but not counting on it. not even sure if he's in town.

[drave]

According to STD, he ain't got time for that because training. No time for baby making, no time for joke making!

[drave]

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/q-a-the-mountain-goats-john-darnielle-on-pro-wrestling-1696283941/+stephentotilo

Interesting read on wrestling as "theater" and other arty stuff.

[Vastardikai]

http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/pictures/colonbrothers.jpg &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.guysnation.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/10/Los-Matadores_and_Torito_RAW_1063_Photo_0751-510x286.jpg

Eddie: This is what I'm doing now!

Carly: Look. I may have been bored and indifferent to my career choices, but I never played second fiddle to a midget in a bull costume. That's... That's not cool!

[drave]

*Spits Apple at Eddie*

[Emperor Smeat]

http://38.media.tumblr.com/87b0bd30257be4031dadcdcebc5d4663/tumblr_nmfuhxUbuG1sbzhteo1_400.gif

[Bad News Gertner]

Finally finished Superstar Billy Graham on Jim Ross's podcast. Amazing interview, might be the best I've heard on Jim's show. Check it out. Billy sounds like he's doing a lot better.

[Shisen Kopf]

Is he still a bitter old bastard?

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol not at all and I was totally expecting him to be. He was a very interesting guest.

[Shisen Kopf]

I'll have to take a listen to it sometime. Does he talk shit abiut Vince?

[Bad News Gertner]

Not really. Just some interesting stories of how shit used to go down.

[Shisen Kopf]

He was def 20 years too soon.

[Bad News Gertner]

His arm wrestling stories are pretty amusing.

[Emperor Smeat]

Sheets sponsored by Otunga & Coffee Mug Law Offices:
http://i47.tinypic.com/14e2kac.jpg

DirecTV is reportedly in talks with WWE about once again carrying their pay-per-view event. DirecTV usually has their customer service operators refer callers asking about WWE pay-per-view events to the WWE Network. However, the operators were instructed not to direct callers anywhere for WrestleMania 31 because Direct is interested in getting back on good terms with WWE. No word yet on other providers negotiating with WWE over pay-per-view events but the wrestling PPV business has been almost non-existent lately.

WWE recently applied to trademark the term "Superfriends Crew," which could be the name of a new stable. They also applied to trademark New Face of Fear for Bray Wyatt, Halloween Havoc, StarCade, Lone Wolf for Baron Corbin, The Vigilante for Sting, WWE Nation, Anti-Diva for Paige, Athletic Diva and The Beast Within, apparently for Brock Lesnar.

Regarding Reigns not winning the title, many WWE talents have been really defensive of Reigns and there has been some bitterness against the vocal fans who really ended up forcing the change in plans. Even those within WWE who aren't knocking the vocal fans are still being very defensive of Reigns.

The internal reaction to Reigns losing is almost the opposite reaction talents had to Batista last year when fans forced plans to change at WrestleMania XXX. The feeling this year was the company spent a year building Reigns up and then the vocal fans put Reigns' big climax in jeopardy, eventually costing him the title and the important moment in his career.

New details are coming out from WrestleMania 31 Week and Brock Lesnar reportedly knew about Seth Rollins winning the WWE World Heavyweight Title when he signed his new contract earlier that week. Lesnar, Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns were working closely together throughout the build-up of the match so Reigns may have known a few days in advance also, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It was previously reported that none of the Superstars found out about Rollins winning until WrestleMania had already started.

The final episode of the first season of El Rey and AAA's Lucha Underground will be taped on April 19th and will air on August 5th. It will be a two-hour "major show" that wraps all of the top storylines and will reportedly be the final episode for a while.
Baring some sudden changes, next set of tapings won't happen till next year.

Iamin recently interviewed former WWE World Heavyweight Champion The Great Khali. The article stated the Khali was headed back to WWE and left for the U.S. earlier this week. We are trying to get confirmation on this, as the article also stated that Khali hasn't been in a WWE ring in two years, although it's actually only been six months ... Khali also said that while he has been getting movie offers in India, he would "like to continue with the WWE for now."

[Fignuts]

They didn't build Reigns at all. That was the whole fucking problem.

[Fignuts]

How are so many people not fucking seeing this, I don't get it?

[Vastardikai]

How are so many people not fucking seeing this, I don't get it?

A stupid us vs. them mentality coming from stooges who live in a bubble. I think the hernia hurt him really bad. It cost him a few months that could have been used to build him.

As of now, they should start building him. Give him a high profile feud with Sheamus.

[Damian Rey]

In all reality, the months Reigns did miss wouldn't have helped much. I think the best course of action would've been to plug him into a feud with Rusev going towards mania. Two young guns kicking the shit outta each other. Granted, the main event was done beautifully, but I feel like Reigns has lost a ton of steam.

[Droford]

StarCade? Where's the extra r?

Shame lance Cade is dead

[Fignuts]

I've stated before that Reigns has done nothing as a singles competitor. Every top guy has had an arduous climb to the top, wrought with memorable feuds, secondary title wins, and pivotal moments. We didn't get that at all with Reigns.

It was like reading a book, and the first few chapters were good, but then you turn the page and it's the last page of the book and you're like "what the fuck". It's so blatantly forced, and bad that I don't understand how so many of these people from JR to Jericho, can look at the situation and not say "baw gawd, that's awful". Are they on the take, or what?

[Emperor Smeat]

In all reality, the months Reigns did miss wouldn't have helped much. I think the best course of action would've been to plug him into a feud with Rusev going towards mania. Two young guns kicking the shit outta each other. Granted, the main event was done beautifully, but I feel like Reigns has lost a ton of steam.

Supposedly had he not gotten hurt, he would have taken Ziggler's role during Survivor Series and use that as the launch pad for the road to the Rumble.

Would explain why the WWE quickly dropped Ziggler's post-SS push since they didn't want to change the Rumble plans and also didn't want that rub to be too huge. Same for Dean's push at the time likely just being a placeholder for what was meant for Reigns.

[ron the dial]

punk was definitely at the colt cabana and friends thing tonight. he co-hosted. it was really fun. just laid back, doing smart ass commentary over ridiculous wrestling clips. maybe like 75 people there.

[ron the dial]

and aj was there, too. saw her walking out with punk at the end. she looked like a tiny child.

[Fignuts]

See, I actually think that those two moments would have helped leaps and bounds. There was a ton of emotion involved in both those matches, and that's what fans get attached to quickly. Emotion. And it's what Reigns' actual rise has been completely lacking in. Knowing that, I actually thing everything would have been alright had he not gotten injured.

But he did get injured. And they went with him anyway, even though they had a guy in the wings, who the fans were 100% behind, who could fill in while they rebuild Reigns.

[Emperor Smeat]

I've stated before that Reigns has done nothing as a singles competitor. Every top guy has had an arduous climb to the top, wrought with memorable feuds, secondary title wins, and pivotal moments. We didn't get that at all with Reigns.

It was like reading a book, and the first few chapters were good, but then you turn the page and it's the last page of the book and you're like "what the fuck". It's so blatantly forced, and bad that I don't understand how so many of these people from JR to Jericho, can look at the situation and not say "baw gawd, that's awful". Are they on the take, or what?

Before Reigns, Ryback was in a similar situation with his push being quickly forced out of nowhere. Went from squashing jobbers to starting to work up the ladder to suddenly in the main event because Vince panicked once Cena got hurt.

Although the big difference being Ryback gradually pissing people off backstage by being too wreckless in the ring. Could have played a role why his big push got deflated by Mania and the post-Mania Cena jobber feud.

[Jura]

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2014/07/22_RAW_03252002_0031.jpg
http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2014/07/38_RAW_06232014dg_2043.jpg

[Jura]

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/01_Marine_04072015ca_079b-1920585497.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/11_Marine_04072015ca_160-2447534711.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/28_Marine_04072015ca_404-97176537.jpg

[Fignuts]

Before Reigns, Ryback was in a similar situation with his push being quickly forced out of nowhere. Went from squashing jobbers to starting to work up the ladder to suddenly in the main event because Vince panicked once Cena got hurt.

Although the big difference being Ryback gradually pissing people off backstage by being too wreckless in the ring. Could have played a role why his big push got deflated by Mania and the post-Mania Cena jobber feud.

Ryback was an interesting situation, because you can't deny how over he was. And he does have that presence that Reigns lacks, where a quick road to the top would be easier to sell. It's just he never had anything more than that. Even Goldberg, who had a similar run, had this intense charisma, that came out in all his promos, and that he used far better in the ring than Ryback.

ANd none of the Rybackaholics will ever admit this, but a part of the reason Ryback was so over in his feud with Punk, was because Punk was such a god damn good heel at that time. I'm not even one of these Punk Worshippers who think he's the greatest ever. He's not, and he was never the right guy to be "THE guy" as he wanted to be. But my god was he ever an amazing heel from 2012-2013. Just made you want to punch him right in his shit eating grin, every time he opened his mouth.

I see Ryback as one of those guys who is fun to watch kick the shit out of some cowardly heels, win an IC or tag title now and then, and once in a great while challenge for the world title, at a minor PPV, when you need to buff up your champ a bit with a clean win over a hoss.

[Emperor Smeat]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/10383889_817361358317442_3052568107270268247_n.jpg?oh=26c5d6188131a1e7ec7e0dd7343ec73f&oe=55A40760&__gda__=1437308240_501e44e0b938f610acad4af32bd159b4

:wtf: scientific match?

Maybe I'm thinking it really differently but a "something on a pole" battle royale sounds like a really bad idea.

[Vastardikai]

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/01_Marine_04072015ca_079b-1920585497.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/11_Marine_04072015ca_160-2447534711.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/28_Marine_04072015ca_404-97176537.jpg

Is it just me, or does Emma look like she is NOT feeling this shoot?

[Tom Guycott]

She does have this "Why the fuck am I dressed like Lara Croft?" look about her.

[Black Widow]

Regarding the family of Roman Reigns being upset at WrestleMania 31 over plans changing with the WWE World Heavyweight Title, Reigns' father Sika was said to be furious and while his uncle Afa was not happy, he was not as mad as Sika. While some in the family reportedly wanted Reigns to quit WWE over the loss, Reigns himself took the loss well. Can we get a report of something they actualy enjoyed WM 31 weekend?

[Rammsteinmad]

WWE needs to sign "Action" Mike Jackson.

[#1-norm-fan]

Johnny Swinger was ECW World Champion at one point? Jesus, ECW...

[#1-norm-fan]

*Champiopn

[Jordan]

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/d/daveyboysmith/22.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/AndreHelpsBloodyTexBack.jpg

lol

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/savagefallsonliz.jpg

Damn

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/machohoganbilledgar.jpg

Are Randy's pythons bigger than Hogan's here?

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/BrunoSammartinodesk.jpg

no homo but I've never seen Bruno look like that

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/killerkowalskiwrestlinglicense.jpg

Killer Kowalski's wrestling license ... SUSPENDED

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/canekandregiantcorner.jpg

I wish I could see a non-WWE documentary about Andre in Mexico

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/canekdynamitekid.jpg

Canek and Dynamite Kid.

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/ottowanzslamandregiant.jpg

Andre was slammed in most territories (Wanz)

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/andrethegiantunknownothers.jpg

LOL booty shorts

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/cv1.jpg

Packing the house in Mexico

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/canekhogan.jpg

Canek gets color on Hogan

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/roadwarrirosmagnuntapaulellering.jpg

Pre-match? Or Pre-Blue Oyster Bar?

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/pics%20again/ab1981ProgMar29c.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/pics%20again/andre1.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/pics%20again/canekstanH.jpg

Canek and Dos Caras in a bloodbath with Stan Hansen

[Jordan]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/pics%20again/SabuRookiePose.jpg

Guess who?

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/pics%20again/SabuFliesVOpp.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/barbedfunkrhofdes.jpg

lots of color

[Jordan]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/andersonsarmy.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/billygbigarms.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/bearside.jpg

[Jordan]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/copymaybepossraceblah.jpg

Harley Race and Larry Henning ... wow I've never seen either of them so young

[Jordan]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/more%20stuff/japan14.jpg

Brody in a suite, never seen that before. Okay I am done with my late night historical blast.

[Disturbed316]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m626/somestuff7/more%20pics/killerkowalskiwrestlinglicense.jpg

Killer Kowalski's wrestling license ... SUSPENDED

Probably because they wrote on that side....

[loopydate]

"Do not write below this line."

"OK"

[XL]

I've stated before that Reigns has done nothing as a singles competitor. Every top guy has had an arduous climb to the top, wrought with memorable feuds, secondary title wins, and pivotal moments. We didn't get that at all with Reigns.

It was like reading a book, and the first few chapters were good, but then you turn the page and it's the last page of the book and you're like "what the fuck". It's so blatantly forced, and bad that I don't understand how so many of these people from JR to Jericho, can look at the situation and not say "baw gawd, that's awful". Are they on the take, or what?

Great analogy.

[Mercenary]

Is it just me, or does Emma look like she is NOT feeling this shoot?


kinda fits her gimmick of not giving a fuck now though that she playing in NXT

[Seth82]

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x431/maqertone/copymaybepossraceblah.jpg

Harley Race and Larry Henning ... wow I've never seen either of them so young

Harley and Larry were a damn good heel team in the old AWA in the 60s.

They feuded with The Crusher and Dick The Bruiser. Crusher would call them the Dolly sisters.

they became at the time the youngest tag team champions ever.

I have at my house a signed copy of this photo
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2015/04/04/hennig_race.JPG

[Mercenary]

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2013/02/12/0212-wrestler-sub-1969.jpg


Not the Iron Sheik look I'm use to.

[Innovator]

Shiekybaby would get some solid heat these days

[Mercenary]

Watching the documentary right now. Not bad at all.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I can finally tell Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy apart.

[Evil Vito]

http://s28.postimg.org/5070dqtrx/hrfyh.jpg

<font color=goldenrod>How on earth do those tiny legs support the rest of Khali's body? No wonder the guy could barely move.</font> :(

[Anybody Thrilla]

Hideo Itami is so wack. What was all that hype about?

[Fignuts]

Why is he wack?

[Anybody Thrilla]

He's not all that impressive in the ring. His mic skills are non-existent. His face is dumb. He's not physically imposing.

He's not AWFUL or anything, but I guess I was expecting a lot more from all of the hype he was getting.

[Fignuts]

Have to completely disagree, on the in ring aspect, but then I've seen a lot of his 30 min epic pre nxt matches. I'm still catching up on nxt, so I haven't seen his recent matches, but the one against Balor at Takeover Rivals is really good.

I like how they keep teasing the GTS. Going to make the first time he hits it televised, a big deal.

[Anybody Thrilla]

The Balor match was OK, but he doesn't really do much for me either. I really dig Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze, Adrian Neville, etc. as the main event scene in NXT. Balor and Itami seem forced to me.

[Anybody Thrilla]

KENTA may be great, but Hideo Itami is wack so far.

[VSG]

Your face is dumb

[Anybody Thrilla]

My face will shoot sex bullets through your soul. How can you look at Itami's face and not sense the impending dumbness?

http://realworldchamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/nxt-takeover-2-hideo-itami-kenta-6.jpg

[Fignuts]

racist

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Looks like has murder-rage on his face not dumbness. Itami's gonna kill you.

[CSL]

now Tyler Breeze is whack. Itami is just a bit out of place in WWE. Unless he finds something that connects with people, he's not going to do to well on the main roster.

[Fignuts]

Yeah, I don't care much for Breeze, but the narcissist gimmick has never done much for me, so I dunno

[Anybody Thrilla]

Whatever happened to Marcus Louie? They shaved dude's eyebrows, then he just disappears?

[Rammsteinmad]

I kinda agree with the Itami stuff. Too lazy to explain why.

[Emperor Smeat]

http://share.gifyoutube.com/KrQoMY.gif

[Rammsteinmad]

Remember when Cesaro, Kingston and Big E all had "futures" in the WWE? :(

God, I wish this Cesaro/Kidd and New Day heel turn lead somewhere for all the people involved.

[NormanSmiley]

itami = take michonuko 2.0

[Nicky Fives]

Hideo doesn't home with me either....
He has some stiff kicks, other than that, nothing sticks out like Breeze's personality and crispness, Neville's high flying, owens' presence or zayns likeability.....

[Droford]

He comes up to the main roster and he'll be a comedy gimmick within 6 months

[Rammsteinmad]

The whole deal with Itami right now, is that he's a big star in Japan.

I'm sure with time he'll get some nice storylines going and will develop some character. Just can't see him really going as far as guys like Neville and Balor will.

[Mercenary]

Wasn't Khali a big deal in India, and that's why he was signed?

[Emperor Smeat]

Think the Observer said Itami's realistic top expectations is becoming a big star at the IC/US level with anything higher as an icing on the cake for his career. A lot of it has to do with the WWE's traditional mentality with Japanese wrestlers and him having to overcome a lot to get to that point.

He's been gradually getting better on NXT but the best thing for him was the WWE giving him all the time needed and not rushing him like the original plans were.

[XL]

The Balor match was OK, but he doesn't really do much for me either. I really dig Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze, Adrian Neville, etc. as the main event scene in NXT. Balor and Itami seem forced to me.

Balor is amazing. He has "it". Itami, not so much.

[Seth82]

the intro to the upcoming ECW Unreleased Vol. 3 looks pretty damn great

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BnaaM6LDGDI?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Rammsteinmad]

Balor got "holy shit" chants just with his entrance.

Never seen that before.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I love how Americans think that Khali is the biggest thing to have ever happened in India. You guys have clearly never heard of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or Sachin Tendulkar.

Yes, because they will come in as a great WWE tag team any day now.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Supposedly had he not gotten hurt, he would have taken Ziggler's role during Survivor Series and use that as the launch pad for the road to the Rumble.

Would explain why the WWE quickly dropped Ziggler's post-SS push since they didn't want to change the Rumble plans and also didn't want that rub to be too huge. Same for Dean's push at the time likely just being a placeholder for what was meant for Reigns.

But he didn't get that. That's the thing. I'm with Fignuts on this -- Roman Reigns was in The Shield, then he got hit with a steel chair and didn't really look for revenge. He lost a few multi-man title matches then got hurt. Then he came back exactly the same and never explained anything about his motivations for winning the Rumble. There was no story to grab onto there.

If Reigns had cut promos heading into the Rumble about how 12 years ago, Brock Lesnar beat his cousin so badly that it ended his full-time career with the WWE, and no one from his family had the opportunity to get their hands on Brock since -- maybe he would have had a chance. But Reigns may not be able to cut that good a promo. Maybe if Reigns had won the World Title at Money in the Bank and been the guy to get destroyed by Brock at SummerSlam, it would have created a nice personal story of redemption for him, but that didn't happen either. Maybe if there wasn't a more deserving and over candidate right there in front of them, fans wouldn't have given the company such backlash.

Eh.

[Mr. Nerfect]

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/01_Marine_04072015ca_079b-1920585497.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/11_Marine_04072015ca_160-2447534711.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/28_Marine_04072015ca_404-97176537.jpg

Thank you, Jura.

[Mr. Nerfect]

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2015/04/08_Marine_04072015ca_157-1044668610.jpg

Lol, poor Emma.

[Seth82]

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMaMIdTiEgM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Emperor Smeat]

Dirtsheets sponsored by the Lariato Flippy-itis Awareness Foundation:

http://i.minus.com/ibsyR8HXggl5g7.gif

2K Sports noted on Twitter that the upcoming WWE 2K16 game will have the largest roster of any WWE video game.

Three wrestlers have sued the WWE on behalf of all current and former wrestlers who have suffered serious brain and other damage as a result of "egregious mistreatment" by the organization.

Big Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda and Luther Reigns (obvious stage names) claim the WWE has known for years ... the brutality in the ring has resulted in dementia, Alzheimer's disease and a lot more.

The lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- claims the WWE, "under the guise of providing 'entertainment' .... has for decades subjected its wrestlers to extreme physical brutality."

The suit acknowledges wrestling is scripted but nonetheless unrelentingly brutal, claiming "WWE is in the business of selling violence." The legal docs chronicle various matches in which wrestlers were destroyed. It mentions the 2014 Royal Rumble, in which one wrestler "demolished another with a series of brutal steel chair attacks," and the docs refer to "the carnage created by the match's victor."

The lawsuit gives an interesting inside look into wrestling, saying the goal of the WWE is to elicit "heat," meaning heightened violence with the use of various props, including chairs, ladders and tables. The suit singles out various moves, including the Brain Buster, Bulldog, Cobra Clutch Slam, Facebreaker, Jawbreaker and Powerslam. It singles out the chair shots to the head, which was banned in 2010.

The suit claims, "The WWE coerces its wrestlers to work while they are injured by, among other methods, threatening to strip them of their position within the organization if they refuse." It says they are "universally encouraged to 'wrestle through the pain.'"

And the lawsuit mentions Chris Benoit, who was "routinely hit in the head with a chair." Benoit, who killed his wife and son along with himself, was autopsied after his death. A doctor concluded Benoit's brain was so damaged from CTE, it "resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient." The suit asks for an injunction, prohibiting the WWE from subjecting its wrestlers to such brutality, along with damages.

Regarding AJ Lee retiring from WWE, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that those close to the situation say the fallout from WWE's Dr. Chris Amann filing a lawsuit against her husband CM Punk led to the decision to leave the company.

AJ likely had to call her departure a retirement to get out of the rest of her WWE contract. By retiring, she would have forfeited the chance to perform anywhere else in pro wrestling or other sports, at least for the remainder of the contract.

Dalip Singh Rana aka Great Khali, did an interview with the media in India stating that his contract with WWE was renewed and he is returning to the U.S.

The story stated he had just left India and that the reason he left WWE was to establish his wrestlig school in Punjab, which he claimed would be to create Indian native talent for WWE. He claimed now tht athe school is in opertion, he is returning.

However, a response to this story, from WWE, stated, "Khali is not returning to WWE."

https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBJclMpA_F_F0gi&w=470&h=265&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FSny7WwzucY4OwPJc8A_G1qCCYj8%3D%2F1x0%3A698x392%2F1600x900%2Fcdn0.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_image%2Fimage%2F46089526%2FSwagROH_zpsmeax8en0.0.0.png
Final NJPW star announced to be at the upcoming ROH-NJPW War of the Worlds ppv.

http://boards.420chan.org/wooo/src/1428707212683.png
The rumored current poster for this year's Payback ppv.


Some other sheet news include:

THE Brian Kendrick was revealed to be the currently training Eva Marie to be a better wrestler.
In a "WWE Did You Know" type fact, Low Ki so far is currently the only former ROH Heavyweight champion to have never won the WWE title (only counting those that went straight from ROH to WWE and won the belt prior to their first run at the WWE) (Source: r/SquaredCircle)
WWE currently has a fan poll running asking which NXT Diva should replace AJ Lee on the main roster. http://www.wwe.com/inside/polls/which-nxt-diva-should-move-to-wwe-main-roster
According to the Observer, WWE fibbed about the attendance of Mania 31 being in the 76k range and breaking the attendance record for Levi Stadium. Real number was in the 63k-66k range and below the stadium's max wrestling and overall capacity.
Might be worth an interesting read, r/SquaredCircle recently dug up a 2012 Observer article involving Dave Meltzer giving his thoughts about several big NXT prospects and most becoming true by 2015. :lol: at the Seth Rollins one. http://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/3205h0/meltzers_evaluation_of_fcw_talent_back_in_march/

[Jordan]

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMaMIdTiEgM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I can't turn away. :nono:

[Heisenberg]

Always felt like The Brian Kendrick and Paul London were deserving at another run in the WWE. Really enjoyed those lads

[Mercenary]

Paul burned his bridge back I think

[Jordan]

What did Paul say that Brian didn't?

[Mr. Nerfect]

If Kendrick turns Eva Marie into a good worker, then he deserves a Hall of Fame induction.

[Fignuts]

Paul London always struck me as a huge douchebag who thinks he's way better than he actually is.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

If Kendrick turns Eva Marie into a fair worker, then he deserves a Hall of Fame induction.

Fixed.

[Vastardikai]

http://share.gifyoutube.com/KrQoMY.gif

If Vince's Brass Ring weighed 300 lbs., Cesaro could deadlift it like it ain't no thing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Fucking love Cesaro.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Paul London always struck me as a huge douchebag who thinks he's way better than he actually is.

He seems a little quirky, but the dude was such a good worker. Loved that guy. But I'm a mark.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I know people are mocking Jeff Jarrett for these really slow GFW reveals, but I kind of find them charming. They're showing the care and meticulous planning that is going into this production. A lot of people whinge that stuff like ROH doesn't look sleek enough -- well here's Jarrett revealing some technical details about the tapings.

I'm probably more curious than I would be at this thing, because there is very little information going around.

[Mr. Nerfect]

JR has said that he is against working a full-time schedule again, but in a perfect world, the WWE would still have him calling PPVs. And Howard Finkel doing the ring announcing on them. It'd add a level of prestige and history to the proceedings, and help differentiate them from your RAW's and your SmackDown's.

[XL]

I don't think putting Reigns in the Ziggler role at Survivor Series would have helped any. Part of what made that whole deal work was because it was Ziggler; a guy the crowd want to have moments like that.

A large part of the crowd haven't taken to Reigns, I don't think giving him a big rub in that match, with him hitting Spear after Spear and pinning opponents left and right would have helped him. You could Cena in the Ziggler role and half the crowd would have hated it, that's the reaction Reigns would have got. That section of the fanbase would hate him more if anything. They disliked the Royal Rumble win, and telegraphed a Title win at Mania. Adding another accolade to him wouldn't have built his momentum, it'd piss the fans off more.

Reigns has a lot going for him; a Superstar look, a level of presence, a quiet charisma, passable mic skills, decent in the ring, but he lacks tenure. The ground swell of support for guys like Ziggler and Bryan had a lot to do with the years they've put in and the (perceived) little they've been given. You can't manufacture the "underdog" support as easily as they'd like, you only have to look at Cena for that.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

What did Paul say that Brian didn't?

He did a goofy smile when Vince was walking out to his explosion death.

[Jordan]

He did a goofy smile when Vince was walking out to his explosion death.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iCFrgU0HDA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

lol, it wasn't that bad

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Yeah it was.

[CSL]

hung out with Regal for a bit earlier after his one man show, nice guy, very softly spoken. Big New Japan fan.

[Emperor Smeat]

http://i.imgur.com/d2L5YEw.gif

[Hanso Amore]

What the fuck is that

[Droford]

The WWE schedule that got leaked has the Raw Season Premiere back in Baltimore this year in September and Washington gets the go home RAW for WM 32 like last year. Now I'm not feeling so bad about missing payback next month

[Droford]

The Rock eats 10 lbs of food a day (http://www.foodbeast.com/news/the-rock-10-pounds-of-food/)

2 lbs of which is cod

[Mr. Nerfect]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iCFrgU0HDA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

lol, it wasn't that bad

Man, that whole comes off really goofy playing it back. I can't remember exactly what Vince did to upset everybody, but I remember thinking at the time that it's really weird the entire lockerroom is standing around just grimacing at this boss they apparently fear. It would make sense for them to smile as he walked past. London also doesn't look genuinely happy to be there. He's playing the character of kid that doesn't want to be caught out.

They should have had him be behind the explosion.

[Mr. Nerfect]

hung out with Regal for a bit earlier after his one man show, nice guy, very softly spoken. Big New Japan fan.

That's cool. Any more stories about who he's a fan of, or what have you?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd probably watch Tough Enough if it featured Chris Jericho, Booker T, Trish Stratus & William Regal.

[GD]

Front page of Reddit

http://i.imgur.com/AgHRNtc.webm

[GD]

What is going on?

<iframe width="580" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CU8F_vLDwDA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[#1-norm-fan]

What did Paul say that Brian didn't?

He did a goofy smile when Vince was walking out to his explosion death.

He also literally said the words (regarding Vince) "I'll be happy when he's dead".

[Seth82]

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x371/rawview/vlcsnap-2012-05-14-14h47m30s107.jpg

[CSL]

That's cool. Any more stories about who he's a fan of, or what have you?

not too much in that sense, loves New Japan, thinks it's proper wrestling because of the physicality, Okada was the only guy mentioned, spoke about when he worked for them, not much of a fan of Lucha Underground/thinks it's hit and miss, watches/keeps up with pretty much everything when he's home so I assume that includes ROH etc. I'd love to spend a real amount of time with him and pick his brain for hours, unreal.

[KaosDarksol]

Man, that whole comes off really goofy playing it back. I can't remember exactly what Vince did to upset everybody, but I remember thinking at the time that it's really weird the entire lockerroom is standing around just grimacing at this boss they apparently fear. It would make sense for them to smile as he walked past. London also doesn't look genuinely happy to be there. He's playing the character of kid that doesn't want to be caught out.

They should have had him be behind the explosion.

To be fair the whole story line blew up (haha see what I did there) the next raw because of the whole Chris Benoit tragedy. So the story never got to play it's course which is probably a good thing because it may have ended in Undertaker vs Mr McMahon in a dead man vs dead man match at wrestlemania.

[Lock Jaw]

http://www.wwe.com/f/wysiwyg/image/2015/04/20150408_gameofthrones_bookert.jpg

This is actually on WWE.com right now....

[Emperor Smeat]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V0NjG3Ef7E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Lock Jaw]

WWE Paige does Make A Wish

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCY-LNfWIAAUtdu.jpg

[McLegend]

WTF is House T?

[Kris P Lettus]

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="AgHRNtc"><a href="//imgur.com/AgHRNtc">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GD]

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="AgHRNtc"><a href="//imgur.com/AgHRNtc">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This GIF was #1 on Reddit last night.

[GD]

WTF is House T?

http://media.tumblr.com/71053f91f48155b175c78e10d94da866/tumblr_inline_mxkpjg4dqF1rfiea9.gif

[Emperor Smeat]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCaSr5oUkAAv3Bv.jpg

[Fignuts]

lol how is that actually the quote they used for Booker T?

Jesus

[Seth82]

some pretty awesome reactions from Puro announcers

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dHqh36bNWDs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCaSr5oUkAAv3Bv.jpg

I think "What's causing all this?" would have been a better choice.

[Dark One]

I think "What's causing all this?" would have been a better choice.

Gotta get some of that Game of Thrones rub, brah.

[Jordan]

I couldn't care less about WWE right now. They really suck after Wrestlemania, this shit is getting old.

[Seth82]

this is nothing short of awesome.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqLDLnaksB8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[drave]

Man those ropes from the first part of that video are loose as fook! Looked quite dangerous.

[Heisenberg]

I couldn't care less about WWE right now. They really suck after Wrestlemania, this shit is getting old.

I took my friend for his first RAW last week and the abscence of Dean Ambrose and Daniel Bryan was inexcusable. It's starting to be a growing trend that Austin, TX RAWs are raisin ball carded and no Legends will appear. Sucks cause it wasn't always that way, plus my section was the real, no jabronis sitting there, we were away from the mics. The security is really anal there and I wanted to call out Saxton

[GD]

RKO outta nowhere!

http://i.imgur.com/MKvQWkS.jpg

[drave]

Haha, Orton is a copycat :|

[Jordan]

Who is that in there? I think the recipient is Thez but I may be wrong.

[Emperor Smeat]

http://i.imgur.com/BtTrx.gif

[VSG]

lol

[Dark One]

Perfect time to drag this one out in response to that GIF:

https://whatistheexcel.com/wooobooru/_images/8b692962708d5ddc255f2ae6a2a75241/472%20-%20don_west%20gif%20high_five%20mike_tenay%20tna.gif

[#1-norm-fan]

Has there been a meme on the Youtubes yet where very mundane things are followed by that clip of Don West and Mike Tenay going apeshit? If not, there should be.

[#1-norm-fan]

Gonna learn video editing just so I can do that.

[Dark One]

A+ idea.

Bought some groceries?

https://whatistheexcel.com/wooobooru/_images/8b692962708d5ddc255f2ae6a2a75241/472%20-%20don_west%20gif%20high_five%20mike_tenay%20tna.gif

Got a full tank of gas?

https://whatistheexcel.com/wooobooru/_images/8b692962708d5ddc255f2ae6a2a75241/472%20-%20don_west%20gif%20high_five%20mike_tenay%20tna.gif

Shot par at Putt Putt?

https://whatistheexcel.com/wooobooru/_images/8b692962708d5ddc255f2ae6a2a75241/472%20-%20don_west%20gif%20high_five%20mike_tenay%20tna.gif

[Fignuts]

What was that west and tenay gif even from? Angle announcement?

[Dark One]

Hahaha. The Angle announcement? Come on, man, this is TNA. God himself lights up the arena and the announcers spontaneously combust when they announce the stupidest shit.


Here's the source:
<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x3ufyv" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ufyv_don-west-mike-tenay-high-five_fun" target="_blank">Don West &amp; Mike Tenay High Five</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/NJShady" target="_blank">NJShady</a></i>

[#1-norm-fan]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vbeLpwdIsck" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Disturbed316]

Wow they really wanted to see Steiner vs Joe

[Seth82]

love the look here on Baba's face.

this was just after he and Rusher Kimura lost to Genichiro Tenryu and Jumbo Tsuruta in the '84 Real World Tag League

https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/11103136_10206428461140902_1320118625708894311_o.jpg

[Vastardikai]

It looks like a frown to keep from laughing.

I always felt bad when I heard his commentary and thought that he sounded like a very drunk Gorilla Monsoon.

[Emperor Smeat]

https://38.media.tumblr.com/105f2a7472d8bcd15b203541fedd2ad3/tumblr_nmrzj0SwDw1srbyoyo1_500.gif

[Emperor Smeat]

Sheets sponsored by Fandango's School of the Dance:
http://i.imgur.com/9QlRaRS.gif

We noted on Monday that there were reports of TNA being behind on talent pay. PWInsider reports that talents have started to receive their checks and F4Wonline.com backs this report up, saying checks started arriving this past Friday and continued arriving Saturday and Monday. One source stated to PWInsider that talents would be receiving their March checks earlier than scheduled to try and make up for the previous delays. Dave Meltzer described things in TNA as a lot worse than they were at the end of the Spike TV run. While talents have started receiving checks, there's still a lot of unhappiness across the company with the feeling that there is no momentum and they're not going anywhere.

We noted earlier that Taz missed the recent set of TNA Impact Wrestling tapings and that repercussions could be coming for him. It wasn't the actual TV tapings he missed but a voice-over session in Nashville to record commentary for the Impact episodes that have been taped. PWInsider reports that there are issues between TNA and Taz, who has removed all references to TNA from his Twitter page. The reported TNA pay issues apparently led to Taz refusing to get on his flight from New York to Nashville. Regarding the commentary for Impact, Josh Mathews reportedly worked alone for the episode that will air this Friday night but that could change as they may edit it again with commentary from a second person. For what it's worth, TNA recently tried Al Snow out as an announcer.

Another significant problem within TNA right now is Destination America. The Wrestling Observer reports that the network is reportedly calling a lot of the shots in TNA these days with the idea that they are paying TNA and running so many hours of their programming. Destination America officials reportedly do not like TNA Impact Wrestling being taped from the UK. They do not know the pro wrestling business at all but they didn't like the idea of TV taped outside of America airing on their Destination America channel. Destination America may not have a problem with TNA running a yearly tour overseas but they have made it clear they want Impact taped in the US most of the time. We noted before that Destination America officials wanted Kurt Angle to be the World Heavyweight Champion as they liked the idea of the champion on their network being an American gold medalist. They also are high on Taryn Terrell as Knockouts Champion because of her look

We noted before that The Briscoes were expected to stay with Ring of Honor, despite interest from WWE. Ring of Honor recently made another offer to the brothers and it was better than WWE's offer. The Briscoes went back to WWE officials but they would not budge on their offer.
Even without the ROH offer, Briscoes likely make way more with their side businesses than what the WWE was willing to offer for a NXT or main roster deal. Balor is an exception since the WWE had to pad his deal make up for lost sponsorship money.

Jeff Jarrett has been reaching out to many indie wrestlers in hopes of signing them for Global Force Wrestling. We don't have details yet but Jarrett has reportedly signed a top indie talent that WWE wanted at one point.

WWE Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan is reportedly not doing well as far as his health goes. Bryan continues to deal with issues from the injuries that took him out of action last year and Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that he's in rough shape, which is why WWE has been protecting him in six-man matches as of late and why he hasn't been on RAW in two weeks. On a related note, apparently Bryan's brand new autobiography from WWE has no mention of AJ Lee. This is interesting because AJ played a big part in Bryan's WWE storylines and the WrestleMania 28 loss to Sheamus that really led to Bryan's career turning around.
According to the Observer, WWE likely going to quickly pull the plug on his IC reign. Would explain a bit why Cena and the US belt has gotten a lot more attention since the original plan was more for a split between the belts and shows.

WWE Superstar Jey Uso is expected to be out of action for “about 6 months” after suffering a shoulder injury prior to WrestleMania 31.

Uso last competed at WrestleMania 31 with limited involvement, but he “aggravated” the injury during the 4-team tag title match. He is not on WWE’s ongoing European tour, while Jimmy Uso competes in singles action.

Jey underwent surgery last week and will be out of action through around October.


Other sheet news includes:

Netherrealm Studios considering the possibility of porting WWE Immortals mobile game to consoles.
Supposedly the only crowd edit done last night was with the Cesaro vs Orton match because of Ceasro getting a bigger pop than the WWE wanted and WWE using that as Orton's pop in the replay.
Yesterday's RAW episode ended up being a bit historic for the bad reasons. Compared to last year, took a huge drop in viewers (23%) and ratings. Compared to non-NFL and non-holiday weeks, it ended up being one of the lowest watched episodes in years.

[Lock Jaw]

Saddened at the idea of a world with The Usos for six months....

[Dark One]

Sounds like the ghost of the Big Bossman will be dragging TNA's casket with his car before too long.

[Lock Jaw]

If TNA goes under, I wonder if WWE would bother buying up their tape library....

[Mercenary]

They will

[Disturbed316]

It would make sense if it became available. If they end up doing career documentaries involving anyone who went down there, then it could be useful.

But then they would have to acknowledge that TNA even exists.

[Droford]

I bet TNA being over in the UK permanently would piss off the WWE more than how things are now.

[The Rogerer]

TNA's success in the UK is very overstated.

[Seth82]

nice to see Scott doing well.

Harley still looks the way he did thirty years ago pretty much.

taken at the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas this year
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11129209_10205183212677538_6015279642253312324_n.jpg?oh=e9db6a2219a2723bde6dc1367eefe5dd&oe=55DCE05C&__gda__=1437269077_74eaa8357d065032d42f112ffdea3570

[drave]

How many drugs are in Hall's system in that photo? Winner gets an "atta boy" from Pat Patterson.

[Seth82]

http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0dkieLCGc1r1c3jbo1_500.gif

[drave]

Dolly Parton attempting to catch Hogan's blown load with her mouth wide open folks.

Thanks for the mammaries.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Man, this Daniel Bryan news saddens me. But they need to take it easy with him.

[GD]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xClzbx_uqSk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>