The 1 minute late edition of WWE Monday Night Raw thread - March 26th, 2018

[KIRA]

UnderTaker should return and wrestle in the ATG Battle Royal

Yeah I'd love for this to jump start his career but as I said this battle royal has yet to put anyone over

[Dark One]

UnderTaker should return and wrestle in the ATG Battle Royal

I would love this swerve just for the nuclear heat.

"Nah, dawg, you disrespected me. I ain't facing you at Wrestlemania, John. I'm announcing my entry into the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Rest... In... Catering."

[Emperor Smeat]

The "Cena has no Mania path" story makes no sense because of the Andre Battle Royal. He could just enter himself in it and be guaranteed a spot on Mania.

Instead he's come off as just a big whiner the past several weeks because he doesn't get things his way.

[Dark One]

Really nice of Kane to take up an Anti-Bullying Crusade in his pursuit of the mayoral office.

[Dark One]

Really looking forward to the Kane vs John Cena Ironman match at Wrestlemania.

[KIRA]

I just realized Cena can really get into the skin with the kind of promo he's been cut it the more I listen to it the more I'm sitting there going God I hate him

[Jordan]

The "Cena has no Mania path" story makes no sense because of the Andre Battle Royal. He could just enter himself in it and be guaranteed a spot on Mania.

Instead he's come off as just a big whiner the past several weeks because he doesn't get things his way.

To me he doesn't come off whiny but just rather empty. Like the whole thing is just an obvious promotional build around a match we all know is going to happen. Just fucking announce the match and face off a few times and let the ego's get the better of the situation, the brawl, boom, welcome to Rasslemania.

[KIRA]

He talks about wanting to get into WrestleMania anyway he can but he doesn't want to lower himself to the ABR

[Jordan]

Like John Cena should be held aside the ranks of The Revival and Baron Corbin.

[Jordan]

CENAAAAAAA

[Jordan]

Cena needs a wardrobe adjustment.

[rez]

whoa commercial break is finally over

[KIRA]

says be kind to one another in a few minutes he's getting ready to trash talk a 50 year old man

[Emperor Smeat]

To me he doesn't come off whiny but just rather empty. Like the whole thing is just an obvious promotional build around a match we all know is going to happen. Just fucking announce the match and face off a few times and let the ego's get the better of the situation, the brawl, boom, welcome to Rasslemania.

Yeah. It had some really good potential early on with the idea of Cena becoming more desperate and paranoid the close they got to Mania but WWE tossed that out quickly and Cena doing a terrible job conveying that feeling.

[Dark One]

Wonder if this match is giving Zack Ryder traumatic flashbacks to being pushed off the stage in a wheelchair and all the way back down to Superstars.

[Jordan]

I think with Cena one of the best things we can hope for is that people grow tired of chanting Lets Go Cena/Cena Sucks. When that happens, that may actually consider the heel turn. And you may say it's too late but it could be a resurgence if they want it to be, just like it was for Hogan.

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Obviously what’s going to happen is <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCena</a> will be wrestling Kane when he will be sucked into another world with a red curtain and backwards-talking people &amp; Undertaker will appear. Then David Lynch sues us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RAWTonight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RAWTonight</a></p>&mdash; WWE Creative Humor (@WWECreative_ish) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWECreative_ish/status/978404083538300928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Jordan]

Wonder if this match is giving Zack Ryder traumatic flashbacks to being pushed off the stage in a wheelchair and all the way back down to Superstars.

:lol: Good memories.

[Jordan]

These guys have had this match like a hundred times.

[Dark One]

Yeah. It had some really good potential early on with the idea of Cena becoming more desperate and paranoid the close they got to Mania but WWE tossed that out quickly and Cena doing a terrible job conveying that feeling.

I'd blame this more on the writers/agents than Cena. The stuff Cena's done off the script (Talking Smack, etc.) has been PHENOMENAL at conveying that, but the Raw segments, etc. kind of shows they don't want to go that way.

I'd make a wild guess that it's probably more of the same long-term "Cena can't look week or vulnerable" directive that shaped most of the last decade.

[Jordan]

Honorable mention to Kane's amazing WHC run on Smackdown a few years ago.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">��█You can't chroma key me. �� <a href="https://t.co/8f5fUGj6B1">pic.twitter.com/8f5fUGj6B1</a></p>&mdash; TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) <a href="https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/978463262172958720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[slik]

Kane here to teach Cena to EMBRACE the HATE

[Jordan]

I love Cena but there are some things he does that look so bad. Like punch and take a bump into the ringside stairs.

[Jordan]

And the STF, the double 5 Knuckle Shuffle, and his suplex.

[KIRA]

Honorable mention to Kane's amazing WHC run on Smackdown a few years ago.

He was on point during that time.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Why is this a bad thing DAMN mAN?

'Taker putting all his gear in the ring after being defeated by Roman was symbolic of what was supposed to be his retirement.

He's in his early 50s and I question how good of shape he's in, too, and would obviously be upset if he takes a match and ends up hurt.

Mostly the part about him being supposed to be retired though.

[Jordan]

'Taker putting all his gear in the ring after being defeated by Roman was symbolic of what was supposed to be his retirement.

He's in his early 50s and I question how good of shape he's in, too, and would obviously be upset if he takes a match and ends up hurt.

Mostly the part about him being supposed to be retired though.

Taker never said those words so I can't hold that against them. I'll wait to see if Taker acknowledges that moment before I pass judgement on the angle.

[KIRA]

'Taker putting all his gear in the ring after being defeated by Roman was symbolic of what was supposed to be his retirement.

He's in his early 50s and I question how good of shape he's in, too, and would obviously be upset if he takes a match and ends up hurt.

Mostly the part about him being supposed to be retired though. he has ex wives to think about

[DAMN iNATOR]

WWF commercial airing during WWE.
Also, stop killing snow leopards please.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b3M4KfHShJY/hqdefault.jpg

[Jordan]

That stairs spot is so stupid, I mean it obviously isn't going to take a crazy impact to knock the stairs over when they are placed vertically. Such a stupid Cena spot.

[Droford]

Cena channeling the Deadman...Chris Benoit

[KIRA]

Kinda bullshit was that

[DAMN iNATOR]

Cena's done it now

He's gone and made a big mistake

:shifty:

[Emperor Smeat]

I'd blame this more on the writers/agents than Cena. The stuff Cena's done off the script (Talking Smack, etc.) has been PHENOMENAL at conveying that, but the Raw segments, etc. kind of shows they don't want to go that way.

I'd make a wild guess that it's probably more of the same long-term "Cena can't look week or vulnerable" directive that shaped most of the last decade.

Yeah Creative has been the biggest weakness anytime something interesting actually happens with Cena. Like when he had the "Gatekeeper" phase that led to nothing in the end or the US Open Challenge series that led to nobody benefiting besides Cena getting some cheap cheers.

[Jordan]

Kane really exposes Cena, doesn't make me feel too great about Taker considering how he was with Bray and Roman who are somewhere near the match quality of Cena.

[Dark One]

If Cena really wanted to call out Taker, he'd walk the ropes. What a pussy.

[DAMN iNATOR]

LOL (@ Kane table flip, not Dark One's post)

[KIRA]

Okay I have no more doubts John is being a heel

[Jordan]

Good table spot.

[Dark One]

LOL (@ Kane table flip, not Dark One's post)

Don't you take that away from me you son of a bitch

[Jordan]

I would never retrieve a table as a fucking weapon.

[Droford]

Cena's done it now

He's gone and made a big mistake

:shifty:
Blah blah blah

This is gonna be your (ticket to Wrestlemania)

[KIRA]

The spot that would spell the end for most wrestlers only gets at 2 count from John Cena oh yeah

[DAMN iNATOR]

Don't you take that away from me you son of a bitch

Hey, I didn't say I doubted your table flipping ability.

[Jordan]

Same match they did at MSG recently. Probably better but man they just look soft together.

[slik]

Cena has been so good mocking Undertaker in this match

[Emperor Smeat]

If Cena wants Taker that bad, he should start insulting Paul Bearer since I think that worked for Punk in his feud with Taker.

[slik]

Love this

[Savio]

Cena (texting): Nikki will you go out with me?

Nikki:.........

Cena: I demand an answer, yes or no! You are a coward!

[Dark One]

If Cena wants Taker that bad, he should start insulting Paul Bearer since I think that worked for Punk in his feud with Taker.

You can only spill his ashes one time, man.

[Savio]

His entire career?

[Jordan]

Damn that was a good promo but I wish they'd have given us more answers this week. No answer for Braun or Taker. And we also have the anxiety with the Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon diverticulitis issue... aye...

[slik]

Probably the most character development we've seen from Cena since Cena vs Rock

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">By the power of JORTS <a href="https://t.co/Mcaww3Ng3b">pic.twitter.com/Mcaww3Ng3b</a></p>&mdash; TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) <a href="https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/978465895562530816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/79yqZHY4xk">pic.twitter.com/79yqZHY4xk</a></p>&mdash; TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) <a href="https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/978467303502286854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/oWaRl0C7G0">pic.twitter.com/oWaRl0C7G0</a></p>&mdash; TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) <a href="https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/978466258378207232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Emperor Smeat]

Did Taker ever show up in person during the Bray feud prior to Mania?

If not, this Cena feud might already be the 2nd latest ever for a Taker appearance during his yearly Road to Mania.

[Tom Guycott]

Drake Maverick.

I think I finally figured out how the WWE name generator works.

I can't take this name seriously, though (insert comments about yourselves not being able to take "Rockstar Spud" seriously...). The problem I have with it is that is sounds like some alter ego for a C-rank superhero. That or an action hero protagonist for a very 80's action flick with lots of explosions and lots of ninjas.

[Droford]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/oWaRl0C7G0">pic.twitter.com/oWaRl0C7G0</a></p>&mdash; TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) <a href="https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/978466258378207232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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http://pa1.narvii.com/5703/b7eaf736ebfa08fe085069001cede329a4317f30_hq.gif

[Droford]

I want taker to not even show up at Mania. Everyone expects it it'll be refreshing

[Tom Guycott]

That open shirt and gold chain make Bo Dallas look like somebody's pimp

He looks less like a pimp and more like a mook muscle for some mafia underboss. And Axel always looks like he just got finished going door to door with a small child clutching a stack of pamphlets asking if folks "believe in the coming of Jesus Christ?"

[Tom Guycott]

Miz should dump his boys and hire Dalton Castle's boys

[Stickman]

Quite the uneventful Raw. Not pumped for mania at all yet. Really hoping Reigns loses at Mania for a swerve, nothing else from Raw is exciting me

[Blonde Moment]

I want taker to not even show up at Mania. Everyone expects it it'll be refreshing

Cena should show up at his house tonight and AA Michelle through a coffee table in front of their kid

[Splaya]

'Taker putting all his gear in the ring after being defeated by Roman was symbolic of what was supposed to be his retirement.

He's in his early 50s and I question how good of shape he's in, too, and would obviously be upset if he takes a match and ends up hurt.

Mostly the part about him being supposed to be retired though.

The undertaker character retired last year at Mania. But Mark Calloway? Nope. And I hope that’s the angle they shoot for

[Jordan]

The undertaker character retired last year at Mania. But Mark Calloway? Nope. And I hope that’s the angle they shoot for

You want the announcer to call him Mark Calloway?

I see the good in your idea just wondering how far it goes.

[Jordan]

Cena should show up at his house tonight and AA Michelle through a coffee table in front of their kid

If they brought WWE cameras, would it still be considered a "HOUSE SHOW"?

:wave:

[Mr. Nerfect]

Kane's new attire is so bad.

[slik]

Kane should switch to trunks and kneepads

Trunks Kneepads Kane ONLY

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Kane's new attire is so bad.

He's looked shit ever since he took the mask off the first time. IN FACT, he's looked shit ever since he removed the sleeves while he was wearing the mask. They slowly but surely made an effort to ruin everything good and cool about Kane. Character had pretty much run its course in 2001. AND YET almost 20 years fucking later, here we are. And he literally looks like a fucking mongoloid with a an actual mop on his head.

[Dark One]

Kane should switch to trunks and kneepads

Trunks Kneepads Kane ONLY

Nah...

Then we'll know he's been moonlighting as Beer City Bruiser and I already don't want to see that.

[slik]

Surfer Cena vs Bruiser Kane ONLY

[Splaya]

You want the announcer to call him Mark Calloway?

I see the good in your idea just wondering how far it goes.

Sorry. Had to type my thought really quick. The Deadman character is dead. But Undertaker as a person is alive. That’s the angle I am hoping they go. Like when Cena comes out next week, I want him to completely break kayfabe before he comes out. He did it a little bit that first promo. But call him a bitch. Tell him that Michelle holds his balls and wears the pants of the relationship. I don’t care. But I’ve been convinced since the announcement that Kid Rock is performing American Badass live at Mania for Taker to come out too

[Sepholio]

It's def gonna be Biker Taker.

[Jordan]

Whoa I didn't know about this Kid Rock deal, interesting. Hopefully it's not full biker Taker just regular Taker coming to wrestle his last match.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Honestly, face biker taker stank to high heaves--a low point of his career, even when compared to feuding with mabel and giant gonzalez.

BUT, when he became Big Evil, he found his groove as biker taker.

And honestly, I don't want to see Deadman Taker after last year. He was retired. At least this way, it could make sense.

[Innovator]

Has Cena addressed the fact that he's calling out a retired guy? Or is he just calling him a coward repeatedly?

[Jordan]

He's never retired

[Savio]

Lebron: "Jordan you are a coward if you don't get on the court and face me now!"

[Emperor Smeat]

Has Cena addressed the fact that he's calling out a retired guy? Or is he just calling him a coward repeatedly?

No but then again doubt WWE realizes how dumb the storyline has gotten.

They probably wouldn't even let Taker address it since only the Miz in recent years got to have meaningful counter "shoots" to Cena's promos and character attacks.

[Lock Jaw]

They should do a Rocky V where Undertaker never fights Cena in the ring, but Cena picks a fight with him on the street and gets his ass kicked.

[XL]

Strowman has no reason to need a tag partner considering he just beat the tag champs by himself.

Strowman could just find some random stage hand or ref backstage to be his tag partner and he'd still be the favorite to win the tag titles.

This is what I’m expecting. Or he grabs Cole off commentary. Then we get JR for the rest of the night.

As long as he can remember that the point is not to put himself over

Tbf, he usually loses at WM, it’s the booking the rest of the year that leaves his opponent no better off.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tbf, he usually loses at WM, it’s the booking the rest of the year that leaves his opponent no better off.

Usually, but not usually enough. Let's just go back 10 years. He lost to Randy Orton in the Triple Threat, but John Cena took the pin. He beat Orton the next year. He beat Sheamus the next year. He did lose to The Undertaker twice, but those matches were ego strokes of their own. Triple H has wrestled Taker more at Mania than anyone else. He beat Brock. He lost to Bryan, but the match happening at all was an ego stroke -- Bryan should have been in the main event. He beat Sting. He did lose to Roman, but he put himself in the main event of the biggest show they've ever done, and got to win another Royal Rumble. He lost to Seth, but look at their respective positions now.

Going back to 2008 he's at 4-6. In maybe 1 of those cases has someone beaten him and ended up higher on the card than him. Roman Reigns is probably the only one you can make that case for. 25 had Orton against Triple H (and losing) after 24, Taker wrestled Triple H again at 28, Triple H and Brock got higher placement at 29 than Taker/Punk, Bryan was opening at 31 and Rollins is in the mid-card title picture this year while Triple H wrestles Angle and Ronda.

Triple H also has the propensity for putting himself over talents that have been around for a while and are seen as legends. If this were Angle vs. Triple H one-on-one, my money would be on Triple H winning. In fact, I'm not entirely sure that Angle & Ronda are winning this year, to be honest. It seems like a foregone conclusion, but don't be surprised if they do that backwards stuff where they think they are helping Ronda by having her lose her first match. Angle might be there to eat the fall. Look at Survivor Series. Fucking this up is not beyond them.

A possible out they might take: Jason Jordan throws in the towel for his daddy when Triple H has him in a submission predicament. Jordan screws over Angle and Rousey -- look at what a heel we'll have when he comes back. Imagine the bragging rights we can give Stephanie and Triple H. If this becomes about the ego of Triple H and Steph, don't be surprised. Even if the faces win, it's still ego that they're even in this position.

[DAMN iNATOR]

They should do a Rocky V where Undertaker never fights Cena in the ring, but Cena picks a fight with him on the street and gets his ass kicked.

But then what would Billy Gunn's long lost brother Tommy do for the final scene? :(