Keep having to remind myself Tyler is only 19 and he's already that good though.

That might be the best match all year and today.

Certainly not all year as it's already been beaten, but man it was good.

People who have matches with children and dolls are disqualified.

Michael Cole is going to be miserable tomorrow night. Not sure if it's because of jet lag or because he has to call Raw after watching this.

Alot of people on WWE's facebook saying they didn't watch on a list of "best matches" poll.

Roman Reigns could all these assholes

could what?

watching highlights of this r/n

love the setting/atmosphere in Blackpool

Decide to wait till the whole thing was done and watch it all at once afterwards.

Really like the CWC-type intros done for each wrestler. Was very helpful for both the CWC and UK tournaments on getting some background for the majority of wrestlers involved.

Seven being billed from Mustache Mountain is hilarious. Him having a Rainmaker finisher was cool.

:lol: at a shenanigan finish for the 2nd match. Thought at first it got called off because of Burch's busted head. Devlin looks like the main actor from the Mr. Robot tv show.

Moloney could probably pass off as a Bonds villain with the way he looked in his preview video.

Dunne-Johnson, Andrews-Moloney, and Tucker-Bate were great overall for the Day 1 matches. Cole and Nigel as the commentary team were good and Cole seemed to get a lot more comfortable as the tournament went on.

Michael Cole/Nigel Mcguinness work well together on commentary.

Cole was great

Day 2 was really great overall.

:lol: Mustache Mountain still being hilarious for a hometown name. Wolfgang got really lucky he didn't blow out his knee from the moonsault done outside.

Watching Bate's entrances made me realize if he ever tagged with Gallagher, it could be the most gentlemen team ever in WWE history.

:lol: crowd cheering when Neville trashed the tournament and not being invited to it. Neville-End match was good. Nice of Neville to provide the tournament with its Flying Nothing moment.

Andrews-Conner, Wolfgang-Seven, Andrews-Dunne, and Dunne-Bate were great overall for the Day 2 matches. WWE signing all the guys before the tournament started was a big improvement compared to the CWC since they weren't handicapped when it came to crowning the first UK champ.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0Exog...pfi/source.gif

I feel like this event will be sold out now:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2PqiXnWEAIYFfz.jpg

Have been on shows with Pete and Tyler and am very happy for both of them. Tyler is a total prodigy, and Pete's entire life is dedicated to getting better, so them being the final two is not only totally surreal to me, but feels justified. If the idea is the UK-only WWE brand, they've got themselves a good top few guys.

That said, the promos were mostly horrible and you can tell not many of them have had to do a ton of character work outside of the ring before. Regal's expressions and mannerisms being so world class just spotlights how far away most of the are.

Also, Regal and HHH standing out there at the end made them look like the adults at the kids amateur wrestling meet.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2S4Ol3WQAA6rmG.jpg:large

No-one tell Cornette #ExposingTheBusiness

Dunne was fantastic. You can tell they trusted him to be the main character focus on the show, probably getting signed.

Yeah. Him, Tyler Wolfie and @MAndrewsTNA are the stand-outs that if they aren't getting a deal, then they weren't interested in signing anyone.

Fucking loved that.

Was there for second night. Had seen Tyler Bate, Pete Dunne and Mark Andrews before (Pete Dunne and Mark Andrews run Attack Pro Wresting here) and was amazing seeing them in front of such a big audience.

Atmosphere was great, crowd clearly big fans. Town afterwards was good fun as well. Was in a pub which rang a bell for last orders just to hear 'ONE FALL' being shouted by most of the people there.

Also turned out a mate of mine knows someone who works for WWE and got us into VIP. Free bird and mini-cheeseburgers on the company dime. Fuck yeah.

Not sure where they go from here but clearly British Wrestling looks like it's in a decent place. Hopefully the beginning of something good. One concern is which talent they keep in the UK and who gets sent to NXT or 205. If they send some of the bigger names to America it could risk damaging what has been achieved so far.

Yeah they need to establish the "brand" whatever that might end up being. Then there's no reason they can't keep their pieces moving with trades between 205, NXT, and WWEUK. I'd be really interested in Jack Swagger coming into the UK promotion.

Honestly, with ITV being "happy" with World of Sport and considering making it a full series, 5* Wrestling getting a UK TV deal and WCPW being live on YouTube along with RevPro & PROGRESS, UK wrestling is arguably bigger in terms of a ratio with the population than it is in America at the moment. Hopefully all these efforts stick.

Suspect some will fall by the wayside unfortunately as these things tend to do. Cold unforgiving hand of the market etc. However hopefully some of these survive and create a solid on-going core that lasts further than just the current peak in interest.

Either way, anything which gives more people the opportunity to show what they can do and turn their hobby into something resembling a job is always a good thing.

I'll be godamned I actually enjoyed Cole on commentary

http://www.inquisitr.com/3891452/wwe...n-be-defended/

ICW could becoming to the WWE Network so the UK Championship can be defended while they work on starting their own UK brand.

Cole's work on the creative black hole that is Monday Night Raw is not indicative of his actual ability as a wrestling announcer. In my opinion he was always gold on SmackDown with Tazz, JBL, Foley, etc. Move someone to Raw and start having Vince yelling in your headset and forcing lines to the audience and anybody will sound like a bad announcer.

Cole was great on this and also the Japan Network special last year.

Yeah, heard them, PROGRESS, OTT and one other that I forget are in negotiations right now. Hope the back catalogue comes with.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxsp...817%3Famp=true

HHH talking about possibly having a women's tournament this summer.

:n:

Exposing and embarrassing are different things.

Well either way, don't tell him. I wouldn't want to make trouble for the nurses in the care home once he gets all riled up.

ICW deal seems near final

http://i.imgur.com/5Udvatu.png

Amount is said to be $50k a year.

$50k seems small overall considering the potential money the WWE could be making off of ICW (and other British indies) with the Network.

Then again don't know how much money ICW spends in expenses and stuff so maybe its a pretty hefty deal for them in the end.

WWE already starting to get wrestlers pulled from indie events because of certain promotions having ties with FloSlam.

It's probably not a huge amount, but I think WWE is helping to get their infrastructure sorted as well. They just got super fast broadband installed a couple of days ago :lol:

The thing is, if WWE is getting multiple promotions on a similar deal, all they need is five and suddenly it's a $250,000 a year bet for three years. For the indies that are signed, I think they must feel that exposure is worth it and in lieu of a TV deal (which ICW or PROGRESS will never get unless they change their content), it's the only real way to do it.

I also can't see many people buying the Network to get access to UK indies so I'm not surprised the initial outlay is small.

Yeah, that post also states that it's $15 for the indie content instead of $9.99.

I think NXT taking off as a touring brand has forced their hand on this as it's not great for development. With these deals, they can have content with the guys they sign, have them develop naturally on the indies and have NXT be the ultimate indie fed it's turned into as a polishing ground for the main roster.

I doubt they'll make their money back directly with these deals, but it means they can start developing new talent for only $20,000 a year per wrestler and have another tier to their system and more content on the network.

Apparently this is all HHH and Vince is just signing off the costs, so we'll see if he can pull it off.

Looks like they're already blocking dates and throwing their weight around though. Pete Dunne V Riddle is off IPW's stream and Dunne will be on the pre-show instead. Some of the contracted guys have just been pulled off of a podcast too....

Spoke to one of the writers of my local indie as he's also a barman. They get some of the bigger names in the UK, like Jimmy Havoc is there in the Feb event, but they're really worried about this. They have no TV or streaming as they're small, but they've been growing every year so if these contracts take off and WWE aren't interested in picking them up, then what? The cream talent will be locked to these WWE deals.

Huh? It's not even that bad. It's very easy to imagine that the WWE ordered a photo of those guys standing around for promotional reasons and that they took it and then went their separate ways. Don't be a douche. It's not the same as working with children or doing dick spots.

I don't really care if people like Cornette or not. I'm not his fucking keeper and he's done way too much in professional wrestling for a few backyard marks to tear down his work. But what fucking pisses me off to no end is the lack of god-damn comprehension of what he actually says.

It's incredible to me. The guy will say "The sky is blue" and people will take photos on a cloudy day and post it on his wall and say "SEE!". He criticizes Omega as a human being (actually KNOWING him, unlike most fans) and says that whilst being a great athlete the match with Okada was not a perfect match and he couldn't give a shit because fuck Kenny Omega, and the responses are "He can't even say one nice thing," "I guess you can't have Match of the Year if you made a mistake ten years ago," and "Cornette is so out of touch." None of those actually respond to the points he actually fucking made.

It's the stupidity against Cornette. I've been racking my brain trying to work out why everyone looks so fucking stupid when they hurl the straw-men out and it finally dawned on me: They sound fucking stupid because a lot of the time they are taking up a losing position right from the start because Cornette is right. It confuses people when he says something like "Sami Zayn is a good talent, but a pain in the ass to work with and couldn't understand that you don't jump through a ladder on the second match on the card because it makes the boys going on after him have to work that much harder to follow it" so they have to say things like "Cornette said Zayn likes skinning kittens and will never make it as a professional wrestler in the WWE ever because he's ginger and a Muslim."

You don't have to like Cornette -- I don't agree with him on EVERYTHING. I think Titus O'Neil should be kicked out of wrestling before Kenny Omega on the basis of being the drizzling shits, for example -- but for God's sake try and rationalize what you are saying and respond to what he actually says. Not what you imagine the tone around what he is saying could be paired with on a different day if it weren't coming from one of the best minds in professional wrestling history. The straw-men and generalizations are just annoying at this point.

"He's out of touch." No, you are off point, you fucking morons. Saying someone is "out of touch" contains no actual evidence or supportive arguments. It's like saying "The President is stupid." Okay. Why? And every single spotfest mark that is asked that question can never answer with anything other than "He's stuck in the 80's" or "Well, he doesn't like Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Kevin Owens or Sami Zayn." All of which have been dismissed as conclusive points.

The very best one I've heard is the ROH argument. I recommend listening to his shoot about that. He denies being the actual booker, and while that is true, it's naive to think that he didn't have pull and power. And Cornette talks as if he did anyway. But he points out a lot of the structural problems ROH faced. That being said, it was a directional change from ROH that perhaps didn't feel necessary to fans at the time. He was not the guy to run that place. He'd do much better in an NXT, which is basically Smoky Mountain Wrestling with good production value, and where the fans are marks for what they are seeing (whatever they're seeing) and not for a certain cult style.

Anyway, rant over. I just wanted to respond to the anti-intellectualism I perceive to be thrown Cornette's way -- with his big words and sentences that are hard to follow.

These expansion plans should have short-term positive effects on the UK scene, but once the WWE cherry-picks what they want after cultivating it for a bit, it could eventually dry up and be quite barren.

The thing with ICW and Progress is that they would never get a TV deal in a million years, because their content is aimed at adults. For them, even short term exposure is probably a bonus, but a two tiered indie scene isn't that great.

And I mean, the president is stupid.

Yes, but you can explain why he is stupid, surely.

I think the evidence speaks for itself.

I rest my case

Yeah, okay, you got me there.

Dunne vs Bate was really good stuff. Just wish Bate sold the shoulder a bit more and wasn't nailing t bone suplexes and shit but FUCK me he cold cocked Dunne with one of the best worked punches I've EVER seen.

I also hate the near fall syndrome. I honestly wish it was a touch more realistic with near falls. But that's me being nitpicky because everyone does it.

Corny loved it. :-o

I guess he only hates people who lie to him and shit on the business.

Smokey Mountain is one of the only times he could have enough considered out of touch. He was trying to keep the old way alive. It was a great promotion though. Rus so is a piece of shit who created a real fight tournament just to shut Bradshaw up.

Winner of Brawl4All Joey Styles.

He told them to stay away from video games though. Clearly he's never seen ATTACK

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

I was really impressed with Pete Dunne , Wolfgang, Joseph Connors and Tyler Bate. The others were pretty good but those 4 above are the ones that i look forward to seeing more of.

GO Team Rocket!

This thread needs more Trent love

http://www.ewbattleground.com/upload...b2c6b41fc2.jpg

https://rdamon1982.wordpress.com/201...om-tournament/

Quick writeup at work (bored)

Love Attack! Pro Wrestling. They do a lot of stuff near me so pretty much how I've got interested in the British Indy scene.

Think Pete Dunne is one of the owners so hope he stays involved.

I doubt anyone will be THAT bored that they'll click on that

Yeah, Dunne and Andrews I think.

I did!

6/10

Broken Matt- "The Hitman of Harts rates this wonderful mastery a stunning 4 out of 10.

Meltz is saying a few of the UK guys might be in the Rumble. Good exposure for them and their UK plans.

Thank Meltz for fucking spoiling shit again. What a dipshit this fucking goof is.

*posts on internet wrestling message board*
*gets upset when "spoilers" are posted despite nothing being confirmed and the event not happening yet*

I was actually thinking Tyler Bate would be in the Rumble as the "face" of the UK division, but Pete Dunne could be involved as well.

I assume one or two cruiserweight division guys will be in as well to promote that.

#thanksmeltzer could replace #thanksobama

I mean, it was about to become very obvious anyway

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C24XdW3XgAAG2Gs.jpg

That means bugger all for the Royal Rumble as there is also NXT Takeover the night before.

I think there is a chance of Dunne or Bate appearing in the Rumble, but think they might do something else. Could have Bate and Seven appear as a tag team at NXT until they finalise whatever they are doing with the UK (or even just as a one off) and have Dunne join the cruiserweight division where I think he would really bring something different.

Alternatively it could just be a triple threat title defence on the pre-show or at NXT.

Basically, until they actually appear in the Royal Rumble match, I'm not going to assume anything.

Also, Travis Banks is worth checking out if you haven't watched him before.

With the Rumble being a huge event now, is there an expectation of there being a ton of Brits in the audience like with WrestleMania? Or at least a smarkier than usual crowd?

I mean no offense to any of those three - they're awesome, but I have no idea how many casual fans actually sat and watched the tourney. Feel like those guys might all run out to crickets in the Rumble match, which would be a bit of a shame.

I don't really think having them appear in the Rumble does anything for them. No one will know who they are and will only last a couple of minutes before they are thrown out. I think the pre show or the NXT idea is the best as it gives them their own segment that they can make something out of instead of a wasted spot in thed Royal Rumble.

Maybe do a Bate/Seven/Dunne triple threat at Takeover or the Rumble pre-show with the winner getting a Rumble spot? They've done stuff like that for NXT entrants before.

I'd rather see these guys in the Rumble rather than some washed up "legend" who is going to waste a spot too.

Might be something to the NXT thing as PROGRESS haven't announced they're not going to be there on Sunday yet. Since PROGRESS are on the approved list, maybe they'll fly them in and then back out again?

Rather them than me. Would take about 12 hours each way.

I'm guessing they will be in the audience or something at Takeover

Or I would love it if they gave a lovely brummie/ yam yam interview , they would need subtitles to accompany them.

So the UK show on the Network was pretty good

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http://www.wwe.com/article/triple-h-...?sf186472479=1

Wonder what this is going to look like. Hope there is some new talent there as so much of it in the UK right now but am guessing some of the currently signed stars will be involved as well.

Although why put it on a bloody Monday and Tuesday. Now I have to come up with some sort of bullshit reason to go to my works head office those days :mad:

Names announced so far for the UK tournament:

Joe Coffey
Joseph Conners
El Ligero
Zack Gibson
Jack Gallagher
Amir Jordan
Dave Mastif
Kenny Williams

Mastif and Ligero were part of the World of Sport reboot last year so am guessing whatever their contract issues were last time have now expired.

Am guessing Flash Morgan Webster will be part of it after last night. Read rumours of Eddie Dennis and Travis Banks as well. Banks would be notable just for being not from the UK but don't think that would matter.

Would love to see Chief Deputy Dunne, Ryan Smile and Mike Bird but haven't read anything about them unfortunately.

Either way, hopefully will be a good tournament and things hopefully moving in the right direction for the UK Show actually starting at some point.

Does the winner get a title shot? Also, who the fuck is the UK champion and is it ever defended?

Pete Dunne and he's defended it a few times so far. Seems WWE changed their mind on having him and not Tyler Bate be the "face" of the division.

Seen rumours on reddit of both members of CCK signing. Which would be pretty neat.

The downside appears to be that the new contracts seem to include much stricter restrictions on WWE UK talent appearing on indie promotion streaming services. Not sure how much some of the Indys depend on the income from this but suspect it is an important revenue stream.

May even see the bizarre situation where promotions like Attack are owned by WWE UK guys who can't then appear on their own shows.

The next names for the tourney:

Travis Banks
Flash Morgan Webster
Jordan Devlin
Tucker
Drew Gulak
Ashton Smith
James Drake
Tyson T-Bone

lollllllllllllllllllllll random Drew Gulak appearance

Disappointed there aren't a few more new names in there, but do like Travis Banks.

Don't get Gulak being involved though. No benefit to either him or the tournament.

Well, from a pure match quality standpoint there is a benefit to Gulak being there. He’s excellent. But if the goal is to feature UK talent his inclusion doesn’t make sense.

Maybe he’ll claim to be from an obscure part of the country.

I always have to remind myself that Drew Gulak is American. I don't know why, but something about him has just always seemed British. Maybe it's his style or name? I dunno.

Could pull a gag of him representing a city in the UK that has the same name in the US. Like he could claim to be competing in honor of Oxford and then diss UK's Oxford and praise the US's Oxford in Pennsylvania.

Gulak stated on Twitter that the US Athletic Commission wants him to win this tournament as a step towards incorporating the UK as the 51st state.

I've also thought that if the UK were to join the United States (which will never happen) then it would actually be as four additional states rather than one. Not that this is relevant to the conversation in any way.

But yeah, Gulak is fantastic, but just don't see how adding him benefits the tournament really. Not that bothered though because he is good and I can imagine it means he'll end up working both nights anyway.

I only have ticket for the second night of the tournament but don't see him winning (as that would be pointless) so still want to see him.

Johnny Saint has been appointed General Manager of the upcoming UK brand

Bring back Wade Barrett or somebody to replace Kurt Angle and then all of WWE's GMs will be British

No British WWE Champions but four out of five GMs.

We know where our talents lie.

I had to think really long and hard about where the fifth GM was. Forgot 205 Live had one.

Surprised to see Ligero out in first round, although saying that would have been surprised to see Banks out that early as well.

Looking forward to the tournament. Have tickets for the second night so hoping they give a bit more detail on the card soon.

Nixon Newell has been renamed Tegan Nox.

That is the least Welsh name ever.