I remember a few years ago WWE considered handing out little radio things at live events so fans could listen to commentary.

I thought that was a good idea. Anyone know why it never happened? Or was it just a big rumor?

Lol, that name is tremendous.

Jack Gallagher was fun at the start of the year. He's inoffensive. I'd rather see Nese and TJP go though. They feel like failed experiments by this point. Drew Gulak can go to SmackDown and carry Rusev's bags. Give him some more time and see if anything falls out.

Rich Swann has fun entrance music. I liked the idea of him being in a team with Tozawa, but Crews has that locked down. I dunno, maybe you can try and give him a singles push on SmackDown away from the cruiserweights and see if it works.

I'd classify Cedric Alexander as more of a failed experiment. It's not his fault that he got hurt and had to miss time but he's done literally nothing but feud with Noam Dar since the cruiserweight division started. And even when he was hurt they had Swann basically act as a proxy for Alexander in continuing the Dar feud. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

He came out of that CWC pretty hot, but they geeked him out pretty quickly.

1st they get rid of pyro then they get rid of Talking Smack


CANCEL 205 Live and Fire JBL instead plz

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WWE just cancelled the show that produced their best promos week to week. What an absolute pile. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TalkingSmack?src=hash">#TalkingSmack</a> <a href="https://t.co/lQNAeP54O8">pic.twitter.com/lQNAeP54O8</a></p>&mdash; Tights And Fights (@TightsFights) <a href="https://twitter.com/TightsFights/status/885907428126015488">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A little fun and levity to get your weekend started right:

The cruiserweights in a nutshell.

Wwe in a nutshell.

Your head in my ass

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hmmmm that's one way to get news. <a href="https://t.co/sNIYUZfD7N">https://t.co/sNIYUZfD7N</a></p>&mdash; Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/885946863383392256">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Renee found out about Talking Smack via Twitter. Classy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We've cancelled Talking Smack because the show was entertaining &amp; unscripted, two things we find threatening <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kayfabe?src=hash">#Kayfabe</a></p>&mdash; WWE Creative Humor (@WWECreative_ish) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWECreative_ish/status/885934672542302208">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:naughty:

Dana Warrior 'not cool' with Ryback's claim he was supposed to wrestle 'The Ultimate Warrior' at WrestleMania XXX


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not true. It always saddens me when people tell untruths on a man's grave to promote their lives. Do your OWN work. Dana <a href="https://t.co/Y4VnJ98uUZ">https://t.co/Y4VnJ98uUZ</a></p>&mdash; The Ultimate Warrior (@UltimateWarrior) <a href="https://twitter.com/UltimateWarrior/status/885905509949296641">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Renee not happy...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Really disappointed about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TalkingSmack?src=hash">#TalkingSmack</a>. We tried to make that show great. Guess I'll go back to welcoming my guest at this time.</p>&mdash; Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/885964438737743872">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh wow, she's not even hiding it. Good on her for airing her true opinion, but you've got to be upset to speak out against your employer like that.

Superb.

Just a random thought: When Austin Aries got released, I thought to myself that there must be quite a few people in the locker-room that aren't too happy. My mind went to Sami Zayn, for whatever reason. There's always those guys who are great wrestlers you feel could be more (Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, etc.). The Colons are apparently depressed. I can't imagine many of the cruiserweights being too enthused. Alpha are young, but haven't exactly been given the best platform to highlight what they can do. Then you've got guys like Luke Harper and Erick Rowan who have barely been used recently. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson are possibly the most expensive filler WWE has had since Big Show & Mark Henry. Enzo seems miserable, and Cass is even apparently experiencing some backlash.

All of this gets me to around to my point: I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of mass exodus of talent soon. I'll be "shocked," but not surprised. Everything has been so quite in the WWE for so long. They sign all the indy guys and basically pay them to keep their mouths shut as they go to work and smile like they're having the time of their lives. But I am suspicious that morale is as high as it seems, and there is always stuff bubbling beneath the surface. All it would take is a few squeaky wheels to just start asking for their releases and then others to follow suit.

Edge and Christian Podcast is fucking hilarious this week. Dreamer is back with his Tales From the Indies segment.

I think Renee is getting fired soon. Has she filmed one of her one on one interviews for the Network? He interview time on the main shows have been cut in half if not just gone completely.

Sort of seems like she's being pushed out.

I don't think so. I just think they don't know what to cut around 205 Live without cutting that fucking 205 Live itself.

Originally Posted by PWI
Renee Young, in responding to a fan question on Twitter, stated that her WWE Network series Unfiltered, in which she conducted one-on-one interviews, has also been canceled.

Yep
— Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) July 14, 2017


Bye Renee

TOMMMMMMMAY

I like how E and C just tell one another they're going to physically maim one another in very creative ways.

Edge likes to focus his attack on the nerve cluster in the neck.

I love how fans now go up to Tommy Dreamer and say this... And that it pisses TOMMAY off.

LOL and they fucking had Hobo Hank on last week to stand in for TOMMAY on tales from the indies. And TOMMAY didn't know until he was like told on Twitter or something.

... Why the fuck would they get rid of talking smack? Were wrestlers and fans having too much fun? Fuck this company.

I've seriously probably watched more Talking Smack stuff than actual Smackdown since the brand split.

Lol Tommy's story of the ring being sabotaged with Cornette throwing a fit was fucking hilarious.

I'm listening to E&C right now.

Brother.

Need The Rock to step in and force a Talking Smack segment on air. You know, like when WWE tried to hide the cosplayers by forcing them to the hard camera side, and Rocky went down there to talk to them, so they got shown way mote prominently anyway.

brotherbrother

Here we go!

Probably so Daniel Bryan can have more time with his daughter I assume.

What?

Bryan hasn't been on the show for weeks and wasn't notified about the change.

He had come back and was on the show just 2 weeks ago.

The point was that they don't need Bryan to do the show, and that has never been their philosophy, so giving Bryan a reduced schedule just isn't true.

In the realm of MMA/wrestling crossovers, Cyborg has challenged Becky Lynch to a match at SummerSlam.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/NatbyNature">@NatbyNature</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE">@ReneeYoungWWE</a> = <a href="https://t.co/LPPBMh1oK2">pic.twitter.com/LPPBMh1oK2</a></p>&mdash; isaiah (@isaiassuazo223) <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiassuazo223/status/885682863491997696">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NatbyNature">@NatbyNature</a> I think you owe me child support money....we had a baby G! I'll let 2Paws know �� <a href="https://t.co/gUM9QOZRgJ">https://t.co/gUM9QOZRgJ</a></p>&mdash; Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/885732441540894721">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We're really proud of the young ass kicking lady she's become ��█��█��</p>&mdash; Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/885841826665697280">July 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I still remember that Miz promo from talking smack. Saw the buzz here and looked it up and loved it so much. It was everything that has been missing from TV. Real passion and guys allowed to let loose and actually have a personality. Sad that they can't see the benefit of that

Too bad they couldn't add that as an extra hour as apart of smackdown.

Usos promos sucked, but they were great unscripted on Talking Smack... So they added that to their character. Just everything about it feels dumb.

While I do get the frustrating that Talking Smack is gone, unscripted promos should be a thing that we get during SmackDown. The idea of the scripted promo itself is a wonky one, and we're kind of spitting the dummy about a little bit of string the company gave us for a while.

This is what I mean when I say that the WWE conditions us to tolerate crap. We're so used to mundane, scripted promos that our outrage is targeted at a show outside the bubble where that isn't the norm.

So much wrong with this company at the present time.

I personally cant make it through 15 minutes of Raw or Smackdown and thats generous.

I've stopped trying. I listen to The LAW recap it occasionally. People talking about wrestling has become more interesting than wrestling.

I read about it and watch the youtube highlights of anything that sounds interesting.

Lol, and we are the dudes who spend free time on wrestling boards. It's crazy.

I haven't watched Raw or Smackdown in about 3 years. I only watch Wrestlemania and the Rumble

Yeah. If Bryan is in the arena and on Smackdown he's usually on the show. If he isn't, he's not. I highly doubt they cancelled the show so that Daniel Bryan could leave work an hour or so earlier to spend more time with his kid. lol

According to Sports Illustrated, main reason Talking Smack was dropped as a weekly show was due to Vince hating the direction of the show. Wasn't a money or viewership problem but Vince feeling the unscripted-like format of the show wasn't in WWE's best interest.

Also was revealed the eventual plan is to completely ditch the show at a later date. Right now its only planned to occur for Smackdown PPVs.

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/201...-vince-mcmahon

I think the show just needed a bit more "direction"...... Still have it mainly unscripted...... but as fun as it was, you should not have, for example, the dastardly heel Usos on the show being all jovial/friendly/face-like.

Was perfect for the women, who often don't get the chance to talk on the 2 hour Smackdown show. Other guys have also done great, while sticking to their characters.

Hate to go the "out of touch Vince" route.... but that is the MAIN element that caused people to enjoy it!!!

I think, as some pointed out before this report, is that personalities were shining through a LOT more and it was becoming more entertaining than the actual show, which is true.

Well that's ultimately what it comes down to, a 71 year old thinking he's still "in touch" with what people less than half his age want to see. This will only change when he finally decides to retire.

Vince will never retire.

Because we like wrestling and wish it was pallatable

3 months from that time, no one will care.

wrestlers will pretend to care, since they know where their bread is buttered.

:lol:

Vince has mentioned in the past about doing this exact same thing because of not wanting to end up the same way as his father. His father didn't get to enjoy being retired and died somewhat quickly afterwards.

Going by what others have said about him, Vince seems the exact type that would be very miserable while retired.

I'll still never understand why he hates sleep. But also love that he's rattled as fuck when he sneezes.

That got me pumped.

Oh, I know, but even we just cannot sit through RAW. This is what they have done to us.

I didn't realise Lock Jaw sold Christian an iPhone and called into the show...

Naito-Ibushi match was amazing tonight. Best match of the show and already one of those must watch matches for the entire G1.

Sounds excellent. I'm still thinking about getting New Japan World, but I still haven't committed. What am I waiting for?

I just threw up a thread, but they actually gave away todays event for free as a kind of teaser, so I'll link that once it's available on demand.

I found this random Paige - Bayley segment to be highly amusing

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; ██████████ relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/4hd6a/ktmhbd" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; ██████████ absolute;"></iframe></div>

One of my favorite returns - Edge gets drafted to RAW in 2004

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jMrMRH_XFd8?start=45" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Red, Red, Kroovy :yes:

I feel like I've said this several times before but the 2004 Draft Lottery episode of Raw is one of my favorites ever.

The brand split truly felt important at that time and that was the first time they'd really shifted any of the rosters in a year and a half.

And the follow up....which I wish could've been better.

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yU--CLJfd3Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And since we are in a time machine....

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTn06LQmTpw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

4:40...4:40, 4:40, 4:40

<iframe width="1600" height="900" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UATNEpHLke0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Wow! Thanks for sharing this.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SWAN DIVE GERMAN SUPLEX!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJPW?src=hash">#NJPW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G127?src=hash">#G127</a> <a href="https://t.co/EIBZsBhNTh">pic.twitter.com/EIBZsBhNTh</a></p>&mdash; LARIATOOOO!!! (@MrLARIATO) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/886875612375375872">July 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Getting tickets for the September 25th edition of Raw on Friday. So, that means I'll be attending two events in two days.

STOKED.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Although I have to admit that I'm now considering getting a nipple piercing.</p>&mdash; Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) <a href="https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/887149220133822467">July 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I'm a Joe Rogan fan, but pop'd when I saw who showed up in this video. Heard about this but never saw it, and of all the fucking people to be apart of it.....

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6h3aluCVy8c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://68.media.tumblr.com/4fba55cd...zmao1_1280.jpg

https://68.media.tumblr.com/ac1da9f2...yqzoo1_500.png

Why is this a surprise? He was the reality TV king before WWE. Totally thought you meant some sort of unforeseen cameo.

Kurt needs to start wearing Heath Slaters I got kids shirt to keep his job

Yeah! I remember Rogan talking about the incident on his podcast and the retelling the story several times on later podcasts since he does that a lot. I vaguely remember him mentioning Mike Mizanin in one of them.

Here's a video from his podcast where he berates Tony Hinchcliffe with respect to professional wrestling. While he comes across as a jackass in the video, Rogan has acknowledged that professional wrestling is a tough business (on numerous occasions).

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jTf3JnNzEyg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bonus video

This is the Fear Factor/Wrestling video anyway

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x50sl3" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x50sl3" target="_blank">Fear factor WWE edition (part 1 of 3)</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/swantom-bomb" target="_blank">swantom-bomb</a></i>

Kurt Angle: My Black Son

<iframe width="600" height="338" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/srbE-LYPxxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

They're back :love:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-WPLox5pzqU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've never seen that show before, and that just changed my life.

Seriously, don't know why I love this so much. I went back and watched their MITB review...FUCKING HILARIOUS.

Yeah! They're adorable.