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Post by ahunter8056 on Jun 8, 2020 6:52:42 GMT -5
Solid NXT TakeOver, loved all the retro nostalgia, great to see that house set again. I hope In Your House becomes a yearly TakeOver.
By far the best moment was Io Shirai as the new NXT Women's Champion! Charlotte's reign was definitely fresh and interesting seeing her back in NXT after all these years, but Io really deserved to shine. Great moment, all things considered.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Jun 6, 2020 9:50:24 GMT -5
Brilliant ending to SmackDown! They've been doing a really good job with SmackDown for the past month. The IC title tournament, Otis and Mandy, Hardy VS Sheamus (questionable storyline aside), Matt Riddle coming to the blue brand, Sasha putting on great matches as per usual but actually being booked to win them!! Some really enjoyable shows, and I hope they can keep it going.
Sasha is a champion once again!! That was a good match with a really nice ending spot. She deserves it after how incredible she's been since returning (which is not to say she wasn't before her hiatus). This adds a new twist to the story between her and Bayley to keep it going until Summerslam. I for one am fully engaged in this storyline, and I can't wait to see how they keep it interesting, as they've managed to do thus far. I don't expect this to be a long reign, but damn they look good with the titles back around their waists! And them doing the whole mock crying on the floor thing in their online video was brilliant, a rightful FU to the vile wrestling media.
Now all they need to do is FINALLY give Jeff 'No More Words' back, and SmackDown will be damn near perfect.
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Post by ahunter8056 on May 16, 2020 16:16:17 GMT -5
Absolutely loving the slow-burn between Bayley and Sasha! They're nailing it, and I'm really excited to get to the point where it finally blows up. From Sasha's attention-grabbing facial expressions and mimed words behind Bayley's back, to Bayley consistently refusing to let Sasha speak. They're slowly sowing the seeds, inching closer every week and it's riveting stuff. Charlotte/Bayley/Sasha had a fantastic segment last night. Charlotte was absolutely the right person to try to get through to Sasha, so much history there. Added even more depth.
Unlike the stop-start feud of theirs in 2018 (although it did have some good segments), this story has been told well so far, and I hope it continues to be told with the same level of quality. By far my favourite thing going on SmackDown (though Otis isn't too far away).
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Post by ahunter8056 on May 16, 2020 6:31:38 GMT -5
I think Gargano VS Cole at TakeOver: New York was probably the last time I had that feeling where I wanted one particular superstar to win THAT badly.
But if we're talking in terms of being fully invested in a match, I'd go with either of the Sasha Banks VS Becky Lynch matches in 2019, from either CoC or HIAC. My two favourites clashing again, after years earlier putting on one of my all time favourite matches at TakeOver: Unstoppable. They did not disappoint with the sequels, really enjoyable matches.
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Post by ahunter8056 on May 5, 2020 10:09:13 GMT -5
He's good. I'd never heard of him before AEW, and his debut match made him a star overnight. I think he's got an interesting character, an interesting look, and a good theme that fits him. I've honestly never thought too much about his build to be honest, because I've just been invested in him enough to not need to think about that.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 29, 2020 6:07:41 GMT -5
I'm keeping an open mind with this one. I've been wanting an All Stars sequel for years, and this looks like we're finally getting a spiritual successor. Unless it's something that does not appeal to me in the slightest (e.g. Supercard), I'll never not be excited by a new wrestling game. Rock and Cena look cool. Becky and Charlotte look really off, but I'd assume that this is alpha footage, and they probably prioritised Cena and Rock. I was worried at the initial release that it looked like it could be a mobile game, so I'll relieved that it's confirmed not to be. There's further details about the game here: www.esrb.org/ratings/36765/WWE+2K+Battlegrounds/
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 24, 2020 13:37:33 GMT -5
Good episode this week, absolutely loving this new Johnny/Candice storyline. This new plan of Johnny and Candice reigning atop NXT together has got me excited! Their explanation is hard to disagree with, easily setting up as the heroes in their story. Interesting new look for Candice. I always thought it would be good for the two to manage each other and be a real power couple across both divisions. I'm ready for NXT in the image of Mr and Mrs Wrestling.
I really hope wrestling companies stop with this trend of not bothering to properly introduce new stars to their audience. Personally I'm feeling a big disconnect with this Ciampa attack storyline, because Tom and Byron just casually namedropped the attackers, despite the camera not getting a good look at them, nor was there any official reveal (as far as I'm aware). I honestly can't see a reason why they didn't put any effort to introduce these people. Yes in this age, a lot of people watch the indies. But not everyone. You can't just assume that the entire audience watches every wrestling company on the planet. I only know it was Killer Kross and Scarlet Bordeaux because of fan tweets and then the casual namedropping on NXT, as though Byron and Tom expected us to instantly know. If they hadn't have casually namedropped them, I would still think it was an unsolved mystery.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 24, 2020 13:28:11 GMT -5
This doesn't bother me at all; it has the opposite effect on me. Personally, I value the health and safety of the wrestlers above all else in the context of a wrestling match. So anything that's being done to protect a wrestlers's health gets a thumbs up from me. And like previously mentioned, the refs getting in close to check on the wrestlers allows them to check for telltale signs in the eyes/body response time, etc that they might not notice from the other side of the ring.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 12, 2020 6:52:30 GMT -5
No, I honestly don't give her a moment's thought.
But would I be interested in seeing her return (as it now strongly looks like she will)? It depends. If she were to return as a respectful face like she was for the majority of her run, I'd be interested. But given that it looks like she's returning as a heel with the crapty gimmick of "I hate wrestling but for some reason I'm here", then no thanks at all. Absolutely horrible writing from creative. When they go this route with former MMA stars like Lesnar and Rousey of "wrestling sucks but I'm here doing it", it just makes zero sense to me. No logic at all. If someone really disliked wrestling, why on earth would they be doing it?
But unfortunately creative are still having her go with this crapty gimmick. Surely she has to be gearing up for a return with these comments. She can't seriously be stupid enough to genuinely believe what she's been saying.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 10, 2020 12:09:00 GMT -5
Digging around on WWE Network's replies to customers on social media, I found this tweet:
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 10, 2020 9:08:47 GMT -5
Just checked and you're right; this week's NXT is not yet on the WWE Network, despite usually having been uploaded by this point every single week.
With my Virgin box having neglected to record this week's NXT because of a slight name change in the TV guide, this is a problem.
Hopefully they put it up soon. The TV deal may bring in plenty of money for them as a company, but it's frustrating as a consumer to not have it on the Network straight away.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 6, 2020 12:53:27 GMT -5
Honestly despite the obvious difference, WrestleMania 36 was very good for what it was. Delivered entertainment in a time where we need it. Gotta respect the superstars risking their health to perform when they didn't have to.
There was honestly very little on the show to complain about. For me, every booking decision (for the most part) was either good or meh.
That Firefly Fun House match was one of the best things I've ever seen! I love fan service, so all the references, the throwbacks, etc. Loved all that good crap!
Otis and Mandy!!! This is honestly the only storyline on RAW and SmackDown that has truly gripped me the past few months. And the climax was exactly what it needed to be. I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing face Mandy.
They're finally starting the main roster Bayley/Sasha feud!! (The proper one, 2018 stop and start doesn't count) Not going to lie, I was really hope we'd see one attack the other at the end of the match, but I'll take the slow burn. As long as it ends with Sasha walking out of Summerslam as the SmackDown Women's Champion, I'm perfectly happy to sit back and watch how it plays out.
Drew McIntyre!!! Very glad to see him finally win a World title, long overdue. I would say that hopefully this is the last we've seen of Brock with a championship, but I know better than to get my hopes up.
Only really had three gripes with the show:
1) Lacey being the one to eliminate Sasha was a big NOPE from me. 2) Drew McIntyre really should have come out to Broken Dreams. 3) That Edge/Randy Orton match was unbearably dull.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Apr 2, 2020 10:17:08 GMT -5
Good thing Ringside have uploaded all the photos on Twitter so I don't have to hear those two. Don't really understand why this is in video format anyway, seems much more appropriate to just put the photos up as a gallery.
All of today's reveals were pretty cool, was really not expecting a 2014 Warrior. Hoping we get an update on the upcoming Ringside Exclusive Sasha in the coming days.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Mar 9, 2020 13:22:13 GMT -5
Excellent documentary! Highly informative and entertaining. It was super interesting watching footage I'd never seen before of the superstars of today in their early years, as well as hearing the stories of guys I'd never heard of before. As flawed as FCW was in comparison to NXT and the PC today, it seemed like everyone interviewed had so many positives to say about it, which made it really heartfelt. It was the perfect time for this documentary to come along, given WrestleMania in Tampa.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Mar 7, 2020 15:28:19 GMT -5
Sure, it's nice to get half of everything in the main lines all from the same shop, but we don't get any of the exclusives. And we all know how much Mattel loves exclusives.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Mar 6, 2020 9:11:09 GMT -5
Well, no. Right now the top guy is Jon Moxley. Before Revolution it was Chris Jericho. Whoever holds the AEW Championship is considered the top guy in the company.
But if we're talking purely based on popularity rather than kayfabe rankings, Cody is definitely very popular. No matter your personal opinion on him, he consistently gets the loudest cheers out of anyone else in the company. That can't be disputed.
Personally, I think the fan reaction to him is absolutely earned. In my view, he consistently puts on some of the best matches in the company from a psychological standpoint, rather than the spotfests that most AEW matches are. He absolutely oozes passion, and that in-ring promo he put on in the run-up to his match against Jericho at Full Gear was probably the best in company history. Not to mention, he has one of the greatest entrance themes in all of pro wrestling history.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Mar 4, 2020 13:54:06 GMT -5
Definitely a hard no for me. I still think having a cruiserweight division is a dumb idea, so having the opposite has me just as enthusiastic. Weight classes only hinder the product and help it get stale. One thing that makes wrestling fun and interesting is all the different styles and sizes. Taking that away and having people who wrestle the exact same way all exclusively against each other...that gets old real quick.
In my opinion, unless WWE ever introduce intergender wrestling, there should only be four divisions. Mens singles, women's singles, men's tag, women's tag. Intergender aside, you don't need anymore than that.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Feb 29, 2020 13:13:11 GMT -5
Yeah, he seems to be doing pretty well for himself. Still does graphic designs for one of my favourite streamers, newLEGACYinc. And having designed designs worn by Trish Stratus on TV is insanely cool beyond words.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Feb 24, 2020 8:02:47 GMT -5
Does Channel 5 have an app that you can watch this on? Yes, there is indeed. I believe on the PS4 it's called "My5". I'm not sure if it's the same on other devices, but I imagine so.
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Post by ahunter8056 on Feb 22, 2020 9:41:56 GMT -5
Wow! These all look insanely good. Every single one captures the individual perfectly. Really glad they went with trousers for Moxley rather than trunks.
The only negative is the fact that Jericho looks to only comes with entrance gear for the chase. I personally think that's a mistake. Hopefully a future non-chase will come with the entrance jacket and hat.
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