The Official WWE / NXT Discussion Thread *May Contain Spoilers*

[RKOwnage]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="crownsy" data-cite="crownsy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>That seems to be the Shane's character's move. put fan favorites in matches they kinda already lost, and then have them make it with the second chance.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> To be fair, that's EXACTLY how he got to be in his position, minus earning the second chance <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="RKOwnage" data-cite="RKOwnage" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Honestly, KO needed that win more than AJ did. He gets a clean RAW win over a semi-established main eventer. Plus, it's clearly leading to an AJ vs. The Club storyline where he has to prove he can win without them/beat them. I thought it was good storytelling and helped establish KO a bit more. He's capable of beating main eventers - about a year ago he pinned Cena in his first match. I don't think it did much to hurt AJ - even the best go into a rut sometimes, in kayfabe. I thought it was good booking.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> If you think about it that was a tragic loss. AJ couldn't get the job done as number one contender and then got beat severely clean by a guy who couldn't win the IC Belt. Kevin Owens is the top established heel in the company right now but he hasn't been booked like that. He has been kept very far away from the WWE title. All that loss did was prove "The Club" right that AJ can't win a match by himself.</p><p> </p><p> You pretty much logically killed off AJ Styles because he is feuding with the guys that jobbed to the Usos for a month straight before finally getting a win at Extreme Rules. Roman is the only person that ends up protected and it's a guy that 80% of the fans are sick of.</p>

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="K-Nection" data-cite="K-Nection" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>If you think about it that was a tragic loss. AJ couldn't get the job done as number one contender and then got beat severely clean by a guy who couldn't win the IC Belt. Kevin Owens is the top established heel in the company right now but he hasn't been booked like that. He has been kept very far away from the WWE title. All that loss did was prove "The Club" right that AJ can't win a match by himself.<p> </p><p> You pretty much logically killed off AJ Styles because he is feuding with the guys that jobbed to the Usos for a month straight before finally getting a win at Extreme Rules. Roman is the only person that ends up protected and it's a guy that 80% of the fans are sick of.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Again, it depends on where we are going with AJ. If the storyline is going to be AJ vs. The Club, then I'm pretty good with the booking, he doesn't need to be in the MITB match. If AJ's next stop is vs. some midcarder, then yea, it's a step down booking wise.</p>

[milamber]

I was happy Owens got the clean win at the time because he's lost his fair share of big matches in the past and deserves the big win. But in retrospect they should have had the Club come out at the end to distract AJ.

[Jaysin]

Cole called a head scissors takedown a hurricanrana. Ugh.

[milamber]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Cole called a head scissors takedown a hurricanrana. Ugh.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Another reason I prefer Smackdown to Raw: Ranallo & King > Cole & JBL. Although I do sympathize with Cole. Imagine having to do commentary while Vince is calling directions in his earpiece, Owens is shouting abuse at him (which is brilliant:D) and JBL is arguing with him. Ranallo and King probably get free reign at the announce booth on Smackdown because Vince probably doesn't care about the show.</p>

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="milamber" data-cite="milamber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Another reason I prefer Smackdown to Raw: Ranallo & King > Cole & JBL. Although I do sympathize with Cole. Imagine having to do commentary while Vince is calling directions in his earpiece, Owens is shouting abuse at him (which is brilliant:D) and JBL is arguing with him. Ranallo and King probably get free reign at the announce booth on Smackdown because Vince probably doesn't care about the show.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><p> Road Dogg is in charge of Smackdown last I heard</p>

[lukess11]

WWE just announced a brand split starting July 19, along with Smackdown going live.

[Jaysin]

Awesome news.

[lukess11]

I think that means next PPV, it will be established.

[lukess11]

Also, hopefully they bring back two world titles.

[Teh_Showtime]

<p>SD is going live July 19th</p><p> </p><p>

It'll be a while</p>

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="lukess11" data-cite="lukess11" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Also, hopefully they bring back two world titles.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I hope they don't, but what i do hope is they bring back another mid card title (cruiser weight or TV)</p><p> </p><p> Then on the brand split, I would work it like this: Your only on your "brand", however, if you hold a title, you are expected to work both shows. Would allow them to establish the shows as separate brands, while also allowing them to do cross show stroylines by putting the belts on guys, and makes the belts more of a big deal because it's your "ticket" to work both brands. Also allows them to have the leaders of both brands (assuming it's shane & steph obv.) want to get the titles on thier guys, so that they have the champs on thier show, while always having the danger that they lose it at the PPV to the other brand. </p><p> </p><p> What i don't want is it to be like those middle years of the brand split, where it was more like "uh yea....so there's a brand split, but people can just go to other shows and wrestle too."</p>

[Ben_Ditch05]

Full article on the news people are talking about, in case you all want to read and haven't found it yet.

[Blackman]

So let me get this straight: they're closing off a spectacular match by letting Miz get the pin on Cesaro after he kicked out right after a finishing move ten seconds before... What happened? Did a bag of bricks fall on him in-between? Attention spans nowadays are short, but they're not THAT short.

 

*loads up TEW mods and changes 'realism' setting of WWE to 'very low'*

 

A brand split will be great news. Obvious thing to do would be Stephanie taking back the reigns of Smackdown. They finally realize Reigns won't be accepted as champ by everybody so why not create a different champion. Unless they install Cena as the other one.

 

I always liked the artificial competition between RAW and Smackdown, or the WCW Invasion, even if both angles were badly booked.

[Mootinie]

Right, so there's your Survivor Series match boys.

[The Final Countdown]

How in the world are they going to fill three hours of Raw every week if they do a true brand split and actually adhere to it?

[jwt13]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Final Countdown" data-cite="The Final Countdown" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>How in the world are they going to fill three hours of Raw every week if they do a true brand split and actually adhere to it?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> My guess would be for Raw to go back to 2 hours. But you never know with these guys.</p>

[RKOwnage]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Mootinie" data-cite="Mootinie" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Right, so there's your Survivor Series match boys.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Haha, I said this the second Vince split it to Shane and Stephanie, but I didn't expect a brand split. I'm pretty excited.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Final Countdown" data-cite="The Final Countdown" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>How in the world are they going to fill three hours of Raw every week if they do a true brand split and actually adhere to it?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="jwt13" data-cite="jwt13" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>My guess would be for Raw to go back to 2 hours. But you never know with these guys.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Vince won't give up the revenue from the extra hour. I'd be highly surprised if they cut it to 2 hours. I share your curiosity, TFC. It's bloated as it is. They should just air NXT from 10-11 haha.</p>

[2Sweet]

I haven't watched previous years of the WWE when they had brand splits but all I know is that they had the Bragging Rights pay-per-view. I was wondering since the brand split is returning, will they bring back Bragging Rights or will they use Survivor Series?

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="jwt13" data-cite="jwt13" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>My guess would be for Raw to go back to 2 hours. But you never know with these guys.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Won't happen, even with the incredible damage it's doing to the product, its still a very highly rated show for USA, relatively, for 3 prime hours.</p><p> </p><p> USA paid for that sweet, sweet, ratings security from 8 - 11 PM, so Raw ain't going anywhere till next time the TV contract is up.</p>

[iruleall15]

<p>If WWE finds a way to ruin Shinsuke Nakamura than I may legit stop watching. I never heard of him until he joined NXT... But holy hell can be grab you with not only his amazing entrance and theme but his in ring is on a level maybe a handful at best can compete with.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Best singles wrestler overall in NXT IMO.</p>

[K-Nection]

<p>I'm so psyched about a brand split! I always thought the idea of a brand split was so dumb before because the two shows were always on different networks and they never really truly had equal footing for getting ratings. Now that both shows are on the same national network the brand split makes a lot more sense. </p><p> </p><p>

We also have a platform for making main eventers more efficiently because we can separate the focus on both shows (instead of kevin dunn saying lol spam reigns).</p><p> </p><p>

Hopefully they split the schedules up so the wrestlers don't break down as quickly.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

In other WWE news they release Eden Styles and refer to her as "Cody's Wife". I guess they were salty over the burn of the writer hitting on developmental divas.</p>

[milamber]

The best part of the splitting the roster is that they will be forced to use underutilized midcarders, enhancement talent and NXT debutants more to avoid spamming matches. And talented guys like Owens and Cesaro might have a chance to gain main event status. It will be interesting to see what they do with all the titles.

[milamber]

<p>I know most of you guys dislike Roman but this is a pretty good interview, as most of the Michael Cole ones are. He sounds more relaxed and comfortable.</p><p> </p><p>

 

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