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

[Jaysin]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rainmaker" data-cite="Rainmaker" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yeah but if they were going to go by guys who were under RAW contracts all along than I think Gargano or Cedric Alexander would of been better picks. As soon as TJP started doing the dabs, there was no chance the crowd weren't going to turn on him.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He's been doing the dabs the entire tournament and the crowd has been doing it along with him. He was one of the most over guys in the tournament.</p>

[milamber]

<p>TJP did get a lot of boos but he was up against fan favorites and his character is cocky (a bit like Ziggler). But he also got his fair share of chants and has an underdog story you can root for. And just look at his body at the end of the show. How often do you see guys in WWE look like they've actually put their bodies on the line in a legit battle?</p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="TJ_Perkins_chest_gross.0.png" data-src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hksM1v3KxFVS6A0ZvW6GBlM7rLY=/1230x0/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/fan_shot_images/422391/TJ_Perkins_chest_gross.0.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

Evolve just released TJP's final Evolve match (against Riddle who is almost certain to who up in NXT one day) to watch for free:</p><p> </p><p>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WNNtQ2YDv1I" rel="external nofollow">TJP vs Riddle</a></p>

[Russelrules44]

TJP did get a lot of boos but he was up against fan favorites and his character is cocky (a bit like Ziggler). But he also got his fair share of chants and has an underdog story you can root for. And just look at his body at the end of the show. How often do you see guys in WWE look like they've actually put their bodies on the line in a legit battle?

 

 

Evolve just released TJP's final Evolve match (against Riddle who is almost certain to who up in NXT one day) to watch for free:

 

TJP vs Riddle

 

I tell you man, T.J Perkins vs Kota Ibushi was a lot of fun to watch. Instant Match of the Year candidate for sure.

 

Is it sad that this was the first Crusierweight Classic episode I watched?

[milamber]

Russelrules44, you should definitely check out the previous few episodes. There were a few MOTY contenders.

[Russelrules44]

<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>Russelrules44, you should definitely check out the previous few episodes. There were a few MOTY contenders.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'll make sure I can.</p>

[milamber]

<p>Gargano & Ciampa are quickly turning into 2 of my favorite wrestlers. Everything they do is gold.</p><p> </p><p>

 

</p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Agi0jLEwiz0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Wedding Reception Lip Sync Battle #GLORIOUSBOMB"></iframe></div></div>

[liontamer]

<p>So I just read that both Sinclair and WWE have placed bids for TNA. Assuming WWE were to acquire them, how would you like to see the WWE use them...</p><p> </p><p>

- another (main or dev.) brand, but kept apart from the rest of wwe?</p><p>

- mix the guys into the other rosters and as surprise entrants in tournaments, the rumble, etc?</p><p>

- another invasion angle, possibly with guys like, joe, AJ and the Glorious one reuniting with the TNA roster in the battle?</p><p>

or...?</p><p>

- pillage the company, keep a few of the top guys, the tape library, and dump the rest?</p><p>

or...?</p>

[The Final Countdown]

If WWE bought them it would be all about the tape library. An "invasion" would get over about as well as The Ascension has.

[Blackman]

<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>If WWE bought them it would be all about the tape library. An "invasion" would get over about as well as The Ascension has.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I felt bad for them this week. They botched their finisher and it couldn't have come at a worse time. Their act worked fine in NXT. Maybe it's one of those gimmicks that just doesn't do well in WWE, like Bayley's gimmick. Except with her you don't notice as she's just too much over. But you can already notice it doesn't work and she'll have to adapt a little.</p><p> </p><p> As for TNA, I'd go with the pillage option. They don't have enough star power for an invasion, and I (like many) haven't watched them in years (with exception of Hardy's recent stuff), so people wouldn't care. And they are too proud to give that much credit to TNA. There's the Hardy's. But let's see through it: they might just want Sandow back. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[iruleall15]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I felt bad for them this week. They botched their finisher and it couldn't have come at a worse time. Their act worked fine in NXT. Maybe it's one of those gimmicks that just doesn't do well in WWE, like Bayley's gimmick. Except with her you don't notice as she's just too much over. But you can already notice it doesn't work and she'll have to adapt a little.<p> </p><p> As for TNA, I'd go with the pillage option. They don't have enough star power for an invasion, and I (like many) haven't watched them in years (with exception of Hardy's recent stuff), so people wouldn't care. And they are too proud to give that much credit to TNA. There's the Hardy's. But let's see through it: they might just want Sandow back. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The thing with Bayley is that they are having her go overboard with her "hugger" gimmick. Its annoying at this point. She didnt do that in NXT yet shes doing it now? It seems that these kids in NXT are told to be creative but once they get to the Main Roster creative removes their say and tells them how to do their gimmick.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> TNA has very few people that are over. Galloway , EC3, Hardys, and Sandow being 5 of them. All id want is McIntyre back as the Chosen One and im a happy guy</p>

[liontamer]

<p>I'm not a fan of the Hardy's stuff, though it is creative and somewhat entertaining and seems over with the crowd.</p><p> </p><p>

If going the pillage route, I'd bring them in for a short run, and then maybe EC3, Moose, Lashley, Bennett, Storm, a few of the women to be the women's undercard now that they are thinned out from 2 titles, and depending on how many CW guys are actually under contract, I may or may not bring some of the X guys over (this is probably the worst the X division has been since I started watching TNA, there's nobody that would be essential to bring over).</p><p> </p><p>

I'd also consider bringing abyss short term to give him a push and then use him to feed into strauman's (sp?) push or to end it if they give up on it.</p><p> </p><p>

I'm not a fan of Drew at all, and doubt they'd bring back Cody or Sandow so soon, though I'd like to see Sandow back (think of the pop if he'd get with a surprise IC win over Miz).</p><p> </p><p>

I'd also be curious if they'd be willing to work out a deal with Sinclair as some of the guys would make a bigger deal in ROH and contracts could get sold off instead of waiting months/years for them to run out.</p>

[K-Nection]

If I was WWE I would give Paul Heyman a budget and tell him to run TNA and attempt to put us out of business.

[iruleall15]

<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 I was WWE I would give Paul Heyman a budget and tell him to run TNA and attempt to put us out of business.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> What happens WHEN Heyman does? I dont think its a matter of if Heyman could do that but how long it would take him.</p>

[milamber]

<p>Best case scenario, Sinclair buy out TNA and keep it running as it is, with some future trading of talent between TNA and ROH. Sinclair could also offer WWE tape library rights for a nice fee.</p><p> </p><p>

I don't watch TNA, just read a few recaps and watch the odd highlight video but I'd hate to see it wiped out by WWE considering its recent creative resurgence.</p>

[UkWrestleFan]

Though I don't think they'll go that route, I think an invasion angle could work...

 

I haven't thought about it too much but there's are valued names who have TNA history that could make it work.

 

First, there's those who are contracted to WWE who could "jump ship" (it would need explaining why they were doing so, and would have to be logical) I'm thinking Styles, Joe, Roode & Aries.

 

Then you could have the older guys who have worked for both WWE & TNA, so Jeff & Matt Hardy, Team 3D, Lashley.

 

And then there are the younger guys who have associations with both; Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Drew Galloway, Gallows etc.

 

Kurt Angle and Sting could also play a part.

 

As I say, it's highly unlikely they'd do it, but if they wanted to and were creative enough, I think they could pull it off.

[Russelrules44]

<p>They don't really mention TNA that much at all, how do you expect them to do an invasion storyline?</p><p> </p><p>

My bet is that Sinclair gets TNA and merge it with ROH to form a super company.</p>

[Ayden]

<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>Gargano & Ciampa are quickly turning into 2 of my favorite wrestlers. Everything they do is gold.<p> </p><p> </p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Agi0jLEwiz0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Wedding Reception Lip Sync Battle #GLORIOUSBOMB"></iframe></div></div></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Greatest video of all time</p>

[CQI13]

Super company meaning a very distant second?

[UkWrestleFan]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Russelrules44" data-cite="Russelrules44" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>They don't really mention TNA that much at all, how do you expect them to do an invasion storyline?<p> </p><p> My bet is that Sinclair gets TNA and merge it with ROH to form a super company.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I was just talking in terms of talent available. It wouldn't matter if they've never mentioned TNA before if they have the workers to get it over. The fact that they've not acknowledged TNA all this time could be a catalyst in itself.</p><p> </p><p> With access the the tape libraries and people like AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Sting, Jeff Hardy etc all talking about TNA, it could get over pretty well.</p><p> </p><p> But like I say, I don't expect it will happen. Just wanted to to point out that, IMO, it wouldn't be an impossibility if they wanted to do it.</p>

[Derek B]

A TNA invasion angle just wouldn't click for me.... TNA have never been a real threat to WWE in any way, so trying to compare them to WWE would be a tough job. Most of TNA's top stars are guys that either made their name in the WWE OR left TNA for various reasons. There are obviously some talents that don't fall into those categories but that is most of them.

 

With that in mind, if the WWE were to get TNA's tape library then they could position TNA as an more recent ECW level competition. Somewhere that some young talents grew into being stars, where veterans went to reinvigorate their careers, a company that was always fighting to be better and where some of WWE's newer guys started their journey to superstardom.

 

I could buy into that narrative. But a TNA invasion would be weak sauce.

[Blackman]

Reading this kind of makes me believe in a possible Invasion. The fact that the brand split just happened has me less exciting because they'll evidently build towards the RAW vs SD! angle again.

 

Then again... SD! has AJ Styles as the top guy right now. WWE themselves acknowledge SD! as "the brand that got the worst of the draft". What if somewhere along the line Shane would "purchase" TNA/NWA and revive the belt. AJ could bring in his "friends" and basically "run the place" for real.

 

I'm sure it's all wishful thinking and will never happen, but if COULD work if handled well. Honestly they're just better off letting TNA stay afloat so they can cherrypick people for glorious NXT entrances. But as people indicate it's just too awkward to mention TNA all of a sudden after never even acknowledging them and are devoid of overness. I recall TNA people being barred from visiting their colleagues/friends when both companies visited the same town.

[jwt13]

Meltz has said that WWE isn't interested and Sinclair only showed interest months back. Corgan will get TNA and continue the up swing it has been on this last year, and get it back to touring by the end of next year. TNA is really good these days and WWE would ruin 90% of the roster, just let them have the old guys who are past their prime for NXT like they have been doing the last year.

[Mootinie]

Meltz has said that WWE isn't interested and Sinclair only showed interest months back. Corgan will get TNA and continue the up swing it has been on this last year, and get it back to touring by the end of next year. TNA is really good these days and WWE would ruin 90% of the roster, just let them have the old guys who are past their prime for NXT like they have been doing the last year.

 

I agree with all of that apart from the part where you say that WWE would ruin 90% of the roster. They've used Ciampa, Cedric and TJ Perkins way, way better than the indie promotions they signed them from. There's no reason to believe they would do the likes of Zema Ion and Eddie Edwards a disservice.

[Motor]

Why should WWE be interested in buying TNA? They're not a rival, have no important tv or sponsoring contracts and half of the roster was sort out by WWE already.

It's a great strategy for TNA to start rumours of other companies having interest in buying them so they get some attention, though.

[Big Roguey]

I agree with all of that apart from the part where you say that WWE would ruin 90% of the roster. They've used Ciampa, Cedric and TJ Perkins way, way better than the indie promotions they signed them from. There's no reason to believe they would do the likes of Zema Ion and Eddie Edwards a disservice.

 

DJ Z in the Cruiserweight Division would be hype as all hell.