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

[Rone Rivendale]

Gotch tweeted saying the rumors are false and he's still with WWE.

[Mootinie]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rone Rivendale" data-cite="Rone Rivendale" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Gotch tweeted saying the rumors are false and he's still with WWE.</div></blockquote><p> He didn't, he denied scrupulous individual details but he's put out his booking info and said that one day he'll clear up details regarding his departure.</p>

[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>Just chiming in to say that Nigel is my current favorite color commentator in the industry. <p> </p><p> Not that there's many good ones to begin with, but he's just so good on the mic that he really shines through. Love listening to him talk.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The main event of this week's NXT was the best he's been. He finally sounded liked he was having fun instead of delivering a solid but monotone commentary.</p>

[milamber]

The 205 Live Fatal Fourway (TJP vs Aries vs Gallagher vs Ali) was my 2nd favorite match of the past week after the Takeover Triple Threat Tag match.

[Rone Rivendale]

<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>The main event of this week's NXT was the best he's been. He finally sounded liked he was having fun instead of delivering a solid but monotone commentary.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Ahh, I apologize then. I had 2nd hand info.</p>

[milamber]

<p>All of the call-ups have been handled well so far, IMO. I just hope they don't change too the rosters too much next week.</p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="C8x_H6_WKXo_AEJAo3.jpg" data-src="https://s13.postimg.org/rl5tt451j/C8x_H6_WKXo_AEJAo3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[shawn michaels]

So Dean and Bray to Raw...I feel bad for them, they will be lost in the shuffle. I assume Owens will be moving to SD?

[milamber]

<p>Draft predictions: Charlotte, Emma, Owens, New Day, Sin Cara, Mahal and Henry to Smackdown with Asuka and DIY call-ups after the next Takeover.</p><p> </p><p>

The best parts of Raw were Graves' commentary and Braun destroying Roman. It's a shame Braun gave up after the ambulance and didn't finish the job <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="454c1ed297a95d27d65a97e93a5baa1a.jpg" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/45/4c/1e/454c1ed297a95d27d65a97e93a5baa1a.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><span>http://i61.tinypic.com/vrpw1w.gif</span></p>

[sabataged]

<p>Superstar Shakeup for Smackdown Predictions</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

~Charlotte - They need to split her away from Sasha and Bayley</p><p> </p><p>

~Dana Brooke- A lot of spoilers keep saying Sasha but they are building the Sasha/Bayley slow burn. </p><p> </p><p>

~New Day - They have had countless matches with Cesaro/Sheamus, The Club, and Enzo/Cass. It is time for something new. I wanted to see them split up but they sell too much merch. I hope at some point we can get Kofi/Woods tag with Big E singles run.</p><p> </p><p>

~Kevin Owens - I like Owens on RAW but he will be 1 of 2 top heels on Smackdown. I would of liked to seen a proper Balor feud but moving him over to Smackdown will be nice. He has that big fish in a smaller pond appear. He needs to get that damn US Title off of him though. It makes him look like a midcarder. Owens vs Nakamura, Owens vs Orton and eventually Owens vs face AJ Styles will all be nice.</p><p> </p><p>

~ A couple of Midcarders that no one cares about. Maybe Axel and Titus Oneal? I guess you could always do the Big Show to work with Corbin. I really don't know.</p><p> </p><p>

I see Smackdown getting a few calls ups like Almas, Asuka and maybe DIY?</p>

[Blackman]

Kudos to Roman selling that beatdown. It was believable. Made me think he's out for weeks now. Or again wishful thinking. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Imo the ambulance thing wasn't over the top. "Something out of a horror movie"? Really? More like a superhero movie.

[crownsy]

<p>The Braum beat down was amazing. </p><p> </p><p>

Not sure "Thank you Roman!!!" and "You Deserve it!" was the reaction WWE was going for there though ha. At least, it wasn't what the commentary team was pushing. </p><p> </p><p>

Best exchange of the night with my wife</p><p> </p><p>

Me after Samson's appearance: "the real question in this whole thing is....Where the hell did the drifter get off to?"</p><p> </p><p>

Wife: "Who cares? it's the best thing he's done in months. They should just have him drift on both shows for months, just never doing anything. and Cole can just say "Vintage Drifter!" whenever the camera happens to catch him."</p>

[codey_v2]

<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>The Braum beat down was amazing. <p> </p><p> Not sure "Thank you Roman!!!" and "You Deserve it!" was the reaction WWE was going for there though ha. At least, it wasn't what the commentary team was pushing. </p><p> </p><p> Best exchange of the night with my wife</p><p> </p><p> Me after Samson's appearance: "the real question in this whole thing is....Where the hell did the drifter get off to?"</p><p> </p><p> Wife: "Who cares? it's the best thing he's done in months. They should just have him drift on both shows for months, just never doing anything. and Cole can just say "Vintage Drifter!" whenever the camera happens to catch him."</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I agree! Samson in NXT made no sense, because honestly, where was he drifting? Oh, yeah, same place as everyone else he was employed with. Now, he's fired from NXT and didn't actually get called up, he's showing up drifting. I hope they keep it up for a while.</p>

[Fleisch]

<p>If you have to "shake things up" after less than a year with the rosters, then your creative team should probably be fired for a lack of creativity. I genuinely hate the brand split for the sole reason, it isn't believable that these 2 "brands" are competing when trades are always one sided or the constant cross brand interaction. </p><p> </p><p>

Smackdown Live "agree" to give Raw The Miz, Maryse, Dean Ambrose AND Bray Wyatt along with one of their title belts? We all know that either means Kevin Owens and the US title are going to Smackdown (or if not, that Smackdown Lives kayfabe management should both be sacked for allowing 3 stars with momentum and a title to be traded for someone of lesser value!) If you are going to do these trades, make it believable! In exchange for those alone, I'd at least expect Kevin Owens for Dean Ambrose, Finn Balor for Bray Wyatt and Sami Zayn for The Miz. If you expect me to believe this "competition" crap then you have to make it realistic, and handicapping one show over another isn't going to do it. I'd ideally like to see Rollins go to Smackdown Live as a feud with AJ would be awesome, but as Angle has pretty much said that isn't happening this means Smackdown lose 3 former Champions and should get people of similar momentum - otherwise it's just Brand Split #1 all over again.</p><p> </p><p>

Yes I know it's all predetermined and that Shane isn't really in charge of Smackdown, nor Stephanie is in charge of Raw, but they are trying to put on an entertainment show, so certain aspects have to make sense. You don't trade a current champion, unless you're getting a current champion back and you don't trade former champions unless you are getting people of the same calibre.</p>

[shawn michaels]

Vince doesn't like the fact that SD is better then Raw and wants to cripple it. That's the logic thing to do when you have 2 tv shows on the same channel and both need to succeed.

[Blackman]

My hopes faded indeed when I saw Neville as I hoped he'd be the one traded to SD! along with the division, but that probably makes just as little sense. I guess we'll see tomorrow (or now for you guys <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />) who's "drifting" over to SD!. Weird that the trade is split between both shows and the traded talent is still doing their thing on RAW.

[The Final Countdown]

<p>So Smackdown totally got the better of this whole reshuffling as far as I'm concerned.</p><p> </p><p>

<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Losing Wyatt and Ambrose and replacing them with Owens, Zayn and Rusev is a tradeoff I'll take in a heartbeat. I don't know why they didn't move either New Day or Enzo & Cass though.</span></p>

[Russelrules44]

<p>So RAW gets Wyatt, Ambrose and Miz and SmackDown gets Owens, Zayn and Charlotte?</p><p> </p><p>

That's...actually a pretty good trade.</p>

[Questlove]

Just a little thing, but I don't get the logic behind doing trades instead of a draft. Makes GMs look stupid for picking nerds like Curt Hawkins and the Shining Stars

[Dr_Avalanche]

I haven't watched the full episodes yet, so they might have gone into the details at some points, but isn't the idea just that those guys are essentially 'change' in bigger deals. Like, RAW says "We want Dean Ambrose". Smackdown says "Well, then we want Kevin Owens," and RAW counters with "well, then you have to take the Shining Stars as well so we get rid of those salaries".

 

Not all parts of a trade has to be attractive stuff a brand normally would be interested in.

 

Have they even said that the shakeup is the result of negotiations? Since it was Vince that announced it, in my mind it would be completely within kayfabe to think that Vince simply picked out the names out of a hat to decide who went where.

[shawn michaels]

<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>So Smackdown totally got the better of this whole reshuffling as far as I'm concerned.<p> </p><p> <span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Losing Wyatt and Ambrose and replacing them with Owens, Zayn and Rusev is a tradeoff I'll take in a heartbeat. I don't know why they didn't move either New Day or Enzo & Cass though.</span></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> New Day went to SD.</p>

[The Final Countdown]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Questlove" data-cite="Questlove" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Just a little thing, but I don't get the logic behind doing trades instead of a draft. Makes GMs look stupid for picking nerds like Curt Hawkins and the Shining Stars</div></blockquote><p> Not if they trade Hawkins for Jinder Mahal or the Shining Stars for Slater & Rhyno. Equivalent talent. </p><p> </p><p> I didn't hear any reference to trades or negotiations though. They didn't put a lot of thought into this or spend any time explaining it. I would much prefer trades over the old draft system where they would just draw names randomly though. It's not like at the end of the NFL season, all the players' names are thrown into a big tumbler and somebody like Tom Brady randomly winds up on Cleveland. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>New Day went to SD.</div></blockquote><p> Yeah, I was out of the room when they announced that and only heard about it after the fact. It makes perfect sense though. New Day has nothing left to do on Raw, the Raw tag division still has the Hardys, Enzo & Cass and Sheamus and Cesaro as pushed face teams, and all SD had was American Alpha (and they've been booked horribly from the moment they were called up and are thus not over at all.)</p>

[shawn michaels]

Judging by how they are dealing with Nakamura, I predict he's gonna flop.

[The Final Countdown]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Judging by how they are dealing with Nakamura, I predict he's gonna flop.</div></blockquote><p> He has so much natural charisma that I think he'll get over no matter how poorly they might book him.</p>

[Mootinie]

<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>He has so much natural charisma that I think he'll get over no matter how poorly they might book him.</div></blockquote><p> I don't know, I raise you Apollo Crews on that one. Uhaa Nation was so good everywhere he went.</p>

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Judging by how they are dealing with Nakamura, I predict he's gonna flop.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> you mean by treating him as the hottest act they've signed since Styles?</p><p> </p><p> yea, huge flop incoming <img alt=":rolleyes:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> What did you want them to do exactly? give away his first match for free with no buildup against Styles or Owens?</p><p> </p><p> So far he has:</p><p> </p><p> Episode one: Huge pop and entrance, with the after mania crowd signalling "this guy is a huge Freakin deal" to the rest of the audience.</p><p> </p><p> Episode two: Good introduction, looks strong against a midcard heel he is obviously going to murder. Simple yet effective promo </p><p> </p><p> An intro feud with Ziggler is an easy win, and Ziggler sells like no one's business, he's going to make Nakamura's offense look like legit murder.</p><p> </p><p> And on crews, perhaps someone can pull him aside and tell him that smiling like an idiot constantly no matter what the situation isn't a gimmick. That might help him connect with the non-hard core work rate crowd.</p><p> </p><p> I like Crews, but the WWE is flush with guys who's top attribute is "wow, he's a really good hand in the ring!"</p><p> </p><p> need a bit more these days than the fact he's huge and athletic.</p><p> </p><p> As a side note, that's also what is killing Ziggler also. back when his work rate was an anomaly among the roster, they could use it to get him over on its own. </p><p> </p><p> Now on smackdown alone you have guys like Styles, Nakamura, Owens, Sami, Alpha, Rusev, Dillenger, hell even Harper. All those guys not only can work the roof off the place, they have embraced their characters. I know exactly what those guys characters are. </p><p> </p><p> Hell even Corbin is becoming more interesting than Ziggler and Crews</p>