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

[K-Nection]

<p>I hate to be pessimistic but besides the first hour of RAW it's kind of sucked I'm at The New Day and Club match and it's still not that good to me yet.....</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Edit: Just finished RAW....The main event was good and the last segment was pretty redeeming. That middle hour was terrible to me. I think it's sad that they are already having inter brand wars and it's the second week out of the gate. This brand split thing seems it will get watered down very quickly if they don't keep that kind of thing to a minimum.</p>

[mrwhippy]

<p>I don't think it will get watered down at all.</p><p> </p><p>

Orton vs Lesnar is one of the main selling points of SummerSlam and there has to be something like this to hype the match considering they are on separate brands. It was a surprise and it was very well executed.</p>

[milamber]

Raw dragged a little this week (2.5 hours would be better than 3 hours) but it was still really good. It had a fun house show vibe to it and the feuds are being setting up more creatively.

[iruleall15]

Am I the only who marked out when Slater and Mahal came out together? I was praying Drew was gonna come out after <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[Jaysin]

There's two heavyweight title matches at Summerslam and neither one will probably main event. Which is depressing because the main event will most likely be boring Lesnar vs Orton.

 

Raw was pretty entertaining. I loved the whole opening segment. Sasha's "one night stand" joke about Flair and Charlotte was gold. Jericho and Enzo made the segment even better.

 

Rusev and Henry had a fun brawl. Rusev and Reigns could be a good little feud.

[Alan James]

Just need to give Roman the ol' 2x4 and he will be set. USA USA. HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[Rone Rivendale]

Spitting in the wind and hoping they give Sasha vs Charlotte the main event spot.

[Tha Black Phenom]

<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>There's two heavyweight title matches at Summerslam and neither one will probably main event. Which is depressing because the main event will most likely be boring Lesnar vs Orton. <p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Makes a bit of sense that they're making it this way; it allows for the respective contenders to be booked into those matches. Let's face it, Balor or Ziggler would've never been penciled in to close out the show and/or to headline a high-profile title match.</p><p> </p><p> It's reminiscent of some of the past Royal Rumble PPVs where contenders who usually would've been glossed over for a title match ended up booked for one because the main-event was always the Rumble itself. As I recall, Ziggler had a title match on one or two occasions at a Rumble PPV... hopefully this time he remains in the top brass picture.</p><p> </p><p> I watched 2/3rds of Raw, and my God.. Enzo's got next. Got charisma falling out of his backside. I rarely watch wrestling these days but it is good to see Jericho still doing his thing.</p>

[Russelrules44]

<p>...Am I seriously the only one who ships Enzo and Sasha?</p><p> </p><p>

Does no one remember how they hit on each other?</p>

[Blackman]

I really dig Billie/McKay's new packaging. This gimmick would really work well for her. Her previous one was some random generic thing that is usually just a fit to jobbers. But I guess she kinda was one until now. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Her opponent has this weird Emma theme remix going on. What's up with that? It's like her current theme. Lack of creativity. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[milamber]

Smackdown was much better this week but Otunga's commentary was bad and the SD Women's Division is a joke until they have a title to fight for.

[Jaysin]

<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>Smackdown was much better this week but Otunga's commentary was bad and the SD Women's Division is a joke until they have a title to fight for.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It irritated me to no end that two womens matches were both cancelled right before they happened. </p><p> </p><p> Nattie could help get Carmella over and Eva Marie obviously needs to get as much heel heat as possible, but twice in the same night? Irritating to no end.</p><p> </p><p> Wyatt and Dolph had a good match.</p><p> </p><p> AJ and Cena had a GREAT promo. </p><p> </p><p> The number one contender's match for the IC belt had some great character work for Apollo, Corbin, and Miz. Apollo coming back to save Kalisto because he's just a good dude was a great way to help build up his character. Miz jumping him from behind gets heat on Miz and Corbin played his character better than ever by attacking Miz. </p><p> </p><p> Whoever wrote that segment deserves some kudos. Simple story telling adds so much to the show.</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>It irritated me to no end that two womens matches were both cancelled right before they happened. <p> </p><p> Nattie could help get Carmella over and Eva Marie obviously needs to get as much heel heat as possible, but twice in the same night? Irritating to no end.</p><p> </p><p> Wyatt and Dolph had a good match.</p><p> </p><p> AJ and Cena had a GREAT promo. </p><p> </p><p> The number one contender's match for the IC belt had some great character work for Apollo, Corbin, and Miz. Apollo coming back to save Kalisto because he's just a good dude was a great way to help build up his character. Miz jumping him from behind gets heat on Miz and Corbin played his character better than ever by attacking Miz. </p><p> </p><p> Whoever wrote that segment deserves some kudos. Simple story telling adds so much to the show.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I actually thought the women's angles were smart. They're using Eva the same way they did in NXT, booking around her obvious weaknesses. The Carmella/Nattie/Renee sportcenter thing was fine because it's different to Raw even though it came off as forced. But not having a single women's match on a 2 hour show is inexcusable. At least give Carmella or Bliss a squash match so the non-NXT fans can see them in action.</p>

[Jaysin]

<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>I actually thought the women's angles were smart. They're using Eva the same way they did in NXT, booking around her obvious weaknesses. The Carmella/Nattie/Renee sportcenter thing was fine because it's different to Raw even though it came off as forced. But not having a single women's match on a 2 hour show is inexcusable. At least give Carmella or Bliss a squash match so the non-NXT fans can see them in action.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I was fine with the sports center thing, I'm annoyed by Nattie jumping Carmella before her match. Effectively having two women's matches end before they even start in the same night. Absolute non-sense.</p>

[ohiodevil]

I loved how Daniel Bryan messed up and called Apollo "Creed" instead of Crews when announcing the participants in the 4 way match.

[liontamer]

so did Eva Marie legitimately hurt herself on the entrance, or was that a work as a bizarre storyline?

[Jaysin]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="liontamer" data-cite="liontamer" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>so did Eva Marie legitimately hurt herself on the entrance, or was that a work as a bizarre storyline?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Work. They're trying to build heat for her.</p>

[Dr_Avalanche]

<p>Both the women's matches cancelled felt too much. Both angles filled a purpose, but you would never see all men's matches one night cancelled. It's like they're trying to reinforce that the women's division is just a side show and that if we want to see women's wrestling, why are we tuning in to Smackdown? It's happening on RAW, fools.</p><p> </p><p>

I *hope* it's part of a larger meta story, that it will all lead up to another "women's revolution" of some kind demanding to be taken seriously, but I expect to be disappointed.</p><p> </p><p>

The other thought after this week's shows is, isn't it funny that the best thing about Smackdown right now are its promos, when leading up to the brand split, everyone talked about how SD was going to be "the wrestling show". </p><p> </p><p>

To be fair, the Ziegler/Wyatt match was good and it was nice to see American Alpha even in a rather one-sided match, but the match cards on SD just keep looking really thin.</p>

[milamber]

NXT and CWC (the last 2 matches) were on fire this week.

[crownsy]

so did Eva Marie legitimately hurt herself on the entrance, or was that a work as a bizarre storyline?

 

Looks like a rehash of her NXT story line, which is the closest she's ever come to entertaining me.

 

Basically, if they keep at it, she's going to try to duck every match due to some excuse, until a face can trick her into the ring. It drove the NXT fans bonkers because every time they saw her, they wanted her to wrestle and botch so they could laugh at her, and then she'd find a way to not wrestle.

 

It actually wasn't a bad way to turn a negative reaction into actual heat in the short term.

[D-Lyrium]

NXT and CWC (the last 2 matches) were on fire this week.

 

I recently signed up for the Network (as in, yesterday), and I've been catching up with the CWC. Just finished last night's, and... holy ****.

 

If Gargano/Ciampa is anything like an indication of where WWE are going lately (I haven't watched any Raw/Smackdown yet), then I'm so totally in.

 

That was amazing. The match itself was good, as you'd expect from those two, but the storytelling... I never really paid much attention to Ciampa before but I'm a fan now for sure.

 

Talking of people I'm a fan of now, Mauro Ranallo take a bow. You are fantastic. Michael Cole would've ruined that match by explaining the story like he was reading it to his kids before bedtime, but Ranallo let the wrestlers do it, and I want Ranallo to call every match in history from now on.

 

(FWIW, D-Bry is... ok. I kinda wish he'd stop claiming he's "never seen anything like [move X] before in his life" though, because it just makes it seem like he wasn't paying attention for his entire wrestling career).

[crownsy]

Re: D-bry

 

I agree he's only been ok, and for god sake he needs to stop saying every non-us competitor is suffering the effects of jet lag.

 

I'm shocked it isn't a meme yet. If you made a drinking game, you would drink heavily every match haha.

[liontamer]

<p>After catching up on the main shows... </p><p> </p><p>

Nice to see Sasha get a run as champ. Overall I like her, but sometimes I'm surprised at her push only because she reminds me of Sara from tough enough in that she is often smiling too much. I remember when I went back to watch her big ironman match with Bayley, she seemed so happy that she appears to be smiling even when in submissions and it's just weird to watch. Promos are usually good, though I didn't like the one on Raw aside from Enzo's part. I like the boss gimmick, but sometimes question the ring attire as the colors sometimes make her look to child-like which is almost against the gimmick. </p><p> </p><p>

AJ and Cena's promo on the most recent smackdown was good, and for a second I thought AJ might freeze after Cena's response, but he took it in a different direction than I thought it would go and kept it interesting. I bet TNA is kicking themselves for not letting AJ talk more.</p><p> </p><p>

battleground .... big E diving through the ropes and landing on his head...ouch</p>

[mad5226]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ohiodevil" data-cite="ohiodevil" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I loved how Daniel Bryan messed up and called Apollo "Creed" instead of Crews when announcing the participants in the 4 way match.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I laughed pretty hard at this too, especially since he's a guy they want to "push" but not even management can get his name right <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]

Again I enjoyed the Blue Brand way more than the Red one. Probably going to start watching the Red one on Hulu again atleast until they officially get the cruiserweight division.