Official WWE/ECW/WCW/TNA talk, or whatever v2

[trackercowe]

Tony Khan sure loves to bring in new talent only to beat them in their first night... I hope Josh Alexander enjoys his time on Collision in a month... then long breaks at home in three months! AEW is a pretty sweet gig once Tony falls out of love with you. It's funny I watched a video of all the talent WWE let go back on Black Wednesday five years ago. 90% of them ended up in AEW whether it be for one match or many... Not a single one are being featured on Dynamite right now, and most are already gone from the company.

Critique WWE and their firings all you want, but like Nick Khan says they don't want them to sit at home and collect a paycheque. Oh and before anyone mentions Shinsuke, his brother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2024, and sadly passed away earlier this year. This is why he was off television last year, not because WWE had nothing for him.

The Athena/Banks match was really good! They should have an extended program together. Same as Mone/Storm. It would be a shame if they both end up as one and done matches.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Tony Khan sure loves to bring in new talent only to beat them in their first night... I hope Josh Alexander enjoys his time on Collision in a month... then long breaks at home in three months! AEW is a pretty sweet gig once Tony falls out of love with you.

Wait...do you think they should have had JA beat Hangman? The booking made sense to have him join the DC family.

There are examples of AEW guys debuting, losing their first match, and going on to have good career. Eddie Kingston jobbing to Cody on one of Cody's TNT title open challenges is a really good example.

[TheIronMaiden]

I don't know, it is strange to bring a guy in and make him do the job first match. Makes him look like a nobody.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I don't know, it is strange to bring a guy in and make him do the job first match. Makes him look like a nobody.

Alexander shouldn't beat Hangman in his first match, but then don't book him in that match! They could have slotted him against anyone in that tournament and at least give him one win to make him look like a big deal... They brought Alexander in with zero hype, then had him take a loss in his first match. It's just weird how often Tony brings in talent then they immediately start losing clean.

Penta meanwhile has taken one pinfall loss (in a tag match) during his WWE tenure. The same happened with Mariah May. She was booked as a stooge for Toni Storm, then started getting over... now that she is possibly WWE bound TK doesn't appear to be using her.

On a related note Ospreay/Take####a was amazing last night. It was a really good Dynamite. My only problem is why does everything have to be part of a tournament with zero build? Athena/Mone and Ospreay/Take####a should be feuds, not one off matches. Tournaments are a good thing! But not when it's the only way you know how to book your midcard. AEW is basically Death Riders stuff and tournaments right now.

[SuperMatt18]

Seth with another what's "best for business" type of promo.

I think he's aligns with Rock and Cena by the end of the weekend

[Inferno]

I’m two seats by the guy in an orange shirt on your left.

[CaptainCrunch]

I haven't watched a ton of wrestling to be honest, but it is wrestlemania season. so here's my out of touch wrestlemania predictions



Night 1


Rey Mysterio vs El Grande Americano - There's been a lot of backlash against WWE that putting Chad Gable in Lucha gear and having him roleplay it is racist. Who cares, I loved the idea, and Gable just knocks things out of the park. They really need to find a way to get Gable over consistently, he is one of the best workers in the country, and Rey doesn't need the win. But my feeling is that the WWE will do what it does and take the safe choice. Rey Mysterio wins.


Naomi vs Jade Cargill - This has quietly been one of the better builds on the road to wrestlemania. And give credit to Naomi, she's done a great job. But there's no way that she's winning and no way that this feud continues on, this was like a finishing school for Jade to see if she can put everything together. Winner Jade Cargill.

War Raider (C) Vs the New New Day - the War Raiders are really good tag team workers, but other then that, there's not much there, no real personality or charisma, there's no way that the New New Day doesn't win



United States Championship LA Knight vs Jacob Fatu - Yeah, you could have Jacob get run over by a tank, and he'd get up and I'd believe it. Honestly the US Championship feels below Fatu, but its a necessary step for him on his way to the main event. Winner Jacob Fatu in a squash.

World Championship Tiffy (C) vs Charlotte Flair - Tiffy turned the tied and upped the heat by getting really personal in the promo battle and Charlotte got bitter beer face from it. But don't bet against the WWE doing what they do and putting the belt on Charlotte. Frankly I find Charlotte boring and repetitive and she needs a strong worker to support her. Tiffany isn't that strong in ring worker at the moment. Winner Charlotte Flair

World Championship Gunther (C) vs Jay Uso - With the way this match is built up, and how Jay has become the poster boy. HHH knows that if Jay doesn't work that Jay is dead. So look for Jay to win and this feud to continue.

Roman Reigns vs CM Punk vs Seth Rollins - We know that Reigns is winding up his in ring career stating in an interview that he's done after next years wrestlemania, which will likely be him versus the Rock. He's also in his promos taken on a bit of bitterness and solitude as he's lost his wiseman to Punk. With Seth Rollins the underlying feeling is he's going to sell out to the Rock. So it would seem natural to give Punk the notch here and everyone likes to cheer on Heyman no matter how villainous he is. Every time we have a wrestlemania we have a surprise, and everyone is expecting Heyman to screw over Punk and help Rollins. But my theory A is this.



CM Punk beats Rollins and Reigns, Rollins takes the pin, and somehow Brock Lesnar features into it with Heyman standing tall in the end.

[Finger Cookin]

Copying Crunch's post and adding my own predictions. I have been quite casual about wrestling the last few years, but with this on Netfilx I'll probably get sucked into watching. I don't recall the last weekly show or PPV I watched in its entirety, but I've been keeping up on the WM build through clips and reading some online stuff.

Night 1

Rey Mysterio vs El Grande Americano - This match is hilarious. There's now way Rey doesn't win, but maybe he eats a beatdown after to take some time off.

Naomi vs Jade Cargill - I will be impressed with WWE's restraint if this isn't a sub-two minute squash match. Even if it plays out like a proper match, no way Jade doesn't win this.

War Raider (C) Vs the New New Day - I've got no sense on this one. Flip a coin?

United States Championship LA Knight vs Jacob Fatu - I think WWE is less likely to let LA Knight get squashed than Naomi, but there is also no way Fatu doesn't walk out as champ.

World Championship Tiffy (C) vs Charlotte Flair - WWE can't help themselvers. I don't know Tiffy as a wrestler, but Flair becomes champ again much to the hostility of the crowd.

World Championship Gunther (C) vs Jay Uso - which letter in the company name wins this, the second or the third? I feel like the obvious choice is Jey as the E, so I'm picking the swerve and picking Gunther as the W to win this.

Roman Reigns vs CM Punk vs Seth Rollins - My expectation is that Punk wins, my hope is that Rollins wins. Even if it's through cheating and backstabbing.

Hope it's at least a fun night 1.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Looks like Netflix is streaming the Wrestlemania.

I remember them charging like 80 bucks for the PPV.

[Blaster86]

Femi, trick and Jevon just put on what may be the best men's match in NXT's existence.

[Finger Cookin]

WWE acquires Lucha Libre AAA. Rey Mysterio "not medically cleared" after Smackdown last night. Rey Fenix subbing in against El Grande Americano.

[LIP MAN]

AAA purchased? Kinda crazy. Hopefully they let it run as is but I have my doubts. Cool that both them and AEW are running events in Mexico.

[rubecube]

Man, the build to this Mania has been so bad. Glad it's on Netflix so I can watch it later and skip through the stuff that doesn't interest me.

[SuperMatt18]

Didn't see that match finishing that way

My prediction for this New Day match:

Everyone expects Big E to come out and cost new day but he comes out and helps New Day win and turns heel with them.

Ends up being one of Jey's first fueds

[dammage79]

That was a hell of a world title match.

[dammage79]

I hope Big E screws the new day somehow tonight.

[SuperMatt18]

Hmm weird they put that on Mania with no real swerve or reason

Feels like the TLC should have been on Mania and that on Raw After Mania

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Tony Khan sure loves to bring in new talent only to beat them in their first night.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Wasn't his first match.

[dammage79]

This Flair vs Stratton match is Botch central. And in my opinion it's flair ruining this match. It's real baaad.

Damn, looks like Tiffy lost some teeth