The Wrestling Thread

* missed MITB and game 7 of the NBA finals for jury duty and then I wasn't even picked

 

WWE®'S DESTINY LIVE ON SMACKDOWN®
NEW YORK and STAMFORD, CONN – June 20, 2016 – The destiny of all WWE Superstars will be determined on the first-ever live SmackDown on Tuesday, July 19 from 8-10 pm ET/PT on USA Network. A draft will be conducted by respective General Managers as to which talent will be chosen exclusively for Monday Night Raw® or SmackDown.

For the first time in history on back-to-back nights, these two distinctive brands (Monday Night Raw and Tuesday's SmackDown) will compete with each other for television ratings, live events, and pay-per-views.

"This is an exciting new era for WWE in which we will yet again reinvent ourselves by creating a second night of compelling live television," said Kevin Dunn, Executive Producer, WWE.

"We're already hearing the excitement among WWE fans for SmackDown's new live format, and our audiences are eagerly anticipating the live draft and what it means for their favorite Superstars," said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.

With 878 original episodes, SmackDown is the second longest-running weekly episodic program in U.S. television history, only behind Monday Night Raw at 1,203 episodes.

 

- Tonight's WWE RAW takes place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix with the fallout from Money In the Bank. Superstars advertised include new WWE World Heavyweight Champion Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, The Club, Chris Jericho, Stephanie McMahon and Shane McMahon.

WWE is focusing on the following points for tonight:

* How will Dean Ambrose celebrate his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship?

* Might another former SmackDown figurehead emerge?

* Will Natalya explain herself?

* Did The Club conspire against John Cena?

* Will Titus O’Neil get retribution against Rusev?

 

It was Reigns who knocked the ref down.

Had he been a proper babyface, he would have (kayfabe) checked if the ref was alright and not proceeded to hit a spear on Rollins when he knew the ref was down.

I would agree with you if Rollins had attacked Reigns with a weapon or the title or something when the ref was down, but he didn't.

A delayed count doesn't make it a dirty finish for me. There was no interference whatsoever and no cheating from the supposed heel in the match, unlike Styles/Cena, which was clearly a dirty finish.

 

Definitely not saying it was a dirty finish or anything, I just won't be surprised if Roman brings it up as an excuse.

 

Roman was really heeling it up in the main event last night

 

wrestling observer radio Money In The Bank Review

http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/g8hvb9hl7b/062016wo.mp3


As seen at WWE Money In The Bank last night, Dean Ambrose won the WWE Money In The Bank ladder match and cashed in later that night, pinning newly crowned WWE Champion Seth Rollins to win the belt.

The most recent issue of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE live event attendance in May had dropped from 5,600 last year to 3,900 this year, a 30% decline. Obviously John Cena being out of action this year has hurt attendance. However, it was noted that the "A" and "B" show numbers were roughly identical, even though the "A" shows were headlined by Reigns. The "B" shows were headlined by Ambrose, usually in smaller markets.

"Last month the 'B' shows with Dean Ambrose, that were often in smaller markets, were drawing just as well as the 'A' shows with Roman Reigns," Meltzer noted on last night's episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. "Roman Reigns is drawing really bad. Before he wasn't, but now he is, so now it's an issue. Does that mean that it led to this [title change], or is this just another way to get Roman Reigns more over, because that's been the goal for the last however long? Time will tell."

 

Giving Dean the title? thats ballsy I must, perhaps it signals a change in where WWE want to go??? or perhaps it's some round about way of taking the title off Reigns whilst keep Seth strong and then Lesnar comes in to take title of Dean to which Rollins then does the impossible to take it off Lesnar.

Obviously it's more likely there will be a triple threat between the shield but as great as it is to see Dean with the belt (something I honestly thought I would never see) I still don't see him holding onto it for long

 

Dean gets till Summerslam with the belt before Roman gets it back, Seth is due to feud with Triple H so he'll get screwed somewhere down the line

 

Going to my first ever live wrestling event later this year, think it's televised as well.

Want to bring a sign about CM Punk sign though. What would be the best way of bringing in a Punk related sign obviously without it saying CM PUNK in capital letters, otherwise it's confiscated which would be a huge waste of time.

Basically what do I write on the sign to show my undying love for CM Punk, without security getting the reference...? :smiley-laughing002:

Not sure if "It's Clobberin' Time!" is too obvious. Anyway open to ideas, sorry for the strange question, any help is appreciated.

 

Seems as though a lot of people have picked up on that today.

He was trash talking Rollins all throughout the match, Seth barely said a word in response. Also knocked the ref down and didn't check if he was alright, hit Rollins with a spear instead. Doubt you'd ever see Cena doing that, as the super babyface.

It makes you wonder if they're starting to change their minds on Reigns, after witnessing the steadily falling ratings. He's also apparently not drawing well at all on house shows, with him as the headliner.

I guess we'll know more on Raw tonight, but how I would love if they had Reigns and Rollins do a double turn, with Ambrose kinda inbetween. Seth is over as a face, that much is obvious. He far exceeds Roman in terms of in-ring skill and he's one of the best on the roster on the mic.

Reigns has the look, just not the charisma and the ability to carry a company on his shoulders that Cena has. He is more effective as a silent, * kicking heel, perhaps with a manager by his side for when he needs to cut more effective promos.

That's why people liked him in the Shield, when the other two were doing the talking for him.

 

Last night when Dean headed outside to give the ref the briefcase I was expecting Roman to hit him with the spear and prevent the cash in even after he won the title I was always waiting for Roman to attack him

 

I honestly expected this aswell, even once Ambrose had won the title.

I was still waiting for Reigns to hit the ring and just start beating the * out of him. Would have been the best finish to a PPV in a long, long while.

 

DEAN AMBROSE IS HERE.... AND HE'S * WORLD CHAMPION.

 

You deserve it chants. I'm gonna start greeting soon.

 

Here comes the big dawg.

 

And now here comes Seth.

 

Reigns vs Rollins tonight to sort out who's the number one contender.