2017 Pro Wrestling Thread

[Michael Prunka]

I'd heard of Omega, but had never seen him in action, and hadn't really heard of Okada. I had used to follow non-WWE stuff more often as a kid, but now I really don't have much time and there's so much out there. But I wanted to see what the fuss was about, so I watched it. Some thoughts:

1. Omega walks out to the ring with a friggin' gun! That would be quite interesting to see the reaction if he did it in WWE.

2. Okada's finish is a short-armed clothesline, which is weird when you think about it. But it's over as hell.

3. Okada's going to be paying off some neck doctor's student loans very easily, between those two moves that he took from Omega.

4. Can't Japan have any larger tables? Sheesh.

5. Omega could be a big star in WWE. He has a lot of ring presence and personality.

Watching the first half of the match, I thought it was very good, but I was wondering what the heck the fuss was about. The second half, though, wow. I don't know if it's 6 stars, but the second half is a lot of fun.

Omega is the truth, and Okada is very good, too. Omega is the leader of the Bullet Club, so I'm guessing that's what that was about. I kinda assume Omega will land in WWE one day, but he's pretty outspoken against them right now. He wants to cement his legacy without them.

 

[Rainman]

Omega has made it clear that he doesn't want to go to the WWE. He wants to be known has the best wrestler to have never stepped foot in a WWE ring. Yes, I know, money talks..

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Omega has made it clear that he doesn't want to go to the WWE. He wants to be known has the best wrestler to have never stepped foot in a WWE ring. Yes, I know, money talks..

So in other words, we'll be seeing him job to 66-year-old Triple H at Wrestlemania in 2036.

 

[Bradley Guire]

I've never really followed the foreign companies, but I watched it after all the response. I like Omega and would love to see him against Styles (unless it's another NJPW match I've never seen).

I can't get over that Okada's finisher is a clothesline. I mean, after seeing some stiff ones from JBL in his Bradshaw days....

The commentary was a breath of fresh air. Instead of hearing the inane bull**** sniping of Corey Graves picking on Saxton or JBL with Otunga, it was nice to hear two guys call the ******* match.

Hey, member when PPV main events went longer than 20 minutes? I member! This was nice. Can any of the current guys go longer than 20 minutes, bell to bell?

Wanna see more Omega? He had a 137-star match against American Dragon Bryan Danielson some years ago:

 

[JimmyHoward33]

I'm certain if called for Reigns, Styles, Owens, Balor, Rollins, Ambrose and Ziggler could go 30-40 minutes.

Given the success of every other Bullet Club leader within WWE Omega's stance feels antiquated and also feels like a work. Don't get me wrong, it's an effective work, but I don't believe that he believes what he's saying.

 

[Batman]

Hey, member when PPV main events went longer than 20 minutes? I member! This was nice. Can any of the current guys go longer than 20 minutes, bell to bell?

It's been a while since we've had an hourlong match, but there have been plenty of PPV matches in recent months that have been around 30.
When was the last hourlong match in WWE? Was it the Cena-HBK one on Raw about 10 years ago, when Orton got suspended and they suddenly had to fill the last hour of the show?

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Reigns has gone 20 minutes multiple times, including his WM match with Trips. Which really needed to be shorter because there just wasn't chemistry between them to go longer than 20.

I think Cena/HBK is the last hour-long match on Raw. Angle and Lesnar did a 60-minute Ironman match on Smackdown around, I think, 2003.

There's guys who can go for long matches, but the E just doesn't want them to. But they've been better lately at having some longer 15-25 minute matches. A few years back, it was rare they would go longer than 10, unless it was a major PPV.

 

[Rainman]

Personally, I would love to see Balor vs. Rollins in a one-hour Iron Man Match. Now, that would be exciting.

 

[Rainman]

Enjoy:

35 Hypnotizing Ric Flair GIFs That Will Change Your Day, Life

 

[Bradley Guire]

I don't think I could handle more than 20 minutes of Roman Reigns.

So, SmackDown.... I'm confused about how to feel about looking at Carmella's boobers with Ellsworth's face stretched across them.

I'm really looking forward to Styles-Cena 3, but are they really continuing the Corbin main event push? Could he be a viable contender to win the Rumble?

Ambrose winning the IC title kinda cements him as an upper-midcarder for life. Kind of like Jericho. That's his spot, but he's believable if they need a short-term main event guy to shake things up.

But they might as well elevate Miz back to the world title picture, as he's the top heel, not Styles. Miz is absolutely hated in kayfabe, whereas Styles could be turned face in a heartbeat. The smarks will cheer no matter what, and the casuals will follow whatever The E wants them to.

Becky and Alexa need to part ways after the Rumble.

The Rumble could be another 4-5 hour show.
1. Rumble match 1 hour
2. Universal title match 20 minutes
3. World title match 30 minutes
4. IC title match 15 minutes
5. Raw Women's title match 15 minutes
6. SmackDown Women's title match 10 minutes
7. Raw Tag Team title match 15 minutes
8. SmackDown Tag Team title match 15 minites
9. Cruiserweight match (pre-show?) 10 minutes

Now add at least 5 minutes between each for video packages. And I would say match times don't include entrances.

 

[Bradley Guire]

Uhhhh.... did we miss The Slammys?

Seems that The E didn't do a 2016 version. What say you, marks of SJ.com?

Match of the Year? WWE: Styles-Cena 2 (SummerSlam). NXT: Sami vs Nakamura. WWE Women: WrestleMania triple threat.

Superstar of the Year: Ambrose

Rookie/Newcomer of the Year: Styles

Women's Superstar of the Year: Charlotte

Tag Team of the Year: New Day

Feud of the Year: Charlotte-Sasha or Styles-Cena

The rest of the awards are goofy and change every year.

 

[Bradley Guire]

"You're a journalist! Journalize!" -- The Miz

I take it that, since you joined this particular site, you have journalized at some point in your life. I have.

Talking Smack continues to be awesome. Pun intended.

 

[Michael Prunka]

Uhhhh.... did we miss The Slammys?

Seems that The E didn't do a 2016 version. What say you, marks of SJ.com?

Match of the Year? WWE: Styles-Cena 2 (SummerSlam). NXT: Sami vs Nakamura. WWE Women: WrestleMania triple threat.

Superstar of the Year: Ambrose

Rookie/Newcomer of the Year: Styles

Women's Superstar of the Year: Charlotte

Tag Team of the Year: New Day

Feud of the Year: Charlotte-Sasha or Styles-Cena

The rest of the awards are goofy and change every year.

I agree with Styles-Cena from Summerslam. The men's elimination match at Survivor Series and Fatal-4Way IC title match from, I believe, Extreme Rules deserve to be in the conversation, too.

I was in Dallas for the Zayn-Nakamura match. Absolutely electric. I've watched it back like a dozen times by now. No words. DIY vs. The Revival from Toronto is definitely up there, also.

Styles gets both Superstar and ROY, if you ask me.

Yep to New Day.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Naming A.J. Styles rookie of the year would be the most Vince McMahon thing ever.

 

[nietsroob17]

This is the best promo Rusev has had yet. Just let the guy speak and not be a 21st century Ivan Drago, and he's got some character.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

So Undertaker is in the Rumble, and they're teasing Stroman with him. Interesting.

HBK, meanwhile, was just there to crack some jokes, hype his movie and deliver a super kick. Eh.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Our long United States championship nightmare is over, for now.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Our long United States championship nightmare is over, for now.

Until next week, when they meet again.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

So glad 20 minutes of my life was spent reenacting an NXT the talent show segment from 2010 to make a joke about an NFL gaffe from 2008.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Until next week, when they meet again.

Hence, the "for now."