[Gorefest]

And then they completely flip things on the head with a super mixed match with Rousey and Trips. I had no expectations of this match but so far it is the best match of the night. Wow.

[Gorefest]

And then we have little people dressed up as pancakes. In 2018. Oh well.

[Gorefest]

Taker!

“Surprise!”“Nah, not really. Still, welcome back. And maybe fight Elias instead of Cena. Please.”

[Gorefest]

Bloody hell. Taker’s intro lasted longer than the match. Amazing what a new hip can do.

[Gorefest]

What the effing hell? The tag team titles are now held by Braun Stroman and..... Nicholas..... a ten year old kid.

I wonder what his stats will be on WWE 2K19. And also whether his parents will allow him to travel the country. As the tag team champion....

WTF.

[Malankazooie]

Gorefest, on 09 April 2018 - 03:37 AM, said:

What the effing hell? The tag team titles are now held by Braun Stroman and..... Nicholas..... a ten year old kid.

I wonder what his stats will be on WWE 2K19. And also whether his parents will allow him to travel the country. As the tag team champion....

WTF.

Isn't that one of those deals though where they set thing right at the next Monday Night Raw event or one of the other regular telecasts soon after? When I watched (like late 90s / early aughts) and they did something like that, it got back to normal on the next Monday Night Raw.

[Gorefest]

Well, they would still need the kid there to drop the title. Or they can make up some tale that Stroman can grab a new kid every night and he is figuratively teaming with the entire WWE universe. But the fact is that either Orton or Tyler Bate has just lost their stat as youngest ever holder of a WWE title.

[Gorefest]

Okay. A bloodbath to finish your prime main event show. Brilliant booking again. And then letting Roman lose? Wtf?

So we have had 3 years of bloody main events with Lesnar and Reigns. All the build up, everyone is utterly fed up with it but everyone also knows that Reigns is supposed to be the new face of the company so, hell let’s get it over and done with. Only to have him lose AGAIN in a shitty match AGAIN with a whole pile of useless wasted buildup and other wrestlers pushed to the fringes. What are they doing?

[Aptorian]

Got up at 4 and the show had already been running for 3 hours or something. That time zone converter I used was way off or I don't understand time zone abbreviations. Had to take a break in the middle because long show is long.

I'll comment on the matches I actually cared about:

Matt Hardy winning via interference by Bray Wyatt was interesting. New Tag Team? They fit together wonderfully.

My only comment on the intercontinental match is that the Miz will always be my true Intercontinental champion. It'll come back home eventually.

I liked that Charlotte won versus Asuka. I don't particularly care about the current roster of women that are active. I preferred back in the day when there was a focus on the four horsewomen. But both Charlotte and Asuka are brilliant. If anybody deserved breaking Asuka's streak it was Charlotte.

I like the speculation that this is a build-up to an eventual title match against Ronda, potentially in a years time at Wrestlemania.

Don't get why they let Jinder win the US title other than it's fun for his character to have it for a while. You'd expect them to give the title to one of the most over wrestler of the year, Rusev.

The mixed match between Angle/Rousey vs HHH/McMahon was great. Rousey puts the whole roster to shame. She is lightning fast and her game face is scary as fuck. Hope she become a more regular wrestler than just a part time main eventer.

The Undertaker vs Cena thing was pointless. Why would you make Deadman Taker return a year later for something as weird as a comedy squash match against a guy that was once unbeatable? Is it meant to go anywhere? Did Vince owe Taker a favor? Why not let the Deadman personae rest with respect for the legacy and return as Biker taker instead? There's not the same supernatural expectation of the character.

Bryan and Shane vs Fat guy and Ginger man was boring and poorly told. What is up with the two babyfaces both being injured for the fight, that is supposed to be a glorious return?

I suppose those two goof balls go to Raw instead now?

Loved the Nakamura Heel turn. I don't like Nakamura at all as a babyface. He's weird, ugly and I hate his wrestling style - But if you suddenly make him a bad guy and you actually allow him to do some of that viscous arrogant stuff I've seen clips of from Japan? I might be on board for this.

The Strowman vs Bar match was a waste. That's what you use Strowman for? Some kind of social media garbage fight? I've seen online that the kid was a referee's son but what the fuck was all that about? What happens next?

I would have liked Vince McMahon or somebody else walking in and saying that it's cute but for insurance reasons there is no fucking way a fan is allowed in ring. Then do some kind of tantrum, maybe make Braun kidnap one of the announcers for a tag partner or something.

Reigns vs Lesnar was strange fight. Supposedly WWE has building that fight for 3 years now. And that was the match? A completely one sided squash of the super baby face? WHYYYYYY?!? And why the fuck did they have Roman kick out of five F5's? "Gotta make Roman look strong" I guess. So weird.

I have this sneaking suspicion that this 50 Man Royal Rumble Special Event they are doing in Saudi Arabia did a number on their manuscript. I bet that a lot of the fights we saw here are getting do overs or some other shenanigans. Just to please the Saudis.

I suspect that come the Royal Rumble Lesnar loses to Reigns. Rollins loses to Balor. Mahal loses to Rusev. We'll see. I am just happy that my 1 month of WWE Network will cover both Wrestlemania and the "Greatest Royal Rumble".

This post has been edited by Alternative Goose: 09 April 2018 - 11:32 AM

[Gorefest]

I am going to boycot that Royal Rumble. They won’t allow any of the women to compete in any matches on the night. Cannot believe WWE with all their ‘women’s revolution’ big talk has no qualms putting their ‘integrity’ aside for some quick Saudi bucks. Fuck that event.

[Aptorian]

I would respect them more if they in tandem just held a Women Only Event in a different country.

That said I don't blame them. I am guessing the company is getting a lot of money for this stunt. A LOT.

[Gorefest]

Oh absolutely. And I am not so naive to assume that integrity means more to the WWE than fat stacks of cash. I find the whole thing very galling though. My wife will watch it, which makes me even more conflicted because who am I as a guy to fly the moral highground flag when clearly she thinks it is not worthwhile enough to be bothered about. But I dunno, it just irks me that WWE are loudly and proudly boasting about breaking the barriers down for women in sports entertainment one week and the next week they just leave the lot of them at home as soon as a few oil sheiks put a pile of cash on the table.

[Gorefest]

Speaking of hypocrisy, there actually currently is a documentary on the wwe network about the women’s royal rumble and how afterwards they went to Abu Dabi where the women did fight while covered up modestly. In the doc they go on about how empowering this is for local women etc and how they hope it gives signal and support to women’s rights. And then 4 months later they grab the Saudi buck. Blegh. Hypocrits.

[Malankazooie]

What were your guys' impressions of Rhonda Rousey's big unveiling? Wrestlemania was her introduction, right? A couple of observations on my part, not having watched Wrestlemania. 1) I'm sort of annoyed that she's stolen the Rowdy Roddy Piper look. I get it though, because I hear she was a child fan of Piper and has been using the "Rowdy Rhonda Rousey" intro for her MMA career. I just wish she didn't steal his look and did something different (something that throws a nod or pays homage to him for sure, but something different). And 2) Her vs. Stephanie McMahon/Tripple H seems kind of silly. I mean sure Triple H is legit physical talent, but Stephanie McMahon? not so much. I think there are serious limitations there and hope they let her spread her wings with real talent. I suspect she was introduced with this story line because she is no where near up to speed with the ring skills. I imagine her mic skills need a lot of work too. BTW is she playing a heel or face with this introduction into professional wrestling?

[Gorefest]

Rhonda Rousey was introduced at the end of the Royal Rumble, but WM was her first in-ring action for WWE.

1) Rhonda did not ‘steal’ her look from Piper. Piper gave it to her willingly, as she indicated from a very early stage that she was a huge fan of his. She has been using the ‘rowdy’ nomer with his permission throughout her UFC career. No stealing, this is an homage. Piper was very happy with it.
2) you might want to watch some of the promos back. Rousey originally showed up in the ring at WM32 two years ago as a guest of The Rock. At the time she faced off with Stephanie. This became the running story for her into the company. When she officially arrived in WWE at the royal rumble, the angle was that stephanie and trips are still annoyed with her and see her as having a chip on her shoulder. Obviously, although she has had an amazing MMA career, she has no formal experience with show wrestling so they cannot throw her straight into a big title feud. This match was just an intro for her, with a simple good vs bad storyline that was set up a few weeks ago during her contract signing on Raw. Now that everyone has seen how bloody good she actually is, no doubt she will go into a feud with someone like Asuka before long and then get into the title race in the next 6-12 months or so.

[Aptorian]

Like Gorefest said, she's paying homage to Piper with him and his family's blessing. I think she even appeared with his jacket on at Royal Rumble. And the feud with The Authority was a seed that got planted long ago.

I really like her potential. She's like that 80's rock and wrestling connection. A larger than life superstar that actually manages to bring more to the show than just her fame. I think several times during the match she exposed how slow and timid a lot of WWE's matches are. Rousey brought some legitimacy and serious intensity to that fight.

I can't wait to see what they do with her. She has potential to be a mix between Goldberg and Steve Blackman.

[Malankazooie]

Ah, okay. Thanks for schooling me guys. I really am so out of touch with what is going on in this world.

I am going to watch tonight's Monday Night Raw, for sure. I remember those were a "must watch" right after a huge event like Wrestlemania.

[Gorefest]

Yeah, wrestlemania is targeted at the casual viewers and the newcomers to rope them in. But it is on the Raw (and Smackdown) afterwards where there really cool stuff usually happens. Expect some returns from injury or other companies or storyline disappearance (e.g. Ray Mysterio, Big Caz, Samoa Joe, etc), some rematches with possible quick title reshuffles, and proper setups of new stories for the next 3-6 months. It usually is a great blast with a fired up post-WM crowd of hardcore fans.

[Aptorian]

Always assume you're being worked but according to Pro Wrestling Sheet, there was an altercation between Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon right after the main event ended.

http://www.prowrestl...n/#.Wsu7V5cuCv5

Quote

Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon Got Into a Verbal Altercation After WrestleMania

Pro Wrestling Sheet has confirmed with multiple sources that Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon got into a real-life verbal altercation after WrestleMania 34.

Details are still scarce, but we’re told Lesnar was livid when he returned to the backstage gorilla position and went off on the WWE Chairman … who was not happy about it.

Sources tell us the brief, but heated incident ended with Brock throwing the Universal Title belt — some say at Vince, some say at a wall — then walking away. No word yet on what set him off.

We’re told there’s a belief that Brock may have gone off script a little bit near the end of the match, but we’ve been unable to confirm if this is true.

Read some discussion on this on Reddit. I didn't even notice (care) but apparently Lesnar didn'r do the typical boasting and showing of the belt to the crowd at the end of the match. I don't recall him doing that at other times but I guess one might expect it "at the grandest stage of them all". People also noticed that there weren't any fireworks after the match ended but rather they were set off way after the match ended, suggesting something was off about the timing.

Sounds like all kinds of things went side ways after that match.

So what happens tomorrow? Lesnar has already been rumored as heading back to the UFC, Do they just suspend him and strip the belt? Some kind of special match for the Universal Title in Saudi Arabia?

[Gorefest]

Cannot imagine Lesnar going to Saudi Arabia. He hates flying. It was already a unique situation to see him in Japan last year during Beast in the East. He never joins in on the bi-annual European tours. Everyone had expected him to drop the belt to Reigns due to his supposed return to UFC. So all bets are off now, no clue what is going on. I imagine Vince wont have been happy with Brock bashing open Roman’s head either. The guy was gushing blood. Not a good final image of your biggest ppv of the year for the younger viewers to have your supposed face of the company covered in blood.