Cobra1000

are we not okay with spoilers in here anyway?

What was the deal with distracting the ref in the Ladder Match too? Im just watching the recap videos but its surely a NO DQ match right or because its in the BFG series were there different rules in place?

Anyway, the company remains clueless.

Prob been asked before so apologies, but I was listening to Review a Wai earlier and it was about 2002 during the brand split Raw before Summerslam. So was just wondering what was the highest grossing Brand Split single brand PPV?Cant imagine it was a Smackdown one..?

I think David Otunga might make an awesome heel commentator. Just an instinct I have from somewhere. He could easily be in brad Maddox's position too. How the fuck has Maddox made it to GM and on the main roster?

Christian is great isnt he? That smackdown match was magnificent this weekend. He can have good-great matches with almost anyone. Brings out the best in orton definately. Do not understand any criticism towards him.

Summerslam could be a great card this yr.

Awesome match on Smackdown, loved that Triple Threat. I still think Orton is a phenomenal performer too and its weird to think how I've enjoyed RVD since he's returned (considering I've hated his pontail and guts ever since his TNA days)

I think the Orton heel turn is coming at Summerslam... Im really enjoying Rhodes and Sandow too. Hopefully Cody Rhodes has it in him to be a top star.

Also should we have a General Smackdown thoughts thread ala the TNA/Impact one? Smackdown more or less always has a quality match each week that warrants a bit of discussion?

I definitely dont remember everyone loving The Miz as champ, I think there was vague praise for him and the "he'll be a good heel someday, shouldnt be champion yet" stuff...then everyone loved the 'Hate Me Now' Wrestlemania video but i dont think anyone was crazy for him. The only good match I saw when he was champ was the Hardcore Match he had on Raw (think it was the first Raw of the new year or something) with John Morrison which was really fun.

He was still a better champ than Del Rio.

Good shout Ian, really enjoyed that. I really like the atmosphere in the arena, I know it still looks Indy, but hey at least it looks fun unlike when you are watching TNA at the Impact Zone where there is no life in the place at all and probably the same amount of people.

I take it the Party Boys guys are straight out of the ROH Training School? The Chris Jericho-Van Halen shorts looks craptacular. I hate the way every indy guy busts out kicks and inziguiris these days, they mostly look terrible and it makes nobody stand out.

Great main event, i think Compton and Titus have a great aura about them, and Michael Elgin is fantastic. I still think its mental how Lethal and Rhyno arent with either of the big 2. Jimmy Jacobs using a spear then Rhino using a gore is a bit annoying though.

Definitely agree on Kevin Kelly, he's pure shit, at least on his own anyway. Does anyone else find the sound of the ring slightly distracting?

I'll def be keeping an eye on ROH now, especially with this World Championship tournament.

When I first took my copy of Wrestling with the Devil from the mailbox, the first thing I did was peal back the layer of clear plastic and skim through the short forward - I was immediately worried. Before Lex gets started telling his story, fellow WCW alumni and TNA Hall of Famer Steve "Sting" Borden jerks the curtain with a few words of inspiration. Words about strength, overcoming personal demons, and a deep and profound faith in God that has changed their lives.

 

I love Sting, and was a fan of Lex, both in WCW and WWF, when I first started getting into wrestling in the '90s. Both men have great faith in their beliefs - despite my personal stance as a "hopeful agnostic", I have a Christian university education and grew up the nephew of an evangelic pastor, in a deeply spiritual and religious home. So while I respect their motivators, and can appreciate the redemptive qualities of Luger's adult story, the last thing I wanted to experience was 200+ pages of sermon.

 

What I want from a good wrestler-written autobiography is something similar to Chris Jericho's Undisputed. That is to say, lots of untold stories, a look behind the curtain, and a revelation of who this person is when they're not in front of 15,000 screaming fans. I'm happy to say that Wrestling with the Devil is all that I hoped it would be, and more!

 

Lex Luger has always been, in my estimation, and undervalued talent. That's not to say Vince McMahon or Eric Bischoff didn't utilize him when they had the chance - they very much did. Lex does a great job in this book of showing his appreciation for every booker, promoter, manager and boss he has along his wrestling career. His early connection with Hiro Matsuda is especially telling of his work ethic and accomplishments within the industry. But from a fan's perspective, a lot of his big moments (winning the title from Hogan, slamming Yokozuna, etc.) aren't really talked about a whole lot today. If this bio does one thing, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how important Luger has been to professional wrestling, and why he's an obvious candidate for the WWE Hall of Fame.

 

For the wrestling fan looking for "dirt" on his life, there's plenty to be found. The chapters about his affair with Elizabeth are chilling, to say the least. When it comes time to tell the story about the night she died, right there in the living room of the very home Luger tried to keep from his wife, it can become downright hard to read. This is a man who has struggled with some very real demons, and is as honest as a person can be about them.

 

For those looking for fun stories about recognizable wrestlers, there's plenty to go around. Lex goes all the way back to his wrestling roots, telling tales about Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, building up to his days in WCW alongside Sting. There are stories of his first meetings with Vince McMahon, jumping ship to the WWF and his first babyface run. And of course, his shocking return to WCW Monday Nitro and his in-ring confrontation with Hulk Hogan (and why their heat was more real than you'd expect!).

 

If I had a complaint about Wrestling with the Devil, it would be that the later years seem very rushed. While the beginning of the book is filled with chapter upon chapter of Lex touring the world, playing football, there seems to be only a few brief moments on his paralysis, recovery and current whereabouts. There's actually more in the book about him coming to God, and how God changed his life, than what he's done with that since suffering the spinal stroke in 2007.

 

These are pretty minor complaints, and what it really adds up to is me wanting more when I finished the last page. And honestly, that's a good problem to have! Wrestling with the Devil was entertaining and interesting from start to finish, and I never felt like it was dragging in certain places, or going into too much detail in others. A great deal of that can be attributed to the book's brevity; it was quite easy to digest, and only took me about five hours to get through - I read it in a single sitting this morning, stopping only to make a pot of coffee.

 

Check out Lex Luger's fantastic autobiography the day it comes out. Not just because he was a great wrestler, who deserves more recognition from fans today. But because he was, and is a great man with an interesting and unique story to tell, and perspective to tell it from.

 

Wrestling with the Devil: ****

found this review of Lex Luger's new book on wrestlezone.com. Seems like it might be really good.

I watched it and I'll prob be the first person to say good job TNA. I really like Sabin and dunno if he's World Champ material but why not. His promos have been good since hes been back, not amazing but good in the way Brets promos were good. Impact and TNA needs something good and positive after all the shite recently and this is it. I'm glad the titles off Bully, if only until a rematch in a few weeks. I've been sick of Bully ever since the Brooke thing and when he joined Aces and Eights (and this is from a guy who loved him and was desperate for him to be a champion a year ago)

So good job TNA I say.

I think they could launch a Marvel Knights side project studio and relaunch Daredevil and Punisher. Then get cracking with Luke Cage, Black Panther and perhaps Iron Fist movies. They could make them for a more mature audience I guess. Just a thought.

Wasnt Morrison rumoured for a WWE return soon? They interviewed him on wwe.com a few weeks ago, and it seemed like he was keen on a return. Plus wwe.com did an interview with the Bellas and then a few weeks later they showed up back on TV. I'd rather Morrison comes back to WWE than TNA.

I dunno its probably just Sting or Jeff Hardy signing a new contract.

Anyone watched the go home show for Slammiversary yet?

Just watched 'when wrestling was Golden - Grapples Grunts and Grannies' on BBC4, really enjoyed it. Absolutely love Exotic Adrian Street.

Was a really good doc wasnt it? Adrian Street being interviewed in his tights was a bit weird...

Even my girlfriend who is usually indifferent to wrestling really enjoyed it so it was all good

Just heard that Dixie Carter will be on Talksport tomorrow on Hawksbee and Jacobs if anyone is interested!

If your in the Bangor, Northern Ireland area make sure to tune in to Bangor Community Radio 107.9FM for tonights episode of Outside The Ropes (Wrestling Talk Show) at 10pm if not don't worry the show will also be available on youtube, itunes and android.

Any links sir? It would be interesting to hear some Northern Irish voices talk wrestling.

The MLW Valentines Episode was pretty decent too, but jesus that Alice woman is pure shit.

Nashville is clearly the finest show on television. That duet at the end is by The Civil Wars. You should all buy their album, or at the very least grab their free live set from http://noisetrade.com/thecivilwars

Fuck sake, I keep discovering things I want to watch, I really havent been keeping up with any US TV this year! Where you watching Nashville? Is it on over here or are you just downloading it?

The most recent MLW Radio was pretty interesting, Im wondering what all our Nash fans on here think about it? Konnan had some biting things to say about Kevin Nash, but also had some real positives as well so its a real interesting listen if you havent done it already.

*Konnan Voice* Do you know what Im saying?

This is really huge news and Im very very happy for them. Cant wait to see how they do it! When she says permanently on the road does that mean no more Impact Zone ever? If so...

Yes!

Man, my memory is really going to shit. When did they hire Chyna in 2011? I remember they brought her back a few years previously for a match with Angle, but didn't see anything with her two years ago.

Yeah it was in 2011 Carbomb!

fixed it, cheers.

Could the Alberto Del Rio/Ricardo duo be one of the longest running "Main Event" pairings where they haven't had a fall out and subsequent break up in recent WWE history? They've been strong together since 2010, and I can't think of another duo that has had that longevity that hasn't been a jobber tag-team like the Colons.

 

I could of course be spouting bollocks and forgetting another massive pairing, but I genuinely can't think of a duo in the last few years - how long were Edge/Lita and Edge/Vickie together?

Dolph/Vickie? Though thats hardly Main Event...

I know everyone probably doesnt watch Impact, but just watch this from last weeks episode, these two are phenomenal.

Shelton Benjamin was granted his release from ROH according to F4Wonline.com.

 

He is reported to have requested this so that he could negotiate and potentially leave for WWE as they have contacted him. At the moment, he can still appear on ROH television but he is no longer under a contractual obligation to be there.

 

Benjamin is expected back in WWE since he has gone as far as getting out of his ROH contract, many feel its just a matter of time.

Anybody seen this?

- Best event

WWE Extreme Rules

WWE TLC - Tables, Ladders and Chairs

TNA Slammiversary

- Worst event

Wrestlemania XXVIII

Summerslam

No Way Out

- Best wrestling TV show

RAW

Impact Wrestling

NXT

- Best promo

What do we know about injustice? The Shield - Backstage promo (dont know when this first aired)

Daniel Bryan breaks up with AJ

Dolph Ziggler at TLC

- Best DVD/documentary

Edge - You think you know Me?

CM Punk Best in The World

What has been the crowd reaction to the Headbangers going there?

 

The fucking Headbangers are in RoH?!

 

Edit: Just went to check out the RoH roster page and they aren't on it, but what a sorry looking page that is nowadays. BJ fucking Whitmer is back.

 

Have you seen what happened to BJ Whitmer at Final Battle, Arch?

He was away with an injury yep. Though he's been floating around on house shows and Superstars since July.. think he maybe made one Smackdown appearance since returning?

Yeah he definitely lost to Antonio Cesaro on his one Smackdown appearance.

I have NOT been contacted by WWE. I still work for New Japan Pro Wrestling. I don't know anything about these rumours. Sorry.

 

@The305MVP

 

Hmm.

 

New Japan runs through the contract renewals in January, so his comment is simultaneously accurate but also says nothing about his future whatsoever. I think he'll probably have to listen to whatever offers he gets, he's not on the card for the Dome show on the 4th (nine match card, eleven including dark match multi mans) and I can't imagine them renewing his deal. If they'd turned him heel he might be in the spot Harry Smith is in right now, but they really don't need him cluttering up the midcard. The novelty is over.

are you still watched New Japan air_raid? How are Harry Smith and Lance Archer doing?