d-d-d-dAz

4 minutes ago, Chili said:

Watched it all. Classic Punk, the finest bit was his gripe about guaranteed contracts, Hangman's workers rights line now makes Punk seem a right fanny. Also the Colt bit about squashing beefs but then lawyering up when Cabana broached it. He's a fantastic prick, I can't wait till he smacks Seth Rollins for something that Rollins probably didn't cause. It's gonna be wonderful.

Seth is way too much of a wet fart to maintain the beef.

I reckon he gave Punk side eye for a day, and then the next day was just like "I think I've made my point", and everything has been absolutely fine ever since.

43 minutes ago, Chili said:

I do still like him, but he's gonna crack again one day, sooner, maybe later. But we all secretly want it. It's there, and it's going to be another brilliant breakdown.

I'm not sure about this.

He's the cheating husband who's finally realised his looks are on the wane, his ol' fella's gone floppy and there's only his wife left.

Whether he's dying on the inside or not, I think he's going to play the reformed, kindly older gentleman as long as he physically can, until the wife decides SHE'S had enough of HIM.

Poor Roman. He looked like an absolute nobody in his shite hoodie next to Gucci Johnson.

They first tried to steal Cody's Wrestlemania moment by taking him out of his main event with Roman for the most prestigious belt in wrestling. They've ended up stealing his moment by taking the most prestigious belt in wrestling out of his main event against Roman.

The most prestigious belt in wrestling this weekend will be whatever weightlifting belt The Rock decides to bring to Philadelphia with him. Cody should insist on main eventing Night 2 against The Rock in a Mama Rhodes on a Pole match for the Weighlifting World Championship.

I'm not even a huge Rock fan, still, but his pure heel work the last few weeks has at least put something on Mania where I want to see it. But the sacrifice of Roman to make it happen has been wild. I suspect he's partially at fault for letting it happen with his sort of laconic personality, casual look and patchy TV schedule, but jeeeez. 

Where's that Wrestlemania fall from grace thread, I've got a suggestion..

He's a very frustrating man, as there's always a kernel of sense in there but it's wrapped in complete hubristic self confidence and bullshit.

What Jack Perry did was clearly unprofessional and disrespectful, and absolutely that sort of behaviour probably does go unpunished because TK wants to be everyone's mate... but, I don't for one second believe Punk went up to him calmly to ask why he was doing 'dumb Internet stuff'. Also, "what are we doing here? I could fucking kill you. Its like Chael says..." is the lamest Punk has ever sounded.

I like Ol' Phil. I want his body to hold together for one last run. But, his obsession with being seen as one of the hard lads is so embarrassing. Just be the dork I suspect you are. Tracy Smothers is dead, no one cares about hard men anymore.

The dorks run wrestling in 2024, you'd think he'd be in his element.

32 minutes ago, SaitoRyo said:

Punk is currently talking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour. 

He's mentioned A LOT of things about the various incidents from his time in AEW so this is sure to be a nice quiet week in the wrestling world...

Oh no.

His kindly old uncle routine was just starting to feel genuine.

1 hour ago, Egg Shen said:

Fabio's got some dog in him. He took some hellacious shots last night and didnt look phased really until the end of round 12. 

 

Watch it back. I spotted it at the time (aren't I great), and was discussing in real time with Danny from SecondsOut, but it was even more apparent after the second time of watching; Fabio's movement significantly changed around Round 6/7 and got more pronounced from thereon. He was awkwardly pawing at his nose after eating shots, lifting his head out of exchanges, turning away and exaggeratedly ducking. That nose changed the fight for him dramatically, and quite early. It's the one thing giving me pause for the rematch, in that as much as I think Frazer learns from last night and wins comfortably, it may be that he learns the wrong lessons and - free of a smashed up face - Fabio comes back next time and is able to be a much more efficient fighter, a truer version of himself, and can just front Frazer up a bit more and take him out.

5 minutes ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

After that Dazzler I wouldn't personally think it will be comfortable for either in the rematch. I think they will both learn a lot, and Fabio has more to learn than Fraze does but from where he started to where he is now Fabio is a different fighter. 

Wardley has said he wants the rematch so let's hope that it happens this year. 

The one thing it did make me think though was that this could be Boxxer's way into Saudi. Old Turki loves a Heavyweight tear up and I can definitely imagine him wanting the rematch either on a Saudi show or the proposed Wembley show in September. 

I think Fabio is what Fabio is though, heart and bottle and a solid whack. He's wild and uncultured, but a nightmare if you can't stop him. But he's not got much headroom to get better, he'll continue being a fucking nightmare but his gameplan will be... March forward, bite down on the gumshield, swing like you're trying to decapitate someone.

He has some nice shots in his repertoire, but his plan in Fight 2 will be the same as Fight 1.

Frazer is an elite boxer and strategist, with significant pedigree. By his very nature he's a problem solver, with more tools in his belt to call on to solve problems.

You saw it in the Fight last night as he started to improve his feet and change the angle of his jab to nullify Wardley's charging, or how he brought in the uppercut as Fabio started to rely more on ducking to try and protect his nose.

Fabio may still come in and starch Frazer, but the logical bet is that the more cerebral, accomplished boxer watches the tapes and creates a plan accordingly.

Sort of Joshua/Ruiz ish.

I've watched Wardley/Clarke back and I think it's an unscorable fight. Even watching the second time, I had no real idea.

I think I think that Frazer won the fight overall, but the knockdown and point deduction confused everything.

It's a classic case of what you like, I guess. Frazer repeatedly scored with accurate shots throughout the fight and caused significant damage. As a technique and gameplan pervert, that suits what I like. But, if you're in for aggression and blood and thunder, I can definitely see why you'd favour Fabio.

I think there's an argument for any score. If someone told me they thought one or the other won by a wide margin, I could be convinced too.

Just a perfect fight in many ways.

Surprised the commentators didn't pick up on Frazer vomiting in the bucket in the corner before the 12th round. He was absolutely knackered.

I think Frazer wins the rematch comfortably, though.

What a fucking fight. And a good result, too, I think.

But what a barnstormer. Incredible stuff.

Roman has been added to Raw.

Poor bloke.

On the one hand, he absolutely has to be there and do something of note to regain his footing in this Mania build. On the other, with his star already cracking, stood next to The Rock looking imperious - all muscles and shades and Gucci vests - he's going to look even more like an old man who's pissed himself on Christmas day and had to get changed into his son's house clothes.

"Give me a minute da, sure I've got a hoodie and some joggers in the back of the wardrobe..."

I reckon there's more chance of them ditching the Gladiators than there is Bradley Walsh.

The only way they get rid of him is if Ant and Dec become available.

I touched on this in the Smackdown thread, but it's genuinely mad to me that - especially after getting in the Chamber in 2023 - Montez Ford is still cocking about in a tag team that have already ran out of steam twice before.

He looks, acts, talks and wrestles like everything they could possibly want. He deserves better than being in a past its sell by date tag team, as part of a faction that never got off the ground, in a feud against the coldest act in wrestling.

I'm beginning to think Montez Ford might not be the next biggest thing in wrestling, you know.

Absolutely criminal that they're letting his career drift.

Smackdown felt like a nothingburger compared to Raw. If it's not got Cody or Rock on, or even the C-Squad of Roman and Rollins, it's hard to care as I think everything else is a bit cold going into Mania.

Jade looked great, and I laughed at the way they tried to give absent-Roman some heat and relevancy back by having Heyman say he ordered the beatdown. Good one.

LA Knight has had a quicker cool down than Hans Solo in Empire Strikes Back. Absolutely ice cold.

That's about all I thought of Smacky-D this week.

Oh well, Rock and Cody are on Raw on Monday.

6 minutes ago, NeverYield said:

Yeah I agree there, it might not be everyone's cup of tea but you have to be realistic and admit that it is likely going to work. 

Shortcut to notoriety for bigger fights is something I can definitely see happening for him. Another thing about these controversial characters is whether you love them or hate them you're going to tune in, and at the end of the day it's good for the sport. That video of Whittaker leaping about in his last fight has become a meme in circles that aren't even sports related never mind boxing.

If he's good enough, it's smart too.

Plenty of talented boxers who spent far too long poncing about on undercards taking risky fights they shouldn't have to against underrated regional fighters, because their wasn't the public demand or money to make the risk of pushing them up worth it.

13 minutes ago, NeverYield said:

Whittaker has been doing all that malarkey since day dot, even in Team GB sparring sessions. 

I think his talent is obvious, and his athletic ability is great. I think at the same time though there is something about Whittaker that is just forced. They make Naz comparisons but Naz was smooth with it, and it just felt authentic, I just don't get that with Whittaker but that's just me. 

 

I think its contrived too, but I'd say for good reason.

You can only guarantee you will get the big fights in your career if you're both good enough and people know who you are/care about you. I think Ben knows he's better than his level, and doesn't want to take the time others have to fighting people below them whilst they build their profile fighting around the country and on TV... I think hes trying to shortcut to notoriety so he can get bigger fights sooner than others might.

2 minutes ago, Gooner said:

 I have no idea what is going to happen at Wrestlemania on either night, 

Well, Downstait are releasing a less-good, angrier version of Cody's theme in time for Mania so I think a Roman/Cody double turn has to be on the cards..

You can't argue with the rules of wrestling music.

3 minutes ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

Amazing but there was one thing i saw that took me completely out of it. This is stupid on my part, of course I know its all part of the show, of course I know its planned down to the second but I like everyone else want to swept up in the moment because that is when wrestling is at its best. 

 I wish I hadn't seen it but my stupid brain saw it and immediately went "Cody must have put the awning out on his bus to keep the crew dry while they were filming" It's fucking stupid on my part but it fucked it for me. 

Why wouldn't he do that though? He's the nicest man in the world.

He probably did it before he went out to beat up an Uso, when they were backstage filming for the new Cody documentary or taking fag breaks through the night.

All good.

I was reading about this earlier, it's an unbeaten Nigerian called Ezra Arenyeka who's fought mostly in Africa and Latin America. Based in Sale, though.

I don't know him, but my guess is he's next up for a vacant title of some description and Boxxer are trying to slide Whittaker in as his opponent. The stunt is probably just to try and get some hype behind Ben, as Boxxer are a bit flat at the minute.

At this point Roman is going to need to personally send me a cheque for 5 grand to make me want to see Roman/Cody instead of Rock/Cody. Even then I'd be faking it.

That's just how it is, boy.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5GpCQ4rug9/?igsh=MWt6cXFtNzV1amExcg==

Sometimes, when you're wrong, you're wrong. You just have to apologise, set fire to the Cody bedsheets and buy a lot of bull related merchandise.

This is the greatest wrestling social media post of all time.

I wish he didn't use the word 'script', but fuck it. Put the belt on the big egg.

I wish his nipple wasn't peaking out of his top in that photo. It adds a 'stressed mum in a dressing robe' vibe to an otherwise perfect photo.

Christ, look at Rock's tattoo. It looks like the demon controlling him to torture Cody.

Like a scene straight out of a comic book movie. Incredible.

How can Roman turn up on Smackdown in his Fruit of the Loom hoodie after this?

What a whoppin big load of shite.

3 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

I think if we've got him back, we'd all rather he put in a decent shift. I don't think it's an ego thing or deciding he has to be the biggest star. I think he's just putting the work in. He has mostly come across as a guy that respects the business and I think business is at the forefront of the decisions especially now with his position. I'm sure he thinks everyone will come out better at the end. And while we don't know the longer term plan, I highly doubt he's gone in there to bury Roman deliberately and put himself ahead.

I suspect when you're as good as he is, and probably as competitive, you go in with the understanding that you could blow everyone out the water, and its up to them to try and hang in there with you. And that's probably fair enough.

It is what it is at this point. They've released a tiger in the pig pen, and we'll find out in a few weeks who survives I guess.

I'm more interested by the fact that Seth Rollins is in 2 featured matches at Wrestlemania, and a featured part of 0 feuds. Absolute waffle.

1 minute ago, DavidB6937 said:

And yet you got people moaning about him turning up and doing a half arsed tribute act. So he can't win really.

To be fair, wrestling is full of big stars who don't 'comeback' well.

Cena has been very good at it, Austin was hit and miss, The Rock has been all over the place... I think there's a middle ground between a tribute to the good ol' days and being the biggest star on earth.

That said, I'm not sure it's all The Rock's fault. I just think he's such a fucking massive star, with more natural presence and charisma than every other big star in wrestling combined, that its very hard to not swallow everything around him and make them disappear in comparison. I'm not a huge fan, as discussed, but I think he either turns it on and he outshines everyone or he half arses it and it comes across like a cheap tribute. I don't think he's capable of anything else.