andrew "the ref" coyne

A scene with my Grandad a few weeks ago.

 

Granddad: Sam, did you read in the paper (he means The Sun which no one in our family except him reads) there's a town in England now where whites are the minority?

Me: *disinterested* Oh yeah?

Granddad: Bloody shocking.

Me: I'm not really bothered.

Grandad: What? How can you not be bothered?

Me: Well, skin colour doesn't matter.

Grandad: WELL IT BLOODY MATTERS TO ME MATE!

 

 

...I've been married to an Arab for the past 2 years.

That'll be Leicester where the Indian community is officially larger than the white European community. And it's awesome. The number of excellent curry restaurant is immense.

P.s. I am fully aware of my positive racism.

Since coming to Melbourne the casual racism is off the charts here. For me I often get one of two racist comments. Either "hah! Your a dirty pommie! Lol! Only kidding here's a beer." or "your one of those fucking pounces aren't you?!?"

The most bewildering one was upon hearing my British accent, a drunk melbournian called me a "paki". Yeah... Don't know why either.

In case anyone hasn't seen, Marvel have put up 700 issue 1's on their app and comixology and their own app until tomorrow. You might struggle to actually download them, but as long as you complete the "purchase" by tomorrow, they're all yours for free.

 

Servers are knackered for both apps. They've been swamped. Comixology won't let me login, or use the forgotten password link, or create a new account. I downloaded the Marvel app and that one keeps flashing up "failed to connect to store" after a bit, and trying to download anything it just says "cannot connect to billing service at this time." Saw online that they might be extending the offer to allow it all to calm down and everyone to get them.

 

Managed to download about 50 before I got kicked off. I got pretty lucky, I happened to be on just as they were setting it up. The advantages of living in a completely different time zone I guess. Lots of free #1 issues from recent series too.

 

Apparently the promotion is now "on hold" until they can resolve it.

 

Utterly barmy promotion. I'd love to know if it had a positive / negative impact on their overall profitability.

I'm imagining they're thinking fans will pick up older issues of titles they may have just started collecting, hoping to entice them into buying some older titles titles too, or that fans will pick up issues of a series that they may have been thinking about picking up but haven't yet picked up. I doubt it would have a negative impact, but as far as how positive of an impact it makes, only Marvel / Comixology will know

Oh I get the idea. Often I download a free issue and go on to buy the entire season arc, or buy an entire season arc when a promotion is on.

However NOW I have so many new issues to get through I don't see myself buying an issue for quite sometime. Love to see the sale stats to see if it works though. The marvel and dc app has made following comics much easier for me now so wish them every success.

In case anyone hasn't seen, Marvel have put up 700 issue 1's on their app and comixology and their own app until tomorrow. You might struggle to actually download them, but as long as you complete the "purchase" by tomorrow, they're all yours for free.

 

Servers are knackered for both apps. They've been swamped. Comixology won't let me login, or use the forgotten password link, or create a new account. I downloaded the Marvel app and that one keeps flashing up "failed to connect to store" after a bit, and trying to download anything it just says "cannot connect to billing service at this time." Saw online that they might be extending the offer to allow it all to calm down and everyone to get them.

Managed to download about 50 before I got kicked off. I got pretty lucky, I happened to be on just as they were setting it up. The advantages of living in a completely different time zone I guess. Lots of free #1 issues from recent series too.

Apparently the promotion is now "on hold" until they can resolve it.

Utterly barmy promotion. I'd love to know if it had a positive / negative impact on their overall profitability.

Sorry to come in late and apologies if already mentioned. But I heard a rumour a long way back that Hollywood wanted to do the film 'civil war' from the rather awesome graphic novel of the same name. It does feature pretty much every superhero, but the most prominent in it are the ones featured in avengers assemble so with a small amount of story change, could be a huge and amazing movie. Also if you haven't read it, read it already!!!

SPOILER - Highlight the black box to read

Iron Man will be going down the Civil War route.

 

 

 

No way.

I'm calling bollocks on that to.

 

I forget how fucking massive Billy used to be. Definitely had one of the best 'looks' in the company and his athleticism for someone so big was incredible. Proper physical specimen.

 

During 1999 JR used to bill Billy Gunn as one of the purest athletes in the WWF.

I swear from memory it was "the best pure athlete" but that's hairsplitting.

I was a big Billy Gunn fan, he was my real guilty pleasure. But i have to say they really missed the boat with him in regards to the ic belt. It would of been best if he won it from Shamrock during the DX vs Corporation days. Wasn't he in the dog house at the time?

Gearing up for a more sustainable challenge to Raw, maybe? Imagine Vince reading out the Impact results on Raw - obviously with internet spoilers it's not nearly the same, but just for laughs, eh. I don't watch TNA, I'm not dead set against it or anything, just that 6 hours of wrestling a week is enough for me at the moment. Is there any will within TNA to try and go head to head with WWE again, is that the long term goal or are they happy with their thursday slot?

"Tonight Bubba Ray Dudley is going to win their world heavyweight title.... that's going to put bums in seats."

*Click*

Not really sure if you'd class this as news but just seen this on Kory Chavis' Facebook and it made me laugh:

 

Last night, a wrestler called the COps on another wrestler for punching him DURING A MATCH!!!! Worst can't express how pussified that is. I've seen a lot in my 14 years, but that takes the pansy cake!!!!

 

Saw the clip. Don't care if you think I'm being soft, but that is clear and simple assault and the guy deserved to have the police called on him.

 

Did it lead to any kind of charge?

 

Are you fucking serious? He lamps him, yeah and it's probably unjustified but, call the cops? That's ridiculous and embarrassing, i've seen a great deal worse than that. If he took issue with it he should have it out with him after the match or at the very worst do it with the promoter there too and make it clear to all he's unprofessional. He's only made himself much less desirable to be booked if he's actually called the pigs.

Yep I am. Not what I would of done nessesarily, but he had a right to yes. I will admit however that it certainly dosen't help him that he took the punch, and then continued to wrestle the match.

Also we don't know what happened backstage, that would massively change my view point of the situation. E.g. If the puncher apologised and then had the cops called, I would be less sympathetic. If however the puncher bragged about it backstage then I think calling the police is justified.

As someone who has wrestled (a little) and refereed (a lot), if somebody in the ring decided in their utmost arrogance that they had a right to ligitimately strike me, I would certainly of considered calling the police (depending on the circumstances).

Sadly I've been involved with some very sad individuals within wrestling and could very easily of seen one of them try something with me. Thankfully I was in a position to avoid any in-ring issues, but if said individual broke that trust and actually hit me, I might of done the same.

Personally I find it rediculous that some people (not nessesarily on here) are saying "how unprofessional... he should of just punched him back." Wrestling is about trust, if you want to prove yourself to be a "real fighter" go be a MMA competitor and do it for real, not a wrestler who isn't expected to get blindsided.

Not really sure if you'd class this as news but just seen this on Kory Chavis' Facebook and it made me laugh:

 

Last night, a wrestler called the COps on another wrestler for punching him DURING A MATCH!!!! Worst can't express how pussified that is. I've seen a lot in my 14 years, but that takes the pansy cake!!!!

Saw the clip. Don't care if you think I'm being soft, but that is clear and simple assault and the guy deserved to have the police called on him.

Did it lead to any kind of charge?

The biggest laugh from that "script" is a 10 minute Divas match. When was the last time the ladies got that much time?

"These times include ring entrances, the match and then the post-match happenings."

Nxt tag team tournament announcement turns into impromptu Nwo / dx / Sandow segment.

http://www.wwe.com/videos/dx-and-kevin-nas...ersity-26083612

anybody else think ziggler will cash in?

 

Just a though, but can he cash in during a match that is already underway?

I don't know, but it's one scenario I'd love to see.

So I just watched Kaitlyn vs Aksana from this past weeks Smackdown...The worst match i've seen in a long time. It lasts just under five minutes and Aksana has a headlock on Kaitlyn for at least 3 and a half minutes.

 

For those of you who want to see this abomination:

 

HEADLOCK

You're dead wrong. I was actually going to post a comment saying something positive about this match. I liked the way they worked that headlock spot for so long, there were some interesting transitions. Women work better when they stick to chain wrestling, because they always look sloppy and awkward when they attempt to fly around the ring or use strikes. It wasn't a bad little match by women's standards.

 

Plus, you won't find two better arses on show in a wrestling match anywhere this year.

Finally got to see it and I'm with Arch. Surprisingly "old Sckool" with its approach and nice to see something different.

WTF.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feat...p;v=FeuA6vLPc48

That was brilliant!!

You guys ought to watch the Japanese version of silent library on YouTube. The shit they do makes the US version look VERY tame.

Still funny watching wwe superstar fodder being forced to be fed like a baby bird.

I fucking love this match, for it's plain simplicity if nothing else.

 

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

So I watched Goldberg v Perry Saturn from Spring Stampede 1998 last night for the first time and it's a cracking match, isn't it?

 

What was the thinking behind giving Saturn so much offence in that match, though? Were they really big on Saturn at that time? Raven didn't get half that much in the US Title match.

Just watched it. For me I'm quite torn. There's certainly a guilty pleasure in seeing these two rediculous super strong atheletes throwing mega power moves at one another left, right and centre. The movesets ( ) displayed in the match were fab.

The other "smark" side of me was sad at the utter lack of psychology. Lock up, POWER MOVE, transition, POWER MOVE, stumble around look a little lost, POWER MOVE etc etc. There's a small part of me that thinks if they just slowed in a down and built up each big move I would of loved it more.

I think it's more Perry Saturn who is guilty of this. Whenever I watch his matches in WWE, I'm in awe at his incredible high flying & power moves... but a little part of me wishes his matches were better constructed. Every other move he uses feel like finishers to me.

Thanks for heads up though... I DID enjoy it. Always was a Saturn fan.

What's Carlitio looking like these days then? He would make a good surprise Rumble entrant to be fair.

Just had a look at a few carlito Indy matches in 2012... He's looking in good nick.

PWLaptopAids reports:

Don't be shocked to see some former WWE mid-card names returning to the company in the near future. In recent weeks, there has been a push from several top talents for the company to bring back some former talents that were released in the past but were solid hands.

The word is that WWE management has taken the suggestion to heart as the company has never been so thin on talent across the board. We are told they are looking at bringing back some names that can populate the mid-card to work with younger names and help bring them along, as well as provide some solid work on the show.

 

I am told there is a short list of potential names they are interested in, but the company has not yet begun contacting talents. That process could begin any time.

Carlito and MVP are two of the names being battered about. I think its definitely something they need to do. Have recognisable names wrestle the Cesaros and Sandows of this world.

I like the idea of bringing back some of the old mid card. I always felt their was more mileage left in the likes of MVP and Master.

Now if only there was some sort of multi man gimmick ppv that was coming up that could benefit from a lot of surprise entrances. Mmmmmm....

To celebrate 15 years since its inception (or relaunch) the wwe have put up some videos of light heavyweight title defences.

If you never watched Dean Malenko vs Scotty 2 Hotty's Backlash (including the insane finish), check it out...

http://www.wwe.com/videos/playlists/the-be...ht-championship

So cheesy but so good.

Usually with wrestling I just watch the highlights on wwe.com or on the tna YouTube channel.

Today however I quiet effortlessly watched a whole two hours of their show when i only intended to scan over it. Sure they don't have as big a stars like Punk and Cena, but they do a pretty good job of utilising their whole roster with multiple storylines and keeping the Show varied.

I think one thing I like, and wwe doesn't seem to do enough of, is actually have plans for characters after a key storyline is over. E.g. Austin Aries loses the belt and ends his feud vs Hardy, but Tna had his next storyline ready to continue the momentum. Kudos Tna, your doing an excellent job.

I thought the was very interesting... A Hade Vanson interviewing looking at what he is doing now and why his wwe debut didn't progress.

FSM: So tell us Hade, what happened with WWE? You were programmed to go into a feud with the Undertaker leading into Wrestlemania. It all looked so promising and then...

 

Hade: It all went Pete Tong. Yeah, I was as surprised as everyone else. But really, given the nature of the wrestling business it's not that much of a shock. My gimmick was supposed to be an X-Men style super villain, leading a heel stable against Taker, feeding him my guys every week to wear him down until he and I faced off at Mania. I filmed the first vignette and Stephanie and the rest of creative loved it, they aired it and it got over pretty well as far as I recall. I went back on the road the following week to film the next installment and just like that it had been dropped. There was no big explanation behind it? They just told me that they'd decided not to go with the angle. From what I hear old Vince wasn't too impressed with them sending a developmental guy into the main event at Wrestlemania.

http://www.challenge.co.uk/wrestling/exclu...ade-vansen.html

For anyone who doesn't know, Hade was a former FWA wrestler who almost debut'ed for the WWE in a rumoured feud vs The Undertaker. In fact he even got to do one onscreen promo on Smackdown.

Foster Parents have children taken away for belonging to UKIP.

 

I'm not a big fan of UKIP but heads need to roll over this fiasco.

The problem is that, since I know people in social services who have been frankly victimised by the press, anytime I read a anti social services story I am highly skeptical.

Social services are incredibly easy to write stories against. They can't legally respond to anything. I might end up being wrong, but I would highly surprised if the official reason was just because they were ukip.

Fuck me. Didn't even know these two had a match.

Fantastic match. Can't believe how over Triple H was in that. Thanks for finding it.

John Layfield ‏@JCLayfield

 

I've never seen any of Antonio until he came to WWE but that guy is a star isn't he? He's got the look, he's doing well with a gimmick not many people would, his entrance music is class, and he's not put on a bad match I've seen yet. His uppercut and neutralizer are fantastic too.

I fucking love him. But it saddens me that the wwe live audience don't seem to be quite so behind him. That uppercut is beautiful.