The Smackers Thread

[BomberPat]

1 hour ago, LaGoosh said:

But probably most of WWE's current audience haven't seen any of those matches so they'll probably be fine with it.

And there's the rub. WWE have done a really good job of re-educating their audience, to the point that some of the most rote wrestling-by-numbers booking is now routinely heralded as revolutionary and groundbreaking and HASHTAG-CINEMA, because they finally have a booker who at least understands heat and some of the basics of pro-wrestling storytelling, which seem to have all eluded Vince in his last decade. 

And for the Piledriver in particular, it's been "banned" for so long that it's developed a reputation that allows for angles like this one, regardless of its actual safety or its kayfabe rate of injury. It's a banned move you don't see often, so it gets the shock value pop, and the audience are convinced it must be dangerous otherwise why else was it banned? It doesn't matter that there were probably a hundred more impressive spots, and two dozen more potentially dangerous ones, on the same show, this is the move that they've been told is serious. 

 

Any move is only as credible as the booking or the wrestlers allow it to be; it's why when you're as hot as The Rock in the Attitude Era you can get an elbow drop over as a killer finisher. Conversely, I always find it funny to see people complain about wrestlers using the Tombstone Piledriver as anything other than surefire match-winning death move, when for decades it was barely a transitional move in Japan or Europe, and large parts of the US, they've just convinced themselves that it's more substantial than that because it was The Undertaker's finish and very well protected because of that. 

Edited November 11, 2024 by BomberPat

[LaGoosh]

29 minutes ago, BomberPat said:

Conversely, I always find it funny to see people complain about wrestlers using the Tombstone Piledriver as anything other than surefire match-winning death move, when for decades it was barely a transitional move in Japan or Europe, and large parts of the US, they've just convinced themselves that it's more substantial than that because it was The Undertaker's finish and very well protected because of that. 

I think the Tombstone is a great finish when Undertaker does it. Mainly because his height makes it look good. When smaller guys do it it usually looks pretty average and I'm fine with it not being a big deal.

[Devon Malcolm]

CM Punk gave John Cena a piledriver during their Raw match in 2011 (?) and it was a big shock and surprise then. Nuts that it's probably been that long since anyone had done one in WWE but this all proves you can reinvent the wheel in wrestling.

[Hannibal Scorch]

On 11/10/2024 at 12:21 PM, Mr_Danger said:

For as shit as that piledriver looked it’s a perfect example of how WWE can do more with less. It’s not about the execution looking deadly it’s the fallout and aftermath. One shit piledriver and a neck brace has more effect on my dumb brain than Canadian Destroyers on aprons and atomic piledrivers from the top turnbuckle.

So which company was being referenced here as that is AEW argument tropes

1 hour ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

I literally put that inconsistent storytelling was the norm for both of them, Gooshy even highlighted it when he quoted me. Your immediate AEW good WWE bad response makes you not worth bothering with and I won't engage in future. When it comes to the year end awards though I am voting for you vs WWE in the feud of the year, unfortunately though I doubt there will ever be an end to it. 

My reply was about consistent story telling in both here with a piledriver angle! What was my WWE bad stance here exactly? The only thing I criticized WWE here was the camera angle which they are normally phenomenal at (remember Punk at Clash this year where the only tell was the Jordans he was wearing once he got in the ring?).

AEW have constantly awful camera angles showing blading and ref's doing stupid things. So you are just being a silly goose then Lion-o, because you have created a narrative of something I never even said.  

[Supremo]

It’ll work in the end because they can play off Orton’s history of neck problems, Owens is just fucking great at everything, and if all else fails Cody can just start crying about it.

However, if this was always the plan and they were saving The Piledriver as this humongous transgression, it is funny that Andrade, Dragon Lee and Carmelo have spent the Summer spamming Canadian Destroyers. Much harder to take it seriously when the more violent, devastating version has been used as a transitional move on the very same show.

I can’t be arsed with the discourse this has created about how WWE and AEW’s styles wildly differ in regards to mad moves and crazy spots. It’s just not true. About 90% of WWE and AEW’s use of these spots and moves is completely interchangeable. The pacing or the psychology might differ here or there, but you’ll see crazy stunts, no-selling and Canadian Destroyer/Superkick spamming everywhere. It’s only grifters who pretend it only happens in one company.

Edited November 11, 2024 by Supremo

[Mr_Danger]

2 hours ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

So which company was being referenced here as that is AEW argument tropes

 

Any number of companies. More wrestling companies exist than AEW. I purposely never named AEW to avoid this tedious back and forth. In fact, as evidenced by several posters in this thread WWE aren’t immune from high impact moves for low returns. 

[Supremo]

On 5/18/2024 at 5:28 PM, Supremo said:

Saw a pitch online for a Bloodline Civil War  for this year’s Wargames match. Solo, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso…and Sami Zayn(!).

Would the match be any good? Probably not. WWE Wargames matches almost always suck balls. But would the poster look boss? Definitely. And would each separate moment where the Bloodline OG’s make friends be some of the greatest moments of all time? Hell fucking yes! Imagine Roman acknowledging Jey! Jimmy and Jey reuniting! Them deciding the only man who can help them is Sami Zayn. I get goosebumps just imagining it.

Had to go back and find when it first felt like a possibility. Fucking May. Six months ago. Fair play. This company is on fire right now. I still can’t believe it’s happening. WWE: the fan service company that delivers long-term. Still doesn’t feel real. I’ve never been so excited about a match I’m so certain will be rubbish.

It’s why this Owens/Orton thing is so great. You can already imagine where it’s going to go three, six, maybe even twelve months down the line. I can see them writing Orton out after this, with Cody vs. Owens being the singles match at Survivor Series for the Title. Then I can see Orton coming back, feuding with Owens, but then eventually turning on Cody, blaming him for everything that’s happened.

Considering how long they’ve teased it, with Orton’s endless glances at the belt, and now this, I’m starting to suspect Orton vs. Cody might be the Wrestlemania match, clearing the way for Rock and Roman to fight over Rock’s toy belt. Plastic Championship vs. Plastic Red Necklace. Winner takes all.

And yeah. It’s obvious already. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are going to steal the show at Wrestlemania and I cannot wait. Kevin’s going to throttle him for reuniting with The Bloodline. Phenomenal booking all round. Just hoping Rock and Brian Gerwirtz don’t ruin it too much when they inevitably roll in. Piss in our bottles.

Edited November 11, 2024 by Supremo

[FUM]

 

[Gooner]

5 vs.5. The Rock coming back to destroy the Old Bloodline, face and beat Rhodes at Royal Rumble and defeat Reigns at Wrestlemania, it books itself. 

[Supremo]

No wonder Hunter’s speed ran The Bloodline reunion. They’ve probably already put the meeting in his Teams Calendar. Take your pencil, turn that sumbitch sideways, and hand it straight over to Brian Gerwirtz!

Rock’s winning The Rumble.

[FLips]

My favourite thing about Red One is the rumours about the production costing a fortune because he never showed up on time and was pissing in bottles. He recently came out to defend himself by saying it was bullshit, but actually yeah he was always late and yeah he did piss in bottles, but Captain America said it was fine because he gave staff money.

The guy is a joke.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dwayne-johnson-set-behavior-pee-bottles-arrives-late-filming-1236206419/

[LaGoosh]

Yeah the goodwill towards him seems to be fading. It took longer than expected for general audiences to realise every film he's done is fucking shite.

[TheBurningRed]

I’d like to think he’s having a laugh here, but I imagine he’s deadly serious. 

[Devon Malcolm]

I have to imagine that even Red One can be better than Oppenheimer.

[TheBurningRed]

12 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

I have to imagine that even Red One can be better than Oppenheimer.

The test for me is if I fall asleep. Which I did in the cinema for Oppenheimer. And The Revenant. And actually for one of Dwayne’s films, Jungle Cruise.