The Smackers Thread

[The King of Old School]

To be fair since I hit my 40s wrestling in general just seems a lot more cringe.

[Supremo]

On 3/4/2025 at 11:59 AM, Supremo said:

I’ve put my theory to the test and concluded all the worst things about WWE’s current product is because Hunter is a massive fucking mark for himself and his career. Hear me out. I’ll show my workings.

The most natural Wrestlemania feud, Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn, is concluded early, on the wrong show, at the wrong time, under the wrong lighting, massively handcuffed and overshadowed by one of the biggest angles of all time, all so Randy Orton can come back and get the spot instead. Orton, Hunter’s protégé, Evolution stable mate, who he had a Wrestlemania main event with. Which was crap.

An absolutely humongous, marquee, Wrestlemania-Main-Event-Level singles match between CM Punk and Roman Reigns is diluted to fuck by adding Seth Rollins. Another Triple H protégé, who he built The Authority around, allowed to inherit The Pedigree as a finisher, who he then had a Wrestlemania match with. Which was crap.

And let’s not forget the Triforce of Dan Severns. The three coldest acts in the company. Ice cubes in a cup of boiling hot tea. All Hunter’s little kids from NXT Black and Gold, Gargano, Ciampa and Dunne. All shit. All getting no reactions. Somehow still featured regularly. With material written by fucking Road Dogg.

To conclude my experiment, I believe pro-wrestling could possibly feature slight hints of nepotism that could negatively affect the product as a whole. The worked nature opens up potential for people and concepts to get pushed more than they perhaps deserve, not based on merit. And Hunter’s a Hall of Fame loser.

Thought about this point again today. A few months on and more evidence has revealed itself. Another, “NXT kid,” in Aleister Black is getting pushed. And Hunter’s handpicked guy, Seth, is now essentially doing a tribute act to Triple H in 2003, even down to having his own version of Evolution.

Anyway, the main reason I bring it up again is because of that dreadful, “Punk Life,” parody segment in Smackdown. Under any other booker, it’d be an open and shut case. A blatant humiliation ritual. Put your silly costume on, you prick. Sent out there to die on his arse whilst looking a dickhead. David Brent getting made redundant whilst wearing fancy dress.

But under Triple H?

This guy?

He probably thought it was the best thing CM Punk has ever done! Home run segment, Phil! LMFAO!

Edited June 30, 2025 by Supremo

[tiger_rick]

Just thank your lucky stars that Punk isn't feuding with R-Truth...

[RedTwoster]

I decided to celebrate Smackdown returning to two hours by actually watching it this week. It was fine.

Some horrendous acting though - Charlotte Flair with Aldis, the Stratton/Trish/Jade segment, Naomi’s cartoonish laugh - I don’t mean to pick on the women’s division, but don’t put people in a situation that plays against their strengths if you can avoid it. Doing it once on a show is one thing, but repeating the same mistake over and over is pretty inexcusable.

[The King of Old School]

Watching the women's division act in scenes that arent actual wrestling in WWE is like watching Saved by the Bell as a kid.

All horrible teen drama, pouty faces, and mean girl vibes.

I forward a lot of it these days, for me it's not a patch on the AEW women's division.

Edited July 5, 2025 by The King of Old School

[RedTwoster]

59 minutes ago, The King of Old School said:

I forward a lot of it these days, for me it's not a patch on the AEW women's division.

It’s certainly booked better, but in terms of talent, between the Raw, Smackdown and NXT, WWE has an astounding amount of depth to its women’s roster - more so than AEW, I’d argue. If you’re booked to look like a chump, there’s only so much you can do to counter that, no matter how talented you are.

[Mr Butternut Squash]

5 hours ago, The King of Old School said:

Watching the women's division act in scenes that arent actual wrestling in WWE is like watching Saved by the Bell as a kid.

All horrible teen drama, pouty faces, and mean girl vibes.

I forward a lot of it these days, for me it's not a patch on the AEW women's division.

Toni Storm is brilliant and Mone is good too, but I still can't get into AEW's women's division. Outside of those two, they still seem to be stuck in that old AEW booking routine where they'll make a Dynamite cameo one week, then for four weeks straight they vanish from the face of Earth. Just kills my investment. 

It probably helps if you watch Collision, but I don't. I couldn't even tell you who Willow is feuding with or if Statlander is a heel or babyface.

[d-d-d-dAz]

It's a much better show for being shorter, but the quality of acting is utterly atrocious. It's really, really bad.

Park Cody, Drew and Orton for now, as they're obviously stars and it doesn't matter, everyone else is held back in my eyes by being utterly unable to act at a level higher than 'local amdram recreation of Mean Girls'.

I love Jacob Fatu but even he doesn't get a pass, because he's become a caricature who just shouts his 2 catchphrases over and over in an unconvincing way.

I hate to say but the best performer on the show (again, with Orton, Drew and Cody viewed separately) was probably Aleister Black in the segment with Priest. He delivered his lines like he might actually understand acting... but was let down by his stupid jacket with skulls embroidered on.

The performance centre needs to run a 'acting for wrestling' refresher course or something.

Edited July 5, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz

[The King of Old School]

I personally think they have turned Fatu far too early.

Should have kept him bubbling with Solo for a while longer yet.

[DavidB6937]

5 minutes ago, The King of Old School said:

I personally think they have turned Fatu far too early.

Should have kept him bubbling with Solo for a while longer yet.

I definitely felt the opposite. It was nice they didn't have him play dumb for too long. Made sense for him that he wouldn't sit around waiting. There's always a temptation to drag these things out but it's not always the best option.

[d-d-d-dAz]

12 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

I definitely felt the opposite. It was nice they didn't have him play dumb for too long. Made sense for him that he wouldn't sit around waiting. There's always a temptation to drag these things out but it's not always the best option.

Quite. He is, after all, all gas no breaks with it..

Yadaddadaddamean?

Edited July 6, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz
All gas no breaks whilst posting.

[Hannibal Scorch]

18 hours ago, Mr Butternut Squash said:

Toni Storm is brilliant and Mone is good too, but I still can't get into AEW's women's division. Outside of those two, they still seem to be stuck in that old AEW booking routine where they'll make a Dynamite cameo one week, then for four weeks straight they vanish from the face of Earth. Just kills my investment. 

It probably helps if you watch Collision

Well, there’s your answer.

[air_raid]

Is Charlotte a face now or did Alexa turn heel?

[The King of Old School]

1 hour ago, DavidB6937 said:

I definitely felt the opposite. It was nice they didn't have him play dumb for too long. Made sense for him that he wouldn't sit around waiting. There's always a temptation to drag these things out but it's not always the best option.

Yeah i agree on that part be fair

I meant I would have kept them as a unit for longer rather then have Solo talking behind his back etc so early.

[MVP RULZ]

9 hours ago, air_raid said:

Is Charlotte a face now or did Alexa turn heel?

Neither is likely true

Well Alexa is definitely still a face and has sort of teamed with Charlotte in a my enemy is your enemy so let's work together type story leading to both saying they don't need each other's help

They were paired together for the tag title contender match and of course won despite not always being on the same page 

My guess is Charlotte will likely either abandon/attack her at Evolution and revert back to the heel role for a Summerslam match between the 2 or they actually win the titles and have a run with the belts In a odd team pairing but working well story before the inevitable split.

Basically it seemed they had nothing for either of them to do so just paired them up