The Official UKFF RAW thread (part 2)...

[RedTwoster]

Just now, tiger_rick said:

What's happened to Punk vs. Reigns? That's a marquee match. As soon as I saw it speculated, probably in some ridiculously OTT @Supremo post, it immediately jumped out. Appreciate how popular Cody is, how hateable Paul is and Cena is Cena but Punk vs. Reigns just jumps off the page. 

I think the Rollins assault on Reigns at the Rumble, and the subsequent write-off of Reigns from television has made Reigns/Punk feel less likely. I have mixed feelings on that, as I initially wanted Reigns/Punk to be a longer term story - but now, after going from thinking it’s inevitable to thinking it’s not happening this ‘Mania, I’m a bit disappointed.

That said, WWE has earned my trust in recent years, so I’m cautiously optimistic that whatever they end up doing will feel exciting by the time Wrestlemania comes around. They turned me around on the idea of Gunther/Jey in the space of one promo, for example. 

[d-d-d-dAz]

4 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

What's happened to Punk vs. Reigns? That's a marquee match. As soon as I saw it speculated, probably in some ridiculously OTT @Supremo post, it immediately jumped out. Appreciate how popular Cody is, how hateable Paul is and Cena is Cena but Punk vs. Reigns just jumps off the page. 

I'd have swore blind before the Rumble that the two main events were going to be Reigns/Punk and Cody/Cena.

But they appear to have spread themselves out a little bit, presumably to make space for Rollins which... just fuck off.

Supremo seems to have gone native with Rollins now, but I refuse to believe he's anything short of shit.

[Supremo]

Ridiculously OTT? Moi?!

I think Hunter just couldn’t help himself. He’s already beating AEW by a significant margin. He probably still has sleepless nights remembering the Wednesday Night War. Doing Cody vs. Punk as his Night 2 Headliner is essentially the Fatality. Finish them!

I saw someone suggest Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn in Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania. Equal parts the most exciting and terrifying match I’ve ever imagined. Five stars. Two broken spines. And a partridge in a pear tree.

Edited February 4, 2025 by Supremo

[tiger_rick]

51 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

That said, WWE has earned my trust in recent years, so I’m cautiously optimistic that whatever they end up doing will feel exciting by the time Wrestlemania comes around. They turned me around on the idea of Gunther/Jey in the space of one promo, for example. 

I'm sure they are currently earning a different level of trust but a historic comparison that would still have me on edge is the Becky Lynch one from 2018 (I think). That promo she stomped out and cut after the Rumble was absolutely epic and by the time Mania came around, they'd murdered the momentum and then pissed on its grave. I listened to a pod last night that mentioned Triple H was insistent in his presser afterwards that what everyone thinks will happen isn't necessarily the case, so I wonder what twists and turns there are to come.

48 minutes ago, Supremo said:

I saw someone suggest Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn in Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania. Equal parts the most exciting and terrifying match I’ve ever imagined. Five stars. Two broken spines. And a partridge in a pear tree.

Another reason I know this on-screen product could never be for me is just how completely boring and old hat yet another KO & Sami go around sounds. I didn't reply earlier when Twoster said he'd never get bored of it but honestly, the ability you lads have to get excited for the same shit on a different day is something I respect. I'm not having that Seth Rollins is suddenly not fucking shit this week, but I respect the lengths you'll go to buy it.

Edited February 4, 2025 by tiger_rick

[air_raid]

Did they hint at Rhea vs Io again? Yes they did.

[RedTwoster]

3 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

Another reason I know this on-screen product could never be for me is just how completely boring and old hat yet another KO & Sami go around sounds. I didn't rely earlier when Twoster said he'd never get bored of it but honestly, the ability you lads have to get excited for the same shit on a different day is something I respect. I'm not having that Seth Rollins is suddenly not fucking shit this week, but I respect the lengths you'll go to buy it.

On paper it should be boring as shit, but there are a small handful feuds/stories I don’t get bored of because they seem to evolve. The others would be Hangman/The Elite and Moxley/Kingston in AEW, although neither feud has seen as many of the same match as Owens/Sami. The natural conclusion of Owens/Zayn for me is a World title match - once that happens and (I hope) Sami is champion, perhaps the pairing will start to feel stale for me, who knows?

I totally get why you - or anyone else - would find it boring and old hat; but they sucker me in every time, and I love the idea of a match between the two in Canada, with the molten hot atmosphere that’ll bring. 

[Mr Butternut Squash]

Apart from the usual dead air and production botches, really good Raw that. Restored some enthusiasm for Wrestlemania season after the Rumble knocked it out of me a bit. 

Pitch perfect opening. Jey being an unpolished promo has always been part of his appeal. He's authentic and relatable in a way few are. It's early days but they sold me on a Gunther rematch. "Beating you does nothing for my legacy!" is a neat way of kayfabing the perceived Jey criticisms and wrapping it into storyline they can build upon. Great segment that shot this match a few places up the card.

The whiff of a triple threat still troubles me, but the Seth stuff is as compelling as Seth will ever be. There was something almost cathartic about Rollins just being a straight up dickhead and giving you permission to boo him. They're playing with fire a bit with the 'shades of grey' type characters they have (especially if they go through with Cody vs Cena, which is an idiotic match) but its the sort of thing that works until it doesn't, and right now Seth and Punk feel suitably fleshed out to pull it off. There's so many different paths open for them to go down and I have faith they will make the absolute most of whatever option they choose. Fair play to Big Rome too, chilling at home for another Wrestlemania season.

Charlotte is gonna Charlotte, but I was actually quite intrigued by the idea of her vs Rhea. Maybe it's because Rhea/Iyo and Charlotte/Tiff sound so shitty in comparison, but an actual heel vs babyface match where Rhea earns Charlotte's respect sounds much better to me. Tiffany has boatloads of talent but is a complete mess of an undercard cartoon character, and I have little reason to believe HHH will get her on the right track.  Just stick the two big stars opposite each other and let them settle the best of three.

Penta is very shit.

The main event was excellent. Punk's looking rather gingerly but his pacing and selling is incredible and his matches are completely refreshing in 2025. MOTY. Another cracking KO angle too. I love the way all the top stars are intermingling at the moment. Very 97.

Edited February 4, 2025 by Mr Butternut Squash

[TildeGuy~!]

It’s mental the whole Yeet era began because he was a deer stuck in the headlights at a presser and didn’t know what to say so just kept saying Yeet, 

I rewatched the bloodline storyline 2 hour video that WWE put on YouTube yesterday(most of it was about Jey and not Sami surprisingly) and just to see his rise over this past 5 years is great, he’s still a shit promo though. 

[Supremo]

Watched the Jey promo back. Didn’t notice the first time that he had an actual tear running down his cheek by the time Gunther’s music hit. Amazing. Can’t think of a better way to close Night 1 and have people excited for more than Jey raising gold whilst the crowd Yeet in unison. The Yeet Movement.

Remember how much of a wreck head Jey was during the peak of The Bloodline? How his entire life was a constant stress? How satisfying it’s going to be for this man to finally find peace.

Also watched the main event again. The timing of CM Punk dodging the Helluva Kick is absolutely sublime. In the space of about half a second you realise Sami is following him to the corner, going to hit the move, only for Punk to have already moved out of the way. It’s proper hold-your-breath stuff. He might be hurt, old and tired, but Punk’s still a genius when it comes to this stuff. He’s gonna have a ripper with Cody.

Cody vs. CM Punk

Jey Uso vs. Gunther

Roman vs. Seth

Cena vs. Logan Paul

Sami vs. Kevin - Hell in a Cell 

Reports that Drew McIntyre wasn’t at Raw, having a sulk about what happened at The Rumble and how unsatisfied he is with his Mania direction. Drew feuded with Punk for so long that he turned into Punk from 2014! Let’s hope he doesn’t do a podcast with Sheamus to air his grievances!

Edited February 4, 2025 by Supremo

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, Mr Butternut Squash said:

Penta is very shit.

Am I the only person who actually enjoys Penta? I totally recognise his faults and I can’t dispute any of the criticisms of him, but he has bags of charisma that - to me at least - overrides the issues and makes him very enjoyable to watch. 

[Mr Butternut Squash]

10 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Am I the only person who actually enjoys Penta? I totally recognise his faults and I can’t dispute any of the criticisms of him, but he has bags of charisma that - to me at least - overrides the issues and makes him very enjoyable to watch. 

Nah, he has plenty of fans. It's just a stylistic preference thing. I can't stand his offence. It's the most indirrific shit I've ever seen on the the big stage and he should get punched in the face every time he does his taunt. Looks cool though.

Edited February 4, 2025 by Mr Butternut Squash

[NeverYield]

Pentas alright but hes gonna get old fast I reckon 

Especially if he keeps doing that taunt thing about 85 times a match.

[Supremo]

On 2/4/2025 at 4:08 AM, Supremo said:

Fair play. One of the best things about following this sport is not only getting caught up in the fiction, but watching the subtext of guys trying to work themselves into better positions on that meta level. I think Seth’s done it. I think it’s Seth vs. Roman at Mania, with Punk likely facing Cody. And most shockingly of all, I think I’m quite excited by it!

Abandon that, Lynn. Doomsday scenario.

CM Punk v Roman Reigns v Seth Rollins is the current plan for WrestleMania 41.

(via PWlnsider)

More fool me for giving credit to Seth Rollins. Believing the melt might have actually stood up for himself and politicked his way into something substantial. Turns out the Monday Night Messiah just volunteered himself up as a sacrifice, willingly offering to be the Designated Job Guy. Maybe the Paul Heyman favour was to always find a whopper who’d eat a pinfall on behalf of the real stars.

I still think it’s all to play for. Given both Seth and Punk’s performance on Raw, I still wouldn’t be shocked if it ends up being Seth vs. Roman and Punk vs. Cody in singles matches. Surely nobody really wants the Triple Threat? It’s the worst possible option!

Fascinating to see what happens. Suddenly, if it’s a Triple Threat, that doesn’t feel like a Wrestlemania main event anymore. It immediately positions Jey vs. Gunther and Cody vs. Cena as your two headliners.

Good Lord. Is Punk really going to be denied the Mania main event again? Is this all one massive, elaborate troll on the part of Hunter? Just keep dangling the carrot until Punk loses his mind. You’ll pay the price for laughing off that Punk vs. Triple H match at Mania 30 until the end of time, Phil!

Edited February 5, 2025 by Supremo

[d-d-d-dAz]

Triple Threats are rubbish anyway, but I don't even understand why you'd do a Triple Threat without a title on the line.

Genuinely, that match at least halves my interest in Mania, if that's what they're doing.

Utter, utter lazy shite that'll clearly only be happening because they've got fuck all else for Rollins.

Ugh.

[Guest]

My gut says this is their "leak a crap match to the dirt sheets so everyone will be more thrilled with what we actually do" thing that I feel like they've done a few times over the last few years.