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

[SwayWays]

I do like the idea of Punk v Cena v Cody, but I don't think it needs the addition of punk, albeit selfishly l'd enjoy it and want him to main event 'mania. His current WWE  run seems entwined with Rolling, but I just don't want rollins anywhere near anyone or anything that I actually want to watch/enjoy. 

Edited March 8, 2025 by SwayWays

[Kfogg1991]

Fuck me I don't know about anyone else but I'm more than happy to throw my hands up and admit when they hit me with something I didn't expect and that end got me 

Before that happened punk and Rollins really smashed it in the main it was really hard hitting and good but I was positive I knew how it was ending bar the punk aspect and they have managed to make that a factor and very interesting.

Sign me up if we're getting at least one appearance in the lead for mania from Roman to make it work and tie the ends together for it 

[DavidB6937]

If i was a betting man i would've put money on that ending. Seemed like the logical place for it to happen.

I know it's not what some people want on here but I think it'll be a solid match between three guys who have a decent shared history.

[d-d-d-dAz]

@Devon Malcolm you promised.

It's not for me, Clive. But I thought the steel cage match was pretty good. Big singles matches are great, they should think about putting these lads in singles matches at Mania.

Cena and Cody in person next week should be brilliant.

[Daaaaaad!]

2 hours ago, DavidB6937 said:

I know it's not what some people want on here but I think it'll be a solid match between three guys who have a decent shared history.

This is basically where I’m at right now. It is happening so may as well try and enjoy it. I don’t think it’ll be a bad match or anything. It just lacks the potential and the attention grabbing nature of a powerful singles match between Punk and Reigns. 

[Hannibal Scorch]

55 minutes ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

@Devon Malcolm.

Cena and Cody in person next week should be brilliant.

I feel bad for Cody. He’s having to do a lot of heavy lifting without Cena or Rock and I think he’s suffering because of it. 2 promos and yet the best promo about the Cena turn is still from Punk last week. However, Cena vs Cody in front of a Hot European crowd… Should feel electric.

Decent Cagematch and I’m sure it will be good, just wish they hadn’t gone with a 3 way.

[OzExile]

Rollins and Punk was brilliant. I thought their singles match on the Raw Netflix debut was a bit slow and sloppy between two aging guys but this was seriously intense and felt real.   Anything involving Punk and Roman will be money.  IF we can get some appearances from Reigns between now and Mania they'll build it enough to main event night one over Jey and Gunther.  As great as it is they pulled the trigger on Jey, his  entrances each week, the promo after winning the Rumble, both guys are coming across like lower mid carders.  You could put this match in at WM17 and it'd be for the European Title. 

[air_raid]

On 3/8/2025 at 8:35 PM, air_raid said:

Has Jey even wrestled on TV since the Rumble?

It’s like they heard me. This was my first time watching Grayson Waller and I didn’t hate it, even though it was jarring that it’s Waller like in The Wall and not like in wallaby. Or Rik Waller. Michael Cole impressed me by managing to say “won the Royal Rumble” without the superfluous “match” - he’s been the one that struggles most - but then lost me by calling Wallers roll in to a Paydirt/jumping (any of at least 3 names for that move) a “DDT.” And then did “for the win” as he always does. Plus his bit about what a tiny chance Jey has of beating Gunther was a bit overkill. Smaller guys winning with a spear is not something I cope well with, pun intended.

Tornado match was reasonable but it annoys me they bastardized tornado rules - which is meant to just be “all four legal” - to mean no DQs for anything, like tables or outside interference. Powerbomb on the floor was shrugged off too easy, that stomp by Lee was too good to not be the finish. Everyone’s doing too much. And using a lockout of an OConner roll to land an opponent conveniently for the 619 is now my most hated contrived setup for something that always looks contrived.

Io standing up for herself got a pop from New Yawkers but I’m not 100% sure her tantrum wasn’t meant to be consistent childish and the start of a heel turn.

I enjoyed Bayley vs Raquel. Just as Rodriguez was channeling her inner Kev again with those wrist-held shoulder barges (OK, Diesel didnt do them, but he should have) she pulled out Chico’s fallaway slam too! Might start calling Liv “Teaspoon.” Although, does that make Dom the Kid?? Anyway, just as I pondered why Bayley should have to earn a crack at Valkyria if she just beat her a couple of weeks ago, it dawned on me Raquel was winning. Good, maybe Lyra can find a tag partner to challenge the Kliq for the tag title too.

Cody talking was good, again. Still surreal that he’s top dog, but I’m glad he is.

Cage match I really enjoyed for 90% of it, I still like watching Rollins have matches even if his character and interviews are usually awful. Pissed me off a treat when they said “ropes aren’t a break in a cage match.” Umm… they should be. “No disqualification” is not the same as negating “a pin or submission doesn’t count if the wrestlers are in the ropes. When the finisher spam fest was peaking I started scratching my head as to what they possibly were keeping back for a finish until I remembered why they booked the match in the first place;

5 hours ago, Kfogg1991 said:

Fuck me I don't know about anyone else but I'm more than happy to throw my hands up and admit when they hit me with something I didn't expect and that end got me 

Yeah, you were the only one.

On 3/4/2025 at 6:32 AM, air_raid said:

Dismayed that Punk talking wasn’t a catalyst to start building things with Reigns. Though steel cage match, hmm? Seems a good bluff to move on from Punk vs Rollins in a match where people can’t interfere, but definitely will.

…. unless I was the only one?

Crazy to hear MSG chanting “OTC” at the end. If only they’d been able to get that much respect for him first time he was a face. All they had to do was let him wrestle three times a year and put the belt on him for four years. Who knew?

Just think though, the winner of Reigns vs Rollins vs Punk surely will target the winner of Cody vs Cena leaving… who, to go after Gunther or Uso?? Talk about secondary title. Though I wouldn’t hate Orton getting another run, and AJ certainly. Could really give the European title a lift from its current malaise.

 

Edited March 11, 2025 by air_raid

[The King of Old School]

10 minutes ago, air_raid said:

who, to go after Gunther or Uso?? Talk about secondary title. Though I wouldn’t hate Orton getting another run, and AJ certainly. Could really give the European title a lift from its current malaise.

I think Logan beats AJ at Mania and is Jey's first challenger.

European title indeed.

[thatvinylgeek]

Out of interest when was the last time they did a Mania event for no “prize” (assuming they go down the triple threat route)? Was it is WM11 with Bam Bam v Taylor? It should have been at 18, but we know how that turned out.

What are people’s opinions on that? I have always felt the main event should be for a title when closing out a show.

[Merzbow]

3 minutes ago, thatvinylgeek said:

Out of interest when was the last time they did a Mania event for no “prize” (assuming they go down the triple threat route)? Was it is WM11 with Bam Bam v Taylor? It should have been at 18, but we know how that turned out.

What are people’s opinions on that? I have always felt the main event should be for a title when closing out a show.

33?

Roman Vs Taker.

[thatvinylgeek]

1 minute ago, Merzbow said:

33?

Roman Vs Taker.

Good shout! I thought that was for the title, forgot about the Brock match. I guess that is slightly different as many expected it to be Takers swansong

[Mr_Danger]

If you hate Rollins featuring so prominently in this Mania wait until you get another years long build to Rollins vs Punk for the vanilla belt at next years Mania. “I can’t stop you main eventing Mania but I can stop you winning the championship there and I can do it dressed like Sam Smith”

[Chili]

Showing clips and being positive about Superfly Jimmy Snuka is certainly a choice.

[air_raid]

46 minutes ago, thatvinylgeek said:

Out of interest when was the last time they did a Mania event for no “prize” (assuming they go down the triple threat route)?

I don't think it will main event night 1, I assume they will let "Main Event" Jey Uso actually main event, purely because he won the Rumble and it looks saft otherwise. Not that he doesn't look silly anyweet.

43 minutes ago, Merzbow said:

33?

Roman Vs Taker.

 

39 minutes ago, thatvinylgeek said:

Good shout! I thought that was for the title, forgot about the Brock match. I guess that is slightly different as many expected it to be Takers swansong

Well, depends. Whether we count a night 1 last match as a "main event" or not. Sasha does, plenty on here do, I don't. There's only one main event of WrestleMania.

If you do - there was no prize in Steve Austin vs Kevin Owens. Ironically.