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

[air_raid]

9 hours ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

He absolutely was.

8 hours ago, Supremo said:

Proper babyface.

He’s absolutely the hero we need. I saw a Twatter post the other day that asked, if Cena beats him, who should win the title from Cena, and 100% it should be… Cody, regaining the title and avenging a big loss, like all heroes you can believe in. Not just wait around meekly for it to be his turn again. Continue the story, which started with a big return, and saw him fight back from the disappointments of a big injury and a heartbreaking Mania failure and become stronger ; like John Cena always was in theory, but a version we actually like. Man can have an era, like Hogan had, like Steve Austin had, and yes, like Cena had. Mania 40 should be looked back on as the beginning of Cody Rhodes : top babyface, and if he isn’t beating Cena at 41, he damn sure needs to beat him eventually and still be on top at 42.

Edited April 1, 2025 by air_raid
I am my kingdom.

[WyattSheepMask]

10 minutes ago, air_raid said:

He’s absolutely the hero we need. I saw a Twatter post the other day that asked, if Cena beats him, who should win the title from Cena, and 100% it should be… Cody, regaining the title and avenging a big loss, like all heroes you can believe in.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. They’ve talked about this being Cena’s last year and his final Wrestlemania and all that jazz. But if he’s able to, physically and movie schedule permitting, why not keep him around until Wrestlemania 42 and do a rematch with Cody. Proper heel tactic to not only go back on his word but also to play up that he’s not going anywhere until someone takes the title from him. Now granted that means you have to keep Cena heel for the rest of the run and either have to have Cody win the Rumble for a third time, matching Austin, or win the Elimination Chamber, matching how Cena got his shot at the belt in the first place, but there’s plenty there to play with if Cena can stick around a few more months

[d-d-d-dAz]

You have to imagine at this point Cena's final match is going to be a tag match teaming up with Cody against either The Rock and someone, or two people of Rock's choosing.

Agree completely that Cody should win the title back if he drops it at Mania.

But I don't believe Cena goes out as a heel, eventually Cody is going to earn his respect, then they'll align against the evil empire for a big win and a wave before Cena checks out.

[FLips]

For me Cena has to win the belt because heel Cena with no belt for the last 8 months of his career doesn't really offer anything. He's got a foot out the door, his matches need to mean something rather just him being a heel.

For me, he needs to beat Cody, maybe then win the rematch but by some bullshit that gets Cody off him, and then run the gauntlet against a mix of newbies and old rivals trying to get the belt off him before he leaves. It won't be a popular opinion but I think they need to do Orton vs Cena now the dynamics have finally switched, he should do the Punk rematch, hell give him The Miz too while we're at it on a Raw or Smackdown or something. In an ideal world when he re-turns face again before he leaves then that should be against Rock.

[Mr_Danger]

Cena beats Cody at Mania. Cena vows to take the belt with him because nobody is worthy of it other than him. Cena’s new heel buddies take Cody out of the game for a bit for some much needed rest. Cody comes back and beats Cena at the last hurdle before retirement and earns Cena’s respect. Not sure at what point Randy turns on Cody in all this but there could be a two man power trip thing going on at some point with Orton and Cena. Cena is gonna need a bunch of avatars to fill in for him whilst he’s off making sub par but surprisingly watchable straight to streaming comedies.

[The Dart]

1 hour ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

This is really interesting, as I think they've started to explicitly acknowledge that he's the overall Champion and the WHC isn't on the same level.

They've slipped the word 'undisputed' in again, and Cena keeps referencing it as the 'real' title.

I think there's a bit of buyers remorse with the WHC, and they're trying to position it as a bridging title between the IC/US and the WWE title.

They sell further back on the floor, so you have fans a lot closer to the entrance. So to have pyro they're even building them into the top of the video screens, or when they have fans above/behind the screens they're putting them in the ceiling lighting rigs. But, they very rarely use a wide angle shot of entrances unless they're completely sold out so you don't see them.

I'm just talking about the sound of the pyro.   I'm pretty sure they are just using sound effects now, rather than actual explosions.

[d-d-d-dAz]

5 minutes ago, The Dart said:

I'm just talking about the sound of the pyro.   I'm pretty sure they are just using sound effects now, rather than actual explosions.

I don't think so, in the arena it felt like they were by and large the authentic sound of the pyro.

Only one that is different is Cody's first 'pyro' as that's a flash bang in the entrance way, which i'm fairly sure is just light and noise.

[DavidB6937]

More people should just be having fun like this guy.

 

 

[d-d-d-dAz]

2 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

More people should just be having fun like this guy.

 

 

He's brilliant. 

Except at wrestling. Which is a problem.

[DavidB6937]

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

He's brilliant. 

Except at wrestling. Which is a problem.

It definitely hinders any possible bigger role for him, but i enjoy him randomly popping up so ill take that until he's probably released or leaves again. He's obviously got a lot of friends on the circuit and I'm sure he'd be happy out there again.

I'm just glad he's found something that's entertaining because he actually seems like a decent bloke.

[air_raid]

3 hours ago, WyattSheepMask said:

They’ve talked about this being Cena’s last year and his final Wrestlemania and all that jazz. But if he’s able to, physically and movie schedule permitting, why not keep him around until Wrestlemania 42 and do a rematch with Cody. Proper heel tactic to not only go back on his word but also to play up that he’s not going anywhere until someone takes the title from him.

@Jazzy G It took 20 years but imagine if WWE have the same idea I had???

[The Dart]

2 hours ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

I don't think so, in the arena it felt like they were by and large the authentic sound of the pyro.

Only one that is different is Cody's first 'pyro' as that's a flash bang in the entrance way, which i'm fairly sure is just light and noise.

Nah it was definately different to usual.

[Supremo]

I’ve got an eight year old and a four year old. They rightly don’t give a shit about pro-wrestling because it’s stupid and fake. However, these 8pm starts has meant my son especially has dipped his toe in.

He had a blast laughing at LA Knight constantly saying, “Yueagh!” and watching Strowman chuck people about on Friday’s Smackdown, so asked if we could put Raw on before bed. Two kids and wife, earnestly giving it a go. Teeth brushed. Pyjamas on. Ready to be Sports Entertained.

They were fully in at first. Loved the big crowd, loud music, mad singing and pyro. “Cody, Cody Rhoooooodes! Cody, Cody Rhodes!”

Side comment from Mrs. Supremo - “Is Cody’s hair and tattoo real? Does he look like that all the time?” How do you even begin to explain the most ridiculous man alive to a normal, functioning human?

Anyway, it all turned to shit almost immediately. The PROMO BATTLE with SHOOT COMMENTS commenced and there isn’t a small enough measurement of time to determine how quickly they all fucked it off entirely. Son returned to Minecraft on his iPad. Daughter asked to go to bed. I’ve never felt more vindicated in my hatred for this genre of promo. Watching in real time how potential fans floated away like dust because they haven’t got a fucking clue what you’re shouting about. Having now watched it back, thank God they did give up when they did. I’d have had to build an entire PowerPoint presentation to explain it all.

Genuinely ironic when you think about it, that the same company who will endlessly smash you in the face with exposition is also happy to speak in riddles for dumb internet points.

And yet, it was still probably the best of the three promos from Cena thus far. What a fucking wet fart this heel turn became.

Also, in retrospect, probably for the best my kids didn’t watch this. I can imagine it scarring them similar to when I watched that woman get sucked into the computer at the end of Superman 3.

Edited April 1, 2025 by Supremo

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

He's brilliant. 

Except at wrestling. Which is a problem.

I dunno, having watched back some of his TNA stuff, he’s capable of a solid match. If LA Knight and 2025 Shinsuke Nakamura can be US champ, I don’t see why he couldn’t have a decent spot in the middle of the card. And if he continues to be mediocre, transition him into a managerial role. 

[Jazzy G]

1 hour ago, air_raid said:

@Jazzy G It took 20 years but imagine if WWE have the same idea I had???

It could be a good idea. Have Cena at some point turn face between now and next Mania. Maybe Cody wins Elimination Chamber and is inexplicably the only babyface in there, Rock's crew give him the beatdown after he's been through all five heels. Cena's there, watching as Cody is looking at him pleading. Like Sting and Hogan after that TNA match that time with the Hogan face turn. We get Cena and Cody Vs Rock and Jacob Fatu on night one with the typical "can they co-exist?" since they'll be opponents the night after, then do the Hogan Warrior Mania VI torch-passing the night after?