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

[TheScarlettChad]

They're making it so obvious Heyman betrays both Punk and Roman that I actually think they'll not do it 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, TheScarlettChad said:

They're making it so obvious Heyman betrays both Punk and Roman that I actually think they'll not do it 

Depends how involved the Rock gets, Heyman aligning with Seth would be proper Ketamine booking. 

Of course, this does all lay the table for Brock Lesnar to come back...

[d-d-d-dAz]

I think Heyman turns on Punk and reaffirms his love for the Tribal Chief, based on the current booking.

Get Roman back to being a smug, superior dickhead. People were cheering for him anyway, so no reason he can't go back to straddling that line between heel and face.

In other news, every fibre of my being wants Karrion Kross to be good in the ring. He's got everything else, and I desperately want to like him and see him do well.

[JNLister]

3 hours ago, FLips said:

Tried giving this a watch as it was the go-home show but ended up fast forwarding most of it.
I wouldn’t ever accuse WWE of being subtle but I remember the Bloodline stuff at least treating us with a little bit of respect. Michael Cole screaming “IT’S THE SHIELD CHAIR, IT’S REMINISCENT OF THE CHAIR TO THE BACK THAT ENDED THE SHIELD” is just bottom of the barrel, treat your viewers like thickos shit.

I had the same reaction, but it's worth remembering the Shield break-up/chairshot was 11 years ago. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the majority of the current audience wasn't watching then.

[FLips]

20 minutes ago, JNLister said:

I had the same reaction, but it's worth remembering the Shield break-up/chairshot was 11 years ago. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the majority of the current audience wasn't watching then.

Aye but they already did this spot less than a year ago at Wrestlemania. I get what you mean though but I wish they'd give us some credit.

[Ro_y Disco]

Explaining the relevance of a spot on commentary is like explaining a joke. It takes away for those that get it, and to those that don't it still means very little. 

[RedTwoster]

9 hours ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

The thing is though Flipper that the American audience is as thick as mince. If you watch any of their stuff it's a recap every 5 minutes, a recap before the break, a recap after. They have to be constantly reminded of stuff to get them to pay any attention, and first and foremost for all its global ambition WWE is an American TV product. 

That’s very much a Netflix thing in general, to be fair - with characters in multiple shows and films repeatedly stating what’s going on and what they’re doing to keep people who are watching whilst on their phones in the loop. It’s bloody annoying.

[Mr_Danger]

11 hours ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

 

Having Fenix on Smacky-D has really highlighted for me how shite Penta is. Fenix looks a million dollars and Penta looks a million pesos. Penta looks all wobbly bobbly whenever he does any of the lucha stuff and Fenix looks as sure footed as a cat. 

 

From what I’ve seen of both It’s Penta that has undeniable charisma and Fenix who doesn’t look like he’s about to fall over or consistently stand in awkward positions. Should team them up or something.

[Supremo]

“The winner of this match will define the future of our industry…”

Seth Rollins, just saying words at this point.

Between Seth talking absolute shit, and Roman and Punk recreating the Jealous Girlfriend Meme, this has got to be one of the worst built Mania Main Events since Brock and Roman had that tug-of-war over the belt.

WWE at its worst too, where nobody acts like a human who lives in the real world. Favours don’t work like this, lads. You can’t tell someone you were going to stamp on their head, but didn’t, so now they owe you a favour. Have any of you ever existed in reality?

Whole show felt like this. A complete dumpster fire at this point, so they seemingly just gave up. A two and a half hour shrug. Damage is done. They’ve written ourselves into so many corners, everything is tangled in bullshit knots, so they threw out a nothing show. A real sense of, “let’s get Wrestlemania over with.”

They aren’t mad about the online reaction though.

Please don’t put in the newspaper that they’re mad about the online reaction.

Quite funny. Same company who has built Cody vs. Cena, their Wrestlemania Main Event, exclusively around meta bullshit that only internet fans can understand. But the moment the tide turns and people start criticising your product? Shove your fruit baskets up your arse!

I give it six months.

 

Edited April 16, 2025 by Supremo

[Devon Malcolm]

At least Iyo Sky didn't get piefaced this week, Julius Creed and Rey Mysterio had one of the matches of the year and Liv Morgan continues to be the miracle redemption story of this company.

If you sat through the whole of Finn Balor and Penta then fair play to you, you hate yourself more than I do. Penta is shit. You all told me otherwise and now you all owe me an apology like I gave you when I told you the triple threat wasn't happening. Fair's fair.

[Supremo]

1 hour ago, Supremo said:

I give it six months.

 

Didn’t even take six hours.

“Stop saying means things about me. Consume brainlessly and give us your money.”

This man is cracking.

[d-d-d-dAz]

2 hours ago, Supremo said:

Didn’t even take six hours.

“Stop saying means things about me. Consume brainlessly and give us your money.”

This man is cracking.

It never fails to amaze me how people in these positions don't seem to know what a fan is.

A 'fan' is super passionate and hyper critical. It's basically the definition. They care. He's not asking people to be fans, he's actually asking for people to care less.

Madness.

Also, the 'social media isn't real life' is overdone to the point of it being embarrassing when people say it now. You absolutely shouldn't read into individual comments as there are far too many basket cases online, but as an overall sentiment gauge it's incredibly useful.

What's interesting is, and there's loads of research to show this is now true (moreso across entertainment than sports), hyper-digital audiences are increasingly happy to consume content solely online. So they don't go to events/cinemas etc.

There probably is an argument that these days there is a huge difference between their online audience and their live audience, but that doesn't mean sentiment isn't equally valid across both.

It's quite telling though that unlike other live event providers, WWE don't do any sort of real fan engagement post-event to get feedback on the event generally (yes facilities, but also general feedback on the quality of the event). They really aren't a fan-first business. They don't really want to have to listen in any meaningful way, which is so different to how most sports and entertainment businesses run these days.

I hate contrary crowds, but I might make an exception this weekend. I think I'd quite like it if the crowd threw a wobbler and shat all over the show.

[The Gaffer]

Last week's Smackdown and this week's Raw both had the crowd energy of the Keane/Travis supper spot at Live8 and they only really seemed to get going once prompted. Maybe he could take cues from that. 

I think in an ideal world they want the fans to be raised within the system as much as they do the performers. No outside influence, no critical media pieces, you get all your entertainment and contextualisation here within the product. Sam Roberts/Miz shrieking advocates who actually kayfabe the role of 'WWE fan'. The guy in the blue shirt and red baseball cap, times 70,000. 

One of the most negative motifs of the Vince years towards the end was that the company was in direct agitation to its most passionate fans. Crazy that Triple H is echoing it so strongly - even if it's wrapped up in his goofy Adult Humour™ way - on WrestleMania week. Especially considering the year they've had. Has the reaction elsewhere even been that bad? 

I'm all for the crowd shitting on WrestleMania just to see how they swing it. 

[LaGoosh]

Triple H is the most online person imaginable. When things are going well he can't stop banging on about all the social media impressions, "internet fans" or whatever so it's hilarious seeing him having a paddy and that the internet isn't real when people aren't falling at his feet telling him how great he is. The most delicate, thin skinned man alive.

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

2 minutes ago, LaGoosh said:

Triple H is the most online person imaginable. When things are going well he can't stop banging on about all the social media impressions, "internet fans" or whatever so it's hilarious seeing him having a paddy and that the internet isn't real when people aren't falling at his feet telling him how great he is. The most delicate, thin skinned man alive.

Wrestling is full of thin skinned divas but Paul really is The King.