Paid Members FLips Posted January 3 Paid Members Posted January 3 That bottom poster is dog shit. Quote
Paid Members Supremo Posted January 3 Paid Members Posted January 3 (edited) I’d love them to go nuts with the Stranger Things tie in. Like one of those Halloween or Christmas episodes, but with a bit of actual effort beyond the usual props and inevitable comedic Street Fight. Completely revamp the set and ring with an 80s/Upside Down aesthetic. Make it really stand out from every other episode of Raw. Jackie Remond rebranding her backstage gossip as, “Scoops Ahoy.” Penta and Rey Mysterio wrestling in mad Vecna-inspired gear. Bron Breakker giving one of the cast members a Spear. Pay off Bron begging for the 2011 version of CM Punk by having Millie Bobby Brown shave Punk’s head. “He’s our friend and he’s CRAZY!” Steve Harrington singing CM Punk to the ring with that, “when I’m back in Chicago I feel it,” song If nothing else, surely they create a video of the cast singing over a montage of the CM Punk and Seth Rollins feud. Edited January 3 by Supremo Quote
Paid Members I Bent My Wookie Posted January 3 Paid Members Posted January 3 I worry how much I enjoy the idea of Djo singing Punk to the ring now. Also if the cast is there in full not a chance Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer will be dating by the time she's spent an evening around Bron Breaker. Steiner maths just doesn't have him in that equation. Quote
Paid Members Supremo Posted January 3 Paid Members Posted January 3 Does David Harbour love to have fun? Yeah, maybe a bit too much. Quote
Paid Members Arch Stanton Posted January 4 Paid Members Posted January 4 Page 619 of the Raw thread! Booyaka! Booyaka! Quote
Paid Members Weezenal Posted January 4 Paid Members Posted January 4 Pussy 15 hours ago, Supremo said: Does David Harbour love to have fun? Yeah, maybe a bit too much. Pussy Palace on a Pole. Quote
Paid Members mim731 Posted January 4 Paid Members Posted January 4 32 minutes ago, Chico Torres said: The two worst shows on Netflix collide! I for one hope they do more WWE crossovers. Emily in NXT? Quote
WyattSheepMask Posted January 5 Posted January 5 On 1/3/2026 at 7:35 PM, Kamran said: Probably on my own here, but I’d be furious if they cancelled a showing of Back To The Future in place of old man Phil moving like he’s running through custard Quote
Members SuperBacon Posted January 5 Members Posted January 5 18 minutes ago, WyattSheepMask said: Probably on my own here, but I’d be furious if they cancelled a showing of Back To The Future in place of old man Phil moving like he’s running through custard Rhodes? Where we're going we don't need Rhodes. Quote
Paid Members RedTwoster Posted January 5 Paid Members Posted January 5 On 1/3/2026 at 7:35 PM, Kamran said: This is such an odd poster. It looks like they’re going on a first date, and aren’t entirely sure whether or not they should be holding hands. If this isn’t AI generated I’d be very surprised. Quote
Paid Members Kamran Posted January 5 Paid Members Posted January 5 (edited) 17 minutes ago, RedTwoster said: This is such an odd poster. It looks like they’re going on a first date, and aren’t entirely sure whether or not they should be holding hands. If this isn’t AI generated I’d be very surprised. When I first saw it on a Netflix sports twitter account, Imy first thought was that maybe it was just a fan account sharing a fan poster. However I noticed they had credited a graphic designer from Argentina for it and having looked into the Netflix Sports account, it is an official one. I noticed WWE shared the image today too. The artwork definitely has an AI feel to it, he's got another design for Punk/Breaker here too. Edited January 5 by Kamran Quote
Paid Members I Bent My Wookie Posted January 6 Paid Members Posted January 6 (edited) So becuase I don't really have any real life mates that much into wrestling I tend to chat to myself while watching shows. Tried this evening just doing live watch along thoughts throughout the show. I'll spoiler tag it as its quite long and just as its just finished so in case anyone is watching on catch up right after. Spoiler Kabuki Warriors vs Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley: * Thought they missed a trick not having any ST entrances with Ripley * I'm not hating Corey Graves as much as I did during 24/25. Using in ring knowledge to mention what Sane should have been doing in the Boston Crab to make it more effective. Nice when the colour guy isn't just loud and annoying. * Kairi Sane is fantastic. Bumps like a maniac, technically the way she slows things down against Sky to try and stop her explosiveness and then speeds up to try and out pace Ripley. Even when pinning Ripley by trying to press her full weight on Ripley rather than a regular pinfall. * Was a fan of playing up Sky's back injury throughout really well until she throwing out arching German Suplex's with no pain. Adrenaline I guess? * Result made sense, there's much more heel teams for challengers and I wouldn't mind seeing Vaquer vs Asuka for the next Women's title program. In Between Observations: * The three teens in oversized suits sat behind commentary look so out of place. * WWE can always do a promo vid, the Breakker vs Punk build up was done brilliantly, the music was a perfet choice as was the side by side shots. For something that wasn't really grabbing my attention, it got me interested in the main event. * I am hoping those boos Gunther got appearing on screen was real, because it sounded nuclear as soon as he showed up. Always love the one camera shots they've been doing for a while, always feels a little more realistic. And him doing the Cena towel pose makes me love him more. * Bully Gunther interrupting AJ every time he tried to talk was great but you gotta know when AJ comes wearing gloves he's here for a fight. No sleeves, but gloves up. If Gunther is the one to retire Styles too, his hate is gonna be Reigns level after he beat Undertaker. Becky Lynch vs Maxxine Dupri: * I adore The Wonder Years but Lynch's new theme has taken a while to grow on me but I do still prefer her old theme. * Stranger Things fan cam for worst moment of 2026 award. Cringe compared to when its done well at sporting events but gusss it was better than 3 minutes of Lynch walking round the ring using her amateur dramatics facials. Speaking of amateur dramatics, Ivy Nile was there too. * AJ vs Gunther in Germany? Potentially the only place on earth Gunther is getting cheered, expecting him to batter AJ and put him on the shelf leading up to maybe AJ costing him the Rumble and rematch at WrestleMania. * Commercial break like 3 minutes into the match, it does really feel like they produce matches just for TikToks and Instagram Reels. Before that I was just about to write how I've been impressed by how much Maxxine has improved in 2025. I'd say of the two I'd compare, Maxxine has the edge on in ring quality, whereas Harley Cameron is more charismatic. Maybe there's space for both of them in my UKFF awards voting? * Maxxine throws pretty good forearms, but the clotheslines need some work. Not sure what the shoulder blade clipper type move was meant to be but a little work and it looks quite unique. The premise of it should hurt. * Great sell on the DDT and Lynch does play the neurotic having a breakdown facials better than the cocky mugging off. * First time I was got by a 2 count on the crossbody, thought she may steal it again. * Dupri's inexperience was well played into the pinfall. All the way through she failed to grapevine which as Angle showed throughout his career is the only way to get someone to submit and when she finally did, too close to the ropes against someone who'll clearly cheat. But it should lead into what I somewhat expect will be a submission/I Quit finale between them. In Between Observations: * Hour in and very little Stranger Things bar a few stage settings. Way to milk something without actually using it. *Je'Von Evans and Oba Femi both heading to the main roster is great but it feels a bit early for Evans. It also makes me wonder if Femi is dropping the title quickly. Evans I worry just will end up stuck in the midcard when he looks too small compared to a lot of the roster. * Yay more Unreal... (and I never thought I'd agree with Paul Heyman) annoying that they've again made a great promo for it but we know it'll be bloody awful. * Uso's music being Jey's will always make them get a great reception. Who'd have thought the sons of Rikishi would make their entire career off a catchy theme song and dance? Run it back. * Stephanie Vaquer in a walking boot and the first question is "what now?", surely it is "are we about to have another vacant belt?" * About time they played up to Raquel being a monster more than they have. Interested if that'll lead up as a way to fully write off Vaquer or play her up more as a champion fighting against the odds. * More convinced than ever the three teens in oversized suits are gonna be replaced by some Stranger Things actors by the end of the show. * Always amusing when we go from two Hispanic wrestlers speaking their native language when hating each other to two Hispanic wrestlers talking English so the audience can totally understand what's happening... Lyra Valkyria vs Liv Morgan: * Liv Morgan is my ultimate wrestling crush. * Corey Graves calling Michael Cole a "Mouthbreeder" was not what I had on my bingo card. * The boston crab in the turnbuckle looked pretty cool. Like an updated tarantula but less clunky to land well. * Glad the commentators are trying to remind us Bayley is batshit because we'd all obviously forget otherwise. * Liv using Judgement Day moves (Carlito's Backstabber, The Three Amigos) reminding us she's the boss of all of them. * Noticing more and more everyone is throwing forearms rather than absolutely shite looking punches. Is this a regular thing coming out of the PC? * Roxanne is absolutely regretting the bodysuit. Crazy Bayley may have cost Lyra again. In Between Observations: * Steiner Math reference, love how much WWE are milking a TNA reference. * Austin Theory looks like the guy that got his SIA badge to have to talk to women on a Saturday night. Logan Paul is great in ring but trying to be a WWE heel he just has go away heat. He's the guy who's lost his mates in the nightclub (they've actually left him because he's a bellend) offering to buy everyone shots because he's such a lad. * Watching it back, that slap from AJ was glorious. You just know Gunther is gonna cave his chest in next week. Bron Breakker vs CM Punk: * 4 matches tonight, 2 in ring angles and 2/3 of them being the women's roster. I think its showing how much of a miss Dominic Mysterio is that without the IC champ, they've very little they can build. Nearly the entire men's side of tonight has involved The Vision and that terrifies me that Seth will be here before the night is over. * The sign segment was almost as bad as the fan cam. * So a bit of stage props and some funky card graphics. How much did WWE promote this as a Stranger Things cross over again? * Punk is still mega over. Or at least Cult of Personality is. Trying to work out if his varsity jacket is an 80s reference. * Heyman more and more everyday looks like hes inherited all the fat celebs in LA have lost taking Ozempic. * Fans still do the "one fall" chant? Things that can fuck off in 2026. * Breakker refusing to lose eye contact through the introduction was great. Espeically as Graves incorrectly stated Punk did the same when he had his head down for a lot of it. * Ah Varsity jacket is because he's Rick Steiner. That's right dress like your mates's Da, sure he hasn't ever wanted to take a pop at him. * Learning Tree reference! Y2J is coming to save us all! * Bron hitting a power move before we "Go To Breakker" if this match is rubbish at least my rubbish jokes will cheer me up. * Unsure if Punk is just selling well or already blown up by the first break. He's also redder than an Irishman in Ibiza. * Power move. Back from Breakker. Needs to show Maxxine how to throw a clothesline. * It's a compliment to be compared to Brock Lesnar. I take it HHH still hasn't read the lawsuit? * Scraggly beard, messy hair, red blotchy skin. Punk may be getting Old Yeller'd here. Though Graves claims he can go 30 minutes fine. * They are right though, of the current crop of "The Future" Bron absolutely is a stand out, everything looks effective from him. Even launching himself at speed into the Punk clothesline. * Punk does play the desperate old veteran well, just flinging himself at a wall hoping to knock it down. * 250lbs and pulls out a standing moonsault in an ad break. Lad's an utter stud. * Breakker botch was nasty, fully landed on his bonce. Surprised they let a second go at that right after. And commentary making Punk sound like an idiot doesn't help either. Especially when they're saying he makes a mistake doing the same thing twice followed by him doing something he never really does with the tornado DDT. * Back to throwing punches. I miss forearms. They're alright but who punches someone's forehead in a fight? It's like having a Puro cheek flicking battle. * Oh good the Z-Birds have arrived. And now ~shenanigans~ as the LWO hates Greasers. * Breakker kicks out! Can they have Punk lose another title without defending it once? * That little glimpse of Punk's eyes as Bron powered out the Anaconda really had me think that also may have been it. * That table spot is gonna be all over my social media feed this week. What a guy his size can do is mental. * Punch drunk Punk luckily retaining off Breakker's over eagerness plays this old man doing all he can really well. Twice tonight the Rookies lost to the Vets from one small mistake. End Thoughts: * And we're done. No Rollins (yay) . No Jericho (YAY!). No build up at all to the Rumble. The Tag Champs have no viable contenders so they're filling promo time and your next credible challenger for Punk is trying to retire all the guys we watched in 2002 but has to get AJ next. * A fairly good show. Women's tag was very fun to watch. Liv Morgan being match fit and commentary constantly going on about Raquel being distant feels like that'll lead to something, inevitably involving Finn and Dom. * I don't mind Breakker and even Reed just not even working together but just having Heyman handle business while they Godzilla and King Kong destruct everything. Especially if that fucks off Pinky and the Brain. The payoff of those two eventually lamping each other would be great too. * Just under 2 and a half hours and so much filler though. The roster isn't even paper thin there's just nothing special about a lot. This was advertised as a Stranger Things crossover and the first RAW of 2026, it usually sees a bigger audience and we saw 16 male active roster members get live screen time (and I'm including the Creeds and Finn in that) , 1 debut vignette that didn't add much for Oba and on the women's side 11 of the women's roster (including Ivy Nile popping up). That's 28 people who have been on the show and in reality they've only really got star power there in 4 or 5 of them, the rest just are either cannon fodder, mid or treading water. I'd also be raging if I went to a 3 hour RAW that was 2 and a half and saw only 4 matches, throw in a squash over a vignette or at least build the LWO vs Vision through a tag. *Break out night for Breakker. Really showed he's gonna be a main eventer for years. Interesting to see where he goes next. A potential Rumble winner to have a crack at Cody? Would be quite a good match with Cody's ability to throw at least one oversell into every contest. * It felt like it was a bit of a celebration of the Women's division tonight. Everyone who appeared on screen to some success had their own personality and character and felt less cookie cutter than the male roster. * Don't do tie ins that are gonna get you rinsed online for how awful they are. Again its all very inane comments and conversations I had with myself while watching but I'm always fascinated by what people are thinking while watching something (and that may explain why Gogglebox is still a thing). Edited January 6 by I Bent My Wookie Quote
Paid Members Supremo Posted January 6 Paid Members Posted January 6 This week, on Whopper Watch. Just lean in the background, Austin. Make it look cool and natural. Don’t come off like the most awkward man alive, weirdly attempting to pledge your allegiance to the Nation of Domination. No man in the history of the business has ever had, “it,” less than this melt. Bron Breakker must be campaigning to always be sharing a screen with him. Instantly becomes the cooler older brother. Average show. Not the boom-killing abomination of last year’s Netflix debut, but beyond the fun opener and a couple of Title changes, not a lot to get excited about. Stranger Things aesthetic looked fantastic. Just a shame the effort seemingly stopped there. Gunther was the highlight of the show yet again. Top trolling every week. Jericho’s definitely on his way in. Adam Pearce saying, “break the walls down,” in his pre-show Twitter video, Corey Graves calling Paul Heyman, “The Learning Tree,” and everyone spamming Codebreakers and Boston Crabs all over the shop. Definitely the best case scenario for everyone involved. Spare a thought for William Regal though. As someone who definitely just cares about the necks of pro-wrestlers regardless of where they work, I expect he’ll have a post up shortly about everyone landing on their head tonight. ‘‘Twas a bad night to be vertebrae. Quote
NeverYield Posted January 6 Posted January 6 Not for me again, aside from Breakker and Punk it was another show you could easily miss. Theyre all beginning to look like cut and paste jobs. And it was hardly 'WWE x Stranger Things' was it, it was just RAW with a different theme stage and a few props. Quote
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