Dr. Alan Grant’s Royal Rumble Adventures

[SuperBacon]

24 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

Good show overall I thought although the idea of it being 2 nights is overkill.

I do agree but two rumbles does make it seem a bit longer than it should be.

They should've sacked off the tag match but that still leaves two matches that are going to run 70+ minutes, and the show did slightly drag for me as a minor moan.

[Shane O' Mac Version 2]

Is this a greater indictment of modern society that we can say "yeah Kofi's more talented, but it doesn't matter"? Drives me nuts when people are inexplicably "over" despite not having the amount of talent to back the amount of popularity. That's in and out of wrestling.

Back in the day, it was Paris Hilton and the Kardashians, making insane amounts of money despite having no discernible talent, but they somehow gained a following. The more modern day equivalent are these streamers like IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat. I've tried watching their streams to try and understand the popularity, they're just obnoxious twats that scream at a camera and kids love it. What?

Jey Uso has become almost the wrestling version of that. Now, I'm not saying Jey is talentless, I am saying his talent as a singles wrestler is wildly disproportionate to his massive popularity. These kids don't love him because he put in 10 years as a tag wrestler, they love the obnoxious YEETing. Like why?

Maybe I'm getting old, but what the fuck.

[d-d-d-dAz]

7 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

They tried bumping Kofi up the card when he worked with Orton, right? That was the closest he got to breaking out of the mid card but I barely remember ANYONE kicking up a fuss over the years that Kofi was being mistreated and should have been higher.

Kofimania caught on but it was realistically a short period of time. I do believe the result was the right one but I don't think Kofi was ever destined to be a consistent main event player.

Time will tell with Jey. Can't really compare the two while we're in the middle of one. But Jey has been consistently over in one of the top teams ever. He's then been a strong player in one of the most popular storylines ever over multiple years at this point and he's come out of it more over than ever.

I see far more in Jey to give him a chance than I ever saw in Kofi.

I think that's why when they do back a Kofi or a Jey Uso, it's quite exciting. Because no one knows where this will go or whether it will stick.

All we know is, with a huge platform, they've gone with a currently hot hand.

It could make him a made man and he'll be a main eventer forever, or he could end up having to roll over for the next guy. But it doesn't really matter, whether he makes them a load of money for ten years, or whether he makes them a load of money for a year before passing the baton to someone else to make them a load of money; it's all still money in.

I just don't can't get my head around people complaining about him winning though. They've backed the hot hand. They've done the unpredictable. They're trying to cement a star. That's what people have always wanted.

Edited February 2, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz

[d-d-d-dAz]

2 minutes ago, Shane O' Mac Version 2 said:

Is this a greater indictment of modern society that we can say "yeah Kofi's more talented, but it doesn't matter"? Drives me nuts when people are inexplicably "over" despite not having the amount of talent to back the amount of popularity. That's in and out of wrestling.

Back in the day, it was Paris Hilton and the Kardashians, making insane amounts of money despite having no discernible talent, but they somehow gained a following. The more modern day equivalent are these streamers like IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat. I've tried watching their streams to try and understand the popularity, they're just obnoxious twats that scream at a camera and kids love it. What?

Jey Uso has become almost the wrestling version of that. Now, I'm not saying Jey is talentless, I am saying his talent as a singles wrestler is wildly disproportionate to his massive popularity. These kids don't love him because he put in 10 years as a tag wrestler, they love the obnoxious YEETing. Like why?

Maybe I'm getting old, but what the fuck.

It's not real. You can't police what's over based on your idea of what's good.

If enough people like watching him, and will pay for the privilege he's good enough.

It's also worth saying - and I don't necessarily mean you - EVERY time the WWE has crowned a new babyface superstar in the past 25 years, a particular corner of the Internet has howled that they can't wrestle. Whether that was Roman or Cena before him, it always comes up. And I think it's because what hardcore fans want from wrestlers isn't necessarily the same as what the mainstream audience wants.

So maybe the Internet is wrong.

[TheScarlettChad]

He can't do Canadian destroyers and kick out at 2 and a half so he's shit. 

[FUM]

4 minutes ago, Shane O' Mac Version 2 said:

 

Is this a greater indictment of modern society that we can say "yeah Kofi's more talented, but it doesn't matter"? Drives me nuts when people are inexplicably "over" despite not having the amount of talent to back the amount of popularity. That's in and out of wrestling.

 

What is talent in wrestling? It’s not a modern society thing. Many wouldn’t consider Hulk Hogan the best actual in-ring guy but he was a worldwide superstar. You’ve never needed to be pulling in 5 star matches every week to be a top wrestler in 2025 or 1985.

[d-d-d-dAz]

At least we can all agree this is funny.

 

[Mr Butternut Squash]

It's like Kofi because it feels like a "you deserve it" pat on the back rather than a genuine main event push.

Do people really think Jey Uso is closing night one or two of Wrestlemania?

[TheScarlettChad]

2 minutes ago, Mr Butternut Squash said:

It's like Kofi because it feels like a "you deserve it" pat on the back rather than a genuine main event push.

Do people really think Jey Uso is closing night one or two of Wrestlemania?

MAIN EVENT Jey Uso, of course he will. 

[d-d-d-dAz]

4 minutes ago, Mr Butternut Squash said:

It's like Kofi because it feels like a "you deserve it" pat on the back rather than a genuine main event push.

Do people really think Jey Uso is closing night one or two of Wrestlemania?

No, he won't.

But he's probably going to win a world title at one and he probably gets more from winning the biggest Rumble to get there than a Punk or Roman or Cena.

There's 4 World Titles in the company. He doesn't need to close one of the shows to validate winning the Rumble.

Everyone's head has rolled off a hill today. Never thought I'd see the day that the Internet would be up in arms that they DIDNT put Cena over the young popular guy the fans have taken to.

Edited February 2, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz

[Shane O' Mac Version 2]

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

It's not real. You can't police what's over based on your idea of what's good.

If enough people like watching him, and will pay for the privilege he's good enough.

It's also worth saying - and I don't necessarily mean you - EVERY time the WWE has crowned a new babyface superstar in the past 25 years, a particular corner of the Internet has howled that they can't wrestle. Whether that was Roman or Cena before him, it always comes up. And I think it's because what hardcore fans want from wrestlers isn't necessarily the same as what the mainstream audience wants.

So maybe the Internet is wrong.

Yeah fair. I was never on board with "Cena can't wrestle" or "Roman can't wrestle". They weren't my favourites but I was entertained enough by watching them that I was like, "yeah I get it".

I guess it's less a workrate thing, it's more at the background of it for me- more like "why do they like this YEET shit?" Maybe I could tune it out if Jey was giving us bangers, but as it is...

I also never got Hogan, but I absolutely hated his character. Loved Austin though, and he was all kick, punch, but I found his matches EXCITING.

It's all well and good to laugh at the workrate thing and go "haha Canadian Destroyers, kickouts, 5 stars", but surely the matches should be enjoyable. And I can't enjoy them if I don't like the characters at the very least. 

3 minutes ago, FUM said:

What is talent in wrestling? It’s not a modern society thing. Many wouldn’t consider Hulk Hogan the best actual in-ring guy but he was a worldwide superstar. You’ve never needed to be pulling in 5 star matches every week to be a top wrestler in 2025 or 1985.

[mim731]

1 minute ago, Mr Butternut Squash said:

Do people really think Jey Uso is closing night one or two of Wrestlemania?

There's plenty of examples of Rumble winners not closing the show and no-one batted an eyelid. Not sure it matters that much really. 

I thought it was a good show. Women's Rumble had a few fun moments, and although I have zero interest in Charlotte winning it was decent. Ladder match and tag title bouts were fun.

Men's Rumble, I really don't have an issue with Uso winning. He's over as fuck, its an unexpected  and fresh winner and it opens up a far less predictable road to Mania. Ticks plenty of boxes and should make for exciting TV. Even if it doesn't go on last, the sight of a Mania audience "yeeting" along to a title win will be a great visual.

[Mr Butternut Squash]

I'm not up in arms at all, but I've never liked the Rumble being used to set up midcard stuff.

[Statto]

On the subject of top guys not being accepted cos they're not perceived as 5* match machines in the IWC, I'm loving all the inversions of the iconic anti-Cena signs we're getting now. 

"If Cena loses we riot", "I've Cena nuff to know he should win" etc. Makes me smile each time I see one. 

[d-d-d-dAz]

4 minutes ago, Mr Butternut Squash said:

I'm not up in arms at all, but I've never liked the Rumble being used to set up midcard stuff.

Without wanting to cast aspersions about someone's age, given my own status as one of life's aged, but I think that's you assigning the values of yesteryear onto today.

They've got 4 world Titles, a roster full of shit hot stars and two nights at Mania. What a main event is has never been more fluid.

Edited February 2, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz