WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 Discussion

[tiger_rick]

23 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

I don’t really understand their logic in trying to create a make-good Wrestlemania substitute out of a dead brand. Why not elevate Summerslam or something? Ram it with big matches and promote it as the ‘biggest Summerslam ever’ or something. It’s a really odd choice.

I'd imagine it's because this way they can have their cake and eat it twice. They can take Mania to Saudi and get paid, promote the hell out of SummerSlam as the biggest stadium show in the US that year and then convince the on-the-take wrestling "media" to promote WrestlePalooza or whatever they're calling it in 2 years as a Mania level show and program it opposite AEW.

[mim731]

8 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

I'd imagine it's because this way they can have their cake and eat it twice. They can take Mania to Saudi and get paid, promote the hell out of SummerSlam as the biggest stadium show in the US that year and then convince the on-the-take wrestling "media" to promote WrestlePalooza or whatever they're calling it in 2 years as a Mania level show and program it opposite AEW.

It's definitely this, 100%, and objectively it makes sense, but surely they could have found a better name than fucking WrestlePalooza. I understand the reference to the festival (and the ECW show of the same name) but it's so dumb. Call it WrestleFest or resurrect one of the six million old PPV names they have available other than something that sounds like it was thought up by an infant. 

[RedTwoster]

24 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

I'd imagine it's because this way they can have their cake and eat it twice. They can take Mania to Saudi and get paid, promote the hell out of SummerSlam as the biggest stadium show in the US that year and then convince the on-the-take wrestling "media" to promote WrestlePalooza or whatever they're calling it in 2 years as a Mania level show and program it opposite AEW.

You’re definitely right, but if that’s the plan, they needed to do something further to make it feel big. Make it the show on which John Cena retires, or Bill Goldberg or something - that might involve a running it at a different point of the year, but if you want to establish this as a big show, you need that extra something.

It’s possibly just another example of them taking their fans for granted, assuming that by simply saying something is significant, it becomes significant as the audience will buy whatever shit they’re fed. 

[The Reverend]

Even running it as an outdoor show (which the name sort of conjures up for me) ala those WCW Bash at the Beach, Road Wild events would at least make it a bit different, and give it its own identity. 

[Infinity Land]

They were rushing to get out of the Peacock deal to get the next money bag. If they could have timed things for Summerslam i'm sure they would have loved it. They've had to concoct an event as there wasn't really a good landing spot to debut in US primtime for ESPN. Crown Jewel is in Australia, SNME commitments to Peacock and Survivor Series being across Thanksgiving weekend.

Of course they're going to hype the idea this could be a Wrestlemania level event.  As for why Indiana? WWE did the deal for Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, and Summerslam with other events. The Rumble happened this year but it's not obvious when the next two will take place. Maybe a deal was struck to keep the state happy. 

[NeverYield]

Just seen ESPNs article rating the proceedings 'underwhelming', and giving the overall grade a C. I would love to have seen HHHs face after that.

Well, WWE need to stop patting themselves on the back, and actually get back to decent booking and effort in their weekly product.

Edited September 22, 2025 by NeverYield

[JLM]

On 9/21/2025 at 9:24 PM, Harry Wiseau said:

 

 

The so called EMF friendly technology didn't help Jey Uso when he bladdered himself with the chair bouncing it off whichever Brons back it was. EMF friendly? Unbelievable.

So many missed opportunities with this. They definitely should have had a ref stoppage due to EMF in one of the the unprotected matches to help sell the dangers of bad frequencies. Or have a Bron tear off the EMF protection during the EMF-friendly match, then one of the Usos starts puking the black goo like he'd been Papa Shango'd. They had a chance to use their platform to educate people on this issue and they blew it. 

 

Edited September 22, 2025 by JLM

[AshC]

Problem with any EMF match is you run the risk of it being... well, implausible.

[Supremo]

On 9/22/2025 at 10:16 AM, digforvictory said:

I listened to a review of both shows by John Pollock and Wai Ting and Wai's description of the opening made me go and watch it. It really is ridiculous at this point.

You have a new WWE signature at the start of the show voiced by Triple H, then a WWE/ESPN retrospective video package voiced by Triple H, then an in ring promo by Triple H and then Pat McAfee arrives at the arena and who runs up behind him to get more screen time and let everyone know they're great pals? Why it's Triple H ! 

His ego is fucking out of control. 

It was extremely funny to watch Hunter promise a huge show in the lead up, welcoming us in the opening promo to, “the final form of sports and entertainment,” only to deliver the dullest, most lifeless show since he took over. A completely skippable, nothing-happening pile of shit.

This was a bad show. Really bad. The type of show where you start wondering if the boom ever really happened. The only lasting memories of how hot they once were is the endless self-congratulatory circle jerking. Hunter wanking himself off for the first fifteen minutes. Stephanie going into the Hall of Fame. It’s quite funny that The Observer reported that people in WWE use the nickname, “Snowman,” for Tony Khan because no matter how much coke Tony does, it pales in comparison to how much this lot fill their nostrils with their own farts.

It’s crazy, really. Even at their worst, the one thing WWE could always do was deliver these big shows whenever they moved to a new network. Crazy returns. Wild surprises. Big angles. Artificial life. This had none of that. Frankly, grading it a, “C,” is extremely generous.

Opening segment featuring Brock Lesnar, introduced by Paul Heyman, commentated on by Pat McAfee. Grossest, slimiest, smelliest, MAGA-riest moment in company history. Even if we ignore all the horribleness involved, it’s incredible how quickly they ran out of ideas and we’re right back to Brock just squashing guys. You could argue it’s a waste, but Brock smashing Cena is almost fitting for how much they fucked up this retirement run. Only thing funnier is that I’m genuinely convinced it’s leading to Brock vs. Roman again. Then. Now. Forever. Vince McMahon is one hundred percent at least consulting on this creative and you cannot convince me otherwise.

Also, Brock’s new shit hair completely undermines whatever they’re trying to achieve. Looks like what would happen if, “Hey Arnold!” became Red Hulk before his heart exploded. Fuck off, football head!

Women’s World Title match was the only thing worth watching. Otherwise this was a show straight out of 2019. It’s like directly competing with AEW is Hunter’s kryptonite. They humiliated him in the Wednesday Night War, he went on this hugely successful run, and now he’s back to shitting the bed as soon as he goes after them again. It was not a good look putting this show against All Out. Similar to Evolution and Saturday Night’s Main Event going against All In, it just emphasised all the negatives and really hammered home how much they’ve nosedived creatively. I know the optics and metrics are completely different, and they’re in the Fuck All Matters Era, but choosing to counter-program with this product would be like Vince choosing to go head-to-head with Nitro in 95/96, despite only having the creative chops to come up with TL Hopper and Salvatore Sincere. You’re starting a fight whilst firing blanks.

On the plus side, at least CM Punk continued his Alan Partridge jacket lore.

Edited September 24, 2025 by Supremo