Does Anyone Watch Wrestling? (WWE, AEW, TNA, NWA, etc)

[Sanji Himura]

YES! YES! YES! for Daniel Bryan .

However, I hope WWE will know how to eliminate him right if he competes (I doubt he'll win), otherwise the fans will riot again.

I can watch the PPV on WWE Network since its School Holidays but I really don't know how to sign up for the free month trial as it just takes me to the 9.99 payment sign up

The free month is for new subscribers only.

 

[Com Fox]

The free month is for new subscribers only.

I would be a new subscriber. I have yet to sign up for the Network.

 

[Eva]

I would be a new subscriber. I have yet to sign up for the Network.

It's a safeguard so that if you forget to unsubscribe from it, they can begin charging you.

 

[Com Fox]

Curious, before we start the first PPV event on the year, what do you guys think is the best PPV of each year you've experienced in WWE.

I started watching in 2008 but I did go back to Survivor Series 2002 - 2007 PPVs.

2002: Survivor Series
2003: Summerslam
2004: Royal Rumble
2005: New Year's Revolution
2006: New Year's Revolution
2007: Cyber Sunday
2008: Summerslam (best PPV)
2009: No Way Out
2010: TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
2011: Elimination Chamber
2012: No Way Out
2013: Payback
2014: Elimination Chamber & Money in the Bank
2015: Wrestlemania 31

Since my favourite match type is the Elimination Chamber match, there is a bit of bias towards the PPVs with an Elimination Chamber .

and just for fun, my least favourite PPVs:

2003: Royal Rumble
2004: None
2005: Armageddon
2006: No Way Out
2007: No Mercy
2008: Unforgiven (it was a tough choice because I liked most of the matches, but the Main Event felt really cheap)
2009: Summerslam
2010: Over the Limit & Fatal - 4 - Way
2011: Wrestlemania XXVII, Over the Limit, Capital Punishment, Vengeance & Survivor Series
2012: Night of Champions
2013: Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania 29, Extreme Rules, Night of Champions & Battleground
2014: Royal Rumble, Battleground, Hell in a Cell
2015: Royal Rumble, Fastlane, Extreme Rules, Summerslam, Night of Champions, Hell in a Cell, Survivor Series & TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs

 

[MUSC4EVER]

So here is the final card for tonight...

Kick-Off Show

Royal Rumble qualifying match
Dudley Boyz v The Ascension v Jack Swagger & Mark Henry v Damien Sandow & Darren Young

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Day (c) v The Usos

WWE intercontinental Championship-Last Man Standing match
Dean Ambrose (c) v Kevin Owens

WWE Divas Championship
Charlotte (c, with Ric Flair) v Becky Lynch

WWE United States Championship
Alberto Del Rio (c) v Kalisto

WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Royal Rumble match
Confirmed participants....
Roman Reigns (c), Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan, Luke Harper, The Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, Stardust, Curtis Axel, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, R-Truth, Titus O'Neil & Neville.

No real News on AJ Styles or The Bullet Club, they haven't signed any contract with the WWE yet but that can change quickly, TNA tried to sign them...

One man who made his WWE debut this week is Austin Aries, the former TNA World Champion made his debut at a NXT taping this week.

 

[Com Fox]

I ain't excited for this PPV. Nothing smarks my interest except for the Intercontinental Championship match.

 

[NW48]

I like the whole defending the championship in the Royal Rumble idea. Even though it puts the WWE in a creative corner, it hasn't really been done before, which is good.

How do I see it panning out, the best way I think to start it off, is to have the #2 entry eliminate Reigns it'll build the excitement by confirming a new champion. Who #2 is, is down to whoever needs the push, but it could also be the holder of the golden shovel, Triple H. I'd also like to see AJ Styles show up, and make the final 5, along with a returning Undertaker. Throw in Kevin Owens and Triple H also, and a shock entry of Daniel Bryan, because he was always going to show up for this, injury or not.

 

[Com Fox]

I like the whole defending the championship in the Royal Rumble idea. Even though it puts the WWE in a creative corner, it hasn't really been done before, which is good.

How do I see it panning out, the best way I think to start it off, is to have the #2 entry eliminate Reigns it'll build the excitement by confirming a new champion. Who #2 is, is down to whoever needs the push, but it could also be the holder of the golden shovel, Triple H. I'd also like to see AJ Styles show up, and make the final 5, along with a returning Undertaker. Throw in Kevin Owens and Triple H also, and a shock entry of Daniel Bryan, because he was always going to show up for this, injury or not.

I honestly think this put WWE more in a predictable corner, ever since The S.H.I.E.L.D were created they always wanted Roman Reigns to be the man and make him look strong.

Also Bryan didn't show up for the 2014 Rumble match.

 

[NW48]

honestly think this put WWE more in a predictable corner, ever since The S.H.I.E.L.D were created they always wanted Roman Reigns to be the man and make him look strong.

That's just WWE and their preference to big, bodybuilding guys. That's why people like Owens didn't get the push he deserved and CM Punk also. And while that is happening, ratings will continue to decline. We, the viewer, love an underdog, and Reigns isn't one no matter how much you try. Someone like Owens or Bryan are.

Also Bryan didn't show up for the 2014 Rumble match.

I haven't got a clue. 2006-WM29 is when I watched WWE. Only been interested in seeing what happens now as the Undertaker is closing in on the end of his career.

And the WWE can use the Undertaker going on one last title run to their advantage. We all love the Undertaker.

 

[GTFan24]

Something inside of me tells me that either reigns wins or a surprise face wins tonight

 

[Com Fox]

That's just WWE and their preference to big, bodybuilding guys. That's why people like Owens didn't get the push he deserved and CM Punk also. And while that is happening, ratings will continue to decline. We, the viewer, love an underdog, and Reigns isn't one no matter how much you try. Someone like Owens or Bryan are.


I haven't got a clue. 2006-WM29 is when I watched WWE. Only been interested in seeing what happens now as the Undertaker is closing in on the end of his career.

And the WWE can use the Undertaker going on one last title run to their advantage. We all love the Undertaker.

Yes but part-time champions has always been a bad move. You only see them wrestle on PPVs, making them not look like fighting champions and when Brock Lesnar was Champion, we didn't see him for 3 Months with 4 PPVs in his title reign haven't had the Championship defended.

 

[Sanji Himura]

That's just WWE and their preference to big, bodybuilding guys. That's why people like Owens didn't get the push he deserved and CM Punk also. And while that is happening, ratings will continue to decline. We, the viewer, love an underdog, and Reigns isn't one no matter how much you try. Someone like Owens or Bryan are.

Part of that is that Reigns is The Rock's cousin.

 

[Liquid]

They'll never top this Rumble but it's the one show I will always watch. Let's see how it unfolds.

 

[Terronium-12]

Yes but part-time champions has always been a bad move. You only see them wrestle on PPVs, making them not look like fighting champions and when Brock Lesnar was Champion, we didn't see him for 3 Months with 4 PPVs in his title reign haven't had the Championship defended.

I've seen this opinion stated often and I'm not sure I understand it. When Ambrose was U.S. Champion he hardly defended and he's full-time. Seth Rollins really only defended at PPV's and he's full-time. Del Rio... I honestly can't even remember the last time he defended the title.

Hell, to be perfectly honest primarily defending the title at a paid attraction is nothing remotely new. The only difference is now that proper build-ups are so far and few between you take notice to absences of any kind more now than you ever would have before.

I don't know where the problem actually lies, whether it be with the way things are managed (story, pacing, etc) or something else, but I'd wager it has very little to do with anyone being a part-timer. At least not entirely if it plays a factor at all.

 

[Com Fox]

I've seen this opinion stated often and I'm not sure I understand it. When Ambrose was U.S. Champion he hardly defended and he's full-time. Seth Rollins really only defended at PPV's and he's full-time. Del Rio... I honestly can't even remember the last time he defended the title.

Hell, to be perfectly honest primarily defending the title at a paid attraction is nothing remotely new. The only difference is now that proper build-ups are so far and few between you take notice to absences of any kind more now than you ever would have before.

I don't know where the problem actually lies, whether it be with the way things are managed (story, pacing, etc) or something else, but I'd wager it has very little to do with anyone being a part-timer. At least not entirely if it plays a factor at all.

I honestly don't agree with Ambrose's reign either, though at least he competed in matches in weekly shows.

Part-timer champions don't compete in any match whatsoever on Raw and Smackdown, it hardly takes them as real champions. Sure Seth only defended on PPVs but at least he competed almost weekly.

The problem with Champions like Brock Lesnar and when Dean Ambrose was U.S Champion was it makes the Championship very forgettable. Were we thinking of the U.S Championship when Dean Ambrose was champion? Were we thinking of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during Hell in a Cell - TLC in 2014? You tend to forget these titles exist because the Championships don't play apart in any story.

I think the real issue is that the titles weren't defended on a monthly basis and stories didn't involve the championship. You only enccourage this issue with Part-Time Champions unless you keep it very brief like The Rock's WWE Championship reign but there is a problem with him only appearing on Raw and Smackdown to do nothing but talk which gets really boring and no one really cares about your match at Elimination Chamber.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Del Rio... I honestly can't even remember the last time he defended the title.

Del Rio last defended that title on January 11th on RAW, where he lost against Kalisto. He won it back the next night during the Smackdown Tapings.

 

[Com Fox]

Not to mention he defended the Championship at TLC and will be defending the title at the Royal Rumble.

I don't mind titles only being defended on PPVs, it is a good way to sell PPVs, but when you skip PPVs (Brock Lesnar) or spend Weekly Shows just talking and not doing any matches (The Rock) it hardly gets me investment in the Championship and makes it lose meaning.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Not to mention he defended the Championship at TLC and will be defending the title at the Royal Rumble.

I don't mind titles only being defended on PPVs, it is a good way to sell PPVs, but when you skip PPVs (Brock Lesnar) or spend Weekly Shows just talking and not doing any matches (The Rock) it hardly gets me investment in the Championship and makes it lose meaning.

Agreed, but there is such a thing as building for a match at a PPV, which if I recall was what The Rock was doing and failed, and just being off TV just for the sake of being off TV like Lesnar. Now granted, Lesnar was seeking at the time his MMA career that didn't take off while he had the belt, but the fact that after he lost it he had a fantastic feud with The Undertaker proves that he can be a decent full-time champion if given the right tools.

 

[Terronium-12]

Part-timer champions don't compete in any match whatsoever on Raw and Smackdown, it hardly takes them as real champions. Sure Seth only defended on PPVs but at least he competed almost weekly.

That's hardly their faults, or at least so I think.

Brock's current contract has him fulfilling more wrestling dates than he ever has since returning, so him not having an actual match on RAW or Smackdown is pretty much left up to Vince.

Were we thinking of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during Hell in a Cell - TLC in 2014? You tend to forget these titles exist because the Championships don't play apart in any story.

You mean the title that was taken from John Cena in a squash match some 4 months prior? Yeah, I'd like to think that was still pretty fresh on people's minds.

I don't mind titles only being defended on PPVs, it is a good way to sell PPVs, but when you skip PPVs (Brock Lesnar) or spend Weekly Shows just talking and not doing any matches (The Rock) it hardly gets me investment in the Championship and makes it lose meaning.

If we're being honest, the title lost whatever meaning it had long before either of them grabbed it. If anything, Rock and Brock (moreso Brock) having the title is what gave the belt credence in the first place.

It was the same idea that served Cena and Bryan getting the US and Intercontinental titles: to bring credibility back to the titles. Did it work? I'd say so but look where we are with both those titles now. It isn't who has the title, it's how things are built around them. Fighting every night isn't going to fix that. Defending the title every night isn't going to fix that.

The problem is story and the incredible lack thereof.

 

[Eva]

I'm gonna admit the only reason I'm watching tonight is to see if (hopefully) Styles or Bryan show up. I haven't watched Raw since the first one after the New Year, but YouTube is an amazing invention so I haven't missed out. But if that IC match is as good as both of them have the ability to make it, and a few surprises actually get me to go "Oh my 🤬 god!" Then the $9.99 is well spent. That and NXT being NXT makes it all worth it too.

 

[Com Fox]

That's hardly their faults, or at least so I think.

Brock's current contract has him fulfilling more wrestling dates than he ever has since returning, so him not having an actual match on RAW or Smackdown is pretty much left up to Vince.

My complaints about Part-Time Champions do involve a lot around Vince so I sort of agree here.

You mean the title that was taken from John Cena in a squash match some 4 months prior? Yeah, I'd like to think that was still pretty fresh on people's minds.

I totally forgot that happened, but while you have Cena and Ambrose facing The Authority and Bray Wyatt was anyone still focusing on Brock Lesnar and the WWE Title or did people just forget about it?

If we're being honest, the title lost whatever meaning it had long before either of them grabbed it. If anything, Rock and Brock (moreso Brock) having the title is what gave the belt credence in the first place.

It was the same idea that served Cena and Bryan getting the US and Intercontinental titles: to bring credibility back to the titles. Did it work? I'd say so but look where we are with both those titles now. It isn't who has the title, it's how things are built around them. Fighting every night isn't going to fix that. Defending the title every night isn't going to fix that.

The problem is story and the incredible lack thereof.

I completely disagree here, before The Rock was CM Punk which had a pretty good reign throughout and also had some of the best storylines in 2012, before him was the Cena/Del Rio/CM Punk feud triangle over the title and I might be in the minority but I thought Del Rio was decent as a Champion. Then you had The Miz which wasn't all that bad, it only got bad when he feuded with John Cena. Rocks reign was completely useless as it was just a selling point for John Cena and pretty much buried CM Punk (also him only saying he'll kick 🤬 instead of actually kicking 🤬 on Raw and Smackdown hardly gets me keened). Brock Lesnar made the title forgettable for 3 months since he no showed those 3 months. Also, you can't make a good Story about the WWE Championship when its Champion doesn't even appear on TV no does the title be on the line in 4 out of 7 PPVs where he was Champion.

I never said defending the title every night was the solution (unless your John Cena apparently) fighting every night, I agree won't fix. You need a mix of Promos and fighting to hype up PPVs. Too much of one or the other will ruin the entire storyline.

Also, I say it has kinda worked with the U.S Title since Del Rio got some major heat from fans of Kalisto and Kalisto was brought in to this feud by John Cena which gave him a massive push. As for the IC Championship, remember that Bryan was injured which really halted the IC Championships progress, although, I think Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose are doing a fine job.

 

[NW48]

At this point, for someone who wants to get into watching wrestling again (racing ain't on and football is coming to a close, so I got nothing ), anyone besides Cena, Lesnar and Reigns. I'm bias though as I hate Cena and Lesnar, and Reigns seems no better.

I think this PPV is a make it or break it for WWE. They'll need to something spectacular.

 

[Eva]

At this point, for someone who wants to get into watching wrestling again (racing ain't on and football is coming to a close, so I got nothing ), anyone besides Cena, Lesnar and Reigns. I'm bias though as I hate Cena and Lesnar, and Reigns seems no better.

I think this PPV is a make it or break it for WWE. They'll need to something spectacular.

As much as they've been throwing around Goldberg's name recently, I kinda hope he shows up, though there are a ton of other people I'd much rather see as a surprise.

 

[Ken]

I wanna see the Bullet Club!

 

[Liquid]

though there are a ton of other people I'd much rather see as a surprise.

Spoiler: Twitter Rumour

There's a 143 1/3% chance of Big Poppa Pump being there. No FAT ASSES allowed.

 

[NW48]

As much as they've been throwing around Goldberg's name recently, I kinda hope he shows up, though there are a ton of other people I'd much rather see as a surprise.

If Goldberg returned, I'd start watching again. Hopefully the book him better this time round if he does come back.

I'd like Stone Cold, but he won't with his injuries, Razor Ramon has been floated too.

I wanna see the Bullet Club!

Finn Balor and the Undertaker would be awesome to see.

 

[Ken]

Spoiler: Twitter Rumour

There's a 143 1/3% chance of Big Poppa Pump being there. No FAT ASSES allowed.

Spoiler

AJ Styles is also backstage.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Spoiler

Mark Henry and Jack Swagger secure the two spots by way of the tag match.

 

[Ken]

I wish I could watch. I haven't missed a RR in nearly ten years. Oh well.

 

[Sanji Himura]

This apparently slipped my notice:

Spoiler: According to PWInsider

There was a lot of internal talk this week about WWE using their current roster to make up tonight's 30-man Rumble main event, instead of relying on several surprise appearances or Legends, according to PWInsider. The idea is that since the match is for the WWE World Heavyweight Title, it wouldn't make much sense for surprises to get title shots. That does not mean there couldn't be a few returns tonight.

Spoiler: AJ Styles

AJ Styles is currently in Florida, but is not confirmed for the Rumble, according to WrestlingINC. He may debut on tomorrow's RAW.

Spoiler: Royal Rumble PPV Results

- Dean Ambrose wins the Intercontinental title by knocking Kevin Owens through a double stacked table.

- The New Day retains the Tag Titles against the Usos after a blind tag by Kofi distracted Jimmy.

- Kalisto wins the United States Championship after forcing Alberto Del Rio into an exposed turnbuckle.

- Charlotte Retains the Divas title by way of a distraction by Ric Flair.

Next Match: The Royal Rumble Match (See second spoiler below).

Spoiler: Royal Rumble Match

By Order of Entry:
01. Roman Reigns
02. Rusev
03. AJ Styles
04. Tyler Breeze
05. Curtis Axel
06. Chris Jericho
07. Kane
08. Goldust
09. Ryback
10. Kofi Kingston
11. Titus O'Neil
12. R-Truth
13. Luke Harper
14. Stardust
15. The Big Show
16. Neville
17. Braun Strowman
18. Kevin Owens
19. Dean Ambrose
20. Sami Zayn
21. Erick Rowan
22. Mark Henry
23. Brock Lesnar
24. Jack Swagger
25. The Miz
26. Alberto Del Rio
27. Bray Wyatt
28. Dolph Ziggler
29. Sheamus
30. Triple H

Order of Elimination:

01. Rusev
02. Tyler Breeze
03. Curtis Axel
04. Goldust
05. R-Truth
06. Kofi Kingston (by way of Michael Cole)
07. Titus O'Neil
08. Kane
09. The Big Show
10. AJ Styles
11. Kevin Owens
12. Neville
13. Stardust
14. Mark Henry
15. Sami Zayn
16. Erick Rowan
17. Jack Swagger
18. Luke Harper
19. Braun Strowman
20. Brock Lesnar
21. Alberto Del Rio
22. Dolph Ziggler
23. Bray Wyatt
24. Chris Jericho
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
Rumble Winner: