WingedEagle

Lot of talk lately about UFC looking to run AT&T Stadium for McGregor/Also in December, potentially with Rousey's next fight. What boggles my mind is how WWE would commit to the building for Mania without having UFC or anything remotely competitive blocked from the building until a certain period after 32. I thought this was common practice on house shows in the past where they'd make sure competition was locked out of a building for a bit to avoid hurting sales. Who takes the heat for an oversight of this magnitude?

Yes, some people do.

I'm in the same camp, its completely meaningless. Doesn't impact my evaluation whatsoever.

Jake, Duggan & Slaughter feel well ahead of the pack. After that it unfortunately seems like we're plugging in names just to get to 5.

Agree the PWG stuff is a definite positive for him as what I've seen lately still feels fresh and fun today.

I'm honestly not sure if this is wrong. Wrestling companies have always had trouble selling the paying audience on hypotheticals. And that's wrestling companies everywhere: WrestleMania 4, the Crockett Cup, the Champions Carnival in the 1980's when Baba abandoned it entirely...there seem to be way more disappointments in tournaments than big successes. Add Survivor Series '98.

I hear you, its frustrating. I just try not to lose sight of the fact that it may in fact not be all that more insane than what I or my friends have to deal with at our offices. We're just not broadcast or covered online anywhere.

Not defending Rollins or the company here, but isn't this just the same type of office politics and games that occur at many companies? Management has favorites and will find ways t justify / protect those decisions. Tougher in sports but it happens there too.

Hero was seeking a job with the premier employer in his industry. They have certain standards for how they want applicants to present themselves. If I go on a job interview I'll also need to dress the part if I want a shot. If he can't look the way they want or convince management to overlook that because of his other skills then he's where he belongs right now.

Maybe my reading comp skills need a refresher but the uproar doesn't seem to over the use of the word fake but rather the implication that wrestling is somehow bullshit a non-contact engagement.

I like heel mohawk Sheamus better than missing a chromosome Lucky Charms Sheamus, but the guy still does nothing for me. Let him scream at Evolve crowds until his visa expires.

Prayers to his family and friends.

I saw a bunch of reviews for Ibushi/Shibata from folks who are generally on the same page as me that hailed it as a legit MOTYC so after watching last night I had to give it another go today. Shibata's stiffness and explosive intensity brought what they usually do, but this was the match where it finally clicked that I just don't dig Shibata the way a lot of NJPW fans do. I was never in camp with the Goto series or Ishii G1 from '13 being MOTY level and felt the same about the Tanahashi matches last year. He forces people to completely abandon any kind of selling that puts an absolute ceiling on my enjoyment of the match. This may read very negatively, but I want to make the point that I liked the match and thought it was pretty good despite its flaws, maybe ***3/4 level in my book, but the need for these back and forth pissing contests doesn't work with someone who can dish it out like Ishii and certainly not here with Ibushi, who's matches with Tanahashi and Styles are my 2 favorites from the G1 so far. I think Ibushi is at his best with punch-drunk selling like the Nakamura Dome match or how they worked both Styles matches this year. Shibata just seems determined to build every match around face-breaking pissing contests. The sleeper / PK finisher also feels anti-climactic after everything else dished out during the match.

I thought of saying wrestlers other than Han or Brock when starting the thread but didn't. Someone with that few matches, nevermind years, is even more of an oddball scenario. Really just curious about regular, full-time workers.

I liked his presence walking to the ring, especially when Graham managed him. Anything else worth checking out I may have missed?

From the Kyle O'Reily thread -- who can you see ranking with the fewest amount of years on their resume?

That's the one! LOVED that. Would play that for hours. That NWA edition was incredible fun for this guy as an 8 year old.

I've always enjoyed Benoit/Angle as well. They usually went too long but the Rumble doesn't drag like others and is still one I liked a ton when I watched again on the network over the last year.

Don't know about that one. Me want dirt. What's the story ? And yeah, Bull is the coolest. Add to the fact she lost tons of weight and became a MILF golfer. What's not to love about her ? (I'm a big time Aja fan, but I do think Bull was better overall) Reportedly fired due to a drug test failure for coke. DIVA!

Bull would probably make you bleed until you pass out for this. I can only hope. It'd be an honor to see if she can drag me to something watchable. Look at how many boxes she ticks off -- amazing, all-time great wrestler. All-time hair. Pretty (certainly not to all but she always looked sweet). Party girl, if the WWF firing story is legit. Golfer. Must love to drink. We'd probably have an awesome time hanging out even with the language barrier.

Very likely the top diva on my ballot.

Thanks, but that was stompers

Savage could miss out on my list.

Shoe, really enjoying your thoughts as you work through these. Looking forward to when I can finally make time to jump in on this stuff.