WingedEagle

I'm sure WWE would love to use Rousey in some fashion at next year's Mania. On the other hand, she also has a movie coming out tomorrow and loves wrestling. The timing for her was absolutely perfect, and being a fan is just the cherry on top.

I enjoyed Survivor Series & Lethal Lottery set-ups as a kid, but never found them remotely interesting as I got older or on a rewatch. They feel like an easy out when you don't want to be creative. Rumble is a great gimmick that hasn't been overdone but as the last couple years show, YMMY depending upon the booking. Its almost always a fun match and due to the suspense one of the best live watches every year. I thought MITB was a spectacular gimmick and concept at first, as it added another element to weekly TV that was previously missing. The matches aren't what they once were because we've seen it all at this point, but with the right booking (see a few days ago) its clearly still a worthwhile storyline piece. HIAC crashed and burned with the the elimination of blood and its installment as a calendar event. No real place for that or cage matches in the PG era. Which is fine, but the way they're promoted given those guidelines almost guarantees a letdown.

Rusev's gimmick was helpful early on in providing something for crowds to latch onto and was good for easy heat with the flag and music and a Putin screen cap from time to time. After that, I don't think the gimmick meant nearly as much as his work, record and how strongly he was put over everyone he ran through. There's not much you can do with that kind of gimmick that will resonate long term in 2015. Its what they come up with other than the gimmick now that his undefeated run is over (which was probably necessary unless the plan was to headline a major PPV with him challenging for the title) that will determine his lasting power. The Russia angle doesn't feel like more than an accessory at this point, more analogous to Wyatt's lantern & dimmed lights than anything else.

Definitely agree here. I get the idea that the megathreads were becoming large and unmanageable, but plenty of what went there doesn't make for much a of standalone thread. Early impression is that its as if Amazon splintered off a dozen sites and told me I need to go to a new .com for books, video games, household items, third party retailers and other small items. Ease of navigation seems to be the big loss thus far.

I think its good if Reigns gets a loud, passionate reaction, but don't think it matters much whether its a yay or boo. Apathy is the problem.

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns - Lesnar is the best fucking thing going in the business right now. If they let him do his kind of match I don't think he can produce anything less than great. - Huge kudos to Reigns who took a ridiculous beating and did the job. This should be appreciated by crowds going forward. - CASH IN. Still trying to wrap my head around it. Love the visual of Rollins with the belt at the end. Think I might've preferred it after a finish rather than interrupting the match, but it really was brilliant as this way you only have one fall, Reigns still looks like a warrior after that match, and Brock is still the fucking lord of war. a million bajillion stars. 4.5 sound right, maybe give or take a quarter on a rewatch this week. EDIT: Big kudos to them for not sticking to the formula of a babyface standing tall at the end of Mania. Shocking, awesome, original. Loved it. This show was a big win. Don't look now, but Roman Reigns has had outstanding matches on consecutive PPVs.

The place looks incredible with this lighting.

Let's see if Brock and/or a heel turn can help Reigns get past that reaction to his entrance.

10:35PM is not the time for one of the longest walks of Roman Reigns' career. Expected something more outside the box for him.

Really unhappy how long that went. Don't want Lesnar/Reigns to be rushed. Taker really needs to quit. He looked like a neighbor of mine who has two sons that are the devil incarnate, just had his knee replaced and is always walking around like Andy Dufresne after the sister got to him. Just sad.

This needs to end ASAP.

Old School a couple minutes in. They booked this match perfectly.

Unfortunately not the match.

True Blood looks like an even bigger douche carrying a lantern out in daylight. Also, clearly not a team player telling people to watch Walking Dead instead of his match.

Going to have to rush the last 2 matches now though. Hopefully Taker/Bray is nothing but videos and lightning strikes.

Okay. All the points for this.

Okay Steph's promo there was awesome.

Ugh. Rock for this?

John Cena vs. Rusev - All time, five star entrances. Just the absolute titz. - Great match, probably better than last month although the finish seemed to happen a little fast after breaking the Accolade. **** Mama Maivia at ringside suggests some fireworks later on.

Bellas vs. AJ & Paige -Crowd treated it like an extension of the bathroom break that was the concert. That's fine, because you need to go to the bathroom during a 4 hour show, but I'm glad I hit that during the concert. Fun match with everyone working hard and it wasn't even absurdly rushed. Could very well be reading into things, but AJ and Paige's interactions seemed to suggest AJ may be on the way out. Seemed very concerned with taking everything in.

Awesome backstage bit with Bryan and all of the legends. Flair chopping Steamboat is in the running for spot of the night.

Sting vs. HHH - Old Timers' Day is always fun. Except the finish.

Trips' entrance is the best and worst thing ever. Love it.

I always thought Sting was from Venice. Turns out he was originally from Tokyo. WTF?

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins - I liked the layout and enjoyed Seth's big spots a ton, but like most Randy Orton matches this one probably looked a whole lot better on paper than in execution. I can't see Rollins cashing in tonight. ***