Jimmy Redman

My plan for the entire America trip involves "eh I'll sleep when I'm dead" so I am locked into Spring Break. Wrestling is wild.

My first thought was "surely he's DOA once the story of him abusing people in development gets out", but then I remembered...its 2018 and the world is trash.

Going back to the discussion...I think it's important when offering up these examples of 'Rape Culture' spots in terms of the TV product to include the context, which is where the offense or taste or appropriate levels come into play. It's not like we're talking about real life examples where rape culture is a real, horrible thing and there are real victims. We're talking about it being represented on a TV show. The same way that it has been in, say, Game of Thrones, to use an extreme example. Entertainment reflects the world we live in, and when there is rape culture in the world, it is going to be portrayed in entertainment in some form. I think in terms of portraying it, this is one of the most sensitive and dangerous aspects of life to try to comment on, and if you're going to go there, there has to be a level of responsibility of those doing so to not portray it in a way that glorifies or excuses or perpetuates it. And that comes down to how you do it. To go back to the original example, Tatanka, a babyface, forcibly kissing a heel because she was interfering, and the crowd cheering this as a positive act (or at least that would be the idea)...that is positioning sexual assault as a babyface act and perpetuating an idea of a woman "deserving it" if they behave a certain way, and also making your audience complicit in cheering and approving of his actions. Gross. The least you can say about the Flair and Becky spot is that it was a heel doing it to a babyface and the "right person" was committing the sexual assault, but again there's an issue with presentation because whoever said it above was right - that spot was a comedy spot. Flair did it and Woooooo'd and half of the crowd started Wooooooing with him and it was treated as Flair Bein' Flair and even a clever heel distraction instead of a scumbag committing a dog act that has no place as a cheap trick. Of course, these kinds of spots are all well-worn in the business and have been used freely as heel or face spots for decades. Trying to identify, and ultimately undo all these decades of wrestling's treatment and portrayal of women, found in these individual spots and moments, is what we're looking at in this thread. One Tatanka spot on an indy show isn't going to change the world. But it IS part of a long term pattern of using abuse of women for cheap heat one way or the other, and that makes it part of a wider rape culture. You can't remove it from that context. The Rhodes/Golden Lovers stuff is interesting on multiple levels. The first is in them using rape culture and what have historically been very cheap, throwaway spots in wrestling (as seen above) and trying to give them the weight that they deserve. There is a point to it. The love story of the Lovers is integral to the angle and these spots are part of a wider attempt by Cody and Brandi to come between them and break them up. And they're not being played for laughs, this is serious. When Cody did it even Marty Scurll The Villain or whatever the fuck he is was like WTF, this is messed up. The crowd was HORRIFIED. Ibushi was traumatized. As was Omega. This isn't a spot that gets forgotten by the finish of the match, these are BIG moments. They have consequences. The victims of the act are having to process and deal with it. The perpetrators are going to (eventuallly) get some serious comeuppance for being such pieces of shit. That's what it's all building to. I don't think you can reasonably compare this stuff to a throwaway spot, except to say that they're both (very different) portrayals of rape culture in wrestling. The other interesting aspect of this angle is how they are using queerness and pretty much flipping the script on how that has always been portrayed in wrestling too. A queer love story between two men is the angle, they're the babyfaces and we're rooting for them to get together. In this context queerness is OK, it is normal, instead of being abnormal and exaggerated for either laughs or for heel heat/gay fear spots as it has so often been in wrestling. And so you have the straight man (and the straight woman) being the despicable one, sexually assaulting the queer man, and we are horrified by this because we know this is wrong. It certainly isn't funny. And we have a kind of sympathy generated for a queer male character we've never seen before in wrestling, when so often they have been used as the perpetrators of sexual violence to play off masculine fear of homosexuality. Not to mention the way Brandi kissed Omega and said "you liked it, you're a fraud" which is a very fraught idea for bisexuals - the idea that they don't exist, that they're either gay or straight and pretending to like both genders for some reason or other. This is a slur that might not even be fully clear to people who aren't bisexual or familiar with queer culture, but it's a key part of that particular event, and honestly, the extent to which they are using queer culture and rape culture in a realistic, responsible way to help create this story is something we've never seen before in pro wrestling. Frankly, not in a lot of popular entertainment in general. The heat is on the right people, for doing the wrong thing. Again, if you're going to go there, this is certainly a much better way to do so than using a random forced kiss as cheap heat halfway through a match.

They pointed at the Wrestlemania sign. Unprompted. En masse. The WWE sub-division of DARPA has declared Experiment P952 to be a success.

Usos were so so in 2010. They turned face by mid 2011 and got good as faces really quickly.

Just wait until you get to Gail vs Tiffany ElP.

Ditto. I went to the NJPW show in Sydney last month, and I felt supremely out of place in a sea of dorks wearing Bullet Club shirts (me being a dork in a normal shirt) but they were going nuts for the show and I felt genuinely happy for them that they have this and genuinely happy for the business that a bunch of indy workers can have this kind of reach now. It was nice. This All In show will be nice too.

Yeah, I'll be there from Friday.

Biker Michelle coming out at Mania with Biker Taker like Biker Steph is something I am suddenly here for.

It was literally like one vignette, maybe two, and then he was gone with no explanation. A wrestling glitch.

Yes.

Kong vs Gail was amazing in all its forms.

Welcome everyone to the first ever women's only PPV (at least the way Im watching it). I'm not anticipating any Rumble hysterics from me, but I'm genuinely spoiler free right now and flying so who knows. Before the Chamber Cole managed to say "first time ever" three times in the same sentence. This new Chamber is bullshit. I miss the sliding door with the chain and padlock that the refs had to fumble with on camera. Mickie James is amazing. Also I care marginally more about Sonya Deville now that I know she's a big gaybo because I gotta support the team and frankly they should make a bigger deal out of her being an out wrestler in WWE. But I'm on a huge gay women in sport phase of my life so maybe it's just me. More proper working door bullshit. The creepy video game cursor lighting inside the pods is gross. Please stop. Take me back. Get off my lawn. I don't even care that it's safer, I'm happy for them that it's safer. I care that it's goofy looking. So the Match itself. ZJDBCOEKFKFKSMDJCKSKDNSKLSMDLDLSKODLSKSKSKCLSMDKLDXSMSLKDSLMEDLDKSLDDSKDKFJSKFKSKFKFKFKDKDKFKDKDKFKDKDMXNSKSKCMSODKDMDKSKSK I was super wrong because I'm losing it here. I don't know what kind of shit Mandy Rose talked about Sasha's Momma or what kind of shit Sasha talked about Mickie's Momma or what kind of shit anyone talked about anyone's Momma because some bitches were absolutely fucking murked with shit tonight and punching some fuckers so hard in their beautiful fucking faces I mean I expected Sasha to die in this thing I just didn't expect her cause of death to be Mickie James 38 yo Mother of One decapitating her with a super kick and even Bayley went like full Takeover Respect and since when in the fuck has Mandy Rose been that good and how the fuck can you not want Sasha Banks to win every wrestling match on earth also she's still going through character development that began in like 2014 also I am a teeny tiny super bit relieved that she's still alive So when Alexa Bliss was wiping away tears cutting a babyface promo and getting You Deserve It chants I FUCKING. LOST. IT. because I knew she was going to turn on those galahs like a motherfucker and then she sho turned on those galahs like a motherfucker because ALEXA BLISS HATES ALL YOU STUPID ASSHOLES DON'T YOU GET IT. Five gazmillion stars. They should heat Nia Jax back up soon but if she wins here I'm never watching wrestling again. I'm cancelling Wrestlemania. I'm cancelling America. Stepping on the mask was cool but. I wish I had the French commentators. Lucky ElP. SKFKDKFNFLFKDLKDKSDKLSDKDKMKDKXKDMDKDKDKDKDKDKDKDMFKDLSKDLSKDKDJDIDKDJFKFKDJDKDKDKDKDKFKDLLSKDLSDKLSLWKSKDKSKSLDKDLEMLDKDKEKDKDKS THAT WAS THE BEST MATCH OF NIA'S LIFE THAT WAS LIKE THE WORLD'S BEST REY MYSTERIO VS MARK HENRY BUT REY IS A CRAZY MURDEROUS JAPANESE LADY AND I KIND OF WANT TO FUCK THE SHIT OUT OF MARK HENRY SIX TRISQUILLION AND A QUARTER STARS OK the video of Ronda that merged together MMA and wrestling training footage was badass. Even though I understand why she has to have a Gaga Steph match first I also kind of wish she didn't have to have a Gaga Steph match first and she could just debut and steamroll through folk sight unseen like the Terminator it would be so cool. It would be like...well, her MMA career. Yeah you're right Vince that would never get over. Imagine how dope Ronda vs Baszler is gonna be at WM 2020. I had never seen someone more visibly excited to be in a wrestling ring than Sasha Banks' entire career until I saw Ronda Rousey crying with joy about being in a fucking Contract Signing seg. I am all in for Ronda having a Festus gimmick where the ringing bell makes her go from smiling to killer except its not a ringing bell it's Kurt Angle spilling the tea. YASSSS FUCK HER UP GAGA! WOAH FUCK HIM UP TOO! Haha he's going to go this BIBAHAHAHAHAHAHA THROUGH THE TABLE! GOD AS MY WITNESS HE'S BROKEN IN HALF! YASSSS FUCK HIM THE FUCK UP YO I TAKE IT BACK I TAKE IT ALL BACK THE ALMIGHTY HUNTOR HAS SPENT HIS WHOLE CAREER BURYING THE SHIT OUT OF EVERY WRESTLER ON EARTH AND HUNTORING ALL OVER THE PLACE JUST TO PUT OVER A GIRL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I SWEAR I WILL HAPPILY SIT THROUGH A 20 MIN HUNTOR MATCH IF IT'S 20 MINS OF RONDA AMPUTATING ALL OF HIS LIMBS AND FEEDING THEM TO HIM HAHAHA YOU FUCKED UP YOU FUCKED UP Steph sweetie Ronda is going to beat up your gigantic fucking shitty husband for fun. You will be the toothpick. I can't wait for Mania now. Ronda *smiles* Kurt: Hunter talked shit bout yo moms Ronda *does not smile* Hunter *is summarily executed* That was a great show.

Welcome everyone to the first ever women's only PPV (at least the way Im watching it). I'm not anticipating any Rumble hysterics from me, but I'm genuinely spoiler free right now and flying so who knows. Before the Chamber Cole managed to say "first time ever" three times in the same sentence. This new Chamber is bullshit. I miss the sliding door with the chain and padlock that the refs had to fumble with on camera. Mickie James is amazing. Also I care marginally more about Sonya Deville now that I know she's a big gaybo because I gotta support the team and frankly they should make a bigger deal out of her being an out wrestler in WWE. But I'm on a huge gay women in sport phase of my life so maybe it's just me. More proper working door bullshit. The creepy video game cursor lighting inside the pods is gross. Please stop. Take me back. Get off my lawn. I don't even care that it's safer, I'm happy for them that it's safer. I care that it's goofy looking. So the Match itself. ZJDBCOEKFKFKSMDJCKSKDNSKLSMDLDLSKODLSKSKSKCLSMDKLDXSMSLKDSLMEDLDKSLDDSKDKFJSKFKSKFKFKFKDKDKFKDKDKFKDKDMXNSKSKCMSODKDMDKSKSK I was super wrong because I'm losing it here. I don't know what kind of shit Mandy Rose talked about Sasha's Momma or what kind of shit Sasha talked about Mickie's Momma or what kind of shit anyone talked about anyone's Momma because some bitches were absolutely fucking murked with shit tonight and punching some fuckers so hard in their beautiful fucking faces I mean I expected Sasha to die in this thing I just didn't expect her cause of death to be Mickie James 38 yo Mother of One decapitating her with a super kick and even Bayley went like full Takeover Respect and since when in the fuck has Mandy Rose been that good and how the fuck can you not want Sasha Banks to win every wrestling match on earth also she's still going through character development that began in like 2014 also I am a teeny tiny super bit relieved that she's still alive So when Alexa Bliss was wiping away tears cutting a babyface promo and getting You Deserve It chants I FUCKING. LOST. IT. because I knew she was going to turn on those galahs like a motherfucker and then she sho turned on those galahs like a motherfucker because ALEXA BLISS HATES ALL YOU STUPID ASSHOLES DON'T YOU GET IT. Five gazmillion stars. They should heat Nia Jax back up soon but if she wins here I'm never watching wrestling again. I'm cancelling Wrestlemania. I'm cancelling America. Stepping on the mask was cool but. I wish I had the French commentators. Lucky ElP. SKFKDKFNFLFKDLKDKSDKLSDKDKMKDKXKDMDKDKDKDKDKDKDKDMFKDLSKDLSKDKDJDIDKDJFKFKDJDKDKDKDKDKFKDLLSKDLSDKLSLWKSKDKSKSLDKDLEMLDKDKEKDKDKS THAT WAS THE BEST MATCH OF NIA'S LIFE THAT WAS LIKE THE WORLD'S BEST REY MYSTERIO VS MARK HENRY BUT REY IS A CRAZY MURDEROUS JAPANESE LADY AND I KIND OF WANT TO FUCK THE SHIT OUT OF MARK HENRY SIX TRISQUILLION AND A QUARTER STARS OK the video of Ronda that merged together MMA and wrestling training footage was badass. Even though I understand why she has to have a Gaga Steph match first I also kind of wish she didn't have to have a Gaga Steph match first and she could just debut and steamroll through folk sight unseen like the Terminator it would be so cool. It would be like...well, her MMA career. Yeah you're right Vince that would never get over. Imagine how dope Ronda vs Baszler is gonna be at WM 2020. I had never seen someone more visibly excited to be in a wrestling ring than Sasha Banks' entire career until I saw Ronda Rousey crying with joy about being in a fucking Contract Signing seg. I am all in for Ronda having a Festus gimmick where the ringing bell makes her go from smiling to killer except its not a ringing bell it's Kurt Angle spilling the tea. YASSSS FUCK HER UP GAGA! WOAH FUCK HIM UP TOO! Haha he's going to go this BIBAHAHAHAHAHAHA THROUGH THE TABLE! GOD AS MY WITNESS HE'S BROKEN IN HALF! YASSSS FUCK HIM THE FUCK UP YO I TAKE IT BACK I TAKE IT ALL BACK THE ALMIGHTY HUNTOR HAS SPENT HIS WHOLE CAREER BURYING THE SHIT OUT OF EVERY WRESTLER ON EARTH AND HUNTORING ALL OVER THE PLACE JUST TO PUT OVER A GIRL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I SWEAR I WILL HAPPILY SIT THROUGH A 20 MIN HUNTOR MATCH IF IT'S 20 MINS OF RONDA AMPUTATING ALL OF HIS LIMBS AND FEEDING THEM TO HIM HAHAHA YOU FUCKED UP YOU FUCKED UP Steph sweetie Ronda is going to beat up your gigantic fucking shitty husband for fun. You will be the toothpick. I can't wait for Mania now. Ronda *smiles* Kurt: Hunter talked shit bout yo moms Ronda *does not smile* Hunter *is summarily executed* That was a great show.

Also I remember the Roman/Hunter video making me howl with laughter. It was during the height of 'Political Hit' and the video consists of Hunter being the most badass evil badass to ever badass like an evil badass and Roman's line was like "I just want to be a nice guy and help people." Fucking howled.

In terms of taking a lukewarm feud and making it look like Rock vs Austin this thing is a piece of art. https://youtu.be/Sod3MoDj_Zs

I think with Dave, if you look back say, 10, 20 years ago and Dave could be held up as a vague sort of a moral compass of the wrestling business by the way he'd report on things like the steroid scandal, all of Vince's scandals, the issue of unions and employer/employee stuff. Compared to the carny, bubble full of social misfits inside the wrestling biz, he seemed like the one with his head on straight, trying to report the facts. Then, as has been said, the more and more we learn about Dave and the more he engages with people you realise he IS just another dude caught in the wrestling bubble, with all of the insular protection and moral ambiguity that entails. He tries to parse or defend or excuse away a bunch of things from use of the N-word to Elgin's behaviour based on certain people being his boys and sources, or even just "well, that's just the biz" type whitewashing. I don't think it's even necessarily malicious or evidence that he's a piece of shit, per se, often he just seems to have massive blinkers on that blind him to anything outside the bubble. When you have someone who is supposed to be the impartial journalist around here, reporting truth to us about a community that is so often untruthful about so many things, the fact that he's willing to be one of those people is disheartening. He's the reporter, we're supposed to be able to trust him, and a lot people are no longer able to.

This is...yes. All of this. This one is probably still my favourite Chamber match.

Trish dislocated her shoulder on the bad bump so that's why they had to go home. It really was going so well before that, and it absolutely destroys me now that I know they were given FIFTEEN WHOLE MINUTES to have this match. It may be the missed opportunity that I am the most mad about in all of wrestling.

That said, I could watch 100 Charlotte/Logan matches. Loved her RVDing on the Natural Selection.

I think Ryan Ward was writing SD before when it was good. Road Dogg is in charge now.

It's giving me flashbacks to my fantasy booked original NXT where the Pros voted on the Rookies and I had Miz organising a posse of heels to deliberately sandbag Bryan in the vote to try to eliminate him.

To be clear, I love Asuka and frankly if she ever loses ever I am never watching wrestling again they'll be dead to me.

I envy having that kind of confidence in WWE kid.

Five second idea. Alexa wins Chamber. Alexa interferes in Asuka vs Jax to cost Asuka the match and the Streak, because she thinks Nia is her insurance policy in the match vs the unstoppable Asuka. In the build Asuka is out for blood for losing her streak and Alexa hides behind Nia. They tease Nia wanting the belt for herself. Three way at Mania. They do the thing where Nia finally stands up to Alexa to a big pop, but Alexa escapes with the title by hitting Nia with a chair or some shit and pinning her. With Nia out, Asuka gets her singles match with Alexa at Backlash, where she finally kills and eats this bitch and wins the title. After that, Asuka moves on whoever, and Nia makes her return to kill Alexa.