C.S.

I had Val as a Facebook friend (this was back when I found it novel to add wrestlers for no good reason), and he was totally loony tunes. I eventually had to unfriend him.

Don't know where else to put this... A catch-all Scummy Behavior in Wrestling thread might not be a bad idea.

Adam Cole does nothing for me, but he and his silly "Bay Bay" catchphrase have gotten over everywhere he's gone, so there's something to be said for that. Ditto for Finn Balor. I may not be their biggest fans, but I'd still push them.

I've watched both episodes of Ruthless Aggression. It seems...fine. But yeah, definitely some weird revisionist history bullshit going on, as others have already pointed out. Episode 1: Portraying the WWE name change as a brilliant creative decision instead of what it actually was...yeah, no. Episode 2: Was Cena really hated by everyone in the locker room and no one wanted to work with him? I've never heard that. I also really doubt he was every truly on a cut list. Vince/Stephanie can't be that stupid? Surely they saw that he brought more to the table than, say, Mark Jindrak. Brian Gerwertz looks looks like he's ready to cry at any moment. I realize he was an important part of the puzzle, but he's not exactly charismatic or camera-ready. Still, it's nice to see someone they haven't used a million times before. Bruce Pritchard always seems like he's full of BS, even when he's being honest.

Any idea who Nick Aldis is referring to here? Triple H? Cena? Someone else?

Means nothing. Even hardcore wrestling fans on this board apparently don't remember Matt's role as Edge's bitch in some random stable or alliance 10+ years ago. This is a huge step up. It's weekly TV time in the hottest angle on Raw. Matt was never married to Lita, BTW.

How are WWE cameramen, the video trucks in the back, whoever is responsible, always able to get those perfect fan reaction shots? Even AEW hasn't really been able to master this art.

Imagine if they used Matt Hardy properly like this for his entire run. I assume he has re-signed and now getting the temporary Gallows/Anderson push before being sent back into irrelevance, but who knows...

Shelton Benjamin re-signed. I'll never understood these people WWE does nothing with wanting to stay there and continue sitting in catering. I guess Shelton just wants to make his money at this point, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

What a terrible and nonsensical turn... But it's not like any aspect of the Ciampa-Gargano relationship has made sense in a while.

Roderick Strong has so little ring presence and charisma that I honestly thought he was a fan at first. (I actually like him, but he comes across as more of a science teacher than a wrestler.)

Because on the 50th anniversary of Howard Cosell's famous call during Frasier vs. Ellis - "Down Goes Ellis! Down Goes Ellis! He is beaten!" - Mauro has scored a knockout punch of his own with his amazing commentary at NXT TakeOver: Portland.

Mauro

I'm not sure, but I hope it did.

Way to give away the finish, Mauro, by pointing out that Adam Cole is so close to breaking Finn Balor's record reign. (But Mauro is still the best in the business and the GOAT!) I assume this means Cole vs. Balor is next *groan* - along with a Cole face turn.

Belair wasn't involved in the post-match at all, so I think that closes the book on her participation in the Mania NXT title match.

I think we can safely rule it out now. :\

Awful finish.

Are you saying WWE is racist? But yeah, I don't see Charlotte vs. Belair happening - even though it would be the far more interesting match. Belair losing to Charlotte so quickly after winning the title really wouldn't help her though.

I honestly wouldn't mind if Belair loses and gets called up after WrestleMania. She's light years ahead of the other NXT women when it comes to character and presentation.

I don't follow... How does Belair's gear portend the finish?

This match would be much more interesting if the result wasn't such a foregone conclusion.

My eyes glazed over for most of this. If it was a classic, I wouldn't know it. I somehow doubt it was though.

Glad I'm not the only one. Heel Balor is just as dull to me as face Balor, and Johnny Gargano feels like the rare example of someone whose main event potential was never fully realized in NXT.

Demi Moore? No, I have no idea either.