C.S.

I hated Swagger at first, but he had two great periods IMO: - His re-emergence with Zeb Colter as the xenophobic "We the People" heel. (Of course, he fucked that up with a DUI or being busted with weed, or whatever it was - I can't remember now.) - His feud with Rusev where he more than delivered his end of it in the ring and got over as a proud American patriot (which even Lex Luger couldn't do). My thoughts on Episode 2 of Breaking Ground: - Does anyone else get the impression that ZZ was only brought back to fall on his face and fail for the sake of this show? After all, they keep harping on the theme that "not everyone will make it." That sucks if true, because he's just a kid and it seems unfair and almost malicious to set him up that way. Robbie Brookside is awesome though. I can tell he really cares about these kids. - Josh (the other idiot from Tough Enough who somehow won) looked like a complete dick when he was shown outside the ring openly laughing at ZZ. It made me hate him instantly, and not in a money-drawing "heel" way. What makes this moron think his shit doesn't stink? If ZZ can get it together, he has a far bigger upside as a character than Josh ever will. (After all, as Ziggler recently said, wrestling is the least important part of the wrestling business - and that's mostly true, at least in WWE, which has always emphasized characters, storylines, and being larger-than-life.) - The kid getting praised because he could do the Worm...WTF? If that's all it takes to get a key to the door of the Performance Center, I can do that too! Yeah, something was obviously lost in translation there. Bad editing? Not sure what happened, but that made no sense to me. Regal losing his shit over the roll and stance issue was funny though.

Never saw the appeal. He couldn't even convincingly portray his Raven character IMO. I actually preferred him as Scotty Anthony/Flamingo and Johnny Polo. But credit to him, I guess, for carving out an entirely different niche for himself and getting the fans to go along with Raven. To be fair, there were some fun moments there. But I was never a fan.

I really hope the Dudleys aren't on Taker's Survivor Series team. That seems like such a bad fit. Ambrose would work. I would've said Reigns but he's obviously otherwise occupied. Randy Orton would be an ugh, but I can't think of another fourth. Ehhh, I guess Ryback would be okay...blech. Cody Rhodes (not Stardust) would be cool, just as a callback to Taker's debut with Dusty, but that won't happen. Is there anyone from NXT they could call up for the fourth spot?

That is even more bizarre. In what galaxy is it preferable to lose to Koko instead of Flair, unless there was already heat there and Dundee and Koko were buddies?

What's the story here? Why on earth would Flair have heat with Dundee, of all people?! Some mishap or perceived slight during the Flair-Regal matches, perhaps? Bizarre. Flair really comes across as an old, cranky, bitter, drunken, insecure dickhead sometimes.

It makes him look like he has fleas. I get it that his "thing" is to be grungy, but does he really have to look so damn dirty too? Then again, his move is called Dirty Deeds. Why wouldn't it? Tamina was still on Raw - and Total Divas - weeks after the Snuka controversy (she was even identified as "Tamina Snuka" on the latter), so I don't see that affecting Table for 3.

I caught up on a bunch of Table for 3 episodes last night. The ones I watched previously: - Piper/Orndorff/Okerlund: Aweosme and touching. Probably still the high water mark for this series. - New Day: ROCKS! Seriously, decent episode - LOVED their response to Vince's infamous "Brass Ring" comment. - Sting/DDP/Vader: I liked it a lot, but based on the glowing reviews and participants involved, I honestly expected more. That's just me though. The ones I watched last night: - Miz/Truth/Axel: Had its moments, but too much non-wrestling content. Notice how they were all planning for "life after WWE," which is interesting in its own way and says a lot about what it must be like to work there now. - Bryan/Ryback/Ziggler: This was a lot of fun. Tons of goofy road stories and ribs against Ryback. Panera bread does suck. - Ambrose/Owens/Cesaro: I barely remember it, but maybe I was just tired? A couple of interesting stories and a good point that the indy scene of five years ago is today's WWE roster. Ambrose looked like he could use a bath though - he kept scratching himself. I still need to watch the one with the women.

I never disliked Nikki. She's no Sasha Banks, but she tries hard and has worked hard to improve. Plus, a great character like others are saying. Brie seemed like the standout at first, so Nikki's ascension is all the more surprising, but good for her. As for Dolph, I like him just fine - I just think he needs to turn desperately. He's a homewrecking man-whore tool who throws around words like "millennial" seemingly unironically. How is that a babyface character? It's possible none of those things are his fault, but his storylines aren't serving his character right now. I never hated Dana Brooke like the rest of the internet seemingly does. She didn't blow me away or anything, but I never minded her. The cool thing about NXT is seeing these guys and gals blossom as characters and/or in the ring in the span of a few short months: Becky Lynch, Blake and Murphy, Baron Corbin, etc. If Charlotte had a giant wart on her face, she'd still in NXT (or not in NXT at all). I really hate that kind of comment, because it's lazy and illogical criticism IMO. Being Flair's daughter means nothing if she sucks, and she doesn't. You said it yourself: "She's better than most of the Divas roster." That alone is enough to warrant her being on the main stage. It doesn't matter if she's not as good as you want her to be or think she should be - that argument is ridiculous, quite frankly. Can she get better? Yes. And she will. Even you acknowledge that her "wrinkles" can be "ironed out," so what's the problem exactly?

LOL at all of the silly posts about a Cena-H beef because of the way Nikki is being booked. Newsflash: No one outside this board thinks Nikki is better than Charlotte. You guys really are in a bubble if you think that's the consensus opinion anywhere other than here. It certainly isn't in the WWE. Come on now! With that said, Nikki has worked hard and has a great character, but I think Charlotte's ceiling is much higher if she keeps improving. In only a couple of years, she's already pretty good and more of a "natural" compared to Nikki's ten years doing this. It's easy to criticize Charlotte - and I've done it too (I don't think she's a good babyface at all) - but people seem to forget how new she is at all of this. Being Ric Flair's offspring isn't a magic elixir when it comes to wrestling ability, as we saw with David Flair. Also, it's ludicrous that there's any discussion of Nikki being "booked badly" when she just finished a record-breaking reign as Divas Champion. "Former champ gets a rematch and loses" is a standard - and boring - WWE trope, so I have no idea why people are suddenly acting like Nikki is being jobbed out.

- Blood really adds to a match. - The announcers need to never say "FOR THE WIN!" again because it takes away the illusion and impact of a possible win - no one ever wins after "FOR THE WIN!" - Get that fucking medic out of there. What the fuck.

I didn't think their match last month was good either.

New Day retains!!! Does this feud continue one more month? Sure seems like it.

Cena Open Challenge: AWESOME surprise with Zeb Colter and of course Del Rio. Average match, and that's being kind. Finish was weak. But it's as good a way as any for Del Rio to come back.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this will happen:

Crazy HiaC PPV predictions: - Ambrose answers the Cena challenge and wins the U.S. Title. - THEDEMONKANE becomes the WWE Champion and drops it to Lesnar at Survivor Series.

Excellent, excellent post, which I've truncated for the sake of space. You basically posted exactly what I was going to. Molly Holly, in particular, could wrestle circles around Lita and Trish, but Lita and Trish were better "stars" than any of the other women, and that's still what matters in pro wrestling. Trish had the "look" they wanted anyway, but her hard work combined with that probably put her way over the hump. It was an easy decision for WWE to push her. She fit all the boxes and worked her ass off to improve. She may not have been a "natural" in the ring the same way Molly was, but so what? That has never been what WWE has recognized and rewarded. With that said, I loved Molly, found her hot, and was always frustrated that she never got a bigger push. Still, in retrospect, she did well for herself. Smart young lady booking herself into that head-shaving angle and spot. It is possible to have a great relationship with a co-worker, but be resentful about how they get treated preferably compared to you, despite same work level, etc. As long as you percieve that your co-worker has little to nothing to do with the way the company treats them. Yes, but in public and on camera? It's one thing to have those views privately, or even share them with Trish, but to act that way in an official WWE-sanctioned documentary? Also, as thebrainfollower pointed out, Lita brought a lot of that on herself - some through no fault of her own (injuries) and others that were definitely her fault (fucking around with a married man and "betraying" a beloved underdog wrestler). Look, I'm not debating the morality, or lack thereof, of her actions - I'm just saying it wasn't a very smart business decision. We never heard anything like that about Trish, as follower also pointed out, which tells me she had a much better head on her shoulders than Lita.

I loved the JBL reign. Sure, I think everyone wanted a longer reign for Eddy, but it was what it was. Surprised no one has mentioned David Arquette and Vince Russo in this thread? Too obvious? Great Khali? Rob Van Dam certainly qualifies. Finally wins the big one, then gets busted for drugs (along with Sabu). Idiot! He pretty much pissed away his main event status for the rest of his career. Hard for me to have sympathy when someone is just that dumb. Am I being too judgmental? Maybe. But damn it was disappointing at the time.

I watched the Lita-Trish episode of Rivalries. Yes, I consciously picked that over the Steamboat-Flair episode. Why? Because we've been inundated with Steamboat-Flair for 20 years, and as great as it was and still is, there's little new to be learned from it at this point IMO. Lita-Trish is fresher and less traveled ground. (With that said, I'll eventually watch Steamboat-Flair, of course.) Not a bad episode, but I do think they may have exaggerated the impact Lita and Trish had. Well, okay, they both had an impact, but WWE didn't follow up on it whatsoever. If they had, no one would be going nuts about the "Diva Revolution" or Bayley-Banks main eventing a PPV in 2015. After Trish and Lita left, women in wrestling were still in the same meaningless marginalized position. If anything, their spots may have regressed. I may be reading into nothing because they kept harping on what "besties" both women were and are, but Lita seemed almost resentful at times of Trish's bigger push and picture perfect retirement. Lita's own final match - where she was treated like crap - was completely skipped over, for obvious reasons. A fun little hour, but perhaps more notable for what wasn't said and shown.

My bad, hahaha. But I can hear Vince going, "Tooooo many Sans, DAMN IT!" That's the name she uses on the indys. Similar deal to Gargano and Ciampa, where they are probably just taking a look at her. Makes sense. Same situation with Billie Kay, or is she already signed? I think she has potential.

NXT this week was solid, but two things stood out to me that seem "out of character" for WWE: 1. Nia Jax was announced as being from San Diego, California. Maybe she is? But that's also Bayley's hometown. Unless they're planning to do a feud incorporating that, I found it strange because WWE usually goes to great lengths to differentiate everyone. 2. The happy-go-lucky jobber named Evie, when there's already an Eva Marie. Again, WWE is usually proactive about making sure there are wide differences when it comes to character names (e.g. Lance Cade becoming Garrison Cade because Lance Storm was already on the roster). Granted, Evie will probably be repackaged and given a name change if/when the time comes for a push. Those aren't criticisms, BTW, of what was a very fun show - just observations. I also LOVED the yellow and pink ropes. Gave it a really colorful Ultimate Warrior vibe. I kinda hope NXT keeps that aesthetic, even if it's under the false pretense of honoring Susan G. Komen all year long instead of for one specific month.

Scott Hall used to do YouTube videos along these lines. I think Larry Z. was even in one of them with him, and they were watching an old tag match with Hall and Hennig. I don't know if they're still up, but if they are, they're definitely worth watching.

I love the way he "wanks off" to Eva's matches. She is going to be an amazing heel. I am salivating for the inevitable Bayley/Eva feud - I'm not even joking either. Full Sail will erupt with thunderous boos. How often do wrestlers get real heat anymore, especially in self-aware NXT? Eva has it. Maybe it's for the wrong reasons, but who cares?

I had a similar impression: that she was nervous about the big match, like a girl in a high school play, and it showed all over her face. Seemed intentional to me, or at least her allowing her real nerves to show through for the sake of the character, match, and moment.

Really fun show. I both agree and disagree about the main event. It didn't feel "as good" as other recent NXT Women's Matches while I was watching it, but after reflecting on it for a little bit, I realize it was a damn fun match with LOTS of great moments. The little girl - Bailey's sister? - broke my heart, and Sasha's heeling of the entire family was shameless in an awesome way. Disappointed by the two teams in the finals - I wanted Jason Jordan and Chad Gable myself - but I kinda understand why they did it. (When this first started, I was convinced Enzo and Cass vs. Jordan and Gable would be the final match - and part of me still thinks it should have been.) Mind-blowing post-match celebrations for both of those matches. Dawson and Wilder have no characters right now - unless they're supposed to be cosplaying NWA jobbers - but give them a few months and their personas will blossom like we saw with Becky Lynch, Blake and Murphy, etc. before them.

In this case, I think people are critical because they question whether CM Punk gives a flying fuck about the "cause" Susan G. Komen represents - cancer "research." People probably feel he doesn't and only brought it up to troll the WWE and its fans. That seems like a fair assumption to me.