BillThompson

Still LAME...

As long as you don't shut these types of threads down once they (inevitably, IMO) veer off into a bunch of different directions or start getting multiple replies to posts that may be worthy of their own thread just like the comments megathread did, it's got a good chance of working. We'll still lose some of the randomness that made PWO so much fun and unique compared to other boards, but hopefully we'll retain a good portion of it. I guess it's up to us board members who enjoyed all the neat things in the comments megathread to now bring as much of that type of thing out into the regular board if we want to keep that vibe going. Challenge accepted! I don't understand the point of the post that doesn't deserve a response? Isn't that what twitter is for? We want to drive discussion away from here and to Twitter? I think most people here know me and how much I champion this board everywhere I go. I still believe it's the best place on the internet to discuss wrestling. However, I liked coming here and not having to wade through tons of topics and getting my WWE fix through one topic or popping in and out of the Comments thread to see what wacky shit people are posting about now. I think the response I quoted above gets to the heart of why PWO works as well as it does, it's a community. Saying, "Just go discuss that stuff on Twitter" is a slap in the face to the community that has been built. This general ruling feels like a slap in the face to the community as a whole. It's your board, run it the way you want, but when the people are speaking and they are not fans of the new changes I think that speaks volumes. I know for me I'll probably be around less, because the community aspect is really what makes this place special in my mind. But, if it's gotten to the point where people are being told to take their wrestling thoughts and discuss it elsewhere, then that's not much of a community is it?

It's your show Bix, but I'm pretty much anti-MMA these days, and really don't need it in my wrestling world. It's a reason why I don't seek out the Observer, bother with Fighting Spirit Magazine, or listen to Live Audio Wrestling anymore. I'll probably just stick with The Trade Marks, but by all means congrats and good luck on your new venture.

Because you're fond of insulting other posters, calling them marks, morons, and the such. But, mostly because you aren't interested in a discussion, but rather an argument where you have to be proven right and no point other than your own can even be considered. It's boring and repetitive, please move on.

Every once in a while the twain shall meet

Lame...

EVOLVE Wrestling: 39 (03-26-2015) Timothy Thatcher vs. Drew Gulak Very good match, but not great. The usual technical back and forth between these two, with lots of interesting and dynamic mat based reversals and counters. These two know one another really well, and it shows in how easily they are able to flow from one move to the next and always keep up the mirage that they are engaged in a struggle to win a match. Only thing lacking from this match was a second gear. There were a few moments where it seemed like it was about to kick in, but ultimately the match stayed in first gear. The result does a splendid job of setting up Gulak as a challenger for Thatcher when he's EVOLVE champion down the line. Oh, and I must have imagined all the cheering and chanting during the match, because I've been led to believe that Thatcher has no charisma and the fans sit on their hands during his matches.

Catching up on 2015 stuff, and I'd highly recommend Chris Hero vs. Drew Gulak from EVOLVE Wrestling: 38. Start of a great angle, wonderful in-match storytelling, and a really great mix of grappling and striking. I'd go about ****1/2 on it, my MOTY so far.

It's not really a wrestling vault though. It should be, but they have hundreds of thousands of hours of wrestling content and just they just leave it sitting in their actual vault. New content is necessary, and I have no problems with the shows announced, but allow the Network to turn into an actual vault of wrestling footage too.

Not being a dick when I say this, but generally when the VoW guys or Rob Viper (all of whom I like and respect very much) say they thought a match was boring and sleep inducing I know I'm going to like it. Thus, I'm pretty sure I will really like Thatcher/Gulak and hate Fox/Gargano. What is it about said sleep inducers that you enjoy? I can understand entirely why people wouldn't dig AR Fox (I'm not his biggest fan) or Johnny Gargano (generally quite like him), but I don't see where the appeal lies with the 'charisma-deficient dudes who roll around a lot' club? What am I missing when I watch them and and struggle to maintain interest? I heard Meltzer put Thatcher over strong for the Tommy End match and my feelings usually jive with Dave's, but I like End way better, so where am I going wrong? I think the first issue of disconnect between you and I comes down to charisma. To use Thatcher and Gulak as examples, I think they have loads of charisma and it comes through in their matches. They don't have to do anything of the idiotic take me out of the match bullshit that a Fox or Gargano does, they just wrestle and their charisma shines through in that. This has played out how in every EVOLVE event the crowds are more and more behind Gulak, Thatcher, and Busick. Mostly what you describe as rolling around a lot I describe as snug wrestling where an actual struggle of holds is taking place. When Thatcher and Gulak wrestle I get the sense they are trying to win the match, they aren't just putting on a showy exhibition or attempting to leave with the crowd saying, "Man, that was a great match they worked!" Now, often that is how people leave a Gulak, Thatcher, or Busick match, but they leave because through their style those three have managed to put on a great match. They've produced a hard fought struggle, a strategic back and forth, and a match with ebbs, flows, highs, lows, and everything in between. That's what I look for in my wrestling and that's why I find guys like Thatcher, Busick, Gulak, Sabre Jr., Gallagher, Gresham, and some others to be the best thing going in wrestling today.

I think it will be both those things, and yes, terrible. What makes the NXT specials feel so different is that they are spaced out and they allow for the matches to be built to That is gone now, and instead they will become common events instead of must tune in to see events.

Not believable in the least. In kayfabe and the eyes of the fans DB should win that series 7-0. It wasn't long ago that he was beating HHH, Batista and Orton back to back, and to most people Harper is just a characterless midcard nothing. People probably said the same thing about Booker T, or even Benoit, before he had his best of 7 series with Benoit. Sometimes, well often times, to make a star you have to take chances and elevate. I don't care for Rollins, but at least he's someone new that they are elevating. Having Harper hold his own against Bryan would be a coming out moment, and there's really no reason to not take a chance on him.

No real interest in Rollins as champ. As both a wrestler and a character he does next to nothing for me. Had Brock retained I was considering coming back to the product, but now I think I'll stay away for a while longer.

EVOLVE Wrestling: 37 (01-20-2015) Timothy Thatcher vs. Roderick Strong Read the review at Blue Thunder Driver.

EVOLVE Wrestling: 36 (01-09-2015) Timothy Thatcher vs. Ricochet Leave it to Ricochet to cause Thatcher to have a mediocre match. Thatcher tries from the very start, but it's pretty clear that Ricochet just can't keep pace with Thatcher no matter how much Thatcher dumbs down his grappling. So instead they turn it into more of a Ricochet match, which would have been fine had Ricochet not blown most of his spots, been out of position most of the match, and in general looked pretty terrible. I mean, you have Thatcher leaning into every Kick that Ricochet is throwing, and they still look like crap. Ricochet had plenty of openings, and yet his timing was always off and Thatcher was stuck standing around like an idiot waiting for Ricochet to get into place. Then the finish came, where apparently a Shooting Star Press to Thatcher's ankles is supposed to be a knockout blow. Apropos of the match, and Ricochet, though.

His following run in Japan and his run for three or four months before the Michaels match pretty much disprove this.

Still not watching WWE proper, but I'll be eating some pizza and watching EVOLVE all day long.

Yes, they matter. They are not the end all and be all, they don't always play a role in my enjoyment. I don't base my view of a match on who wins or losses. In that sense my fandom of wrestling is far different than my sports fandom. I want John Cena to put on a good performance, and if he does that I will be happy. I want the Chicago Cubs to win, and when they don't I'm upset, though still a fan. Where the winning and losing of matches become most important is in the idea that pro wrestling is an athletic contest. It doesn't matter that we all know it's a work. Part of said work is the notion that inside that ring a legitimate sporting contest is taking place. To that end there must be a struggle, a desire to win, a drive to stay away from defeat. This is where winning and losing truly matters, because without it we're no longer watching a worked sporting contest but a worked ballet recital.

Probably Shawn Michaels. It's not so much about whether or not I think Michaels deserves to be Mr. WrestleMania, it's that he is pushed as such. He does everything big, and on a big show like WrestleMania that tends to resonate. He's a heavily manufactured star, but such a star shines in what is annually the most manufactured show in the industry.

Yeah, as a former grappler myself, it's not a complaint that really registers with me. Thatcher is snug, and within the context of pro wrestling the way he, and many others, implement grappling makes perfect sense.

From what I understand he has no more sources. Because of that he mainly does just report news from others and has turned the site into more of an analysis machine than a reporting site.

Night 2 is probably going to have an awesome Cobb/Thatcher match, but I'd try and seek it out somewhere later and watch the WWN special instead.

Maybe this is me reading too much into stuff, but it seems like Stephanie and Triple H are way more into NXT than they are WWE itself. Looking at their actions as a whole, and the way they treat NXT it just seems like they would much rather be there doing what they want than being in WWE dealing with what Vince and Kevin Dunn want. As I said, this is probably me reading too much into this, but I get the distinct impression that they have decided NXT is their world, their baby, and WWE is just a job they do.

I'm in the Thatcher is awesome camp. Best wrestler in the world last year, best wrestler in the world so far this year. His grappling is great both from a match construction standpoint and from a gritty believability standpoint. He has great strikes, great facial expressions, sells great, he's the all around package in my book.

I can only imagine that's what it would be like if he and I were ever at a show together.