Kadaveri

Dave's denied on Twitter that he reported Donald Duck vs. Mickie Mouse was planned for Wrestlemania.

This is a really good match. A near miracle when I think about it as I don't recall babyface Kane ever working so well against a much smaller opponent. There's enough interference to get heel heat on Jericho without it bringing down the match and Jericho targetting Kane's leg is logical and sold well throughout. I really liked the reversal of the lionsault into the chokeslam attempt. It was so well done I thought it was an improvisation from a botch the first time, but looking again I'm sure it's a planned (kayfabe) mistake that Kane capitalises on. ***3/4

Corey Graves: "Dolph Ziggler may be the greatest in-ring performer of all time" Oh my God.

WWE has responded to Bix's request to confirm or deny the rumour saying Vince McMahon is setting up a company called "Alpha Entertainment" which may include professional football.

Vince wasn't happy with NXT's rating.

My guess is there's a punk band called "Riot Squad" so WWE adding that extra T means they can use that stable name without issues.

They'd have plenty of guys to wrestle Roman on TV if they un-separated the cruiserweight division. Bring on Roman vs. Akira Tozawa or Cedric Alexander.

Week's YouTube Roundup Raw's most viewed videos 1. Paige returns to WWE alongside Raw newcomers Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville - 2.7m views 2. The Shield drives The Miz through the announce table - 2.2m 3. The Miz vs. Roman Reigns - Intercontinental Championship Match - 1.9m 4. Kurt Angle threatens to retaliate against Triple H 5. Kane brutalizes Braun Strowman with a steel chair - 1.3m Lowest 3. Asuka vs. Dana Brooke - 281k 2. Rich Swann, Cedric Alexander, Akira Tozawa & Mustafa Ali vs. The Zo Train - 118k 1. Enzo Amore and "The Zo Train" give thanks - 112k Smackdown's most viewed videos 1. AJ Styles calls out Jinder Mahal - 1m 2. Shane McMahon calls Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn to the ring - 952k 3. The New Day vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn - 899k 4. Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan emerge with a surprise attack - 821k 5. The Hype Bros vs. The Bludgeon Brothers - 797k Lowest 3. Bryan answers Owens' pleas with a match against Orton - 522k 2. Shane makes it clear how he expects Owens & Zayn to be handled - 240k 1. Jey Uso vs. Shelton Benjamin - 218k

No I don't think there's been any. His matches against Cena and Orton are his best so far, which I have at 3.75. If he's in a singles match at Wrestlemania I'm sure he'll deliver though. That's just how he is.

Incredible match. Watched it twice now. Not much more to add than what's been said above. One very slight problem I have with it is the finish was essentially a repeat of the Cena-Styles Rumble match. Both guys put in fantastic selling performances. I went in to the match with no doubt Brock was winning, but twice he had me believe we might see a major upset. I really love little details like how AJ was elbowing Lesnar in the face trying to fight out of the F5 rather than just going limp and taking it. ****3/4

Not with me as the first Japanese show I ever watched was Wrestle Kingdom 9. I don't mind on social media/documentaries etc. but on a wrestling show I want everyone to treat it like it's real. Talking star ratings in a wrestling show is like someone in a Star Wars movie complementing the special effects.

Even if Vince came up with a heel turn that'd kill Bryan's star power, why would Bryan co-operate? His contract is gonna expire anyway.

Surely not. Last time Bryan turned heel every crowd totally no-sold the turn and he switched back two weeks later.

I find it really stupid and detracting when the English commentary talks about what star ratings Dave Meltzer gave X's matches.

My favourite bit is when Braun's just beaten Mark to the ground and then shouts at the crowd "World's Strongest Man!? HA!" Good match overall. ***

I wonder if those changes to the TLC card caused a surge in interest, and now WWE thinks the way to promote a PPV is to announce loads of card changes to keep everyone's attention.

I wouldn't care if his views weren't treated with the utmost respect by probably most hardcore fans. Someone in such a position of influence shouldn't be saying such idiotic things.

Thing is he started this by saying Cena wouldn't draw 1,700 people over 3 days anywhere, so he's backtracking without admitting he said something daft.

He's also arguing that if John Cena was booked for Ring of Honor it wouldn't sell as many extra tickets as Kenny Omega, so it's not just 'proportionately in their respective companies'. Omega might have moved more tickets proportionately for those RoH shows but he's wrestled for RoH only two weeks in the last three years? Obviously something in such rare supply is going to sell quicker than something readily available. It doesn't necessarily mean the demand for it is that high.

Dave Meltzer is now on Twitter arguing Kenny Omega sells more tickets than John Cena.

Jinder winning the belt back on a house show in India seems highly unlikely to me. When's the last time there was a WWE World Title change on a house show, Diesel in 1994 right?

So Omega's opponent for Wrestle Kingdom 12 has been revealed. Spoiler here: It's Chris Jericho

Yeah someone posted a photo from the Glasgow Show of 'Intermission' on the tron and said it was UK PPV.

Bayley was really over for many months on the main roster right until that feud with Bliss where she lost every match and was scripted to look like a total idiot. And whether she's 'peaked' or not it's still true that Sasha Banks is WWE's biggest TV draw in 2016/17 outside of Cena and Goldberg whereas Bliss is one of their worst. The rating in the 3rd hour bombed for the Alexa/Mickie main event and did even worse in the young female demographic, compare that to Sasha vs. Charlotte nearly outdrawing Goldberg's return under a year ago. I just don't buy any of these conventional pro-wrestling explanations as none of it adds up. I'm reminded more of Vince McMahon's repeated statements in WWE corporate reports since around 2012 that WWE The Brand is the attraction now and no individual performer affects business. That business strategy correlates with how they book, no one with momentum gets to ride it lest they get too big to fail and with WWE's huge gender pay-gap the impact on women is even greater.

I don't think a 4ft 11 heel winning clean with a KO Punch can be described as "wrestling as your character would do". Was it really worth it to hurt Sasha and totally murder Bayley if the end game is Asuka, a 36 year old who's already over anyway?