El-P

Interesting episodes about the creation of RAW, which made me think about how stale and dull the product really is today. It's kinda crazy to think RAW (and SD) basically haven't changed since 2001. With a few cosmetic differences, these are the same show, with the same dynamics and production (the same awful production of poorly written interviews and backstage skits, might I say). 17 years. Hell Smackdown is named after a guy who hasn't been a regular part of the show in more than 10 years. Can you picture a show named Watchagonnado in 2007 or so ? It's not the "longest running TV show in history" like the bullshit they feed their audience, but it is actually a very old show now, and feels like it. It's a dinosaur. The monopoly really killed any kind of forward thinking, of trying stuff out of the box, especially since the only thing approaching an alternative as a mainstream show only tried to be like WWE. There's a reason why the 90's are revered as fun times, it's because things evolved all the time. Apart from Lucha Underground, which sadly stayed just that, there hasn't been anything new to what a pro-wrestling show is supposed to be like since things settled down in a format created around 97/98 and found its apex in 2000. US pro-wrestling badly needs a serious competitor to WWE to push things in another direction. EIther that, or still 20 more years of GMs, backstage skits with awkward pauses, robotic entrances and bad comedy and silliness all around.

The same kind of shit happening today would have a whole different kind of echo chamber I would hope...

Problem is that the unpredictable choice lately has always been the worst, dullest choice possible. Orton last year was like the cherry on a cake on an already wretchedly boring Rumble match.

Well, Trump did say he liked to grab female by the crotch, so, ya know... After all, it's a thread about Rape Culture, not just rape. #balancetonporc, as we say over here.

I wish I could. I feel for you all. I really do.

Damn BAHU, cool to see you're still pimping the crazyness that was FMW.

So 'member when the WWE had this great tag team, Enzo (alleged rapist) & Cass (vocal Trump supporter) ?

Duckface ?

First entire RAW show I watched in eons. Fuck me for doing so. Ok, I admit it, I had to fast forward through tons of shit after a while. So, Vince at past 70 shows more ass than Stephy. It's crazy how in another universe him and Austin are in term of chemistry despite the fact their prime was almost 20 years ago. I don't see what the fuss is about Reigns vs Miz. It was an okay match at best, way patterned and with annoying tropes galore. Ok, so the Manhattan Center show was just fucking with people, right ? Damn, Bischoff has aged. DAMN. Torrie Wilson hasn't. And where in the hell is Lilian Garcia keeping her portrait ? She's 51. Seriously. Those unfunny cameos are so useless. Can't wait until that Jericho vs Naito match. Wow. That worthless Taker segment. Gotta love how the Kane mention got crickets though. The 8 women match was there. Chinlock galore in an 8 WOMEN MATCH. Post match was kinda cool though. That was so awful as a 25th Anniversary show. These people can't write/book worth a shit at this point. TNA 2008 TV looks like prime mid-south compared to this. And yeah, I watched it in English. Ouch. That's just rough.

This thread was dumb since day one anyway. This guy was a piss-poor performer on every level (never bought the "great promo" argument either). Yeah, past tense seems like a better idea.

Going back to the prediction stuff, I just hope it won't suck like last year (yeah it had the great Cena vs Aj match and fuck else, with the Braun section of the Rumble being the only real fun part of the match), because if I stay up all night to watch it with you people, they better book some good shit.

Bro... bullshit... Bro... bullshit... Bro... dumbfuckery.... Bro.... LIES.... Bro.... ego wanking... Bro... For fuck's sake. Who wants to listen to this shit ?

Damn, that guy has not one ounce of dignity left !

This is one of the most aggravating and idiotic things about Corporate WWE. Pro-wrestling has always been about getting yourself over so you get pushed because fans are willing to pay to see you. Yet, anyone who does get over on their own has to be buried. Dumb as fuck.

Best thread ever.

Oh, I remember why I voted Stan Hansen #1 in the GWE. This is a war. It totally goes against what pro-wrestling usually looks like and what we're told should be, with the dynamic changes and the epic nearfalls from finishers and shit. This is a fight with two guys trying to hold on until the point they just aren't able to and finally get killed by two brutal gaijins. This looks brutal because it probably was. This is what pro-wrestling should be, with a complete absence of self-awareness. This is pro-wrestling at its absolute best.

Braun vs HHH and what's in spoiler tags maybe. Yikes. McMahon Mania incoming. Color me very much uninterested.

For a mixed match challenge ? Damn. That's hot stuff.

Ok. And who's next ?

Rollins is a Trip guy. I guess.

This. It's never, ever, easy to go to the police in the first place. Add in the social pressure, the shitty working 'da business' environement. Doesn't help. So, no blame on her at all.

Hopefully this doesn't screw the whole podcast stuff... Like, hiring Bruce so he makes a WWEtm podcast on the Network. Please, no. Don't ruin a good thing.

Tough break for the girl. That sucks. Yeah, hopefully they keep her around for a while.

Agreed. Yano is great at what he does.