sek69 Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Yeah, I'd wager WWE was far more concerned with them getting major TV clearance than the actual wrestling content. Same as when they decided to go after ROH when they got on Destination America. If a backyard wrestling fed somehow got a TV deal, we'd probably see the First Annual Backyard Classic Special on the network . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stro Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 The preview show wasn't very good. Compare it to the one they did for the CWC. You don't really know anything about the talent involved, who you should root for, who to look out for, any of their backgrounds except for the guy Balor trained, what moves to look for, or really anything other than WWE is really proud of themselves for having "expanded" into an area they've been running shows in for 30 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 I still want Ohno to crash the thing and win to massive amounts of heel heat (though I don't entirely have faith in the crowd to boo him even in that jingoistic situation). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 No Vince involvement at all. I'm really looking forward to watching the tournament, as I haven't seen any of these guys perform yet. Should be a fun 2 shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerva Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Well Martin stone/Danny Burch got fucked over. Never mind that it wasn't an actual 3 count. Devlin wasn't very impressive but I guess if you are going to be push him with Balor then they have to do something with him. Hard to tell if he won because Burch was busted open or because of all the Balor talk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Dragon Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 With this eventually hopefully being a TV show, I think it was setting up a Burch got screwed story. If that wasn't the planned finish, tons of props to Devlin (who wasn't very good in the match by any means) for great improvising on the interview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerva Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 This show is also more proof that Michael Cole is very very good when he doesn't have to deal with the bullshit of Vince screaming in his ear and Corey Graves and Byron Saxton acting like petulant children in the backseat. Nigel has been good as well. I never had a problem with Nigel in commentary when motivated and not distracted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Dragon Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Yeah, Cole has been a clear highlight tonight. He's been very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerva Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Not a great show but some good stuff especial Tyler Bate vs Tucker which was easily worthy of the main event spot. Although to be fair the 1st round of CWC wasn't that special either and the 2nd round was where the good shit was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Dragon Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 I love how this wasn't just generic tournament handshake after match stuff. Dunne attacking during the "hype tomorrows matches" thing was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Great heeling by Dunne in that closing segment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffey Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Wolfgang & Danny Burch all made a positive impression on me. Â Devlin seems quite green/bad. Looked like they blew that finish to me which would explain Burch losing. Maybe that's why Dunne attacked his second round opponent? They can do an angle where the cheap shot blinded him in one eye, so he can't be medically cleared & Burch takes his spot? I don't know. Â I'm hoping we get Bate/Dunne as that would probably be the best match from these guys - but I say that with my knowledge of each only being what I saw during the first round of this tournament today. Â I can't believe Tyler Bate is only 19. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KawadaSmile Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Very enjoyable event, really. Â Tyler Bate/Tucker and Wolfgang/T-Bone were my two matches of the night. Incredible how young Bate is, and how secure he seemed. Â Devlin sucked, but props to him by giving the crowd reason for him to be hated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzombie1988 Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Really didn't like it, but I couldn't watch it or comment on it in full due to work: http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/wwe-uk-championship-tournament-results.htmlrodge  Wolfgang, Burch, Dunne and Bate were the stars of the show. I don't think any of those guys are good enough to carry a show though. A lot of those guys were really not good though personality or in-ring wise and were quite bland. Everything felt really rushed too which hurt things. Reddit loved it though which doesn't surprise me.  I'm really not sure if we saw one true submission hold worked during the whole show... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 They did a good job setting up building blocks for these characters if they are doing weekly TV. Really looking forward to tomorrow night's show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzombie1988 Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 They did a good job setting up building blocks for these characters if they are doing weekly TV. Really looking forward to tomorrow night's show. I mean I like Dunne and Wolfgang, but are these guys really going to be able to carry a TV show? That's kind of asking a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahoos Leg Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 I didn't think there were any must-see matches, but most everything ranged from watchable to good. Burch vs. Devlin was probably my least favorite match, but Devlin's heel work and promo post-match were both very good. I'd say Bate vs. Tucker was my favorite, as it was most reminscent of the PROGRESS style, which I enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 Â Â They did a good job setting up building blocks for these characters if they are doing weekly TV. Really looking forward to tomorrow night's show. I mean I like Dunne and Wolfgang, but are these guys really going to be able to carry a TV show? That's kind of asking a lot. They are far from done. But tomorrow night's show should add another layer of development. An old school one hour show built around the cream of this tournament is something I would watch, and I'm sure would attract a good sized viewership. Especially if it is NXT-esque, out of Vince/Dunn/Stephanie's way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerva Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 The backstage stuff with Dunne has been really good as you can see how everyone working with the show is pissed off because he ruined the plans and stuff EXCEPT for Triple H who almost respect him for "making an big impact" as he puts it. Really the first time in all of his projects where Triple H has acting like well Triple H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 I think Dunne coming off as a petulant teenager might be the wrong way to go. He seemed half confused for why he acted as he did backstepping from Regal and half completely indifferent. "Meh." Like the youngest guy in a gang that shoots the old bank guard in the robbery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alucard Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 Love the venue, thought this had a very old school feel to it and I liked it more than the beginning of the CWC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stro Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 Very, very unimpressive show. It's amazing with the UK scene as hot as it is that it has WWE and WoS angling for weekly TV shows from the area, yet neither promotion can get the top names associated with the UK wrestling scene. I swear every match had at least one guy who they said had only been wrestling for a year or two. Way too many guys who were not at all ready for this kind of spotlight. Â The attempts at character work were poor (this guy was a preme, this guy lost part of his ear and constantly touches, this guy has a mustache), and the ring work was about as bland and uninteresting as the WOS pilot. I liked the setting, couldn't understand any of the chants besides the Jesus and You're not Balor ones, Nigel and Cole were inoffensive. Bate/Tucker was the only stand out match of the show, and it wasn't anything special, but Bate is shockingly polished for being 19. He won me over by the end when I had written him off as a slightly bigger Jack Gallagher. Â I think WWE made a mistake not putting their UK talent into this, since they weren't going to have any of the top indie guys from the area. Having someone beat Sheamus or Neville could make the whole thing seem way bigger and make a star out of whoever got the win. Dunne being compared directly to Finlay/Bryan, then not being particularly impressive, then getting into an angle with Regal/HHH is hard to take seriously when he still has acne and is a foot shorter than both. Certainly did nothing to make me watch the next rounds, or a weekly show with this group of talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzombie1988 Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 I think Dunne coming off as a petulant teenager might be the wrong way to go. He seemed half confused for why he acted as he did backstepping from Regal and half completely indifferent. "Meh." Like the youngest guy in a gang that shoots the old bank guard in the robbery. Agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerva Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 Wolfgang is the Cedric Alexander of this tournament. Has looked so good in his two matches. This has been a very good 2nd round and man can't wait for Pete Dunne vs Mark Andrews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Schneider Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 If Dave Taylor was there, I see no reason for him not to put someone over in the first round. Have at least one guy someone might have heard of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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