Is the empire crumbling before our eyes?

[highflyflow]

14 hours ago, Stiva said:

We’re about 6 months away from ChatGPT getting the book 

The timing of this message is priceless.

[sek69]

1 hour ago, C.S. said:

EVIL debuted in...NXT.

Lole.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has never meant less. 

 

Like I said when his signing was announced, I get the appeal from his point of view to follow Nak on the "collect the bag and surf" tour....I still have no idea why WWE would want him. 

[sek69]

Also I hear Lizzy Rain was over in the Euro scene but good lord her gimmick looks like something David McClane would come up with for WOW.  (and I say that as someone who actually watches WOW every week, she looked very out of place in NXT). 

[Stiva]

2 hours ago, highflyflow said:

The timing of this message is priceless.

They’ve even surprised me. “Poor response to Mania creative? Get the computer to book it next time”

[El-P]

5 hours ago, C.S. said:

EVIL debuted in...NXT.

Lole.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has never meant less. 

But you don't get it ! He has to go to NXT first so he can learn to work the proper way. That hard cam deal is some elevated pro-wrestling shit you won't find in some second rate japanese promotion....

I mean, if Joe Hendry had to do it. So yeah, TNA and NJPW are at the same level for WWE...

Amazing how Danhausen went straight to the main roster, without even a period of learning that has been requested from Royce Keys too (ya know, working dark matches for months).... How far carrying a bag will get you. I'm sure Levesque recognize that kind of work ethic.

4 hours ago, sek69 said:

Like I said when his signing was announced, I get the appeal from his point of view to follow Nak on the "collect the bag and surf" tour....I still have no idea why WWE would want him. 

I have no idea either. It's not like they had to sign him to keep him from going to AEW considering TK never wanted anything to do with him. And oh boy wait until they ruin what's left of Takahashi.

4 hours ago, sek69 said:

Also I hear Lizzy Rain was over in the Euro scene but good lord her gimmick looks like something David McClane would come up with for WOW. 

I've seen a clip. Regular Jem and the Hologram stuff. But hey, those Gen Z people LOOOOOVE the 80's. Or, the very warped idea they have of the 80's (don't get me started on the Micheal Jackson white washing biopic crap). But yeah, she won't go that far. Don't fit the WWE look mold at all. And how in the hell are people watching NXT with Booker T announcing, I have no idea. I can barely handle a 20 second clip.

[El-P]

The fact that he apparently requested it makes it even funnier. Imagine Okada going "Hummm, no, I'd rather work ROH tapings for one year, I'm not confortable working US TV yet".... 

Also, how ridiculous does that sounds ?

"That is the former IWPG heavyweight champion !"

Yeah, you now. The infamous IWGP heavyweight champion with no name.

Also, generic-ass music. 

[Blehschmidt]

Maybe the phrase "the camera is over there" doesn't translate well?

[Boss Rock]

I would suggest his new name be "Malice" had that not already been used by Jerry Tuite (RIP). So can only imagine him going by "Cruel", "Mean", "Ill-Will", or "Unkind."

[El-P]

"What is DASTARDLY doing in the NXT Zone ?!!"

One question remains though. Does he remember how to work a match without a dozen run-ins and ref bumps anymore ? I mean, it's been 6 years now...

[El-P]

1 hour ago, Blehschmidt said:

Maybe the phrase "the camera is over there" doesn't translate well?

🤣

[Boss Rock]

2 hours ago, El-P said:

"What is DASTARDLY doing in the NXT Zone ?!!"

One question remains though. Does he remember how to work a match without a dozen run-ins and ref bumps anymore ? I mean, it's been 6 years now...

It would actually be the funniest thing in the world if he immediately started wrestling his pre-HoT style.

[C.S.]

7 hours ago, Boss Rock said:

I would suggest his new name be "Malice" had that not already been used by Jerry Tuite (RIP). So can only imagine him going by "Cruel", "Mean", "Ill-Will", or "Unkind."

I've heard two possible names:

Sinister (I love this)

Nox Raijin (translates to Thunder God) - no, this is NXT CAW name generator crap

[The Thread Killer]

I used to rag on WWE/NXT relentlessly about the stupid names incoming talent would get tagged with, but turns out that (at least since Vince left) they are letting talent pick their own names, or at least give them a lot of input. Which in a way, makes some of the names sadder.

As far as EVIL goes, I freely admit that I don’t watch NJPW, so I have never laid eyes on the guy before. Based on the general reaction online from pretty much all corners of the “IWC” I have to admit I am now morbidly curious about how bad this guy really is, considering I have yet to hear anybody say anything good about him.

[Boss Rock]

1 hour ago, The Thread Killer said:

As far as EVIL goes, I freely admit that I don’t watch NJPW, so I have never laid eyes on the guy before. Based on the general reaction online from pretty much all corners of the “IWC” I have to admit I am now morbidly curious about how bad this guy really is, considering I have yet to hear anybody say anything good about him.

It's complicated. 2016-2019 he was genuinely a pretty good bruiser and while not a guy you would want in 30-minute main events, was a solid upper-midcarder who could be counted on to have a fun G1. When he turned heel, joined Bullet Club, and became a main eventer, he pretty much eschewed his powerhouse style in favor of one that relies on repeated interference spots and cheating. And he would do this virtually every match which, in a promotion with a big emphasis on in-ring action, was a major drag for such a pushed act. But he reportedly had a good match with Takeshita last year in the G1 finals once he dropped the schtick. And earlier this year at Wrestle Kingdom, he had a genuinely solid match against Aaron Wolf in his very first match, which goes to show that the ability still is very much there. It's just buried under horrible overbooking.

[JRH]

1 hour ago, The Thread Killer said:

I used to rag on WWE/NXT relentlessly about the stupid names incoming talent would get tagged with, but turns out that (at least since Vince left) they are letting talent pick their own names, or at least give them a lot of input. Which in a way, makes some of the names sadder.

 

Yeah, as bland as a name like Lexis King is, it was picked by him as a tribute to his sisters, not the NXT name generator, though they still played up the fact that he's Pillman's son in the vignettes.

[KingBoggs33]

I just want to see what this Will Kroos dude does in nxt. Cause the chant the fans do for him is pretty funny and the dude does some impressive moves for a dude his size  

he’s big, he’s bad, he will body slam your dad. 

That’s probably one my favorite chants I’ve heard in a while. 

[sek69]

I know Stephanie Vaquer requested to start in NXT in order to get used to living in the US without having to deal with the WWE main roster schedule. For international talent it probably is helpful to get your legs under you for a bit. 

[KingBoggs33]

8 hours ago, sek69 said:

I know Stephanie Vaquer requested to start in NXT in order to get used to living in the US without having to deal with the WWE main roster schedule. For international talent it probably is helpful to get your legs under you for a bit. 

Imagine being a foreigner living in America for the first time in 2026. That might be the worst thing to happen to someone. I don’t blame anyone for going to nxt first then. It’s a complete culture shock and let’s be honest unless you’re someone that’s got a legacy or name already built. You are not getting on top on the main roster anyways. 

We know main roster money is different but still. I would rather go to nxt as well and live in Florida where the weather is amazing then travel this horrible country on my own dime in 2026. 

[El-P]

So they signed RFK Jr.'s niece. Because of course they did.

The story about them being "politically forced" is kinda funny. Like they need incentives to please their MAGA masters. But anywoo. Already heard good jokes about her having The Worm as a finisher...

[The Thread Killer]

I am not prepared to judge anyone based on their familial relationship with an Uncle. A parent or sibling might be one thing, but Aunts and Uncles? My mother is one of 7 kids, I have Aunts and Uncles whom I have only met a couple of times in my life.

Hell, my Brother moved half way across the country and has 4 kids now, 3 of whom I don’t really know either. He has 3 girls and I am embarrassed to admit I can never keep track of which one is which.

I’d hate to be judged based on something one of my Uncles did, nor would I want one of my Nieces or Nephews judged on something I said or did, considering I barely even know them.

There might be plenty of reasons to judge someone if they choose to work for WWE (although I personally don’t) but pre-judging someone based on who they are related to seems like a stretch to me.

Meltzer might be reporting that this was a politically forced hiring, (ala Ava Raine) but then again just this week Meltzer also reported that Kairi Sane asked to be released, which has since been refuted by…Kairi Sane. So I don’t put a whole lot of stock in anything he says about WWE anymore. I don’t think he has the sources.

[El-P]

🙃

Levesque literally works with RFK Jr. office.

The idea that this isn't a MAGA nepo-hire is absolutely hilarious.

Maybe she can call her finisher "The Measle Spread". A real killer.

[The Thread Killer]

I’m not saying who she is related to didn’t help her get the tryout. I’m sure it helped her in the same way being a member of the extended Anoa’i family helped all of them get jobs with WWE (except Lance Anoa’i for some odd reason…there’s no way he can be any worse than Tonga Loa, but he spent an entire year at the Performance Center, never wrestled in NXT once, and then got released. I would love to know the story there.)

What I am saying is that Meltzer is reporting  she passed the tryout because of her Uncle, and I don’t know if I buy that. It is certainly more than plausible, but I don’t trust Meltzer anymore and he is the one who is pushing that story right now.

My main point was, I am not going to pre-judge this girl based on who her Uncle is. If she turns out to be the next Ava Raine, I will be the first to criticize her. But I don’t know if she shares any of her Uncle’s political or medical opinions, and I really don’t care. I just don’t think it’s fair to blame her just because her Uncle is a weirdo. Hell, 99% of that whole family don’t identify with RFK Jr. anyhow.