flyonthewall2983 Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 I was there. First PLE since being a fan starting when the hype for WrestleMania 8 began on a local level. It is a show not widely remembered as a great WM, but lot of us still remember it. I saw two separate fans wearing ring attire from that show while walking around yesterday. Went with my brother and with really awesome seats we were rather blown away for almost the entire show. I have not been to a live WWE event in over a decade, and while the shows I went to in the previous two decades had decent crowd response this was on a different level the kinds of which I have not felt since the late 90’s. Women’s Rumble was great, piling up and almost dizzying in how many great spots there were. The tag team match really did feel akin to night and day as far as the reaction but I liked the pace of it, though maybe not how it ended so much. The title match had the big fight feel it has been building up to, the passion within given the more visceral spots lifted my already healthy respect for both men. Cody’s a tremendous figurehead, while Kevin I respect the hustle and also the fact his aura is that if one if the Ghosts of Christmas Past was an attitude era mark. The Men’s Rumble felt like it went by pretty quickly, to start with at least. Cena was my pick to win but I should’ve suspected it would have been Jey, given how hot the crowd was for him even on the cold Indy streets. Plus John felt a bit absent in plain sight (ikyk) for some of the match long enough, to cast doubt on his chances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMJ Posted February 2 Author Report Share Posted February 2 - Not sure I watched the same Women's Rumble as everyone else. It was wrestled better, but the booking was all over the place. The only two who got to come in and really eliminate anybody were Nia and Flair. Roxanne Perez beating Bayley's record was...okay....I guess...but if you're on-screen for 60+ minutes and I can't think of a single thing you did in that time, its meaningless anyway. Last year, Tiffany Stratton came in and turned heads. That's what this match needed from the "future stars of the division." The only newcomers who really shined were Lash Legend, but mostly because she is so physically impressive, and Jordynne Grace, who should've had more eliminations. Did she have any? - Speaking of Grace, she got a huge response, but not as big as Alexa, who seemed like she got the loudest pop of the match. I wasn't surprised. Bliss' return might have been predicted by many(despite the "dirtsheet" rumors of her not re-signing), but it still felt "feel good" and special because Bliss has that star power "It" factor and has been off-screen for so long. - I also wasn't surprised by the tepid response to Nikki Bella at #30. For starters, I think many fans were hoping for Becky Lynch, especially after watching Charlotte's return and the way the match proceeded with her overtly being made to look leagues above everyone else. Becky being "the Charlotte Slayer" would've been a moment. But its also worth mentioning that Bella was a star for the company in the mid-2010s, an era that hasn't quite come around yet in terms of real "nostalgia factor." And, even back then, while there were pockets of the IWC that eventually came around to respecting Nikki's improvement as a worker, its not like she was ever universally loved. She also spent most of her career as a heel, which means you're not going to get that same response that you might if, say, the IIconics showed up (who were heels, but comedically appreciated). Nikki was never a "fan surrogate" type and that's a critical piece for getting over as a babyface these days, it seems. - How many returns does it take for someone to just be considered part-time? Should Trish Stratus appearing at a Rumble even count as a surprise anymore? Without checking the numbers, I feel like she's been around for a few of these by now. - I get wanting to present Vaquer and Giulia to the widest audience possible...but Rumbles probably don't play to their strengths in terms of getting to show off what they can do. Filling 30 spots means you kinda need to put anybody you possible can in there (and given their respective experience level, they are obviously among your best options of actually being able to perform without fucking up), but this is also where cramming people you want to make look "special" into matches where they have almost no chance of looking special is a bad idea and how you get to folks like Zoey Stark, Lyra Valkyria, Sonya Deville, Baszler, Candice, Michin, and others looking just like "bodies." - As for the Men's Rumble, what else is there to say? This one was booked so damn well. Unlike the Women's Rumble, it felt like the producers went in with a clear plan to *make* some people and have them leave impressions, most notably Penta (40+ minues), Bron Breakker (that spear on the YouTube guy was vicious), and Jacob Fatu (multiple great moments with him). I'd also say that, in terms of star power, this one really rivals the early 90s Rumbles with a murderer's row of ex-champions in Roman, Rollins, Punk, Rey, Cena, Sheamus, AJ, Finn... - I smirked a little when Michael Cole mentioned that Andrade had returned to the WWE at last year's Rumble. I don't think Andrade would be doing all that much better over in AEW right now, but if the plan was to come to WWE and become a much bigger star, the plan has definitely not worked. - That stomp on the floor from Rollins to Reigns looked brutal and like he stomped him with both feet. - Loved Braun eliminating Fatu in a rather "quiet," unexpected fashion and then, within 60 seconds, John Cena showing up. It is that kind of attention-to-detail that I thought really helped this Rumble because it was a very effective way of "hiding" Fatu's elimination after allowing him to shine for so much of it. If Fatu stays in the match too long, you kinda risk him "stealing" the match when, for now at least, there is clearly still going to be more focus put on Cena, Punks, Rollins, Roman, and, now, Jey Uso. - Speaking of Jey Uso, I was not expecting him to win, but I get it. Speaking to a buddy who attended the show, he said that, the whole weekend, every restaurant he went to, every street he walked, he saw wrestling fans and those wrestling fans were wearing Yeet gear. Even at the school I work at, though you don't see much wrestling gear being worn, this year, when I have seen a kid wearing a wrestling shirt, it's been a Jey Uso one. Ultimately, the WWE has the numbers and they know who is moving merch and Jey Uso is that guy (even if I'm not personally sold on him as a singles main eventer). Someone else commented that they don't think they'll run GUNTHER/Jey again but I think that's the plan. On a WrestleMania card that will likely be loaded (Rollins vs. Punk vs. Roman? Cody vs. Cena? Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles?), I don't think its not a "big enough" match. It won't close a night, but it will fill time. My main issue with it is that it will be the second year where "the story" seems near-identical to GUNTHER's last WrestleMania build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KawadaSmile Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 I don't think re-using the Sami/GUNTHER dynamic for Jey/GUNTHER is a bad thing. Big Gooner is just that type of heel in which the face has to try again and again and again to overcome and it ends up working. Chad Gable had the run of his life going against him, Sami became one of the top babyfaces (and his title win is still an all timer), Cody beating him at the Rumble match was great... he's just one of the greatest ever at that type of role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 1 hour ago, DMJ said: Speaking to a buddy who attended the show, he said that, the whole weekend, every restaurant he went to, every street he walked, he saw wrestling fans and those wrestling fans were wearing Yeet gear. Even at the school I work at, though you don't see much wrestling gear being worn, this year, when I have seen a kid wearing a wrestling shirt, it's been a Jey Uso one. Ultimately, the WWE has the numbers and they know who is moving merch and Jey Uso is that guy (even if I'm not personally sold on him as a singles main eventer). You make an excellent point. Having had some time to think about it, the result of the Men’s Rumble is starting to make a bit more sense to me. Sometimes I think I tend to get trapped in the online “smark” bubble and assume that just because people don’t like how a particular guy works or other stuff about him, then he must not be worthy of a particular level of promotion. Let’s face it, if nothing else WWE is a business that is designed to generate revenue and that has never been more true since the company was sold and became part of TKO. The fact is for whatever reason, and whether we agree with it or not, Jey Uso is extremely popular. Most importantly to the company, he apparently moves a ridiculous amount of merchandise, and he is also extremely popular with children. One moment that really jumped out to me last weekend during Saturday Night’s Main Event, was during Uso’s entrance. Some parents had their little boy dressed up exactly like Jey, and on his way to the ring, he stopped to acknowledge the kid and they (sigh) “yeeted” together. The kid could not have been older than five or six years old, and it was pretty adorable, I’m not going to lie. Even for a bitter old crank like me, I have to admit it was very endearing. WWE is probably more than happy to sacrifice “match quality” for merchandise sales and popularity with children and families. Having thought about it, it probably does make sense to have laid the foundation of Jey being totally unable to beat Gunther up to this point, but having earned another chance to do it on the biggest possible stage. It’s not the match I necessarily wanted to see, I enjoy Gunther a ton and there are a bunch of guys who I would rather have seen him match up with, but from a business and marketing standpoint, this might be a smart way for them to go. I don’t necessarily like it, but I’m starting to understand it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 55 minutes ago, DMJ said: As for the Men's Rumble, what else is there to say? This one was booked so damn well…most notably Penta (40+ minues), Bron Breakker (that spear on the YouTube guy was vicious), and Jacob Fatu (multiple great moments with him). I'd also say that, in terms of star power, this one really rivals the early 90s Rumbles with a murderer's row of ex-champions in Roman, Rollins, Punk, Cena, AJ, Finn… Yeah, I did not post a lot of comments during the actual Rumble itself last night because I was just enjoying it, but it definitely ranks in the top third all time of Royal Rumble matches. Just based on the talent alone, if nothing else. But there were some great moments in there. One of my favourite moments was when Roman was spearing the shit out of everybody and laying them out, and then Breakker turned around and did it to him. The look on Heyman’s face was priceless. And as you said, Penta and Fatu both came out of that match with a bigger shine as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 1 hour ago, The Thread Killer said: One of my favourite moments was when Roman was spearing the shit out of everybody and laying them out, and then Breakker turned around and did it to him. The look on Heyman’s face was priceless. Heyman sells better with his facial expressions than 90% of the roster do in the ring, and I'm not even saying that as a knock on the roster he's just that damn good. One thing that stood out to me, well two things actually: one was how WWE is a thousand times better booking babyfaces in the Hunter Era and two there weren't any entrants that were just filling a spot. Michael Cole even mentioned at one point when there was 6-7 people left that any of them could be a WM main eventer and he was right. (I guess technically IShowSpeed was filling a spot but at least that served a purpose in its own way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strobogo Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 Bron fucking annihilating the youtuber and Roman is the most memorable things from the entire show for me. Love this dude having the full Steiners aura in 2025. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 16 minutes ago, strobogo said: Bron fucking annihilating the youtuber and Roman is the most memorable things from the entire show for me. Love this dude having the full Steiners aura in 2025. Scott Steiner’s son Brock is playing college football, but he has already made it pretty clear that once he is finished with football, he definitely intends to try and get on with WWE. I’m just imagining a new, younger version of the Steiners… definitely something to look forward to. Just not for the guys in the locker room if the two younger Steiners act like their fathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 4 hours ago, DMJ said: - I smirked a little when Michael Cole mentioned that Andrade had returned to the WWE at last year's Rumble. I don't think Andrade would be doing all that much better over in AEW right now, but if the plan was to come to WWE and become a much bigger star, the plan has definitely not worked. I had the same reaction. All he's done for the past year in WWE is take up space. Major star in Mexico, but started off ice cold in NXT, only warmed up thanks to great matches and the combined efforts of Zelina Vega and Johnny Gargano, never really found his footing on the main roster, became less relevant in AEW, and is now once again just another wrestler in WWE. I predict the same trajectory for Aleister/Malakai Black, to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blehschmidt Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 I don't know how to embed Tweets, so credit to @TrevorDame on X or Twitter or whatever it is these days, but he posted this earlier, and I can't help but think that it is one of the best takes I've seen.... Quote Men's Rumble was the apex of modern WWE, a fed built on moments and celebrating itself above all else. Lots of guys standing around staring at each other as the crowd freaks out. One day they'll get rid of those pesky wrestling moves. They're not there yet, but they'll get there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 There has definitely been a noticeable change in the WWE ring style over the last couple of years. They have definitely slowed things down, and they are also trying to make some specific moves mean a lot more than they used to. A great example would be the piledriver. Now, whenever somebody delivers that manoeuvre in WWE, the announcers react like it’s a major deal. Part of that change has been that yeah…there is a lot more emphasis put on guys staring at each other, facial expressions and even talking to each other in the ring and having the microphones pick it up. Some of that I really like, and some of it I don’t. The changes to the booking and creative have been really noticeable as well, WWE is so driven by stories right now, more than I can ever remember it being before. It’s definitely a different style than what you see in AEW. Those guys tend to throw everything they have at each other, and I don’t think there is anywhere near as much of an emphasis put on selling, psychology or character development. I’m willing to bet you could probably go into an AEW PPV totally blind, not knowing any of the angles, and you would simply be impressed by the fast paced matches. Whereas I remember, I watched Summerslam with a friend of mine who hasn’t seen any WWE programming in ages and he didn’t understand the entire Rhea/Dom/Liv angle, for example. And that’s just because he hadn’t been watching the television leading up to the event, so the stakes didn’t mean anywhere near as much to him. Before anybody freaks out, I am not saying the WWE style better but I am also not saying it’s worse. It’s just different. It is basically two totally different styles and presentation methods for Professional Wrestling. I don’t think the difference in style between the two companies has ever been more apparent than it is right now. But then again, that makes sense when you think about it because obviously both companies are trying to appeal to totally different demographics. I am guessing AEW is happy to appeal to the hardcore modern Pro Wrestling fan, whereas the stuff WWE is doing now is definitely more entertainment based and aimed at families and kids. WWE is like a soap opera with Pro Wrestling as the end result, whereas AEW seemed to me to be more an athletic exhibition with nowhere near as much emphasis being placed on “telling a story.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 1 hour ago, C.S. said: I had the same reaction. All he's done for the past year in WWE is take up space. Major star in Mexico, but started off ice cold in NXT, only warmed up thanks to great matches and the combined efforts of Zelina Vega and Johnny Gargano, never really found his footing on the main roster, became less relevant in AEW, and is now once again just another wrestler in WWE. From a career success standpoint, Andrade’s move from AEW to WWE has definitely been lateral at best. I don’t think he’s any better or worse off. The best he can hope for is a run with a midcard title. I am guessing the major selling factor in him coming back to WWE was the fact that his wife works there, and he is apparently pretty good friends with Punk which obviously did not endear him to the AEW locker room. Actually, come to mention it, you will probably be able to say the exact same thing for Malakai/Aleistar Black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Zelina suddenly being sent to Smackdown makes me think that's where Mr Black is going to show up at very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Drew was the most vocal, but it is sounding like a lot of folks were pissed at LA Knight getting involved in his elimination sequence. Drew felt he was trying to get himself over in the middle of Drew's next program being set up, and the most charitable explanation would have been "he just got in the way" which is a bad look for a guy who's been around as long as he has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 TMZ reported today that Charlotte and Andrade have divorced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 2 hours ago, Strummer said: TMZ reported today that Charlotte and Andrade have divorced So much for my “Andrade went back to WWE to spend more time with his wife” theory, I guess? Boy, first Rusev/Miro and Lana/CJ and now Andrade and Charlotte. Black and Zalina and Rhea and Buddy better be careful. Going to AEW from WWE is apparently hazardous for your marriage. Mind you, Charlotte is a Flair, after all. This is only what, her third ruined marriage? I know both she and Ric have said in the past that they want her to break her dad‘s overall championship record. That might still happen, but she has a long way to go before she can match his ruined marriage record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 Meltzer's update today noted that Alexa Bliss's deal was closed on Saturday by her agent, Dean Muhtadi. Is Mojo Rawley in the Wyatt Family? Does he sit in a rocking chair when exchanging numbers with Nick Khan? What is even happening here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 31 minutes ago, WingedEagle said: Meltzer's update today noted that Alexa Bliss's deal was closed on Saturday by her agent, Dean Muhtadi. Is Mojo Rawley in the Wyatt Family? Does he sit in a rocking chair when exchanging numbers with Nick Khan? What is even happening here? Yeah, until I read that article, I had no idea at all that the former Mojo Rawley is now working as a sports/talent agent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KawadaSmile Posted February 7 Report Share Posted February 7 On 2/3/2025 at 11:22 PM, WingedEagle said: Meltzer's update today noted that Alexa Bliss's deal was closed on Saturday by her agent, Dean Muhtadi. Is Mojo Rawley in the Wyatt Family? Does he sit in a rocking chair when exchanging numbers with Nick Khan? What is even happening here? Man, I miss Mojo. Nothing stellar in the ring or in the mic but he always had some type of energy that really resonated with me. Good to know he's doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 7 Report Share Posted February 7 1 hour ago, KawadaSmile said: Man, I miss Mojo. Nothing stellar in the ring or in the mic but he always had some type of energy that really resonated with me. Good to know he's doing well. Plus, he didn’t get hyped, he stayed hyped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 8 Report Share Posted February 8 On 2/3/2025 at 4:57 AM, sek69 said: Drew was the most vocal, but it is sounding like a lot of folks were pissed at LA Knight getting involved in his elimination sequence. Drew felt he was trying to get himself over in the middle of Drew's next program being set up, and the most charitable explanation would have been "he just got in the way" which is a bad look for a guy who's been around as long as he has. Based on the promos between McIntyre and Knight on Smackdown tonight, I’m still not sure if this whole story is a work or not. Which is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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