The Wrestling Thread

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

Watching the first episode of Lucha Underground here, bit of a mixed bag for me so far.

El Bueno

-Real stars from Mexico. Blue Demon Jr. is not what he used to be (he is nearly 50 in fairness), but Sexy Star is awesome. I've looked at the card for the following episodes and Fénix, Drago, Pentagón Jr. and Ricky Banderas/El Mesias are all involved too, which is great as they are all completely new to the US and not recycled from WCW or TNA.
-Chavo and Johnny M. will help to get the WWE fans watching. I never saw much of Johnny Nitro/Morrison so this is a good way to catch up.
-Rick Knox from PWG as one of the referees. I love that dude.
-The little Aztec history video packages. Konnan's point about the connection between taking masks in luchas de apuestas and Aztec champions taking heads was really cool.
-Konnan in general being Konnan. It was sad seeing him in a wheelchair, but it turns out he is wrestling occasionally in AAA again so I don't think he actually needs it any more. It helps his character though.
-Matt Striker and Vampiro Canadiense on commentary. Great respective choices for play by play and colour commentators. Striker wrestled in Dragon Gate and Vamp is a legend in AAA so they both really know their stuff.
-Ricochet in the ring, and the fact he is pushed as the face of the promotion.

El Mal

-The Prince Puma character. Cool name, cool mask, but why pretend he is a latino from LA? To me the truth which is this chubby half-black kid from the Midwest became the best high-flying wrestler in the world is a much more interesting story. Maybe it serves them better for storylines but it does nothing to further Ricochet.
-The way they insinuated this is the first time Johnny M has wrestled in 3 years. So the only wrestling companies that exist are WWE, TNA, AAA and CMLL? This is why they can't push Ricochet as Ricochet. If they did they'd have to mention his other achievements like NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors and PWG Battle Of Los Angeles wins.
-The Dario Cueto character. I'm just not feeling it.
-The very MTV Wrestling Society X-style studio presentation. At least it doesn't have the awful hard cuts that the MTV show did, but it still would be a lot better if it was presented in more of an ROH sort of production format.
-Calling El Mesias "Mil Muertes" and El Hijo De Fantasma "King Cuerno." Two of the biggest lucha stars of the past 10-15 years so I really don't get why they wouldn't use their real ring names. They are allowed to use other AAA talent's ring names so I don't get why these two would be different.
-Son Of Havoc. Matt Cross is an excellent wrestler and this is the best they can do for him?
-Shawn Hernandez and B-Boy have been in dark matches but it looks like they won't be on any televised episodes this season. I get using B-Boy for that, local indy guy to warm up he crowd and all, but Hernandez?
-"Best luchadores from across the world"- but none from Japan? Ricochet is a big indy star there admittedly, but he isn't wrestling as himself. Even one mid-card masked guy from Dragon Gate like Dragon Kid or K-Ness would double the international appeal of the show.
-In weeks to come they'll be introducing "Big Ryck" AKA Ezekiel Jackson. No. Just plain no. If you want a big muscly black guy then hire one who can actually work Lucha style i.e. Uhaa Nation.
-So far they've been using American rules rather than Mexican ones, like the count for being outside the ring being 10 rather than 20 and singles matches being one fall instead of 2 out of 3. It'll be interesting to see when they start doing tag matches whether they adhere to lucha tag rules or not.

[CrappyMike]

going back to the last page, although i cant be bothered going and quoting, i am a fan of alexa bliss. i reckon she could do well in wwe to be honest, she definitely has the talent and the looks.

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

Has to be hit

[MetalBeast]

WOOOOOO!

Might have to go to see him in Derby or Leicester, provided it's not ludicrously expensive.

Judging by the "Audience With" session MDA did for Brett Hart, it'll be £30+ but they do throw in a three-course dinner for that.

http://darts.mdapromotions.co.uk/bret-h ... c-details/

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

I see they are leaving Belfast off the tour this time, though if that is because of poor sales at the Bret Hart gig it's their own fault for putting it in the fucking Hilton at the airport and making everyone travel out to Templepatrick (i.e. at inflated airport bus prices if you don't have your own transport, and making you unable to have a drink if you're driving) instead of actually coming in to town. Lazy shites. Different people were running the Roddy Piper show, that was fucking cracker.

If i'm flying over for one of these I'll probably use it as a reason to go to a town I haven't been to before. At the moment that's a toss-up between Leicester and Portsmouth. More likely Portsmouth as it's a Friday which I don't have any engagements on normally. If the Scotland one turns out to be Edinburgh that might sway me instead.

[Jobdone]

God damn. All of those are a hassle to get to.


And don't go to Leicester, it's a shit hole.

[Applecore]

Leicester isn't a great place, but I think it might be most likely for me, as I know wrestling fans from Peterborough, and it's not that far from there. Probably a ballache from Norwich, though..

Shall investigate.

[MetalBeast]

Leicester's not bad. There are better places to go for a night out but they do have some good pubs and some excellent curry houses.

[Applecore]

Looks like I'd have the choice between a 2:30hr drive to London, or a 2:30hr drive to Leicester

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

Looks like these are going to be £40 for Gold (unreserved seating, possible options for getting to ask a question, photos and autographs but no guarantees) or £105 for Platinum (reserved seats, priority for asking questions, meal, autograph and signed photo). Ouch. Probably should've expected this to be honest, Flair does own the US Treasury several million.

[Applecore]

If Charlotte were in attendance too, I'd be eyeing up the £105 ticket
But tbh, £40 isn't too bad, is it?

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

Nah. After posting that I remembered this is THE MAN were talking about.


In other news, Road Warrior Animal added to the PCW/ROH show meet and greet next week!

[herzeleid]

Flair is probably going to be wasted at all of those events as well...

[MetalBeast]

Wouldn't happen because of the schedule and various other reasons, but going out on the lash with Ric Flair after one of those things would be legendary.

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

All the function rooms have bars so we can live in hope!

Training observation of the day- shoulder blocks hurt worse than scoop slams and hip tosses. At least I'm in a ring now, not bumping on mats over hard floors.