The NEW wrestling thread

[thanoson]

I'm going to say that Cole is doing a great job of building Bryan up. The best thing that Bryan did in WWE, was beat up Cole. That was simply awesome.

[thalaw2]

agreed

[GhostMachine]

According to various sources, both "The Nightmare" Ted Allen and Skandor Akbar have died. No cause of death mentioned for either, as of yet.

[RTTingle]

This breaks my heart cause I knew and worked with her in the biz for a little while.  She was truly a sweetheart outside the ring.

Luna Vachon, a Canadian former wrestler known for her bleached hair, spiky leather outfits and signature scowl, has died at age 48, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) says.

"World Wrestling Entertainment has been made aware of the passing of Gertrude (Luna) Vachon," the organization said in a statement on its website on Friday. "WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Vachon family."
Vachon was found dead at her mother's home in Canada, where she had been staying after a fire destroyed her house and most of her wrestling memorabilia earlier this month, according to the website Canoe.ca, adding that the cause of her death has not been determined.

Vachon was known as "Trudy" to friends, had suffered from bipolar disorder throughout her life. She was taught to wrestle as a child by Paul "The Butcher" Vachon, her mother's wife whom she considered her father.

"I grew up wanting to be a part of this business so badly," she said in a 2007 interview with WWE. "My family discouraged me at first. My aunt Vivian was a wrestler, so they knew the kind of toll that wrestling could take on a woman's body. I didn't let that stop me though. It was in my blood, and all I wanted to do was become a wrestler."

Vachon joined the now-defunct World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1992 and teamed with Bam Bam Bigelow to beat Doink the Clown and his sidekick Dink at WrestleMania X in 1994.

Vachon worked for several other wrestling organizations and was under contract with WWE between 1993 and 2000. She became a born again Christian about six ago and retired from wrestling in 2007. She then worked as a tow truck operator.

"I absolutely love it," she told WWE at the time. "At the end of the day, my hands and face are greasy, there's dirt under my fingernails, and my body is exhausted. But, it makes me feel good to know that I've put in a hard day of labor, and ultimately, I've lent a hand to somebody that needed my help."

Vachon was married three times and is survived by her two sons, who are about 26 and 28.

[thanoson]

This one here is sad news. SHe was truly a bad mammajamma. I liked her lots.

[GhostMachine]

I just hope the cause of death wasn't suicide. Sadly, that's the first thing that came to mind when I read that she was bi-polar, since I already knew about her house burning down and her memorabilia being lost in the fire.

Looks like Lucha Libre USA may be done. The show was supposed to be 52 episodes, but they've been talking about a season finale and the wrestlers have been told there won't be anymore pre-tapings this year, just house shows.

Good news: TNA is bringing in Becky Bayless. Bad news: She's coming in with Rob Eckos and they'll have new names and will be doing a Jersey Shore gimmick. (I believe I read somewhere that she's going to be called `Cookie') Meaning there's more ammo for those who believe that the people running TNA have no *censored* clue what they're doing.

[thalaw2]

Me and Naomi is gettin' married!!!!!  Ise in love!


Really....my girlfriend's name is Naomy.   

[Mr. Hamrick]

Me and Naomi is gettin' married!!!!!  Ise in love!


Really....my girlfriend's name is Naomy.   

I wouldn't mind hooking up with Aksana.  LOL!

[GhostMachine]

If you're watching Diva Search 2010, aka NXT season 3, they're sending Aloisia back to FCW. The thing with Vickie was NOT an angle to get her jumped to RAW or Smackdown, paired up with another pro, or anything like that. Apparently there are some.....provocative....pictures of Aloisia out there, and the WWE isn't too happy about that, considering they've switched to being PG and Linda McMahon is running for the senate.

Also, please check this out: http://board.deathvalleydriver.com/index.php?showtopic=52959&st=20 - Someone I know from two different message boards has written a story done in chapters about a fictional wrestler, and its pretty good. (I decided to wait until he finished it to post a link here) The thread does have responses by other posters in it, but doesn't interfere with the story. (I'm one of the posters, Blazing Dragon) Victor would like some feedback, so if you like it, feel free to either register at that board or post in this thread, and I'll PM a link to this thread so he can read it. Thanks.

(I've mentioned the board I linked to to a few people here before. Its a really good board if you're a wrestling fan, and there's one section of the Wrestling area that's hidden unless you're registered and logged in. That section has links people have posted where you can download wrestlers' themes and videos of matches that people have uploaded (nothing you can find commercially in the U.S.; I'd say most of it is Japanese wrestling, but there's quite a lot of good stuff) A few of the people who post there are actually wrestlers, but not big names.)

[thanoson]

I umm... saw the pics. She's not bad looking. Apparently they switched it back to being about her not being rdy. The new girl is supposed to have even more raunchier pics.

[Mr. Hamrick]

The situation with Aloisa is that she was accused of lying about the existence of some pics.  The whole situation is really sad.  Basically, she was asked when they signed her if she had any of a certain kind of photo.  They didn't ask about the other kind.  She answered the question as it was asked.   Last Thursday, the pics were found by WWE officials and she was removed from NXT. 

There is a bit more too it but some of it shouldn't be repeated here.

[kobelee]

They built the show around the huge girl then they take her off cause of some pictures that are barely "racey" (and non nude) what a joke.

[Mr. Hamrick]

They built the show around the huge girl then they take her off cause of some pictures that are barely "racey" (and non nude) what a joke.

The show was not built around the huge girl.  As for the pictures, they claim she lied about the existence of them.  She claims she answered the question as it was asked to her and didn't even think about the pictures in question existing.  I suspect that it the former.  I have spoke to her before on two occasions.  She is difficult and has an attitude problem.  If I were a WWE official, I'd have thought twice about signing her.  I suspect that her attitude played a factor in her getting kicked off NXT. 

That said, this season was not built around any of the girls anymore than the previous two seasons.  (Don't give me anything about season 1 being built around Daniel Bryan and season 2 around Kaval.)  All the guys from season 1 are now on the WWE roster.  So far, two of the season 2 guys are on the WWE roster: Kaval and Alex Riley.  (Though Riley is not officially on the roster yet, that will change soon.  He is involved with the Miz and Daniel Bryan fued.)  I fully expect Percy Watson, Husky Harris, and Michael McGuillicutty/Joe Hennig to be on the WWE roster soon, too.  The remaining three guys from season two will probably be future endeavored unless they are brought on to Smackdown with McGuillicutty. 

The same goes for the 6 divas on this season.  All six will be brought up and I suspect that before the end of the season, Aloisa will be back as well.  It wouldn't surprise me to see the finals be Naomi and Kaitlyn with Kaitlyn winning and Aloisa attacking her.  That said, I think it's a horrible route to go.  Nevertheless, all six divas will wind up on the WWE roster.  The winner of NXT will get a guaranteed title shot.

[Marmeille]

Just watched this week's Smackdown and even if predictable, the return of Paul Bearer was awesome and Kane is totally having the best run of his carreer isn't he?

[Mr. Hamrick]

Just watched this week's Smackdown and even if predictable, the return of Paul Bearer was awesome and Kane is totally having the best run of his carreer isn't he?

I'd say his best run since the beginning of his career. 

It's sad when the antics of an idiot announcer (Michael Cole) is some of the better stuff on WWE right now. 

That and The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan feud.   I never thought I would be marking for The Miz but he's become a pretty good performer in the ring.  He's not on par with Bryan technically but their match at Night of Champions was still the best match on the card.

[GhostMachine]

El Gigante/Giant Gonzalez has passed away, in Argentina. He was only 44, but has had health problems for years. (Confined to a wheel chair and had to have kidney dialysis)

Christian tore a pec muscle and it looks like he is going to be out for around 6 months.

I read a post at another board that the Nexus logo t-shirt has proven to be a merchandising flop. Not sure it its true, but I wouldn't be surprised, as its a simple AND stupid design. I don't know which is worse: it, or Cena's ugly new purple and yellow hat and shirt....

[Mr. Hamrick]

El Gigante/Giant Gonzalez has passed away, in Argentina. He was only 44, but has had health problems for years. (Confined to a wheel chair and had to have kidney dialysis)

Christian tore a pec muscle and it looks like he is going to be out for around 6 months.

I read a post at another board that the Nexus logo t-shirt has proven to be a merchandising flop. Not sure it its true, but I wouldn't be surprised, as its a simple AND stupid design. I don't know which is worse: it, or Cena's ugly new purple and yellow hat and shirt....

I'm not sure that the Nexus shirt has been a complete flop.  However, I think it's probably not sold what they expected.  I don't expect The Nexus to be around much longer anyways.  I mean Cena losing and joining Nexus isn't likely.

[thalaw2]

As unlikely as Kane beating the Undertaker?....or Cena losing to Shamus? 

[GhostMachine]

Kane beat a de-powered Undertaker (and may be about to get his comeuppance), and Sheamus didn't beat Cena by pin or submission.

I'd like to point out that having John Cena join Nexus and/or turn heel would be an incredibly bad idea, since the only main event faces RAW has right now are him and Randy Orton. RAW is too heel heavy as it is, even with Chris Jericho possibly leaving or taking some time off.

Plus Cena is still hugely popular with kids, so his merchandise sales would likely go down the toilet if they turned him heel.

[Mr. Hamrick]

Kane beat a de-powered Undertaker (and may be about to get his comeuppance), and Sheamus didn't beat Cena by pin or submission.

I'd like to point out that having John Cena join Nexus and/or turn heel would be an incredibly bad idea, since the only main event faces RAW has right now are him and Randy Orton. RAW is too heel heavy as it is, even with Chris Jericho possibly leaving or taking some time off.

Plus Cena is still hugely popular with kids, so his merchandise sales would likely go down the toilet if they turned him heel.

The flip side of that argument is that they really have nothing else to do with Cena.  They've pretty much built him into this "Superman" babyface that has pretty much decimated the rest of the roster in one manner or another.  I do think it's too soon to turn Cena heel.  However, I would not be surprised to see it happen by Wrestlemania next year. 

The bigger problem is that Cena is in a position much like Hogan was in the 80s.  The "unstoppable, superman" babyface that is over at the expense of the credibility of just about everyone else on the roster.  Well, all the heels at least except Sheamus.  The fact that Orton has emerged as a strong face to rival Cena merits some credit to Orton and to the crowd.  For WWE to be trying to build up several of their younger talent, they are doing so in a very unconvincing manner.

Those things said, I would not be surprised to see The Miz as a face at some point next year. 

I suspect Jericho will be a face sooner than that.  If not Jericho then Edge due to the GM feud.  It's a curious situation, though.  One would assume that the Anonymous GM was a heel at first due to the favors to Nexus and to Sheamus.  Now, we are getting this pushed the GM could be a face?  I don't buy it.  The results is going to likely turn one of the two face but not both.

Plus, Triple H will be back either by Survivor Series or Royal Rumble.  Though, I don't know know that he will be back on a full time basis.  He has a nice cushy office in Stamford at WWE Headquarters, now.  I think HHH will come back and feud with Sheamus and finish up what was started when he was injured.  Then, Triple H will move on to probably Drew McIntyre (who I wager will be on RAW after the draft next year).  Drew and Cody having the tag titles is not by accident.  It provides an opportunity to get Drew exposure on both brands. 

Oh, and if you haven't noticed.  They seem to have an easier time building new talent up as heels than as faces.  I don't know why this is but it definitely is.  John Morrison, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, Sheamus, Randy Orton, the list goes on... all began to get over strong as heels.  Morrison turned face and stalled somewhat.  I actually think Drew McIntyre would be over more as a face than he is as a heel but who knows.  There's a lot of things I think that lad needs.

As for Kane beating The Undertaker, it was totally believable given the way they built the angle.  I was surprised they did the right thing there.  The Undertaker doesn't have much of a career left while Kane is having the best run of his career.

[GhostMachine]

Jericho should turn face, not Edge, in my opinion.

Edge works okay as a face, but is much better as a heel. Jericho is great either way.

Big fan of the Miz, but if there's any heel on RAW I'd like to see turn face, its Sheamus.

Not impressed by Drew McIntyre at all, so I'd hate to see him on RAW. The best thing about him is his entrance music.

If you're going to bring up the WWE pushing people as heels, I'd like to add that Kofi Kingston's push was more or less ended so they could push Sheamus. I don't know if they're afraid to try pushing new talent as faces long term or if they just find it easier to push heels.

Undertaker is my favorite wrestler (and Kane's pretty high on my list, too), but he needs to hang it up sometime next year (last match at Summerslam at the latest) . His knees are pretty shot and he takes too much time off, even though he doesn't wrestle nearly as much as everyone else. I would like to see him retire with the Wrestlemania streak intact, though.

[Mr. Hamrick]

Jericho should turn face, not Edge, in my opinion.

Edge works okay as a face, but is much better as a heel. Jericho is great either way.

Big fan of the Miz, but if there's any heel on RAW I'd like to see turn face, its Sheamus.

Not impressed by Drew McIntyre at all, so I'd hate to see him on RAW. The best thing about him is his entrance music.

If you're going to bring up the WWE pushing people as heels, I'd like to add that Kofi Kingston's push was more or less ended so they could push Sheamus. I don't know if they're afraid to try pushing new talent as faces long term or if they just find it easier to push heels.

Undertaker is my favorite wrestler (and Kane's pretty high on my list, too), but he needs to hang it up sometime next year (last match at Summerslam at the latest) . His knees are pretty shot and he takes too much time off, even though he doesn't wrestle nearly as much as everyone else. I would like to see him retire with the Wrestlemania streak intact, though.

McIntyre's music is the best part of him to this point.  He's not a bad worker if you think about it.  However, he is missing something as a heel that might suggest he'd work better as a face.

I don't really like Sheamus.  I cringe almost every time he gets on the mic.  I don't know what it is about him.  That said, he kinda strikes me the same way that McIntyre does.  Something is missing from both of "their characters" and their mic work.  But I can pinpoint my issue with Sheamus: the "Celtic Warrior" thing is kinda passe and something that might've worked better in the 90s than today.  He's getting better but he still grates on my nerves the same way that John Cena does when he says "The Champ is here".

The issue with Jericho and Edge is this: They can avoid turning both of them if they play their cards right.  However, the two big problems here are: the fans and the anonymous GM.  The fans love Jericho even as a heel.  He is a heel they love to hate as much as they love to cheer.  It'll be a similar situation to what has happened with Orton.  As for Edge, the fans almost seem to be cheering him on with regards to this whole "feud with the anonymous GM" thing.

Which brings me to the "anonymous GM".  I have the GM narrowed down to a few people.    I strongly suspect that it's Triple H but it doesn't explain the favoritism toward The Nexus.  However, it bares noting that the first few targets of Wade and the boys were all people who HHH had beefs with.  I will include Bret on this note because of the Montreal incident.  Another key person that it could be is Stephanie McMahon.  However, there isn't much evidence other than Vince's initial comment to the "anonymous GM" and the animosity toward Jericho.  McMahon suggested it was "someone affiliated with the WWE" and someone he was on reasonably good terms with.  Those two are the most logical choices given that Shane is no longer with the company.  A lot of people think it's Michael Cole but I doubt it and personally hope not.  Cole's new "heel persona" would clash with a lot of the face choices made as of late by the GM.  Whoever it is, the reveal of the GM is going to direct how the situation with Jericho and Edge plays out.

As for Kofi, his push being where it is has nothing to do with Sheamus getting pushed.  It does has everything to do with them not wanting Kofi burned and buried in the middle of this whole Kane and Undertaker thing.  This feud with Dolph Ziggler has been pushed perhaps a bit too long but the hoped for payoff is that both men will be able to occupy the main event picture in the near future.

[GhostMachine]

Some people think the mystery GM might be Abraham Washington. I absolutely hope not, because he stinks.

Cole being the GM would not make sense. How the heck is he sending the e-mails to himself if its him? They've shown some of the e-mails, some of them are clearly being done in response to things said or done in the ring, and he doesn't have a computer at the announcers table.

Triple-H makes sense. He could have allowed the Nexus-Sheamus truce for a while because he wants to save beating Sheamus for himself.

And Kofi's mega-push was more or less killed before he even moved to Smackdown. Sheamus winning the battle royal over him was pretty much when it was killed. Going from feuding with Randy Orton to Dolph frickin' Ziggler is NOT being pushed!

[Mr. Hamrick]

Some people think the mystery GM might be Abraham Washington. I absolutely hope not, because he stinks.

Cole being the GM would not make sense. How the heck is he sending the e-mails to himself if its him? They've shown some of the e-mails, some of them are clearly being done in response to things said or done in the ring, and he doesn't have a computer at the announcers table.

Triple-H makes sense. He could have allowed the Nexus-Sheamus truce for a while because he wants to save beating Sheamus for himself.

And Kofi's mega-push was more or less killed before he even moved to Smackdown. Sheamus winning the battle royal over him was pretty much when it was killed. Going from feuding with Randy Orton to Dolph frickin' Ziggler is NOT being pushed!

I agree that Cole makes no sense.  But they've done dumber things.

As for the Kofi push, the intent was never to push Kofi directly to the main event.  The feud with Orton was to push him into the upper midcard and potential main event picture.  It also served to further the Orton vs. Legacy build for Wrestlemania that was essentially Orton's face turn cemented.

The same thing is going on with Ziggler.  The Kofi/Ziggler feud is just that an upper mid-card feud against two guys who work well together and who will both be future main eventers most likely.  The same goes for The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan.  It's a feud designed to elevate to push both men in various ways and end with Bryan being an upper midcard guy and Miz being poised to enter the Main Event. 

I love the booking.  I hate the "creative teams" manner of getting there with Kofi and Dolph.  The only reason I hate it is that Kofi is not really getting much mic time out of the equation though he's not that great on the mic.

[thalaw2]

It would be Awesome if the mystery GM is Abraham Washington....lol!  I like the guy.  He was my favorite part of ECW.  I had hoped that M.Cole was gone for good.  Seeing him return to NXT made me disappointed.  Him and M.Striker really get on my nerves.  However, I would like to see The Big Show do more announcing. 

As for the Kofi push...I think the ol' Nation of Domination had a good point...The WWE has never promoted a black World Champion...except The Rock who was part of the NoD.

[thanoson]

Umm... I look at Dwayne and I see more samoan than black. Black Lesnar (Bobby Lashely) was a champion and he was pushed. Not to the levels of anybody worth a damn, but he was pushed. They missed out with Booker T. He should have been a 6 time champion. NoD was right to a point.

[Marmeille]

The Raw GM clearly is HAL 9000. 

"Cole please... stop him..." 

That whole Edge destroying the GM laptop segment make me laugh, especially when Edge went all Ric Flair on the broken laptop and dropped an elbow haha.

[thalaw2]

Umm... I look at Dwayne and I see more samoan than black. Black Lesnar (Bobby Lashely) was a champion and he was pushed. Not to the levels of anybody worth a damn, but he was pushed. They missed out with Booker T. He should have been a 6 time champion. NoD was right to a point.

I have wondered for a long time why exactly BL left WWE for UFC.  My only conclusion is what the NoD said.  BL could be ECW champion, but WWE champion?!?!?!?!  Not bloody likely!  As for Dwayne, if he wasn't black then why did he join the NoD? I had a Samoan friend in China who always went around telling everyone that he's a black man.

[Mr. Hamrick]

Umm... I look at Dwayne and I see more samoan than black. Black Lesnar (Bobby Lashely) was a champion and he was pushed. Not to the levels of anybody worth a damn, but he was pushed. They missed out with Booker T. He should have been a 6 time champion. NoD was right to a point.

I have wondered for a long time why exactly BL left WWE for UFC.  My only conclusion is what the NoD said.  BL could be ECW champion, but WWE champion?!?!?!?!  Not bloody likely!  As for Dwayne, if he wasn't black then why did he join the NoD? I had a Samoan friend in China who always went around telling everyone that he's a black man.

Dwayne is half black and half Samoan.

[Failed_Hero]

IMHO Edge needs a gimmick make over.  He has grown stale for me.  Edge was a heat magnet a few years ago, before his relationship with Vickie Guerrero (which i consider a low point, despite a few great matches with Undertaker).  I don't know how to fix Edge to make him workable in the PG Era.

I want to see Cena forced into the Nexus.  This not because I hate Cena, I actually caught on to his "Hogan of the 2000's" gimmick and I was ok with it to a point, but it has lost steam.  I think him being forced to be the to heel things would be compelling for a little while and could be the cause for a Nexus split in the future possible allow for a few face turns in the group under Cena's influence.

I also want to point out, that much like Austin in 1997, Randy Orton is not a face.  Orton is still a heel, he is just a heel the fans are cheering, much as Austin was a heel fans cheered.  Orton is being cheered because adult fans are tired of Cena, and they are giving a reason for Orton's actions on screen instead of him just being a sadist and a butcher, they have established that he has an obsession with the championship and is zoning out during matches becoming overly aggressive.  I just want to point out, that just because a heel does heel things to other heels, it does not make him a face.  Orton is bad guy we can understand, who isn't trying to get heat from the fans, but still a heel.