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|  #1 Posted on 11.4.18 0845.15
Reposted on: 11.4.25 0847.08 | For a post-mania show, this sure seemed to have been dialed back a bit. There's still plenty to talk about though. The returns/surprises weren't many, but the ones we got felt very impactful. Shane revealed that D-Bry is resigning as the GM to continue being an active competitor, and he was replaced in that role with Paige. That's a pleasant surprise, though I was also intrigued by the possibility of Jeff Jarrett. I'm not sure how Paige fits in the role, since I feel like her mic skills are overrated, but there's no better way to improve than to get weekly practice, which she will surely get. I think more importantly, it'll make the transition period easier for her, since she'll still be around and actively involved. The career-arc parallels with D-Bry are obvious too, and if it works out the same for Paige, then more power to her. Though I think her issues are neck/spine-related, and it's probably harder to come back from that.
The Iconic Duo Iconics debuted on the main roster as well, and they made an immediate mark. Billie and Payton hit just the right notes in their obnoxious promo and then showed their nasty side by laying an absolute beatdown on Charlotte. Charlotte was dead weight, so Carmella cashed in on her, finally, and won the title to a nice pop. By the way, what the hell was Mike Chioda doing in that segment? Looked like he was trying his darndest to sabotage that cash-in. In all likelihood, this is a means to free Charlotte up to go to Raw so she can tussle with Ronda in the future.
Paige made AJ v D-Bry as the main event, and it was a glimpse of what could be. Bryan appears to have no ring rust whatsoever, and AJ is AJ. Obviously there could be no clean finish, and Shinsuke Nakamura, our new resident asshole, arrived just in time to provide knees to heads. Shinsuke was a delicious, complete bastard in his backstage interview with Renee as well, first trying a disingenuous apology, and when Renee called him out on that, switching to "sorry, no speak Engrish." Brilliant.
In other news, The Usos beat New Day to get a title rematch against the Bludgeons, Randy Orton beat Rusev and Roode to get a title rematch against Jinder, and Naomi beat Natalya in a match that was set up by backstage bickering. Rusev was the most popular act out of all of these, to the surprise of no one, and so obviously he lost, also probably to the surprise of no one. Chalk up one more in "WWE Bizarrely Sabotages its Own Talent that Managed to Randomly Get Over" category.
No Andrade. Boo. | Promote this thread! |             | Tenken347
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| #2 Posted on 11.4.18 0907.39
Reposted on: 11.4.25 0908.01 | That was, going all the way back through NXT, Nakamura's first actually great English-language promo. His heel act is already better and fresher than what SDL was doing with him as a face. I think this turn is going to work out really well.
The matches were all really good. I disagree a bit that Bryan doesn't have any ring rust, but he still looked good, and getting in the reps should bring him back up to full speed soon enough. I did cringe at every big bump he took, though, and I don't know if I'll ever stop. And really, how do they keep missing the boat on Rusev? Who in the company thinks that this time Orton v. Jinder is going to work? They ran it for like half a year, and it resulted in no heat and probably the worst match of the year. Figure it the F out, already. | Spiraling_Shape
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| #3 Posted on 11.4.18 1144.32
Reposted on: 11.4.25 1144.46 | "The IIconics" is weird and grammatically frustrating but I guess you can copyright it, a la "Riott" Squad. But I'm very happy they get to take their act to SD!
Nakamura's wink was also priceless.
Re: Handsome Rusev, THIS is happening:
| Matt Tracker
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| #4 Posted on 11.4.18 1403.02
Reposted on: 11.4.25 1403.14 | Rusev is DolphDrew Jericho Tracker's favorite wrestler, even if he always calls him Rufus (which inadvertently goes with the "Jericho").
I wish the Superstar Shakeup included NXT. We did just get a handful of call-ups, but imagine Regal insisting he get some midcarders in return. Clear out some deadwood from the broadcast shows and give NXT some enhancement talent. | PowerPB13
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| #5 Posted on 11.4.18 1552.10
Reposted on: 11.4.25 1552.26 | Styles vs. Bryan with a tease of Nakamura vs. either or both?
MANLY TEARS. | kellogs
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|  #6 Posted on 11.4.18 1615.09
Reposted on: 11.4.25 1615.27 | I don't particularly like Carmella, but the cash in worked well despite Chiodas efforts! A strange thing to do seeming all previous cash ins were done quickly. Zigglers will be hard to beat but at least it worked for her.
Having AJ v Daniel would have been superb if there was a finish but I can understand why they did it as one of them will be off to Raw next week. Everyone thought AJ would last year so maybe they will put Bryan there instead.
Hopefully Paige will be great in her role. After the sendoff on Monday it almost seemed too soon, but on the other hand makes sense, if that makes sense?!
Orton against Jinder surely interests nobody anywhere after their matches last year. Mix up the matches! | lotjx
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| #7 Posted on 11.4.18 1710.03
Reposted on: 11.4.25 1710.31 | I felt like Smackdown actually did something while Raw was like here is a bunch of NXT people who probably will go to Smackdown next week. This Super-Star Shake up is madness. I am not a fan of Carmella, but she is the champ and the fans love title changes even though I think the fans were sorta sick of the excessive celebration near the end.
Nakamura/AJ II is going to be awesome. | andy1278
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| #8 Posted on 12.4.18 1226.41
Reposted on: 12.4.25 1228.43 | I assume the Greatest Royal Rumble will be 90 hours long, between the 50 man Rumble, seven title matches and two other matches announced so far.
Watching the Carmella cash-in was hard. What was so hard to understand about her cashing in the briefcase? She pulled the referee in the ring, handed him the briefcase and beat on it. How did he not understand that? Why was it so confusing to him?
Heel Nakamura is the best Nakamura.
I have zero interest in Orton vs Jinder. Less than zero.
So glad the IIconics have finally made their way up. They have deserved it for about a year now.
| pieman
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| #9 Posted on 12.4.18 1438.37
Reposted on: 12.4.25 1439.15 | Originally posted by andy1278
Heel Nakamura is the best Nakamura.
This is a true statement. | InVerse
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| #10 Posted on 12.4.18 1754.34
Reposted on: 12.4.25 1757.40 | Originally posted by andy1278
Watching the Carmella cash-in was hard. What was so hard to understand about her cashing in the briefcase? She pulled the referee in the ring, handed him the briefcase and beat on it. How did he not understand that? Why was it so confusing to him?
Because she's tried to cash it in multiple times, only to change her mind and run off. The first time she did it was with the same referee. He was just making sure she wasn't going to screw it up again and was really ready this time. | Kevintripod
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| #11 Posted on 13.4.18 2255.17
Reposted on: 13.4.25 2255.50 | Originally posted by InVerse
Originally posted by andy1278
Watching the Carmella cash-in was hard. What was so hard to understand about her cashing in the briefcase? She pulled the referee in the ring, handed him the briefcase and beat on it. How did he not understand that? Why was it so confusing to him?
Because she's tried to cash it in multiple times, only to change her mind and run off. The first time she did it was with the same referee. He was just making sure she wasn't going to screw it up again and was really ready this time.
I think they just did it that way to fake the audience and TV viewers out thinking it wouldn't be a cash in. When ever there is the least bit of stalling, it usually ends up being a failed cash in attempt. As soon as I saw the ref stalling, I figured there wouldn't be a cash in. I ended up shocked when it was successful. I think that's what the writers were going for. | | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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