The DakkaDakka Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

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**bbb**

Sigur wrote:
The singing of the hymn was pleasantly un-annoying.

That was the United States' national anthem. Typically WrestleMania's open with America the Beautiful because Vince wanted it that way, but in the USA all sporting events start with the national anthem. I'm guessing they did it to show that Vince isn't in control anymore as well as to have it seem to be more like a traditional USA sporting event.

Sigur wrote:
Lots of green in this wrestlemania, not sure why. Surely something american sports related.

This WM was held in Lincoln Financial Field which is where the Philadelphia Eagles play. The green was to tie WM to it's location in the Eagles' stadium.

Sigur wrote:
This became very clear to me especially after his entrance. What the heck was that.

A tradition in Philadelphia is the Mummer's Parade every New Years Day. I cannot express how awesome it was for Mummers to come out with Seth. It was amazing. It's a whole day long parade put on by ordinary folks who spend the year making elaborate costumes and planning song and dance numbers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Parade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsQUoLQBig4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyKK8KxOs5U
https://www.youtube.com/live/PQjsmKfF6M4?si=CvyEubJjkgfGzM_s&t=1867

Sigur wrote:
...but in large parts due to the special ref, Bubba Ray Dudley. I know that he spews some ...opinions on his podcast and that many wrestlers dislike him, but I listened to him talk on Jericho's podcast years ago, and he really impressed me with his insights. So I kinda like the guy, or at least hold him in high regard in terms of 'getting it' (as far as I can tell).

I love Bubba as a wrestler and performer and knowledgeable source about the industry. There's a lot of folks in the business who don't like him, but It's so hard to be able to tell what's a legitimate reason to dislike him and who's just complaining for their own reasons.

Sigur wrote:
And look, US audiences also do the song now. Which is nice

There were a lot of UK folks there (and TONS of international folks). I ran into several when I was there night 1. I wouldn't doubt they got the ball rolling and everyone else joined in.

Truly this was a fantastic WrestleMania.

**Ghaz**

Major spoilers from SmackDown:

Spoiler:

**bbb**

Ghaz wrote:
Major spoilers from SmackDown:

Spoiler:

Jimmy Uso looks to be out of the Bloodline, while Tama Tonga is in. The question is does the Tribal Chief know this?

Spoiler:

**Sigur**

@bbb: Okay, the Mummers thing was news to me. It's funny; us watching were thinking if it's some sort of carnival's guild of Philadelphia. Seems like that's what they are exactly. Never thought that sorta stuff existed in the US. Glad you enjoyed the Wrestlemania, despite the temperatures.

So....do we wanna talk about AEW showing the security cam footage of the thing? They certainly didn't do themselves any favours. I feel a bit smug for having been able to identify Chris Hero on the video. I think that thing was a sort of benchmark for how old/knowledgable you are.

I recognized the wrestlers and Chris Hero, but not Jerry Lynn.

So I'm intermediate AT BEST. And I'm kinda scared about becoming more of a Jim Cornette as time passes.

Anyway, airing the footage wasn't a very good idea, FTR are good at talking. More positive AEW things: Yuka Sakazaki re-debut last weekend. It was great, she did the things she does.

**bbb**

I want AEW to succeed, but they are making it really difficult to believe in them.

Just... don't do stupid things? Maybe? Please?

**A Town Called Malus**

The whole Jack Perry thing is a total mess, storytelling-wise.

Is he meant to be a heel or a face? He was playing the "Scapegoat" as a heel, but if he actually was scapegoated then surely he should be a face as he has actually had an injustice inflicted upon him to be pissed about?

And then, where does this story go? Perry has beef with Punk and, presumably, the AEW management who made him a scapegoat. So, that would be the Bucks? Who are heels, and also the people bringing him back? or is it Tony, who is not a wrestler?

I commented on a post on Reddit that this is like if the WWF brought in Nailz talking about how Bossman abused him in prison whilst Bossman was in WCW.

**Ghaz**

Tony Schiavone not knowing what city he was in last night was really annoying. They were airing from Truist Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY and Tony kept repeating that they were at Northern Kentucky University in Northern Kentucky

However

for the non-cooperative floor mat during the Danielson/Castagnoli vs. Hobbs/Fletcher match.

**Sigur**

Yeah, I'm just glad when we got Dynasty over with and are off to Double or Nothing(?) and maybe the whole CM Punk stuff dies down. I think it's a very good fit for the Bucks to be heels; I'm not a huge fan of them being EVP heels. In general I'm not a huge fan of management-based characters. No idea how a "CEO" could ever be a face. Oh well

Anyway, I believe that AEW can do really, really well, they just have to let go of some things. And fix some other booking things.

edit: Holy crap, Jon Moxley is IWGP World Heavyweight Champion!?

edit: Holy crap, Jon Moxley is SUCH a good talker.

edit: Holy crap, Strickland's jump to get rid of ALL the security people at the end of Dynamite was something I'd never seen before.

And THEN he lands like he did. Phhhhhhwooooaaaarrrr.

**Ghaz**

WWE released Xyon Quinn, Jinder Mahal, Veer, Sanga, and Xia Li over the weekend. Does Dakka think any of them will end up on AEW?

**Dysartes**

Xia Li is a possibility, and maybe Xyon Quinn - I doubt we'll see Jinder/Veer/Sanga in AEW, but maybe in TNA?

**Sigur**

I think that Jinder would be great in TNA. All of them, really. Don't need to see any of them in AEW; AEW should do things with the people they got.

**A Town Called Malus**

Also, Jinder is unlikely to want to go to the company ran by the person who called him out on twitter as not being worthy of a title shot.

https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1489157/aew-ceo-tony-khan-blasts-wwe-raw-angle-heated-social-media-posts-talent-respond/

**Sigur**

oh, that thing. Meh.

**StudentOfEtherium**

Danielson v Osprey goddamn

haven't really been following AEW much recently but the hype i was hearing about that match last night got me to check out the show, and, goddamn were people not overhyping it. when it was finally over, it felt like i had been holding my breath for the last 15 minutes straight

**Sigur**

StudentOfEtherium wrote:
Danielson v Osprey goddamn

haven't really been following AEW much recently but the hype i was hearing about that match last night got me to check out the show, and, goddamn were people not overhyping it. when it was finally over, it felt like i had been holding my breath for the last 15 minutes straight

I concur.

On the whole I was a bit miffed with the audience around the first third of Dynasty. They looked like they're sleeping, many people left before some of the earlier matches (okay, I have to admit that I skipped Jericho-Hook as well, but I only paid for the PPV, not for a full seat at the venue!), but later on the were WAY into the whole thing. Good PPV. People LOVED Swerve Strickland.

**Sigur**

Well, Dynamite happened. Tony Khan's dad looks like Walter Matthau in Dennis the Menace.

They were back to that open air place in Florida, which always looks a bit small. And it always reminds me of 1.) First time I saw Shoko Nakajima "in action" and 2.) that Hangman vs. Brian Cage match for some PPV a few years ago (2022?) where Brian Cage wore some sort of Terminator costume which made him look way less hard than he probably anticipated. He's among the most physically imposing men anyway; he should be the last one having to play dress-up (*horrid flashbacks to Adam Page dressing up as Master Chief(?) sans the helmet* *horrid flashbacks to Nyla Rose, dressing up as Mega Man X WHEN SHE WAS A HEEL*). But okay. Anyway, fun dynamite. Shame that Moxley shaved his head now. At least he also cut the beard too. Because the "bald head, big beard" thing still is too prevalent and thus to be rejected.

(just a personal and probably silly opinion).

**StudentOfEtherium**

i didn't see the show, but i caught some clips of the thing at the end. hilarious angle. i hope this goes far

**Ghaz**

Sigur wrote:
They were back to that open air place in Florida, which always looks a bit small

Daily's Place. It's an amphitheater attached to EverBank Stadium where Daddy Khan's football team plays and only seats 5,500 according to Wikipedia.

And if you were wondering if there were any actual rules to the WWE draft, well it looks like these are the rules:

WWE wrote:RULES OF THE DRAFT

Champions on each brand will be protected and are not eligible to be drafted. As a result, Damian Priest, Becky Lynch, Awesome Truth and Sami Zayn will remain on Raw. Cody Rhodes, Bayley, A-Town Down Under and Logan Paul will remain on SmackDown.

Even though their status as champions allows them to go to both brands, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Kairi Sane are eligible to be drafted. They will be assigned to that brand if they lose the titles.

Friday’s SmackDown will feature four rounds of draft picks being announced. Each round will consist of the brands making two picks apiece for a total of 16 picks being announced (8 for SmackDown and 8 for Raw).

Monday’s Raw will feature six rounds of draft picks being announced. Each round will consist of the brands making two picks apiece for a total of 24 picks (12 for Raw and 12 for SmackDown).

SmackDown will have the first pick on Friday, and Raw will have first pick on Monday.

Rosters will go into effect on Monday, May 6, two days after Backlash France.

FRIDAY’S AVAILABLE DRAFT POOL

AJ Styles
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri)
Andrade
Bianca Belair
Bron Breakker
Cedric Alexander and Ashante “Thee” Adonis
Ivar
Jey Uso
LA Knight
Liv Morgan
Nia Jax
Randy Orton
Ricochet
Seth Rollins
Shayna Baszler
Sheamus
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, “MFT” Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman)
The O.C. (Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson and Michin)
Zoey Stark

* NXT Superstars will be eligible to be drafted.

MONDAY’S AVAILABLE DRAFT POOL

#DIY
Apollo Crews
Braun Strowman
Bronson Reed
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
CM Punk
The Creed Brothers (Julius Creed, Brutus Creed and Ivy Nile)
Damage CTRL (IYO SKY, Dakota Kai and Kabuki Warriors)
Drew McIntyre
Final Testament (Karrion Kross, AOP, Scarlett and Paul Ellering)
Giovanni Vinci
Imperium (Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser)
Jade Cargill
Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh)
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
Kevin Owens
Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Angel, Berto and Elektra Lopez)
LWO (Rey Mysterio, Carlito, Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde and Zelina Vega)
Naomi
Natalya
New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
Odyssey Jones
Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
Shinsuke Nakamura
Tegan Nox
The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Street Profits and B-Fab)
Tiffany Stratton

* NXT Superstars will be eligible to be drafted.

**bbb**

I think it's great they're clearly explaining the rules.

Will be interesting to see if Judgement Day moves to Smackdown while Priest stays on Raw.

**Sigur**

bbb wrote:
I think it's great they're clearly explaining the rules.
....

Agreed! Thanks for posting them, Ghaz!

@StudentofEtherium: Jungle Boy seems to be much better on the mix now, and that grin while he was embracing Tony Khan was good.

So the mayor of London said that if he's getting re-elected he'll look how he can get Wrestlemania to London! I'm very much looking forward to watching Wrestlemania broadcast from the lovely city of Jeddah...

**Ghaz**

Sigur wrote:
So the mayor of London said that if he's getting re-elected he'll look how he can get Wrestlemania to London! I'm very much looking forward to watching Wrestlemania broadcast from the lovely city of Jeddah...

Looks like he got a "Let's talk" reply back from Triple H.

https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1569848/london-mayor-pitches-hosting-wwe-wrestlemania-receives-intriguing-response/

**Sigur**

Well, it would be quite something. A question to all of you: Would you want to watch a Wrestlemania live? bbb and surely others have been there before, I'm sure it's quite a spectacle. I have to admit that I haven't been to a Wrestling show more than 18 months, but somehow I'm more interested in attending small, local shows. Maybe it's just because that's the best we can get here like once in a year and once every 4 years WWE comes around for a house show.

What's your take on that?