Wrestling Thread

Jan 25, 2015
10,559
16,764
113
The segment with the vision, Pearce and Bron Breaker going at each other today was some of WWE's best work in quite a while.
 

Nightwish

Junior
Jul 10, 2025
288
336
63
So I read MJ's post and I get it. Everything goes on one board and in doing so, moderation is also easier. Over the past 25 years, I've witnessed several prominent sites shutter their free board content because no one wants to play principle all the time. I'm sure at some point this board will be gone but I'll still post here from time to time until then. My hope in the short-term is we see a few new faces around here.

- Still a little shocked we've now got past WWE content on Netflix. We'll likely never see everything there, including all things WCW and ECW but it's wild I can pull up a random 90s Raw on Netflix.
- Pearce is taking a Breakker spear soon and I can't wait. Enjoying me some unhinged Bron.
 

krlambert6

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
58
167
33
Loved that the camera shot when that happened live didn't show you he was coming. Poor Dragon Lee. Bron's running spears are great.
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
literally had Peacock for years solely to watch NWA/WCW content from 83-94...is that going to be available anywhere now?
the youtube page is good but they edit a lot of stuff that was on Peacock in full.
i will pay whatever the price. that stuff was my cozy happy place. am i going to have to resort to torrenting?
 

CrimeDawg18

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2006
8,608
2,547
113
Well I thought our little part of the world was gone. Hopefully it stays.

Agree Bron and his spears are great.

There are a couple of YouTube sites that have a great deal of the old NWA syndicated shows.
I think eventually a lot of the old NWA/WCW stuff will end up on the vault. I was in the process of watching Mid-Atlantic wrestling before it went away. I was up to July of 1985
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
Well I thought our little part of the world was gone. Hopefully it stays.

Agree Bron and his spears are great.

There are a couple of YouTube sites that have a great deal of the old NWA syndicated shows.
I think eventually a lot of the old NWA/WCW stuff will end up on the vault. I was in the process of watching Mid-Atlantic wrestling before it went away. I was up to July of 1985
yeah to their credit they have uploaded stuff to the vault that I never thought I'd see in full. 87 Crockett Cup, a ton of old Great American Bashes, previously unseen house show matches.
I just know territory era rasslin is a niche within a niche within a niche at this point so i'll take what i can get.
just can't get into modern wrestling. tried many times
 
Jan 25, 2015
10,559
16,764
113
Wasn't looking forward to a part 3 of this story regardless. Run its course. WWE has noticed Cody's character needed to change and far better directions to build towards WM after dropping the title last week.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
A-E-Dub!
literally had Peacock for years solely to watch NWA/WCW content from 83-94...is that going to be available anywhere now?
the youtube page is good but they edit a lot of stuff that was on Peacock in full.
i will pay whatever the price. that stuff was my cozy happy place. am i going to have to resort to torrenting?
They have most of that free on YouTube now:

 

JSquad0070

Senior
Oct 4, 2025
359
958
93
Still upset about the John Cena retirement run. They botched his last year so bad. The unexpected heel turn was amazing. Then suddenly, he wasn’t heel any more with 0 storyline? Then have Gunther retire the greatest of all time by tapping but then gets tapped out himself weeks after?
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
Still upset about the John Cena retirement run. They botched his last year so bad. The unexpected heel turn was amazing. Then suddenly, he wasn’t heel any more with 0 storyline? Then have Gunther retire the greatest of all time by tapping but then gets tapped out himself weeks after?
Cena? Greatest of all Time? I won’t argue with someone’s personal opinions and that’s what GOAT is. I’ll just say wow
 
Jan 25, 2015
10,559
16,764
113
Still upset about the John Cena retirement run. They botched his last year so bad. The unexpected heel turn was amazing. Then suddenly, he wasn’t heel any more with 0 storyline? Then have Gunther retire the greatest of all time by tapping but then gets tapped out himself weeks after?
What happened with the heat built up on Gunther as a mega heel? Put him in a squash match with R-Truth. Then play their cards too early in this AJ Styles retirement tour with a random match between them on Raw in January. Lazy booking.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JSquad0070

simnalecho

Junior
Oct 16, 2001
1,103
342
56
yeah to their credit they have uploaded stuff to the vault that I never thought I'd see in full. 87 Crockett Cup, a ton of old Great American Bashes, previously unseen house show matches.
I just know territory era rasslin is a niche within a niche within a niche at this point so i'll take what i can get.
just can't get into modern wrestling.

literally had Peacock for years solely to watch NWA/WCW content from 83-94...is that going to be available anywhere now?
the youtube page is good but they edit a lot of stuff that was on Peacock in full.
i will pay whatever the price. that stuff was my cozy happy place. am i going to have to resort to torrenting?
But fo they gave the Tupelo Mississippi concession stand brawl between the King and the Superstar vs Larry Latham (later one of the moondogs) and Wayne Farris ( pre Honky Tonk Man)
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
But fo they gave the Tupelo Mississippi concession stand brawl between the King and the Superstar vs Larry Latham (later one of the moondogs) and Wayne Farris ( pre Honky Tonk Man)
Great stuff
Personally im partial to the later Tupelo brawl w/ Ricky Morton & Eddie Gilbert vs Onita & masa fuchi (w Tojo).
Insane brawl, all the guys covered in blood and mustard by the end, Tojo slapping old women in the audience, felt like real chaos, not scripted choreographed chaos.
I could be wrong but I didn't think wwe owned that footage
 

Laparkafan

All-American
Sep 5, 2004
13,870
9,661
93
Great stuff
Personally im partial to the later Tupelo brawl w/ Ricky Morton & Eddie Gilbert vs Onita & masa fuchi (w Tojo).
Insane brawl, all the guys covered in blood and mustard by the end, Tojo slapping old women in the audience, felt like real chaos, not scripted choreographed chaos.
I could be wrong but I didn't think wwe owned that footage
I prefer the lawler and moondogs brawl they were in the crowd and throwing popcorn and fireballs
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
I prefer the lawler and moondogs brawl they were in the crowd and throwing popcorn and fireballs
Yeah I believe the promoter in Tupelo said “do whatever you want but don’t break the popcorn machine, that thing was expensive”.
at the end the whole concession area is just rubble and they’ve hit each other with every piece of kitchen equipment but that $5,000 popcorn machine is the one thing left standing
 
  • Like
Reactions: Laparkafan

ryanbruner

Heisman
Sep 10, 2017
13,623
21,786
113
Cena? Greatest of all Time? I won’t argue with someone’s personal opinions and that’s what GOAT is. I’ll just say wow
I mean thats how they've been announcing him for like 4 years. "The Greatest of All Time.....JOHN CENA."

As far as company guys go and what he means to the WWE as an ambassador....including everything he did in the ring.....championships, matches, make a wish, movies, etc.......he has his claim to the GOAT spot.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
I mean thats how they've been announcing him for like 4 years. "The Greatest of All Time.....JOHN CENA."

As far as company guys go and what he means to the WWE as an ambassador....including everything he did in the ring.....championships, matches, make a wish, movies, etc.......he has his claim to the GOAT spot.
I’ll never agree with it but I understand the rationale. Ultimately, one issue I’ve always had with WWE is how they tell their fans what to like and over time they win. Been a wrestling fan since childhood, although I’m currently a little disinterested and only watch certain PPVS (didn’t say PLEs) — I can say for sure that the qualities that make up a GOAT to me are more than:

- How much the performer was a yes man to management

- How much merch and brand power

- Longevity


^ Almost all of Cena’s accomplishments, other than his elite mic skills , are wrapped up in those. Oh and nostalgia at this point. If he is truly the GOAT of wrestling, it really isn’t dying. It’s a dead art form.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
Greatest of All Time

ric flair GIF
 

CrimeDawg18

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2006
8,608
2,547
113
Going up against Oregon and Indiana which did 18 million viewers and even with the title change Smackdown only did 990,000 viewers on Friday night.
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
Angle
Austin
Big Van Vader
Bockwinkel
Bret
Flair

Dory Funk Jr
Terry Funk
Guerrero
Harley
Jack Brisco
Lawler
Michaels

Mr. Perfect
Piper
Rock
Savage
Steamboat
Steiner
Undertaker

to me it’s a combo of : mic skills, in-ring, and memorability/uniqueness. I’d take any of the above over John Cena (bolded ones are on my mt Rushmore) and it ain’t particularly close, and there’s plenty more I haven’t mentioned.
cena is the “goat” bc wwe decided he’s the goat. They also consider Miz and Michelle McCool to be all time greats, so idgaf what they say tbh.
Every time I watch a Cena match, I hear him calling spots the entire match. He immediately reminds me that what I’m watching is fake. The goat shouldn’t do that imo
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
I’ll never agree with it but I understand the rationale. Ultimately, one issue I’ve always had with WWE is how they tell their fans what to like and over time they win. Been a wrestling fan since childhood, although I’m currently a little disinterested and only watch certain PPVS (didn’t say PLEs) — I can say for sure that the qualities that make up a GOAT to me are more than:

- How much the performer was a yes man to management

- How much merch and brand power

- Longevity


^ Almost all of Cena’s accomplishments, other than his elite mic skills , are wrapped up in those. Oh and nostalgia at this point. If he is truly the GOAT of wrestling, it really isn’t dying. It’s a dead art form.
so on the topic of Cena, why the f*ck did he smile while tapping out?
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
so on the topic of Cena, why the f*ck did he smile while tapping out?
In kayfabe, I think it was an acknowledgment that he made it as far as he could. He was at peace with knowing he was walking out at the right time. That’s how I took it.

But I also think it may have been a 4th wall breaking move by Cena to do it. He was not happy (rightfully so) with his final run, so it could have been a subtle middle finger
 

ryanbruner

Heisman
Sep 10, 2017
13,623
21,786
113
I’ll never agree with it but I understand the rationale. Ultimately, one issue I’ve always had with WWE is how they tell their fans what to like and over time they win. Been a wrestling fan since childhood, although I’m currently a little disinterested and only watch certain PPVS (didn’t say PLEs) — I can say for sure that the qualities that make up a GOAT to me are more than:

- How much the performer was a yes man to management

- How much merch and brand power

- Longevity


^ Almost all of Cena’s accomplishments, other than his elite mic skills , are wrapped up in those. Oh and nostalgia at this point. If he is truly the GOAT of wrestling, it really isn’t dying. It’s a dead art form.
I get that but for that company specifically he is their greatest most loyal superstar ever. There are guys who were better at certain individual things but maybe

They weren't loyal: Hogan
They were a headache to deal with: HBK, Ric
They weren't around very long: Austin & Rock, & Ric
Or they don't have the star power/branding: Orton, Bret, HHH, Angle, Taker, etc.

I know Cena catches a lot of **** for not being able to wrestle like some of these guys but he did it enough early on that it didn't matter. Cena also kind of reminds me of the way Cody wrestle's now. WWE has this specific style and cadence that I think allows for some action but generally tries to make sense and look real. When Cody was in AEW I used to always point out how his matches just felt different from everyone elses. Cody and Cena both have mastered that cadence and type of wrestling (whether you prefer that style or not).
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
I get that but for that company specifically he is their greatest most loyal superstar ever. There are guys who were better at certain individual things but maybe

They weren't loyal: Hogan
They were a headache to deal with: HBK, Ric
They weren't around very long: Austin & Rock, & Ric
Or they don't have the star power/branding: Orton, Bret, HHH, Angle, Taker, etc.

I know Cena catches a lot of **** for not being able to wrestle like some of these guys but he did it enough early on that it didn't matter. Cena also kind of reminds me of the way Cody wrestle's now. WWE has this specific style and cadence that I think allows for some action but generally tries to make sense and look real. When Cody was in AEW I used to always point out how his matches just felt different from everyone elses. Cody and Cena both have mastered that cadence and type of wrestling (whether you prefer that style or not).
They weren’t even above average bell to bell: Cena

They didn’t even have more than 20 moves in their move set: Cena

They can’t even properly apply a proper face lock despite using it as his finisher for decades: Cena

I’ve watched a lot of wrestlers come and go but few wrestlers made it look more like a really bad cartoon than Cena.
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
They weren’t even above average bell to bell: Cena

They didn’t even have more than 20 moves in their move set: Cena

They can’t even properly apply a proper face lock despite using it as his finisher for decades: Cena

I’ve watched a lot of wrestlers come and go but few wrestlers made it look more like a really bad cartoon than Cena.
I’d definitely say he was above average.
And to his credit he was always in shape and carried himself like an athlete. A lot of guys in the business now are so tiny it looks like kids fighting, he at least looked like a grown adult.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
Yeah and the tapout was so light and limp wristed. I didn’t get it
John Cena is so sloppy you can’t tell what’s part of the story and what is just poor habits. Just being real. He came along during a time when they needed a new top name and they bought all-in on the look and the fans ate it up. Previous era you had guys like Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Ric Flair and The Macho Man dazzling crowds with excellent craftsmanship, stories that stood the test of time and captured imaginations with their commitment to kayfabe.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
I’d definitely say he was above average.
And to his credit he was always in shape and carried himself like an athlete. A lot of guys in the business now are so tiny it looks like kids fighting, he at least looked like a grown adult.
I’ve never cared about the need for my wrestlers to look big.

Flair was certainly not an intimidating figure. Neither was Shawn Michaels. Bret Hart was just average size WWE wise. I like seeing the storytellers do it between the ropes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GeraldV

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,179
2,126
111
John Cena is so sloppy you can’t tell what’s part of the story and what is just poor habits. Just being real. He came along during a time when they needed a new top name and they bought all-in on the look and the fans ate it up. Previous era you had guys like Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Ric Flair and The Macho Man dazzling crowds with excellent craftsmanship, stories that stood the test of time and captured imaginations with their commitment to kayfabe.
Yeah see the lack of upholding kayfabe bothers me a lot more than his in-ring shortcomings. So many promos of his were “wink wink nudge nudge” “aren’t we all having fun even though it’s all fake and scripted?” He’d lose the title and show up on Raw next night smiling like he was totally unbothered. Why should the viewer care if the wrestlers don’t?

but HHH is the guy that made me stop watching. Sometime in the early 00s EVERY Raw would start off with a 20min promo with Hunter and Steph talking incredibly slowly and savoring every syllable and just boring me to tears and it was a total turn-off. They tried to make him the modern day Flair and it totally flopped with me. I know a lot of people loved him tho
 
  • Love
Reactions: Eastkybball
Jul 30, 2024
5,593
10,651
113
Yeah see the lack of upholding kayfabe bothers me a lot more than his in-ring shortcomings. So many promos of his were “wink wink nudge nudge” “aren’t we all having fun even though it’s all fake and scripted?” He’d lose the title and show up on Raw next night smiling like he was totally unbothered. Why should the viewer care if the wrestlers don’t?

but HHH is the guy that made me stop watching. Sometime in the early 00s EVERY Raw would start off with a 20min promo with Hunter and Steph talking incredibly slowly and savoring every syllable and just boring me to tears and it was a total turn-off. They tried to make him the modern day Flair and it totally flopped with me. I know a lot of people loved him tho
Nope you’re preaching to the choir on Hunter.
 

ryanbruner

Heisman
Sep 10, 2017
13,623
21,786
113
They weren’t even above average bell to bell: Cena

They didn’t even have more than 20 moves in their move set: Cena

They can’t even properly apply a proper face lock despite using it as his finisher for decades: Cena

I’ve watched a lot of wrestlers come and go but few wrestlers made it look more like a really bad cartoon than Cena.
The wrestling aspect is less important than the other stuff when it comes to that specific company. There are a million guys who can apply a proper face lock or who have a video game like move set. That just doesn't really get people far in WWE.

The make a wish stuff and anti bullying stuff alone would probably make him their GOAT. I'm sure being able to market that made them more money than just about anything.