The Critically Acclaimed Abraham Washington Wrestling Thread

I knew Shelton was going to be released....he was just wasting away!

The moment Swagger walked past him during that backstage and looked at him....it just showed that he was on his way out
 
I'm both shocked and not surprised about Shelton. He never got the main event push he deserved, but it was apparent that he wasn't ever gonna get it after being in almost every MitB match and never winning.

And fuck fuck fuckin HELL about Pope's injury. He's one of the reasons I even switch over to TNA, and now when he was more than likely about to hit the big time, disaster strikes. It's Ken Anderson Syndrome at work, I tell ya.

But yeah, TNA's roster could definitely use some thinning out. I love to see the Band get the axe and take Bubba The Cum Sponge along with 'em.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Oooooh, good choice. I'd be okay with getting rid of Rhino too. I like the guy, but I have to be frank: I would watch TNA for 9 months before wondering why he wasn't on the air at all.[/QUOTE]

hogan
jesse neal
team 3d (they really dont have it anymore)
BUBBA THE fuckING LOVE SPONGE!!!!!!
rob terry
amazing red
odb
orlando jordan


also when on TNAs website... they still have daniels on the roster
 
They're not going to dump Terry or Moore. Moore's a favor to Hardy, and someone likes Big Rob.

Dump Jesse Neal, Kiyoshi, Shark Boy, Eric Young (sorry EY), Magnus, and Stevie. Keep Stevie on as an agent.

Haas, Benjamin, and Yang are decent pick ups for TNA, but I'd rather see Yang in ROH. He's based out of SoCal, so him on the indies working ROH and PWG works for me.

Funaki goes back to Japan, Gordy does too (the son of Bam Bam would be huge overseas), and the Divas can go back to stripping or whatever. Mickie can go to TNA where Divas go to die - Nashville should be a help with the Jarretts having pull in that city.
 
Shelton deserved a main event push? The guy stumbled on his words constantly on promos, and the only show he could've realistically been a main eventer on with his mic issues was ECW. The guy was given plenty of secondary title runs and a regular gig as a showstealer in a prominent match on WWE's biggest show of the year. He had the ability to have great matches, but was really inconsistent with those. It isn't like he's a Kurt Angle-level guy who had 4 star matches week in and week out on TV - about once a year, if given time, you could count on him to have a very good match. He's showed a ton of potential, but never really lived up to it very often.

Otherwise, he'd go through the motions and have perfectly fine TV matches. Some are salivating over a WGTT reunion in TNA - why? Their '03 run was awesome, but their '07 one wasn't, and I don't see how they'd suddenly get better with age. Haas definitely needs Shelton to get a job in TNA, but Shelton doesn't need him. I can see them bringing both guys in for a proper Team Angle reunion though - perhaps as a way to counter act some evil heel group or to have them do TV matches instead of Kurt and save his matches for PPV.

As far as TNA goes, Stevie will probably be kept around for the ECW stable they want to do.
 
JJSP, you'd drop Brutus Magnus? Really? I think he has a big upside down the line, just perhaps not right this moment.

Jay, I appreciate your opinion on things like I appreciate your weekly quasi-snizz shots of the TNA Knockouts and unabashed fellatio of virtually every WWE tv program.

You know what happens to people who have great matches and can't talk? They get managers. Do it w/ Benjamin.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']JJSP, you'd drop Brutus Magnus? Really? I think he has a big upside down the line, just perhaps not right this moment.

Jay, I appreciate your opinion on things like I appreciate your weekly quasi-snizz shots of the TNA Knockouts and unabashed fellatio of virtually every WWE tv program.

You know what happens to people who have great matches and can't talk? They get managers. Do it w/ Benjamin.[/QUOTE]

Virtually ever WWE program? I usually dig SD and Raw to some degree, but NXT has fallen off a fucking cliff over the past few weeks, and I barely ever watch Superstars, although when I do, it tends to be a good show. Especially the one from a month ago with an awesome Kidd-Rey match.

A manager could work for Shelton, but the guy's matches would still need to be better than they've been in WWE for a long time for a main event run to really take. However, if RVD can revive his stagnant career with a TNA run, then perhaps Shelton could as well.
 
Oh, my bad, I forgot about how little Brock Lesnar mattered to the WWE 7 years ago, and how he cut awesome promos all on his own with no manager.
 
I know people are bashing Shelton for his work, but when you see he writing on the wall how hard are you gonna push yourself? I mean you'll work just hard enough to make them think you give shit and make yourself a highlight reel in one match a year and apparently even then, it won't help you keep your job. Shelton might care to push him self to level he knows he can attain now that he's got WWE off his back. I don't know if TNA is the answer, maybe it's ROH, maybe it's sit at home and eat raw cookie dough for a week. I don't know. I just think he didn't want to kill himself knowing it wouldn't matter. We've all had a job like that before. Not saying he phoned it in, but would I blame him if he did? Nope.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Oh, my bad, I forgot about how little Brock Lesnar mattered to the WWE 7 years ago, and how he cut awesome promos all on his own with no manager.[/QUOTE]

Heyman was basically the only male manager they had back then, and TNA only has Flair now. In fact, Heyman's still his manager in some ways, and has been coaching Brock on his promos and his presence. Sure has worked out well for Brock, but he's a once in a lifetime talent, and that doesn't mean that Shelton would have instant success with a manager since he still has holes in his game that haven't been resolved even with pushes in WWE. The whole "grow into a main event role" can work, as Brock did it in '02, Sheamus has certainly done that over the past six months, but Shelton couldn't even do it on ECW, let alone a major show.

There's also the chance that he'll find himself outside of TNA - Kennedy's flourished on the mic more than ever before in TNA, and has become a better worker. RVD's also been better since coming to TNA than he was in WWE since about '02. Shelton might be a guy, like Ken Shamrock, who has a ton of personality, but can't fake it with scripted promos. I'm not against Shelton getting a main event push IF he proves that he warrants one. Just giving him one because WWE didn't isn't a good enough reason.
 
The way they booked Mickie at the end confused me. They had her beat McCool in 15 seconds to win the title, then jobbed her out. Then she had an "injury" (not sure if it was real), came back for the clusterfuck at Mania, then was seemingly paired with Beth Phoenix before being released.

I heard Shelton's contract was coming up, so maybe he chose not to renew, as Charlie Haas suggested. I'd love to see him wrestle guys like AJ, Pope, and RVD.
 
It was real, she posted pics on twitter from the hospital.

Regarding Shelton, does the no compete clause count if the contract just ends, or did they release him close to the end of the contract just so he would have to wait the 90 days.
 
Legally nothing can go beyond when a contract ends.

But WWE's a super wealthy and politically connected corporation who got the wholly legitimate "independent contractor" lawsuit by Raven, Mike Sanders, and Chris Kanyon thrown out of court - so it's not like legal legitimacy has any merit in a court of law w/ WWE.
 
[quote name='JaytheGamefan']Shelton deserved a main event push? The guy stumbled on his words constantly on promos, and the only show he could've realistically been a main eventer on with his mic issues was ECW. The guy was given plenty of secondary title runs and a regular gig as a showstealer in a prominent match on WWE's biggest show of the year. He had the ability to have great matches, but was really inconsistent with those. It isn't like he's a Kurt Angle-level guy who had 4 star matches week in and week out on TV - about once a year, if given time, you could count on him to have a very good match. He's showed a ton of potential, but never really lived up to it very often.[/QUOTE]

Is he a wrestler or a professional speaker? Benjamin didn't have 4-star matches on TV because they never freakin' put him on TV. Shelton Benjamin cold wrestle circles around Kurt Angle if they ever did anything with him. I don't feel bad for him because we all know where he's going and, even if he's again misused, there will be some damn fine matches along the way.

Are promos important? Of course. But to the idea of that being the sole reason he never made it to the main event, I say "Ultimate Warrior."

[quote name='mykevermin']Oh, my bad, I forgot about how little Brock Lesnar mattered to the WWE 7 years ago, and how he cut awesome promos all on his own with no manager.[/QUOTE]

Batista is garbage on the mic, too. AND in the ring. He also seems to be doing just fine.
 
Info on why the Raven-Kanyon-Sanders suit was thrown out -
The suit was thrown out of court last year due to it being filed after the statute of limitation would have run out for that type of filing.
Click to expand...
It doesn't seem like WWE had to do much to get it thrown out.

Batista, as a heel, has been awesome on the mic, and in the ring, he's had far more great matches than anyone could've expected given how green he was. Outside of his God-awful late '06-pre-WM 23 run, he's been pretty solid. Shelton has been given plenty of TV time over the years, and nothing they've done with him has really clicked with fans. Having him as the Gold Standard wasn't the key to getting him over as a main eventer on either SD or ECW, and they gave him time to have good matches with that role. Him "wrestling circles" around Angle? He's never been anywhere near as consistent as Angle, even with Angle's age advancing and serious injuries taking more of a toll on him.
 
I enjoy Brutus Magnus and feel they should have kept him with Rob Terry so someone could at least talk for him if we're going to have to see him. As far as him being on his own I feel like they are getting everything they would want out of him from Desmond Wolfe.

Other guys I think TNA could stand to trim off...

Shannon Moore -if you need to have a Hardy favor, make it Helms.
Amazing Red - can't stand how weak his offense looks.
Jesse Neal - drops off the face of the Earth until 3D need a tag partner
Tomko - They should be embarrassed putting him on TV with the way he looks now.
Kiyoshi - can't remember the last time he was used.
Shark Boy - Also have no idea the last time he appeared on TV.
Stevie - only thing I can think of for him is to manage Generation Me. He can at least talk for them. It's more useful than pulling Daffney off of people then disappearing for 2 months.
 
[quote name='Matt Young']Mike Knox was released. Matt Young and guyver mourn.[/QUOTE]

I'll miss the Flying Bear! cross body - dude made that move look awesome. He'd be perfect as an enforcer-type guy in either ROH or TNA as the backup for a faction.
 
I get it now. WWE is trying to release enough people that TNA goes bankrupt trying to pick them all up.

[quote name='mykevermin']Oh, my bad, I forgot about how little Brock Lesnar mattered to the WWE 7 years ago, and how he cut awesome promos all on his own with no manager.[/QUOTE]

Really? I can't remember one thing Heyman did as Lesnar's manager. Brock got over himself as a monster by being just that.

The days of somebody like Bobby Heenan or Jim Cornette making a wrestler are over.
 
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[quote name='Sporadic']I get it now. WWE is trying to release enough people that TNA fall apart financially trying to pick them all up.[/QUOTE]
That was my thought.
 
AJ Styles can't talk for beans either, and he's seen as the face of TNA. Shelton's gonna be just fine if he goes that route.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Let's not forget the Hardys can't cut promos for fuck-all, either.[/QUOTE]

Fans in crowds care about the Hardys - they don't care about Shelton. They also have charisma, something that Shelton lacks. AJ's been a decent promo guy - the key to him cutting a good promo is being a heel. Both his '07 run and his present one saw him rule as a mic. Guy plays a better face in the ring though. Heyman didn't make Brock, but he was a huge help for him when he needed one. He put the guy over as the next big thing, and thankfully, Brock was able to live up to that billing.
 
[quote name='demolition man']vince russo is no longer head writer for tna.[/quote]
celebrate good times come on!!!!
 
[quote name='Demolition Man']Vince Russo is no longer head writer for TNA.[/QUOTE]

TNA is gonna push hard to get JR now
 
[quote name='cdubb1605']TNA is gonna push hard to get JR now[/QUOTE]

Him not being a head writer anymore actually kinda implies that TNA may already have JR.

I'm extremely sad about Shelton, but I think he will have a lot more competition in TNA. Shelton vs RVD would be amazing. I used to look forward to the MitB matches at Wrestlemania just because Shelton would be in it and I knew he would try something insane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJyHS-M5Vc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PEY-Ez1ThY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbRikrbqhr8

And that HBK/Shelton superkick that was posted was one of the best looking impact moves that I've ever seen. I don't mark for moves often, but damn.
 
TNA's been pushing to get J.R., but we won't know anything until 4/30, which is when his short-term WWE deal expires. J.R. being in TNA would certainly remedy their horrendous play-by-play situation, and Russo being done as head writer is a step in the right direction except that he made that choice himself, and will still have input into the shows, so I'm not expecting great things just because he's gone. TNA's problems extend beyond him.
 
[quote name='strongpimphand']celebrate good times come on!!!![/QUOTE]
al-gore.jpg


"I will."

EDIT: Awesome Kong is starstruck: http://twitter.com/awesomekong/status/12645669863
 
I really would've thought her idol was Vader. Still, cool to see that she's at least a bit known, she's certainly earned it.
 
I decided to make some draft predictions. I've found that the draft is nigh impossible to predict correctly, so these may be way off, but what the hell. This is partly speculation and partly what I want to see.

Televised Draft

To Raw:

The Undertaker
Kane
Drew McIntyre
John Morrison
Dolph Ziggler

To Smackdown:

John Cena
The Miz
The Big Show
Kofi Kingston
Cody Rhodes

Supplemental Draft

To Raw:

Finlay
JTG
Layla

To Smackdown:

Carlito
Yoshi Tatsu
Kelly Kelly

Those are my predictions... what are yours?
 
[quote name='Demolition Man']Vince Russo is no longer head writer for TNA.[/QUOTE]

I REALLY hope this past week's show was the first sign of this.
 
[quote name='JaytheGamefan']Fans in crowds care about the Hardys - they don't care about Shelton. They also have charisma, something that Shelton lacks. AJ's been a decent promo guy - the key to him cutting a good promo is being a heel. Both his '07 run and his present one saw him rule as a mic. Guy plays a better face in the ring though. Heyman didn't make Brock, but he was a huge help for him when he needed one. He put the guy over as the next big thing, and thankfully, Brock was able to live up to that billing.[/QUOTE]

You keep writing anecdotal excuses to justify your initial critiques of Shelton Benjamin's lack of growth/utility - but you're just writing yourself in circles to stay correct at this point.

If you don't like him, fine. But the more you type the more you show yourself to be a know-nothing who is more concerned with being correct than with being honest and/or analytical.

fuck, I'm the guy who said I liked Rhino but no longer see an upside to him, so I'd let him go from TNA. That's the kind of pragmatism someone should listen to. Not some self-absorbed wrestling-show essay writer that constantly self-asserts his expertise in consistently short-sighted and contradictory ways.

Heyman didn't make Brock? Son, you are delusional.

EDIT:
2) I demand a source for Russo stepping down before I believe anything

3) [quote name='Scorch']And that HBK/Shelton superkick that was posted was one of the best looking impact moves that I've ever seen. I don't mark for moves often, but damn.[/QUOTE]

I don't always care for JR's "coked-out-aneurysm" voice, but his "MY GAWD IN HEAVEN!" at that moment was apropo. As was the dude in the sleeveless yellow tie die shirt who thrust his hands up and then pointed at HBK/Benjamin with an "oh my fucking GAWD!" look on his face. That fan, quite honestly, helps make that clip for me.
 
Raw:

Hart Dynasty
Drew Mcyntire
Michelle McCool
Undertaker

SD:

Big Show
Jack Swagger
Randy Orton
Kofi
Cody Rhodes

Supplemental raw:

Finlay
Shad

Supplemental SD:

Mark Henry
Evan Bourne
 
[quote name='mykevermin']
Heyman didn't make Brock? Son, you are delusional[/QUOTE]
Heyman added to his character and it was nice to see a manager (or *ahem* - agent), which helped, but you're giving him a ridiculous amount of credit. He didn't even come close to "making" Brock.

Brock started talking around KOTR, was average, Heyman was scaled back until he turned on him, and it didn't derail his momentum one bit. Beating down the Hardys, winning King of the Ring, and pinning Rock & Undertaker clean is what got him over, not Heyman.

That guy was going to be huge whether he had Heyman in his corner or Rocko the Talking Dummy. If you can't see that, to quote an upcoming Raw guest host - I can't do nothin' for ya, man.
 
Lesnar would have hit the heights he did without Heyman. Heyman did help propel him there a little faster though. The Paul E. persona is nearly unparalleled at drawing heat (loudmouthed NuYawker) and was very helpful in cementing Lesnar as a heel right away. Without Heyman constantly running his mouth fans could have easily taken to Lesnar and started treating him as a face. Heyman plus anyone though, insta-heel heat.
 
Brock has a unique look and probably would have achieved some success without Paul E. in his corner. Heyman definitely helped promote and push Brock to another level. Would Brock have been perceived to be such a terror without Heyman as his mouth? Maybe. Would WWE have misused Brock without Heyman in his corner? Maybe.

I'm a bit late to the 'Future Endeavors' party, but here's my say.

It has been said that Mickie wants to 'sing', so that's not too surprising, though still a standout name to see on the list. Katie Lea and Shelton will probably wind-up in TNA. Yang once worked for TNA as a Flying Elvis but I think TNA will pass and he'll wind up in ROH.

Do you think TNA will bring in Shelton alongside Charlie Haas (who has expressed interest in joining TNA) and add them as a team in their lackluster tag team division? Or will they immediately start him in the World title picture? I have often thought that TNA needs a mid-to-upper-card title. Perhaps a TV title with more prestige? It should have been the Global title but they never showcase it or make it matter, and the 'defended only overseas' gimmick would need to be changed. 'Global title' has a nice ring to it, but the belt needs to be made more important.
 
As far as I have read, Russo has yet to step down as the head of creative in TNA. Russo will step down in the very near future as he has said that he is burnt out on writing and he is moving to Nashville to be closer to the TNA offices.

With that being said TNA is very confident in the signing of either Paul Heyman or Jim Ross. I personally think we will see both men in TNA before 2010 is over.

You'd think Heyman would jump on the opportunity to work with his old buddies from ECW again. Especially when the opportunity allows him creative control over an incredibly talented roster and something he didn't have with ECW, a bankroll.

As for Jim Ross, I just don't see him resigning with the WWE. Over the years Vince has embarrassed Jim on TV numerous times, while yeah it's part of the storyline and all that jazz, but really do we need to have Kane light J.R. on fire and have Ross on his knees kissing McMahon's ass? I'd imagine Jim had never been too happy in that regard. The biggest reason I see Jim signing with TNA though is the simple fact, that the man want's to announce and he wants to be involved backstage as well, which I believe TNA will let him do that.

As for the recently released WWE stars. TNA would be wise to sign Shelton as he could easily work in any division and put on a great match with just about anyone in the company. I've always thought while Shelton isn't the best on the mic, he isn't the worst by a long shot. He can cut a decent promo, but when the man gets a push that lasts for about 3 weeks once a year for his entire WWE career his passion for the business can't be strong, hopefully TNA can reignite Shelton and his career.

As far as the rest of the released guys, TNA already has a roster too large to sign anyone that wouldn't be worth it. So Shelton is really the only must have guy for them. Mickie James could be good a good Knockout, but she won't be any more effective than the girls they already have. The other guy that could do something in TNA right now would be Jimmy Yang, he was pushed pretty well when he was with TNA back in the early days and that guy can go out and have an excellent match with any X Division guy.
 
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