The Squared Circle

[The Sage]

Definitely agree with combining all the brands. I do think combining Smackdown and ECW PPVs could work and make sense due to the current talent sharing.

Does anyone else think Batista is underrated as a worker? For me, since his first bout with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania last year, Batista's match quality has gone up; he's been doing few more moves now and then, selling more and telling pretty good stories.

I'm not saying he's great, but he's at least pretty good to good.

 

[BlackLantern]

For as large as Batista is, I do really think he is a good wrestler...

 

[The Professor]

Does anyone else think Batista is underrated as a worker? For me, since his first bout with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania last year, Batista's match quality has gone up; he's been doing few more moves now and then, selling more and telling pretty good stories.

I'm not saying he's great, but he's at least pretty good to good.

He's certainly improved, but I still don't think he's where he needs to be considering the position he's in.

 

[Fading]

I haven't watched a TNA PPV for awhile, I always got the impression they went south a bit after the weekly show did. I used ot occasionally order an TNA PPV, and they were indeed good shows. They really turned it up, and matches were better without the time slot constraints. My only beef was some TNA matches had no build up, 2 ppl just showed up and wrestled, which I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but a build up doesn't hurt either.

Anymore tho I hear TNA PPV's have went down the drain with the actual show. Which I can't say for sure as I haven't watched any part of TNA's product for months. Which sucks as Joe is currently still my favorite wrestler, but haven't seen one of his matches for awhile as I have a hard time setting thru TNA for any length of time anymore.

 

[BlackLantern]

TNA is going to hell in a handbasket

 

[The Professor]

Oh, and back to Joe's shoot. Supposedly the whole thing with him asking someone back stage to help work the match...Homicide was actually the first person to step up, but management went with Eric Young because it made more sense and he was more over.

Don't know how true that is, but I believe it.

 

[Hunter Rider]

True, but love him anyway.

It's so funny in this big shoot he did. He makes jokes about getting injured to keep from doing a job.

Nash has always been pretty honest about his own politicalness and lack of ability, gotta give him that.

I agree. Though I always liked his Jacknife.

It was a slick version of the power bomb i agree.

Definitely agree with combining all the brands. I do think combining Smackdown and ECW PPVs could work and make sense due to the current talent sharing.

Does anyone else think Batista is underrated as a worker? For me, since his first bout with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania last year, Batista's match quality has gone up; he's been doing few more moves now and then, selling more and telling pretty good stories.

I'm not saying he's great, but he's at least pretty good to good.

Yes, I think Batista has become a good worker, he's dropped weight which has led to better mobility and stamina, when he was champ in 2005 his matches were short and he basically hit his big spots on cue, but since the start of last year he's began selling, working his comebacks in with some variety and can now go a full 25 minute main event and have enough left in the tank for a closing stretch.

 

[Fading]

As for Batista, I'm half and half on him. Sometimes I think he's good for a big man, he shows more intensity than some. Pretty much I think he does a good job in telling a story. He gets the reactions right (like holding HHH's bloody head up), he does a good job building up to a move, but when he actually does that move it just kinda falls flat. He can shout and scream before doing a spinebuster, but once he actually does the spinebuster the energy just kinda leaves if that makes any sense.

I do think he gets more flack than he should tho. Like when him and Show wrestled in ECW and got a very bad reaction, not that I wasn't with the ECW crowd at that time as I was pissed with them taking ECW and ****ting all over it, but they actually wrestled a decent match.

I think Batista still needs polish on his ring work tho, he's got the athleticism for his size, and has good intensity, but is kinda boring in his actual delivery of his moves. However I did like Batista more than Orton back in Evolution.

 

[The Sage]

Oh, and back to Joe's shoot. Supposedly the whole thing with him asking someone back stage to help work the match...Homicide was actually the first person to step up, but management went with Eric Young because it made more sense and he was more over.

Don't know how true that is, but I believe it.

It is.

I'm curious to how TNA will put the belt on Joe. I also hope the rumors of TNA possibly changing their approach to a more athletic one in response to the good reviews of Global Impact. That's actually one TNA DVD I'll be buying when it's available.

 

[BlackLantern]

The way I read was that either Joe or Angle suggested Homicide and management went with Eric Young....I think SD will find another home quickly

 

[Dr. Evil]

Batista can be a good wrestler or a bad wrestler, it all depends on his opponent. When he feuded with the Undertaker in all of their matches, that was when Batista was at his best. His feuds with Edge and Finlay were good too. His feud with Khali was awful. Batista can put on a good match, it has to be against a good opponent though.

Plus, he'll always be in the title scene, well as long as he's over with the fans anyways. They go nuts when his theme music plays and he's one of only a few on Smackdown to get a reception like that (Rey being the other one). To me, Batista is not one of those guys who will suck in the ring if he's going up against a very talented opponent.

 

[The Professor]

Batista can be a good wrestler or a bad wrestler, it all depends on his opponent. When he feuded with the Undertaker in all of their matches, that was when Batista was at his best. His feuds with Edge and Finlay were good too. His feud with Khali was awful. Batista can put on a good match, it has to be against a good opponent though.

Plus, he'll always be in the title scene, well as long as he's over with the fans anyways. They go nuts when his theme music plays and he's one of only a few on Smackdown to get a reception like that (Rey being the other one). To me, Batista is not one of those guys who will suck in the ring if he's going up against a very talented opponent.

Exactly. When there's nobody to carry him, he's no good.

A lot of people were surprised when we went to Smackdown and became their main eventer back in 2005 because they saw Triple H basically carry him through his face run.

 

[BlackLantern]

there are like 2 matches on the TNA card that interest me......the MCMG v Team 3D and Cage v. Angle.....the Roode/Booker match as well, I would hope Roode would get the win but I dont think that would happen

 

[The Sage]

Exactly. When there's nobody to carry him, he's no good.

Well if you put Batista against someone like Khali, of course the match is going to suck. Khali is one of the worst wrestlers ever. I remember they had to edit a match with Undertaker he had because it was awful, and Undertaker isn't a bad wrestler. So far, only Cena apparently has succeeded in making Khali watchable.

Batista did have a brief but decent match with Mark Henry a couple of weeks ago, as well as a good one with Kane. Neither of those two guys can carry opponents, so I think it's a testament to Batista's ability as well.

 

[Warhammer]

So I'm watching the TNA rerun right now, and damn. I've started to regularly watch TNA for two months (because nothing comes on Thursdays) and they are just butchering A.J. Styles. He should be the top face (or heel) on TNA right now, since he is one probably the longest homegrown member there. Team 3D vs. Machismo/Shelley/Sabin is so stupid. There is absolutely no point to Team 3D trying to destroy the X-Division. The feud has just been sloppy.

 

[BlackLantern]

I think Luna Vashon put it best when she said a good wrestler is someone who can get in a ring with a mop and make it look like the mop is kicking their a$$

 

[The Sage]

So I'm watching the TNA rerun right now, and damn. I've started to regularly watch TNA for two months (because nothing comes on Thursdays) and they are just butchering A.J. Styles. He should be the top face (or heel) on TNA right now, since he is one probably the longest homegrown member there. Team 3D vs. Machismo/Shelley/Sabin is so stupid. There is absolutely no point to Team 3D trying to destroy the X-Division. The feud has just been sloppy.

Regarding AJ Styles: I hate the goofball character he portrays in TNA. It doesn't do him or the company any justice. However, it's obvious that eventually either AJ or Angle will turn on each other and feud, so this build up, despite how weird it is, does (hopefully at least) have a bit of purpose. If it doesn't have one, then I'm just running my mouth.

 

[Warhammer]

Regarding AJ Styles: I hate the goofball character he portrays in TNA. It doesn't do him or the company any justice. However, it's obvious that eventually either AJ or Angle will turn on each other and feud, so this build up, despite how weird it is, does (hopefully at least) have a bit of purpose. If it doesn't have one, then I'm just running my mouth.

Normally, I'd agree, but this is Vince Russo and TNA. We all know that once Kurt Angle and AJ Styles become enemies, Sting will return and challenge Kurt Angle for the title, then AJ Styles is going to accidentally trip on Sharmell's foot, which will break her big toe, which will piss off Booker T, thus sparking a feud. Then we are supposed to forget about the whole Angle/Styles stuff.

 

[The Sage]

Normally, I'd agree, but this is Vince Russo and TNA. We all know that once Kurt Angle and AJ Styles become enemies, Sting will return and challenge Kurt Angle for the title, then AJ Styles is going to accidentally trip on Sharmell's foot, which will break her big toe, which will piss off Booker T, thus sparking a feud. Then we are supposed to forget about the whole Angle/Styles stuff.

 

[SLYspyder]

Can someone please tell me when they're doing a rerun of the diva runway episode on Bravo?

Thanks

 

[The Professor]

I think soon enough they'll drop AJ's goofball thing and give him something good to run with.

 

[Max J Power]

However, one that blew me away. I can't remember when it was or what PPV, but it was on the one where Mercury broke his nose...Ladder match with the Hardys, Londrick, MNM, and I think someone else. Breathtaking match.

Armageddon 2006. The fourth team was William Regal & Dave Taylor. It was one of the best matches of the year (at least that I saw).

 

[Hunter Rider]

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Former WWE and TNA star "Razor Ramon" Scott Hall has apparently taken up WWE's rehab offer. Apparently, Hall had a recent breakdown in Puerto Rico. He then decided to take up WWE's offer. Hall is staying at the same rehab center former WWE star Jake "The Snake" Roberts is currently situated at, which is in Atlanta. For those wondering, Roberts is currently nine weeks into his fourteen-week stay at the facility and is said to be doing much better.

Also, if you're wondering where Ron 'Farooq' Simmons has been in recent weeks, well, he recently took up WWE's rehab offer as well according to Dave Meltzer. Simmons is currently staying at a rehab center in Atlanta (I believe it's the same facility that Hall and Roberts are currently at). Simmons was last seen on television at the 12/29 RAW taping in Greensboro in a "Happy New Year's" vignette with Jillian Hall.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Former WWE and TNA star "Razor Ramon" Scott Hall has apparently taken up WWE's rehab offer. Apparently, Hall had a recent breakdown in Puerto Rico. He then decided to take up WWE's offer. Hall is staying at the same rehab center former WWE star Jake "The Snake" Roberts is currently situated at, which is in Atlanta. For those wondering, Roberts is currently nine weeks into his fourteen-week stay at the facility and is said to be doing much better.

Also, if you're wondering where Ron 'Farooq' Simmons has been in recent weeks, well, he recently took up WWE's rehab offer as well according to Dave Meltzer. Simmons is currently staying at a rehab center in Atlanta (I believe it's the same facility that Hall and Roberts are currently at). Simmons was last seen on television at the 12/29 RAW taping in Greensboro in a "Happy New Year's" vignette with Jillian Hall.

Good to see guys trying to get clean and WWE giving them the avenue.

 

[Sarge 2.0]

I didn't know that Simmons had drug issues. Well, here's to hoping that all three of them get clean.