Lawful Metal Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 22 minutes ago, username said: I think the bigger issues in the theoretical Sami/KO vs Usos feud is that Owens has really been awful to Sami this whole time and if we are honest Jey has had his back more this past couple months than Owens has in their entire relationship. Kevin is always about him first, he without hesitation was willing to wreck all of Sami's relationships just to have a better shot at the title (which is pretty much what he did in NXT when he first showed up). Kevin was proven wrong, Jey actually was his friend and that still got ruined as Sami just couldn't bear to see Kevin basically crippled. Neither man is a saint or evil but it feels hard to ignore just how toxic Kevin has been for Sami's well being. ...So I say fuck it, run Sami/Jey vs Jimmy/KO. No man is ever truly good. No man is ever truly evil. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 The Women's Rumble was really good towards the End. Raquel Rodriguez looked really strong. I don't watch the TV but I hear sees booked pretty strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go2Sleep Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 This was the most I've enjoyed a Rumble in some time. The men's Rumble just felt really fresh because of the focus on next generation stars. Booker had a minute-long cameo, and Edge is there but he's still a weekly active roster guy at least. The final 4 of Cody, Seth, Gunther, and Logan was so refreshing. The standard Rumble tropes were all there, but using them to make new stars instead of trying to give established guys more resume filler really rekindled my love of the match. Gunther's stock skyrocketed and he didn't steal all of Cody's thunder. Also, that Logan/Ricochet spot was beautiful and Kofi's attempt at a new save turning into the nastiest elimination of the night was the rare good kind of botch. I could still do without the Bray Wyatt stuff. No matter how many times they try to re-invent him, it still feels the same. He's definitely no Taker or even Kane when it comes to adding new wrinkles to the gimmick. I do, however, think there was a lot of untapped potential with evil Alexa, so I don't mind a reboot there. Women's rumble was solid. I wasn't a huge fan of both #1's making long runs, but Rhea is credible coast-to-coast winner and she deserves it for her work in Judgment Day. The main event... Now that's the good shit. Best WWE segment since WM 30. Long-term I'd hate to see them waste Jey's work the past week just having him run back to the bloodline, but Steenerico ending the Usos run would be a nice enough consolation moment for Sami. There are a lot of interesting ways to go from here, and it's easily the most compelling Mania season in 9 years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Lord Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Having a day to digest the events of the rumble, I gotta say that it was an incredible end to the show. Sami has to face Roman for the title. Sami and Kevin going for tag titles seems like it would be such a letdown. Sami is over to the point where he could be a huge new star for them. The reports that Vince and triple h don't see that see just makes no sense. Like he is more than a supporting player. He can be the lead. I'm amazed he pulled that off. The rest of the show...pitch black match withstanding was really good. Glad Cody won. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 https://twitter.com/Gunther_AUT/status/1619660674086621186 What a picture and run by GUNTHER. I don't think GUNTHER'S 71 minutes in a traditional Royal Rumble record will be topped. My boy, Daniel Bryan still has the record with 76 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 https://twitter.com/brandnewdrip/status/1619807810744901632 Pat McAfee's the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVA Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 8 hours ago, username said: I think the bigger issues in the theoretical Sami/KO vs Usos feud is that Owens has really been awful to Sami this whole time and if we are honest Jey has had his back more this past couple months than Owens has in their entire relationship. Kevin is always about him first, he without hesitation was willing to wreck all of Sami's relationships just to have a better shot at the title (which is pretty much what he did in NXT when he first showed up). Kevin was proven wrong, Jey actually was his friend and that still got ruined as Sami just couldn't bear to see Kevin basically crippled. Neither man is a saint or evil but it feels hard to ignore just how toxic Kevin has been for Sami's well being. This is really well observed and gets at what I’m talking about when I say that, while I enjoy the hell out of this angle, the writing is actually not that great! Like, it’s fine, it works, but you got people acting like WWE has Jesse Armstrong ghostwriting this stuff, and I can’t help but shake my head. SO MANY muddled motivations, and characters taking actions that seem at cross-purposes with how WWE wants the audience to feel towards them. 90% of the success of this angle is down to these guys just being incredible performers who can squeeze humor and pathos out of anything if you stand back and give them the chance. Letting Sami be likable/sympathetic has been a cheat code for bookers for almost two decades now, and the Bloodline were able to rejuvenate a thoroughly washed act by making an absolute meal out of reacting to what he’s serving. If we’re looking for a current non-wrestling cultural reference point for this angle, I might suggest we look away from the Emmys and towards America’s foremost populist drama of the moment, YELLOWSTONE—another show with iffy writing but a killer, can’t-miss performance by Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, who makes all the actors around her better and all the other characters more interesting in her scenes, because they all just get to react to her chewing up and spitting out every square inch of Big Sky Country. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Conn Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I fast forwarded through the singles matches and the Hardy performance and all the other schlock. The pre show should’ve been Mt Dew Match Hardy Concert and the Women’s title match and maybe have given it some time The PPV should’ve been the two rumble and the title match. Time Management isn’t WWE’s strong suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I just want Sami to cut his hair. The long hair looks terrible now. Just my opinion. As for the story, it's probably the only WWE thing I pay attention to and when it's the only thing you pay attention to in WWE, it makes it much easier to pick apart. Like, there should have been no question about Sami's motivations after his WarGames performance. And then they had to come back to that for...whatever reason. Basically, because Kevin Owens was still annoying Roman, we wound up with Roman and other Bloodline members illogically doubting Sami because there was more juice to squeeze out of Sami looking sympathetic. The story with lesser performers just doesn't work, but because practically everyone involved in this angle is the best WWE has, it makes the angle look like the best thing ever. I'm fine with that. It's nice to be able to look past WWE's illogical booking for once. Regarding where they go from here, I agree with others that Sami vs Roman at WM doesn't make a ton of sense because Sami wouldn't have a chance. The difference when looking back to WM 30 is that Daniel Bryan was already a World champion. He was already positioned as a top of the card wrestler for awhile and given top or near top feuds. Sami, until now, was booked like a total joke. He fell into the trap of being someone Vince found funny. Somehow, someway, Sami and how annoying he can be backstage when it comes to booking was able to get Vince, the most easily annoyed person in the world, to look past Sami's idiosyncrasies and see Sami as a "that's good shit pal" type of person. Anyway, you've had years of Sami looking like a geek. Going from that to all of a sudden being on Roman's level didn't make sense. The story with Bryan was never that he couldn't hang with Batista or Orton or Cena, it was that a face like Bryan's couldn't be the face of the company. For that reason, I'm fine with KO/Sami vs the Usos. It's been two days since the Royal Rumble and people are already questioning the booking. That's kind of crazy. Yeah, Jey walked away, doesn't mean that at the end of the day that family is above all else for Jey and Sami should have known better. That's a story as old as time and in wrestling, you can add in how you can't trust anyone. At the very least, while KO can be a dick to Sami, Sami can at least trust what KO's motivations are and know that at some point they're going to fight again and they've been friends more than they've been foes. So why not team up with KO to take on the Usos. The Usos have been positioned as the top of the top tag team champions in WWE. Beating them would still be a huge accomplishment and closing that match with KO and Sami hugging as champions would be quite the moment. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I agree with someone online who said as soon as someone wins a title, there are people nitpicking and wonder when/how will they lose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raziel Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I get people wanting to recreate Kofi's Gold Watch moment, but you really can't end this particular reign of Roman's being the 5th longest all time single reign and no direct falls in 3 years for what would end up being a throwaway reign that no one will care about once the night ends. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 18 minutes ago, Raziel said: I get people wanting to recreate Kofi's Gold Watch moment, but you really can't end this particular reign of Roman's being the 5th longest all time single reign and no direct falls in 3 years for what would end up being a throwaway reign that no one will care about once the night ends. Meaning having Sami beat Roman? I agree with most of that, but this is far from a gold watch moment for Sami. I think Kofi earned that and had been there for what felt like forever. If you mean Cody, then I think I disagree. I can't think of anyone else in WWE positioned stronger to beat Roman than Cody. If you have Cody defend his shot by going up against Gunther or something then I think the Cody vs Roman match is even more compelling. I'm still not 100% convinced Roman is going to lose, but if anyone can beat him and look credible in the process, it's probably Cody. However, if they want to drag this out for another year, then I think next in line would be Steiner if they were to strap a rocket to him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I wonder if fans in New York used to think "I wonder when Bruno is going to lose the belt", especially after years 4 or 5 of his Reign. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raziel Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 22 minutes ago, Craig H said: Meaning having Sami beat Roman? I agree with most of that, but this is far from a gold watch moment for Sami. I think Kofi earned that and had been there for what felt like forever. If you mean Cody, then I think I disagree. I can't think of anyone else in WWE positioned stronger to beat Roman than Cody. If you have Cody defend his shot by going up against Gunther or something then I think the Cody vs Roman match is even more compelling. I'm still not 100% convinced Roman is going to lose, but if anyone can beat him and look credible in the process, it's probably Cody. However, if they want to drag this out for another year, then I think next in line would be Steiner if they were to strap a rocket to him. I mean Sami. Cody/Roman is the story and Sami's is the reign that no one would care about after it happens (like Kofi-mania ended up being). Mabye Kofi isn't the right comparison for Sami, but no one's thinking past that there's two long term stories going on in this and everyone here decided that they want the title story to be Sami's when it's never been. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eivion Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 9 minutes ago, Raziel said: I mean Sami. Cody/Roman is the story and Sami's is the reign that no one would care about after it happens (like Kofi-mania ended up being). Mabye Kofi isn't the right comparison for Sami, but no one's thinking past that there's two long term stories going on in this and everyone here decided that they want the title story to be Sami's when it's never been. No one cared about Kofi's because the booking sucked. Why assume no one would care about Sami's, or even better, why assume more would care about Cody's reign? Right now there is a world of difference in audience interest and reaction between Cody and Sami despite Cody having a story more geared for the title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Holy shit. One has been an ongoing storyline. The other involves a top superstar returning from an injury who just had his first "match" back two fucking days ago. LET IT BREATHE A LITTLE. Holy shit. When I, one of the most jaded WWE fans there is, is telling someone else to let something in WWE breathe a little bit, then y'all should know something is just a little fucked up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raziel Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 6 minutes ago, Eivion said: No one cared about Kofi's because the booking sucked. Why assume no one would care about Sami's, or even better, why assume more would care about Cody's reign? Right now there is a world of difference in audience interest and reaction between Cody and Sami despite Cody having a story more geared for the title. Wait, we really pretending Cody played to crickets at any time in the past year? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolfan in NYC Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 A couple of things: 1) HHH is still in the position where he needs to make an impression on the rest of the pro wrestling world, because when big free agent names come up -- MJF, Okada, Britt Baker, etc. -- they will want to know that the WWE values them as performers and they won't be "just another wrestler." That's why Cody has to win. 2) All this talk about Sami not being a credible threat to Roman. I agree -- 9 months ago when this started. The goofball is the side of the character that got all the way into the top dog's inner circle. He got the guy who was most suspicious of him to love him, to call him his brother. (With his literal brother standing next to him!) What you've been witnessing for the last 9 months is the build up of Sami. If he wasn't a threat to Roman, if he wasn't in line to break the Bloodline... then none of what you saw on Saturday would have been over with the crowd. They know Sami's got a shot. It may be a long shot, but it's a shot nonetheless. Everything in the story has been pointing to him breaking the Bloodline and having an overconfident Roman take the threat that he poses for granted. That's why Sami has to win. This story is a very unique mix of meta and storytelling. I'm fucking stoked about this whole thing. There are a hundred different ways to do this, but one thing's absolutely certain... Roman Reigns is facing, far and away, the biggest threat to his position as Head of the Table. Where they go from here? We'll see. But remember this is Hunter's WWE now. What happened before last summer doesn't matter any more. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I'm just happy they didn't bring Brandi out after he won. (Or did they and I missed it?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eivion Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Craig H said: Holy shit. One has been an ongoing storyline. The other involves a top superstar returning from an injury who just had his first "match" back two fucking days ago. LET IT BREATHE A LITTLE. Holy shit. When I, one of the most jaded WWE fans there is, is telling someone else to let something in WWE breathe a little bit, then y'all should know something is just a little fucked up. What exactly am I supposed to be letting breathe? 7 minutes ago, Raziel said: Wait, we really pretending Cody played to crickets at any time in the past year? No, but it does sound like some of you are pretending Cody was getting massive pops regularly beyond his first couple of appearances. He gets good reactions. So does Brock. So has Sheamus, Drew, Lashley, Riddle, and Seth at various moments. Sami has been getting bigger and more sustained reactions than all of them for months now. Edited January 30, 2023 by Eivion 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raziel Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 4 minutes ago, Dolfan in NYC said: A couple of things: 1) HHH is still in the position where he needs to make an impression on the rest of the pro wrestling world, because when big free agent names come up -- MJF, Okada, Britt Baker, etc. -- they will want to know that the WWE values them as performers and they won't be "just another wrestler." That's why Cody has to win. 2) All this talk about Sami not being a credible threat to Roman. I agree -- 9 months ago when this started. The goofball is the side of the character that got all the way into the top dog's inner circle. He got the guy who was most suspicious of him to love him, to call him his brother. (With his literal brother standing next to him!) What you've been witnessing for the last 9 months is the build up of Sami. If he wasn't a threat to Roman, if he wasn't in line to break the Bloodline... then none of what you saw on Saturday would have been over with the crowd. They know Sami's got a shot. It may be a long shot, but it's a shot nonetheless. Everything in the story has been pointing to him breaking the Bloodline and having an overconfident Roman take the threat that he poses for granted. That's why Sami has to win. This story is a very unique mix of meta and storytelling. I'm fucking stoked about this whole thing. There are a hundred different ways to do this, but one thing's absolutely certain... Roman Reigns is facing, far and away, the biggest threat to his position as Head of the Table. Where they go from here? We'll see. But remember this is Hunter's WWE now. What happened before last summer doesn't matter any more. In Vince's WWE, we know both of them fall short in embarrassing fashion for Brock to end up winning at SummerSlam. That's why I'm more inclined to think that Sami is the one to break Roman's unpinned streak and end up showing Cody the key to taking the title off him. There's a way to accomplish both without throwing out out just because we like one guy better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
For Great Justice Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 To me I get it if they decide that this is a chapter moreso than an ending and don’t pull the trigger on Sami. That’s rational and defendable. However, if it’s NOT Sami, then to me the one to dethrone Roman hasn’t revealed itself yet. At this particular point in time, 90 days out, Cody doesn’t feel like that guy to me in the narrative nor in the meta (and it’s crazy how closely those two things align these days). “Guy returning from injury to win at WM” is a good story. We’ve seen it before. It was the HHH 2002 story, part of the Austin 2001 story, and others. But that alone doesn’t feel up to the extremely high standard required of the “guy who finally beats Roman” story. Not to me anyway, not right now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVA Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 8 minutes ago, Dolfan in NYC said: But remember this is Hunter's WWE now. What happened before last summer doesn't matter any more. Unfortunately, the WWE Board agreed with your last sentence. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 1 hour ago, odessasteps said: I wonder if fans in New York used to think "I wonder when Bruno is going to lose the belt", especially after years 4 or 5 of his Reign. I think its a little different because fans will always fantasy book a heel champion getting his comeuppance. That didn't happen much for Bruno but it happened all the time to Flair in the 80s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Hero Morganti Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 The cracks begin to show and the fall of the Roman Empire begins. Paul will be the final nail. The wise man betrays his client, because thw wise man only cares for gold. Sami will probably show that Roman can be beat, even if he doesn't pin/submit him. Jey will either turn at EC, or find his self respect soon after and bring his brothers with him to leave Roman with his Brutus (Heyman) until Cody gets what is his empire be damned. I'm excited to see the next steps and how we get the fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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