Michael Sweetser

Started Universe over and this time in NXT, and it's a lot more fun facing different people. "Magnificent" Michael Simon feuded briefly with Adam Cole over the NXT North American title, winning the title at Takeover after recruiting Zelina Vega to counter the Undisputed Era at ringside. On the next NXT weekly TV, Almas returned to NXT, and Simon helped him win the NXT title from Aleister Black, forming The Cartel. They also quickly picked up the NXT tag team title over The Revival.. thanks to Zelina assisting on a triple powerbomb. (Wasn't expecting that - she was ejected but not disqualified. Tag team finisher found.) On top of that, Simon decided his North American title wasn't worldly enough, and replaced it with the _South_ American championship. He also went full Tony Montana/Razor Ramon with the gear. Gotta match in a tag team, after all.

I don't disagree with any of this, and this will sound like I'm copping out... ..but pro wrestling is a completely different business than any other type of industry. The closest thing there is really is touring music acts. I've thankfully only been involved in a few situations where a major catastrophe of this nature - a major injury, or even a death - have occurred before or during the event. And something like this can be cathartic, especially in a physical context. You could see it in Seth Rollins in the main - he was working his heart out, and there was both a sadness and a fire in his eyes the entire time, and he was running at 120% and nailing EVERYTHING, and he was getting out all that raw emotion he had. He was doing it for Roman, and he was doing it for himself. I don't know if he felt better after or not, but it was definitely a release. That's what was needed at the time - a release.

Heyman said it best in his promo - the show must go on, and Reigns would want it that way. You can even see it in the backstage video - when Nia is hugging him and crying, Reigns tells her she's still got work to do.

I said this on Twitter and I'll say it here: People forget that pro wrestling really is a brotherhood. They see each other more than their own families, and become a family. Everyone there just saw one of their friends go down. And that hurts deep. Say what you will about Roman Reigns the character - but Joseph Anoa’i is a good person and he doesn’t deserve this. Nobody does. I have no doubt he’ll beat this once again. He’s Samoan. You can’t keep him down.

Yeah, that's how I ended up losing to Angle in the Series tower. I was not in the mood to deal with submissions, so I just posted Jordan enough times to require Impact testing. No dice with Kurt.

Curling is the greatest sport ever and a fine export from Canada. You just have to be the right level of drunk, whether participating or spectating.

Signature Sweep is a terrible game show. The prize is not being Cash'd.

While it seems realistic that if you don't cover right away, you risk having them kick out, it's really fucking annoying when Batista can't pin Lince Dorado after TWO Batista Bombs.

This is some seriously amazing stuff. It's a shame the game doesn't have a roster share - this'll take a while.

If I recall, he was undefeated on Velocity, then they wanted him to cut his hair, and he said no and left without doing a job, which I think is one of the few times someone's gotten away with that in WWE.

Just started Universe mode by recreating "Magnificent" Michael Simon and forming The Magnificence with the Revival and Pete Dunne. I promptly started a feud with Jeff Hardy by beating him, shaking his hand, and kicking him in the dick in a promo. Sadly, my match on Backlash with Jericho was cancelled when Shelton Benjamin jumped Jericho during his intro. I promptly booted Dunne back to NXT and brought Shelton into my group. Also, somehow, AJ Styles went into Backlash as WWE Champion, but Kane beat Rusev for the title in the main event. *shrug*

I wish you could export MyCareer to Universe.

I'm thinking the top combo for Payback moves might be Resiliency (kick out of one pin or submission automatically, which is a HUGE help in the towers) and Reversal (gain one reversal back). It's great having get-out-of-jail free cards. Possum is also one of my favorites even if you don't get the pin - in non-pinfall matches like Last Man Standing, it'll gain the advantage back for you by tripping the opponent up. Low Blow's risk of disqualification and the difficulty in bumping/distracting the ref makes it a crapshoot, but man, bruising Zack Ryder's huevos is a happy place for me. (Plus there's the Ding! trophy to be had.)

Also, did you guys know Bound For Glory and Impact Wrestling were sponsored by Comda.com?

Terrible show. I have no idea what Meltzer or others are smoking thinking these matches are "great' because all *I* saw were blown spots, stutter-stepping and working half-speed because of the small ring (16x16 if that) and some of the worst PPV production I've seen outside Heroes of Wrestling. As decent as Impact has been lately, this was six steps backward. And either they're doing a shitty Russo-level worked shoot (and lol at using two guys that can barely throw a believable strike "shooting") or Aries is as unprofessional as he's ever been.

PROTIP: The Low Blow Payback move, while risking disqualification, will give your opponent a LONG non-reversal debuff. I learned this the hard way, as I lost the Intercontinental title to Almas in a HIAC match after he dinged me and hit the hammerlock DDT. This has caused my character to become jaded and triggered a heel turn. A heel goatee, redone outfit, changed up finishers and scarf later, and "Magnificent" Michael Simon is now a five-time Intercontinental champion. For some reason, post-MyCareer *really* wants me to be Intercontinental champion.

Still digging the towers. I've had some great matches on hard mode.

I almost forgot I have the giant IDW-version Devastator, too. Another reason to add Fort Max and Trypticon.

I actually have been far more into collecting Funko Pops lately than into collecting Transformers. But man, I love that they're doing characters based off the IDW comics, which are by far the best TF fiction ever written. I do still need to pick up Fortress Maximus and Trypticon to go along with Metroplex and the oversized KO Predaking. I like big bots and I cannot lie.

I love it! Feel free to use the logos (including the Los Ingobernables de Botch logo) - it's why I uploaded them!

Doing the Fathers & Sons tower is amazing. I may have beaten Goldust in a fun cage match, but I promise, I won’t get a big head over it.

It is hilariously easy to win table matches, since they already have the tables set up at ringside. Toss a guy to the apron and do the running shoulder to the gut. Off they go into the table. Low stars, but low time spent.

I still have done nothing but play MyCareer and some of the towers. Daniel Bryan Showcase is right there, too. And I've heard Universe is much improved over the last few years.