Board 8 > All-Purpose Wrestling Topic 494: But The Stock Is Up!

(+) Yeah! (+)

Sami zayn has no shoulder issue, this is just the role Vince sees for him.
---

I mean there are literally news coming out today from wrestling observer newsletter that its still his shoulder

Like I know you all like to dump on WWE and everything but I thought you were above just spreading fake news for the sake of it

---

Does Zach Ryder still work for WWE?

He showed up in recent Miz and Mrs episodes and I was honestly surprised he was still there. I feel like I haven't heard about him doing anything in years.

---

ninkendo posted...

I mean there are literally news coming out today from wrestling observer newsletter that its still his shoulder

Like I know you all like to dump on WWE and everything but I thought you were above just spreading fake news for the sake of it

After the Ruthless Aggression doc, I just have to say "Treat people the way you want to be treated."

---

Maniac64 posted...

Does Zach Ryder still work for WWE?

He showed up in recent Miz and Mrs episodes and I was honestly surprised he was still there. I feel like I haven't heard about him doing anything in years.

He and Hawkins won the Tag Titles at WM just last year!
---

Jakyl25 posted...

He and Hawkins won the Tag Titles at WM just last year!

Come on Maniac64, how could you have forgotten that?

---

ninkendo posted...

I mean there are literally news coming out today from wrestling observer newsletter that its still his shoulder

Like I know you all like to dump on WWE and everything but I thought you were above just spreading fake news for the sake of it

Obviously I'm not "just spreading fake news for the sake of it", that is what I've seen reported in several places and I don't read the observer anymore. Hadn't heard anything about him being hurt since summer.
---

https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/reason-why-sami-zayn-has-not-been-wrestling-on-wwe-tv/

10 days ago, Dave reported what I said above. Now apparently it IS the shoulder.
---

Sounds like a misunderstanding and then clarification of what Meltzer was trying to say, in that it's not a specific injury but a situation where a creative choice was made because of shoulder issues.

---

I always love the implication that we "like to" dump on WWE as if it brings us joy that the largest and most visible wrestling company in the world is a steaming trash fire that consistently misuses our favorite wrestlers.

We dump on it because it's fucking terrible. The fact that maybe there was some misinformation floating around in this one specific instance doesn't mean we just make shit up - the company does a far better job making itself look like a joke than any of us ever could. And this same specific instance doesn't absolve them of spending half a decade making one of the greatest babyfaces in wrestling history look like a cog-in-the-wheel stooge when he was healthy too.

Fuck off with that stupid shit. I'm sorry that your pet company sucks but I have no patience remaining for WWE and its fans insisting on this ludicrous victim complex.

---

there is for sure a portion of wrestling fans just out to hate on WWE because it's the biggest, but I agree with Iceman that most of the hate is 100% justified. WWE puts out a generally awful product. Anytime they hit something good, usually accidental organic things, they ruin it.

I still watch WWE. I still can enjoy WWE, but a lot of it is awful. Even the stuff they do really well, like NXT has become a parody of itself. Every single match on a Takeover is a kick out festival. Having the main event be that is fine and whatever, especially when the story is told well, like Gargano's heart won't let him quit or something. When every single superstar does it, it really gets old.

I still maintain hope that either the XFL gets super big and Vince forgets he owns WWE, or that he retires. It's my last hope that the product might get better someday. As long as Vince is around it won't because the stuff he thinks is good, is not what I do.

---

I've laid off lately because apparently it was annoying Scarlet and Steiner but yeah obvious and easy +1 from me there

---

as a big sami zayn fan, i very much enjoy the fact that me saying creative had nothing for him was viewed as dumping on wwe

---

https://twitter.com/sharkosaur/status/1231116729545297922?s=21

Asuka says all you filthy pirates can GTFO
---

Maniac64 posted...

Does Zach Ryder still work for WWE?

Him and Hawkins are Main Event regulars, even getting recent wins over Eric Young and others

---

Main Event is still a thing?

---

I tried so hard to keep liking WWE, and a lot of that was so I had something to talk about with my friends. And eventually the show was so bad it just ran all of us off. Watching WWE is an active struggle as they fight against you constantly to avoid giving you things you actively want to see. The fact that Baron fucking Corbin is a pushed act on this program baffles me since nobody cares about the dude and all he does is have piss boring matches. And they try so hard to keep giving him heat.

Why not give it to someone who can actually excite the crowd? What is this obsession with this dude who doesn't get it? Why are you trying so hard?

At this point it's impossible not to compare it to AEW now who has created so many stars fans want to see, almost effortlessly. And if there are acts that aren't hitting, they either get rid of it or try to fix it.

WWE just feeds you shit and then does not care if you enjoy it or not. They have zero star power on their show as a result. Nothing anyone does matters unless you're one of five people because you can be back on Main Event not seen for months inexplicably because some senile asshole got bored. There is no care placed into WWE and it actually baffles me anyone can still watch this company's product.

---

Eric Young is still a thing?

---

The funny part is that they just had a good PPV and RAW is consistently solid but hell even I don't have a Network subscription anymore thanks to the Fiend HiaC match.

---

Tom Bombadil posted...

Main Event is still a thing?

It was recently reported that they have 300 wrestlers under contract and only used 187 of them last year

They need MORE SHOWS
---

or less wrestlers

---

PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

The fact that Baron f***ing Corbin is a pushed act on this program baffles me since nobody cares about the dude and all he does is have piss boring matches. And they try so hard to keep giving him heat.

Next week will be the 6th PPV in a row featuring the Reigns vs Corbin feud

EDIT: Wait Im sorry, its the 5th, but with the Chamber next theyve already booked it into a 6th.
---

TheRock1525 posted...

The funny part is that they just had a good PPV and RAW is consistently solid but hell even I don't have a Network subscription anymore thanks to the Fiend HiaC match.

This is the part where they suck you in with a decent product for a while and go back to absolute shit, especially with Wrestlemania coming up. Gotta hype you up for that MIDDLE OF THE WEEKDAY Saudi show for your can't miss utter tripe.

Jakyl25 posted...

Next week will be the 6th PPV in a row featuring the Reigns vs Corbin feud

EDIT: Wait Im sorry, its the 5th, but with the Chamber next theyve already booked it into a 6th.

Jesus Christ. I cannot even fathom having so few options that you have to feud Baron Corbin for 6 months.

---

Jesus has there really been THAT extended of a program between two of the least interesting people on their bloated roster?

---

Well you see, there was dog food involved, and a fake mascot...
---

PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

The fact that Baron fucking Corbin is a pushed act on this program baffles me since nobody cares about the dude and all he does is have piss boring matches. And they try so hard to keep giving him heat.

Also he cuts the same promos every damn time.

- Finn Balor is short. A year later, replace Finn Balor with Chad Gable, repeat.
- Reigns can't win one-on-one (and ignores the fact that he needed assistance from 4 guys to beat Reigns at TLC).

Jakyl25 posted...

Next week will be the 5th PPV in a row featuring the Reigns vs Corbin feud

As you stated, the Chamber will be 6th, then we'll likely get Reigns vs Fiend or Goldberg at Mania, and because fuck us, we'll probably get Reigns vs Corbin for the Universal title after Mania.

---

Kairi Sane got married.

---

according to this website, she married EVIL;

https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/kairi-sane-gets-married-to-njpw-star/

i can't imagine io shirai is very happy about this

---

PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

Come on Maniac64, how could you have forgotten that?

Wait seriously? I have no memory of that at all.

Not that I watched WM but still.

---

Maniac64 posted...

Wait seriously? I have no memory of that at all.

Not that I watched WM but still.

They beat the Revival in the match that ended the Hawkins losing streak angle

Because you should totally be getting title shots after losing every match for 2 years straight
---

I was joking Maniac.

You should never remember a single thing this shitty company does in their undercard because it doesn't matter, leads to nothing, and gets nobody over.

---

wow quit bein a hater wwe is great because

well it's just great ok

---

PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

I was joking Maniac.

You should never remember a single thing this shitty company does in their undercard because it doesn't matter, leads to nothing, and gets nobody over.

You should remember when Baron Corbin retired Kurt Angle in a six star classic that Angle remarked as his greatest match of his career.

---

I had forgotten that Kurt Angle was retired by Baron Corbin.

Holy shit.

---

I know, "holy shit what an amazing match."

---

After being out of action in late December with a believed concussion, Sane has since returned to in-ring action where she has been teaming with fellow champion Kari Sane on Monday Night Raw and live events

Nice article bro

---

Hail King Corbin

---

Let's not forget the last time Corbin headlined a ppv was Stomping Ground with its low buy rates and a main event that made WCW 2000 feel right at home.

Extreme Rules doesn't count thanks to Lesnar.

---

Technically he headlined the Rumble
---

Former WWE Competitor Tyson "Gypsy King" Fury is now a boxing heavyweight champion after dominating his opponent.

WM rematch with IC Champ Braun incoming?

---

No, but maybe this "Ozzy Osbourne" guy who released a new album could bring some viewers. He was last with some...rapper thing named "Karl Malone" or something.

*The new Ozzy record is the worst he's ever done...so please no*

---

Today, Brock Lesnar passed John Cena for 4th most days as a World Champion in WWE history

Just another 2 years to catch Backlund. You can do it Brock.
---

Jakyl25 posted...

Today, Brock Lesnar passed John Cena for 4th most days as a World Champion in WWE history

Just another 2 years to catch Backlund. You can do it Brock.

I got on my laptop a massive spreadsheet that ranks every world champ in history from most days to least using the following world heavyweight titles and combining all their days as world champion

WWE, WHC, Universal, WCW, NWA, IWGP, RoH, Impact, AEW, AWA

Verne Gagne's #1 overall thanks to . Sammartino's #2, and the top 10 also features appearances by Hogan, Backlund, Flair, Thesz, Severn, and Bockwinkel. Last time I checked, Lesnar entered the top ten awhile back and might either be #10 or #9.


---

The idea of what a world title is got so murky that at this point I only compare them within the same company
---

Sorry this is late it took me a while to watch everything I wanted to for this week;
Wrestler of the Week, Week 7 (Feb 13-20)

5. Cody
Cody continues to prove himself as AEWs Ace, landing a memorable win over in AEWs first cage match in the main event of Dynamite to lock in place his match with MJF at Revolution.

4. Broserweights (Matt Riddle/Pete Dunne)
The broserweights have been NXTs greatest success in recent weeks, displaying chemistry rarely seen on WWE screens and even drawing a few genuine laughs for their vignettes on NXT TV (less so the Bobby Fish singalong at Takeover) before winning the NXT Tag Titles at Takeover: Portland in another in a long string of fantastic Takeover tag title matches.

3. Shingo Takagi
If youve been reading this from the beginning, I already told you to look out for Shingo to make a lot of appearances in this space, especially since capturing the NEVER Openweight Title from Goto last month. Well, he wasted no time in starting to defend that belt, this week putting on a classic against Tomohiro Ishii that, for my money, even outdid their outstanding match in the G1, and that I have sat right behind Okada/Naito as my Match of the Year. Since then he has entered himself in the New Japan Cup and, as I predicted in this space a couple of weeks ago, seems destined for a showdown with a newly Heavyweight Will Ospreay soon.

2. Will Ospreay
Speaking of which You would be forgiven for not realizing that Ospreay had never held the British Heavyweight Title before, as someone who had been one of the top stars of BritWres for a number of years before making his move to New Japan Pro Wrestling. While he was a champion in Progress, in Rev Pro he never ascended above Cruiserweight status. So to finally dethrone perennial champion, Zack Sabre Jr, in what is essentially home for both men, in front of a rabid crowd that had been starved for top level competition in the UK for the past couple of years, was equal parts a crowning moment for Will and a signal of hope for wrestling on these shores. To add to all that, Will declared afterwards that this marked a full time move to Heavyweight for him, which will lead to more exciting matches for him in New Japan this year.

1. Michael Oku
Ive been the slowest man in the UK to get behind Michael Oku, as far as I can tell. I had not sought out a lot of his work prior to his Wrestlemania Weekend clash with Brian Cage last year, and that match was not a great impression on new eyes, lets say. And so, my mind was made up at that point I was not going to be an Oku fan. And as the months passed in 2019, and Oku would go from one well-reviewed performance to another, and I would roll my eyes at what I perceived to be the usual fare with BritWres people grow to like a guy (and God knows, Id never have said Oku wasnt likable), and at that point he is near and dear to their hearts and they start convincing themselves (and even others) that the guy is, you know, Actually Good. I was less sure.

So, this week, I am standing here holding an enormous L after Okus match with El Phantasmo at High Stakes. In front of a hot, full crowd, on a show with the world's attention due to the Ospreay/Sabre main event, Michael Oku truly arrived. Between winning the British Cruiserweight Title and having this many eyes on his match, including a rave review from Dave Meltzer in this week's Observer, Oku has no doubt launched his career to the next level and is someone you're not going to stop hearing from in 2020.

---

Definitely have never heard of Michael Oku. Will have to check him out! Broserweights are the absolute only people that have figured out vignettes in NXT, although I did think Mark Henry putting over Dijak and Lee was a really inspired change of pace.

---

With Super Showdown this Thursday and Goldberg getting a Universal title shot, there will be only two former champs before December 2018 to never have received a rematch for said title: Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns. Both of them lost the title before Vince got rid of rematch clauses. Cause the rest?

Balor - Challenged Reigns the night after Summerslam 2018 for the belt
Goldberg - Challenges Wyatt this Thursday
Lesnar - Got a title match at Crown Jewel after the Hell in a Cell fiasco in 2018

You could consider Owens and Reigns to be grandfathered into a title shot down the line. Reigns will very likely be in a Universal title match at Wrestlemania. Owens might be awhile unless either he or the belt switches brands.

---

here is Michael Oku vs. PAC from Uprising in December;
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av80598378/

they had a better one in june but i can't find that anywhere

---

It's about time we remember Zack Ryder in 2011 again.

https://twitter.com/CeeHawk/status/1231655178119655424?s=19

---

He's won multiple titles at WrestleMania and I still forget he's employees sometimes.

---