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

(+) Yeah! (+)

Hell, he's only one belt away from a Grand Slam

Employed WWE superstars who only need one belt to achieve the Grand Slam, 2020 edition
Zack Ryder (WWE/Universal)
Shelton Benjamin (WWE/Universal)
Kevin Owens (Tag)
Sheamus (Intercontinental)
Dolph Ziggler (WWE/Universal)


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In other news, fuck Vince.

https://twitter.com/TheGreatFowler/status/1231991139101790208?s=19

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https://challonge.com/njcup20

New Japan Cup bracket was released today, a lot of fun matches lined up! As usual I've made a prediction contest here, get your picks in!

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ZeroSignal620 posted...

Hell, he's only one belt away from a Grand Slam

Employed WWE superstars who only need one belt to achieve the Grand Slam, 2020 edition
Zack Ryder (WWE/Universal)
Shelton Benjamin (WWE/Universal)
Kevin Owens (Tag)
Sheamus (Intercontinental)
Dolph Ziggler (WWE/Universal)

Doesnt Ziggler already have a world title?

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Thats why he specified which version of the Grand Slam
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Maniac64 posted...

Doesnt Ziggler already have a world title?

Jakyl25 posted...

Thats why he specified which version of the Grand Slam

Exactly. Ziggler only held the WHC twice, which is part of the original grand slam. WHC doesn't count towards Modern Grand Slam

OG Grand Slam (WWE/WHC, IC, World or WWE [Raw] Tag, European or Hardcore)
HBK
HHH
Jericho
Eddie
Kane
Angle
RVD
Christian
JBL
Jeff Hardy
Booker T
Big Show

Modern (WWE/Universal, IC, US, Raw or SD Tag
Edge
Bryan
Miz
Eddie
Angle
Big Show
Jericho
Ambrose
Reigns
Rollins
Jeff Hardy
Mysterio
Kofi

I might be forgetting one or two

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Samoa Joe suspended.

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Wrong.
https://twitter.com/dajosc11/status/1232404126597820421?s=21

He was, I just like this.

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Jakyl25 posted...

Thats why he specified which version of the Grand Slam

Didnt realize that title didnt count in the current grand slam. Good to know.

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There really should be a singular Grand Slam thats just

Any World Title
Any two of European/US/IC/Different World Title
Any Tag Title
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Also a small tidbit... from first required title won to last required win

Fastest to the Grand Slam: Angle for modern (2 years, 9 months), Jericho for classic (2 years)
Longest wait for the Grand Slam: Rey Mysterio for modern (16 years, 6 months), Big Show for classic (12 years, 8 months)

Also just remembered Orton's a modern day GS champ. That US title reign was quite forgettable

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NJPW cancelled all shows in the first half of March - the anniversary show and the new japan cup - due to coronavirus fears

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forget new japan, my precious March sumo might be cancelled :(

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There are still five New Japan Cup dates that they haven't cancelled yet so they will probably try cramming the whole thing on them, which is doable if you jettison most of the undercard matches.

Day 1: Left side first round
Day 2: Right side first round
Day 3: All round 2 matches
Day 4: Quarterfinals
Day 5: Semis and final

Of course at this rate those shows will probably be cancelled as well.

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Chances are if they go through with the New Japan Cup at this point, it'll be cut down to a 16-man tournament instead of 32.

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They've already released the bracket, though, which makes it hard, at least in kayfabe, to justify which 16 you pick. Especially if they had booked something like a Taichi > Tana upset, do you put Taichi in the 16 because that's what you had booked or do you throw that out because people expect Tana in the tournament? Not an insurmountable problem, of course, and I agree that it would be way easier logistically.

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ZeroSignal620 posted...

Also just remembered Orton's a modern day GS champ. That US title reign was quite forgettable

You just gotta remember it was the second title Orton dropped to Mahal!
.

CybrMonkey posted...

They've already released the bracket, though, which makes it hard, at least in kayfabe, to justify which 16 you pick. Especially if they had booked something like a Taichi > Tana upset, do you put Taichi in the 16 because that's what you had booked or do you throw that out because people expect Tana in the tournament? Not an insurmountable problem, of course, and I agree that it would be way easier logistically.

There's a lot people that can easily and justifiably be removed to make it plausible, not to mention they could still rearrange parts of the bracket while keeping certain round 1 matches. It would disappoint some, but it's obvious that nearly half of those scheduled are clearly not making the semi or even the quarter finals and if they won the whole thing, the crowds wouldn't buy it. The Young Lions can easily be removed, foreigners that don't reside in Japan like Cabana and Cobb can be written out due to "travel" issues. The New Japan dads aren't winning more than one match anyway, and the lowcard guys like Tanga Loa, Yoshi-Hashi and Toa Henre don't need to be there. You can probably just have the following 16 remain and no one will complain.

Tomohiro Ishii
Toru Yano
Bad Luck Fale
Kazuchika Okada
Jay White
Minoru Suzuki
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Taichi
Kota Ibushi
Zack Sabre Jr.
Sanada
Will Ospreay
Shingo Takagi
Kenta
Evil
Hirooki Goto

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WWEs last ditch effort to keep Matt Hardy is to let him move to NXT if he wants

Thats probably a no
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paulg235 posted...

There's a lot people that can easily and justifiably be removed to make it plausible, not to mention they could still rearrange parts of the bracket while keeping certain round 1 matches. It would disappoint some, but it's obvious that nearly half of those scheduled are clearly not making the semi or even the quarter finals and if they won the whole thing, the crowds wouldn't buy it. The Young Lions can easily be removed, foreigners that don't reside in Japan like Cabana and Cobb can be written out due to "travel" issues. The New Japan dads aren't winning more than one match anyway, and the lowcard guys like Tanga Loa, Yoshi-Hashi and Toa Henre don't need to be there. You can probably just have the following 16 remain and no one will complain.

Tomohiro Ishii
Toru Yano
Bad Luck Fale
Kazuchika Okada
Jay White
Minoru Suzuki
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Taichi
Kota Ibushi
Zack Sabre Jr.
Sanada
Will Ospreay
Shingo Takagi
Kenta
Evil
Hirooki Goto

it's an entirely different bracket like this though. which begs the question why they released a bracket yesterday when this was... not exactly unexpected, following stardom announcing "no people gate" earlier in the week

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Yeah I don't see Matt sticking around for that when actual companies ar smart enough to let him be as creative as he wants.

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It says all you need to know about WWE that sending you to NXT is a last ditch effort to sign contracts.

It feels like everyone EXCEPT HHH, Heyman, and the wrestlers involved are complete idiots.

Vince: We won't use you Matt...BUT NXT! WE HAVE A THING I'M NOT INVOLVED IN! MONEY TAKE MONEY!

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ffmasterjose posted...

You just gotta remember it was the second title Orton dropped to Mahal!
.

Oh god that IS true. Actually that's pretty impressive; I ripped on Mahal for being undeserving, but in title matches he rocked undefeated records against Orton and Nakamura.

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Hey man making main roster money while not having to travel actually sounds like a pretty dope selling point for someone pushing 50.

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Also, Matt Hardy made a video called "Dear Dr RKO" which is an anagram for "Dark Order."

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Is NWA any good? I've been looking for thibgs to watch recently, and remembered NWA was on Youtube. I think AEW and NXT are 2 hour investments, but heard NWA was short, concise, and character driven.

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I dont know how Broken Matt would fit with the dark order but I'm open to seeing it.

Or maybe we get a whole new character. Dark Matt

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Yes, its generally well received and they have probably the best American womens division outside of NXT

Do you enjoy Horsemen-era NWA/WCW? Youll like this
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Never actually watched wrestling back then. Started with Bret/Diesel in 95, so never saw anything before then. Wouldn't know what to expect.

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To be honest NWA episodes are short enough that if you're interested in giving it a shot, just go for it.

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Maniac64 posted...

I dont know how Broken Matt would fit with the dark order but I'm open to seeing it.

Or maybe we get a whole new character. Dark Matt

That's my assumption. I don't think he wants to rehash Broken Matt Hardy.

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TheRock1525 posted...

Hey man making main roster money while not having to travel actually sounds like a pretty dope selling point for someone pushing 50.

I think Matt is very happy with the money he has and is willing to just be happy wrestling now.

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Okay, Impact might also have a better womens division

NXT
Impact
NWA
Raw
AEW
SmackDown
ROH
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Impact's women division is something less-than-stellar. It's currently Taya, the Girl who Used to be on Fire, the Locker Room Loser, Rosemary sometimes, Su Yung and Jessicka Havok. It's not really clear if Emma is even still there.

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Im still counting Tessa
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Or is she the Locker Room Loser? <_<
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No that would be the woman who is currently not recognized as Josh's wife although IS recognized as a married woman with a daughter.

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Also Matt has posted a tweet where he asks "what's NeXT" so he's very much working the smarks right now.

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WWE sure likes to have unannounced veterans win Saudi Arabian cups, do they?

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WWE: We want to put the Universal championship back on Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania.
Also WWE: We also don't want Roman to get booed because he beat Wyatt so we'll put the title on Goldberg first.

Not gonna lie, I'm admittedly more hyped for Goldberg facing Roman than the Fiend.

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Goldberg
Goldberg
Goldberg
Goldberg

Fiend........YOU'RE DEAD!


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I can't stop laughing at *Super Showdown Spoilers* Goldberg beating the Fiend with 3 spears and a jackhammer

Is this top 5 worst booking in history?

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Where is that "Stop Supporting WWE" quote at? I need it right now.

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If Roman/Goldberg is anything other than 25 minutes of rotating spears, this was a horrible choice.

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Put Goldberg over Roman

Do it
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I'll allow it.

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The match should start with them both spearing each other at the same time and then the ring explodes.

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Make Goldberg unstoppable like its the 90s again.

Beat Roman, then Bryan, then Braun, then Nakamura, then CowBell Cesaro, then Edge and finally lose to Hogan in Hogan's final match where his spine explodes in nuclear fire after the final leg drop of his career.

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Goldberg is the best.

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skullbone posted...

I can't stop laughing at *Super Showdown Spoilers* Goldberg beating the Fiend with 3 spears and a jackhammer

Is this top 5 worst booking in history?

No, the fiend winning the title was
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