Television The Professional Grappling Thread

Because he goes back baby face after a month, we’ve been waiting for this for 15 years and he immediately gets punked out as the heel and goes face again? Feels like it undermines the biggest heel turn since Hogan/Austin.

The only result now can be Cena becoming champion.
 
Great ppv tbh, Jade obliterating Naomi was brilliant. The hair whip was brutal, not too fussed on Bianca winning though. KO and Zayn was brutal.
Cena turning heel was the highlight though, it's about fecking time.
 
Really, a brutal beatdown of the top face feels like a face move? Weird take.
I dont see Cody as a top face, he's boring vanilla and uncharesmatic. I fall asleep when he delivers a promo and he always looks second best when trying to ramp up interest. I feel Roman+Bloodline carried him in their rivalry Kevin Owens carried him in their fued too.

I genuinely root for the other guy, and I don't dislike Cody, I just don't think he's cut out to carry storylines.
 
I dont see Cody as a top face, he's boring vanilla and uncharesmatic. I fall asleep when he delivers a promo and he always looks second best when trying to ramp up interest. I feel Roman+Bloodline carried him in their rivalry Kevin Owens carried him in their fued too.

I genuinely root for the other guy, and I don't dislike Cody, I just don't think he's cut out to carry storylines.
It doesn't matter how you see him because he is a top face because that's what his presentation is. The thing with wrestling is whether they are heel or face is not open for interpretation, they are what they are.
 
It doesn't matter how you see him because he is a top face because that's what his presentation is. The thing with wrestling is whether they are heel or face is not open for interpretation, they are what they are.
Yeah I've watched for decades I know how it works. My post was about how I was viewing it, so in that context it very much matters how I see him. In fact it's the only thing that mattered.

Cody is far from 'over' for me, so when a bad guy beats him up in the writing I quite enjoy it.
 
Yeah I've watched for decades I know how it works. My post was about how I was viewing it, so in that context it very much matters how I see him. In fact it's the only thing that mattered.

Cody is far from 'over' for me, so when a bad guy beats him up in the writing I quite enjoy it.
But it still doesn't matter how you view it because the facts are different. Just because he's not over for you and you like him being beaten up it doesn't change the fact that he's a face being beaten by heels.
 
But it still doesn't matter how you view it because the facts are different. Just because he's not over for you and you like him being beaten up it doesn't change the fact that he's a face being beaten by heels.
When I say "for me", it's the only thing that matters.

I know how he's presented. That doesn't mean I have to accept it, I dont always go "ah that's the good guy, I must like him and root for him!"
 
Fun event overall. Loved the way Jade decimated Naomi, Liv has massively improved over the last 18 month and for me is the best in the division at the moment. KO/Sami was excellent as you’d expect from those two.

Finally pulled the trigger on Cena, will be interesting to see how events unfold but with his retirement already announced it’s gonna be a fairly quick turnaround.
 
That will surely go down has one of the biggest moments possibly ever, they'll be replaying that for years to come

I think I've already watched it 10 times. Heel run followed by the record title win and this could be incredible. I haven't bought a wrestling T shirt in 20 years but I think a heel Cena top purchase will have to be made.
 
When I say "for me", it's the only thing that matters.

I know how he's presented. That doesn't mean I have to accept it, I dont always go "ah that's the good guy, I must like him and root for him!"
I'm not saying you have to root for the good guy because they're the good guy, cheering for the bad guy is something a lot of people do, myself included. I'm only saying you can't decide who is a good guy snd who isn't bssed on your preferences
 
Hoping Bianca set up Naomi btw. Bianca was great in the pod whilst jade was battering Naomi.

Because he goes back baby face after a month, we’ve been waiting for this for 15 years and he immediately gets punked out as the heel and goes face again? Feels like it undermines the biggest heel turn since Hogan/Austin.

The only result now can be Cena becoming champion.
Yeah he needs more than six weeks as a heel. He defo needs to become champ.
Also Cenas post on X was telling before the event , kinda a spoiler now that we know after the fact haha
 
I'm not saying you have to root for the good guy because they're the good guy, cheering for the bad guy is something a lot of people do, myself included. I'm only saying you can't decide who is a good guy snd who isn't bssed on your preferences
I get what you're saying but in terms of preferences, I can see it that way because I consume the product is my call. I enjoy it when Cody loses and his presence gets heat from me :lol:
 
Last edited:
Also the chemistry between Cena and punk has always been great, but great stuff between them two last night
 
Top show.

-Jade delivered. I mean, I'm not expecting her to be a good wrestler all of a sudden, but that whole thing was executed superbly. All 4 involved (+Liv/Belair) were great.
-Belair is different gravy. We know the unique selling point is Rhea vs Iyo or Belair.... so it's either Rhea vs Belair or a triple threat, both work.
-KO is great, Randy as the face but unleashed, it all works. That was all good, Randy with another return that gets lost in a wild PPV ending :lol:
-They actually did it. I don't care how "obvious" it may have been, we've been through the mill with Cena teasing heel turns... but they actually did it.

Only issues are, but I'll let them complete before officially moaning...

-Is Punk officially treading towards a triple threat with Seth and Roman, to me... since there's no animosity between Punk and Roman, at least massively, I don't like this. He didn't tap, and was massively screwed, if there's going to be a triple threat anywhere, it's the Main Event with Cody and Cena. The other triple threat just leaves both of Seth's feuds with either open, when you feel like one should be concluding at this point.
-Travis Scott? I thought he just made shoes with Nike.
-Rock dropping out of character instantly to do the press conference :lol:
 
Great show. I hypothesised a scenario similar to this for Cena, but never thought they would pull the trigger. Fantastically done, that will be played for years like the Montreal screw job.

Will be interesting to see what happens. If Cena wins at mania then where does the character go? If he loses, does it become a dragged out fued to Summerslam? Either way I'll enjoy the ride.

Shout out to Liv Morgan as well, for me she is the best in the women's division now by some margin. Taking nothing away from Bianca.

My only frustration is I wish they would be consistent with the post even press conferences. Cena in character, Rock out of character just jars. I don't know why they can't extend the characters into those settings.

As PLE go, I see that as a 10/10. I don't know what more fans could hope for. Surely the best ever Elimination Chamber event.
 
When Zayn hit Owens with a trash can and the commentary says "he just hit Owens with Dominick Mysterio" :lol:

Why is Kevin Owens always in a weird blood feud but never in the title picture? Since returning to watching this again, I swear he's the best all rounder. His promo work feels personal, he's great!

Really enjoyed the event overall. Seth is a cnut.
 
Because he goes back baby face after a month, we’ve been waiting for this for 15 years and he immediately gets punked out as the heel and goes face again? Feels like it undermines the biggest heel turn since Hogan/Austin.

The only result now can be Cena becoming champion.
I hear it, but do we want to see Cena being heel for the majority of his last run?

If they do the double turn, perhaps it doesnt have to be mania, maybe later down the line.

One way or another, cenas getting 17.
 
I hear it, but do we want to see Cena being heel for the majority of his last run?

If they do the double turn, perhaps it doesnt have to be mania, maybe later down the line.

One way or another, cenas getting 17.
I think he’ll have a mini reign of terror, and turn back around July/August
 
I hope they go all the way with this Cena heel turn. I want to see him AA a make a wish kid through the announce table
I wonder what his ‘look’ will be? Will he start rocking this Hollywood look or will it be the same but a villain version.

When he announced he was in the rumble it was such a corny promo. It was all geared up to this turn. He was ultra family friendly.
 
I hope they go all the way with this Cena heel turn. I want to see him AA a make a wish kid through the announce table
A whole new meaning to the last time is now

I wonder what his ‘look’ will be? Will he start rocking this Hollywood look or will it be the same but a villain version.

When he announced he was in the rumble it was such a corny promo. It was all geared up to this turn. He was ultra family friendly.
Cena in a suit would be mad. Combed haircut, suit and new music
 
When Zayn hit Owens with a trash can and the commentary says "he just hit Owens with Dominick Mysterio" :lol:

Why is Kevin Owens always in a weird blood feud but never in the title picture? Since returning to watching this again, I swear he's the best all rounder. His promo work feels personal, he's great!

Really enjoyed the event overall. Seth is a cnut.
He had a title shot at Cody at Bash in Berlin I think
 
Cena to win the title at WM and go on a title run to Summerslam. Double turn at Summerslam, with Cody taking the title back. Build-up of babyface Cena vs. heel Rock to December where Cena beats the Rock in his last match.
 
When Zayn hit Owens with a trash can and the commentary says "he just hit Owens with Dominick Mysterio" :lol:

Why is Kevin Owens always in a weird blood feud but never in the title picture? Since returning to watching this again, I swear he's the best all rounder. His promo work feels personal, he's great!

Really enjoyed the event overall. Seth is a cnut.
Kevin Owens is just the best thing in WWE but I guess he doesn't sell enough merch. He's just a vehicle to make storylines interesting now, had to carry Cody in a rivalry to keep him remotely interesting.
 
Kevin Owens is just the best thing in WWE but I guess he doesn't sell enough merch. He's just a vehicle to make storylines interesting now, had to carry Cody in a rivalry to keep him remotely interesting.

That’s nonsense really. Cody is a brilliant babyface that tbh makes the life of the ‘bad guy’ much easier.

Owen’s is very good but it’s quite clear and understandable why he doesn’t have long reigns at the top with the title when you have guys like Cody, Punk, Reigns, Rollins etc around. He’s very good at what he does but also goes through patches of inconsistency. The stuff recently has been brilliant though but he really doesn’t need the top title.
 
That’s nonsense really. Cody is a brilliant babyface that tbh makes the life of the ‘bad guy’ much easier.

Owen’s is very good but it’s quite clear and understandable why he doesn’t have long reigns at the top with the title when you have guys like Cody, Punk, Reigns, Rollins etc around. He’s very good at what he does but also goes through patches of inconsistency. The stuff recently has been brilliant though but he really doesn’t need the top title.
If Owens sold more merch he'd be at the top. His value is still pretty high, he's ridiculously good. Owens is the guy that can work with anyone and give them a 5* match. There's a reason HHH has him in high regard and why Austin came out of retirement for him.

But it's ultimately it's a business and Cody appeals more to the kids. I don't think many reasonable adult followers think Cody is good enough to warrant the run he's had. Cody is fine in the ring but he's a charisma vacuum and pretty boring in almost all other aspects.

They're doing the same push with Jey Uso because the yeet merch is going like hot cakes.
 
I can't speak for wrestling ability but I do know a few things about acting. Cody is an abysmal actor from what i've seen so far. John Cena is also over-acting a lot. Maybe this'll change as heel but I can't see it working personally (hope I'm wrong though).

Kevin/Zayn performances were brilliant. I believed everything in the build up and in the fight.