NXT

[Powder]

Velveteen Dream ripping off his top trunks to show the bottom ones with Roderick Strong’s wife and kid’s photo with Dream’s face on them was awesome. I love those little things he does.

So he is just ripping off Rick Rude. Got it.



BTW: How much fish would Bobby Fish fry, if Bobby Fish would fry fish?

[comfortablynumb]

So what? That was over 30 years ago.

[Prime Time]

Haven't seen Dream's act in a long time but when I was watching, rip-off isn't really the right term for what he was doing. Pastiche is probably the closest, so unless they've changed the way it's presented in the interim it sounds like that would be a better description.

[Oliver]

I would say pastiche covers it. I like that, though, the nods to the history - WWE loves to talk about their own history but hardly ever plays off it. Dream just pitches these things superbly.

The 'Marina, Call Me Up' painted on his butt was excellent as well.

On a different note, I was really happy to see Kacy Catanzaro back in the ring this week. I know we've hardly seen anything from her to date, but every time we have I thought she was impressive. When she vanished off screen, I heard she'd suffered something of a career ending back injury, so completely wasn't expecting to see her back.

[PEN15v2]

I love Dream so much. So happy he's back, I feel like he really adds something to the show. It's not been bad without him, but there's an aura around Dream that just makes a show with him involved feel...bigger.

He's probably the only member of the NXT roster I fancy more than Ripley.

I think a big reason is because he's so atypical of NXT. I watched a recent WhatCulture video about things devoted fans of the brand refuse to admit aren't that great, and one thing that really resonated with me was how NXT has one single note. I feel it's the best note in wrestling, but every single angle, feud, and gimmick is about "I'm angry, I'll fight you, Grrr..." Obviously, it's an essential trait and in almost every single wrestling promotion in the history of the "sport". But there is no light side of NXT. Raw, SD, Dynamite, MLW, Powerrr, ROH, Impact.... they all have a side of them that isn't about becoming the top champion at all time. In history, same can be said about WWF, WCW, ECW, AWA, TNA...etc.

But since Dream was injured, NXT has only had one speed, and one note. It's in no way bad, but it means the show overall lacked the variety that I feel is essential to overall success. There are other exceptions, like Breezango, but they were barely featured since Fandango came back (and possibly left injured again?!).

Velveteen Dream breaks up that arguable monotony. He might be competitive, but he's funny, charismatic, and gets at his opponents and angles from a different approach. The purple couch promo NEEDS to return, just to add that flavor to the show.

I think Dream's return will elevate the quality of NXT another level. Even though he's rarely a standout in the ring, he's so wildly different from the standard "I'm an athlete and I'm better than you" gimmick that his TV time will have the show lose some of those moments that drag. It'll be easier to sit through a Forgotten Sons segment knowing that Dream is up next, or was in the opening segment...etc.



Related note, I think that's something we need to keep in mind about Dream's main roster aspirations. He's unique in NXT. He would still be unique on Raw or SD, but nowhere near as much. Forgetting skin color, there's comparisons to New Day or R-Truth in how they use silliness and comedy. He's close to Goldust in terms of mind games.

[Powder]

So reports are resurfacing that Riddle has huge backstage heat about his comments on Lesnar and Goldberg including major heat with Vince himself.

Yesterday Riddle keeps mouthing off about Lesnar and Goldberg and today a video surfaced from a live event where Riddle says that he is going to retire Lesnar.

I really hope that this is a long game being played by all parties involved. Having Riddle keep talking trash on Lesnar, and reports of Vince not liking it, and so on. Keep it up. Then eventually in a a few years, maybe less, when Lesnar finally says he is done (behind the scenes) and you have Vince/Heyman finally call out Riddle and to tell him to shut his mouth. And they set up the Lesnar/Riddle match. But Riddle makes the stipulation of if he wins, then Lesnar retires. Riddle then wins and is a made man forever.

I really hope that this is what is happening. Perfect use of social media, and diet sheets, and leaks.

[Oliver]

Man, for someone who reportedly wants people to grab the imaginary brass ring, Vince sure doesn't like it when someone actually puts themselves out there and tries to reach for it and make a name for themselves. Reportedly, at least.

Stories that Taynara has walked out of NXT. A shame if true, I thought she had some real potential.

[Powder]

Exactly. Riddle is doing everything to make a name for himself and he could be huge is the WWE got behind this, but no. Because Vince didn’t think of this himself, he has to shit all over it.

[PEN15v2]

If you believe all of this, then Vince is Satan incarnate.

Being an atheist with a sound mind, I know these rumors make no sense, and believe 0% of it

[Powder]

Jury is still out on Vince....

They are trying to determine if he is infact Satan, or just sold his soul.

[PEN15v2]

Vince is a greedy greedy man, and that can be viewed as evil. Other than that, he's not stupid. If there was heat on Riddle, Riddle would have been put in his place, told of the consequences, and they'd be followed up. Instead, Matt keeps going. So either Matt is ridiculously stupid and will be fired any day... Or these rumors are as false as 80% of the dirtsheet headlines

[Powder]

Vince is a greedy greedy man, and that can be viewed as evil. Other than that, he's not stupid. If there was heat on Riddle, Riddle would have been put in his place, told of the consequences, and they'd be followed up. Instead, Matt keeps going. So either Matt is ridiculously stupid and will be fired any day... Or these rumors are as false as 80% of the dirtsheet headlines

I do not disagree, but my point is that I hope that the WWE has finally learned how to use/abuse the 'leaks', the 'dirt sheets' and social media outlets to their advantage.

I really hope that the story between Vince's supposed heat on Matt Riddle is all part of the long con, which leads to a push for Riddle on RAW, as I previously said:

I really hope that this is a long game being played by all parties involved. Having Riddle keep talking trash on Lesnar, and reports of Vince not liking it, and so on. Keep it up. Then eventually in a a few years, maybe less, when Lesnar finally says he is done (behind the scenes) and you have Vince/Heyman finally call out Riddle and to tell him to shut his mouth. And they set up the Lesnar/Riddle match. But Riddle makes the stipulation of if he wins, then Lesnar retires. Riddle then wins and is a made man forever.

I really hope that this is what is happening. Perfect use of social media, and diet sheets, and leaks.

[Team Farrell]

I don't mean to derail the conversation entirely, but what has Vince ever done that's demonstrably evil?

He's the definition of the American capitalist, so if you view capitalism as evil I suppose you'd view him as evil. But what's he done?

The worst I can think of is possibly paying off the cops in the Snuka case, but even that is nothing more than rumors and conjecture.

But everything else I can think of has a business reason for it. He's done some unsavoury things, no doubt, but it's been my experience that what sets apart people at the tippy top of their fields and everyone else, is the willingness to do those unsavoury things.

I'll agree he can be cruel in order to make a point (firing CM Punk on his wedding day). But evil? I do not see it.

[Powder]

I think you might be reading a bit too far into this one Coach. I believe that Pen was making a joke, but I definitely was.

We get the capitalistic approach, and respect it. For me, the 'evil' association is that he values 'his opinion' over what the fans want, and pushes his agenda over what would make the fans happy, continuously. Two clear examples would be Roman Reigns, and another Rusev. The fans rejected Reigns and clearly wanted RusevDay. Not one for the other, just two distinct unrelated examples.

[PEN15v2]

I don't think he's evil or out of touch, but that's the general internet perception. and I vehemently disagree with it.