Official Smackdown thread

[futballiscool]

I'm not sure I buy Bubba Ray's rationale. I've been a loyal SD watcher since the brand split. Last night I watched the opening segment to see who was in MITB than I turned the show off.

Jinder's paid his dues so I'm happy he's getting a break but I'm not interested in his promos or matches. I'd also prefer the show not revolving around a xenophobic angle.

Basically I'm tuning out of SD and if I pay for a ticket it'll have nothing to do with Jinder.

 

[StanMarsh51]

I'm not sure I buy Bubba Ray's rationale. I've been a loyal SD watcher since the brand split. Last night I watched the opening segment to see who was in MITB than I turned the show off.

Jinder's paid his dues so I'm happy he's getting a break but I'm not interested in his promos or matches. I'd also prefer the show not revolving around a xenophobic angle.

Basically I'm tuning out of SD and if I pay for a ticket it'll have nothing to do with Jinder.

The effect it'll have in India will probably be large enough to offset any fans tuning out in the U.S. And if this turns Mahal into a good heel, people will be into it (although I agree I've never been a fan of the xenophobic angles as well). A lot of USA chants yesterday during his promo, so it may be working.

From what I've read, WWE's near the top in ratings throughout India, but doesn't have many WWE Network subscribers over and just started selling merchandise online in India. The goal obviously is that Jinder's rise would greatly improve those.

When Jinder was on Y2J's podcast the other week, he mentioned that he wrestled at an event organized by The Great Khali, with the sold out attendence exceeding 60,000 (and could've been more if the stadium had been bigger). Even with a short reign (he likely won't nor shouldn't be champion walking into Summerslam), it gives WWE a big Indian draw when they do their tours over there.

 

[futballiscool]

The effect it'll have in India will probably be large enough to offset any fans tuning out in the U.S. And if this turns Mahal into a good heel, people will be into it (although I agree I've never been a fan of the xenophobic angles as well). A lot of USA chants yesterday during his promo, so it may be working.

From what I've read, WWE's near the top in ratings throughout India, but doesn't have many WWE Network subscribers over and just started selling merchandise online in India. The goal obviously is that Jinder's rise would greatly improve those.

When Jinder was on Y2J's podcast the other week, he mentioned that he wrestled at an event organized by The Great Khali, with the sold out attendence exceeding 60,000 (and could've been more if the stadium had been bigger). Even with a short reign (he likely won't nor shouldn't be champion walking into Summerslam), it gives WWE a big Indian draw when they do their tours over there.

I understand the logic and it's probably a good descion by the WWE. I disagreed with BRD that's a good for domestic business.

 

[Duffman]

Well SD did 2.3 million viewers which was up from the 2.1 it did last week. So at the very least people did tune in to see Jinder's first show as Champion.

 

[futballiscool]

Well SD did 2.3 million viewers which was up from the 2.1 it did last week. So at the very least people did tune in to see Jinder's first show as Champion.

I stand corrected. I'm still not into the storyline but it maybe it is connecting with people.

 

[Judge Fudge]

I'm not sure I buy Bubba Ray's rationale. I've been a loyal SD watcher since the brand split. Last night I watched the opening segment to see who was in MITB than I turned the show off.

Jinder's paid his dues so I'm happy he's getting a break but I'm not interested in his promos or matches. I'd also prefer the show not revolving around a xenophobic angle.

Basically I'm tuning out of SD and if I pay for a ticket it'll have nothing to do with Jinder.

Because Xenophobic angles were either given to people who Just didn't have the heart or just plain sucked

Hussian didn't have the heart

Kozlov just plain sucked.

This works because it is the picture perfect time. Mahal is good, not great, on the mic and in the ring. The political climate in the US and our places is very xenophobic.

Mahal is just killing it with the angle because it's the perfect storm for right now.....

 

[futballiscool]

Because Xenophobic angles were either given to people who Just didn't have the heart or just plain sucked

Hussian didn't have the heart

Kozlov just plain sucked.

This works because it is the picture perfect time. Mahal is good, not great, on the mic and in the ring. The political climate in the US and our places is very xenophobic.

Mahal is just killing it with the angle because it's the perfect storm for right now.....

Xenophobic angles are a wrestling trope. It's not one two examples from the past decade or so. It's not a particularly xenophobic era. A very high profile politician just exploited it for personal gain but it's always been there.

Jinder was a low card heel and it showed in his mic and ring work. The only thing that changed was his physique and the WWE trying to get traction in a specific international market.

Since the brand split SD was a place I could get away from part timers being champion and a few hand picked wrestlers getting a monster push. This is worse than Raw. I've been watching less and less of WWE.

 

[futballiscool]

I take it back. They can keep the Maharaja as world champion. Just give me a Ziggler/AJ fued and I'll keep watching. Loved that match.

 

[wildturkey]

This GQ piece on Jinder's diet is kinda interesting.

The Real-Life Diet of WWE Star Jinder Mahal, Who Transformed Himself into a Champion

 

[Judge Fudge]

I gotta say. Lana has to drop this whole Russian thing if she is going solo.

Watching her promo on Talking smack. It is BRUTAL

 

[jeffro151]

I gotta say. Lana has to drop this whole Russian thing if she is going solo.

Watching her promo on Talking smack. It is BRUTAL

Yeah, her Russian accent just falls flat a majority of the time.

 

[futballiscool]

This is probably just fantasy booking, but I'm hoping the Kurt Angle text storyline means that he's eventually getting sent to SD as commissioner. If Stephanie and/or HHH get rid of Kurt, they'll probably trade Rollins over to SD too.

Nakamura brings a lot to the table and Styles and Zayn are passable on the mic but they lack a top of the card Babyface who cuts high caliber promos. On Raw he'll always be below Reigns. Rollins belongs on SD.

They're doing everything possible to present Jinder as a star. I appreciate the effort but it feels like smoke and mirrors to me. The whole thing makes SD feel like the B show. Glad a hard worker like Jinder is having success but this would be a better US title storyline.


Huge fan of the tag division. New Day/Fashion Police/The Usos are all doing great work. I think Alpha is off TV because they have something big planned for them. A heel Alpha has potential. Still think the sky's the limit for them.

SD was solid this week but Raw was great. Hopefully MITB and Cena's return give SDs main event scene a spark.

 

[anotheridiot]

They're doing everything possible to present Jinder as a star. I appreciate the effort but it feels like smoke and mirrors to me. The whole thing makes SD feel like the B show. Glad a hard worker like Jinder is having success but this would be a better US title storyline.

It is just strange that maybe the hate just works. This rise to the top is basically what Vince did to push Roman and people will hate him for it for his entire career. Jinder just seems like the iron shiek and I am just relieved Vince is not pushing him as a radicalized muslim terrorist, or maybe he is.

Bottom line, if Vince would have given the push to Roman as a heel it would have worked.

 

[StanMarsh51]

I take it back. They can keep the Maharaja as world champion. Just give me a Ziggler/AJ fued and I'll keep watching. Loved that match.

With a strong mid-card they can afford to have someone like Mahal as champ and keep interest. I like what SD is doing with having matches like Ziggler-AJ and Shinske-KO, as in theory should be enough to get people watching, regardless of who's champion.

 

[futballiscool]

Bottom line, if Vince would have given the push to Roman as a heel it would have worked.

Agree. Roman is a great athlete who's becoming great in the ring. Plus he's a Hollywood looking guy who seems brooding and maybe a little arrogant (not saying he is in real life, just how he comes across on TV). He'd be an amazing heel if they ever turn him.

 

[anotheridiot]

Agree. Roman is a great athlete who's becoming great in the ring. Plus he's a Hollywood looking guy who seems brooding and maybe a little arrogant (not saying he is in real life, just how he comes across on TV). He'd be an amazing heel if they ever turn him.

I already think he is pretty amazing, no matter what the fans are always going to hold a grudge.

 

[wildturkey]

This is probably just fantasy booking, but I'm hoping the Kurt Angle text storyline means that he's eventually getting sent to SD as commissioner. If Stephanie and/or HHH get rid of Kurt, they'll probably trade Rollins over to SD too.

Nakamura brings a lot to the table and Styles and Zayn are passable on the mic but they lack a top of the card Babyface who cuts high caliber promos. On Raw he'll always be below Reigns. Rollins belongs on SD.

They're doing everything possible to present Jinder as a star. I appreciate the effort but it feels like smoke and mirrors to me. The whole thing makes SD feel like the B show. Glad a hard worker like Jinder is having success but this would be a better US title storyline.


Huge fan of the tag division. New Day/Fashion Police/The Usos are all doing great work. I think Alpha is off TV because they have something big planned for them. A heel Alpha has potential. Still think the sky's the limit for them.

SD was solid this week but Raw was great. Hopefully MITB and Cena's return give SDs main event scene a spark.

The speculation is Alpha are the ones that trashed the Fashion Police's office

 

[futballiscool]

The speculation is Alpha are the ones that trashed the Fashion Police's office

I've enjoyed the FP comedy matches as much as humanly possible but if those teams went all out in a normal wrestling match it could be epic.

 

[jeffro151]

Mahal sucks so bad he gets zero fan reaction. Time to abort this joke.

 

[Judge Fudge]

Mahal sucks so bad he gets zero fan reaction. Time to abort this joke.

I was all for it at the time but now i say feed him to the good ole all American boy (aka SuperCena) and end it. The promos are decent but getting stale. Work is meh. Nothing special but not crap