nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 31, 2021 8:25:48 GMT -5
That would be entertaining but yall know Cena ain't gonna cut his WWE ties. He needs a place to slide to in case he gets canceled. I'm not going to say he's bulletproof, he definitely isn't, but after the relatively weak pushback he got on backing down about acknowledging Taiwan, he's probably going to be fine. (For the record, I get it. It was weak, but he also was trying to look out for other people on not screwing over the production, which unfortunately meant eating crow. It happens.) Any gesture these days that can be construed as supporting CCP is likely to curtail one's opportunities in Hollywood. Cena may bounce back in about a year, but it's still kind of fresh in people's minds right now. Cena's walkback could be played as an ego boost for the CCP, albeit a minor one; however, it can grossly impact his bankability in the West. Thanks to the crackdown in Hong Kong, we may not see any further major films doing any principal shooting in Hong Kong or the mainland for a while - driven by studios making such decision voluntarily. Fortunately, press junkets where the risk of the question arising are still likely to be few and far between until all this is over (the pandemic.) With the new _Suicide Squad_ in the can, Cena can cool his jets in WWE until, say, Survivor Series before he goes back for the Peacemaker series. Perhaps, by then, the kerfuffle will be over.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 22:59:49 GMT -5
I gave it a 4. What went on in the ring was okay, but the contract signing was an atrocity of booking that makes me happy that Bryan Danielson isn't in WWE anymore to suffer that BS.
Why does WWE have to be so utterly hateful to its fans?
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 22:44:00 GMT -5
Maybe Balor takes out Cena in the title match and joins Romans crew? Why would Balor join Roman's crew? As nonsensical as WWE's booking can be, putting Balor in a stable playing second fiddle to Roman reigns would be a death knell for WWE's ratings. The segment was so messed up that Heyman played it as if Balor had signed the contract before Corbin did the run-in. But it didn't carry to the rest of the show, so.... That was a mess that makes me think Vince hired Weiss and Benioff to the writing team. At this point I'm hoping there's a AR dragon ready to burn a place down.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 16:49:36 GMT -5
I think the real twist as of late seems to be that Triple H doesn't seem to be taking over the company at all. That seems to be the case as well. It is possible that Shane is now being positioned to inherit Vince's shares in the company, and he does have some experience in international business which can put him in some better stead. I wonder if reports of recent issues at NXT might be due to Trips and co being increasingly hemmed in by WWE.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 12:40:48 GMT -5
I cant be too explicit with the rules here but accountability for past scandals and controversy seems to have gone out the window these past few years. With Stephs PR experience I am sure she could spin things her way. A move to Florida might be in order though. Her parents are too closely associated with the previous administration, which will be under tremendous negative scrutiny for some time. Moreover, if Steph (or anyone else) were onside with Linda, they'd have been far more enthusiastic and public in their support for her ambitions. If Stephanie had an ambition towards politics, those ambitions may have been put to rest over the last couple years, I think. It will be some time before she even considers pivoting towards politics; I don't think she attempt anything like that while her parents are alive. To do so in the near-term would be a shit-ton of baggage to carry.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 11:00:11 GMT -5
What's the over/under on Finn wearing purple?
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 10:56:41 GMT -5
Has she even expressed interest in that? I know her mom got into that (and that's all we'll say about that), but I've never heard anything about Steph wanting to go into politics. Im not sure. Its something I have heard a lot of people speculate. It would make sense with her move from creative to PR years ago. Given what's happened since her mother's foray, I'm willing to bet that Steph wants nothing to do with it right now. Her name is too tightly enmeshed with her parents for her to be seen as a credible candidate. She likely won't even try now until some time has passed. She's wealthy enough at this stage that she could live comfortably (if quietly) for the rest of her life. There are, however, several questions I have about her withdrawal from public involvement in the company, particularly since Barrios and Wilson were fired and replaced with Nick Khan.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 29, 2021 8:44:12 GMT -5
Channeling my inner Kissinger here, but I'd suggest that Saudi Arabia needs the rest of the world more than the world needs it right now.
It's trying to look attractive to foreign investment without putting in the work it needs to do itself. A nation whose wealth is built on oil can't do well in the midst of a climate crisis where all signs point to industrialization and the use of fossil fuels as the cause. Pandemic restrictions bearing down on the subrich in Saudi Arabia, combined with an economy facing increasing downward pressure on its cash flow, aren't making for calm in the House of Saud. There may be more to Saudi Arabia's woes than what lies beneath the surface, however.
I've considered for some time the idea that Saudi Arabia's oil extraction rate and its reserves are reaching a point of decline, if it hasn't begun already. The elite within Saudi Arabia (those with all the money) have been trying to diversify its revenue streams for even longer, and might now be feeling a crunch due to the drop in oil price last year, the continued issues with the supply chain _and_ the restrictions in travel. It might explain why WWE was able to negotiate to have women on its card last time and why it might have been able to get the Queen of the Ring final scheduled for this upcoming one.
Again, though, I'd expect KSA to do something to flex its muscles against WWE for the slightest infraction. If I were on the WWE roster and had to go, I'd be sticking in my hotel room for the duration and not go out of my way to engage with the public.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 17:27:19 GMT -5
It has to be long COVID. I won't chalk it up to a lack of conditioning by itself, because I can't imagine that he wouldn't at least try to keep himself going throughout all this. The only reason he might not be openly sharing the issue is because he's not allowed to be open. The idea that _anyone_ could suffer long-term COVID consequences because of WWE's foot-dragging on the pandemic acknowledgement and response.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 10:13:44 GMT -5
Cena, for certain, will not go because he has commitments in Hollywood he'd rather not piss off.
Finn Balor will likely not go because he's openly supported the LGBTQ+ community; that photo he posted of him Finn-Freezing while wishing everyone Happy Pride whilst he was in SA can't have endeared him to the government there.
I can't imagine they can get clearances for Jeff Hardy or the Usos; Riddle might not be able to go, either. KO, Sami and Bobby Roode are out because SA's relationship with Canada is still permafrost. Nattie may get to go because she can fly on a US passport (but then again....). Mustafa Ali is out. There are others who might not be able to go for various reasons. This is taking place after WWE has released - 70? - wrestlers since the pandemic started. Vince might be able to get some of them back on a per-appearance basis, but he'll be paying through his nose for them if he's desperate to fill out the card. On top of this, these cards may no longer be considered "canon" for the purposes of WWE TV or North American PPVs.
There is the possibility that he'll use Saudi talent on the undercard, which might appease the Saudi government, but may not help build the SA brand. We'll see how Mansoor does.
This is going to be a mess, even if the trip otherwise is safe.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 9:43:29 GMT -5
I can see a shit-ton of fact-checking being done and released to the public over this series, and Vince McMahon coming under the full scrutiny he has deserved for so long. It will _all_ come out about him - everything from the Saudi deal to Rita Chatterton to God knows what else. And the knives glinting briefly in the darkness before will be out and gleaming in the sunlight.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 9:21:18 GMT -5
All I know is they need to cool it with the Charlotte overload shit. Part of that is the reason I stopped watching weekly WWE TV. Every time I read something about what happened on RAW or SmackDown on Twitter, Charlotte is normally front and center. She is very good in ring, but her character sucks ass. And apparentlt even the very good is doubtful nowdays.At least not above other women in the roster There is a part of this old broad that would delight in watching Natalya stretch her out for twenty minutes. But given our luck, she'd end up having to put Charlotte over and then we'd never hear the end of that.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 26, 2021 22:09:15 GMT -5
Well Guess we can call Nikki ASH officially dead then A few weeks behind schedule but we got there folks! We got there! The glitch is erradicated! “Officially dead” is a stretch. The fans were cheering her at the beginning of the show and there were more than a few signs. If they keep at this, sure, but fans cared tonight. They need to give her a few wins out of the gate. We’ll see if they course correct next week. Here's the thing, though. WWE has had a pattern of doing this - it's the equivalent of Lucy pulling the football away just as Charlie Brown's about to kick it. Why should we give a flying f*** about anyone stepping between those ropes now? If this is what they're doing to Nikki, I can just imagine the misery porn that will be Reigns/Balor 3. Bring on Punk and Bryan, Tony.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 26, 2021 7:38:03 GMT -5
If CM Punk were to return to WWE at this point, it would be the utter end of Punk's credibility. It's an even worse look than Zelina returning to WWE, with no real concessions from the company, after her calls to unionize.
Punk is to wrestling these days what John Lydon has become to rock 'n' roll. He's so wrapped up in his positioning that he can't really move freely anymore without risking his legacy. There is a myth about punk music artists that improving musically or progressing is akin to selling out. Lydon has progressed tremendously, but still feels as though he's got one foot back in Vivienne Westwood's _Sex_ shop in terms of attitude. Phil Brooks, on the other hand, has not appeared in a wrestling ring in nearly seven years and, in UFC, did not exactly endear himself to that crowd. He's really at a point at which it's either AEW (or New Japan) or simply disappearing at this point; he'll be 43 in October and he can't really afford to screw around and stagnate on the outskirts of the wrestling world anymore.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 25, 2021 19:34:42 GMT -5
Please have Baron Corbin on this card. He DESERVES it. Wow, does that feel weird typing that. Him and KO vs. Roode and Ziggler on the kickoff?
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 25, 2021 19:22:09 GMT -5
I already apologized & admitted I was wrong. I never read the full details of the law. Good, now delete your original post. You know about all the misinformation being spread about HIPAA at this point in American discourse regarding COVID and you should be doing whatever you can to stop that misinformation, especially if you work in a hospital. Had you read the responses in the two hours between HBkid718's post and your answer, you'd have seen that eJm already provided a correction to that original post - not to mention that it was answered in a far kinder and more civil tone that you provided. If anyone should be deleting posts, it's the one who's barking out orders after skipping half the thread.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 25, 2021 15:23:51 GMT -5
It's a problematic topic to be sure. However, I get that we do need to be careful with our words about such things. ProBoards is under a gun here themselves. Part of our "social contract" with forum hosts is that we don't become more hassle than we're worth.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 21, 2021 15:41:43 GMT -5
Brodie Lee's death supposedly hit him quite hard.
That said, it does seem unusually long for anyone outside immediate family to have it impact someone professionally like this has, if it was the only reason Bray's been away.
His divorce was not particularly amicable, so one might speculate on possible ongoing issues. It could be long COVID; it could be any number of things.
I do think it'd be better at this stage to reboot Bray as a gimmick. The longer the Fiend is away, the less credible or entertaining it is. Already, Alexa's losing her hold on audiences with the mojo thing. If he's not back by Summerslam, it might be time to put an end to Bray Wyatt as a character for good. Windham Rotunda can think of something else.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 21, 2021 15:32:18 GMT -5
Wasn't that pretty much the lol Cena wins era that everyone hated? Actually, no. "LOL Cena wins" did nothing to help build up the undercard and primarily just hot-potatoed one or the other of the big titles whilst keeping John near or in the main event.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,725
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 20, 2021 20:12:43 GMT -5
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