Chiral
Salacious Crumb
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Post by Chiral on Nov 22, 2022 1:44:15 GMT -5
It seems like every time I see Ali doing anything lately he's getting like...I don't wanna say jobber or buried cuz they're definitely trying to be like "HE HAS FIGHTING SPIRIT" but every time he tries showing that fighting spirit it's him getting his ass kicked all over the arena lol. Is this building to anything or is Ali's new status quo being a big geek?
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
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Post by Mozenrath on Nov 22, 2022 1:51:41 GMT -5
They just really have no idea what they want to do with him. I do think they should have probably just let him walk, for both parties' sake. Not saying I think he'd have strolled into AEW or wherever and been a star, who knows on that, but he would have found work elsewhere and they don't really seem to have any idea what they want out of the guy.
I'd love to be wrong, and for them to figure something out, but when his contract runs out, both sides need to think about maybe calling it quits.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Nov 22, 2022 2:47:13 GMT -5
I know regular enhancement matches are a hard sell (especially to TV networks paying millions of dollars) but they'd probably be more effective for Ali. Give him a tomato can every now and then as opposed to him being brave and courageous against the tippy-top guys on the brand but falling short. It's also the issue of the United States belt being in the orbit of the main event guys. Like, that's a perfectly attainable belt for Ali, but he ain't ever beating actual main eventers Seth Rollins (one of the most over guys in the territory) or Bobby Lashley (who shouldn't be losing much at all if possible) or top prospect Austin Theory for it. The US belt should be for the Alis, the Gables, the Eliases of the roster, not something for the main eventers just because the world titles have been on one guy for literally years.
(I'm honestly just glad we're starting from the neutral point of "Is this going anywhere?" as opposed to the usual "F*** THIS SHIT HE'S BEING BURIED" approach)
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Post by theironyuppie on Nov 22, 2022 3:29:14 GMT -5
They tried again for a bit, but the crowds weren't responding whatsoever. It happens.
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Post by ThankGodForSidJustice on Nov 22, 2022 3:50:58 GMT -5
Dude just doesn't have it. Not everyone does. With that said though their treatment of him as been pretty harsh recently and kind of makes me think has heat for something.
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Post by Slammy Award-Winning Cannibal on Nov 22, 2022 4:23:51 GMT -5
Meh. I’m not complaining. Ali likely isn’t either. He’s more relevant than ever (even over Retribution) and is being showcased on regular Raws and SDs in lengthy contests. His work with Ricochet was a real banger.
He’s not over in any meaningful enough way that could earn him a main event spot but he’s doing a damn fine job in the lower mid card right now. We’ll see what happens as the HHH era is still in its infancy.
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A Little Doo Doo
Salacious Crumb
An unconventional man with unconventional methods.
Posts: 71,451
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Post by A Little Doo Doo on Nov 22, 2022 8:17:16 GMT -5
It's gotten really old. HHH obviously has his own problems as a booker, but is he really dumb enough to think this is going to get Ali over? I don't even care that he has the kayfabe ribs injury as an excuse, this has been his booking for a few years.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Nov 22, 2022 8:39:39 GMT -5
It's gotten really old. HHH obviously has his own problems as a booker, but is he really dumb enough to think this is going to get Ali over? I don't even care that he has the kayfabe ribs injury as an excuse, this has been his booking for a few years. Short of the bookerman spoiling the hypothetical storyline and going “Things will end up OK in the end”, the only way people will for sure stick with a wrestler is if they do nothing but win wrestling matches. He’s currently not doing that on a regular enough basis to shake off that stigma. It’s the only way that they could show they’re serious about him, otherwise fans will just keep treating the guy with indifference at best and contempt at worst. Like people sincerely believe he’s not actually good at wrestling or promos now.
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Nov 22, 2022 8:41:29 GMT -5
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Nov 22, 2022 8:42:39 GMT -5
Honestly, no. I'm genuinely thinking he said something that pissed somebody off and he's being punished. He doesn't just lose, he's made to look completely weak and incompetent.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Nov 22, 2022 8:45:54 GMT -5
Honestly, no. I'm genuinely thinking he said something that pissed somebody off and he's being punished. He doesn't just lose, he's made to look completely weak and incompetent. The whole “Losing matches as punishment” thing is such an under-addressed obstacle to the greater goal of eliminating the dirty/protected finish and de-stigmatising the clean finish.
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Nov 22, 2022 8:48:04 GMT -5
Honestly, no. I'm genuinely thinking he said something that pissed somebody off and he's being punished. He doesn't just lose, he's made to look completely weak and incompetent. Genuinely? It's likely both the fact he asked for his release before (which he has every right to do but it could easily rub the people in charge now the wrong way) and also notice how this stuff picked up a ton more after he owned Braun on Twitter during his dumb rant. Which basically tells me what side they took in all that. Like people pointed out, others have lost matches before. People have made entire careers from it. Ali right now is Mayor of Goober City.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Nov 22, 2022 8:50:11 GMT -5
Honestly, no. I'm genuinely thinking he said something that pissed somebody off and he's being punished. He doesn't just lose, he's made to look completely weak and incompetent. Genuinely? It's likely both the fact he asked for his release before (which he has every right to do but it could easily rub the people in charge now the wrong way) and also notice how this stuff picked up a ton more after he owned Braun on Twitter during his dumb rant. Which basically tells me what side they took in all that. Like people pointed out, others have lost matches before. People have made entire careers from it. Ali right now is Mayor of Goober City. He came back and was being presented in a positive fashion, though. He's only REALLY looked like a loser in the last few weeks. I'm not even sure if it'd be the Braun thing because it seems like he's the one that got heat for his remarks.
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Nov 22, 2022 8:51:29 GMT -5
Genuinely? It's likely both the fact he asked for his release before (which he has every right to do but it could easily rub the people in charge now the wrong way) and also notice how this stuff picked up a ton more after he owned Braun on Twitter during his dumb rant. Which basically tells me what side they took in all that. Like people pointed out, others have lost matches before. People have made entire careers from it. Ali right now is Mayor of Goober City. He came back and was being presented in a positive fashion, though. This only seems to have picked up some steam in the last few weeks especially. I'm not even sure if it'd be the Braun thing because it seems like he's the one that got heat for his remarks. I mean, you say that, but Braun was the guy who had the IC champion, a guy who didn't run away from much before, running away from him just the other week. He might have heat with the locker room but the office doesn't share the sentiment.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Nov 22, 2022 8:55:20 GMT -5
He came back and was being presented in a positive fashion, though. This only seems to have picked up some steam in the last few weeks especially. I'm not even sure if it'd be the Braun thing because it seems like he's the one that got heat for his remarks. I mean, you say that, but Braun was the guy who had the IC champion, a guy who didn't run away from much before, running away from him just the other week. He might have heat with the locker room but the office doesn't share the sentiment. Sure, but you're suggesting that they are punishing Ali for his comments when we've heard no such thing and what we have heard is that the locker room is pissed. That's my point. I don't think this is about Braun.
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Nov 22, 2022 8:56:53 GMT -5
I mean, you say that, but Braun was the guy who had the IC champion, a guy who didn't run away from much before, running away from him just the other week. He might have heat with the locker room but the office doesn't share the sentiment. Sure, but you're suggesting that they are punishing Ali for his comments when we've heard no such thing and what we have heard is that the locker room is pissed. That's my point. I don't think this is about Braun. I'll admit I'm just speculating without much to go on but my source is also "The modern history of this silly company".
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Post by King Devitt and the Woke Mob on Nov 22, 2022 9:22:39 GMT -5
I sure hope it's going somewhere. Vince had no idea what to do with him outside of "DO THIS RACIST THING YOU INGRATE!!"
Plus dude deserves something after standing up to his bigot of a boss, not backing down in the face of said bigotry, and adhering to his principles.
HHH seems to like smaller dudes with great workrate, so I'm trying to have faith he sees something in Ali, and mayhaps admires him for not caving in.
I could be wrong, but I hope not.
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Post by polarbearpete on Nov 22, 2022 9:24:34 GMT -5
Sure, but you're suggesting that they are punishing Ali for his comments when we've heard no such thing and what we have heard is that the locker room is pissed. That's my point. I don't think this is about Braun. I'll admit I'm just speculating without much to go on but my source is also "The modern history of this silly company". Yeah I don’t think the Braun thing is in any way related. They were presenting Ali in a positive light, but he never seems to catch on with the live crowd to a large extent. Not sure if it’s a case of too little too late or what. I’d love to see him as part of an odd couple tag team. Could maybe help get his character over ala Bryan, Gable, etc.
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Fade
Patti Mayonnaise
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Post by Fade on Nov 22, 2022 11:34:36 GMT -5
Crowd really hasn’t reacted to Ali or Gargano, the way they would have preferred. And they both fit that plucky, underdog archetype. I’ve no doubt they’re trying but..sometimes it is what it is.
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XIII
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Post by XIII on Nov 22, 2022 11:41:06 GMT -5
I wish that Ali would catch fire somehow. That dude has a great story and is a legit nice guy. Need more of those.
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