World Heavyweight Championship Match

Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton

Undisputed Championship Match

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens

Mixed Tag Team Match

Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. The Judgement Day (Dirty Dominik & Liv Morgan)

Strap Match

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship

The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

The show is over two weeks away, but I'm sick of leaving the discussion until the last moment, so let's get ahead of things.

It's the first real opportunity to see Gunther as champion and if he can carry himself in that role. In my mind, he's a long term guy who can hold the belt until Mania, but I could be putting the cart before the horses. He still needs to prove himself as a promo, otherwise he's just an over-pushed version of Rusev.

Rhodes/Owens strikes me as one of those old school In Your House matches that doesn't look great in context, but looking back could be a great moment in both men's careers. Curious to see what Owens does with his chance because he's been a strong part of the foundation for the WWE but has essentially been a utility guy. Can he prove he's something more here? Or will this simply be a buffer match before we get the inevitable Roman/Cody showdown. Cody too needs another showdown.

The Judgement Day storyline continues to be a highlight and I have to credit you @jtj, you saw the potential in this angle ages ago. Here I was thinking it was a wish version of the House of Black. It's brought out the best in so many performers which is exactly what you want out of a stable. All these people coming together, to find themselves and become bigger stars in the process. Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dirty Dominik, Liv Morgan etc. have all grown and I wouldn't call it a complete waste of Finn Balor or JD's time either.

Aug 13, 2024 6:50:05 GMT Big Pete said:

It's the first real opportunity to see Gunther as champion and if he can carry himself in that role. In my mind, he's a long term guy who can hold the belt until Mania, but I could be putting the cart before the horses. He still needs to prove himself as a promo, otherwise he's just an over-pushed version of Rusev.

Gunther has already proven himself many times as a more than competent promo. Yes, at one time he was pretty bad, but he's clearly worked hard on his speaking ability and it shows. He carries himself like a champion and talks like one.

Aug 13, 2024 6:59:54 GMT Emperor said:

Aug 13, 2024 6:50:05 GMT Big Pete said:

It's the first real opportunity to see Gunther as champion and if he can carry himself in that role. In my mind, he's a long term guy who can hold the belt until Mania, but I could be putting the cart before the horses. He still needs to prove himself as a promo, otherwise he's just an over-pushed version of Rusev.

Gunther has already proven himself many times as a more than competent promo. Yes, at one time he was pretty bad, but he's clearly worked hard on his speaking ability and it shows. He carries himself like a champion and talks like one.

It's one thing to be competent on the mic, it's another to be a main event level promo. I agree that he's been fine so far, but if he finds himself in the deep end with a Cena will he be able to keep up? Or will he be made to look like Roman did in 2017?

I do get the impression that this classist gimmick Gunther is rolling with is laying the ground-work for Jinny.

I'm not buying a lot of stock on Gunther yet. If I could reduce him to an epithet, right now, it'd be "Human Chop Machine". I think his size and the xenophobia heat are doing a lot of the heavy lifting otherwise.

Cody is facing KO?

Sheesh, his title run blows.

Gunther drops that title before WM I would be shocked. He should totally steal Athena's forever champion stuff and they should book him as such.  He is a fantastic final boss.  And unlike most people in this role WWE gets, he lacks the ego entirely.  He was not rocketed to the moon, but scrapped hard to get where he is and knows what it is like being on the bottom looking up.  Came so far from being the fat kid that hits hard.

Still shocked WWE is slowly letting him revert back to his King's Road ring style.  He does not do the head drops, but he is showing you can pay tribute to this style while working extremely safe.  Not be too shocked if at a future Bloodsport we get him and Kingston throwing down.

Aug 13, 2024 16:07:55 GMT Big Pete said:

It's one thing to be competent on the mic, it's another to be a main event level promo. I agree that he's been fine so far, but if he finds himself in the deep end with a Cena will he be able to keep up? Or will he be made to look like Roman did in 2017?

I do get the impression that this classist gimmick Gunther is rolling with is laying the ground-work for Jinny.

He's handled himself perfectly well against the likes of Randy Orton, Damian Priest and Sami Zayn. He's already a main event level promo as he keeps proving, and I don't think "handling himself against Cena" should be the measuring stick. I might as well mention he's a lot better than Roman Reigns was in 2017, although that's mainly because Reigns had to rehearse a script verbatim every time he picked up the microphone.

What's a Jinny? Is that what you're calling John Cena?

Aug 13, 2024 20:01:49 GMT sting said:

I'm not buying a lot of stock on Gunther yet. If I could reduce him to an epithet, right now, it'd be "Human Chop Machine". I think his size and the xenophobia heat are doing a lot of the heavy lifting otherwise.

That's the first time I've heard any criticism of Gunther's ring work. He clearly does a lot more than chopping. He's a Ring General, exactly as he says - pretty much every match is fantastic.

Aug 13, 2024 23:26:30 GMT Emperor said:

He's handled himself perfectly well against the likes of Randy Orton, Damian Priest and Sami Zayn. He's already a main event level promo as he keeps proving, and I don't think "handling himself against Cena" should be the measuring stick. I might as well mention he's a lot better than Roman Reigns was in 2017, although that's mainly because Reigns had to rehearse a script verbatim every time he picked up the microphone.

What's a Jinny? Is that what you're calling John Cena?

It could be Cena, it could be Punk, it could be Rhodes it could be a slew of guys. My point being he's yet to be challenged because they've just let him go and establish his classicism bit. It's 'fine' but he'll have to keep improving if it's going to have enough momentum till Wrestlemania. I'm not knocking him, I'm just acknowledging that I've counted my chickens before they've hatched and presumed Gunther has got this no-sweat. So far, so good but he still has to stick the landing.

Jinny is a former NXT UK wrestler and Gunther's wife. Maybe I'm pulling a classic IWC move and connecting dots that aren't there but Gunther has obviously taken some of her personality and used them as his own. It could be a hat on a hat situation and it could potentially emasculate Gunther but it could be a possibility down the road.

Anything announced for Ilja? Surely it's Ilja challenging Bron...

Aug 13, 2024 17:10:56 GMT sting said:

I'm not buying a lot of stock on Gunther yet. If I could reduce him to an epithet, right now, it'd be "Human Chop Machine". I think his size and the xenophobia heat are doing a lot of the heavy lifting otherwise.

Likewise, that's the first time I've heard anyone criticise GUNTHER's ring work.

I guess we're too used to wrestlers hitting cool moves.. with GUNTHER everything makes sense. He's an athlete, presented as an athlete who treats it like a legit sport, and as a testament to his style, the entire WWE is adjusting for him.

GUNTHER is what the business should have evolved into all long time ago instead of the independent flippity-floppy superkickathon that it did.

Aug 14, 2024 1:36:47 GMT NATH45 said:

Aug 13, 2024 17:10:56 GMT sting said:

I'm not buying a lot of stock on Gunther yet. If I could reduce him to an epithet, right now, it'd be "Human Chop Machine". I think his size and the xenophobia heat are doing a lot of the heavy lifting otherwise.

Likewise, that's the first time I've heard anyone criticise GUNTHER's ring work.

I guess we're too used to wrestlers hitting cool moves.. with GUNTHER everything makes sense. He's an athlete, presented as an athlete who treats it like a legit sport, and as a testament to his style, the entire WWE is adjusting for him.

GUNTHER is what the business should have evolved into all long time ago instead of the independent flippity-floppy superkickathon that it did.

That's probably the case for some fans. Punk does not really hit "cool moves"; but I'd regard him as the best story teller in the ring right now, and therefore the best wrestler. I am not impressed by Gunther so far, regardless.

I certainly did not expect dissertations on the chopmaster's mat credentials when entering this thread...

Such disrespect for this 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 man/your Ring General.

Aug 13, 2024 17:24:45 GMT KING KID said:

Cody is facing KO?

Sheesh, his title run blows.

So far, yeah. But tbf Solo served a storyline purpose and BiB's just a glorified throwaway show obviously meant to draw on Gunther; We shouldn't expect anything marquee here.

...If he faces one-eyed Tanga Loa or something next month though, then we might be heading into some major 'oof' territory.

Cody & KO is kicking off the show.

The Germans are going crazy, and we haven't even locked up for the first match.

Caught the first match, then just got back.

Wha'd I miss in the in-between, anything good?

Aug 31, 2024 18:31:55 GMT Michinokudriver said:

Caught the first match, then just got back.

Wha'd I miss in the in-between, anything good?

Cody retained, and Jade and Bianca regained the tag titles.  So basically, no surprises so far.

Punk just won the strap match, and got his bracelet back.

Probably only because I caught only the last few minutes of it but I was only mildly whelmed by that strap match

Totally forgot about this show, but apparently Punk/Drew was a banger.

I <3 that the women are so clearly the centerpiece of this Judgment Day feud

since WWE is in Germany for this PPV does it mean the American announce table will get broken first and the home country's one will be saved for the main event?

It's seemingly a babyface show of respect, but also GUNTHER stayed in the ring and *insisted* on that handshake

That WHC match was a masterclass.

We are going out celebrating today. Going to watch the show when we get back.

Poor Kevin Owens. My guy looks miserable. He is going to snap & beat up Cody soon.

Anyone check on Keith Lee?

Kevin Owens is doing great work. He's the reluctant friend who didn't want to be given a title shot because he felt like he didn't earn it. Cody patronized Kevin by raising his hand after the match. Cody gave Kevin a participation trophy.

Aug 31, 2024 18:40:30 GMT Michinokudriver said:

Probably only because I caught only the last few minutes of it but I was only mildly whelmed by that strap match

Strap matches are fun in theory but rarely ever good. Feud in general has been meh though. Could just be my personal 180 on Punk however, cause Drew's been great as always.