#the answer is dolph btw

[xmenred2022]

All naked and covered in oil who’s winning the twerk off

[the-rayman-show]

.*~ Pinned post ~*.

Hi!!!! Welcome to a really cool Fake Rayman (Captain Laserhawk) rp blog based mostly just on headcanons lol. I believe I'm the first person to make a solely CLH-based RP blog

I'm also a big Rayman fan even outside of CLH so if you have questions about Rayman lore or tidbits send it to my main account and I'll try my best to answer 👍

Quick character/rp info (that isn't in bio): It is bisexual with a male preference!

He kinda knows something's up with Eden but honestly he doesn't care because he gets to make Rayman's life worse. Lol.

Follows the "Raymesis is Bad Rayman from Rayman 1" theory also btw.

Mod's personal ship is one-sided towards Ramon or just Ramon/Fake but in like a weird gay way not an actual official relationship, but I'm pretty much chill with whatever as long as it interests me at least a little. Multi-shipping/polyamory is fine.

I am a casual roleplayer so apologies if we get into a RP and it seems like I'm not taking it seriously. Over the years it just feels awkward for me to write seriously sometimes.

I headcanon that it and Red on friendly terms because Rayman haters stay winning or whatever lol

Read bio for more info.

Rules: Idk man if I'm uncomfortable I'll tell you.

No sex rp.

Do NOT insert your character into the backstory/past of my character in ANY way unless you are playing a character that Raymesis would know at least a little bit or have heard of because I hate it when people do that, ie. No saying "oh my OC is friends with it!" Sure maybe in your interpretation! ANY kind of relationship that isn't pre-established by my canon will have to be built up to, it will not go your way from the get-go.

Will add more rules if needed. Also pleaaaasse tag me in any new CLH or Rayman RP blogs created would be much appreciated thanks.

Other CLH/Rayman roleplay blogs (I own none of these.):

Dolph Laserhawk [CLH]: @captdolphlaserhawk

Bullfrog [CLH]: @thefinalsight

Bullfrog... 2! [CLH]: @thegreatestguild

Ramon [CLH]: @gunsblazingg

Virtual/TV Rayman [CLH]: @h3y-rayman-kids

Jade [CLH]: @personalreporter

Red [CLH]: @lazerl0zer

Alex Taylor [CLH]: @rand0mwe1rd

Fakeman... 2! [CLH]: @rayplacement

Rayman [RM]: @limblessher0

The Magician/Ales Mansey [RM]: @mrdarksnumberonefan

Betilla [RM]: @the-fairyy

Ly [RM]: @fairlyly

Playthrough Raymesis [RM]: @raymanh8r

The Rabbids, all of them [RM]: @raving-rabbids

My other Rayman blogs!

Playthrough Rayman [RM]: @rayman2beachball

Woodchip [EXE]: @rayman-origins-antipi

Alright! Ask away!

[hatescout]

This is not anon hate in the slightest btw)) But when you say Camp Camp’s Shit and made to be like south park I don’t totally get it, so I was wondering if you could help me understand? Because I know the Hitler/Dolph thing sucked, but what else has happened? I’ve been a bit out of the loop maybe

to answer the second part of your question- the biggest example off the top of my head is antiblack stereotypes from the character bonquishia (literally... everything about her. ugh. she could have been a decent character if the writers spent even a SMIDGE of effort to make her dimensional.)

and for the 1st part? well, what i mean cc is like south park, i think it’s best to think of it like.. bombs? bombs are bad all the time. when they explode, they hurt ppl (Duh.) but depending on the type of bomb- the damage they do is different. if cc is a firecracker with lots of gunpowder, then sp is a straight up pipe bomb.

even if the degree is different it doesn’t downplay the bigoted/otherwise Unsavory parts of cc. I think to call them the exact same is just doing a disservice to cc, which, imo actually has substance behind it’s shit parts.

alll i’m trying to say is, cc being like s0uth park is somewhat true. but only somewhat. season 1 borrowed heavily off that style of humor as it started out. as the seasons went on it lessened and in some areas went away entirely.

Still- it shouldn't have been there in the first place. bigoted shit disguised as dark humor isn’t funny. it was NEVER funny. and anyone who likes this show, can and should acknowledge it.

[awordwasthebeginning]

the midwife’s secret - sorta liveplogging pt II

btw, did I mention that Hebamme’s name is Marthe?

( @percontaion-points this might answer some questions...)

20:30: the village seems to be wandering through the same landscape as a few days ago. look, I know that Franken/Saxony is fairly large, especially if you walk, but it’s VERY UNLIKELY that you would pass the exact same shrubs after days - if not weeks - of wandering. Christian muses about how he Senses that Marthe has a secret (!) she’s hiding.

20:35: Marthe treats one of the boys (Bertram) who has a hole in his skull because one of the robbers hit him over the head. Hildebrand reluctantly gives her a silver coin to close the hole. Okay then. The old “mentor” woman is called Grete. There is a guy called Jonas who is in a relationship with Emma who is pregnant, which Grete mentions when Emma holds the baby Marthe safely delivered. Emma doesn’t know if the baby is Jonas’s. ...?

20:39: Ridders show up and ask if the village have seen a “wild girl”. Marthe is conveniently hidden beneath Bertram’s blanket and Christian straight-up lies that they haven’t seen anyone in days. Yeah, apart from those robbers, you mean?

20:40: “Here, Father, you must drink something.” - “Okay.” How did I never notice...are all German historical adaptations so lackadaisical?

20:44: The priest dies. Not because of his wound (it looks like it’s healing fine), but because of some illness (that would explain the bloody coughing). Ofc some people, notably Hildebrand and his wife Griseldis, accuse Marthe of being a witch. How original. Lukas (Christian’s squire), Christian, and Jonas bury the priest.

20:50: Forgot to mention: Marthe’s mother was apparently drowned (well...tortured in a ducking stool) as a witch. - There is something like an uprising: the villagers don’t want to continue if Marthe stays with them. Grete reminds them that Marthe saved Hiltrud (the pregnant woman) and that Christian is a better master than their old one. Phew. They then reach the site of their new settlement.

20:54: quick flashback to Christian’s oath of fealty to Otto. I guess their formal kiss is the most homo we’re going to get in this series. Anyway, Christian needs to ride to Meißen (!!! yes! We’re getting there!) and Marthe shall accompany him, allegedly because there’s someone who needs medical help.

20:59: Lukas takes Marthe to the kitchen, from where they can see the banquet. He gives her the who’s who: Otto, Hedwig, and Bad Guy - a knight called Randolph who is said to have murdered Christian’s wife. What confuses me is that Randolph is, in the books, described as a “blonde giant” - some Dolph Lundgren lookalike - but here he’s played by Sabin Tambrea who is more of a Sherlock Holmes/Ben Whishaw’s Q type.

Aaaand that’s me done for today, too. Heavens, I’m tired. There’s being productive and tired, and then there’s being tired because you sit in an office 9-5 and also someone’s poked a metaphorical hole in you and you feel like an empty balloon.

[trashyazeohane]

Everyone on the wagon? Because here I go!

Actually it’s hard to connect what I have planned for this story while filling all this empty spaces.

Wish I could write a slow burn fanfiction from it… around forty or so chapters.

Anyhoo (with not too many pictures, sorry!)

Part 1 here

Adult!Maxvid!AU – Part 3 (choo choo!)

Second meeting wasn’t so bad. Max was still stressed, but he managed to more over talk with David, so he was like happy?

(Good for you Max btw)

The rest of the week passed normally for Max. He went out for drinks on Friday with friends. The weekend was spent playing video games, learning with Nikki and skyping with Neil.

Another week passed normally with Max picking up Little Star (I really should give her name… any ideas?) and ‘accidentally’ meeting David.

Max would deny it till his death, but those meetings were the brightest parts of his days.

Plus David always looked so happy to see him, so it was a giant pro. He often asked Max about his life, school and if he still had contact with other campers. He was totally pleased when he found out that Max was still in touch with all the people from his first camp.

Nikki still teased Max about the meetings.

Scene#7

“Hey, can I visit David once with you?”

“Why?”

“’Cause I want to see him too, duh?” Nikki rolled her eyes. Which looked even weirder, because she was staring at Max while hanging upside down.

“No way.” Max said, this time not glancing up from the book he had on his lap.

“Why not?”

“Because?” Yeah, why? Why exactly not? “Because this way David will find out I’m talking about him with you guys…”

“But you are doing it.”

“He doesn’t need to know it, neither he need a prove in form of a living human being.”

“Boo!” Nikki made a tube from her hands and shouted in the direction of the blackhaired male. “Then why won’t we all go somewhere together?”

“Like where?”

“I don’t know, some bar? I want to hear what happened to the Camp after we left. Is he still a counselor there? Is he still in touch with Gwen? Is he still playing guitar? When did he learn sign language? Is Muack still at Camp Campbell? Argh, I have so many questions!”

Nikki looked honestly…. Honestly interested in all of these things she listed. And Max felt almost (key word – almost) bad that he was so quick to decline her proposition to take her to the kindergarten.

They talked a little bit more and when there was time for Max to get to his room, before he closed the door, he murmured to her.

“I’ll ask him about the meeting…”

And then he quickly closed the door, because fuck, he was bad at being nice.

But he missed Nikki grinning broadly.

However

Easier said than done actually

During the next meeting Max and David talked a little bit more, but Max couldn’t muster himself to ask for a meeting.

Nikki laughed at him for that.

When it happened for the second time, she still laughed.

On the third try she started to be concerned.

And on the fourth she finally burst out.

“Oh my fucking god! Maxwell Jonathan Marshall if you don’t ask David for a meeting next time, I swear I’ll go to him and tell that you have a crush on him.”

“You wouldn’t dare!?”

“Try me!”

She wouldn’t do it, but Max didn’t want to check it anyway.

So boom, another meeting, and Max was a nervous mess inside. Like holy shit. Help him.

He was also pissed at himself, because no one other than his dumb crush can make him feel like that.

Fuck David.

You want that, right?

Shut up, me.

By the time David came over with Little Star, Max honestly felt like the butterflies inside his stomach had some kind of a fight club.

But the Nikki’s threat hung above his head.

Do it

Do it

DO IT

“David…”

“Yes, Max?”

“Do you want to… hang out? Like I don’t know, go drinking in the evening or something like that? Nikki wouldn’t stop bugging me to meet you and I think Neil would want to do it too…”

David looked at him and then his fucking eyes got so big and so sparkly that Max felt like he could get blind by the pure light emanating from them.

“Oh Max, that would be so cool!” David said, clasping his hands together. Some behaviors from kids couldn’t be unlearned so easily. But then the everlasting smile faltered for a second. “But I don’t drink any alcohol before working days... Will it be a problem?”

“No. Not at all. We can even arrange a meeting on Friday, if you want-”

“Oh my gosh, that would be so awesome!” Seriously, David looked totally enamored by the idea of some meeting. “Wait, I’ll give you my number so we can talk more about it!”

What

The

FCUK

David’s phone number? In his own hand? Did he somehow reach ascension?!

“Thanks…”

He wanted to say something more than a simple ‘thanks’, but then another kid appeared behind David and tugged hard on his shirt with mouth forming a thin, desperate line. It took one glance down for David to smile sadly at Max.

“Call me if you establish something with Nikki and the rest!” He said, already moving after the kid into the kindergarten.

Max didn’t answer, simply because he was still processing what he had in his hands.

Nikki was actually waiting in front of his door to ask about the meeting.

Max just flashed the paper in front of her eyes with proud smirk playing on his lips.

She squealed and stole the paper away.

Max gladly already had the phone in his contact list.

“So when we’re all meeting?”

“I don’t know? He says he doesn’t drink during working days.”

“Huh, lame.”

“Well, he works with children. He can’t go to work hungover.”

“Oh, yeah, right, that makes more sense actually. Soo… Saturday?”

“Works for me.” Max said, trying hard to sound as uninterested as he could. Judging by Nikki’s evil smirk, he failed miserably. Or simply because she knew the truth. “Shouldn’t we ask Neil first, if he wants to go too?”

“Oh, good thinking.” Nikki nodded, already pulling out her phone. “Oh, maybe I should call Ered too! You can message Preston and ask if he has some time to also come!”

“Are we making this some sort of Camp Camp’s reunion?”

“Camp Camp? Pfff… hell yeah, we do!”

And the plan was put into motion.

By the way it was Thursday, so they still had some time.

Neil said that he could move a meeting to other day, so he would come. Tick, one person on the list. He also said, that he can bring Space Kid (they didn’t stop calling him that).

Ered unfortunately couldn’t go, but she gave them number to Dolph. He said that he will be there.

Preston said very dramatically that it had been too long since he had seen their miserable faces.

Harrison had some performance, but Nerris said that she will appear (they are together!!)

Nurf said that he couldn’t go because he had to take care of his mother.

Which left the last guest under question mark.

“You still didn’t ask David if he is coming?!”

“No?”

Nikki facepalmed.

“Dude, not cool. If you don’t do it till tomorrow morning, I will-“

This time it wasn’t a threat underlined with spilling his secret, but with the snake too close to Max’s face.

The snake, which now was two centimeters away from his skin, stuck out his tongue and licked the air. Brrr….

“Okay, okay, I’ll do it! Sheesh.” Max said, stepping away to be at safe distance. God. “I’ll do it today!”

“Great!”

He did it that day, two hours later, which he had spent just staring at his phone and thinking about how he should start.

Then Max finally wrote the message

hey it’s max here. do you have some free time on saturday?? me Nikki and few other old campers want to hang out

The stress that was tugging on his chest disappeared, only to hit him back like a fucking train when David replied after two minutes. What the fuck.

Hey, Max! :):):) Sure I have!! Oh, who will be coming!? :):)

Fuck, so many smiley faces. It kinda hurt Max’s eyes, but it fitted David, both in the same time?

But when Max was in the middle of responding, David wrote once again.

Can I bring Gwen with me!?! :O She will be delighted to see all of you! :):)

Gwen? They were still in contact?

sure. from what I know there should be me, nikki, neil, spacekid, nerris, dolph and drama boi

OMG I’m so excited to see all of you!!!!! :):):):):)

So many smiling faces!

So Max changed David’s name to “Smiley face”

Gwen, by the way, had been informed about Max since the very first day.

A little bit of flashback

“Gwen, you wouldn’t believe who I met today at the kindergarten?!” David’s cheerful voice rang inside her ears.

Gwen sighed, brushing her hair with much needed force to comb through the hair spray put onto it. She was exhausted, hungry and not in good mood for David’s games.

“Who?” She asked.

“Aww, Gwen you have to guess!”

God, why was she still hanging around this guy. Oh yeah, best-friends or some shit like that.

“Gee I don’t know… That guy from the pizza bar from a year ago?”

“What? No. Not Michael.” Seriously, did David still remember his name? “Max, I met Max!”

Max, wait, like….

“Like the Max from our shitty camp? The biggest asshole that ground had seen.” Gwen stopped moving the comb, which stayed upright in her hair.

“Aww Gwen, it’s not nice.” David on the other side of the phone sighed. “But yeah, that Max.”

“Oh… Wait, what the fuck he was doing there?”

“Picking up his little cousin and language, Gwen!”

Gwen doesn’t live that far away from David.

She works as a secretary in some company.

Returning to the main story

Gwen, do you have anything planned for Saturday? :):)

No, why do you ask

Because we are going out for a reunion! :):):):):)

David sent like five smiling faces. He had to be really happy about it.

What reunion?

Camp Campbell’s reunion :):):):):)

Wanted to write more but… meh.

Oh yeah, random Max full name!

I’m actually working on full NSFW scene that will happen in… probably part 5? I guess? I’m not sure. Anyhoo, stay tuned for next parts!

And keep safe!

wine beer>

Random picture of Gwen

Random picture of Nikki and Max staring at his old Camp Camp’s shirt

[forestwater87]

CULT CAMP MASTERPOST PT 3: DAVID DAVID DAVID DAVID DAAAAAVVIIIIIDDDDD

I’m sick and in pain. I cannot hold a conversation, work on my writing, or even watch TV. But you know what I can do?

Scream. Scream and scream and screeeeaaaaaam. We shall put the cicadas to shame on this fine June evening.

Again, as with the previous posts, there will be spoilers for season 2 ep 1. They’re under the cut. You know the drill. 

Join me as I shriek incoherently into the void, mmkay?

David’s (bro?)crush on Daniel, guys. Max has no patience for it, but it’s my favorite thing in the entire world right now.

You know what? I thought this was funny. I know Dolph is one of the least popular characters, but he’s never bothered me much and look at his little cute face. Also look at Neil’s little cute face. There are lots of little cute faces here.

I just adore these kids, and they’re especially entertaining when terrified. More traumatized children!

The fact that QM is the only one (besides David) not to get brainwashed makes me bizarrely happy. Not very helpful in a crisis, though.

He also has the best line of the episode. I will not be argued with on this one.

Can we just appreciate the way the sky gets redder as Daniel ups the creepy factor?

“I’ve had it up to here” -- literally Max’s height. David has exactly Max amount of patience (yes, it’s a unit of measurement now) and it’s all used up today.

You know how I kept saying this post would be full of David faces? And how the previous parts of this bad boy failed to deliver? That’s because they were being saved for now. This post is just ass-full of David, because all of his best faces were kept in the ass end of the episode:

His little eyebrows! They’re so delightfully expressive. 

Poor Max. This is why he avoided caring so much in the first season: look where it gets him.

(Real-world advice, btw: Don’t be David. “Don’t be David” is just a good motto to live by in general, but especially in this kind of situation, err on the side of listening to the children. They’re vulnerable and the only thing they can do is turn to you.)

Don’t be David. Don’t make the sad little boy’s face look like this.

The moment when Max decides he is done with your shit.

Can we just talk for a moment about how awesome these two are? They have the best expressions in the show and they come out the most when interacting with each other.

Also can we talk about the weird Hazmat shit in the background?

I’d once again like to direct everyone’s attention to David’s face. Ahem:

Lookit his sad little mouth! He has such a purdy mouth Okay that sounded much less prison-shower-y in my head. Moving on.

David lying to himself that everything is fine: the best. The worst, I mean, because it makes me wanna cry forever, but also the best. (I’m really sick, okay? It’s hard to come up with comments when I’m sick.)

This sad little sunshine boy. Max keeps insisting on breaking him and I hate it so much. That being said, Max’s face in that last picture is perfect.

Below is a collection of faces that will be accompanied by no commentary, because I have nothing to say. If you’d like, just scroll through these while screaming “DAAAAAAVVEEEYYYYYY” over and over again at the top of your lungs. That’ll really give you the full Forestwater Experience.

Interrupting to point out that he’s so shocked! Like it isn’t his own imagination. David, get ahold of yourself you dork. 

Anyway, back to shrieking: DAAAAAAAAAAA

AAAAAAAAAA

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AAVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

EEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

Better? Good. Get ready for yet more David:

Hey, did you know David can do an excellent impersonation of Beeker from the Muppets?

Uncanny.

This man is the physical embodiment of the word “bunny.” He is fluffy and bouncy and soft and I want to protect him.

FEAR THE ANGRY BUNNY

ANGRY BUNNY WILL FUCK YOU UP

(Also let’s be real: everyone assumed David would beat Daniel to death with the guitar, right?)

But instead we got FURIOUS ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING. IT IS MOST INTENSE!

He’s so smug! Look at his proud little smile and swoon.

Also David's diss tracks are entirely compliments. We know you’re an asshole, just own it!

There are no words. Just screams.

(I have now taken meds for my cold, which means the following comments are a little less illness-impaired and a lot more drugged. You will probably notice no change.)

Remember when I said we’d see how awesome the animation is later in the episode? We’re there. Look at how awesome this is. It’s like . . . shading and stuff. I don’t know how art works, but it’s cool.

“You’ve sung my praise but not your own / and well, I think that’s pretty telling”

Look at how he shrinks in on himself at that line, how he hunches his shoulders and looks away. 

LOOK AT IT AND SCREAM WITH ME, MY CICADAS.

This animation is good. This is good good animation.

IT’S SO DRAMATIC AND BEAUTIFUL!

David’s Fighting Stance. With his I Really Don’t Enjoy Fighting and Would Prefer We Talk This Out (and Hug) Eyebrows.

Every time I put another picture in here, the post zooms up to the top and makes me scroll all the way back down, like it’s asking “are you sure you wanna keep making this thing longer? Look at how long this is and really think about what you’re doing. Is this what your life has become, Forest?”

The answer is yes. 

I regret nothing.

Anyway, the evil has been vanquished, I’m basically out of David faces, and everyone looks excited.

Also how did Max’s hair get like that? Who ruffled the Max?

But we’re not done, because GUESS WHO’S BACK, BITCHES?!

YAYYYYYYYYY! I missed her!

“DAVID, FIRE THAT FUCKING WEIRDO! :D”

Her words and facial expressions never match and it’s my favorite thing about her.

Chipper Gwen is everything that is good and pure in this universe, and I’m glad the episode decided to remind us of that at the last minute.

And that’s episode 1! Will I do this for every single one? Probably! Is that a good idea? Absolutely not! Play us out, kids!

[placetobenation]

We already knew that WrestleMania 36 in Tampa was going to be different. But, no one could’ve ever expected just how different it’s going to be.

With the coronavirus putting the World on hold, fighting against the clock and a pandemic to save lives each and every day, WrestleMania will be the first WWE PPV to be held without any fans in attendance. Much like their weekly shows, RAW, NXT and SmackDown, it’s scheduled to be held at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Reportedly, the WWE is going to tape as much programming, including the WrestleMania event itself as soon as possible to prevent against further local, national and government restrictions. In addition, they too have to fight time in that eventually someone in connection to the organization will test positive for the virus which would then put a full shutdown in effect.

These are very scary and unprecedented times in which all precautions should be taken to ensure the best possible outcomes for all.

So, with the news of WrestleMania being taken out of Tampa, WWE said that new signee Rob Gronkowski will be the host of the now, two-night event on the WWE Network. The former Patriots tight end’s announcement about an event meant for Tampa ironically comes in the same week that his former QB, Tom Brady, heads to Tampa as the Bucs new QB. You just can’t make this stuff up. 

To get all of us ready for WrestleMania, the WWE and ESPN announced Friday that for the next three Sundays, ESPN will be broadcasting old WrestleManias.

Here’s the schedule: Sunday, March 22 – 7pm WrestleMania 30 (New Orleans, LA – The Undertaker Streak is broken) Sunday, March 29 – 7pm WrestleMania 32 (Arlington, TX – Roman Reigns vs. Triple H) Sunday, April 5 – 3pm WrestleMania 35 (East Rutherford, NJ – Rousey vs. Flair vs. Lynch)

For now, here’s this year’s WrestleMania card according the WWE website:

Saturday – April 4th

WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley

The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Sunday – April 5th

WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs. Bill Goldberg

RAW Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch

John Cena vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Also: Edge vs. Orton

Out in front of WrestleMania, the WWE has taken a bit of a turn as to how they’ve delivered programming this week. So, in turn, we will do the same. Instead of reviewing each show and what we liked about the matches and angles, we’ll do it as an overview.

RAW

See you soon, @DMcIntyreWWE!#Raw #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/WkTlr9eEsX

— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) March 17, 2020

Monday Night RAW was dominated by the replay of the Royal Rumble that has set up the WWE Championship match between champion Brock Lesnar and challenger Drew McIntyre . For those who didn’t see it on the WWE Network, either live or on replay, it was a good way to give insight into the Lesnar-McIntyre match-up in addition to it being just a good Rumble as well.

The only live match was Rey Mysterio, Jr. topping Andrade in a non-title United States Championship.

Elsewhere, Edge delivered an amazing promo to answer Randy Orton’s call. Not only did Edge say that his wife Beth Phoenix was about to announce his new retirement for him so he didn’t have to, but since Orton attacked Beth, Edge was challenging him to a Last Man Standing Match at WrestleMania. Well done, even without a crowd around him.

There was no contract signing for The Undertaker and AJ Styles. The Undertaker took out Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows with AJ Styles looking on from backstage after The OC tried to take UT out.

The Rattlesnake. #TheMan.#Raw @steveaustinBSR @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/DAg6E7c69o

— WWE (@WWE) March 18, 2020

Finally, Stone Cold 3:16 Day ended with Becky Lynch joining Steve Austin in the ring to deliver a stunner to Byron Sexton, who was rating Austin’s performance at the RAW announce table. Predictable, but mostly flat without a crowd. I was impressed however by how many Stevie-wisers that The Man could down. Damn! As Ron Simmons would say!

NXT

"He's a snake. He's a liar. That's why I fixed their mistake."@JohnnyGargano did what he had to do. #WWENXT @NXTCiampa pic.twitter.com/9N4uY5gfyt

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 19, 2020

On NXT, I thought the WWE did an amazing job at putting some focus and backstory on the Tommaso Ciampa – Johnny Gargano feud. Complete with footage from back in their developmental days and matches gone by, it was a fantastic way to help the audience understand why it’s such an emotional conflict. Production-wise, there’s no one better at these kind of segments. Devoting a full hour to it shows why it’s the best story going in NXT.

An in-depth look at Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley followed in the show’s second hour. Now, you could say this approach didn’t help WWE/NXT as its audience was almost cut in half as compared to AEW, who did do live matches without a crowd. But, I think that has more to do with some fans just looking for the matches on AEW. In the long run, it’s an approach that I think NXT should do more of when they can mix them back in with matches. Giving fans a reason to buy in to people is never a bad think.

On a side note, AEW did have the debuts of former WWE veterans Matt Hardy and Brodie Lee, the former Luke Harper, who’s now the Exalted One in All Elite Wrestling.

SMACKDOWN

Thoughts on @RobGronkowski's entrance? #Smackdown pic.twitter.com/6fCWXbBs8k

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 21, 2020

On SmackDown, it’s the debut of Rob Gronkowski. Gronk makes his first official WWE appearance and makes it’s a memorable one taking on King Corbin. A nice back-and-forth before setting up Corbin vs. Elias for WrestleMania. I can’t wait for the ultimate turn by Mojo Rawley on his good friend Gronk!

Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak continue to make their way up the ranks, beating Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura in a tag team match. Now, if Gulak can beat Nakamura next week on SmackDown, Bryan will get a shot at Sami Zayn’s Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania.

Paige, by Skype from Los Angeles, gives Bayley the bad news that she’ll be defending her Smackdown Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans, Dana Brooke, Naomi, Tamina and Sasha Banks in a six-pack elimination match at WrestleMania. Are we about to get another Banks backstab in the works?

Bray Wyatt says John Cena beating him at WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans gave us The Fiend. So, what better way to prove that then to show us and that’s exactly what we got on FOX Friday night. Nice filler too! BTW: nice face time for Brodie Lee from AEW in that one!

Before their match with Heavy Machinery, The Miz and John Morrison delivered more comedic relief with a parody of The New Day and The Usos. Laugh out loud funny! What wasn’t so funny was the beating Otis from Heavy Machinery gave the tag team champs after being sent into a rage with a Dolph ZIggler/Mandy Rose Instagram post on the big screen. Miz & Morrison get a DQ win. Now, The New Day and The Usos will wrestle next Friday with the winner getting a title match at WrestleMania.

To end the night, yet another contract signing as Universal Champion Goldberg went face-to-face with Roman Reigns. Tough words, but pretty much the same ol’ same ol. Gotta be more creative in showcasing these things. Been there, done that!

Thanks for letting us share our thoughts! Shoot me an email at jcrowe567@gmail.com. We’d love to hear your comments and suggestions! You can also check out my blog, The Crowe’s Nest as we delve into more pro wrestling, sports entertainment and the World of Sports. My apologies ahead of time – I AM a Patriots and Red Sox fan! If you’re not down with that, I’ve got TWO WORDS for you… NEW ENGLAND!

[placetobenation]

It’s here! The road to WrestleMania officially begins with this weekend’s Royal Rumble at Minute Maid Park in Houston. What’s the over/under on mentions of the Astros cheating scandal by the announce crews on commentary and the pre-show? About 100?

Anyway, as always with Royal Rumble weekend, it’s about the surprises. It’s about who will show up when that clock hits :00 for the next contestant to enter the ring. This year, who’s first is not left to predict as WWE Champion Brock Lesnar has already announced his intentions to not only enter the Rumble but be its first entrant. So, who will be the first 5-10 “lucky” superstars who get eliminated by the reigning, defending, conquering Champion? You know it’s going to happen!

This year’s rumors have veterans like Edge, CM Punk and the hometown hero, Booker T as possible entries. And how about the NXT stars? So, far, there’s been no mention of any involvement from the Full Sail gang. It should seem obvious that Keith Lee, off his Survivor Series performance and winning the North American Championship this past week, would be a no-brainer!

And how about the return of Ronda Rousey? Do we get it this weekend or at some point on the Road to WrestleMania? With so few female superstars already announced for the Royal Rumble, there’s plenty of room to add in from all three brands.

But, before we get there, there’s a Saturday night special for NXT and NXT UK to take on each other with Worlds Collide. Here’s the card:

Pre-Show: Mia Yim vs. Kay Lee Ray

#DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Moustache Mountain

NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Angel Garza vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Jordan Devlin vs. Travis Banks

Finn Balor vs. Ikja Dragunov

NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley vs. Toni Storm

Eight-Man Tag Team: Undisputed ERA vs. Imperium (James Drake & Zack Gibson)

Star of the Week:

Keith Lee – Lee wins his first NXT singles championship, pinning North American Champion Roderick Strong Wednesday night on the USA Network. This could be just the start of a very good week for Lee with Royal Rumble weekend being the next piece of his stardom.

RAW

RESULTS

United States Championship Title Ladder Match: Andrade defeated Rey Mysterio to retain title

Aleister Black defeated local competitor

Drew McIntyre defeated Randy Orton (DQ when The OC interfered)

RAW Women’s Championship Non-Title Match: Champion Becky Lynch defeated Kairi Sane (Submission)

RAW Tag Team Championship Title Match: Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy defeated The Viking Raiders to win titles

Erick Rowan defeated Matt Hardy

Lashley & Lana defeated Rusev & Liv Morgan

What we loved:

#LaMuñeca to the rescue.#RAW #LadderMatch @Zelina_VegaWWE pic.twitter.com/t5tde5thMD

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 21, 2020

Viva La Ladder – Kudos to Andrade and Rey Mysterio, Jr for putting it all out there in this one! Brutal and a good story to boot! And how about Zelina Vega throwing caution to the wind, climbing to the top of the ladder to stop Mysterio from winning the title! Now, we get Humberto Carrillo coming to his hero’s aid to start a feud with Andrade next. Good stuff!

The #MondayNightMessiah just worked a miracle.#RAW @WWERollins @WWE_Murphy @Akam_WWE @Rezar_WWE pic.twitter.com/NPlIkPUIGp

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 21, 2020

New champs – What’s the easiest way to get more heat on the most hated faction in the WWE? Put the gold on them! And the surprise is that it’s Rollins and Murphy who got the title shot and not the pure tag team in the AOP. Could that be a sticking point down the road when this faction destroys itself later this year? It’s like The Undisputed ERA (until this week) or The Four Horsemen holding all the titles back in the day.

Best seat in the house belongs to @WWEAsuka. #RAW pic.twitter.com/OINqnT9RAT

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 21, 2020

Becky vs. Kairi – Quality match, plus we get Asuka on the top turnbuckle during the middle of the match. A different visual that was pretty interesting as to what she would or could do throughout the match and then, of course, a perfect spot to make a post-match attack on the champ heading into Asuka’s title match at the Royal Rumble.

What we didn’t like:

Last 30 minutes of RAW – The last 30 minutes of RAW did nothing for me. First, another squash of Matt Hardy by Erick Rowan. Been there. Done that. Enough said.  Then, there’s no need for Lashley/Lana vs. Rusev/Liv Morgan to be a main event. Especially when you’re only going to give it less than five minutes. There’s no surprise, intrigue or better yet, a swerve or great match to be had there. If you’re going to keep me for three hours, give me a payoff.

NXT

RESULTS

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake) defeated The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly)

Toni Storm defeated Io Shirai (DQ when Bianca Belair interferes)

Finn Balor defeated Joaquin Wilde

Shayna Baszler defeated Shotzi Blackheart (Submission)

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: The Broserweights (Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne) defeated Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner)

NXT North American Title Match: Keith Lee defeated Champion Roderick Strong

What we loved:

2020 is looking #LIMITLESS!@RealKeithLee has the #NXTNorthAmericanTitle and ALLLLLL the momentum!!!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/x0XmLc4a0k

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 24, 2020

Bask in his glory – It’s here. The first NXT title for the big man, Keith Lee. His stock has been on the rise since Survivor Series last November and it hasn’t stopped! It will be interesting to see how long his reign will be and if it’s just a stepping stone to the eventual NXT Championship.

#Imperium vs. #UndisputedERA#NXTUK vs. #WWENXT This colossal Eight-Man Tag Team Match can only be contained this Saturday at #WorldsCollide! pic.twitter.com/ty3iQqYOAT

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 24, 2020

An eye for an eye – As TUE and Imperium build up to their World Collide meeting, it’s only fair that they get each other out of the Dusty Rhodes Classic right? Imperium strikes first to start the night off giving the Grizzled Young Vets a semi-final win. Then, TUE fights back to end the night with a big brawl. If that doesn’t make you want to see them face-off Saturday in Houston, nothing will.

Meh:

Shayna Baszler – Usually I’m all into a Baszler match, but it just seemed like she was a little off. From the pre-match promo to the match with Shotzi Blackheart, who eliminated her in the Battle Royale last week, there was something missing for me. That desire and killer instinct just was a smidge from where it usually is. Maybe it’s me.

SMACKDOWN

RESULTS

The Usos & Roman Reigns defeated King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode

Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville went to no-contest when Lacey Evans & Bayley interfere

Elias & Braun Strowman defeated Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura

John Morrison defeated Kofi Kingston

What we loved:

Go big or go home – From start to finish, this was a very good set-up for Royal Rumble weekend for the Smackdown crew. Quality stuff in the ring starting with a very good 6-man match between Roman Reigns and The Usos vs. King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, advancing storylines and an emotional, get-to-know-me moment from Lacey Evans. And how about that ending, The Fiend signing the contract in his own blood! Emotions and expectations are surely running high for Sunday night in Houston!

"It doesn't matter where you come from… if you keep pushing, you can accomplish your goals." – @LaceyEvansWWE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sKl34H4D6e

— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2020

Lacey’s backstory – Give me more of the heartstrings from Lacey Evans. What’s not to like about her. A strong Mom and Marine who’s been dealt a rough hand with her father’s issues and not battling a pair of bullies in Bayley and Sasha Bank. It’s going to be nice moment when she wins the Smackdown Women’s Title.

Braun can sing – Count me as one who likes this new pairing of Elias and Braun Strowman. I get a more human, fun side of the big man plus Elias back in the ring for the first time in forever. That’s quality stuff for a Friday night Give me more!

Contract signed… in @WWEBrayWyatt's own BLOOD. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/1dKohtBD5F

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 25, 2020

Sealed with a strap and some blood – Finally, we get a contract signing that’s not long and drawn out with the same ol’ non-sense and dribble. Bray Wyatt and The Fiend get straight to the point as The Fiend answers the call to whip Bryan into submission while signing the contract in his own blood! The only bad part of it all was that annoying red light that didn’t let us see the blood at home until after The Fiend left the ring.

Parting shots:

It’ll be interesting to see how the WWE treats NXT going forward this weekend at the Royal Rumble and on the Road to WrestleMania. The rumors have been that there will be NXT involvement in Tampa at WrestleMania, but to what extent? I would expect that at the very least the NXT Championships will be defended in some respect on the card. But let’s see first how big (and successful) they’ll be in Houston. This year’s WrestleMania could be stacked, but first they must deliver this weekend.

BTW: Can’t wait for the debut in NXT of Scarlett Bordeaux!

And oh yeah, some predictions (IMHO):

Drew McIntyre and Shayna Baszler will win the Royal Rumble matches unless Vince McMahon tries to slam us one more time with Roman Reigns. Lacey Evans wins the Smackdown Women’s Title while The Fiend survives the strap match.

Thanks for letting us share our thoughts! Shoot me an email at jcrowe567@gmail.com. We’d love to hear your comments and suggestions! You can also check out my blog, The Crowe’s Nest as we delve into more pro wrestling, sports entertainment and the World of Sports. My apologies ahead of time – I AM a Patriots and Red Sox fan! If you’re not down with that, I’ve got TWO WORDS for you… NEW ENGLAND!