OSW Review

Tag: tough talk

  • Tough Enough Week 8

    Tough Enough Week 8

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    TOUGH ENOUGH WEEK 8

    • Only 6 competitors left! René looks great in a leather jacket
    • Fashionista Jericho (sleeveless hoodie, bare chested, with a scarf) is showing more skin than the ladies. He congratulates the remaining peeps for surviving this far. They talk about ZZ and Sara having the popular vote for some unknown reason, sneakily planting that they aren’t worried about being in the bottom 3 (subtext: they’re taking you for granted, WWE universe! Stop fucking voting for them!)
    • Do Americans all drink liquor out of red plastic cups? I thought that was a college movie thing.
    • WWE test something very important, ability to drink, then get up & wrestle the next morning. They do headlock and shoulder tackle drills – maybe it’s just the footage but they looked poor.
    • CHALLENGE 1: They pair up to try tell a storyline in the ring. This is a fantastic idea, I wish WWE would take their own advice. Kicking out of each other’s finishers is cheap.
    • They have an audience, the NXT roster! I hope they’re not too embarrassed what they see. It’s a bit of a slap in the face making the NXT peeps pretend to be excited for these fuckwits play wrestle, — contestants are gunning for a legitimate $250,000 contract, whilst some of these actual wrestlers were brought in at $30,000.
    • They chant truffle shuffle at ZZ; who is topless. I wonder if they ever forced Bubba Dudley to wrestle topless.
    • ZZ/Josh (“Try outsmart the big guy”). Blah. Being highly edited with loud rock music/’crowd’ reaction, lots of slow motion camera effects, you can’t get a feel of how it actually went. ZZ shows the most personality, shaking/biting the ropes etc.
    • Amanda/Sara Lee (“mean heel vs nice girl”) HUGE groan when I heard Amanda explain this. Jaysus, nice creativity.  It looked horrible but the coaches said it was grand. Booker gets angry for Sara pulling a Marty Jannetty, constantly smiling.
    • Tanner/Gigi (“you dumped me”). Had the most potential for a great storyline match (especially with an intergender match) but like the previous two, it was just using basic hip-tosses and shoulder tackles – no real match or storyline drama. Despite supposedly being a face Gigi got booed and worked heel (admonishing the crowd). Winner: Josh. Loser: Sara Lee.
    • The girls read out mean tweets, which would been SO much funnier read out in front of the live audience! Seriously. Read out one mean tweet each live at Full Sail.
    • John Cena‘s here and in a horrific blinding orange and green new merch. But WHAT BAR is he? Cena the phony character shows up, shit. He says “many people are calling Tough Enough the greatest show in the history of shows”. He recites his ‘go get ’em’ script and leaves 2 minutes later. Fucking useless!
    • BOTTOM 3: Tanner (Miz, lack of charisma), Sara Lee (Paige, big surprise, calls her a C+ player), Gigi (Bryan, for a babyface getting booed). Final pleas – Gigi (aint no stopping me nowwww, ok) Tanner (nothing u can teach that I can’t learn, very good) Sara Lee (improving, never give up, good). Bryan (the only judge with a save) – No saves. You’re fucked Gigi! She loses with 22%, Of course Sara wins with 43%, so Gigi’s going home.

    Overall: Really evident this week – The format of the show really strips the feel of actual performances, making the show kinda useless. It’s like if RAW was presented solely as a 5-minute recap YouTube video, you don’t get a good sense of what actually happened. Seeing them try to pull of a match live would’ve been compelling TV but perhaps it would’ve exposed them as terrible wrestlers (but sink or swim is supposed to be the draw of the show!). Cena’s appearance was channel-changing fluff. Sadly, avoid.

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    TOUGH TALK WEEK 8
    • Gigi looks genuinely upset and is grateful for her opportunity. Although this show is a terrible indicator of actual talent, of the women she looks to be the best fit, and not having the Tough Enough “Maven” stigma (should she get a developmental deal) would be good for her. The judges console her with positive advice.
    • Byron asks boring questions. Conversely the hosts try spicy questions, but the contestants don’t bite. It makes for mustn’t-watch TV.
    • Paige was only obnoxious once (twice if you count picking on Sara) so that’s an improvement. Bryan said almost nothing on both shows, reiterating points others made – he has already checked out. Miz wasn’t trolling this week. It needs to be said though – Miz dresses similarly but way better than Jericho.
    • Tanner: They’re overly tough on him, chastising his lack of charisma, but at the final 6, its easy to be in the bottom 3.They manage to get him to bitch about ZZ not improving physically and lasting 2 minutes (heh) while he grinds every day (also heh). He comes off as obviously frustrated (similar to GiGi), and unwisely presents his positive attributes (cardio/skills etc) as a weapon against ZZ, as opposed to rallying support for himself. People just see that as picking on ZZ.
    • Josh: The judges reiterate the coaches’ boy; the tallest, biggest guy there: Josh, saying he has the IT factor. He tries not to take sides but eventually chooses Tanner as a better in-ring partner. ZZ sweet talks the crowd, standing up for himself and wins that argument. Paige slyly quips he’s such a good manipulator.
    • Byron remembers to ask the women (as Amanda and Sara are the final 2 women) but have to abruptly end the show…so I guess we’re out!
    • So next week, put me down, Tanner will get eliminated – Sara can’t be the only woman going into the final show (so Amanda can’t go), ZZ’s not going, and Josh is their new boy, and comes off better than Tanner. I know she’s pretty but I’m shocked Amanda’s lasted as long as she has; perhaps as the sidekick of the main bitch she’s coasted under the radar.

    Overall: Despite being the 3rd last week (and initially a hot crowd that they killed) it was quite a ho-hum low-key episode. Nothing memorable, WWE repeatedly (what I’d class as spitefully) mentioning that ZZ and Sara are there just because of their fans, for some intangible reason. They planted the “taking your fans for granted” card with Sara and it bore out with her dropping 10% of her voting dominance. They’d better have judges voting the winners in, otherwise its a slam dunk with Sara and ZZ, which it’s been since pretty early on. It’s weird how after 14,000 applicants that this group were the best. Verdict? How can I say it nicely? Well I saved you 90 minutes!

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    OSW Panel at Dublin Comic Con: Pics & review! OSWreview.com/dublincomiccon

    Lastest update on the next OSW episode: OSWreview.com/osw-update-august-6

    We’re sold out of brown what bar tees/choccies at the moment but there will be a few more on sale once shipped numbers are finalised (give it a few days), but the black tee is available now!
    US: Merchnow.com/catalogs/squared-circle-clothing
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  • Tough Enough S6 Week 4

    Tough Enough S6 Week 4

    [vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][bquote prk_in=”What happened last week? Blonde Fiancée Dianna quit, and MMA Lesbian Bartender Daria was voted off. During the week it was revealed that “replacing“ Dianna is Chelsea Green; aka WWE’s version of Claire Lynch (Megan Miller, Daniel Bryan’s physiotherapist). I call bullshit! The competition is set at a final 13. Substitutions AFTER weeks of eliminations makes a joke of THE RULES! It’s also an insult to the competitors. I’m annoyed that no-one’s annoyed by this. It is addressed during Tough Talk. It’s like Orton subbing for Booker T, and winning him the US title in 2006!” type=”plain”]tricker[/bquote][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzmi9fR7luo”][vc_column_text]

    TOUGH ENOUGH

    • Kick off with more hens clucking, however Amanda (fake Barbie) admits her yelling/picking fights is intentionally trolling Gabi, to get her to quit. This foul play isn’t referenced again, oddly.
    • King Barrett arrives to talk about promos. Sucks Wade Barrett didn’t turn up. Hilarious as he’s beside King Booker and King Billy Gunn, lol. I’ll always remember Edge (after winning the 2001 KOTR, pledging to not “Billy Gunn” the KOTR). Way Barra stays for 1 minute of TV time where he asks for promos. Extremely rushed, but they do it again in….
    • Challenge 1: Improv is Jericho! Pair up and cut promos on each other. They match lance’s students (Georgia & Chelsea). It’s highly-edited so it’s hard to gauge actual quality – this would be best served in the live section. And they do! (For the bottom 3). Patrick and Mada were the stand outs, your #1 & #2 respectively. Patrick insulted MMA’s Tanner on not knowing old school wrestlers like Cactus and Piper (the fans in attendance and myself ate it up) whilst Mada’s was his Pharaoh gimmick again; very intense eyes, heavy breathing, good stuff. Mada gets hot about losing and bitch Josh throws water on Patrick. Jericho tries to rile up lovely/dorky Sara Lee but she takes his criticism/smack talk as constructive advice. She tries to shout & be mean and it doesn’t work. It’s as intimidating as a baby wearing a leather jacket. It’s hilariously cute.
    • Improved format: They’ve pared back Jericho’s role even more (Rene picks up the slack, does the final interview etc) and have removed rounds of applause before the judges talking – it *really* helps. If we could just calm down on the hyper-editing (used insidiously to tell the stories WWE want to tell) we’d have a much better show. Like Dianna didn’t quit because she didn’t have passion (the TV reason the judges gave), it’s because she went to help a very close friend who was attacked and paralyzed from the neck down. Fuck.
    • They’ve turned Paige picking on Sara lee into an angle, as despite her trying really hard, Paige says she’s not. She still needs to reel it in, bellowing out confrontational remarks which only she finds funny and cutting over Bryan, Hulk and the contestants.
    • Challenge 2: PowerSlam drills. Sara Lee can’t take or perform it correctly. Chelsea (who stank at promos) wins it for the females, and Josh for the males.
    • Back to the judges: Hulk was actually paying attention this week! He picks Mada (the shouty big guy promo ala Zeus) as the best promo, over knowledgeable smaller guy Patrick; saying he didn’t have a character, don’t be “Patrick the Smart Mark”. The Cuntster was also obviously butt-hurt as Patrick insulted Mada by saying “the time of the big guys are over – Warrior’s gone, Hulk’s retired”. He should’ve known better than to indirectly insult a judge. You can slag Bryan, possibly Paige, *absolutely not* massive ego/hugely insecure Hogan! That said, the vindictive Smart Mark gimmick worked extremely well for CM Punk and now Kevin Owens…
    • Bottom 3: Sara Lee (via Paige; not stepped up), Gabi (via Bryan, no concept of promo), Tanner (via Hulk; bad promo). They all get to cut 30 second promos on the judge that nominated them as their plea to win votes:
    – Gabi: She shows she doesn’t know what a promo is and asks to not be let go. Horrific.
    – Tanner: He wishes he was Tito Santana with his “I’m gonna try my best” promo. Bomb.
    – Sara Lee: nothing too special “I’m gonna be a diva and face you one day” but light years above the other two.
    • No saves. Jericho spoils the vote telling Sara Lee she’s not going home. I wonder if WWE are pissed that she keeps smashing the voting, despite trying to send her home. Gabi is eliminated with 11%; and Sara Lee kills it (again) with 63%. WWE do not bring this up. She’s at least the 2nd most popular in the whole thing behind ZZ.
    • There’s this awkward silence as Rene shuffles on stage to prod the loser Gabi for an interview. This needs a musical sting. Gabi inexplicably says she’s happy to end this and start her training again, and she wasn’t there to pick fights. Rene goes whaaat and alrighty. In a parting face turn, Gabi hopes Sara Lee will win it.

    Overall a decent episode (relative to this season) with some creative and format improvements. Focusing on promos is a far more interesting & useful gauge of talent. ZZ had almost no role in the show though…

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    TOUGH TALK

    • Crowd bit rowdier than usual, nice. They chant for Miz.
    • Bryan reads a scripted question. Jaysus c’mon mate. He also calls the PPV Battleground “Battlefield” which everyone laughs about. He expertly says Hogan called it the Superdome!
    • They have Amanda and Gabi up (people groan expecting a repeat of last week’s shouting match) but they cordially disagree.
    • Hogan asks Josh what was with the “bitch move” throwing water in Patrick’s face. He fobs it off saying he was acting thirsty, which the crowd accept.
    • Mada and Josh whine about Patrick and it ends up as a promo battle between Mada and Patrick: Mada basically repeats his kinda generic “I’m gonna beat you up” heaving breathing promo; the strength of which is his intense eyes. Patrick has gotten a lot cockier this week, it ain’t cocky if you do it and you back it up! He kills it with the king/crown jewel/bow to me promo and gets a large round of applause.
    • ZZ is charming as ever, saying being at raw this week “it…touched me” and deflects the cardio issue saying “round rolls”. He works the crowd really well. Hulkster likens him to Dusty which he graciously appreciates.
    • Lita kinda says we’re far away from Season 1 of Tough Enough where the winners made an impact, which is bollocks (I know Maven had that one shocking spot eliminating Taker in the rumble, it worked as he was a nobody; and only won the hardcore title when it was passed around like lice. Nidia is best known as Jamie Noble’s trashy girlfriend and never standing in her own light)
    • Chelsea (WWE’s Claire Lynch) first flubs saying getting there “it took long enough”, which people gasped. She explains it took Dianna forever to quit. She was #14 in the 13-person competition; her slotting in isn’t really fair but she’ll take it. Bryan brings up her role as his physiotherapist/Claire Lynch storyline which they laugh about, and Brie gave her a burst ear-drum (which is common; Bryan got one as well)
    • Hilariously Gabi thinks Miz will shake her hand when he turns to her, but he turns away and ends the show, lol.

    Overall: Some good stuff! Definite improvement from last week. Great to finally see focus on promos (in both TE and TT), not some stupid costume competition. Even Hulkster looked like he was actually paying attention and did some kind of research this week! With Gabi gone it hopefully means we’ll not have the “skanks shouting over each other” storyline anymore. And yay Sara Lee! The “boy” of Tough Enough!

     

    Brucie Bonus video coming tonight![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]