Official Bash in Berlin Discussion Thread

[Jeb ★]

Date: 31 August 2024, 1 PM^ET/10 AM^PT/7 PM^CEST
Location: Berlin, Germany
Venue: Uber Arena
Theme: BABYMETAL x ‪Electric Callboy‬ - "RATATATA"

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Singles Match
Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton


Undisputed WWE Championship Match
Singles Match
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens


Grudge Match
Mixed Tag Team Match
Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest vs. Liv Morgan & "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio


Grudge Match
Strap Match
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre


WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match
Tag Team Match
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

[Jeb ★]

Strap match official

[Generations]

I assume the point of making this a strap match is to work to Punk's limitations and give him an excuse to be slow and methodical.

Alternatively, I could see the strap getting in his way and making him potentially injure himself again.

If Drew yanks the strap too hard and rips one of Phil's fragile limbs off...whose fault is that?

Also...anything "strap" or "chain" or "collar" related has become a bit synonymous with AEW, IMO. So, this feels like more of an AEW stipulation than a WWE one...and I'm not sure that's the look they're necessarily intending or desiring to go for.

[T-Hell]

2 hours ago, Generations said:

I assume the point of making this a strap match is to work to Punk's limitations and give him an excuse to be slow and methodical.

Alternatively, I could see the strap getting in his way and making him potentially injure himself again.

If Drew yanks the strap too hard and rips one of Phil's fragile limbs off...whose fault is that?

Also...anything "strap" or "chain" or "collar" related has become a bit synonymous with AEW, IMO. So, this feels like more of an AEW stipulation than a WWE one...and I'm not sure that's the look they're necessarily intending or desiring to go for.

Dude.. don't get me wrong because I respect you and usually enjoy reading your posts, but you are becoming a shill.

Also, I am not a huge fan of Phil's ego myself, but I learned to cut him some slack because the dude is allegedly having a great attitude.

[Generations]

A shill? How?

Three quarters of what I said were just objective assessments of why a strap match may have been chosen, and how it might or might not be a good idea.

The final point about strap matches feeling like AEW territory? Sure...that might be a stretch.

But, it's absolutely how I personally see things. - The dudes who seem to have strap matches all the sudden are Cody and Punk...both former AEW guys, because that's an AEW match-type, IMO. WWE is really not known for doing them too often in the past. (It was mostly a territory stipulation, and AEW began doing them because they wanted to pay homage to the territories). 

In no way am I claiming that AEW has ownership over those stipulations, or am I implying that WWE can't use them or whatever. I'm just saying...factually speaking, Cody and Punk are the ones in this match-type...and I think that's a remnant from the "other place".

Edited August 20 by Generations

[PaperThinWalls]

Strap matches are definitely not synonymous with AEW. Since 2020 WWE has done five strap matches. AEW has done two and two dog collar matches by my count. It’s not a remnant of AEW, it’s a remnant of Cody and Punk who are old-school-minded wrestlers.

[T-Hell]

I'll assume they'll make a fifth match at Smackdown? Only 4 matches seem underwhelming, especially for a ple overseas.

[PaperThinWalls]

It’s 5 matches as of right now. The first post needs an update. They added a women’s tag title match last night.

[M3J]

Punk vs. Drew better be super violent

 

[Jeb ★]

The gold grainy style choice for the match card graphics for this event is ugly ngl lol

[T-Hell]

13 hours ago, PaperThinWalls said:

They added a women’s tag title match last night.

Eww..

[Baiborpr]

These finisher kick out fest that been happening lately are being over done 

[T-Hell]

Omg they really displayed a gauge for the decibel levels caused by the crowd's noise. I'm so dead.

[dje_wba]

Not the first time. I can't remember whether they did it for Elimination Chamber in Perth, but they definitely did it for Backlash in Lyon and Castlemania in Glasgow.

[M3J]

I was hoping Punk vs. Drew would be so much bloodier, at least on Piper-Valentine level 

[PaperThinWalls]

Cody/KO: Enjoyable match, particularly liked Cody selling his midsection. I do wish Cody’s knee  played a bigger role, though.

Heh. Don’t know if the gadgetry is needed but boy I’m glad we’re getting the classic four corners strap match.

Mean mugging mfer.

ha! Punk sneaking in the touches to the turnbuckles! Great spot

Make him tap! Haha

GTS! Love the imagery!

Boom! And with the bracelet, too! Terrific match. Accomplished what it needed.

[PaperThinWalls]

Mixed tag: fun match where the heels get their comeuppance.

Whoa. Orton in red.

Hmm. Don’t really care for this floor stuff. Really slowed the match’s momentum and I hate that the rules are being ignored so egregiously.

Aside from the floor stuff and some plodding moments, this was good. I liked their first match more but this was still good. The work done on Gunther’s arm was my favorite stuff. 

[M3J]

LivDom vs. Judgement Day was fun to watch, but Rhea, Liv, and Dom are great 

[Graeme Jones]

The selling from Orton and GUNTHER was great to see. I'm an old school fan, and always appreciate good selling. Was a great match too. 

I enjoyed Bash In Berlin, loving these European PLE's

Edited September 1 by Graeme Jones