The Thread Killer

Yeah but now Joe is injured so who knows when he'll be back. I think we're all grasping at straws trying to come up with theories and reasons why WWE wouldn't be so stupid as to hotshot this match. We're giving them too much credit, I think they're just rushing the match because they're stupid. Also, Roman already signed the contract on Raw so they have to fight. Those contracts are legally binding.

I don't understand why they are rushing this Reigns/Cena program. Maybe it's just me, but this feud has Wrestlemania written all over it. This should be a big money angle, no? It should be (in theory) be a passing of the torch from Vince's previously untouchable #1 guy to his new untouchable #1 guy. For them to not even feature it on one of the big four PPV's and not even in the Main Event is really strange to me. In other news, Samoa Joe is reportedly injured and out for at least a month, which sucks. Hope he's okay. Considering their history, there is a guy I was hoping to see work with Cena before he went off to Hollywood to make Transformers movies.

Yeah, really hot women don't normally show interest in the dumb jock, muscle-head types. They usually go for the quiet, bookish, intelligent guys.

I remember that blog. It went like this: "WWF real hard and stuff. Some doors you have to push to open but others you pull. Steroids friend me good."

I'm not surprised at the reports that he got a big head when he got his push. Not to speak ill of the dead, and I'm not trying to be mean either, but Andrew Martin was reportedly really dumb and had quite the ego long before he ever got famous. I knew a number of people who knew him very well, and I encountered him myself on a peripheral basis as he bounced at a number of bars I frequented in my younger carousing years. I also drank with a bunch of guys who played hockey with him, and as I said, this was long before he got famous. He was a tough guy, but a bit of a bully and the unanimous consensus is that the poor boy had an exceptionally low IQ. Mick Foley even alludes to that in his second book, as I understand most of Foley's jokes went right over the guy's head. Having a big ego whilst being somewhat of a dimwit is usually not a recipe for success.

There is already a thread for this podcast, but I don't blame you for missing it. I was the only person who replied and it hasn't been bumped in ages. The Pod of Awesomeness has now worked it's way onto my "must listen" list along with Killing the Town and Jim Cornette's Late Night Drive-Thru. (Not to be confused with The Jim Cornette Experience, which I can't stand.) The question of whether or not you will like the Pod of Awesomeness depends on a couple of different factors. You don't have to be a huge fan of Edge and Christian to enjoy the show. To be honest, I never really cared for Edge as a performer all that much. But there are some things going for this show, for sure. 1 ) It is refreshingly candid. Neither host seem to care if they ruffle feathers or offend the WWE. It is obvious that they both still follow the product and are quick to praise what they like, but they are also more than happy to slag what they do not like. One of the things I am starting to really dislike about Killing the Town is the fact that because Don Callis works for New Japan World, he spends an exorbitant amount of time pimping New Japan and will absolutely not say anything even remotely critical about them. He is also personal friends with Kenny Omega, and his constant praising of Omega as the greatest wrestler in the world is getting nauseating. You don't get that with E & C. They are surprisingly objective and call it as they see it. I don't always agree with them, but I never get the feeling that they are holding back or being political or diplomatic in their choice of topics or criticisms. 2 ) High quality guests. It is an running joke between the two hosts regarding who they can land as guests. So far they've had a who's who. Goldberg, Shane McMahon, AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, Drew McIntyre...these guys are definitely able to get interviews with the kind of guests other podcasts could only dream of. If you look at who they've had on the show in their brief existence, it's quite remarkable really. 3 ) Good interviews. It's one thing to land a good guest, it's another to actually have a productive conversation with them which is worth listening to or that is interesting, compelling and informative. (Ask anybody who has ever watched an RF Video Shoot Interview. Just getting the interview is only half of the process. You actually have to ask smart questions, follow up, put the subject at ease and draw them out.) The advantage Edge and Christian have is that they have mostly landed interviews with guys that they already have a relationship with, so there is never any real awkwardness or formality to the interviews. I would especially point to the Samoa Joe, Daniel Bryan and Drew McIntyre interviews as being segments where it came across as just friends having a conversation, but in all three interviews the subjects were refreshingly candid and discussed things that you can tell they probably wouldn't have discussed elsewhere. Another huge highlight was when they managed to get Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley on together, to discuss their classic Mind Games match in detail. This was an amazing segment they call "Anatomy of a Match" and they plan to do this with other wrestlers in the future. They have the connections to pull this off, and it's really awesome. (Pardon the pun.) 4 ) Knowledgeable and Experienced hosts. They're not experienced as hosts, but they have a ton of experience in Pro Wrestling, and that helps this show a lot. Like I said, I was never a huge Edge and Christian fan, but you can't deny that they were both very successful during their careers. They are both happy to talk about experiences they had before, during and even after their careers. They weave this into their interviews and it gives an insight that other interviewers might not have. They also have a deep reservoir of backstage and road stories that they are always happy to share, which you can only get from a host who has experience in the Pro Wrestling industry. One thing that has really impressed me about this show is that it is obvious that (despite how incredibly goofy they both act) both these guys are actually quite intelligent. 5 ) It's Fun. Now, here is where Your Mileage May Vary. These guys have been good friends since they were kids. They talk quite a lot about their teenage years, growing up as fans, and their formative years in the industry. Like many friends who have known each other for years, they are extremely comfortable with each other. This means that they have pet nicknames for each other (Edge calls Christian "Birdman" or "Bird" for example) but they also have a ton of other running jokes with each other. One thing they love to do is threaten each other with physical violence, where they go into ludicrous over the top and extremely detailed threats of what they plan to do to each other. They also have a running gag with Tommy Dreamer, where just for the sake of irritating him, they repeat his name over and over (TommyTommyTommy) to drive him nuts. They have a Stone Cold impersonator who comes on to sing the theme song of their guests, prior to interviews. Their interview with Pete Gas of the Mean Street Posse is an example of them basically doing nothing but joking around and riffing on the poor guy. Another fun ongoing joke is their use of backstage wrestler banter "Brother brother" or the ongoing saga of Edge's inability to change the battery in his smoke detector. I happen to find this stuff hilarious and it is one of the things about the show I enjoy the most. It is not formal or overproduced. However, it can be quite juvenile and if this type of humor is not for you, or if that kind of stuff annoys you, then I can see where you would not like this show at all. I was once listening to the show when my roommate was in the room, and she finally asked me who these guys were, why they kept insulting each other and why they were threatening to mutilate each other. Like I said, it's most definitely a YMMV situation. If you do not like goofy humor, this is not the show for you. But I feel that they are having fun doing the show, they don't take it too seriously, and it comes across as fun for them and the listener. One thing about this show is that it has only been around for 5 months. It's actually pretty impressive the quality of guests and the good shows they have had over the past 5 months, and they are really getting hitting their stride now. I think it is probably only going to get better.

So Drew McIntyre was a guest on the E&C Pod of Awesomeness a couple of weeks ago, and he and Edge & Christian had a great conversation about his career. The good thing is that the three guys are friends, so it doesn't feel like a formal interview. Drew is very candid about his problems during his first run, and how he has changed. This is really worth checking out and provides some great insight into Drew McIntyre, his career and subsequent comeback. WARNING: If you do listen to this, you will notice a faint but annoying intermittent beeping in the background. That would be Edge's smoke detector. The battery is dying, and he couldn't figure out how to change it for a few weeks. It got so annoying people were busting his chops about it on Twitter. He has since fixed it. The interview starts at 23:46.

Yeah, the whole "Jim Cornette is desperately trying to stay relevant" talking point is really off base and not particularly well thought out. The last thing he wants to do is be relevant to Pro Wrestling in 2017. That's kind of his whole point when he goes off on the modern product. Cornette has a very loyal and well established fan base that he appeals to. I don't think he cusses out Kenny Omega, Joey Ryan or The Young Bucks because he wants attention from younger fans of the modern product. I think he does it because he hates Kenny Omega, Joey Ryan and The Young Bucks, and he knows there are lots of other people who feel the same way.

Um...what? I don't think anybody is as maligned in the wrestling industry as Russo at this point. I'm not saying having Cornette on the air (or even working backstage) in 2017 is a good idea. I don't think it is, not one little bit. If I was trying to book a product that is looked upon as current, and if I was trying to to bring in younger viewers, the last person I would put on the air is Jim Cornette. His whole on air persona screams old school...which is what he is. I assume they brought him in because Jim Cornette could cut a better promo in his sleep than most of the guys in today's Pro Wrestling could cut on their best day. But that is more of a sad indictment of the fact that the current generation thinks it's more important to kick out of 100 finishers or to do a bunch of high spots than it is to actually know how to talk. There should be lots of guys around who could fill that role, but there isn't. The other problem is, Global Force is being run by Jeff Jarrett, Dutch Mantell, Scott D'Amore, etc. These are not exactly guys who have their finger on the pulse of what is hot and trending right now. I'm not convinced these guys still don't think that the key to success is presenting WWE lite. Cornette hates Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks, and Kenny King and Joey Ryan, absolutely. He has a lot of detractors. But within Pro Wrestling as an industry, I'd say Cornette has a ton more respect than Russo ever will. Even the guys who think he is wrong about Omega and The Young Bucks (like Meltzer, or Storm & Cyrus, or Austin, or Jim Ross) will give Cornette his due for his knowledge of Pro Wrestling History, his past contributions, and his love of the sport. At this point, Russo's biggest defender might be The Disco Inferno. I rest my case.

Now let us begin the countdown to when Asuka gets beaten by Nia Jax on Raw in a match with no buildup and no ramifications.

Yeah, I know what I say or think doesn't matter and it's not going to change...but for what it's worth I've never liked this thread title either. There is no doubt that Jim Ross is a grouch on his best days, but to call him a vile human being always seemed like a serious case of overkill to me. I wouldn't even call Russo a vile human being, and he's probably the person in Pro Wrestling I despise the most.

Please clarify that statement. Because it sounds like you're trying to imply there is a set amount of time that the guy should be depressed over the death of his wife. And even you can't be that big of a douchebag...despite all evidence to the contrary.

Back at the end of July, we had this conversation in the WWE TV thread... This needs to happen, ASAP. Tonight Enzo showed up during the closing segment of 205 Live, (to a substantial reaction from the crowd, which is a rarity on 205 Live) and essentially began an angle with Neville. I know, I know...Enzo sucks and he has heat backstage and everybody hates him and this is probably a punishment... But I liked it, dammit. I am actually looking forward to this angle. I know with Gable now teaming with Shelton Benjamin we won't get the second part of Johnny Sorrow's prophecy, but with a couple of other NXT call-ups (Gargano, Lorcan, Burch) this division and show could be saved. That's a lot of weight to put on the shoulders of Enzo A'more, but who knows...it could happen. I know it won't happen.

I don't know if you're a Corbin guy so I legitimately can't tell if this is sarcasm. There is such a thing as a "Corbin guy"?

Actually, I just read that the penalty for this would be a four year suspension, which would effectively be the end of his career for all intents and purposes. I mean, he'd only be 34 by the time the suspension was up, but I can't imagine anybody sitting out for a whole four years and then coming back to be a success.

We were just talking about this in the WWE TV thread, and I will cross-post here what I said there... Just for fun, let's review the Jon Jones file: He's undefeated, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and on his way to establishing a legacy. And then... - He totals his car and is charged with Driving Under The Influence. - He refuses to accept a fight against Chael Sonnen, who was stepping in at the last minute to fight after Dan Henderson got injured. Because he refuses to fight, an entire UFC show is cancelled for the first time ever and UFC 151 never happens. Not only does his refusal to fight cause an entire PPV to be cancelled, in the aftermath Jones basically comes across in the media as the ultimate spoiled athlete, entitled and self absorbed. - Jones then spends the next couple of years adding to his spoiled and entitled reputation, as he is accused of ducking fights with both Glover Teixiera and Alex Gustafsson. Jones appears to be especially reluctant to face Gustafsson, who many people thought actually beat him the first time they fought. He also adds to his reputation as a dirty fighter for using illegal elbow strikes against Matt Hamill, and also is constantly getting warnings for poking his opponents in the eyes. - He is accused of writing homophobic slurs on Instagram. In response, Jones claims his phone was stolen and his account was hacked - He then tests positive for cocaine, and gives an interview implying that is one of the first times he ever took cocaine. He asks for the forgiveness of his fans, but comes across as very insincere. - He then is involved in a hit and run, where he is involved in a car accident with a pregnant woman. He flees the scene, and drugs are found in his car. He is finally suspended for six months and stripped of his title. - He swears he is going to stay on the straight and narrow, and then gets arrested for drag racing. Because it's smart to drive like an idiot after you've been arrested for getting in a hit and run. - He comes back after his suspension and wins the "interim" title but then...surprise! He tests positive for steroids. He gets suspended again, this time for a year. - He finally comes back after his year long suspension, swears he's changed etc., and wins the title. Now he flunks another steroid test. This guy is a total moron. He needs to be banned from the sport for life. He probably won't be, but it really doesn't matter. He's totally sullied whatever legacy he might have had, not to mention that he's literally cost himself his prime fighting years by being suspended so often and so long, and cost himself millions of dollars from missed fights and sponsorships. They say he's looking at a minimum 2 year suspension this time, so I hope Brock didn't have his heart set on that fight.

I take back everything I said about the Owens/Styles feud. Inserting Baron Corbin is just what this angle needed to keep it fresh and interesting.

Are you SERIOUS?! Jon Jones may very well be the biggest moron in the history of sports. Yes.....and Yes, He probably fucked over Brock since that was his leverage to get another fat WWE deal too. Just for fun, let's review the Jon Jones file: He's undefeated, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and on his way to establishing a legacy. And then... - He totals his car and is charged with Driving Under The Influence. - He refuses to accept a fight against Chael Sonnen, who was stepping in at the last minute to fight after Dan Henderson got injured. Because he refuses to fight, an entire UFC show is cancelled for the first time ever and UFC 151 never happens. Not only does his refusal to fight cause an entire PPV to be cancelled, in the aftermath Jones basically comes across in the media as the ultimate spoiled athlete, entitled and self absorbed. - Jones then spends the next couple of years adding to his spoiled and entitled reputation, as he is accused of ducking fights with both Glover Teixiera and Alex Gustafsson. Jones appears to be especially reluctant to face Gustafsson, who many people thought actually beat him the first time they fought. He also adds to his reputation as a dirty fighter for using illegal elbow strikes against Matt Hamill, and also is constantly getting warnings for poking his opponents in the eyes. - He is accused of writing homophobic slurs on Instagram. In response, Jones claims his phone was stolen and his account was hacked - He then tests positive for cocaine, and gives an interview implying that is one of the first times he ever took cocaine. He asks for the forgiveness of his fans, but comes across as very insincere. - He then is involved in a hit and run, where he is involved in a car accident with a pregnant woman. He flees the scene, and drugs are found in his car. He is finally suspended for six months and stripped of his title. - He swears he is going to stay on the straight and narrow, and then gets arrested for drag racing. Because it's smart to drive like an idiot after you've been arrested for getting in a hit and run. - He comes back after his suspension and wins the "interim" title but then...surprise! He tests positive for steroids. He gets suspended again, this time for a year. - He finally comes back after his year long suspension, swears he's changed etc., and wins the title. Now he flunks another steroid test. This guy is a total moron. He needs to be banned from the sport for life. He probably won't be, but it really doesn't matter. He's totally sullied whatever legacy he might have had, not to mention that he's literally cost himself his prime fighting years by being suspended so often and so long, and cost himself millions of dollars from missed fights and sponsorships. They say he's looking at a minimum 2 years suspension this time, so I hope Brock didn't have his heart set on that fight.

Are you SERIOUS?! Jon Jones may very well be the biggest moron in the history of sports.

The Kevin Owens/AJ Styles feud is only rivaled by Miz/Dean Ambrose as The Feud That Wouldn't Die. I watched the opening segment, I was excited about the US Open Challenge, and then Kevin Owens came out. I almost wept. Is it just me, or was Bobby Roode's Smackdown debut a little underwhelming? So he interrupted and then beat Aiden English. Whoop-de-doo. Also, is he supposed to be a face?

I wonder if Cena is holding a bit of a grudge over some of the promos Miz cut with Maryse leading up to Wrestlemania, making fun of he and Nikki. I remember reading at the time that a lot of those segments and promos weren't being tightly scripted and the gloves were off a bit. I remember a lot of people were expecting Cena to tee off on Miz, but Miz actually came out looking better. To my mind, Miz did a hell of a lot better making Cena look bad in the buildup to that match rather than the other way around. There was never really much doubt who was going to win the battle, but I always thought the Miz won the war.

No, I found that really interesting.

I work almost exclusively with recent immigrants from India, since the Pharmaceutical company I work with has a branch in Bangalore and staff are always transferring in. All those guys speak Hindi, not Punjabi. I assumed Jinder would speak that dialect. Of course, he was born in Calgary, Alberta...so I could also have been safe in assuming he'd come out on hockey skates, eating a back bacon sandwich, drinking a beer, and listening to Rush.

Jinder Mahal: Settle in for the long haul and embrace the bacne!

I really have mixed feelings on KENTA. If you ever get bored and are so inclined to check it out, I'd say KENTA's prime was probably between 2006-2009. He had a match in 2007 in ROH against Bryan Danielson (at Driven, I think it was) that I remembered loving at the time, but to be fair I have not seen it since and I might be remembering it as better than it was. Even as far back as his formative years, I remember in 2004, on the same NOAH show when Kobashi defended against Takayama, the co-Main Event was Misawa and Ogawa (who were the GHC Tag Team Champs) defending against KENTA and Marufuji, (who were the Jr. Tag Team Champs.) I remember that match being really good and a lot of fun too. There was a spot where KENTA imitated Kawada and repeatedly kicked Misawa in the face, the crowd went nuts and needless to say, Misawa was not impressed, and let KENTA know it. When Misawa finally came to America and wrestled in ROH, he defended the GHC title against KENTA. It's an average at best match, it was more special to see Misawa in front of an American audience that clearly worshiped him (as well they should have). But that is good indicator of what KENTA wrestled like in his prime, and ROH has it available free on YouTube. The biggest knocks against KENTA were that his selling was kind of spotty, and that he wrestled a very specific style which focused on a lot of repeated high impact moves and false finishes, not so much mat based stuff or real old school psychology. There are those who said (and I don't necessarily disagree) that KENTA had a hard time when he was pushed out of his "big match" formula. Basically, he had to wrestle other guys who wrestled the same style, otherwise he couldn't produce a good match. That's probably why he had a successful run in ROH, he sort of set the template that Davey Richards and company kind of ran into the ground later on. ROH at that time was basically an AJPW/NOAH cover band, if you ask me. And I don't mean that was always a bad thing. Anyhow, in his day KENTA was definitely a "your mileage may very" type of guy. When he showed up in NXT I was really surprised. I know he's only 36, but he wrestled in AJPW and NOAH for almost 15 years. I am guessing his body took about 30 years worth of punishment in that time (if not more) from that fabled "King's Road" style. Bottom line is, by 2014 I hate to say it, but he seemed way past his "best before" date. I think that might be why he has had so many injuries as well. I can't imagine you can subject your body to the type of punishment he put his through for so long without ending up a shell of yourself and injury prone. I really don't want to sound like I am advocating steroid usage, because I'm not. But to me, as Hideo Itami he has seemed smaller, slower, beat up,less fiery and not the same guy he once was. This Takeover show was the first time I had seen flashes of what KENTA once was. Having said that, I'm not sure I want to see him return to that form. I don't know if he could even do it, I don't think it fits in with the "WWE style" and it would probably kill him if he did it. It's sad to see Hideo Itami as kind of a shell of KENTA, but I really think that is the end result of the kind of style he wrestled for so long. I really loved that match with he and Black. But I don't think Itami is capable of repeating performances at that level, sadly.