Timbo Slice

My guess is, like usual, availability became an issue for most talent (KENTA drama notwithstanding) along with the unfamiliarity of mixing Punk back into the fold. It also speaks volumes about how much the shows are laid out: Collision already seems self-sufficient in a lot of ways, whereas Dynamite seems like a place serving many bosses.

Because they are independently wealthy on account of knowing the modern business of wrestling better than most while also having a presence in a part of the fan base that had a big time following. The problem with them is they were subject to overexposure when they actually had to do more than put themselves over. Which is why the “counterfeit Bucks” line landed so well.

Edward Kingston in the final segment of the show as God intended

Couldn’t even get the KENTA/Punk match together, Tony, you’re fumbling the bag

Except all those players were under contract like these guys all are and worked together. Kobe and Shaq hated each other and won three rings. Elite are being petty asses and wearing it, especially when Punk, who a lot of folks like to point as being in the wrong for throwing the punch, has tried to reach out after the fact. If they are truly being this petty, I imagine the head of WBD seeing Punk as the draw for the fed is bruising their ego, too.

I’d imagine he can’t show the title on TV due to legal ramifications (which again, is the Flair Real World Champ thing blurred out on television) so this is just a well done homage to the Flair WWF intro.

So he did the Flair Real World Title promo, the Cena Hate Me Or Love Me promo, and threw shade at all the Boots In The Ring Retirement nonsense from Paul and Taker. In 10 minutes. Efficient.

He’s doing the Cena promo, what a night

LOL they put Punk last after MJF in the intro, amazing

Everyone wants the Punk interview to be a giant work but yeah, that wouldn’t be good for any exposure AEW is trying to do.

Between the submarining and the desperate click bait bullshit, this is becoming something else.

Heck of a show ender, Eddie is back and all is right with the world, him and Claudio will rule. This card is stacked to the damn gills.

The match was a whole bunch of nothing, the time limit stuff wasn’t really brought up, came out of nowhere, etc. Cole didn’t have the type of performance you’d think allowed him to hang with MJF, and MJF was derivative as all hell.

The real meta Shawn Michaels thing MJF did was eat a blood capsule and dispose of it under the ring apron in front of the ring cam, big Bad Blood midair blade energy

MJF is orange, Cole looks TINY.

Now if it was Costanza coming back…

I feel bad for Eddie with the block he got put in. Ishii and Shingo matches have an opportunity to stand out but there’s a lot of blah there.

As much as we hate it, MJF’s promos are for the live crowd who eat it up so they have something short to react to , which even with Cole correctly pointing out he’s just a Reddit troll only makes those fans feel even more threatened and want to respond more.

It’s literally so they can say something like “Every Bullet needs a Gunn” or something similar and stupid

Orange Cassidy continues to be the best TV wrestler going, Vance hits a gusher, and CMFTR vs. Bullet Joe for Collision. And they let Adam Cole talk to MJF. Good night of TV IMO.

His journey from Iran during peak Ayatollah shittiness and finding his way to becoming the success he was is one of the more incredible stories in pro wrestling history. An indelible part of the story of pro wrestling in many ways. RIP.

Another time where Tony cannibalizes the product for the one-off show and it’s way more enticing than his main product. Pretty incredible stuff.

Well then.

A lot of it is that Tony is trying different things all at once and they aren’t really working that well. I know he likes keeping things fresh, but you run into issues pushing folks into roles the crowd isn’t ready to respond to.

Everything setting up for a big Danielson reveal at some point at Dominion to set up Forbidden Door and his G-1 involvement.