Timbo Slice

This was what I had alluded to in my comment about how bad they did Jaguar; her story was one of the bigger casualties of how they constructed the story. Based on how they set it all up, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t have had episode 4 end with Asuka and Jaguar having their match to make that story seem fully realized. Especially given how big a deal it was for them to run the Budokan and Osaka-Jo big in the span of six days. However, like most projects like this? The narrative they created superseded the in-life order of events. The show runners probably felt it didn’t suit the narrative as well and left it out, which is a common theme of the show as a whole. It really does seem like they built the narrative and then filled in with facts when they could have done the opposite and probably been much more cohesive. But them leaning on the more dramatic aspects (shoot pins, backstage drama, fabricated or not) really led to the weird choices where the criticisms are aimed.

I see what they’re trying to do with Nigel but it’s just not working. A bit of a shame. He doesn’t have the juice to hold this together with no retort. In the moment it has a shot, but he’s done all this to crickets.

I will not spoiler anything until you’re finished, OJ, but I had even stronger feelings about Jaguar being done dirty by the end of the series.

I can’t see this as anything other than a success after completing the series. Given the constraints in time, and some odd choices to speed things up rapidly and tie up as many loose ends as possible by the end, this was about as good as you could have asked for. The production choices they made in the Hair match, especially with the entrances, where they copied the camera shots to the point where I got chills because they were spot on re-creations, was top notch. They made it as uncomfortable watching it here as it was watching it on tape. Again, I don’t know if there’s another wrestling subject matter where you could go to these lengths and have this type of production, but I hope someone tries because this really was amazing to watch.

Three episodes in and this is right up there with GLOW for me as one of the best wrestling TV shows or movies ever. It’s a short list, but there is an amazing amount of quality here even if the liberties they take with historical accuracy are also pretty blatant. The in-ring action is fantastic; a lot of time is spent there and the actors really know their shit. Chigusa and Co. trained them up really well, and they suck you in each time you step in the ropes. They really do a good job of showcasing all the wrestlers you’d expect to see during this time frame, albeit sometimes the drama takes away from what you expect to see from some of them. Even with those slights, awesome Easter eggs throughout, and I’m surprised how true to the setting they are even with those liberties taken. I hope it becomes a hit in Japan and does well with the hardcore fans worldwide. Selfishly I hope it leads to other attempts to tell wrestling stories in Japan, although I don’t know if any have the crossover appeal this one would have.

Given how J-Dramas and K-Dramas operate, it’s not surprising to find liberties taken with the truth. I’m just happy something like this got made in the first place. As long as it’s entertaining, that’s all that matters.

The Outrunners not being on Dynamite tonight is a crime, what you doing, TK?

The Large Canine

To have three separate short builds back-to-back-to-is insane, even more insane if they all hit. All Out was an obvious success. Let’s see what Grand Slam and WrestleDream look like.

Hammerstone didn’t really get eaten up; it just wasn’t as big a showcase as you would think. Also, hilariously, Femi looked much more polished as Hammerstone looked a bit timid. He got some good chances to shine, but Femi just looked better. He’s very good for someone so young.

This was probably top to bottom the best produced show AEW has ever done. They went for a lot of stuff tonight and basically all of it hit. They also made some amazing production choices, especially in the main event (the House Call into the cage, the wide shot on the final chair shot in an unsanctioned match) that put it over the top. For a show with basically no build, they put on a show people who missed it will be scrambling to buy after the fact. Have to imagine this was a success.

The way they cut the trailer makes it look like they got all their footage of the puff piece stuff up front, but the entire second half is voiceover with few interview cutaways. I know there’s stuff out there about the interviews, but I’d wager all the folks who were willing to talk about him in more glowing terms are front loaded. Which more than likely means a lot of Shoemaker on the backend. Which seems lose-lose to me.

The answer is that it was high profile, cost a lot of money, and Netflix wants to recoup its production costs.

The quick pivot to All Out is always interesting because you just had the big show and now you’re back on your Chicago kick, with a lot of things you can throw out there. Have to imagine some kind of combination of Dragon/Cage, Jarrett/Page, Bucks/Acclaimed (maybe?), MJF/Garcia, an Okada defense, some other things possibly. I do find it hilarious that they don’t do Ospreay/PAC in London, but they do it in Chicago literally a week after the London show. I know you had to wrap up MJF/Ospreay, but it’s still funny to me.

Welp. This means we WILL get Nigel/Bryan at some point.

It sure looks like they didn’t get to 80k based on crowd shots. They keep going back to wide shots and it’s not looking nearly as full in the top levels like last year. Interesting. The show has a meandering pace after the opener. Hoping the tag title match picks things up a bit.

BR actually does well. I think you can do it through the Max app.

Seriously, good work on getting done big shows there the last couple years.

That was an awesome Dunne/Sheamus finish. Dunne does seem like he won’t be much on the main roster for the time being, which is why he’s in the NXT Title picture, but I hope they find some time to get him something to sink his teeth into.

I know it won’t happen because of the match type, and it would be overloading the face side, but I would lose my shit if the fourth spot in War Games went to Rocky.

Roman’s selling was fantastic. He’s so used to being on top, he was the dude who overcame the odds in those Shield tags, and he felt he could overcome a dude he made and his crony, but then Jacob shows up and obliterates him in a walking boot, not even with his most explosive offense. The looks on his face when Jacob went off was the good shit. When the Usos come back by his side, it’s gonna somehow be more electric than Roman’s return.

TK did another Le Batard Show appearance and was wearing a WBD hat so I think the cat will soon be out of the bag for the upcoming TV contract.

I’m sorry, but I just keep hearing “Boats ‘n Hoes” now once the cadence stuck in my head.

I was wondering if they were gonna let Jacob use the BME with it being Tiffy Time and then he not only does it but then adds in the split-legged finish variation. He’s on another level entirely.

There’s a chasm between him and every other wrestler for getting across intent. Just incredible stuff.