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So Hobbes is going to WWE and the Rascalz are going to AEW. This seems like one of those things that is the best move for all involved. TK doesn't seem to like to use big power guys as anything more than secondary muscle in a faction, so Hobbes probably hit his ceiling there, and obviously he's like a WWE wish list come to life. Toss in the rumors that Hunter wants to push more black guys to quell the one lingering critique of his booking, and this was the absolute perfect time to play the "bet on yourself" card. The Rascalz clearly are a great fit for AEW and their house style, and they got lucky enough to get out of dodge just in time to not have a front row seat for an all timer LOLTNA moment. Apparently there's something going on with Trey Miguel since he suddenly deleted all mentions of AEW from his social media, but honestly I think Myron Reed is better anyway so if its just the other 3 then that's fine.

So far it seems like the folks just called up from NXT are getting a push right from the jump, hopefully it's the jolt needed to liven things up. If Obi Femi isn't a megastar it'll be booking malpractice.

Toni was the lead of course, but I thought she held up her end of the deal well enough. I wasn't expecting the void we've been seeing in NXT so far.

Honestly even before that happened, I've never seen a wrestler regress so much as she did going from AEW to NXT. At least with Jade it was because they were trying to put her in a role that didn't fit her, with Blake they basically kept her doing the same Glamour gimmick and somehow it was like she left all her charisma in AEW.

So its weird, Drew pretty much had to win or be seen as a chump forever, but also doesn't seem like it was time for Cody to drop the title. I hope at least they give Drew a decent run out of this since he's been great for a while now.

Man, WWE really has been trying to copy anything Toni Storm does these days.

I was okay until Shibata had to battle him one last time, then having to leave before 46,000 saw him get too emotional. Also holy shit, Ibushi walking the whole goddamn Dome ramp with a healing femur may have been the toughest thing I've ever watched another human being do.

You know what, props to Matt Cardona. Dude wanted to be back in WWE and worked his ass off to make it happen.

Watching Smackdown now, and good lord Dragunov vs Melo was outstanding. I don't think I've ever seen Ilja have a match that wasn't anything other than amazing, his matches look like actual fights every time.

Well besides cheating to beat Takeshita, they also are planting the seeds for an Okada feud with Kyle since he screwed with his semifinal match by stealing his gimmick.

Man, wasn't expecting this show to be planned out around Mox doing the Stone Cold babyface turn except he actually ended up winning. I know a lot of folks here weren't big on his title run, but he has been on a phenomenal run.

They absolutely were cutting him from stuff in the Classics on Demand days, there would even be audio drops if one of the announcers said his name on WCW or WWF shows even if he wasn't involved in what was happening in the ring.

We might see something along those lines since being on Youtube is the first time they've ever made any money off their tape library. Dave pointed out they probably have a pretty favorable deal considering the main WWE channel has 110 million subscribers, so unless some streaming service comes around and makes a stupidly large money offer the Vault Channel is going to be where most of it is going to be at.

I think Thea Hail just shoot won the North American title, that finish didn't look planned at all.

I always loved Sid where ever he would show up. He always seemed like he was having the best time just going out there doing Sid shit.

Also props to AJ Styles for standing out in the parking lot for that opening segment with Gunther, I can vouch that it's cold as fuck in PA right now and he was out there in a t shirt.

Both Usos have famously had DUIs and Jey frequently is seen on social media several sheets to the wind in post show environments.

There's also a lot of interest in Japan seeing Aaron Wolf's debut. I think pretty much everyone in the US is underestimating that since he's not known here. That's not to say he's the main draw or anything, but it's a bigger part than you'd think.

I will say one thing, the booking was what it was but god damn did Cena work his ass off. Not once did it seem like he was half assing a thing, even when the heel run was dying a death and he was still trying his damnedest to make it work. It seems like this is starting to shape up as Cena coming up with (admittedly probably unrealistic) plans for his retirement, only for Hunter to "that doesn't work for me brother" the whole thing and comes up with his own ideas, which get hilariously derailed when the Rock decides to fuck with him one more time. Which is double funny since that wouldn't be the first time he's done that with a major storyline (initially the whole point of the Tribal Chief/Head of the Table stuff with Roman was to eventually build to a Mania match with Rock that mysteriously never happened, and of course him trying to bigfoot Cody out of his WM match with Reigns). And since Cena is the greatest Company Man of All Time, he let both of them turn his retirement run into an endless comedy of unforced errors.

I didn't expect Cena to win his last match (nor should he have imo), but losing by tapout was just such a deflating move. He was facing Gunther, you're telling me you can't just have him powerbomb him to death or just beat the shit out of him so the old gladiator can go out on his shield? Having the "Never Give Up" guy just.....give up.... seems like a middle finger to what his whole character was built on for 20+ years. I have a feeling in the coming days there will be "reports" from WWE that the finish was all Cena's idea in order to deflect the heat from the company (read: HHH), which will be hilarious when it happens.

Oba Femi doing a promo with Cody to open Smackdown? Hook it into my veins. They may have fumbled Cena's last run, but having the show with his last match be a spotlight for Oba/Je'Von/Leon/Sol is really sticking the landing.

Apparently Theory is a guy Heyman sees something in, and he was supposed to be in the War Games match until Jacob got hurt and they reshuffled everyone. I suppose Paul (either one) has a plan here, but it will be an uphill climb if they want Theory to be taken seriously.

Not to defend TNA, but most of their top guys (that didn't already come from WWE) end up going there eventually anyway.

Usos back as a team? It's probably their best move (especially for Big Jim) but can't help but feel like a demotion for Jey.

This whole Masked Guy bit is interesting. They want you to think its Seth, but if it's going to end up Austin Theory I don't see how that won't be a disappointment.