sek69

Even just Mauro and Nigel would be a vast improvement. Nigel seems to know how to work with Mauro and when to get out of the way, while Beth is out there just yelling random phrases.

Mauro absolutely doesn't know how to get the talent over, there's been countless times where something happens and Mauro ends up stepping all over the other announcers just to get his shit in. Hell, maybe that's the problem. Maybe Mauro should be alone in the booth so that the others don't have to yell the entire show to get a word in edgewise and he's have more room to get all his references in.

Yeah but at this point the Penis Guy (TM Ken Shamrock) has the ability to take the moral high ground on a guy who constantly makes homophobic jokes towards people who don't pro wrestle in a way he likes. Yes Ryan has made stupid comments in the past but (as far as I know) he's knocked that shit off once it was clear that wasn't going to fly anymore rather than doubling down every time. Besides, it's not surprising that the people who Cornette always single out will come back to dunk on him when he says something stupid. .Not to mention what he said is 100% correct, all Cornette does now is foster an us vs them mentality which does no one any favors.

So are we supposed to think it was Bayley killing everyone on NXT or is this still some sort of seed for a Dakota Kai heel turn?

Smackdown just posted it's lowest rating since moving to Fox (the week on FS1 doesn't count).

Yeah, that's really not something you want to throw around just because you don't like someone.

Wrestling just seems better when it's unpolished, low budget, rough looking dudes who've possibly been partaking in any and all manner of illicit substances.

If someone tried to tell me WWE is trying to do some "The Producers" type shit to intentionally make a bad show, I wouldn't immediately discount the theory.

BRAND SUPREMACY!!!! Not that anyone either on the show or watching it at home could give any level of a shit about that, it's what's Survivor Series is all about now.

Just posting to mention I support Eric Bischoff being turned into a verb.

I'm surprised more people don't go the "HBK vs Hogan" route and go all out over the top with these terrible angles and gimmicks. The Revival did it when the Usos did that bit where they put Icy Hot in their gear and it at least made something terrible a little more memorable.

ROH always seems to have plans for the future but not much seems to materialize. I don't see Sinclair outbidding AEW or especially WWE if the interest is there from either side (and I would think it's a lock at least one of them have interest), and even if the money's close, I don't see any reason for someone with star potential to waste any significant time in ROH these days. If you're going to take big money from a morally questionable corporation only to not get used properly, might as well just go to to WWE where at least people will see you.

AEW trying different things to see what works, and listening to feedback from fans really shouldn't come off as revolutionary measures, but that's what it feels like after so long only having as an option the company booked to amuse the aging billionaire who likes poop jokes. I suppose I'll sound like a slobbering fanboy, and hell maybe I am, but there's just so much to look forward to with this company. MJF is so great and is only 23, the Jurassic Express is shaping up to become a cult hit, Jungle Boy (and Sammy too actually) has that cute young guy appeal that can draw in the teenage girl market that WWE largely ignores, and they've already built up the tag division. Of course not everything is rosy, the women are the weakest part so far but even that is something that can largely be helped by doing personality pieces on someone other than Dr. Britt Baker, DMD She's A Dentist You Know. Just knowing who the hell these women are would go a long way to improve the quality of the division.

I rate languages by the options available to cuss someone out, and French (both kinds) is really moving up the leader boards here.

If WWE would have promoted that AJ and the Club were going to be on NXT instead of making it an internet announcement, they probably would have won last week. It was a real "in the bubble" moment for WWE. AEW is doing everything smart so far, they may make comments to pop the fans or poke the bear, but they largely ignore the "war" and focus on building their programs. Plus the expectation from TNT going in was 500,000 to 600,000 weekly so they are playing with house money. Since they are doing well in the 18-49 demo they probably are making money off the ad revenue (not Smackdown on Fox money, but decent money most likely) and with TNT covering production costs they might just be making a profit off this already or are close to it.

AEW: 957,000 NXT: 750,000 AEW gets a nice PPV bump, and apparently the main roster fans who checked out NXT last week didn't come back for week 2 of the invasion angle.

Hate to be "that guy", but if AEW is building to an Elite vs Inner Circle war games match, it's going to make the WWE version look like babies in a playpen by comparison. They're gonna have Crockett style blood and guts, but WWE stops for anything deeper than a paper cut.

The whole spot leading up to the injury was baffling. Holding a ladder up like that while someone does a springboard kick into it is just begging for something like that to happen. I was okay with Io overselling while setting up the ladder, but the lady ref having to stop to presumably tell her that Mia wasn't bleeding to death and was okay to continue is what killed it for me. Obviously there probably was a language barrier, but it looked like the director setting up the next scene to shoot while you're watching the movie.

Balor rules as a heel but he's so miscast in this "damn you millenials with your Tweeters and your social medias" slot.

Also, I get WWE's views on accidental blood plus the potential bad optics of having a woman wrestler all busted up and bleeding on TV, but stopping mid-match to try to patch up a cut A. never seems to work and B. just ruins the show.

Kinda feel bad for Aliyah, she's been in developmental for what seems like forever (not saying she shouldn't be, but it must suck for her to watch everyone else move up) then she gets her nose kicked off her face tonight.

Kinda digging Jake Hager in the "shooter Big Bubba Rogers" role of guy who stands in the background silently knowing he can whoop all your asses should the inclination strike him.

If Russo booked AEW, we'd get Emi Sakura vs Chris Daniels in a Freddie Mercury Mic Stand on a Pole match.

Just happened to walk past the TV at work that was playing NXT and did a double take, facially he's a dead ringer for Yoko.

MJF is so goddamn great.