WingedEagle

Due to when I grew up and not being remotely into boxing I never developed any special appreciation for or connection to Ali. Just something I completely missed out on. That being said, this weekend has produced so much incredible reading that I absolutely couldn't turn away from. Also have quite a few fights, docs and clips queued up on the YouTube machine for when the time is right. Looking forward to checking out some classics.

Stupid clipboard. Is it fixed now? Looking good, Billy Ray!

Sarge certainly would've taken issue with the link as yet another example of American greed, but I'm looking forward to the article Having not read it yet, curious whether the idea for Summerslam is a rematch or pushing the Mania match back and headlining that show with something else. Certainly seems like a rematch could've worked, but may have required changing the layout at Mania a bit and then a hot angle to ensure Slaughter's heat over the summer. You likely take that the route of the Desert Storm Match they ran at MSG. Pair that with the wedding and I'm sure the show sells just as well as the Hogan/Warrior tag.

This was really frustrating. Let's get this out of the way -- it was a really, really good match. I loved Danielson heeling it up from the intros, to spitting at Roddy, bailing and otherwise going out of his way at almost every turn to play the heel other than outright cheating. Really terrific job working that role here. The chops. My god, the chops. These were loud, blistering, incredible chops. By the end you could see the sweat flying off of their chests. Danielson bled from them. Throw these hard and you're going to engage me. There was also a lot of of focused work on various body parts - Roddy's arm or leg, perhaps his neck, Danielson's back. This is always simple psychology that if all else fails will usually keep a match interesting. What held this back for me is despite two wrestlers with diverse, focused offensive arsenals going at it for nearly 50 minutes is their lack of commitment to sell much of anything along the way. Plain and simple, other than the chops, which are basically a shoot, and Roddy's leg down the stretch, both wrestlers were content to pop up regardless of what type of impact just occurred or stop selling any limb that may have just been focused on, even if for an extended period. If they were more committed on that front this may very well have gone down as one of the best ROH matches ever. The structure was there. The impact, offense and diversity was there. The intensity was off the charts and you had a clear heel and face dichotomy layered on top of it. Watching this shortly after their first title match a week earlier these blemishes were more apparent than they may have been in the moment. But they were there. That being said, this was a nearly 50 minute match that didn't feel anywhere near that long, and had a great finish on top of everything noted above. That still makes for a pretty great match, even if it came up a bit shy of its potential. ****1/4

As a feud, with twists & turns over time I can see Lawler/Dundee taking this. But their matches have never measured up to Flair/Steamboat or the best from All Japan for me. Just night and day.

Perhaps I'm just too old for this -- although judging by the fact I watch this show every week I don't think that's the case -- but I am furiously tapping out on New Day. Absolutely cannot stand the act whatsoever.

You are the man.

For what its worth, a friend who watches zero wrestling saw the GIF of this going around online. He asked me where to watch this and why I never told him Japanese wrestling was like this in the first place. This is someone who's had zero interest in wrestling for 15+ years other than while flipping channels. I don't expect him to start spending money on it or getting truly invested in any wrestling at all, but thought it pretty cool and interesting he saw this one clip and wanted more.

I thought it was a great match in this style with outstanding performances from two wrestlers who excel at that style. If I had to watch a show full of that I'd probably kill myself, but there is absolutely a place for it in my wrestling viewing. If it doesn't work for others that's cool too. Hope they find enough to enjoy and can do so across as broad or narrow a scope as meets their tastes.

Always enjoy these kinds of lists. Fun take on it.

Very curious how they approach this. New can always mean something fun and interesting, but it could just as easily be awful or more of the same. Personally I'd prefer they keep a lone world title with the champion on both shows. But its always possible they could make it work in different scenarios. The intrigue will be fun until and hopefully after we see how things play out.

This was a really horrific match. I'm willing to overlook quite a lot. Poor execution, layout, effort, no-selling, the list goes on. You can overcome a lot of this by picking up the slack elsewhere. What I can't ever get past is a match that overstays its welcome to this extent. This could've been 12-14 minutes and been passable with the spot off the cage and tacks gimmick, but they had to kill a show and fill nearly a half hour with screaming and bad acting. Most good matches don't need to go anywhere near this long. Its legitimately insulting to suck up that much time when a bad match does.

This thread slipped my mind but glad to see it bumped again. I watched the King of Gate show with Shingo vs. Yamato as following DOA I was very interested to see where they took things. Generally a fun, breezy show with a couple matches I could skip over but enjoyed those I sat through. I'd like a bit more variety up & down the card but I'm sure they know what works. Shingo vs. Yamato was enjoyable with just enough opportunities for Yamato to look strong without delivering too much and providing a finish that left you wanting more. I could've done with a few less bodies getting involved before the finish, but it was a solid checkpoint in the feud. ***1/4

And they have by changing his presentation since WrestleMania. What else are they supposed to do? Just fire a guy who is a top merchandise seller and gets the loudest reactions on every show, regardless of if it's the reaction they "want" him to get? I wouldn't change course with him either. Keep presenting him as a tweener the way they are now. Totally agree. My point is simply that if he moves numbers, its irrelevant what the crowd chants or whether they cheer or boo him.

It may be stupid, but its the company's job to work with the audience and ideally manipulate them. No different than at any other point.

I think those replays make Styles' offense in particular look really tremendous. You can't pull off that kind of shot with everyone.

Even though I don't agree with it, I don't have any issue with the crowd chants or response to Reigns. Its a challenge for bookers and performers to work around. They've adjusted pretty well thus far by ending the pandering babyface role and having come down the aisles and go with the tweener "the guy" act. At the end of the day what matters is whether and how it moves/maintains numbers. If the crowd treated him and his matches like Jericho/Ambrose there'd be a huge problem. Engagement is engagement and they've got something to work with even if its not what they originally planned for.

Unbelievable. Reigns and Styles are absolutely two of the very best wrestlers going today. At this point I'm sold that AJ is an even more of an all time great than I gave him credit for a month ago, and the biggest victim of the TNA stink that exists. His bumping, selling, timing and explosive athleticism - even, and perhaps especially, at this stage of his career - were vital to this match. There aren't too many wrestlers on the planet who can deliver at that level. But Roman Reigns is one of them. He has the ability to sell a limb, sell accumulated damage, play a monster physical powerhouse or the freakish athlete. Vince Wilfork or Lawrence Taylor. Pick your poison. Babyface or heel, or as the case may be now, and for the best, both. I have no idea if he can move the numbers enough to be the next Cena. But he can absolutely deliver the goods in the ring at that level. Not halfway through this year he's part of my second MOTY (tonight) a couple legit MOTYC's below that level (Fastlane triangle match, Styles at Payback) and a slew of quality television matches since Mania. That's on top of being in 2 of my top 3 matches last year -- Bryan at Fastlane and Brock at Mania. The dude is amazing and can GO. I wish the AJ program wasn't quite over yet, but looking forward to the Rollins series.

25 point margin in the game meant I was going to switch over to this show, but will give GSW a few to cut into the lead rather than whatever shenanigans are in this cage.

The most true statement ever typed on this board. And I was just thinking Ranallo has made Cole sounds better than ever. The man has one speed and tone, and I'm afraid he's going to slip and try to sell me a set of knives during a match. Just insufferable. Not sure how I liked him calling Pride & boxing, but my impression of him thus far are as low as my expectations were high.

Wow, Rusev showed absolutely no regard for his accent. Enjoyed that segment though.

Fuck, the game doesn't start till 8. So unless its a blowout will be shutting down the twitter machine and watching the main event afterwards.

Will have this muted on the small screen until Dubs-Thunder finishes. Barring overtime that'll be over long before the main event, which is what I'm really stoked for.

Cool. Always love hearing these new names.

Just added it to the queue and hope to find time for it before the game tonight. What promotion is that from?