WingedEagle

Wow, checked back in my email and I got the emoji nonsense as well. Where's my gift card?

So I'm watching the AWA documentary on the Network and realized Verne Gagne is still alive. Not to be too morbid, but what other huge figures that would merit that kind of obit in the WON are that old? I wonder if Dave has started working on any of them in the same way that the NYT does or if he just starts when they pass away.

Damn, no coupons here yet.

Vince doesn't want him on top. I wish he got a chance to succeed or fail in that role but it doesn't look likely. He'll likely always have a meaningful role in the company with the opportunity to put on great matches and headline from time to time to put others over. That'll be fun and I'll probably enjoy whatever he does because he's good at doing pro wrestling things and makes the show fun. What I really don't get, today, is forcing a Mania main event that really doesn't feel all that hot. Say what you will about the shows through the years but they generally headline with a wrestler or match that is super hot and has been building in interest for a while. Between Reigns's injury last year, booking, his performance on the mic and in the ring, whatever other factors you want to point to, absolutely nothing about Brock vs. Roman feels Wrestlemania-like other than the fact Brock is involved. It could just as well be another PPV. Long-term we may be able to look back and say whether it paid off, and with the new financial model perhaps its a risk they can take without too much downside. I wish I could somehow frame it differently, but the mark in me keeps coming back to the fact this just doesn't feel like Wrestlemania.

Curious to hear more about this. I'm up to early '05 in rereading my old WONs so won't get there for a bit, but am drawing a blank spot here.

Yes! Easily the one that connects with me the most. Midway through '94, Oz, Bull and Kandori are right at the top.

It sounds like there was an argument over a contract extension Monday night. All seems part of the negotiation process other than its impact on Raw this week. Otherwise, not seeing signs that Lesnar's next move is any clearer than it was a month ago.

Agreed that Reigns isn't going to drop it right away. They need to fast-track a couple challengers post-Mania though. Whether you do that with a Rollins double turn on a failed cash in, or simply put put him in as lead challenger regardless of the briefcase, they'll need to find somebody. I imagine they'll hold off on Cena & Ambrose, which leaves Rusev if he's not pushed down after his first loss, Orton for a month or 2, or a wild card. Its pretty important that they heat somebody up to make his early run on top feel important rather than a placeholder beneath whatever Cena or the Authority is doing.

I always wonder they don't have a "Chairman's Closet" / "From the Truck" type of section that features various promos over the years. First thing came to mind were the Hollywood-style ads they did for Mania 21. Just toss up a bunch of fun, 30 second clips.

Isn't it their job to try and make it work?

Props to Cena for the post-match. That put it over the top. Great performance.

I like these finishes more than I do Bray Wyatt.

He's a local so just doing his best impersonation of the crowd? Nobody has a gun to their head. They can go home anytime they want if they're really that bored.

What in hell happened here? http://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/2wrgpg/brutal_photos_from_the_aftermath_of_yoshiko/

If they want to sell fitness DVDs then NIkki should make one.

I don't get why Sting can't speak. Brock has Heyman as a mouthpiece so its fine, but this pointing and poker face nonsense doesn't feel right for building the match. It worked fine during the original Crow angle because it was so drawn out and pretty clearly built to a title match, but with the way this story was laid out it could use some actual storytelling.

Forgot to add I love Cesaro rocking the Beats headphones like Kidd. Those guys are a lot of fun. Add 1-2 more teams to the mix, put the division in a bubble and I'll be a happy camper.

Leather jacket and water spitting Trips!

Thought that match was great, just really excellent but seriously, fuck that crowd. They mad some noise when an Uso told them to chant U-So, again to play count-along with the ref when all 4 were on the floor and then for the Sharpshooter. That's it. On mute that may well have been north of 4 stars. No idea if they're in a food coma or what, but wake up already.

Rhodes vs. Rhodes sucked. Would've fixed a snack and gone to the bathroom or checked on the wife watching the Oscars had I known this was coming.

I enjoyed the opener and would've thought it pretty damn good with a better finish. Ryback was great, Rowan did his best Kawada trying to sell the leg even if the post shot itself didn't look that terrible, and between Show working the leg and the last punch on Ziggler he actually delivered a performance I didn't hate. I can't even begin to imagine why you'd put Kane over Ziggler. I wouldn't put Kane over Bill Cosby at this point, but its not like that finish was needed to set up Orton's return or somehow do Rollins any good.

Without going back and listening to the podcasts, I can't imagine there's much of a case against Colt unless he strongly affirmed any of Punk's direct assertions against Amman/WWE. Otherwise, he's just a participant in a conversation and in no way liable for Punk's statements.

To keep a long story short -- I can enjoy Japanese wrestling, sometimes in spite of, but more often *because of*, the commentary, on many occasions. Perhaps if I spoke Japanese it might bring down my enjoyment of the product. Same might apply for lucha. Raw/Smackdown? At this point the commentary is an absolutely incredible drag on the product. I wish I could tune it out, but I can't. I also won't mute it as I believe the crowd is an important part of the show. Its not as bad on the PPVs as perhaps the production is more attuned to the show itself rather than any number of sideshows. But, yes, the commentary absolutely drags down most TV matches for me.

Really appreciate the comprehensive listing and am curious, as I imagine others are, to see your thoughts after watching the boxed sets.

Watched this today and while I didn't see Sin Cara botch a whole lot, I'm not sure where it was anything beyond an okay TV match, and well below anything Cesaro would usually produce when give time in the past. He got more time here than he's generally seen of late, but this didn't really build much despite that.