WingedEagle

My #1 last time. Won't fall too far if he falls at all.

I've got the first two matches at ** and **1/2 and given what those matches were it feels like this show is very much overdelivering.

A few thoughts on the opener: Bray's entrance was great. Much better than what I expected. The match was not at all what I expected, not a complete embarrassment or inoffensive until the finish. And arguably worse because of it. That finish is very much what people pay Jeffrey Epstein for. Anyways, I can't stand Nia Jax but have enjoyed her trash talking Tamina. This has been better than my incredibly low expectations.

One of the standouts of this past decade that I never got. I'll revisit him again at some point but I always saw a very good wrestler that wouldn't necessarily rise to even a bubble candidate in my book. Those who like him like him do so such a passion that I feel he deserves further consideration but he's someone who has yet to click with me in the ring.

I can't pinpoint exactly when it seemed to take place, but Kento Miyahara has become a caricature of himself. His matches are now exaggerated showcases of his personality and working the crowd rather than working any kind of actual match. He's definitely at a loss for quality opponents with Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama past their expiration dates, Naoya Nomura on the shelf having to go to the well one too many times with Zeus and Jake Lee/Shotaro Ashino not delivering as expected/hoped for. Bottom line is that whereas a couple years ago I looked forward to his big matches as potential MOTYCs now I almost dread them. Hopefully AJPW can find some fresh opponents and he can find his working shoes again rather than coasting.

Yep, if not for the weather delay this show would've ended at a reasonable hour and not burned anyone out.

"We tell stories." Drug riddled stories.

2.

Tomorrow. Even Vince isn't too far gone to book both of those travesties on the same night.

Okay, Braun opening the cage was a cool spot. An absolute waste in a match like this, but cool nonetheless.

Orton/Bray will be better than this, right? At least more amusing?

This match has me wishing the women's tag gauntlet went broadway.

This company doesn't do much right but they can protect and elevate someone like Omos whenever they want to.

Swing time. I can't wait to check out the lucha 6 man from last night but that'll have to wait until tomorrow morning.

That Old Spice commercial was great.

Nice to see some of these teams with matching gear. I expect nothing from this match but am glad we're not getting full blown entrances for all. Inoffensive filler thus far.

WOW. There is no scenario where I envisioned that finish.

It is great to see wrestling with a live, hot crowd again. And not a polite, respectful, Japanese clap crowd. Even if this match isn't quite living up to expectations.

Got my 2nd Pfizer yesterday and felt like someone slipped me half a dozen sleeping pills today. No complaints but man was I beat. Up and ready FOR GO TIME. Rain delay a big help in getting the little man to bed in time for the show as well.

I didn't have any issues watching either night of Takeover live nor have I encountered any problems watching anything on demand on Peacock thus far. On the Network, any time I ran into a problem it generally arose from my internet at home crapping out momentarily and came back right away.

Only when it seems like they cut to commercial on USA. Comes right back in a second or 2.

Thanks for the background. Reading that with an one eye also on what may not be stated, it sounds like Sakaguchi compelled Muto to stay via some promises/threats rather than persuading SWS to stay away from him.

Why would he listen to Sakaguchi if he was going forward with his plans anyways?

I'd imagine at a certain point most top domestic talent priced themselves out of the Japanese market with the way things were going here in the late 90s/early aughts.

Thanks as always! Love these histories and details. Can you shed any more light on the Sakaguchi call highlighted above? Who'd he call? Why did he have that kind of influence at that stage but not subsequently? This seems like a very curious and important point.