WingedEagle

I still remember the Beefcake angle more than most from that era. I must've been 8 or 9 years old and that big red X they put on the screen was just incredible. Kayfabe me absolutely thought I shouldn't have been watching.

What does a wrestler's mask have to do with body shaming someone? I concede my UFC point, I haven't watched it in a decade or so. The point of a wrestler's mask is that it is pure aesthetics rather than their performance in the ring. Much like ring gear and boots, haircut, facial hair, music, and much as it seems to offend you, all other aspects of a wrestler's appearance. Each wrestler will undoubtedly have more, less or zero control over some of these elements -- perhaps some can't grow their hair long. Others at all. Some can support a given weight, or perhaps 30 pounds heavier or lighter. It doesn't strike me as unreasonable to consider that all of these characteristics can contribute to an overall act, and even less unreasonable to think that's possible without simultaneously passing judgment on a wrestler. Strip away enough components and at some point you're no longer watching.

To follow on rzombie's coment, Grimmas, you're a big lucha fan. Do you watch lucha blind to a given performer's mask? Certain fighters in UFC have undoubtedly gotten opportunities based upon their look and personality/charisma. But I don't think anyone there would lose an opportunity because of their look. Regardless of the promotional machinations that may drive shows, at the end of the day it is a sport and thus very different professional wrestling. If a given fighter goes on a run of wins like Jon Jones did en route to his first title challenge, that fighter is getting a title shot regardless of their look. Many fighters are pretty cut and fit because of their training, dieting and other measures they take to make a certain weight. This is less so the case at heavyweight, where not everyone exactly looks the part of a Brock Lesnar or Overeem. That's what happens when contests are not predetermined -- you do not get to choose which package or presentation comes out on top.

Aesthetics are unquestionably a part of professional wrestling. There are many other factors that drive opportunity and success, but it seems odd to discount or ignore any one factor -- whether it be appearance, various qualities in the ring, charisma, mic work and other intangibles. Perhaps it'd be preferable if we could say that only certain factors were relevant, but its just not that simple.

I'm not at all a fan of the four way, but I think it more reflects wanting to get the 4 legitimate female players onto the card rather than simply hit pass on coming up with a creative idea. Post-brand split, the women's roster isn't really deep enough to present that many compelling PPV matches. You could certainly split this up, but between the nostalgia acts, New Day-type segments we'll get this year, musical performances and other filler, its arguably a tighter show than most. In that sense I don't see it as all that different from tossing the guys without a program into a ladder / MITB match.

The same 4 way that's been earmarked for Mania for quite some time. Bayley/Sasha, presumably with a heel Sasha, will have to wait till summer.

I thought the women's title match was pretty damn good until the convoluted finish. On the one hand, I don't mind them getting Charlotte's PPV streak out of the way because it could've become a hindrance sooner rather than later without much payoff so this way you remove that millstone. On the other hand, the only beneficiary of that finish would seem to be the internal plan to shoehorn multiple women into the Mania match. Just not sure it did any favors to Bayley, Charlotte or Sasha. A nonsense countout or DQ may have been worse, but just about anything else clean would've been better.

I think Braun took more than enough of the match, particularly the impressive high spots, that the loss didn't set him back at all. If Reigns is in the bigger match at Mania he should've gone over. Can debate that lineup all one wants, but this wasn't a win Braun needed based on what we know about the next show. He'll be fine.

Roman wearing basketball sneakers tonight rather than traditional boots? Odd look.

So that CW title match started off a bit vanilla, but from that whipping German suplex to the finish it was just excellent. Great pacing and timing, with every strike and big move looking terrific and given time to matter. Plus a finish that that was earned, strong and put the champion over as a vicious ace while not taking much away from the challenger. Match of the night thus far. ***3/4

I actually thought this was a bit underwhelming. Joe is one of the most impressive guys on the roster before the bell, but his matches of late somehow don't convey the same intensity and violence. This wasn't bad but outside of Cesaro selling the leg it felt very much by the numbers. Joe should be booked to dominate and overpower people when he's in control at this point rather than work with the same energy as the rest of the roster. The finish also wasn't that exclamation point I'd have wanted. **3/4

Should be able to find quite a few to select from here: http://bfy.tw/AIo5

Not yet.

Nonsense, just get your 150 hours and wing it. Good luck!

I definitely enjoyed Strowman vs. Show. The opening with Braun stealing a page from Bryan Danielson was outrageous and such fun. Now I'm not looking to pour cold water on it, but outside of that opening and some of the power spot teases down the stretch, it didn't come across like a match that the crowd was outrageously hot for. I thought it was a fun match that strongly put over Braun heading into the PPV and Mania season (although what they're going to do with him there at this point is a legitimate question), but as a standalone match it didn't resonate as particularly great. Probably Braun's best match thus far and hopefully a meaningful marker in his push and development, but nothing I'd hail as that outstanding of a match.

Awesome. I'm pretty much up to date on Stardom but undoubtedly have gaps elsewhere to fill in.

Cosign the KO love this week. He's been one of the worst acts on Raw for months, but between his performance during last week's angle and the promo tonight he's a completely different character and one that you can very easily take seriously. Its a shame it took this long to get there again, but I"m much more invested in that match at Mania than I was 8 9 days ago.

Very much with you here. They're fun TV matches that feel like ***1/2 efforts that are laid out well enough and features a number of fun bumps or spots (when does that not happen in an AJ match?) that allow it to stand out from your standard TV filler, but there's hardly any depth or psychology that takes it to that next level. Its basically finishers and big moves from the start. I'm not complaining, as if we got matches like this every week the shows would fly by, but there's nothing memorable here.

That's probably true. But stereotypes aren't entirely false, they simply exaggerate it. Much like I saw someone wearing a 2020 reelection shirt in Central Park today. NYC may lean a certain way -- very heavily -- but nothing is 100%.

I agree 100%. Please keep that stuff away from here. Third. Fourth. Although I suppose its always good to be reminded that despite the level of discourse generally found here, there's a reason people stereotype wrestling fans. And its often correct.

Perhaps a silly question, but what are we Yes/No'ing? MOTY? Top 10 MOTY? Top 50?

I was afraid it would be a long night after the opening handicap match and related antics. But it ended up a strong night both creatively and in the ring, with Owens/Jericho a great climax to their angle and and the women's title match. I didn't expect the split until Fastlane or the next night, so this had the surprise factor going for it as well the execution and violence while also drawing it out over the course of the angle. Curious to see how they integrate it into the next PPV but I'm much more invested in their match at Mania than I was 24 hours ago. Charlotte's offense working the back & neck is awesome. Just plays a terrific heel who makes great use of her size advantage over the rest of the division both visually as well as in the style she works. Head & shoulders above any other heel on the roster. Thought they did a nice job teasing and building Bayley's comebacks while giving Charlotte probably 80% or more of the match. Sasha's save after Dana Brooke's interference was incredible predictable. And great. That was one of those moments when telegraphing a spot is absolutely for the best. Great moment to cap a good show. Easy **** match for me. They have worked themselves into a bit of a corner with Charlotte's PPV streak though. Unlike Undertaker, you can't exactly forget about this one most of the year. They need to find a way out sooner rather than later, but have built it up enough that you don't want to simply end it just to move on. But for whom and how do they set that up?

Really refreshing to see the lengths they went to to put Rikishi over as a threat and credible challenger. Even today the interference shenanigans at the end were enough to bring this down for me, but just a touch. A shame we never got fully fleshed out title match here. **3/4

This brought such a smile to my face. Its become easy to overlook how great weekly TV was at this time. Between the stellar mic work and some legit bumps including a sick suplex on the ramp, this was terrific fun and a prototype for successful TV. Of course, it helps to have performers at this level and they don't exactly grow on trees. **3/4

Arena Coliseo is very quickly becoming one of my favorite buildings. Love the look of the place. The initial beatdown on Atlantis was terrific. Perhaps it was too great, as the comeback and ensuing action never clicked with that same intensity. The layout and ideas were all there, but after that frenzied start I didn't feel hatred and violence at a level that others seemed to identify. ***