MoS

Lol at Copeland calling someone who is a better promo already than Copeland has ever been "vanilla"

Oh easily. The only question is scheduling. The international and high-level professional cricket calender is *packed*. It might be very well that despite the prestige of the Olympics, in order to make sure the players are fit and ready for the non-Olympic commitments, the national boards for cricket and even the Association of Players (in countries where they exist) might try to downplay the Olympics a bit. India has the depth to send their D squad to the Olympics and genuinely expect them to win. But most countries do not. Will be interesting to see how they balance Olympics aspirations with the reality of the modern international cricket schedule, and how Olympic aspirations for Indian cricketers (and really, players from many other countries too) generally fit into their desires to win more in elite-level professional cricket, as is required from every professional cricket player, ESPECIALLY Indian cricketers just due to the sheer pressure, spotlight, and the neverending, strict, sometimes cruel and sometimes just gross reactions they have to face. India can and will bring the Olympic gold home,, but the question would be: would that be worth it, if the fatigue from the tournament prevent them winning historically established, more financially viable trophies?

You guys are having a really great debate, and I do not want to interrupt it, but I have to - both my heart and my brain have left me with no choice!! INDIA BEAT PAKISTAN IN THE CRICKET WORLD CUP, BITCHES!!!!!! FUCK YEAH!

I thought the angle with MJF was gross but the episode itself was excellent otherwise. Since the debut of Collision I have noticed a concerted effort and some improvement in week-to-week booking, following up on matches and angles, and sticking with the young talent you are trying to push instead of cycling them off so TK can focus on other pet projects instead. There is plenty to be excited about as far as AEW is concerned, so much good stuff, not just matches (and the Elite/PWG/West Coast Indie style of wrestling has never appealed to me anyway), but also gimmicks, angles, pushes, people, etc. Now if TK can just chill the fuck out instead of doing his best 80s-90s Vince/late 90s Bischoff/2000s- present Dana impression, that would be great. And yeah, never, ever, ever, book an antisemitism/racism/homophobia/transphobia/angle for heat and comeuppance, even if it's not a literal war week (actual Middle East war, not the bullshit ratings battle). Ironically, the ex-fans/posters decrying modern wrestling really love such angles. Meltz spent so much time talking about how there is so much precedent in these matters and how what TK did was so mild, it made his "I don't support this at all" claim get overwhelmed by all the qualifiers he introduced, and his bullshit point about how people actually experiencing these horrors in Israel and Gaza don't really get offended or care about this angle. Well yeah, no fucking shit, Sherlock. The Iraqis did not give a single fuck about what WWF was doing in 1990-1991 either. WWF's angle was still gross and disgusting. Also time for the world champion to realise that he fucked up by trying to use this shit for heat, instead of constantly posting about how this is Great, Actually. And time for AEW/Tony Khan to take full responsibility for what appears on their TV, PPVs, and all other product. "TK didn't book it, MJF did" is a total cop-out, and I totally agree with @The Man in Blak regarding the ultimate responsibility falling on the shoulders of the promotion, and the promoter. TK is the boss of AEW, and whatever happens on AEW's shows, good or bad, is on him. It is his job, his responsibility to ensure such gross bullshit is never allowed to air on his show. AEW is still doing plenty of excellent stuff, with wrestling (Danielson v. Swerve, right after Danielson v. Fletcher), King FINALLY getting deserved TV time, Ricky Starks, Christian being literally the best gimmick and worker of the year, Darby continuing to get elevated, again, Ricky FUCKING Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs being made to look like a superstar and a monster, Timeless Toni Storm being the absolute greatest and getting MASSIVELY over, as her interference in the Saraya-Shida match showed, given how hot the fans were for it instead of sitting on their hands and getting bored and doing absolutely nothing, which is how this usual Outcasts angle and their interference have been received and responded to by fans during the entirety of the Outcasts' run so far (silent films during American PiP commercials notwithstanding, but those are literally learning steps, you learn from them, all promotions have thousands of such examples, with some of the greatest of all time like Rock having some notable missteps and boringas fuck segments when they started developing and working with the gimmick that ultimately made them a megastar - seriously, go watch some of Rocky's weekly promos in December 1997-April 1998, some really cringe stuff), Miro continuing to be awesome and really resentful of his hot flexible wife, Swerve Strickland climbing the ranks and becoming a major player, owning the ring with his charisma and presence, even Takeshita (whom I am ambivalent on) getting a push, and, once again, RICKY MOTHERFUCKING STARKS. So much great stuff to look forward to every week, so much great stuff to be generally excited about in terms of how the promotion and its wrestlers are evolving, getting pushed, being showcased and elevated, etc.

LMAO that rap attempt was amazing. Next time, they should just sing/play Rap is Crap instead

Don't get why Righteous are so hated and criticised. I think they are a good team, and with a very distinctive yet effective style of promo (like all the boos and STFU chants will attest to). Perhaps the promo style will take time to grow on people, but they clearly have a lot of potential. They have natural charisma and actual personalities, something a lot of modern wrestlera just doesn't have much of, which is a problem. Their charisma imo will help them go to the top. Really don't get why they are so hated.

That might be Kenny's best promo in AEW ever

I love Kris Statlander, she rules, but after watching their storyline, and in particular her so-called "fired up babyface promo", I think Julia has to win the belt. She has just overshadowed and outshone Kris during their angle throughout. The belt needs to go to her. Plus, she would be the perfect champ for a debuting Mercedes Mone' to beat for the title - a rookie with very little experience, AND someone who always relies on extraneous factors and external shortcuts (even though her long-term story is that ultimately, she is much better than that).

lol Toni Storm is the absolute best, an incredible turnaround for her. Her segments are cannot miss, even tho that RJ City guy is genuinely, literally completely useless and actively annoying. Looking forward to our own Marilyn Monroe winning the title yet again, with all the normies cheering her on

I do think he has signed an extension, but I have no proof. But yeah, if his contract is coming up soon, then that would be the perfect time for him to lose the title either to Cole, or if Cole still cannot wrestle, then to someone else due to Cole's betrayal.

I am sorry, I know not everyone is going to like them, but I for one am going to love all the MJF/Cole/Strong hospital/rehab/other promos/vignettes in the coming weeks/months, and post my enthusiasm here. As I said in the other thread, the money is not in Cole wrestling, the money lies in this, in MJF and Cole remaining friends while Roddy cries about it. This injury will draw MJF closer to Cole and make him trust Cole even more, so the ultimate betrayal by Cole will be even more terrible. Much like with Bret's leg injury and Austin's neck injury in 1997, this injury has the chance to make the hot storyline even hotter. On a personal level, while I wish Cole all the best for his surgery and hope he comes back healthy and strong ASAP, enjoying his participation in the hottest storyline in AEW in years while not having to watch him wrestle is a win-win for me. When Cole turns full heel after betraying MJF, hope he chooses to remain in his wheelchair. Roddy can be his Owen

But in storyline, MJF's parents have said they hate him. Maybe Christian graciously agrees to convey to MJF their frustrations with him

Reading Ole Anderson's autobiography and wanted to understand, how did Ole go from wrestling with Gene in the Carolinas to actually booking Georgia (and of course being the main eventer) in such a short span of time? The way he tells it, he was basically a main eventer from the day he started, cuz he would tell the promoters to fuck off if he didn't like what they were saying. Which is definitely not the normal experience of wrestling rookies of that time (or any time for that matter).

Yeah I would honestly have Roddy replace Cole via shenanigans lol. It furthers the most over and popular storyline in the promotion, gives us a great match, and allows Cole to heal properly. As it is, the money is not in MJF-Cole wrestling together as much as in continuing to remain bros and further their bromance. They can even do skits with an enthu MJF trying to participate in Cole's rehab routines, to the latter's exasperation. Include Roddy there too. It is all a bit silly and melodramatic, but well done melodrama has always worked in pro wrestling, and the reactions, the quarter hours, and even All In's main event shows that this silly melodramatic shtick is definitely what the fans want and are clamouring for. Plus, MOAR RODDY WITH NECK BRACE SIGHTINGS!

No update yet on Cole, right? So he is still scheduled to wrestle at WrestleDream?

Excellent main event. Ricky Stars is the man. Now hopefully, his push continues and he gets another prominent feud, which he wins. Maybe dethroning Darby for the TNT title.

So happy for the Father of the year

Toni Storm is genuinely the best gimmick in AEW right now, and that includes Miro and his indignation at how his hot and flexible wife is annoying and distracting him with her hotness and flexibility. She has got this dumbass "Mega-Outcasts Explode!!" storyline over with the fans just cuz of how over and popular she has become and continues to become

I have been an MJF fan and defender since AEW started, I have said since the beginning that he might be better as a face - and I would always point out that his idol Piper actually spent more time as a face than as a heel - and even I am stunned at how mega-over he is getting as a face. Every week he feels twice as over as he was a week before. Being a face also helps his in-ring work, and he has been making great leaps there as well. Now I just want him to drop the extremely corny "Devil" masks and references, and just embrace who he is. He really might just become a generational star, draw, and wrestler.

Why can't wrestlers and inring talent just figure out a way to communicate to the relevant principals that they are legitimately injured, regardless of how they are selling? We as fans do not need to know, the people working do. If there is a system in place for cases of legit injury, I do not see why wrestling selling style would be an issue. Of course, in order for this to be effectuated, refs need to be far more competent than Knox clearly is

Wow, did not know/catch that, thanks. So the ramp is 3-0 against AEW wrestlers so far, huh

Between Punk and now Cole, that ramp is cursed. Get rid of it

Really really happy for Eddie, that moment was long due, he earned it several years ago. Hope this is just the start. I ultimately want him to be the world champ cutting incredible promos on TV every week

Why on Earth was the Mox-Fenix match not immediately stopped when it became readily evident that he was far too injured to wrestle. Now that Tony Khan has apparently decided he is a boss, maybe he should also fire these spectacularly incompetent nepo hires like Rick Knox who only got jobs cuz they are friends with the EVPs.

Early days, but I think Collision has managed to maintain a distinct identity from Dynamite even post-Punk so far