MoS

They did exactly thus, and did it very well, when Lesnar won the royal rumble the first time in 2003. As soon as he had beaten - run through really, Brock v. Big Show matches back then used to be awesome - the Big Show in the opening match, everyone knew that Brock was going to win. IIRC they had him come out at #29, and Taker came out at #30. Taker wasn't the hometown hero I don't think but he was making a comeback after a while, so got a huge pop, and it was actually a clever little twist on the obvious finish/winner. If not Orton, maybe McIntyre could have come out at #30.

We did have a wrestling vs porn debate on this board years and years ago didn't we

I mean, name me an industry where workers are not terribly exploited. Indie wrestling itself being a good example.

I am not sure about all the details, but apparently Davey Richards is doing porn, which if true, is undoubtedly by some distance the coolest thing Davey Richards has ever done. As long as we don't get a 5-superplexes-in-a-row spot ever again, I am in full support.

Most non-lucha modern wrestling is pretty homogeneous in terms of structure, at least at the main event level. Heel Danielson is structuring his matches with the heel being dominant and nasty, often while bigger faces sell sympathy or are treated as underdogs. That is something we haven't seen a lot in US wrestling, so that's definitely something. At this point, more than ten years later, I think we can also firmly conceptualise what the modern WM/ Main Event epic structure is, especially because since Shawn retired, it's no longer one person working that style, but most main events being structured that way.

Bollywood also has tragic clowns. They often sing sad songs

Oh no, even by old Meltz standards this would have got at least 4.25. He's always loved such matches and there also was enough wrestling in it for 2001 Dave to rate it 4.5.

Agree about the former, disagree about the latter. There was no burn in the match at all. Just a bunch of rather weak spots without much brutality or meat. As far as iconic spots in crazy spotfests go, that Sammy cutter to Cody from one ladder to another will definitely go down as one of the most iconic ones

Yeah but that's more of a psycho trope, like Doink. That's not remotely Danhausen though.

Cassidy def is a trickster. Danhausen reminds me of a vetal who, in a twist, is actually good and wise, a popular trope in Indian folklore - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vetala (Also they are not even remotely close to being comparable to vampires, what the fuck wikipedia) Like I can imagine him sitting on the back of a king (Hangman or Britt in this context I guess) and narrating stories which ultimately give a crucial worldly lesson. Not sure how that can be utilised on a national wrestling show exactly, but let's see. I am willing to give it a chance definitely

But he doesn't look like a monster, he looks like a dressed up clown (this sounds harsher than intended, but you get what I mean)

I do find it highly amusing how the promotion of apparently badass hardcore outlaws who dgaf about rules or people managed to get worked by one of wrestling's oldest conmen in Jeff Jarrett, and unlike Kevin Nash, not even a particularly good one. That stretch where every GCW homegrown lost their big PPV match, with their fans frantically justifying it by pretending that Jeff Jarrett is this massive star who obviously has to be put over, was certainly funny. I hope GCW does well and I hope there are more viable places for wrestlers to work, and there are a couple of wrestlers in GCW I do enjoy. Having said that, they kind of showed that day that they aren't ready to be the number three promotion of America. They need some work.

Orange Cassidy wasn't the issue with the main event, he actually kept it from falling completely apart. This was entirely on Adam Cole imo. Just a weak weak match, surprise debuts aside

There are multiple people who hate him and have expressed it on Twitter. I dislike his shtick myself, I have no time for it. However, he sells merch, probably didn't cost much, and can be easily used to fill segments on their TV shows, so I get why he is signed. It's the people who a) think this is the downfall of AEW - like how the Dark Order and Librarians were supposed to be - and b) are mad that Johny Gargano was not the one to debut who are amusing me to no end. Like is Gargano in 2022 really that much bigger of a signing than Hausen

Apart from the main, excellent show, best Dynamite in a while. Show flowed much better for one.

What the fuck man, seriously, that was the finish?

This match is weak as fuck

That's Danhausen huh

I got zero of the sports references but the crowd clearly did, that was great.

Hahahaha Britt is awesome indeed. What were they briefly chanting when she started talking?

Don't care what anyone says, that entire segment was hot as fuck. Excited for this match.

I might be getting worked, but I think MJF got to Punk a bit there

Just saw an ad for a Dynamite on Saturday with Hindi commentary. Hopefully that's a good sign that they get a nice upgrade whenever their Indian deal is up next

I want a Santana-Garcia singles program. Just a couple of perennially pissed New Yorkers

Fuck yeah break the Inner Circle