Migs

Evolve has been stripped basically bare. They're hanging on based on NXT guys being on the shows (which, to be fair, seems to be selling them a lot of tix).

One of the greatest moments of joy over the course of Wrestlemania weekend was the Hart Foundation doing the Doomsday Canadian Destroyer with Teddy stepping up the back of Alex Hammerstone. Just a delight to see.

Also, Bully Ray on Jericho's podcast talking about ROH needing to become "unpredictable" is, in retrospect, very concerning.

I will say, I was really surprised at the number of Taven shirts I saw at the Festival of Honor on Friday and at MSG. I don't think he's better than okay, but I do think this was the right booking decision (unless Scurll signed an unfathomably long contract). Of course, that Taven seems like the best option is also an indictment on the depth at the top of the card. He was in the Rumble, but yes, they're still not doing as much as they can with him.

The second half was enjoyable but not necessary. That match was by far the highlight.

Yeah, not sure if the idea for the finish was a problem so much as they hadn't quite built up the sense that things were about to end. You don't want to catch 80k people off guard. That's why it was so quiet at first - the pop came when people realized it was the finish.

Gary Jay seems like he has a friend from high school that posts "lol you're still doing that fake shit" on his Facebook wall once a month and Jay wrestles every match trying to prove him wrong.

Was there live. Pretty good night on the whole, mainly agree with what's been said so far. I'm not sure how well the main event will hold up on TV, but it that reversal sequence in the end really landed in the arena. You could feel everyone's terror that Jay White might win, and relief on that second Rainmaker. Also, the reaction for Muta was insane.

I liked RVD's matches with Penta and Willie Mack from PCW Ultra (which were from maybe 2017?), so I think he could be interesting here. Keep him the hell away from Morrison though.

The match predates the game by a year at least.

Wait, Jonathan Banks signed up for this? Must see.

This sucked. Almost nothing of value between the highlight spots, which was a real theme for Hardy in his first TNA run (although maybe he understood the TNA fans better than anyone else?).

Gross, weird and compelling. I'm not sure why these guys bleed and bump to this level for a TV match, especially at this point in both of their careers (especially Flair's). If they each bled a bit, took a bump or two, it'd be weird and sad, but they take it so incredibly far that it's really hard to look away, even as you desperately want to. As a match, I'm not sure it's recommended, but as a psychological study in these two men and wrestlers as a species, it's a must-see.

Yeah, this was terrific. The look Kong gives after the match - she sells the character so well and infuses the entire match with it. They're telling a very simple story incredibly well - full commitment to it. Definitely worth seeing. The WWE women's division could use a monster as good as Kong.

Doubtful, but Reigns-Batista would be kinda fascinating to see.

The start is really bad. They keep yelling about how out of control things are, but it doesn't *feel* out of control. Jarrett looks Christmas ready with the blood and green grease paint from Hardy's body. Crowd pops for some big spots but is otherwise eerily silent. The whole thing feels forced and inorganic. Really bad.

Charlotte can't get the Roman treatment because she's not a babyface. If people are resentful of her online... that's a good thing.

Yeah, in retrospect the X-7 build is on the level of the Becky-Ronda build where they had to all these twists to create "intrigue" when the intrigue was already there. (Although it's place in history is one reason I think the build to this year's main event will mostly be forgotten in time - the match will deliver and the fact that they did dumb things to fill TV time won't matter anymore). Wrestlemania 2000 is the example where the match doesn't save the messy build. The obvious story there was for Rock to avenge his partner (maybe with Mick in his corner), but it ended up being about McMahons. No one likes that match. On the flip side, I'd say the 1997 build, messy as it was at the time, kinda works for what they get to. All the twists and his response to them really cement Bret as a heel, Austin gets elevated, the Final Four match is absolutely great, and it pays off in a classic (which is the real main event, anyway).

After NXT on Friday night, plug for the Xtremely Serious Wrestling show at the PIT Loft at 10:30. We've had some pretty fun guests show up recently (Orange Cassidy, Tracy Williams) in addition to our normal crop of comedy all-stars (including some Chris Gethard Show alums). You can check out some of the older shows on IW.TV to get a feel of what the show is all about. https://thepit-nyc.com/events/xtremely-serious-wrestling/

Loved the final today as well. I'd say it was a coming out party for Sanada, but he's had great singles matches with Okada in the past and it hasn't translated to him being great in other matchups. We'll see, I guess. The Juice-Owens match was brutal, though. Heatless overdone near falls leading to an absurd ending stretch. Tough watch.

I thought Sanada-Tana was pretty dull, but at least they put over Skull End, since Sanada relies on it so heavily in singles matches. Agreed on Okada-Ishii, really loved it.

Loved this. Surprised no one above focused on the crowd, which is often a hindrance in TNA but is really good toward the end here. It's not just that they're behind AJ - they start a fucking mosh pit after the Styles Clash into the tacks. Such a cool moment. AJ's performance was absolutely over the top incredible, a real masterpiece on his end.

Yes it is!