C.S.

I think the Iron Man Match will exceed our expectations but disappoint everyone else who thinks they're both super-workers. Anyway, the Lashley-Hogan posedown at the end of the show will redeem everything.

Jeff should have been fired after his last DUI, but nah, I think this happened because he's injured - he's been talking about no longer doing Swantons at house shows because he's so beat-up.

Wasn't expecting that from Orton.

If Nakamura loses this, he may as well ask for his release.

Well, that was...something. The right woman won, at least.

Let's see if Carmella and Ellsworth can carry Asuka to anything remotely watchable.

Nah, the stale and phoning it in Heyman will probably there on his behalf to say Lesnar will be at SummerSlam. That rambling Angle announcement left it open for Lesnar to "give word" without actually showing up, but that was easy to miss because Kurt is atrocious in the age of scripted promos.

The right team wins! New champions!!!

Since I'm all alone in here... Matt Hardy's gear makes him look like he pissed and shit his pants.

This thread is deader than Senor Benjamin's erection. Woken-Bray tag match is first. Glad they're getting the bathroom break out of the way.

I don't watch the weekly shows - was the Reigns-Lashley build really as good as these video packages are suggesting?

I rewound the pre-show to watch Almas vs. Sin Cara. Cara's costume was cool. Okay match that would've benefited from more time and definitely belonged on the main show instead of some of the crap that is there (case-in-point: if I miss a pre-show match, I never bother going back to it - but I did in this case). Now I'm joining the second pre-show match already in progress. Edit: Doesn't look like I missed much. I can't stand the Sanity act.

Bo > Bray by a mile, and Curtis Axel can outwrestle most of the roster in his sleep, especially "darlings" like Rollins, Balor, and Ziggler. Axel's only problem that he has no organic personality or charisma of his own - even when he's playing a wildly "over-the-top" character like Axelmania. As for Bo, he got called up from NXT at the wrong time, before they really knew how to maximize most of those guys on the main roster - and even now, it's wildly hit-or-miss.

Unless Lashley wins with Hogan's assistance, brother, and they pose together to end the show. Whatcha gonna do, Roman Reigns, when the 24-inch pythons and Buddy...Bobby Lashley run wild on YOU in the Silverdome???!!!

Question: Has the infection of ROH talent to NJPW cheapened the prestige of the NJPW brand for you? When I first subbed to NJPW World and saw all of these terrible gaijin indy 'rasslers, it definitely took away the luster a little bit for me. Even though NJPW and ROH are now co-headlining MSG next year, the ROH association still feels beneath NJPW IMO. I don't even hate ROH or anything - some of the most fun I ever had at a live event was at Supercard of Honor II - but even with crowds going up, I think ROH has definitely hit a ceiling because of things like production values still making them look low-rent. Do I have some kind of weird bias here - which I readily acknowledge might be the case - or do I have a point?

Jay White is someone I instantly disliked but have no logical reason why. He certainly tore down the house with Juice in the match I saw.

Has anyone seen this? It was given a one-night "Fathom Events" theatrical screening on Thursday. No word on a home video or at least digital release, but that has to be inevitable IMO. It's very impressive just how many wrestlers were interviewed for this project. Unfortunately, some of them died before the documentary could be released (it was filmed over a five-year period). Through smaller stories and soundbites from various wrestlers, the filmmakers are able to paint a much larger picture about the wrestling industry as a whole. It covers the topics you'd expect: the amount of time wrestlers spend on the road (that's where the title comes from), injuries, drugs, ring rats, etc. One of the highlights of the film: a five-minute cooking segment with Ox Baker that really has to be seen to be believed. (Ox Baker in general is one of the best parts of this.) Sadly, Jimmy Snuka somehow comes across as more coherent than Marty Jannetty. Bret Hart, as usual, takes himself very seriously. I could go on and on... I wrote a review of the movie with my full thoughts and observations: https://www.silverscreensurprises.com/2018/07/review-350-days_16.html

The book might be a good place to start. It was written by a member of the family. Although, while it's very subtle, the author doesn't appear to be head-over-heels in love with Jerry himself. Then again, that could just be me reading into things that aren't there. Looking forward to it! I'm a couple of podcasts behind. While I'm sure I don't have to listen to them in order or anything, that's how I like to do things.

One of my favorite RAW matches ever. I love how you explored the historical context of both characters before getting into the nuts and bolts of the actual match. Glad to hear it holds up so well, BTW. https://www.prowrestlingonly.com/blog/bret-hart-vs-1-2-3-kid-07-11-94 Awesome, awesome review.

Hassan was a shades of grey character...for the first 4-5 weeks. After that, it was the same old foreign heel terrorist menace bullshit. I wouldn't call Hassan a top guy, but I'd argue that he would have gotten there eventually - if the dreaded "backstage politics" didn't do him in first (and there were rumblings of that back then). He was a very strong upper midcarder for sure.

I'm sure this is something you both plan to do eventually, but just in case, I'll suggest it anyway... How about an episode on "Teeny" Christine Jarrett? I just finished Teeny: Professional Wrestling's Grand Dame, and it's an absolutely riveting read. I'd love a first-hand account from Jerry himself.

Chiming in with a recommendation for Teeny: Professional Wrestling's Grand Dame. I was in the mood to read it after listing to the first few episodes of the Jerry Jarrett podcast. It's an absolutely riveting read and a must for any wrestling fan, historian, etc. You can borrow it for free with Kindle Unlimited or get the Kindle book for $4 otherwise. The paperback is around $15. However you choose to read it, it's worth it.

So, for a New Japan newbie, which belt is actually more important - IC. or U.S.? Or is it the same as WWE where they're both "equal"? (And thus equally meaningless.)

Jim Ross legitimately injured? http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2018/0709/642563/jim-ross-suffers-possible-injury-during-njpw-g1-special-in-san/ That would explain the weird commentary bitching about barricade spots during the White-Robinson match and Josh Barnett inexplicably storming the ring. Between the scary Cody table spot, Takahashi apparently breaking his neck, and now this, NJPW might need to tell its wrestlers to rein it in a bit.

Thanks. So, he's doing pretty decently then. Do you think he'll ever be a future IWGP World Champion? I'm kind of skeptical.