C.S.

I guess that's a good a reason as any for Ellering's random reappearance in 2016. Then again, this is the same company that brought Zeb Coulter back out of mothballs.

Who is Timbo, and is this a serious post or a joke? I can't tell with people here sometimes.

Dennis Stamp finally makes his long-awaited WWE Network debut!

I'll re-post my theory: I will always contend that Triple H quickly saw how out of place, how indy, how rasslin' Storm was in NXT, said thanks but no thanks, and made it look like Storm's decision so "The Cowboy" could save face and go back to TNA. Indy rasslin' yokel Storm would look so completely out of place next to Roode's current "snobbish" persona. There's no way Beer Money can happen under the current circumstances. The only possible way to reunite the two would be as a comedy "odd couple" team that ignores their past history, and I don't see that happening. Roode is already way above that. I mean, if my theory is correct, Storm could still end up in NXT again if Roode or someone else puts in a good word, but he's such a fish out of water that it would barely work in NXT and definitely wouldn't work on the main roster.

Didn't TNA pay James Storm an absurd amount of money? Though I will always contend that Triple H quickly saw how out of place, how indy, how rasslin' Storm was in NXT, said thanks but no thanks, and made it look like Storm's decision so "The Cowboy" could save face and go back to TNA.

Guess NJPW is out then. Looking more and more likely that Del Rio is TNA bound. I mean, where else is there?

If Alberto burned his bridges with AAA/LU, would NJPW's working relationship with CMLL really matter at this point?

Has Alberto ever been in NJPW? That could be an option for him. I only remember him going to LU/AAA last time he left WWE, but I could be wrong. Either way, he royally fucked both of those feds over.

I kinda think they're going to have Miz beat Honky Tonk Man's record as the longest reigning IC Champ ever.

Where are you seeing that? Says $4.99 for me. https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/accepted-2

Paid $15 for the hardcover - and don't get me wrong, it was worth every cent - but I kinda wish I had waited for this.

My guess is an Usos/Slater-Rhyno final, and The Usos win and turn heel.

I'm not a Reigns hater - I thought his match with Big Show a year or two, for example, was a ton of fun - but I don't remember the Orton match being anything special. I really hope that "dude" sentence was not a direct quote. If it is, I weep for the dumbing down of America and the state of education today.

Great episode this week! Akira Tozawa vs. Gran Metalik: I'll be honest: I don't love either of these guys, but I don't hate them either. They're both very solid, and so was this match. I'll give Metalik props for changing his costume between matches. I think he's the only person in the CWC who has done that. (Well, Tozawa changed the color of his mouth guard.) It's a small detail, but it really makes these matches seem important. The most famous example of this is, of course, Randy Savage at WrestleMania 4. Anyway, a really fun match that could have gone either way. I felt myself kinda, sorta rooting for Tozawa, but I have zero issues with Metalik winning. THE Brian Kendrick vs. Kota Ibushi: Fucking awesome! In the previous two matches, Ibushi has been the best wrestler in the ring. Not this time! Kendrick was the star tonight, and it wasn't even close IMO. How abso-friggin'-lutely amazing is that? When the CWC began, I don't think anyone expected Kendrick of all people to be such a breakout performer. Like Bryan, I was actively rooting for him tonight - again all odds, not a hope in hell - but I still wanted it to happen. Ibushi won, of course, but Kendrick had his "Cedric Alexander moment." Daniel Bryan coming down and embracing him after the match was beautiful and emotional, and the Full Sail fans were actually respectful enough to shut down the "YES! YES! YES!" chants after a few seconds and put the focus back on Kendrick where it belongs. Next week: Zach Sabre Jr. vs. Noam Dar (in a match between the two worst people still in the tournament) and TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann (neither have impressed me yet, either). I really hope one or more of these guys changes my mind next week, or this could end up being the weakest CWC episode yet. Early prediction: An Ibushi-Metalik finale. They've both beaten the two biggest stars in the tournament - Tajiri and Brian Kendrick, respectively - so it makes sense to me.

I thought the Heath Slater segment was overlong and unfunny, but I will agree that Rhyno ruled in it. He should've been a comedic silent type all along.

If so, I have three letters for him. N-X-T He never should've been called up. He's not ready, not over at all (and wasn't over even in NXT), and needs more time to develop his character and mic skills.

So, they've already wasted that awesome Miz speech and moment by saddling him in an inconsequential feud with the irrelevant Dolph Ziggler.

It's surprising because Fit, a WWE employee, is openly criticizing Sabre, one of the "stars" of the CWC and a potential future employee (assuming he hasn't already gotten signed). I'm not sure where Torch's info about Regal comes from though, as all they said was that Regal mostly agrees with Fit.

Fit Finlay is not a fan of Zack Sabre Jr. Fit Finlay ‏@ringfox1 I'm not a fan of sabre https://twitter.com/ringfox1/status/758483783343566848 According to the Torch, neither is Regal. http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/08/23/wwe-talent-recruiting-updates-cedric-alexander-signed-tommy-end-big-damo-start-dates-zack-sabre-jr-status/ Surprising, but I can't say I disagree. Jack Gallagher should have gotten Sabre's push.

But wasn't he also named Worst Manager or Worst Character, or whatever the category was, several years in a row? That seems utterly ridiculous to me. I can't speak for his wrestling career, but I'd argue he was a HOF manager. Think of all the shitty managers over the years, especially in WCW and the territories, and it's quite an accomplishment for Fuji to stand out as one of the better ones. Not quite on the level of the Three Wise Men or Heenan and Jimmy Hart (or Cornette and Heyman in NWA/WCW, Akbar, Gary Hart, and I better stop), but right below that and above most everyone else from that era. Not the place or the time. Agreed. PWO is usually the best wrestling board for intelligent discussion, but priorities and proper context aren't a strong point with some of you folks. After all, there were posters here who celebrated the potential demise of Jerry Lawler's commentary career after he got suspended for domestic violence - because, obviously, better color commentary was the most important part of that story.

I've never seen any of Mr. Fuji's ring work, but he was definitely one of the most solid and memorable managers of the '80s and early '90s. Did Fuji ever got into the WON HOF, or are Meltzer and his minions still on their crusade to keep him out? I found a list of Fuji's ribs with quotes from various wrestlers. The dog rib is indeed revolting. http://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/mrfuji/

Another thing to keep in mind: Seth's favorite wrestler growing up was Rob Van Dam, for whatever it's worth.

Mauro's commentary is basically this: "Wow, he almost soiled himself after that stiff kick, Bryan - shades of the legendary Sycho Sid at WrestleMania 13."

Interview with Zach Sabre Jr. http://talksport.com/wwe/zack-sabre-jr-depth-wwe-cruiserweight-classic-star-reveals-permanent-us-move-plans-160825207646 Wait 'til WWE finds out about his OCD. I can just see the gimmick now...

I love how everyone thinks they hate each other. They never have. It's a work. Bryan goes out of his way to praise Miz in his book.