C.S.

My fault for 1. having the show on mute 2. wondering why the belts looked so strange. AAA Titles make much more sense.

Perhaps, but this whole thing feels super weird and off, and the random title change feels even weirder after Lucha Bros just finally won the belts. Really feels like Rush and Dragon Lee fell through and Tony Khan booked a title change to make up for it.

WTF is this shit??? Edit: LOL, it's FTR. Wasn't everyone led to believe we'd be getting Rush and Dragon Lee? Did Daniel and David break into Seth's house as revenge and steal these awful outfits from him?

Wish I could say this is surprising, but it's not. New Japan has never, ever known what it was doing in the West and honestly should not expand any further into America because it will be a massive failure and money loser, simply because they don't understand the market and have shown no inclination to learn even after all these years. This is just one example of that. Another example - and I keep beating the drum on this - is that NJPW World is still not available on PS4/5, Roku, etc. - only Fire Stick and Android devices. Do they even have a working English website for NJPW World yet? All in all, this company continues to confound me with its blatant incompetence outside its own shores.

Fun match. I didn't love it, but I liked it. Damn, Suzuki has a great character and does all of the little things right. And we already know Bryan is the GOAT.

What's wrong with it?

Prediction: Bryan does the honors for Suzuki

Heel Crush turning on Savage and aligning with Fuji was the best Crush.

Sucks that Ali and Mansoor got broken up presumably just so Ali can job to the "hometown hero" at SaudiMania Blood Money. I'd give anything for Ali to squash the fuck out of Mansoor on that show and for Sami Zayn to win KOTR. Wishful thinking though. Not like I'll be watching anyway. Edit: Yep - confirmed.

So maybe WWE wasn't the bad guy after all for not wanting Mark Henry in an executive role. Although, assuming they didn't see him that way for completely altruistic reasons is also a stretch.

Reggie Parks is the guy who made probably almost every wrestling belt you ever loved as a kid. Here's a great thread with numerous examples of his amazing work.

You just made my point for me - Lambert got that heat, not the MMA nobodies.

Anyway, even if JDS, Masival and Van Sant were the biggest MMA stars ever, they're being positioned as faces in a crowd in a midcard feud. I've been given no reason to care about them. We're just supposed to know who they are, without any kind of introduction or background, and that doesn't really work for anyone less than a household name - which these three are not.

I assume Cain Valasquez and Tyson Fury are much bigger deals though, and they did diddly for WWE. Rousey was great, of course, but she was bigger than the rest of these names combined.

Yup... Adam Cole probably pulled some strings, Bay Bay!

Isn't this how he got his first title shot, or am I misremembering? If so, it's a nice callback.

An angle where Shida loses a bunch before getting her 50th would actually be fun.

So, what is the point of holding up the plaque before she wins her 50th match?

If we had actually gotten the match, maybe.

Remind me again why I'm supposed to care about a bunch of absolute nobodies? Just because they're from MMA? Zzz!

Sammy Guevera vs. the youngster Bobby Fish

CM Punk is really laying it on thick, and has been for weeks now. This constant sickly sweet love fest has to be planting the seeds for a future heel turn, right?

I agree, but I assume this is just a once-off. Who knows though. Because of the Adam Cole connection, we may very well a "Bobby Fish is All Elite" announcement after the show.

J.R.: "Newcomer" Bobby Fish Lole

Fun schmoz. I hope Christian isn't legitimately injured, though I can't see how.