SomethingSavage

Not that I'm making excuses - although I fucking love Ronda anyway, so there - but let's not forget that she's dealt with verbal apraxia since childhood. You wouldn't know it from the way she speaks in public now, or even when she was cutting killer promos in UFC, but that shit shook her confidence and made her really self-aware about talking to groups of people. She's spoken about how she felt "slower" and more stupid than other kids her age because of it. Again, I'm not saying this has anything to do with that. But you never know, man. It's one thing to talk shit when you're feeling it or when you're just coming from a real place, but it's something else to recite nursery rhymes or basically narrate a recap of your matches from the past month. I feel like they've literally lost all knowledge of what it means to protect top stars and present them as being in a league all their own. Time & time again, they just can't get out of their own way or overcome their own little obsessive hang-ups.

It was another solid episode, in my opinion - keeping the trend alive. I did pick up on the same vibe as you though. Conrad was behaving like a dick and seemed to pick arguments over the most insignificant stuff. That moment when Eric actually paused to apologize made me downright uncomfortable, because Eric was literally asking if his answers weren't what Conrad wanted - or if there was anything he could do to help improve the quality of the show. I legitimately felt bad for Bischoff there, because I thought the dude was bringing it with his detailed (albeit wordy) responses. For context (heh), compare Eric's answers on this show to what we're getting from Bruce on the other one. It's night & day. Eric goes above & beyond to answer (or at least react) to EVERYTHING. It's basically blue-collar labor to get something substantial from Bruce these days. Plus, with Eric, we're even hearing the sidebars & the humorous stories - the sort of things that originally put Bruce's show on the map. I listened to the show last Friday morning at the gym, so details are sketchy & distant to me now. But I do remember Eric taking some fun shots at Bagwell and Jarrett during the show. The part where he ripped on Jeff for dressing like a "dick dancer" had me cracking up. Meltzer's line about Scotty Riggs being "so not over, he's UNDER" stuck with me, too. Dude could say the same thing about Dolph Ziggler today and be just as accurate. I've also always found Eric's analysis of Paul Wight to be intriguing. I don't *entitely* agree with it, in the sense that I believe bad booking & poor presentation has played a much bigger role than Bischoff is acknowledging. But Eric does offer up interesting thoughts on why Wight hasn't ever gotten over to the degree that so many had hoped he would. I did feel like Eric was a bit *too* defensive about the Miss nWo pageant, to the point where I think it's somewhat of a sore spot for him. I can't really explain why that is or even speculate why he would be bothered by it, but yeah. Maybe he was just tired of being piled on by that point. And look. The show is what it is. Everyone accepts that Souled Out sucked in '97. But I thought Bischoff did a fine job of explaining his approach. He was fairly inexperienced in terms of professional wrestling. I don't think he ever had a super firm grasp on WHY certain things will or won't work. But step back and see things through his eyes at that time. Everything he was doing WAS working - in a major way. And most of that successful formula hinged on "taking the traditional format and turning it on its head." Souled Out was ill-conceived, but Eric was experimenting with different things left & right. I could absolutely buy that he could convince himself that this would work or find an audience. Of course it didn't. Of course it sucked. And the more experienced, knowledgeable Eric Bischoff of today can recognize why. But back then? Dude was riding high & reaping the rewards of operating outside the box. Sometimes you don't know what will hit and what will miss until it simply does.

I've always found her to be excellent in sit-down settings, and her natural trash-talk in UFC was MONEY. "I'm the CHAMP now! Champ don't come looking for you; you come step to the champ!" is still an all-time awesome victory speech. I realize it's been beaten to death as a talking point, but I really feel like it's the shitty scripted promos that hinder her the most. She's a reactive, raw personality. Very few people excel in a faked, forced atmosphere with such repetitive, unnatural dialogue - ESPECIALLY if it goes against their actual strengths as a performer in the first place. You can see it in her matches. Ronda comes alive right away in terms of actual athleticism & physicality. But woof. The material they give her and the situations they place her in leaves a lot to be desired, more often than not.

The Rumble 2004 episode was fairly... Basic? Yeah. Just basic. I mean, some interesting topics were brought up and batted around briefly. But none of it was ever really mined or discussed to any great extent. I was honestly expecting A LOT more Eddie talk from Bruce, but we barely got any of that. Pretty underwhelming, to be perfectly honest. It was neat hearing about Vince's pep talks with the two crews, and it was funny hearing how aggravated McMahon got with the dirt-sheet leaks around this time. Everything else was pretty meh. Bruce's strength is his storytelling, but there's just such a noticeable difference these days. There's no color or energy in these things. His impressions and his vibrant stories have fallen to the wayside. Bruce only really goes beyond brief, one-statement answers whenever Conrad makes it a point to prod him or prompt him by literally asking for an impersonation. It feels & functions like such an apathetic approach. It gives off the vibe of being a chore or some kind of burden for Bruce at times. For instance, I was intrigued by the idea that Vince was more easily sold on Benoit than Eddie, when I would've bet money Vince would've bought into Eddie's personality quicker - despite any size issues. But it's like pulling teeth for Conrad to get ANYTHING out of Bruce nowadays, so we just get the bare minimum & that's about it. I realize Bruce has no interest in "what ifs" or "what could have been", while Conrad typically enjoys fantasizing about those things. But Bruce doesn't really even attempt to play along for the sake of the show anymore. It all just shouts, "minimal effort" to me. I understand Bruce is probably burned out by all the live shows & traveling he participates in now, and that would reasonably explain the decline in quality for the podcast. But this *is* the platform that propelled him back to that level of success in the first place, so it sort of sucks to see it suffer the most under the weight of that schedule.

Wasn't sure where to post this (and still not entirely sure this is a good spot), but I wanted to ask if anyone has seen the excellent UFC: 25 Years in Short series? I'm a little more than halfway through them, and they've almost all been awesome. It's basically 30 For 30, but it's 25 videos under 25 minutes. They cover such a wide range of topics, events, and moments from UFC history. The debate over who originally designed the Octagon is tremendous. Some of those early ideas (torches, mounted guards on horseback, electric fencing, etc.) are LOLTNA Russo-levels of awful. Never realized Eric Bischoff was the conduit for Art Davie to move from medals to championship belts, so that was pretty cool. I've been following since the Zuffa boom, but I love learning more about those early days. Dean Malenko being the guy to introduce Ken to Pancrase *sounds like* something I've heard before, but I don't know for sure. I definitely knew he did some training with the Malenkos, but it's always neat to hear more about those ties between MMA and pro wrestling. Man, it was awesome seeing highlights of those old PRIDE fights. What a time. Those extravagant entrances are everything wrestling has only started doing right in the last decade or so. That Matt Hughes piece was rough though. It took me on a total rollercoaster in terms of emotions. I was half-hot at them for dragging the poor guy back to the sight of the train wreck. That felt cruel & cold as fuck to me. I get seeking closure and bringing things full circle, but I don't know. It just seemed in poor taste. Won't lie though. I got choked up seeing Hughes get the big introduction in front of everyone last January. That was awesome for him. Watching that episode one day after seeing the Nigel doc may not have been the wisest move though. Heart-wrenching stuff.

I should probably check out the Hogan era Rumbles then. I have such a fondness for the big characters and rivalries from that time. They're not likely to disappoint. What stands out about 93? And 94 has what? The Diesel stuff is the only thing that springs to mind, although I might be overlooking something obvious. It's been forever since I saw any of these.

92 is still a classic. The commentary adds a great deal obviously & shouldn't be discounted, but it's an alright match overall. Flair's interaction with Piper is still one of my favorite things from any Rumble. I don't really recall any of the other early Rumbles being distinctly "good" though. Going purely off memory, I'd guess the good Rumbles didn't really become a thing until, what? 2001? Even then, they haven't exactly had a steady track record.

Which episode was it with Tony constantly playing with the doll that makes fart noises/jokes? That was possibly the worst podcast I've ever heard. From any genre. Anywhere. Survivor Series 96 was alright though. Nothing extraordinary, but Conrad played everything mostly straight for a change. There were a few sidebars so he could humble brag about knowing Tony Khan or hanging with Meltzer, but things mostly remained on topic. I've said it before, but I'm completely convinced now. Only the non-WCW/JCP shows are worth checking out. Tony seems to express genuine joy in experiencing some of these ECW/WWF shows for the first time. That translates and usually keeps them talking about these actual events. Anything WCW or JCP related quickly devolves into dick and balls talk, shitty shilling, or humble bragging about buying some dudes shoes & underwear.

Man oh man. Tom King's Vision from 2015 is something special. I've been dipping in & out of several series from the All-New, All-Different Marvel lineup lately, and this one certainly snuck up to catch me by surprise. I've never given much time or attention to the Vision, but yeah. This one's crazy good. King is another writer that came along during my time away from comics. I've heard positive stuff about his DC work, but I haven't gotten around to reading any of that stuff yet. As a result, this is my first time experiencing any of his work. And I'm honestly enthralled by what he produced here. The story is a bold endeavor, for sure. It's part psychological thriller, part noir murder mystery. It's superheroics meets Twin Peaks, with a little bit of Gone Girl sprinkled in there. It's just a fascinating take on the genre (and the titular character), but it really does work on every level. There are lies, secrets, cover-ups, and suspense aplenty. This thing keeps you on your toes with a looming sense of dread and unease. I couldn't help but get wrapped up in it all. The premise itself is basic comic fun. After all his experiences, Vision still desires to live out a very human life. He still wants marriage. He wants a wife. He wants kids. He wants the picket fence. And so, years after the tragic "loss" of his children and that big old betrayal from the Scarlet Witch, he decides to build himself a proper android (cyborg? Robot? Synthezoid?) family. This is all fairly straightforward when it comes to comics. Plus it makes sense in terms of Marvel logic. Like his father (Ultron) and grandfather (Hank Pym) before him, Vision has that curiosity bug and that natural desire to create intelligent life. So he builds himself a wife and two kids. They're even assigned neat names, too. Virginia, his wife. Viv, his daughter. And Vin, his son. Good stuff. There's some great humor with his family trying to adjust to "normal" standards at school and within their neighborhood. The kids just want to fit in, which is quite possibly the most human trait ever. And his wife just wants to be valued. To feel fulfilled. It's like a deep, thought-provoking probe into the "ideal" American family and its unrealistic standards. It's true that it's nothing new to see that veil lifted. But here, in this particular instance, we're peeking behind the curtain of a family unraveling at the seams. And it's a family of Visions. So of course, ya know, it's way cooler and shit. The wife, Virginia, steals the show though. She starts off fairly inconsequential. But, as her self-awareness develops and her personality grows, she quickly takes the story by storm. I won't give away too much, but she really becomes such a rich character throughout the arc. There are times where you'll root for her, times where you'll feel sympathy for her, and times where you'll fear her next move. There's this incredible, compelling sense of unease surrounding this family and everyone in their immediate circle. You can't help but keep reading from one page to the next. You need to know what follows, what lie will be told, what will stay hidden, and what may come to light. The art & the colors also add a distinct look and appeal to this series as well. Is there anything creepier than that image of a family of androids - GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR - staring back at you & inviting you into their home like that? I'm not sure, but it's a haunting visual that stuck with me. Oh. And don't get me started on the gross, ghastly, graphic scene of the Grim Reaper being discovered in the backyard. Holy hell. Another scene that sums up this series for me is the Vision's fatherly response to seeing his family fall apart in front of his eyes. He feels responsible & wholly accountable as their provider and protector. So he - well, let's say - "acquires" a family pet. It's dear old dad doing what he can to right the wrongs - to fix things - to deny the truth. It's an honest, earnest attempt. But it's terribly misguided, and it's dripping with desperation. You can't help but feel awful for the guy. He's doing the best he can. But his family & their lives are ripping apart at the seams. It's the Americana nightmare. It's essentially what every good thriller is spawned from, and that's precisely what makes it so sneakily enjoyable at every turn. It's definitely different from your typical superhero comic, for sure. But it's very engaging nonetheless. Well worth the effort.

They're not even really a compelling live show product or DVD product anymore. PWG took that crown from them & ran away with it years ago.

"WHO WANTS TO WALK WITH A LION?!?" ... Call me crazy, but I preferred it when he had the last name. I get Vince's logic about single names "sticking" with people if they catch on, but I believe those are really rare exceptions. If everyone on your payroll is running around with one name, well then you don't automatically have an army of megastars. You've basically just got a bunch of indistinguishable nobodies with no last names. I actually don't mind the move for Andrade, funnily enough. At least his still sounds unique on its own.

That Moose match was bonkers. Shockingly fun. I don't even recall any details of the first match in their series, when Bennett beat EC3. But you're right. Their rematch at the PPV was surprisingly good as well. He's hurt somewhat by always feeling like a tired, derivative type character though. I don't know. Nothing about him feels wholly original, and he has often been overshadowed by a superior version existing in such close proximity to him. (Miz & Maryse in WWE, Cole in ROH, etc.) I could absolutely buy that he views ROH as his best option though, if there's indeed any truth to that report. He was a featured guy there, he made friends there, and his spot in the Kingdom felt like the right fit for him.

Don't confuse the way they tell their version of the story with the way things actually went down. They only "love that shit" because they won in the end. It's easy to reminisce about the fight and the competition when you're sitting comfortably on top at the end. When they're actually in the fight? Not so much. Don't forget. WWF was calling foul and whining about how unfair things were when WCW was slaying them in the ratings on Monday nights. They were filing lawsuits & criticizing WCW for using some of the very same strategies they'd used themselves to overtake the industry a decade earlier. And WCW employed the same strategy to outdo them at their own game for a few years in the 90s, too. Vince has always been cutthroat and hypersensitive to competition though. So I can sort of understand how that would be amplified to the Nth degree in today's economy.

Dolph has never been better than that period where he was the boy toy to widowed, wannabe-cougar Vickie Guerrero. Their act was awesome when packaged together like that. To your point about his lack of character (dead on, by the way), at least he seemed to have a role. And it was universally understood that he's this young dude taking advantage of this mutually beneficial situation with this older woman. Once they were split up, that was the beginning of the end for Dolph. He's had brief glimmers of hope here & there (Survivor Series 2014, the concussion match with Alberto, the No Mercy match with Miz), but nothing truly comparable. I know some people dug the Big E/AJ Lee alliance, but that dynamic was all off from the jump. That felt to me like them just throwing up their hands and settling into the idea that he's going to be a Shawn impersonator & that's okay. At least the Vickie stuff felt unique to him. I'm fully aware that it was done with Edge directly before that, but I actually prefer the Dolph/Vickie pairing. Vickie had REALLY hit her stride by that point, whereas she was still sort of finding her niche for a good chunk of the Edge run. Edge was better with Lita on his arm, whereas Dolph was better being the man-cub of midlife crisis Vickie.

Maria was awesome as the valet/manager for the Kingdom in ROH, and she was pretty good again in her role with Impact. She got heat for both herself & her man by way of the Punk stuff in ROH though. She also never shied away from eating bumps in those Kingdom tags - apron bumps, table bumps, you name it. The chick was game. Seems a bit silly if anyone's sick or tired of hearing that people were good in other places. Perhaps a forum discussing wrestling isn't the place to be if you get upset or irritated at the idea of hearing about good wrestling. Just a thought though.

Uh, same can be said for Andrade Almas.

They'd need JR and Schiavone calling it in the booth or no buys though.

Yeah. I'm right there with you. I've kept up with the show for the most part, but it's been Attitude Era overkill for what feels like six months straight. I know that's not actually the case, but it sure feels like it. The funny thing is - Bruce talked up his excitement over discussing the 99 Rumble for a few weeks. He hinted that he had some fun stories to share about Vince and the decision-making that went into the Rumble that year. We got none of that though. Zilch. Unless, I guess, you count his brief mention about Vince getting upset with the chicken for not cooperating in those segments. That would've been funny, but he barely spoke about it, wasn't there in person for it, and really only referenced it by way of answering a listener's question. I was there in Beaumont for the lead-in Raw, and wrestling was red hot at my school around this time. But I remember mostly regretting the experience. There was way too much Undertaker/Ministry bullshit, and the Mark Henry stuff felt embarrassing even at the time. The only other thing I really committed to memory was seeing Road Dogg outside the building, and a BUNCH of those stupid laser pointers. Like, laser pointers for fucking days. There just wasn't much to discuss here. I guess someone should seek this episode out if they care to hear Ryan Shamrock's origin story, or maybe why Mabel was brought back. But other than that? Yawn. It's a bore. Looking forward to the 2004 Rumble one though. I've been calling for them to explore more of that 03-08 territory, as it still feels fresh and relatively ripe with potential stories from Bruce. Conrad sounds thirsty as fuck to talk about anything Benoit (no surprise there), and Bruce is always down to discuss his time around Eddie. Plus there's a noticeable change in the air around this period, with the vanilla midgets getting their shots on top & whatnot. Plus Bob Holly! Fuck yeah! GIVE 'IM THE BELT!!

Awesome possum. I will have to check it out sometime. Hickman hasn't let me down yet. Huge fan of everything I've seen from the guy so far. In the meantime? I've been BLOWN AWAY by how much I dug Matt Fraction's run on Hawkeye. I mean, this is right up there with Hickman's Fantastic Four and Slott's Superior Spidey for me. It's obviously a different approach than either of those, but it's so SOOOO good. First of all, this series has everything. An everyman central protagonist with a sense of humor. A straight man (woman?) sidekick to keep him in check. A cute, cuddly pet. A reliable supporting cast. Looming threats. Intense action. And on & on & on. I should probably pause to say that I wasn't prepared to enjoy this as much as I did. I gave Fraction's Iron Man a try, based on a friend's recommendation. It left me cold & completely underwhelmed. His Tony Stark just didn't speak to me, and - while some of the stories were okay - there just weren't enough welcoming qualities to the book. It never sustained my interest from issue to issue. There were minor moments here & there, but I just had no desire to stick with it. To be fair, there was a lot out there for me to explore and catch up on, so I was easily convinced to find something else and move on. So I may go back and give it another go at some point. But yeah. Fraction did little to impress me there. His work with Iron Fist, however, was a total blast. It was a breath of fresh air. It, too, offered a distinct flavor and spin on things. And this run on Hawkeye feels like it falls a lot more in line with that. Its unique qualities truly stand out. The identity of this book almost hangs its hat on its quirkiness. It's great. But yeah. Fraction's version of Clint Barton is terrific. He has a dash of Peter Parker in the way he's presented, which I can appreciate. There's still that traditional rebel soul within the character, but he's balanced by a real sense of responsibility as well. Beyond that, he's a smartass. It's a fine mix that results in a personality that's both very familiar and very relatable for me as a reader. The banter is believable, and the bonds between the characters really reach out and hook you. It didn't take me long at all to become invested in Clint Barton's life. Hell, his neighborhood itself contributes SO MUCH to the story and feels every bit a part of the puzzle as anything or anyone else. A running theme throughout the series revolves around Hawkeye finding his place in the world. He wants to be a better person. He wants to know where he belongs. But he has deep-rooted trust issues, and he's a loner at heart. He wants to be reliable, every bit as much as he struggles to sustain his independence. It's fantastic. Before I forget, there's this one point where Clint is offering a deal to a criminal. He's trying to take the less violent approach, and so he talks about how just being around Captain America makes him want to be a better person. But Captain America isn't around right now. It's a great *GULP* moment and a cool little veiled threat of coercion that I thought was worth mentioning. There's no shortage of subplots or side-stories either. Some things seem dropped for awhile, but they're ultimately revisited and wrapped up later. Everything pays off. The fight scenes can get surprisingly violent and intense at times, too. The brutality can pack a real punch, which helps add weight and consequence to these stories. From a broader perspective, this also offers the pitch perfect counterbalance to the (at times) droll and fluffy comedy. Don't misunderstand me though. The comedy isn't cheap or low-brow. There are plenty of legitimate laugh-out-loud moments to be found here. I never expected Fraction to knock my socks off with his comedy or anything, but it's like first discovering Joe Kelly's Deadpool back in the day or something. I really, really dug it. The visual sight gags are on another level, too. And there's this hilarious running bit in which everyone keeps confusing Clint for Iron Fist. It's a great in-joke that works on a lot of levels (similar look, same creative team, etc.) It's just a neat little wrinkle that offers up some laughs. The dialogue is also on point. Conversations sound like they're coming from the lips of real people - snappy, witty, SOOPAH sharp characters in well-defined roles. You really can't ask for more. Oh. And Aja's art is INCRRRREDIBLE. Combined with the colors and the thick borders in every panel, it creates a one-of-a-kind reading experience. Seriously. Take one look at the pages of Hawkeye volume 4 & you won't ever mistake it for anything else. It's simply SOOO different, so distinct, and so unique. The art. The colors. The shading. I know I'm just glowing & gushing at this point, but nah. Fuck that noise. I love this book. So yeah. One without the other may not be as strong or as memorable, but the mixture of Fraction's writing, Aja's art, and the signature coloring combines to create this crazy addictive cocktail. Hawkeye volume 4 very much OWNS its identity here. It carves out its own place in the comic book world, and it might just be my favorite new comfort place. Fraction doesn't just deliver stereotypical superhero stories here either. Nor does he serve up straightforward "street level" stories either. Early on, I was reminded of Daredevil several times. Anyone could reasonably make the case for similarities there. But Fraction quickly kicks that door down & shows how ambitious he can really be. There are several issues here that are completely devoted to some of the wackiest, boldest, most imaginative, and most experimental storytelling devices I've ever read. They're wonderful and fascinating. I realize I sound like a total shill, but I don't mind. I'm absolutely on board with celebrating and advertising these issues. For example, there's one issue that's told entirely from the perspective of Hawkeye's dog. Like, we literally LIVE a day in the life of this dog. Panels are drawn as if they're seen through his eyes. When people speak, their word bubbles only pickup specific words that the canine has come to understand through repetition. Also, he's easily distracted. And pretty much obsessed with following his nose to find some pizza. How can you not just LOVE that? Even better, it all leads to a pretty big revelation at the end of the issue. So it's not like it's a throwaway filler issue or anything. It actually leads to a monumental development in the series at the end. Fraction just takes a brilliant, creative path to get us there. And it's magnificent. There's another landmark issue where Hawkeye loses his hearing. Again. But this is post House of M resurrection I guess, so *shrugs*. Anyway, the entire story is told through a deaf man. The apex comes when Hawkeye delivers this passionate speech to his neighbors and tenants USING SIGN LANGUAGE. The whole issue is such a drastic departure and such an ambitious endeavor. It's remarkable. There's a key issue in which Clint opens up his home to his neighbor and her children. It's a Christmas-themed story, with the children huddling around to watch the annual TV special. Clint passes smooth out and dreams(?) his own version of the "Winter Friends!" program. It's basically a cartoon about a dog and his friends, but the dog is a lone wolf type & a total stand-in for Hawkeye himself. It's a heartwarming little gem of an issue all its own, but it's also stitched into the fabric of the larger story. It sets up things with Hawkeye's maturation & his relationship with his brother down the road. Very good stuff. There's also this light-hearted, fluffy, flirtatious, crazy cute issue revolving around Valentine's Day. Clint Barton is in full-on Peter Parker mode, juggling a multitude of complex relationships from his past and failing miserably at trying to maintain them all. Black Widow, Spider-Woman, and Mockingbird all spring up for some truly fun appearances. Hawkeye's rep as a heartbreaker is explored, and the teased shipping with Kate Bishop finds focus. I've skimmed over several of them, but yeah. The cast of characters in this book is a tremendous lot. Barney - the sketchy, sometimes trustworthy, occasionally loyal brother of Clint Barton. Grillz - the neighborhood host of all things barbecued. Lucky - the rescue dog who is saved and taken in as a pet by Hawkeye. I know it sounds corny, but trust me. It's an awesome element. And Fraction plays it to maximum effect. There are some heart-wrenching moments, and there are some truly touching ones. All of them are afforded by Lucky. He's the best, and I won't stand for any criticism of his greatness. Kate Bishop is essential, too. But I could go on for another hour about how much value she adds as a character and the PERFECT buddy cop to Clint's outrageous behavior. In terms of villains, they aren't super. I mean, there's an assassin that would feel right at home in any Punisher or Daredevil story. But there aren't any real heavy-hitters here. We get glimpses of the major crime bosses meeting, and the Kingpin is a presence. He's making moves and plans, but he's not at the forefront or actively involved in things. Nah. But what we DO GET is a gangland of these Russian thugs. And they're supremely fun, believe it or not. They're total tracksuit mobsters, tossing out "Bro" like they're straight out of Jersey. The volume itself is wrapped up tightly & concisely enough to leave you fulfilled and satisfied as a reader. And that works out wonderfully for me, because I like parachuting into these arcs and jumping off whenever a creative team leaves the title or whatever. In any case, I'm convinced this is THE definitive Hawkeye story. From start to finish, it was an absolute joy to read. It's an admirable trait anytime a creative team doesn't linger around long enough to wear out their welcome, yet I can't help but wish Fraction and Aja would have produced another 20 issues of Hawkeye for me. But hey. I'm a selfish lover (err, consumer) like that. Oh. So yeah. To summarize - as if you couldn't already tell - you should go read this book. Hawkeye volume 4 by Fraction and Aja. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I've actually enjoyed some of the stuff with Lio. But it took months & months of nothingness to lead them here. I forgot to mention that Bobby's also been great on social media for years. Dude's a steady stream of positive messages & upbeat reinforcement. He just seems like such a genuinely positive guy. Vince's fixation on age has always been one of his notable quirks - with his insistence on replacing guys before their actual expiration date or pushing guys primarily based on how much longevity he believes they may have ahead of them with the company - but I feel like he's shooting himself in the foot if he's letting it limit his options to such a strict degree.

No kidding. The handling of Lashley since returning has been baffling, to say the least. Not only has the guy grown & shown improvement as an in-ring performer during his time with Impact, but he's still built like a brick shithouse. AND not only does he look like a Vince fantasy in person, but Lashley looks like a promoter's fantasy on paper as well. National collegiate wrestler. 3 years of service in the US Army. AND the dude was training for the Olympics, only to have his dreams shattered when he royally fucked up his knee as he tried to help stop a bank robbery. You can't write a better human interest story if you tried. Their writers certainly can't. And, with WWE thirsting to death for any positive PR they can get these days, you'd think they'd jump all over that and publicize the shit out of it. But nah. Let's let Lashley languish for several months. Then have him beat Roman. But then lose to Roman. And then climb a rope or run an obstacle course or whateverthefuck. It's bizarre that they didn't get behind the guy like it was 2007 all over again.

I don't know, man. I think we just value very different things in our wrestling. Lashley was a phenomenal main event performer in Impact - cranking out strong matches against a WIDE variety of guys, ranging from Drew and Aries to Eddie Edwards and even EC3. Dude's legit. Same goes for Drew. Both should have been ready-made challengers for Brock, with very minimal effort required to prep them for that spot. You also find Seth Rollins inoffensive, believe Chris Hero sucks based on NXT, and judge Excalibur's commentary based on his ring name. So yeah. We're worlds apart on these things.

Sure hope I'm wrong, but I have zero confidence in ROH to book Rush in anything significant straight away - although they absolutely should. This company is in dire need of a hot angle or a nuclear character to light a fuse & inject some life into their product.

Well, since you poked the bear... Celebration must wait. Rumble/Mania season can get pretty unpredictable. There's still time for them to do something insanely stupid, like giving the top title shot to a supposedly "over" baby face who is NOBODY'S favorite wrestler and NOBODY'S first choice for anything. What hot piece of merch has this guy ever had? What dream match could he have with anyone that wouldn't look EXACTLY like the fifty-eleven Dolph matches we've already seen from him? I'm completely convinced every match Seth has from now until the end of his career will look exactly like every match he has every week anyway. Hissing. Knee-slapping. Sling blade. Dives. More hissing. Davey Richards stuff. Go home. I do hope you're right though. That TLC match was an atrocity. I'd rather crab-walk or crawl on my hands & knees through a dozen dirty dumpster fires than watch that shit again. Plus he should still be paying for the sins of his awful 2015 heel run. Plus that abysmal 2016 baby face run. Plus everything Tyler Black. Plus because. Roar. Seriously though. Seth sucks. The fact that he's even seen as a slightly viable contender to Brock is a clear indicator of just how badly they've screwed the pooch on guys like Braun, Drew, and Lashley over the last year. Each of those guys should have been guaranteed hits & surefire challengers for Lesnar. But nah. Gotta have 'em tagging with children, doing bad League of Nations level gimmicks, running obstacle courses, and other assorted reindeer games instead. Because that's money.

I'll just say I'm glad this thing is in the hands of Cody and the Bucks & absolutely not some of you guys. I can't even comprehend how the name "Excalibur" sounds too stupid for some of you, but the DREAM TEAM of Jim Ross and Tony fucking Schiavone calling 2019 PWG-style wrestling sounds like some smart shit.