SomethingSavage

Uhh. Zayn and Owens also served up spot with a Brainbuster on the friggin' ring apron back at Battleground.

Corny may be overrated, but Charles makes a valid point. The peaks of '97 seemed to stem from a balancing act between both Corny's strongest traits and Russo's own ideas. I realize that maybe the program hasn't aged all that well, but the Kane and Taker feud was a REALLY big deal at the time. And part of that charm came from keeping them separate - something Russo never would have done without Corny fighting to keep them apart in order to allow the anticipation to build. Plus the Kane debut is something that still stands out as a milestone. It's memorable to this day. And that was all Cornette - pitching & proposing something he'd seen done a decade earlier in Tennessee or whateverthefuck. Further proof that a blend of the styles CAN and will work. Elements of the Hart Foundation angle have to be credited to Cornette. There's no way I'd ever be convinced that some of that stuff wasn't influenced by his ideas. As noted, the Vader-Goldust rivalry at the end of the year is another random example of Cornette still sticking around and contributing. Was it a ratings-winner? Nah. Not at all. But it was still a fun part of the card for a couple of months. Conversely, I enjoyed the Pillman and Goldust program from a few months before. And THAT (to be fair) felt like total unfiltered Russo writing. But it was still fun enough in its own time and place. I guess I'm just rambling, but it's all to simply say that I agree with Loss. Russo's got a proven track record of being genuinely terrible when left unleashed, but he definitely contributed *something* for awhile there as part of a point/counterpoint system.

And totally fucking random. But where else would you get to hear Stu Hart or Jim Barnett throw out a plug for Burger King though? So it's hit or miss.

Does Stutts still do any regular podcasting? Might be a bit too busy these days, but the guy's enthusiasm was always so fucking infectious. Really comes across as a huge fan that would be an absolute blast to catch a show with.

I used to be such a huge Foley fan, but I can't keep track of the guy's allegiances anymore. I'm guessing he didn't publicly bash & boycott RAW this week then? As far as his on-screen presence goes, I'll withhold judgment for now. Call me crazy, but I'm willing to wait & see. The guy hasn't done anything significant in a long time, for sure. But his highs are too awesome to outright ignore. I enjoyed the shit out of his Commissioner stint back around 2000, so yeah. If we got even a fraction of that sort of interaction with some of the personalities at play today, then I'm all for another run with Mick. To be honest though, I'm expecting D-Bryan to outshine him even in that department. It was the backstage skits & comedy routine that got Bryan so incredibly over back in 2012 and '13 in the first place. As good as he's always been inside the ring, the guy's got a knack for the entertainment stuff as well. And you could sort of tell that they found renewed faith in him once they "discovered" that for themselves back around that time period. So I'm hoping they exploit that and explore all their options - by having Bryan in segments and exchanges with the other talent. It's a balancing act, for sure. Because you don't want to lead the audience to believe it'll lead to a payoff that isn't coming. But there's a way to do it that allows them to elevate talent via interactions with Foley, Bryan, and even Shane - without it necessarily leading to a match or anything. And they've done it before, even if it's been awhile. Maybe I have high hopes here, but fuck it. Sue me.

I always thought they should have pushed Scott Steiner to the moon off the heels of his turn earlier in '98. They never did much with the guy beyond his brotherly feud with Rick, and it's a damn shame. The initial stages of the transformation were truckloads of fun, and there was an opportunity to have Steiner break away from the middle of the nWo pack somewhere in there. He *was* having fun squash matches - just murdering jobbers, throwing & thrashing them around left, right, front, & center. He'd pile up jobbers and pin 'em or humble them in the Recliner - all while Buff Bagwell played male cheerleader on the outside. I actually think the act could have been something much, much bigger by the end of '98. Instead, it just kind of stalled and never went anywhere until they EVENTUALLY woke up and realized they had something in what... late 2000? Ugh. I realize ya can't just take matches out of context and transplant them to another time or place that you'd like, but hey. If the Fall Brawl 2000 match is any indication, then I would've been ALL for an earlier version of Steiner vs. Goldberg for the belt. So there it is - my pick for the guy that ends the streak. If it was gonna go to anyone, then my selection would've been Scotty Steiner. But even then, I'm not convinced that it should've occurred at Starrcade '98. That still feels way too soon to switch priorities from Goldberg over to ANYBODY.

Haha. Well, I actually went back and edited the "Fat Chick Thriller" reference in there. You must have quoted my post before the edit though. And you're absolutely right about Bill DeMott never meaning more than he did when he finally captured the US Title. Perhaps Russo's garbage gimmick gave him the springboard to get there, but it did nothing to get DeMott over on its own. They had Duggan betray his country. They had Major Gunns stab him in the back. They had Storm constantly sneak away unscathed. Eventually, all those elements combined with DeMott busting his ass and having a fairly solid series of matches with Storm, and the guy got over via earning a degree of respect from the fans. DeMott was working hard, he had garnered at least a shred of sympathy, and they bought into the rivalry by the end of the series. But he was hardly playing the same "General Hugh G. Rection" gimmick by that point either. He had evolved into just being a "tooth & nail tenacity" kind of guy. He had separated himself from the shit that was the original gimmick - given to him by Russo. Again though, I think that's another case of it lying on the strength of the performer underneath the gimmick. It had a lot less to do with Russo and a lot more to do with DeMott - same with Jay Lethal in the Machismo role, etc. You can't just give a guy a gimmick and think that'll do the trick. Mike Awesome is a prime example of that. I also appreciate you fleshing out your previous post a bit more. We all have our guilty pleasures in pro wrestling, so I won't totally fault ya for digging whatever it is you enjoy. But I'll never be convinced that Meat, Beaver Cleavage, Terri's miscarriage, or any of those things were good ideas. Just ain't happening. I'm cool with agreeing to disagree.

I'm having trouble even following your side of the argument at this point. I'm not sure what your hang-up is with Curtis Axel, but if you're trying to say that the lower guys aren't given anything to do these days - then please explain to me why the hell we have to see R-Truth interact with Tyler Breeze and Fandango every week. What about the Social Outcasts? And aren't they at least attempting to give the Colons some TV time? How about the way they lucked into that legitimately awesome run with 3MB and Hornswoggle from two years ago? I don't know if you're just secretly angry about them not doing more with Axel or what, but if you're searching for examples of lower guys being given "something to do" - then you're simply not looking hard enough. Also... So you agree with me about Ware then? Sure seems that way. You were trying to use guys like Gangrel and D'Lo as shining examples that Russo's "give everybody something to do" deal will always work to get guys over. That's simply not the case. Most of the guys who were so incredibly over during the Attitude Era were benefiting from the time period - plain and simple. Same as the big 80's boom, which is where a guy like Koko's name gets dropped in. Even George "the Animal" Steele was given something substantial to do. On his last legs and unable to work a lick, even Steele got a mascot and merchandise. Russo wasn't around then. But the business was hot, and so Vince & company knew they could afford to spend more time and attention focusing on these lesser acts and their programs. That's just the nature of the beast. When business is slow, then they're much more likely to care less about the lower guys and more about featuring the people capable of drawing them money up top. For your argument about Russo's magic formula to hold any weight whatsoever, then you'd NEED to have some evidence of it ever working elsewhere - outside of the blazing hot Attitude Era and the careful watch of McMahon. If Russo's "give everybody something to do" deal holds the Midas touch of booking, then why did it fail so miserably in WCW? Why aren't people raving about what a HUGE success the Misfits In Action were? I mean, after all - those guys were given SOMETHING TO DO. I mean, come on. Hugh G. Rection! Fat Chick Thriller! Janitor Jim Duggan! Canadian Jim Duggan! They're all doing SOMETHING, so they must be over! Right?! There's always his five hundred runs in TNA. What mid-carders did he put on the map there? Who was more substantially over thanks to Russo's handling of them? A couple of decent examples were thrown out there - with Maple Leaf Muscle, Black Machismo, etc. - but almost all (if not entirely all) of those guys were basically just given joke gimmicks, and then they happened to make the most of it. Same deal with Russo's Attitude Era, basically. A lot of trash and joke gimmicks were given out, but few of them got anyone over. The ones that managed to make chicken salad from his chicken shit were the ones that embraced their roles with sheer enthusiasm. Even then - for every single Gangrel, D'Lo, or "Super Heavyweight" Holly Cousins - we'd get four or five doses of PMS, Meat, Beaver Cleavage, Religious Dustin Runnels, and other bullshit to wade through. It's hardly a winning record for Russo in ANY era - even his most successful. And I think that pretty much sums it up.

Exactly. Besides, don't kid yourself. Guys like Gangrel and D'Lo Brown being really over had a lot more to do with it being a blazing hot era for wrestling & a lot less to do with Russo's ridiculous booking. Koko B. Ware didn't have Russo booking him into love triangles in the 80's, but he sure as shit came across like a superstar. Don't get me wrong. It's cool when those guys are given something to do. But it works best in moderation. When Russo starts scraping the bottom of the barrel - simply because he feels like everybody NEEDS to have an angle - then it's time to scale back and do much, much less.

Hey. You won't get much argument out of me about any of that. The "creative ideas" comment was aimed more toward the McMahon-Austin feud of '98 and, as mentioned, his proposed idea of the WCW invasion angle - specifically, the layered nod & tribute to the original nWo angle more so than anything else. Of course, one of those relies on pure fantasy and the benefit of having a magic wand to wave around to get guys like Hogan, Hall, and Nash to come in right away. So there's also that. But, if I had to give Russo credit for anything, I wouldn't mind tossing him a little praise for some of the more outrageous, outlandish, yet memorable moments of the Attitude Era. Was he SOLELY responsible? Doubtful. But no way do I believe that McMahon cooked up some of those ideas either. The beer bath, the monster truck, the mock funeral, and plenty of the Austin stunts - which drove week to week TV for awhile there - was probably Russo's actual only strong suit. The thought of, "What is Stone Cold gonna do THIS week?" was very much a drawing card for viewers during that time. Conversely, almost none of that stuff is as important if it doesn't involve THOSE specific characters. Everything is elevated by the individuals and their performances. That's something I don't think Russo ever grasped either. Transplanting the same traits onto other guys doesn't automatically get it done. You're mostly on point with the other stuff, too - ESPECIALLY the line about Russo dismissing Sean's concerns about the face/heel dynamic, crowd confusion, etc. It's sort of what I was alluding to when I said that you ALWAYS leave with the impression that Russo doesn't have any concern or respect for the performers themselves. He doesn't recognize weaknesses, strengths, or anything else. I mean, sure. It's easy for him to lay claim to the success of great talkers like Foley, Austin, and Rocky in retrospect. But EVERYTHING is easier in hindsight. Besides, at the end of the day, it's plain to see that he doesn't know the difference between what a Dwayne Johnson can pull off and what a Booker T Huffman can pull off. He doesn't see the dividing line between a Triple H - like him or not - and casting a fucking heel Jeff Jarrett as a destroyer of worlds. As you said, he just doesn't get it. And that's kind of what I meant to point out in a roundabout way before. With Russo, there's a HUGE lack of awareness for so many things. What MAY begin as a small spark of an intriguing idea will quickly be swept up in a bunch of bullshit, because he just runs with it - with no attention paid to the performers, the perspective of the fans, etc. Your reference to the, "It doesn't matter" line is a good one. But there were others in that interview alone. He also gleefully proposed the idea of SWERVING people with another Goldberg turn. Or was it a Sting turn? Maybe both..? So, of course, underneath a thin layer of promise lies the usual Russo garbage that you'll likely ALWAYS get served up anytime he's given the chance to write anything.

To be fair to Russo - I think he has some creative and intriguing ideas. But they all seem to work best in broad strokes. I don't think he has enough awareness or even common courtesy to respect real life issues. It's ironic, too - because he claims that McMahon's lack of respect for his family life is what led to Russo leaving in the first place. In any case, I look at things like Russo's "rebooking" of the Invasion angle with Kayfabe Commentaries, and I honestly think it blows Cornette's version out of the water. It's packed with potential and "big time" shock & awe moments. Plus, underneath all that, it actually follows continuity, presents parallels and callbacks to the original nWo angle, and some other REALLY neat stuff. Simultaneously, I get the impression that he never considers the limits or abilities of the performers themselves. It's easy to understand why this guy would look at Jeff Jarrett and see his version of Triple H, or why he would see Booker T circa 2000 as the next Rock, or whatever. It's like he just figures - "Hey, bro. If I can put it on paper, if I can dream it up, if I can fantasize it to life, then it works." And it just doesn't. Plus, he constantly bitches & moans about the budget in TNA. It's another telltale sign that the guy doesn't understand how or why there's a need to sometimes work around actual real world issues like costs, contracts, or other logistics. And beyond all that - the usual defense you hear for Russo is that he gave EVERYBODY something to do. Uck. I mean, I'm all for mid-card programs and even opening matches with something at stake, but the general idea of giving EVERYONE an angle is overrated. It diminishes the meaningful stuff up top and dilutes things in the long run. Besides, if giving EVERYBODY something to do means I've got to get shit like Terri Runnels having a miscarriage, Headbanger Mosh beating his girlfriend backstage and jogging down to the ring in boxer briefs, or whateverthefuck each week - then I'd much rather watch less people have less things to do, please & thanks.

From every account I've heard, it seems like Russo and Ferrara became THE team the night after King of the Ring '98. The Fed was clearly still riding the tidal wave of Austin's popularity - and the money printing machine known as the McMahon feud - for quite awhile longer. And I believe a strong case can be made that their TV was incredibly engaging and entertaining on a week-to-week basis... all the way up until Survivor Series '98. But yeah. I don't think you even have to look closely to notice SOME similarities between WWF '99 and Russo's WCW. And honestly, if WWF 1999 is what a filtered and polished Russo product looks like - then jumping baby Jesus, I'll gladly pass on giving THAT shit another shot. Russo's failed miserably time and time again ever since. There were a COUPLE of brief, fleeting moments in TNA where they seemed to have *something* going for them. But it's practically impossible to separate when and where Russo was there, involved, covertly consulting, sitting at home on his couch, or whateverthefuck. So no credit to him on any of that stuff. Besides, the things we DO know he's responsible for in TNA are atrocious. Those early shows - and later with the one-hour Impact format - are all absolute garbage. Honest to God, I'd rather crab-walk and crawl on my hands & knees through a dozen dirty dumpster fires than review some of that Russo-booked television. It's THAT awful.

I'm glad they intentionally kept Prince Puma silent up until he had something significant worth saying. The challenge to Rey felt like a legit "big time" moment. I'd put it right up there with Alberto's original, fired-up babyface promo as their best in-ring talking segments. I realize they don't do much of those, but that's part of the charm. It's totally refreshing. This past week's show was phenomenally fun from start to finish. I caught it with some casual friends for a change, and I can tell ya - that only added to my enjoyment. So yeah. I may overrate a couple of things this week, so sue me. Cuerno versus Muertes wasn't much, but it was a fun sprint nonetheless. I love that Muertes showed up for a fight - with a serious sense of urgency and intensity. This guy didn't look like he came to perform or put on the "match of the night." He looked like he'd just as gladly be facing Cuerno outside in an alley or behind a bar. I normally don't agree with booking two guys against each other so soon before a supposed blow-off this way, but the finish makes sense for where they wanted to go next. Dario continues to KILL IT in everything he does. His "I feel like a lee-ttle kid waiting for thee Christmas mornting" line was great. The dude's enthusiasm and sheer joy in performing this part just leaps out and back-fists you in the face. Plus he was tremendous in that backstage bit with the ladies. Just a total boss with the type of presence that demands and commands attention, right away. And Taya's teeth. Yikes. The chick's got the chompers of a barn-yard animal, but DAMN if she can't fill out a skintight dress like nobody's bidness, if yeww wheel. That Puma and Dragon Azteca Jr. bout was a truckload of fun, too. High-octane, high energy, and heavy artillery from bell to bell. BIG BOMBS dropped left, right, front, and center. The cynic in me is concerned that they may have set the bar TOO high here, but what's done is done. I love me some Rey Jr., and I have absolute faith that he'll know what to do & how to do it - in terms of making the Ultima Lucha encounter unique and distinct enough unto itself. As far as THIS went though? Supremely fun stuff. Puma literally snatching Azteca out of thin air off that suicide dive was a CRAZY cool visual. I'm an avid weightlifter, and I just had to CRINGE when I saw that spot. I instantly wanted to wince and stretch out my lower back. It's actually amazing that guys like Puma can keep such springs in their legs while still packing the power to pull off this sort of stuff. Not sure how Puma often feels after some of these more taxing matches, because the guy does some wild things that should wreck & ruin his joints. He's GOT to wake up some days and feel like he just got hit by a truck. Twice. Azteca's flipping cannonball bomb thing(?) from the turnbuckle was awesome. I don't remember alllll the specifics of the rest of the match - other than both guys busting out the BIG MOVEZ and really bringing the athleticism. Total crowd-pleasing, fan-favorite style match. Maybe it isn't for everyone, and I get that. But it was pure fun, and I'd say it hit the mark in terms of what it needed to be & do. Sets the stage very well for the Puma and Rey showdown, puts Puma over big time, and keeps Azteca on the radar as a rising star for them. Of course Vamp took the chance to put himself over a bit on commentary, but I *did* like the comparison he drew to himself and Pentagon Jr. alongside Rey Jr. and Horus. Thought that was a nice touch. Fenix versus Mundo was entertaining as well. Kind of felt overshadowed by the previous match, and perhaps it would have been better reserved for a separate night. But, as it stands, it delivered some exciting action and cool visuals. Fenix's kicks looked a little more on point than usual, and Matt Striker is right. Johnny's chemistry with Taya is off the charts. Surprised we got another cheap finish on the same show, and I really wish they would have gone with a low blow instead of the belt shot. Thought for sure the groin attacks were going to be a staple for Mundo and friends - and they still might be. I don't care for the "Worldwide Underground" name for their group though. Just sounds incredibly empty from such a creatively strong company.

I agree - especially with the timing of Roman's suspension. It felt like an open opportunity for them to make an adjustment and tweak the booking for Battleground. I saw it suggested somewhere that they run a Triple Threat Tag Team match in its place - and I thought that sounded fresh and unique enough. If nothing else, it would fill up a few weeks of Raw with Seth scouting for "suitable" partners, Dean doing his usual comedy & shtick to find the best Tango to his Cash, and a few guys could even mention in interviews that they are hoping to be selected by Roman for the sake of being in that money "main event" slot. It's not the Shield Triple Threat, for sure. But it would allow them to stretch things out and, oh I don't know, actually promote the thing when Roman's around to participate in the actual program a bit. I mean, it's not the biggest match in the world or anything - but it does feel like something they should put more effort and energy into it than what we're getting. The Triple Threat Tag at Battleground isn't ideal I guess, but it would allow for some creative combinations and oddball pairings for a couple of weeks, even IF the eventual booking was predictable with safe picks like Seth & Styles vs. Roman & Cena and so on. I actually think Dean could have still played the "unpredictable" card by choosing an old rival like Owens or (even better) notable Shield nemesis, Bray Wyatt, as his partner. Plus, if Cena were to step up and volunteer his services to tag with Reigns, he could make it clear that it's a way to get his hands on AJ Styles one more time - BUT it would give him a platform to put forward a message about the drug test & suspension. I realize they're handling the whole thing with kids' gloves, but come on. It happened. They're halfway acknowledging that it happened. There's no point in telling half-truths. Put it out there, let people digest it, and let them react accordingly. The dude failed a drug test. It's a real life issue. Pro wrestling works best when it hinges on heat and selling. Without selling, there's no heat. I understand creating fictional stories and rivalries for your heroes to sell when it's needed, but when a REAL LIFE story is gift-wrapped and dropped in your lap - why on earth would you no-sell THAT? Let him sell the suspension. Let him sell the shit that happened in his real life. It would just feel silly to have him come back and start to sell all the fictional fights and angles within the "Universe", while blatantly ignoring what just occurred to him in real life. And that's part of the problem with them wading through the social media pool. They want to select when and where they acknowledge the stuff outside of their control. But that's another issue entirely. So yeah. Roman showing up and pretending like the suspension never happened would be one of the dumbest things they could possibly do, and yet I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the route they take. Here's hoping I'm wrong and they actually allow the guy to behave like a human being when he returns though.

To swing back around to my original point a bit... Everyone I watched the show with seemed to think the Zayn and Owens segment was tremendous. I don't think that's any coincidence either. The story there is simple, basic stuff that can strike a chord in viewers. They can easily get it. The fight isn't happening on Twitter feeds. Your average Joe can comprehend what has happened. The motivations make sense. The characters behave like human beings. I wish more programs on WWE television could follow THAT template.

Totally off the top of my head here - but Nash, Waltman, Corny, Shane Douglas, and Honky Tonk's second take are the only YouShoots I really recall enjoying anyhow. I might be missing some of the early ones, but yeah. I remember thinking they'd ALREADY jumped the shark way back when they booked like... DDP and Maria Kanellis in back-to-back editions.

Actually got to catch Raw with some friends for the first time in awhile. They're all casual viewers, and I gotta say - that opening segment sank like a fucking cinder block for most of 'em. They only went halfway with the thing, which seems sort of pointless. If they're going to touch on the suspension, then Seth might as well come out and spell it out. Just say, "The dude failed a drug test." Then, if they want, have Dean step up and defend his bro a bit. But tip-toeing around the issue made the whole deal seem silly. I understand keeping the kids' gloves on for most things in a PG era, but come on. It is what it is, and if you're going to talk about - then talk about it. Instead, I was kind of left glancing around the room and noticing that NOBODY understood exactly what the fuck Seth was talking about. And these aren't dumb people. These cats are college-educated. They just don't follow wrestling rumors or keep track of wrestling Twitter or anything like that. They're fans of the shows when they can catch 'em. That's all. But I don't understand how the company doesn't realize some of this shit is too "insider" for people to really care about. A guy failing a drug test? That's real world shit that can resonate. People can relate. But God forbid THAT be the story. Instead, let's gloss over it with buzzwords like "Wellness policy" and do our absolute best to make sure nobody REALLY recognizes or realizes what just happened. Just a bizarre piece of business, if you can even call it that.

If they are open to rehiring recently released guys, then Masters and Galloway should be top priority selections for sure. If they are looking to reach back into that mid-2000's mix, then I actually think Carlito and Benjamin are quality picks. Not sure what it'd take to convince Carly to take the schedule again, since he's been pretty vocal about how miserable and unmotivated he was throughout MOST of his time there before. And the knock against Shelton was that he couldn't talk - and when he was required to talk, he always shut his eyes on camera. Apparently that was a big "no no" with Dunn and company, and so nobody ever really got behind him past a certain level. Looking back now, it's crazy that MVP and Kennedy were once kind of considered to be the "future" stars of the company. Wouldn't be TOO shocked to see either of them offered something to come back. Kennedy's obviously a less likely rehire, but it wouldn't be absurd or anything. He's never been anything great from bell to bell, but there have been brief flashes and glimpses where he at least sounded like a star. He's had no shine to speak of in years, but there was a time & a place when he carried a certain charm and sense of showmanship. In any case, I feel like MVP is a much safer bet. He'd be perfectly passable as another mid-carder in the mix. I could see them speaking with him about a short-term deal. I'd love to see the guy back and regularly competing on TV, but is Rey really open to even consider crossing that bridge again already? If they can't sign Mysterio, then Jeff Hardy would actually be a nice consolation (if you can even call it that) signing for them. What I mean by that is - either guy could slide almost seamlessly into that 1A or 1B babyface spot on SmackDown for them. They've both got pre-existing, built-in fan bases to some extent. And both would bring in a tidal wave of more merch money along with 'em. The issue with Hardy is (again) probably going to be a matter of dates, travel, and so on. And I don't fault the guy. If he's comfortable with the living he's making - while simultaneously pursuing his other hobbies AND having time with his family - then it'd take a lot to convince anyone in that spot to do something else instead. Morrison would be an awesome addition, but I have zero faith in them utilizing him HALF as well as Lucha Underground. I realize that's petty and selfish, but as a fan? I prefer Johnny to stay put and stay Mundo for the time being.

Yup. Another winner right here. Right away, I remembered that I REALLY enjoyed Bruno's RF shoot. And the first few minutes of this alone were enough to send me searching for the hard drive it's stored on. His childhood, beginnings in bodybuilding, and early life in general are just incredibly fascinating. I'm not about to nitpick here - because there's SO MUCH ground to cover with the guy - but I *almost* wish you would have went into more detail with some of that. But yeah. Can't fault ya for anything. The execution here is absolutely on point. The length of the episodes is a huge plus. It makes for easy listening, and of course the music is a tremendous touch. It's kind of crazy though. There are moments where I catch myself expecting another voice to chime in or speak up, ya know. Podcasts are generally just so conversational. And, while I certainly think they are most effective with that format & formula, there's always a case for an exception to every rule. This project stands out as one of those rare exceptions. Big thumbs up, man.

Anyone catch the latest Nash one with Kayfabe Commentaries? I've caught all his releases in the past, and Corny was pimping it on his podcast. Just wasn't sure if there was enough fresh material or new talking points to justify grabbing it.

Err, I wouldn't exactly call it an "aha" moment of clarity or realization with Matt. Wasn't that pretty much the common consensus back in the Mattitude days, too? Looking back at their career paths now, it's pretty crazy. Jeff really seemed to hit his stride around late '08 and early '09 - and that leads in perfectly to the period wherein Matt drops the ECW Title, picks up the pounds, and just goes absolutely bat-shit bonkers with the online videos and whatnot. Matt's in-ring work took a big dip after the ECW run, too. He had moments here and there - like the series with Drew - but Jeff was killing it on both fronts as an outstanding character babyface, as well as a big-bumping in-ring babyface. And this is much further under the radar, but there's also the time in TNA when Jeff came back clean & sober and really seemed to be on fire again. He had some stellar singles matches with Bobby Roode, a peak heel Bully Ray, Angle, Aries, and an overall solid main event run there. It was right around that same time - perhaps just a bit later - that Matt really redesigned himself and transformed into a treeeemendous heel for ROH. And it didn't take too long for him to take the lead (again) as the better overall performer. Jeff's usually enjoyable enough in his role. But, over time, Matt has shown that he's so much more versatile in every aspect of the game. With all that being said? The Slammiversary buildup has been 'nanners. It's a shame that so many people are shitting all over the product as a result of this stuff though. The weekly TNA show isn't all that bad, to be honest. The actual action is usually pretty damn good. The angles feel outdated and incredibly cliche at this point. But there's a lot to like when ya strip away the nonsense and the company's complete inability to book or promote ANYTHING worthwhile. TNA works for me in a vacuum. I can enjoy the majority of the matches in isolation, but the company has been on a fucking treadmill - going nowhere fast - forever now. Matches on top of rematches (with gimmick matches and blow-offs included) are thrown away for free on TV, week in & week out. That works fine for Lucha Underground, but - when they're still trying to sell super card events as PPVs and whatnot - I just don't get it. And that's another issue with them. It seems like there's no strategy or plan in place outside of, "stay afloat to see another day." There's just no sense of forward momentum or true progression, even when they've actually handled A LOT of things well when it comes to booking guys like winners and standouts. Destroyer Lashley's dominance, the rise and redemption of EC3, Drew's ascension to the title, the Decay as a fun sideshow act, and (up until just recently) the heel "family values" Matt Hardy have all been handled surprisingly well.

Well there's really no way of knowing how "healthy" he is until he steps in there and starts taking shots to the gut again. I mean, it's one thing to get cleared and pass a fit test. It's another to have a skilled, test-fueled heavyweight driving Overeem-like knees into your abdomen. It's a matter of how he'll hold up under that kind of pressure. Not 'zactly the same standard. But yeah. It's cool that Brock is ambitious enough to even attempt something like this again. The safest bet - of course - is that they'll likely feed him a tomato can. And who could blame 'em? I mean, I'd personally be disappointed. Because meh. Gotta figure Vince will be pushing for the safest path. Dana's savvy though, and I'm SURE he realizes Brock's biggest value comes from being in there with name, known, recognized heavyweights. Lesnar never stepped in there with fall guys during his first big UFC stretch, and THAT is what everyone will likely (should likely) be looking to repeat in terms of business here. ... The Punk mention is interesting, too. This will definitely steal his thunder, but there's little of that left now to be honest. What was initially set up to be the UFC branch of a "Summer of Punk" has just kind of quietly faded away.

Leave the memories alone.

Just a heads up - no download option yet.

Ohmygoddamngod. That Graver Consequences match was fucking phenomenal. A true, top-notch spectacle in terms of presentation. The parade of death provided an awesome visual, and I popped for the reveal with the one druid's identity at the end there. Honestly didn't see it coming. As an actual in-ring match? It *does* stall a bit in places, but I really don't care. That's almost a necessity - in order for them to accomplish everything with the story elements AND the inclusion of both Dario and Catrina on the outside. As it stands, everything was allowed to breathe a bit & really resonate. The big spots felt like colossal bombs, but they never reached an absurd level of overkill with any of it. Dario Cueto cannot get enough credit for his enthusiasm and effort. The guy is truly treeeeemendous in every aspect of his role. He absolutely embraces the task and tackles EVERYTHING head-on. His exaggerated expressions and reactions are only always on point. Whenever Mil catches him by the collar, he basically looks like a frog in a blender and takes a crazy spill off the apron. It was just a minor moment in the match - and clearly not even Dario's key piece of involvement, but it stood out and stuck with me. But yeah. Overall, this one was a major winner with me. Muertes continues to string together a SOOPAH strong series of main event matches in Lucha Underground.