Parties

Yeah, thanks - that's a really good point: I'd forgotten that their match hasn't happened yet. I also watch most things with the commentary muted (or specifically tuned down enough to still hear crowd reactions but not the announcers), so some of the stories do get lost. I hope to keep up with it all year as I've always found the digest "DVDVR" format to be the most fun way to read about wrestling, but I know myself and track record in past years to hedge bets. I often try a bunch of different promotions' stuff at the beginning of the year and then end up wanting to go outside by springtime. So we'll see.

Cornette's not really a conservative, at least not a self-identifying one. Like Watts I would call his social and political views... complex and at times contradictory? And I think he's more self-aware than people give him credit for, it's just that he happens to genuinely think he's correct about the state of modern wrestling when he's often wrong or narrow-minded. I've been enjoying his recent podcast appearances, actually. Lucha Underground (1/27): To begin, I'll say that I've seen barely any English language LU and Vampiro's announcing is really terrible. Striker is almost endearing in comparison. King Cuerno vs. Fenix: Mediocre. Felt like a bunch of spots. Fenix hits some great dives though. Everything's well executed but utterly flavorless. Son of Havoc vs. Angelico vs. Ivelisse: I've been a real Ivelisse fan since Tough Enough, but this sucked. Match has been torn apart all week, but I wouldn't even say the gender angle is the issue as much as it's just a bad match where no one looked good. Angelico in particular continues his run of being the worst guy in great companies. First IWRG, then AAA when they had some fire, now Lucha Underground. Ivelisse vs. Mil Muertes: Just bad booking to have this happen right after the three-way. Build it for a week at least. It just felt like a dumb deal where they wanted to look progressive without actually doing anything progressive. On the contrary, this came off badly. Maybe it'll lead to something down the road, but this felt like a deal where the trigger should have been pulled later and more effectively. And to be fair, I thought the post-match angle was very good and well-produced in the hallmark LU ways. Overall that write-up sounds more negative than it should. Thought the telenovela segments were great, and the presentation and storytelling on this show is way ahead of anything else in wrestling right now. I can't call them avant-garde, but it's really well done and smartly produced. That said, I stand by the idea that these matches didn't deliver in week one, even if coming out of this show I'm dying to see what happens next and what becomes of several intriguing characters (Ivelisse, Puma, Pentagon, Muertes).

Los Panteras vs. Dinestia Navarro [intercontinental Trios Title] (IWRG, 1/17) Los Panteras vs. Dinestia Navarro (IWRG, 1/10) Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe [NXT Title] (NXT Takeover: Dallas, 4/1) Chris Hero/Tommy End vs. Zack Sabre, Jr./Sami Callahan [Tag Title Tournament] (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) Roman Reigns vs. A.J. Styles [World Heavyweight Title] (Payback, 5/1) Drew Gulak/TJ Perkins vs. Zach Sabre, Jr./Sami Callahan [Tag Title Tournament] (EVOLVE 54, 1/23) Maximo vs. Kamataichi [Hair vs. Hair] (CMLL, 1/1) Chris Hero vs. Matt Riddle (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) Roderick Strong vs. Matt Riddle (EVOLVE 64. 7/16) Virus vs. Hechicero (Lucha Memes, 5/15) Roman Reigns vs. A.J. Styles [World Heavyweight Title] (Extreme Rules, 5/25) Aztec Warfare II (Lucha Underground, 3/23) Drew Gulak/Tracy Williams vs. Chris Hero/Tommy End (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Drew Gulak [best in the World Challenge Series] (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) The Usos vs. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows (WWE Extreme Rules, 5/25) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles [iC Title] (Wrestle Kingdom 10, 1/4) Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble, 1/24) Drew Galloway vs. Jack Evans (PWG “Lemmy”, 1/2) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn (NXT Takeover: Dallas, 4/1) Negro Casas vs. Hechicero (Monterrey, 4/24) Tiger/Puma vs. Los Traumas [Handheld] (Elite, 1/22) CIMA/Gamma/Peter Kaasa vs. Genki Horiguchi/Kagetora/Ryo Saito (Dragon Gate, 6/2) Drew Gulak vs Timothy Thatcher (PWG “Lemmy”, 1/2) Aja Kong vs. Chihiro Hashimoto (Sendai Girls, 1/9) Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii [NEVER Title] (Wrestle Kingdom 10, 1/4) Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch [inaugural Women’s Title Triple Threat] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Blue Panther/Guerrero Maya, Jr./Rey Cometa vs. Hechicero/Kraneo/Ripper (CMLL, 4/1) Ultimo Guerrero vs. Valiente [NWA World Middleweight Title] (CMLL, 6/17) Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle [EVOLVE Title] (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Puma vs. Esfingue [Final de las Copas Juniors] (CMLL, 1/19) John Cena vs. AJ Styles (WWE Live Japan, 7/1) Rey Hechicero/El Barbaro Cavernario vs. Los Traumas (CaraLucha, 1/1) Los Terrible Cerebros vs. Diablo Jr./El Hijo del Diablo/Imposible (IWRG, 1/10) Tracy Williams vs. Peter Kassa (EVOLVE 54, 1/23) The Revival vs. American Alpha [NXT Tag Titles] (NXT Takeover: Dallas, 4/1) Sami Callahan vs. Ethan Page (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Timothy Thatcher vs. Caleb Konley [EVOLVE Title] (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) Roppongi Vice vs. Team Tremendous [Tag Title Tournament] (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) The Bravados vs. Premier Athlete Brand [Tag Title Tournament] (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) Los Ingobernobles vs. Kushida/Michael Elgin/Juice Robinson (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) Pentagon Jr. vs. Fenix (AAW, 5/6) Rey Mysterio/Prince Puma/Dragon Azteca vs. Johnny Mundo/Jack Evans/P.J. Black (Lucha Underground, 5/25) Los Panteras vs. Los Terrible Cerebros (IWRG, 4/13) American Alpha vs. Blake & Murphy (NXT, 1/27) Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ethan Page (EVOLVE 54, 1/23) Team Tremendous vs. Premier Athlete Brand [Tag Title Tournament] (EVOLVE 54, 1/23) Bailey vs. Nia Jax (NXT, 5/18) Los Terrible Cerebros vs. Apolo Estrada Jr./Canis Lupus/Eterno (IWRG, 1/17) The New Day vs. The Usos/Dolph Ziggler (Smackdown, 1/21) Tracy Williams vs. Fred Yehi (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Battleground, 7/24) Dragon Lee vs. Kamataichi [CMLL World Lightweight Title] (NJPW Fantasticamania, 1/24) Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Jigsaw (EVOLVE 64, 7/16) Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens [Last Man Standing, IC Title] (Royal Rumble, 1/24) Rey Escorpion vs. Caristico (CMLL, 6/6) Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii [NEVER Title] (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) Negro Casas vs. Volador, Jr. [Hair vs. Hair] (CMLL, 3/1) Jun Akiyama/Yuma Aoyagi vs. Kento Miyahara/Jake Lee (AJPW, 2/16) Matt Riddle vs. Fred Yehi (EVOLVE 54, 1/23) Negro Casas vs. Rush (Elite, 5/4) Sami Callahan vs. Tracy Williams (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) The Usos vs. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows (Smackdown, 5/5) Dr. Wagner, Jr. vs. El Mesias/Texano, Jr. [bull Terrier Match] (AAA, 3/4) Drew Galloway/Johnny Gargano vs. Premier Athlete Brand (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Drew Galloway/Johnny Gargano vs. Team Tremendous [EVOLVE Tag Titles] (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) Kalisto vs. Rusev [uS Title] (Extreme Rules, 5/25) The Wyatts vs. The New Day (WWE Battleground, 7/24) Chavo Guerrero vs. Cage [Gift of the Gods Title] (Lucha Underground, 5/25) Sasha Banks vs. Naomi (Smackdown, 2/11) Negro Casas/Blue Panther vs. Solar/Black Terry (Elite, 2/28) Cibernético/Mephisto/Rey Escorpión vs Ángel de Oro/Máscara Dorada/Volador Jr. (CMLL Guerreros del Ring, 4/28) Fred Yehi vs. Marty Scuril (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Drew Galloway/Johnny Gargano vs. Drew Gulak/TJ Perkins [Tag Title Tournament] (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) Ricochet vs. TJP (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bobby Fish [TV Title] (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) Rush vs. Maximo Sexy [Hair vs. Hair] (CMLL, 3/18) John Cena/Enzo Amore/Big Cass vs. A.J. Styles/Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows (WWE Battleground, 7/24) Chris Jericho/AJ Styles vs. Curtis Axel/Adam Rose (Smackdown, 2/11) Bayley vs. Asuka [NXT Women’s Title] (NXT Takeover: Dallas, 4/1) Meiko Satomura vs. Syuri (Sendai Girls, 3/11) Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 5/27) Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins (WWE Battleground, 7/24) Matt Riddle vs. Marty Skurll (EVOLVE 65, 7/17) Mini Hator/Tequilita vs. Chamaco Gurrola/Mini Difunto (Monterrey, 1/31) Charlotte/Emma vs. Natalya/Becky Lynch (Smackdown, 5/5) Finn Balor vs. Apollo Crews [NXT Title] (NXT, 2/3) Mistico/Dragon Lee/Volador Jr. vs. Negro Casas/Ultimo Guerrero/El Barbaro Cavernario (CMLL, 1/26) Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch [Divas Title] (Royal Rumble, 1/24) Austin Aries vs. Baron Corbin (NXT Takeover: Dallas, 4/1) Jason Cade vs. Martin Stone [uSWA Wrestlebowl Final] (USWA, 1/2) Titan/Fuego vs. El Barbaro Cavernario/YOSHI-HASHI (NJPW Fantasticamania, 1/17) The New Day (Big E/Kofi Kingston) vs. The Usos [Tag Titles] (Royal Rumble, 1/24) Shayna Bazler vs. Colleen Schneider (PREMIER XII, 3/6) Matt Riddle vs. Peter Kaasa (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) HHH/Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose/Sami Zayn [Handheld] (Paris Accorhotels, 4/22) Cesaro/Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens/The Miz (Smackdown, 5/12) Sam Adonis/Rampage Brown vs. James Mason/Dean Allmark (ASW UK, 2/7) Bayley/Carmella vs. Emma/Alexa Bliss (NXT, 1/20) Colt Cabana vs. Doug Williams (RPW High Stakes, 1/16) Tommaso Ciampa vs. TJ Perkins (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) Sami Callahan vs. Trevor Lee (PWG “Lemmy”, 1/2) Astral/Electrico vs. Demus 3:16/Pequeno Olimpico (CMLL, 2/5) Tetsuya Naito vs. Kyle O’Reilly (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) Fred Yehi vs. Tony Nese vs. Chris Dickinson vs. Darby Allin (EVOLVE 64, 7/16) Dalton Castle vs. ACH vs. Roderick Strong vs. Adam Page (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose [Asylum Match] (Extreme Rules, 5/25) Tommaso Ciampa vs. Cedric Alexander (EVOLVE 65, 7/17) Diamante Azul/Johnny Idol/Rush vs. Cibernético/Sam Adonis/Último Guerrero (CMLL, 7/2) Jay White vs. David Finlay (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) Dean Ambrose/Neville vs. Sheamus/Kevin Owens (Smackdown, 1/14) Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio [uS Title] (Royal Rumble, 1/24) Mark Henry/Jack Swagger vs. Damien Sandow/Damien Young vs. The Ascension vs. The Dudley Boyz (Royal Rumble, 1/24) Rusev vs. Zack Ryder (WWE Battleground, 7/24) Timothy Thatcher vs. Marty Skurll (EVOLVE 64, 7/16) The Usos vs. Fandango/Tyler Breeze (WWE Battleground, 7/24) Colt Cabana vs. Kimber Lee (Beyond Wrestling, 4/24) Guerrero Maya, Jr./The Panther vs. Arkangel de la Muerte/Virus [Arena Coliseo Tag Championship] (PROESA, 6/18) 7-Man Ladder Match (Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn/Dolph Ziggler/Zack Ryder/The Miz/Sin Cara/Stardust) [iC Title] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Timmy Lou Retton vs. Jaxson James (WVCW, aired 2/13) The New Day (Big E/Xavier Woods) vs. The Vaudevillians [Tag Titles] (Extreme Rules, 5/25) Yuki Ishikawa/Keita Yano vs. Manabu Hara/Sanshu Tsubakichi (Kenji Takeshima Produce, 3/26) Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin [#1 Contender's Match] (NXT, 1/27) Los Tortuga Ninjas vs. Los Mariachi Locos [Mexico State Trios Championship] (IWRG, 5/1) Total Divas (Brie Bella/Natalya/Paige/Alicia Fox/Eva Marie) vs. Bad and Blonde [Lana/Naomi/Tamina/Emma/Summer Rae] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Jay Lethal vs. Colt Cabana [World Title] (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) Ethan Page vs. Fred Yehi (EVOLVE 57, 3/20) Dr. Cerebro/Califan vs. Maximo Sexy/Rey Hechicero (AULL, 2/6) Dragon Lee/Máscara Dorada/Místico/Valiente vs. La Ola Amarilla [Okumura/Kamaitachi/Fujin/Raijin] (CMLL, 3/18) Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Wrestle Kingdom 10, 1/4) Hiroshi Tanahashi/Dragon Lee vs. Kazuchida Okada/Virus (NJPW Fantasticamania, 1/20) The Usos vs. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows (Smackdown, 5/12) Jushin Liger/Tiger Mask IV/Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kazushi Sakuraba/Gedo/YOSHI-HASHI (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) Hiroshi Fukuda vs. Terry Boy [Hardcore Match] (BASARA, 4/14) Bayley vs. Carmella (NXT, 2/10) Akira Tozawa vs. Punch Tominaga (Dragon Gate, 1/11) Joe Coleman vs. Jason Cade (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) Johnny Gargano vs. Cedric Alexander (EVOLVE 64, 7/16) Bray Wyatt vs. Ryback (Smackdown, 1/21) Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio [uS Title] (Smackdown, 1/14) Dragon Lee/Jay White vs. Virus/Hechicero (NJPW Fantasticamania, 1/17) Felino/El Barbaro Cavernario vs. Los Traumas (Elite, 1/2) Becky Lynch vs. Alicia Fox (Smackdown, 1/21) Ryback vs. Kalisto [uS Title] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Drew Gulak/Tracy Williams vs. Drew Galloway/Dustin Howard [Tag Team Titles] (EVOLVE 64, 7/16) Ethan Page vs. Wheeler YUTA (EVOLVE 64, 7/16) Social Outcasts vs. Goldust/Damien Sandow/Jack Swagger/Zack Ryder (Smackdown, 1/14) Detective Joey Ryan vs. Mascarita Sagrada (Lucha Underground, 5/25) The New Day vs. The League of Nations (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Kushida/Matt Sydal/The MCMGs vs. The Young Bucks/Tama Tonga/Tunga Loa (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) War Machine vs. The Briscoes (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens (Smackdown, 5/19) Jun Akiyama vs. LEONA (Fortune Dream III, 6/14) Atlantis vs. L.A. Park (Elite, 5/4) Sami Zayn vs. Adam Rose (NXT, 1/20) Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows (Smackdown, 5/19) Becky Lynch vs. Natalya (WWE Battleground, 7/24) El Torito vs. Demus 3:16 (WWC, 6/25) Ethan Page vs. Travis Gordon (EVOLVE 65, 7/17) The Miz vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn [intercontinental Title] (Extreme Rules, 5/25) Rusev vs. Sin Cara (Smackdown, 5/12) Shinsuke Nakamura/Austin Aries vs. Blake & Murphy (NXT, 5/18) Jun Akiyama vs. Naoya Nomura (AJPW, 6/19) Diablo Jr. vs. Leo [intercontinental Welterweight Title Quarterfinal] (IWRG, 4/24) Alexa Bliss vs. Cameron (NXT, 2/10) King Cuerno vs. Fenix (LU, 1/27) Jun Akiyama vs. Suwama (Triple Crown Title) (AJPW, 1/2) Asuka vs. Santana Garrett (NXT, 2/3) Samoa Joe vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT, 1/20) Rusev vs. Zack Ryder (Smackdown, 5/5) Ivelisse vs. Mil Muertes (LU, 1/27) Son of Havoc vs. Angelico vs. Ivelisse (LU, 1/27) Becky Lynch vs. Dana Brooke (Smackdown, 5/12) Masa Fuchi/SUSHI/SUSHI Kuzou vs. Osamu Nishimura/Ryuji Hijikata/Ultimo Dragon (AJPW, 1/2) Ethan Page vs. P.J. Black (EVOLVE 53, 1/22) A.J. Styles vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. (RPW High Stakes, 1/16) Charlotte vs. Natalya [Women’s Title] (Extreme Rules, 5/25) The Usos vs. The Dudley Boyz (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Will Ospreay [best in the World Challenge Series] (EVOLVE 58, 4/1) Chris Jericho vs. A.J. Styles (Smackdown, 2/11) Tommaso Ciampa/Johnny Gargano vs. Rob Ryzin/Danny Birch (NXT, 5/18) Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler (Smackdown, 5/19) Kofi Kingston vs. Aiden English (Smackdown, 5/12) Shockercito/Último Dragóncito vs. Pequeño Olímpico/Pequeño Violencia (CMLL, 6/3) Jushin Liger/Cheeseburger vs. The Addiction (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose [No Holds Barred] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Carmella vs. Emma (NXT, 2/3) Chris Jericho vs. A.J. Styles (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Baron Corbin vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT, 2/10) Curtis Axel/Bo Dallas vs. The Vaudevillains (Smackdown, 5/5) Ángel de Oro/Rey Cometa/Titán vs. Hechicero/Dragón Rojo Jr./Pólvora (CMLL, 1/5) Toru Yano/The Briscoes vs. Bad Luck Fale/Yujiro Takahashi/Tama Tonga [NEVER 6-Man Titles] (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) Kazuchida Okada vs. Hirooki Goto [iWGP Title] (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) The New Breed vs. The Russians (WVCW, aired 2/13) Carmella vs. Peyton Royce (NXT, 5/18) The New Day/Big Cass vs. The Vaudevillians/The Dudley Boyz (Smackdown, 5/19) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Chris Jericho [Handheld] (WWE Live Japan, 7/1) Dana Brooke vs. Paige (Smackdown, 5/19) Triple H vs. Roman Reigns [WWE Heavyweight Title] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Negro Casas vs. Super Parka [Hair vs. Hair] (CMLL, 1/2) Will Ospreay vs. Marty Skuril (RPW High Stakes, 1/16) Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Los Terrible Cerebros vs. Los Oficiales (IWRG, 4/6) Hiroshi Tanahashi/Michael Elgin vs. Kazuchita Okada/Moose (ROH Global Wars, 5/8) The Young Bucks vs. re:Dragon vs. Matt Sydal/Ricochet [Jr. Tag Titles] (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) Baron Corbin vs. Rich Swann (NXT, 1/20) Enzo/Cass vs. the Jamochas (NXT, 2/3) The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon [Hell in a Cell] (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3) Tencozy vs. Yuji Nagata/Manabu Nakanishi (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) The Hype Bros vs. John Skyler/Corey Hollis (NXT, 2/10) Apollo Crews vs. Tye Dillinger (NXT, 1/20) Hiroshi Tanahashi/Togi Makabe/Tomoaki Honma vs. Kenny Omega/Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka, 2/11) The Hype Bros vs. The Vaudevillains (NXT, 2/3) Bull Dempsey vs. "Raging" Alex Riley (NXT, 1/27) Elias Samson vs. Jesse Sorensen (NXT, 2/10) Elias Samson vs. John Skyler (NXT, 1/27) Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan (NXT, 1/27) Black Terry/Herodes Jr./Súper Nova vs. Demon Clown/Los Traumas (IWRG, 1/3) The Rock vs. Erick Rowan (Wrestlemania 32, 4/3)

I've been a proponent of the "McMahons use 50/50 booking and other tricks to keep the brand bigger than any star" theory. But to say that Vince doesn't want huge stars requires us to "show our work", as Matt said. Are we then saying: - That the McMahons know damn well how to get a Reigns type of top star over, and intentionally aren't doing so, all in the name of "control"? - That they are so resentful of performers who've left that they would rather have "control" than compelling shows/household recognition/a hot product/more money and longterm stability? You get where I'm going with this. Many of us come on here and say that the McMahons should be booking the main roster as something more akin to our preferred wrestling of the past. And that the booking that we'd iike would have greater financial upside than what they're doing now. Fine: maybe not, maybe so, but I generally agree. But implicit in the (#3) theory above is the idea that the McMahons are well aware that better shows would likely make for a hotter product / more money, and yet choose not to book well (that they in fact consciously book mediocre shows) all in the name of avoiding another Brock/Punk walkout. I'm not saying that isn't possible. It's entirely possible. Senile tycoons often act against their best interest simply because they're stubborn and think they know better. It's a prevalent story in American business. And obtaining resigned subservience is sadly a large part of any corporate culture. But I think we need to be clear that if you buy this message board story that we keep telling each other (myself included), then we're saying that the McMahons are consciously choosing to make less money for themselves and their empire, all out of vengeful spite toward a guy who's now happily back under their wing (Brock) because they're voluntarily paying him an outrageous salary, and another guy who was kind of a prima donna and never a good fit for their business model to begin with (Punk). If that's the true state of affairs, then they will never have another boom period for as long as that policy is in place, and have consciously deemed that reality acceptable. Which is a pretty spicy conspiratorial meatball for us to be tossing around here. Is it true? Sure seems that way some days. But as I keep watching the last few years of WWE, I tend to think it's more a "banality of evil" problem. A mix of bad writers, bad executives, bad strategy. Not a political hit, but a shooting of one's self in the foot. Great tycoons sometimes lose their touch. Sometimes their lieutenants lose it for them. I just don't think Vince and co. are a bunch of evil geniuses intentionally producing a lousy show on purpose. I think they're a bunch of semi-evil idiots who are producing a lousy show out of a mix of incompetence, laziness, fear, poor strategy, and bad habits.

Re: regardless of the time or place, wins and losses matter in pro wrestling - not only is he lacking in wins, he's also a victim of the current Vince mandate that faces shouldn't "complain" about losses. Meaning they shouldn't care at all, and should shrug and smile while giving fans daps the night after losing the world title to their corrupt boss. Can you imagine how weird it would have seemed for Austin to react to Vince's Rumble win by grinning like an idiot and saying, "Meh, it is what it is"?

New movie from director Arturo Ripstein ("The Place Without Limits") is based on the true crime story of those two lucha minis who were murdered. Stars two real-life luchadors, but I'm not sure who they are/what their ring names be. The trailer shows them practicing together and both can clearly work. I vaguely recall OJ hyping Ripstein in the 60s/70s threads of DVDVR film. Have not seen it yet, but it is playing in a theater in NYC. Reviews are mixed, but this is hella intriguing stuff.

Bryan's in, and his peak WWE stuff is in some ways his best work, but he's there as much for being the best indie worker of the prior decade. If there were any justice in this world, Cesaro would make my list on the strength of 2009-present (2012 on in particular). He may be the best overall worker of the last five years if judged by performances on tape. To deny him a spot when he's been that good for that long seems crazy. He may make it, but I have to figure out how to contextualize present-day wrestling with the best of the past. I have him at #102 right now. Brock's not on my list despite having two of the best WWE matches ever. Cena by all rights should be on my list, but I always ranked him as a #90-100 guy and he's fallen off in favor of others.

Really good show! One question, hopefully not a massive downer: this is the one where Bix makes reference to the "dearly departed" Kevin Cook, right? Did Cook literally leave this mortal coil, or was it just in reference to him not posting anywhere anymore? Dude was a GOAT-contender on wrestling message boards in my opinion, so I did a double take when I heard it.

When it comes to merging Steph's weird moneyed, TEDTalks concept of feminism with a PG version of the Attitude Era, it is not just a company trying to have their cake and eat it too. It's a company that is strategically placing cakes around the office wherever its top executives go, should the mood strike for cake at any moment, or the opportunity to smear cake onto a disobedient Diva's face present itself.

Yeah, I agree that it's actually pretty interesting to have someone playing devil's advocate, even if you have to be zonked on Iranian Treats to genuinely enjoy half of what Johnny digs in these PPVs. In solidarity I will say that the Rumble was the first time I had beers during a PPV in ages, and it sure helped that title switch go down smoother.

If we're fantasy booking Reigns knocking HHH off the apron with a Superman punch, you could have had Owens beat Ambrose for IC the title in the opener, then have Ambrose win by eliminating Reigns with a cheapshot. Reigns-Ambrose for the title in the main event of Mania as genuine next generation showdown. Except that at least half of the crowd would be cheering Ambrose in the feud.

Hunter's enjoying a sort of anti-smark popularity right now. He's learned how to win The Game in small, sustainable doses. Some fans seem to now enjoy the idea of the massive egotist building the show around himself, and I have to imagine that in Orlando he gets an extra boost as NXT Proud Papa. A guy as prominent as he is not winning the title in the last seven years makes it feel fresh to some (namely those who still think Attitude Era > the Present), as ridiculous as that sounds. "He'll lose it to Roman in two months" being the other rationalization of choice.

- Brock's elimination was awful and didn't even seem to fit the rules of the match? Wasn't he tossed out by three previously eliminated dudes? For those debating it, match died with Brock's elimination. - Ambrose as the last man would have been better if he didn't have the IC title. - Smark bar crowd cheered the HHH win and threw a roomful of crotch chops. The moment prepared me for the possibility of a Trump presidency, so not a total loss. - Never bought into the idea of a full-scale Roman assassination conspiracy and still don't, but all must bow down to the king and it happened again tonight. Reigns wins overblown epic at Mania, gets Orton-sized pop, ice caps keep melting.

Reigns getting carted off and then presumably reappearing later makes him look like an impotent scrub. Bob Saget impersonator Chris Jericho deserves it more than Reigns right now. That said, this remains the most entertaining Rumble in years and best total show they've done in over a year.

Drunk smark crowd was torn asunder by Owens tossing Styles. Two houses, both alike in dignity. Would have liked to have seen AJ last longer, but they bulletproofed themselves by having Owens do the deed. That's a smart Mania match, but what about Owens-Zayn?

- Goldust punching Roman in the face - The Styles entrance and instant Reigns workrate feud - Skip Sheffield doing HBK rope dangling spots - Genuinely funny R-Truth comedy - Rusev's table spot This is already legitimately one of the best Rumble matches in history.

Charlotte's improvement has only come since the heel turn. The horrendous promos with Paige were only what, eight weeks ago? Also pretty stoked to be wrong about Sasha. Who's doing the page one rewrite on this division right now?

Fantastic video build. They told the story they've been trying to tell in this division for months, and when heavily edited they made Charlotte look like a good promo. Lynch appears to actually be one. Bad timing for a Sasha Banks injury. Unless she's ready for Mania. Between Vince's racism and Hunter's western Europe fetish, you can picture Becky emerging as Sasha gets the Alicia Fox treatment by midsummer.

Kalisto winning it back felt foregone. I quite liked the match and still don't get what so many people dislike about ADR. Strikes me as a legit heel who has a good bag of tricks. (He shouldn't be a heel right now, but he works in the role.) Kalisto was quite over at this tavern. Reporting live from the Great Satan of midtown Manhattan, much of the bar was doing the Lu-Cha fingerpointing in praise of his win. I actually don't even mind the hot-shotting of that title recently, as it comes after the epic Cena run. The US Title can be traded in games of oneupsmanship that look weak when it's Roman repeatedly winning/losing the World belt.

I don't think it's that people don't like the Usos as it is that they haven't had the same opportunities as New Day on the mic. Or haven't taken advantage of them in the moment. And neither of them is as good in-ring as Big E. They were getting booed during the near-falls in the bar that I'm in.

Pity the Usos for being made the accidental heels in this feud. Big E was awesome throughout this match, but that tackle rope from the ring to the floor remains one of the craziest moves going. They have to know how lame it is that Roman is entering at #1, right? Like, they must understand how excessive that is. And yeah, I had the same thought about Henry/Swagger as good New Day opponents. They're credible enough to be heels or faces, esp. if this is the Henry retirement tour.

Corny punk Conor McGregor can fall down a well. Xavier Woods for "Best on Interviews", 2016. And we're already approaching Kanye levels of men in neon pink. Good show thus far.

Damn do I love Adam Rose chewing gum and trying to big-time his way through a Social Outcasts promo.

The booking of this has already been lousy. Look at where they are coming out of tonight. If Reigns wins, he not only stays strong, he becomes too strong. The Rumble match is wasted on reinforcing what’s already been accomplished. He comes away looking very overpushed, and gets booed/trashed by tonight’s crowd and future ones, who view him as Cena Pt. 2. Goes into Mania with less appeal than he has now and still likely has to face HHH in a main event that no one wants, either at Fast Lane or Mania. If HHH wins, it’s terrible, go-away heat leading to a very predictable Reigns win at Mania. Reigns regaining the title at Mania (his third world title win in four months) makes him look like both a stop-and-start stumbling failure and an overpushed company man. Regressive ego trip booking that brings them in April to (at best) where they already are right now. Only worthwhile if the genuine end of the Authority emerges to raise the stakes (highly unlikely). If Lesnar wins, you likely get Reigns-Lesnar II (good). But Lesnar’s the last guy who needs the title right now, and he would then only hold it for ten weeks. Unless Reigns isn't winning it back at Mania, in which case Reigns again becomes Luger. Reigns-Lesnar II (with my proposed move of Austin as Cowboys Stadium guest ref) looked great two months ago when you could have had Cena-Taker and HHH-Rock underneath it. It looks less great now. If anyone else wins, it’s a fun surprise, but you likely have a random Sheamus-style chump with your world title. Reigns looks like Luger, the Authority remain top heels, both Vinces (character and booker) look dumb for stacking the deck so hard against Reigns.

Man, on one hand I feel like if Cesaro, Cena, and Thatcher can't make my top 100, then no modern workers stand a chance. Yet still I find myself absolutely loving the nomination of Pequeno Pierroth and find myself thinking, "Hell yeah, what about Pequeno Pierroth?"