High Flyer

I’m man enough to admit that her reading of “My Fenix!” put a lump in my throat.

Haven’t posted here in a while but I think episode 15 was an all timer. Max and I get in to it in the latest Lucha Afterground podcast ep. The Dark Fenix saga has quietly become one of the best angles of the year in wrestling.

I think I may have become resigned to what Wrestlemania is now, because I'm not too bummed about the lacklustre card at this point. Obviously I'd like to see great wrestling throughout, but it looks like it will be another hour and a half of action and four and a half hours of infomercial regardless. In this environment stuff like the mixed tag actually makes a lot of sense. Not saying I like it. More indifferent than anything.

I have a theory that Taya was supposed to be in Sexy Star's place at Aztec Warfare but got hurt. They had been planting seeds of dissent early on with Mundo before her injury. Then Ivelisse fucked up her ankle as well. There's no real baby face women on the roster otherwise, so Sexy Star ended up getting the underdog role. I honestly thought it worked for the episode. Definitely the 3rd best AW to date, but still a really good match.

Super curious/terrified to see Graham's skin condition based on the descriptions.

Self-promoting thread bump because we were lucky enough to have back-to-back episodes with two of the Titans of Wrestling! Kelly and Travis talked episode 5 of season 3: http://placetobe.podbean.com/e/lucha-afterground-season-3-episode-5-the-prince-and-the-monster/ Then Pete joined Travis for episode 6: http://placetobe.podbean.com/e/lucha-afterground-season-3-episode-6-the-open-road-to-revenge/ Enjoy and keep the feedback coming!

I should also mention that Kelly surprised me with the song at the end. Hearing it was a kick to the face of nostalgia. It turns out that the song itself has quite a story as well. This link is not wrestling related, but the first 8 minutes might explain why hearing it put a lump in my throat: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/520/no-place-like-home

The screen shot for this episode is tremendous as well. It pin points the moment when Dynamite embraces his inner heel upon tasting is own blood. This really began as a nostalgic project for Kelly and I, but it has tuned in to more of a discovery of how hot the territory was in the late 70s. So many great and diverse performances throughout. Here's the famous football play we mention early on:

No, thank you!

Not sure if this particular praise has been dropped yet, but Kelly shows great reading, pacing, and cadence throughout as well. Very unique for this type of form.

Yeah, I thought this was a weird character choice and hope that it ends up being an aspect in Dario's downfall. Not just an edgy thing to do for edge's sake, which LU has been guilty of before.

S03E02 reaction! Find out what we think of Matt Stryker's commentary! Spoiler: it's the drizzles. http://placetobenation.com/lucha-afterground-season-3-episode-2-the-amulet/

Also check out the hidden gem from Calgary in 1961 on the network. It's really great. I think I may say "fisherman's carry" by mistake at one point in the episode. Gentleman that he is, Kelly let it slide.

Hello everyone, I know it is on the PTBN podcast network and not PWO/PTBN, but I'm still super excited to promote Lucha Afterground here now that we have been added! Our little Lucha Underground after show has a new home! Check out our latest here: http://placetobe.podbean.com/e/lucha-afterground-season-3-episode-1/ I think the lack of encyclopedic knowledge we possess is more than made up for by our fine tooth approach and our passion for the project. I also personally think it acts as a good companion piece to Pete and Timothy's LU discussion on This Week in Wrestling. For instance, Pete and I saw eye to eye in our rankings of this week's opener, but he liked the main event a bit more than I did. Most importantly, we are looking for feedback, specifically if we fuck something up! Thanks again to Brad, Chad, and most of all my Stampede life partner, Kelly for making his happen. Your pal, Travis

Thought every worker in the match came off great in their parts. Even with the botch, Naomi showed new and exciting stuff. Great opener. Happy for Becky.

I think it was great of WWE to honour this match by designing the Universal belt based on the colour of Ole's balls.

History definitely suggests as much, but I am really enjoying their work and am looking forward to the next 5.

Other pics and articles we reference in the show: http://www.cochranetimes.com/2015/11/26/target-surpassed

I see the Cena line, "The only reason you are here is to be a great wrestler" as a shoot challenge to AJ. Now that JC's becoming more part time, AJ has the opportunity to raise his star power even more. Loving this feud.

Thanks! Travis from the show here! It is super fun to do! Looking forward to exploring as much of the 70s as we can next ep.

HI guys, Travis from the Titans Stampede Territory podcast here. We kick this match around as a sort of symbolic end of Stampede Wrestling in the second half of our discussion in Titans #63. I have an obviously profound fondness for the match, but still think it's a 4 1/4* match if you remove the circumstances that take the night in to more legendary territory. Check out the show if you haven't yet!