strobogo

Who bent Big Gold and when?

I don't think anyone is saying Kenny/Bucks don't deserve any of the blame. They probably should have waited a day or two to confront Punk. However, Punk did talk wild shit out of pocket, literally told them to come see him, and then started the fight. I haven't even seen in any reports from either camp that Kenny/Bucks actually even threw any strikes.

Yes, a fight did break out, and all sides say Punk was the one to throw the first punch. Whether you believe it was a "sucker punch" or "Punk knew a fight was going to happen so he figured he'd get the first shot in", Punk escalated to physicality. Perhaps there wouldn't have been a fight if Punk didn't literally start a fight.

"Mob" and "swarm" also seem overblown. It was three guys Punk literally told to come talk to him to his face, and a couple of other people to supervise and/or attempt to prevent them from going at all. I find it a bit difficult to believe The Elite went in there looking to triple team Punk.

I agree that there is room for non SS tags, I just wish they really went back to the original 3 or so shows where there were the tags with really no stakes and to some degree seemingly random partners that got a bunch of time and weren't overbooked for MOMENTS. I don't really give a shit about the Raw vs Smackdown aspect, since more often than not, 80% of either team were on the other show 3 months prior. I do like the champions vs champions stuff, though. Walter vs Lashley.

There were no stakes for the 87-90 matches either, but they're fun as hell.

A Survivor Series card of nothing but traditional SS matches and War games would be fucking rad

Punk trying to keep up with Kenny's pace would be pretty lol

That whole promo played out exactly the same as the Eddie and MJF feuds, both of whom cut very similar promos about Punk being disliked, unwanted, and a hypocrite. It didn't even come off as some shooty shit, it seemed like it was part of a slow burn Punk heel turn.

It makes sense that the people who tried to break up the fight would get less of a suspension than the ones actually fighting. I wouldn't read too much into that particular aspect of the story. I do have to wonder how the fuck Ace wasn't immediately fired and charged after using a weapon on a co-worker/superior and biting another. Perhaps it's some corporate deal to have to go through the entire investigation process before any of that, but that shit is fucking wild.

The 80% was just The Firm

Cody had a dozen useless trainees get signed and like a 6 month vanity feud with his co-trainer. One dude not getting signed probably was no skin off his back.

The level of push that...has him losing almost every time he's on TV and PPV?

I don't know where the hate for Lethal is coming from. I'm not into the One in a Billion deal (is that dude ever going to have a match?) but Lethal has killed it in the ring every time in AEW, imo.

I've never seen a guy have his tights so cheeks out but also pulled up so high like he's 55

I really think the main issue is too much talent. NXT went through this when HHH was in full hoarding mode and it would take sometimes a year or more for even bigger name indie guys to get worked into the show, let alone unknowns and PC grads. There are only so many people that can fit into top spots at any given time.

Strongly disagree with the idea that Kenny and the Bucks need to regain the trust of the AEW audience. Punk seems 100% in the wrong in pretty much every narrative of the whole mess. Wrongly thinks Kenny and The Bucks were spreading rumors about him to Da Sheetz, spends months stewing over Hangman's promo that he could have responded to in the ring when it happened but instead waited until there was no chance Page could respond, then goes nuclear at the scrum, burying not just Page, but Kenny, the Bucks, TK, and ultimately the entire locker room and company. Then, all the stories pretty much state Punk was the one to start fighting, and Ace was the one to start biting.

Dude just hasn't colored his hair and beard

For some strange reason I bet Regal offering advice is more welcome than Punk offering advice.

Punk saying these guys haven't done anything in the business My brother in Christ, you're getting paid seven figures in the company they created

I think the most fascinating thing to me is Punk has become exactly the type of vet he hated when he was younger, and also the things he's mad about are exactly the kind of things he did when he was a younger man (shit talking co-workers, starting fights, not listening to vets he didn't want to listen to, etc.). There seems to be no introspection or self awareness at all.

Danielson is also in much better physical shape and much more athletic and hasn't been tearing muscles and shattering bones.

MJF just going back to exactly what he was doing before he left was disappointing. At best, he's just doing something very similar to what Jericho and JAS has been doing, using WWE/sports entertainment stuff for cheap heat. Felt like all the drama surrounding him was a complete waste of time for anyone to follow or get interested in. Pretty much the least interesting direction to take with that.

Fragile ego. Fragile mind. Fragile body. What a prophetic promo.

Loving Punk calling out Page on live TV knowing Page can't respond, then saying if anyone has a problem with him they can come say it to his fucking face, then goes and locks the door and won't let the people he just shit talked in.