Slasher

People liked his run as IC champion so I don't blame them for thinking he was worth another shot on top. It was his actions out of the ring (ie. social media) that turned the fans away. I did think it was a mistake to begin with because he always seemed like a jackass and thought it would have been exposed eventually no matter what they try to do with him. No chance the WWE would have had Roman Reigns cower in the corner because of the Fiend.

Well it was released for the first time today. They have to make money somehow first. But yes it will probably be free eventually. I had 5 bucks to burn so why not? edit: By the way, the film itself wasn't too bad IMO. Decent story. I wasn't disappointed that I paid for it.

I actually decided to watch this film today on Amazon Prime. Lana wasn't too bad but her character was relatively straightforward and easy to pull off, but Rusev to me was better in his much smaller role.

Again people are focusing on the in-ring work, which is absolutely not what is being criticized. I understand Omega is a great worker, I can see it in the matches that he's had just in AEW alone. But his character sucks, plain and simple as that. When you have a guy who let's be honest isn't as good a worker like Moxley get over in AEW, its because his character is someone the fans can sink their teeth in. He looks 100x cooler than what Omega's been doing. You have Luchasaurus who is obviously a bit different as a character compared to most in AEW, you have Jericho who is absolutely killing it as a character despite not being as good in the ring as he used to be, you have Cody Rhodes finding the right character and becoming the franchise ace as a result, all of those people have good characters. Omega does not. That is what is being criticized here. I do agree that it seems like he left it all behind in Japan, and he is gonna have to find a way to connect with the audiences in the States. It's still way early and I am sure he will get it going eventually, but I don't think its wrong to say his character sucks right now. Him and Page both.

Well yes his character is a flop. No one here is talking about his workrate. All the criticisms so far is about his character and how he is portraying it. It doesn't help that guys who were signed later on got over quickly compared to Omega (like Moxley). He went from being the hot thing to being a guy no one cared about in such quick order. Luckily for him, as evident here, people are willing to give him quite the leash to get it corrected.

Joke or not, them revealing Omega lifting ten pounds or so total on the bench press was a bad look for a guy you're supposed to see as a star. Like what could that have possibly accomplished other than to make him look like a geek?

Yeah I think the Bucks can get their heat back anytime but I actually think Omega is hurting himself with this presentation of his character. Listen, the Bucks have already gotten over in America so it is kinda like they understand what American audiences like but Omega as far as I can see did not get over until he went to Japan. So he is running with this concept of his character like the video game ties and stuff that got him over with the Japanese audience, but its just not working as well here in America. The more Omega continues with this, the harder I think it will be to get him to the place they planned or expected him to be at when time comes for it. Just my guess.

I do confess I had to twist myself into a pretzel to justify that nickname so I won't argue against your points.

I'd even accept that if it means that brand gets the main event of Wrestlemania, regardless of the Royal Rumble outcome...anything!

But who is the archer? Did I miss someone having a guest stint on the TV show Arrow or something? To me, it doesn't matter what Mauro says, Archer of infamy means absolutely nothing in terms of NXT gimmicks. At least Roderick Strong does do backbreakers to back up that nickname.

I think until they get a proper manager or they learn how to talk for themselves they should not be mugging the camera because it is clear they do not know what they are doing there as I pointed out before. I honestly think if they had the Hager gimmick of not talking and just acting intimidating, they would get so much farther right now than they are currently. Ortiz especially needs to stay away from the camera because he is actively detracting from their mystique with the mugging.

The champion is a guy playing a washed up rock star. "Sports feel" went out the window a long time ago. And Moxley winning matches by putting people through hardcore shit was just throwing dirt on that grave.

The whole brand supremacy thing would work out so well if they could just do the smallest thing which is establishing a prize or a reason for all of this. Like when Team Austin vs Team Bischoff happened, and the prize was getting a major favor granted per member of the winning team. Just anything to give them a reason to band up and fight the other brands. That is just so easy and simple to do, I don't know why they won't do it.

Messiah of the backbreaker makes some sense to me. Its like saying he is bringing the backbreaker back into style, or that he is the leader of everyone who ever wanted to see backbreakers. Is it lame? Yeah but there's some purpose to it. Archer of infamy, though? Nah got nothing there.

I did like it when Jericho cut the promo challenging the Young Bucks for his teammates. The problem is Jericho can only do so much for the show every week before getting stale. So I would guess they should find someone to be a manager for PnP and maybe Hager when he gets around to actually wrestling.

PnP is good team, don't get me wrong, but in AEW they have not really looked as good as the other teams does. I mean look at Ortiz mugging the camera shouting "We are the best! The best! The best!" repeatedly. Its just feels like going to AEW exposed them a little as far as TV characters go.

Darby has said a few times that he has no interest in wrestling long term. His ultimate goal is to do something with filmmaking. So yeah it makes sense he would think it's okay to do those crazy stunts if he had already set an internal deadline for when to walk away (or roll away in a wheelchair?). If he was planning on sticking around long term I would doubt he would be as willing to do those things on a weekly basis. I would be careful to assume that taking some rockers who mutilate themselves means he lives their lifestyles. It is just as likely he is playing a character, and nothing more. I mean, Finn Balor doesn't actually think he is Finn McCool and Balor the demon. It's just a gimmick.

I feel like Darby is a guy who knows he plans to get out of wrestling sooner than later so he is willing to empty the tank in every match he is in. He is the personification of YOLO.

Orton's deal is that he is actually one of the best in executing moves and in the "technical" side of wrestling. He just can't seem to marry that ability to a compelling character or something more interesting than the frat boy douchebag character he's pretty much portrayed all these years. So the result is his peers appreciate him for what he allows them to do in matches with him, how easy he would be to work with (besides Kofi, I guess). It just doesn't resonate as well with fans sitting there watching him.

No not really. He's pretty much as average in the ring as it gets. But his character is so good it really doesn't matter. Plus Cody being the storyteller kind of wrestler now, he'll get something decent out of MJF.

If my eyes don't deceive me, it would appear Rusev also has a part in the film as well.

To be honest, I doubt Heyman or whoever is booking that storyline was going for Wrestlecrap. In that sense, that means she is actually undermining the gravity of the storyline. That is not what a good actor does. A good actor acts in good faith, regardless of if she recognizes that it is a Wrestlecrap storyline.

After that attack? No. Keep Dustin out for a few months. I hate it when guys return too quickly after major injury angles. I'm talking about things like Rock getting hit by the truck by NWO or Triple H being flipped and dropped in a car from a high place and returning a week later. AEW does not need Dustin right now. Let him stay backstage and help people out in a backstage role til the time is right to bring him out. Perhaps at the next PPV.

Dunno, I mean in my opinion she outlasted her purpose. It worked when she was acting like an interpreter or manager, but now that Rusev has proven himself capable of getting over on his own, I'd like to see him do something different in NJ or AEW.

I know they are a real life couple and all, but I'd love to see what Rusev could do in another company by himself. He can talk, he can be a credible threat (at least similar to Hager). Leave Lana behind like Moxley did Renee. It's not like she is the reason he is popular.