Kronos

Watching this now. Dustin's prayer is so earnestly offered and creates such awkwardness, especially with Lawler. It's quite genius.

I am actually a bit concerned about that, for Shayna's sake. They're not likely to run with two "Uber Legit MMA" heels. I suppose they could use their past friendship and make a faction out of it. Perhaps a killer tag team. Much as I like Ronda - and I like her a lot - I hope Shayna isn't buried by this.

Stumbled across this one on youtube. Not particularly good. Perhaps the most fun is watching the tiny ref try to stay out of the way when Terry's doing his airplane-spin with the ladder. The crowd doesn't pop for much - I am guessing because they don't know Bubba and Sandman, and the guys don't put in a lot of effort to demonstrate character. The fans do get into the spirit when D-Von interferes late in the much, but it's all kind of ruined by what appears to be a botched finishing spot. Also, The Sandman gives exactly zero fucks in this match. Dude's there to collect a paycheck and go home. He does have one kind of almost-cool and dangerous-looking spot where he falls off the ladder. A ladder that he had no business setting up and climbing in the middle of the ring.

Bruce and Conrad talk about that issue on their discussion of Badd Blood 1997, a show which has a minis tag match. Bruce says that they considered having a minis division but realized it wasn't practical because they'd have to bring in all of their workers from Mexico. There'd be a language issue, and that would make it difficult to build a whole division around.

Is the crowd breaking out into a Rusev Day chant the equivalent of doing the wave or chanting Boring? I love Alexa's heelish ways. But the ending was cutely awkward. It's a series of jokes that could have fit right into 1998.

Tables Match for the SD Women's Title As I mentioned re their SD Live match in November, these two bring a lot of intensity. It's not Asuka levels of violence, but they're definitely operating at a higher level. These two aren't going to be meeting in the middle of the ring and hugging it out afterwards. There's one moment when Becky gets DDT'd onto the edge of a flipped over table. (Bliss's shoulders hit the table's edge, too.) It's a cool-looking but potentially nasty bump (20 years ago, it would have been an excellent moment for a bladejob, actually). The camera zooms in, just as you hear one of them say "I'm okay". I had to rewind and listen again to make sure I heard it. I am always missing those things. I appreciate the way they set up different ways to use the tables. In the end, though, the table crash comes out of nowhere. It's a good reminder that this sort of match requires care - drop your guard for moment, and your opponent will powerbomb your ass. Good stuff. Not quite on the level of the Charlotte/Sasha matches at this time, but it's solid action that sells Bliss as a genuine threat while keeping Lynch strong.

Alexis has earned her way into the #1 Contender spot for Becky's title. (I hadn't realize Becky was the first SD Women's Champ - good on ya, Becks.) The Scottish crowd are solidly behind Becky here, and Bliss turns her disdain to 11. She doesn't care one bit for the crowd, the ref, or Becky. Solid 12 min TV match, with Becky looking like she deserves the belt and Bliss looking like she really deserves a title shot. They match up well, and the fighting gets intense. At one point they're trading forearms like this is Japan, just hauling off and walloping the crap out of each other. Seems this is the start of a feud, which includes a cage match. I suspect they're going to get some good mileage out of the fact that Alexa's foot is on the rope even as she taps out. I look forward to seeing more from this matchup.

This isn't new though. He was saying that in the '90s too. After he left WWE, one of his criticisms was that RAW became "too much of a wrestling show again." Eh, well, you know what they say: It's easier to change audiences than it is to change speeches.

I am surprised he even sat through anything (but maybe the Rumble matches). I have been watching some of his videos recapping RAW and PPVs from his Attitude Era run. One of the most fascinating bits is how obvious he makes it that he does not like wrestling. He likes the wrestling business and the theatricality of it all. But actual in-ring action bores him to tears. We all figured it to be true, based on the kinds of shows he's always booked. But it's weirdly gratifying to hear him actually admit it. (he doesn't use those words, but he frequently talks about fast-forwarding the matches because that's boring, etc)

Damn, that "Bye Bye to the Z-Man" song. When the bell started ringing at the end. . .someone dumped a bunch of dust in my eyes.

Tim Cooke, here ya go. Hope it's not too long. Abdullah vs Billy Robinson 1978 2/3 Falls AJPW As for me, I'm up for pretty much anything you want to throw at me. Even if I've seen it, I probably haven't reviewed it. I have the network and YouTube and the usual online archive kinds of things. So I can probably get my hands on whatever you suggest.

If I get a partner, I already have my first match picked out. Hopefully they haven't seen it.

Plus, more than anyone except maybe Sunny, Trish had true Star Quality about her. It makes her memorable, even though plenty of her colleagues could outwrestle her (Ivory, Molly, Victoria, Mickie, etc).

Yep. Reading that post was just as much fun as watching the match. I relived the entire match just now. Greatest. Post. Ever.

LOL at the commenters on the ESPN article about Ronda - hating on her. It's true that she's a couple of years too late, probably, to make any kind of cultural impact. But I like her, and I am glad she's on board.

haha, I was wondering why she was wearing such an ill-fitting jacket. Good stuff.

She's too much of a fangirl. She's dreamed of this since she was little. She wanted to be badass but couldn't stop grinning.

I have been wondering all night what they would do musically if she showed. It was the right choice.

Well, which of you predicted it would end with Ronda pointing at the sign? That was a lot of fun.

Right? Now go back 6 years and imagine yourself saying you want to see KANA vs Nikki Bella. . . *brain explodes*

If this ends up being setup for some kind of Total Deevers angle, I Riot. ETA: Actually, I don't mind. Nikki has been great tonight. Charlotte may have accidentally spoiled it, though.

Sasha's elimination of Trish was awesome.

I like its taking everyone to eliminate Nia, Big Show style.

Did Trish just do the tongue/fingers thing? The camera panned away superfast.

Trish it is.