El-P

I expected the news as soon as I woke up. Razor was a favorite of mine as soon as he showed up on TV and was plugged into the main-event scene. Loved the finisher, loved the presentation (although the Scarface thing went way over my head, I had not seen the movie at that point). Loved the matches with Bret. Then of course the face turn and all the really good IC title stuff (against Martel, Micheals and the two ladder matches which have changed the business for ever, Jarrett). Him showing up on Nitro remains of the most most important spot in the history of US pro-wrestling, although I did not get to see it as it happened. But the nWo got WCW so hot that Bischoff got the TV contract that WWF used to have in France, on Canal +. The switch happened in early 97 (with a few weeks late, as always so we got the TV from late 96) and I wasn't happy at first (as a WWF fan who did want to recognize that anything else could be good... yep...) but very quickly I really fell in love with the super hot promotion and was so happy to see some very familiar faces, including Scott Hall of course. It's too bad that he had such deep alcohol issues, as it really has hurt the last part of his career, especially when he went back to WWF. If he had been younger in the 00's, he would have been word champion ten times or so. So yeah, he was an old favorite of mine. I got a ton of pro-wrestling joy watching this man in action. So long, chico...

The two mid 40's Hardy Boys dressed up like it's 2001 reeks of Rock'n'Roll Express on Nitro in 1996. I guess they're gonna have some cool matches and all, but as someone who's not into nostalgia nor was ever a Hardy Boys fan, I can't see this lasting too long before I get bored of it. If Lita had not just banked a ridiculous amount of blood money, I would have thrown her a bunch of cash for a special appearance or two, so she can botch a moonsault like in the good old days. Is Terri Runnels willing to do an appearance ? Kinda disappointed (but not that much) that Swerve did not get the great Chaka Kan theme song he had in MLW. The match with Neese was very nice, but Neese really is someone who hasn't been featured at all, so Swerve going 50/50 with him did not showcased him in the better light I thought (but Swerve really needs legit issues to really sink his teeth in, I won't ever forget that match he had in Lucha Underground, if you wonder what is that ugly scar on his back, well...). Neese really is a kinda guy that should be sent to ROH, he's a great mechanic but I don't see him surging as any kind of personality in an overloaded roster of great mechanics & great promos. Swerve, jury's out, but he's a really good catch and can have spectacular matches and can get over mic/personality wise. Can help chuckling at the idea that Shida is coming back against Deeb, in a company that almost runs no long-ass feud with rematch galore.

This, without a doubt. They were redefining the US state of the art of pro-wrestling (alongside guys in ROH, but who had actual main event spots in their company). In the same vein, Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong in 2007/2008 was years beyond its time as far as US women pro-wrestling goes. Classic stuff that still kills the majority of US women's stuff today honestly (which probably has peaked a few years back in NXT/WWE, but has now seemingly plateaued and even regressed with Charlotte turning into whatever she is today, years of Nia Jaxx bullshit and Alexa Bliss doing magic tricks).

Ok, it was on Wiki for a second or two but it's back to TBA. The Death Triangle probably isn't over since Fénix has not come back yet. Also, they just are establishing the three of them as a trio now (those trios title are coming eventually). Not everybody can be in the title picture, there's way too many talented potential top guys to book (not to mention Omega is gonna come back, although I think it's gonna be more of a Omega vs Cole affair, to the delight of only a portion of people around here). Page vs Cole is still going on, as it should. Punk has a shot at being the next challenger for the PPV I guess. MJF is gonna be there once the Wardlow stuff is done. Says a lot when you can possibly plug so many guys on top.

BUTCH

The first legit small (and by that I mean, smaller than me, as I'm pretty much average high at 1,77) guy who won the WWE title was probably Eddie. Can't think of anyone before.

Agreed, she's a natural babyface. I sure hope she doesn't get booed though (I mean, I'm a heel fan, always have been, and I like PVZ already), we don't want another screwed up Cody dynamics. Sammy has never been booed thus far though. Now gotta say this, people on social media actually talking shit about a personal relationship and probably mostly giving shit to Tay because of course they would, these people are just common assholes who should mind their own fucking business. I'm sure there's borderline harassement taking place.

As I said before... Honestly, when Tay showed up the only thing I was waiting for was for PVZ to smack her already. Sammy is 100% a natural heel anyway. And really, getting tatoos of your lover's name is a BAD idea. I was just reading on a sociology book that 85% of relationships end up in a separation. (and really now, Sammy was proposing to his former girlfriend during a show, that sequence has aged like milk )

Yeah, that's crazy, the guy is 6.1 (1,85m) and when he showed up on WWF TV in 93 he looked like a small scrawny kid. See also, Jeff Hardy.

Briscoes are scheduled to face FTR at Supercard of Honor already, aren't they ?

To me his AEW stint murders his TNA stint, in which he really did not showcase any of the same kind of energy he currently does, and that's over years and years of getting tons of big matches too. He did work that ridiculous Abyss garbage match early in the 00's, but after that point, most Sting matches were pretty nonedescript, including tons of nothing main events. I don't think he ever showed over there he adapted to modern workers in any interesting fashion at all. That being said, the answer is : no. I'm loving Sting's current old-guy not giving a fuck work, and he looks as good as anyone post 60 I've ever seen, but let's not forget he's showcased in an environment where he's pretty much protected, and yeah, I realize it's odd to say stuff like this when he's doing Terry Funk kinda crazy spots. But it's still the case. He's been put in situations where he's allowed to shine while covering the fact he's actually 60 years old, and he has shined way beyond anyone's expectations, to the point he's actively super fun to watch. It's honestly probably the second most fun stint of his entire career in term of in-ring work (after the 92-95 years), when you put everything in perspective. But, having a super fun stint at 60 doesn't change one simple fact : Sting was never a great worker at any point of his career (yeah, he had some great performances and great matches against great workers, but that is different, and plenty of great workers with a much lesser profile with about ten times more great matches won't get tenth the attention). That simple fact straight eliminates him from having any spot in my top 100. No cool crazy-ass stint (again, that I'm totally loving) will change that. (damn, I said I was only do positive posts this time around, but I guess Sting was an interesting case because of how fun he has been lately, and surely people will get the itch)

Speaking of which (Aries and balls and teaching respect for da bizness), I've just reached *this* episode of TNA Impact where Christy Hemme makes a mistake on ring announcing Austin Aries (she probably was told that Daniels was coming first), and so he makes her correct it, but while she's doing it he's climbing on the second rope while cornering the poor girl, hence, well, his crotch getting straight in her face. She "laughs it off" while pushing him away, but acting noticeably pissed (the hand gestures, actually saying "ok, ok" *on the mic*). With the infamous Bound for Glory 18 incident, this is probably the most famous instance of Aries being a complete unprofessional asshole while on camera. I don't remember if he was punished for this one, but damn...

Understood. Hey, maybe I'll eventually see him against a really big guy (and considering how small he is, the size difference can get pretty notable quickly) and won't like it. Thus far, I'm more than fine with his work, which has been nothing but great to me.

Probably my favorite part of this week's show, honestly. The entire promo was awesome, but it's always special when actual reality invades the scene. Who ever thought you'd see Regal and Schiavone together in a pro-wrestling ring again ?

A simple legit headlock can control any big-ass mofo IRL. So really, no, I don't see the issue, as long as it doesn't hurt the flow of a match nor the perception of Adam Cole (or anyone else, I might add, as I really am not making this about Adam Cole in particular, although he's at the center of the debate here which strikes me as odd when infact, his lack of size is basically the reason why WWE did not see him as a star, which was stupid on their part) by the audience (and by that I mean, the audience not accepting said spot). (disclaimer : you bring up always the same exemple of Cole and Lee and I have not seen that match, so there, maybe this wasn't done in a way that actually worked, I dunno)

Damn. He had about a 33% chance of hitting it clean.

I don't think I am and I'm not specifically talking about Adam Cole, I just referred to him because of his size, but I'm having a reflexion about this on a much broader level. Considering how over he is and has been *everywhere* he went, I beg to differ. I dunno who are those "lots of people", but they weren't in ROH's audience. Nor NXT's audience. Nor AEW's audience either apparently. The idea that being big = being tough absolutely goes with what I'm talking about though, it isn't rooted in reality but in a dated representation. As a sumo fan, I've watched small wrestler throw much bigger guys around for ever. And we know small-ass Joey Styles has KOed big bad hoss looking JBL IRL too. Plus, as always, it's not a matter of being "realistic", it's a matter of a move being "accepted" by an audience. If the audience mostly accept the fact Adam Cole (or any other smaller guy) can get a Canadian Destroyer on a much bigger guy (or that Matt Jackson can do double suplexes), it just works and that's it. If they don't accept it, then yes, there's an issue. But the fact is Cole has gotten over big everywhere thus far, so he must do something right.

Hopefully it doesn't happen. It would be a waste of both Scorpio and Sammy by proxy. Wardlow doesn't need this belt at all during the MJF feud.

To me the idea that pro-wrestlers have to be big guys with muscles or big frames works together with a pretty much a dated (and toxic) image of masculinity. The big hosses, the meatheads who do "real sports". A "real man" (the infamous "alpha", that the incels love so much) is supposed to look physically imposing (over the other, non-alpha males, and women of course). The "small guys doing flips" to me almost evoques an idea, alongside the critics of some guys being "too smooth" (something that has been said about Chris Daniels for years for instance, a ridiculous criticisms too if you ask me) and exchanges of spots looking like a "choreography", of femininity. Like classical male dancers for instance who forever were not seen as "real men" (often spoken of in homophobic tones), because of how their body looked and how they moved. Apart from that are the cases of guys like Darby, because of his daredevil attitude which makes him different and puts him in the spot of a more traditional sense of masculinity, the kind of morbid one of dying (by going to the war) or displaying no fear or regards for his own safety, very much "qualities" that are valued in "real men" (but not so much in women). But the more I think about it, I can see this feeling of old-school mentality about how "real men" should look and move, as opposed to guys who are small, who do a lot of jumping around, who are interested in moving super fast and smooth and fly around, be light on their feet and work intricate sequences. Like, yeah, dancers. Expanding on this, of course big men flying around now really defies everything about that notion (and that's a good thing, plus it's great fun to watch too). Hell, pushing even further, it's interesting how a female worker like Shinobu Kandori has always been praised because she "doesn't work like a joshi wrestler and more like a guy", as opposed to a Manami Toyota who "screams too much", goes too fast, flies around and "doesn't sell" (aka "doesn't think", "has bad psychology"). And is super flexible too... It's only popped up in my mind in the last few days/weeks, but the more I think about it, the more I think there's something to this. That being said, I enjoy big men slapping meat and hosses throwing geeks like darts as much as anyone, of course, because gotta have a little bit of everything in pro-wrestling. (I'm just enjoying Keith Lee, Miro, Lance Archer and Powerhouse Hobbs much more than Wardlow as workers)

Well it should ! Because that was exactly the point of making fun of WWE for actually creating a star on NXT and then to deliver it straight to the opposition. People not getting/enjoying him on a personal level is one thing (just like Wardlow does very little to me as a character and not that much as a worker thus far, but I do get why he's pushed right now and hopes he'll improve), but I see some people saying he doesn't belong in the main events in AEW. Which makes no sense really, considering how over the guy is and how he's been presented since day one.

I agree that felt a bit odd considering they were feuding a few weeks ago, but then again I'm sure the promo will explain it, plus 2.0 are douchebags just like Jericho, so they fit in term of character. And honestly, I'd rather have more Garcia vs Danielson matches than Danielson having Garcia as an understudy.

Yep. Some of the complaints are the most tone-deaf stuff. Like, yeah, Jericho is attaching himself to young talents. To help them get over and give them a bigger profile. That's the beginning of a more serious push for 2.0 and most of all Daniel Garcia. That's a good thing. Just like he feuding with Eddie is a good thing, it only gives Eddie more credibility. Jericho has had his ups and down in AEW, but lately it's clearly been some of his best work (that Eddie match was maybe indeed his best AEW match ever, and the promos have been excellent). Glad to have him as a heel again too, that's his best part. Also, it's really odd that after making endless fun of WWE for letting Adam Cole go and not seeing him as the star that he is, now we get "Adam Cole is a geek, no one wants to see him in main events". Like, really ? Wardlow is indeed the most WWE guy out of the AEW roster, which is probably why I don't give a fuck about his push. And unless he shows me really something as far as in-ring goes, that won't change for now. It's telling JR is frothing at the mouth everytime he's on the screen, that JR is stuck in the old days. Big means less than ever before. Big + really good, like Keith Lee, of course, that's great. But the most important part is good, not big. I'll add something, that is related to Adam Cole too among others, I actually think there's something to be said about a dated idea of masculinity through all of this and the talk of "big guys working like big guys" as opposed to "small guys doing flippy shit". Regal's voice going woobly when he shoot thanked Schiavone was something else. Regal on my pro-wrestling show again is so awesome ! I missed the guy ! Just call someone "sunshine" again sometime, please ! I guess Rosa gets her day in her hometown, thanks to the cage. That's pretty ok, really, although I admit the trip hasn't been the smoothest, as none of the women's booking is, really. Enjoying Leila Hirsch as always. Getting the old stock music back for Jeff's run in was quite smart, no one expected that (are people gonna bitch about that too or does the fact it was the old WWE theme makes it right ? ). The whole thing was clusterfucky as hell but in a fun way. Nowhere the impact he could have had if brought up in a smoother way, at a more focused point, but the news was out there anyway so it reeked of "fuck it, let's just have Jeff do a run-in, everybody knows he's coming in anyway, that's gonna make people happy". Funny how when the Hardy incident occurred, the paranoid in me (the pro-wrestling fan ?) thought that if he wanted out of his WWE contract to jump to AEW, he would have done exactly this... Yeah, that Sammy Guevarra TNT run(s) has been a bunch of great matches but not much in term of arc. Let's be real, Sammy's a natural heel too. I sure hope MJF screws up Wardlow next week, as I don't want Scorpio to lose the damn belt already. PVZ signing her contract on Tay's derriere was ace, no idea how that girl will do as far as in-ring work, but she's a fun heel already. Oh, and FTR fired Tully because I'm not sure why. And Hangman is being awkward with the Dark Order. And Keith Lee is gonna face QT and Swerve Strickland debuting wait there's more look at Jade Cargill she's 29-0 no time next segment ! I would hope TK does delegate the whole ROH thing quickly. I don't want him to burn himself out in a hurry.

Is this really an issue for some people ? I mean, I know there are shitloads of idiots out there, but still, this strikes me as a really, REALLY idiotic complaint. Fuck, I did not even remember that was CM Punk's old ROH theme as I've only watch his Raven feud years ago, and even before Excalibur explained it I understood what it was all about. People are just dumb.

So, Tony Khan wants to run ROH as a separate promotion and book it too. Hum... wonder what are the odds of this frying his brain in less time that the usual toll wrestling booking takes on people. Of course that still makes that rebirth show quite a must-see for sure.

Sacrifice was quite an excellent show for what looked only like a nice transitional Impact + special. Trey Miguel vs Jake Something was great, Alex Shelley vs Jay White was MOTYC level, PCO vs Jonah was as brutal and fun as it sounds, Mickie James is having the most fun stint of her career, some quite surprising results with 3 title changes (which helped the main event, as really no one would believe Heath had any chance), and Josh Alexander showing up at the and was great, as expected all led to him eventually winning the title back from Moose, possibly at the next PPV (since Moose works injured too). The promotion is looking really good these days.