El-P

That's a pretty cool article : https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/aew-mikey-rukus-interview

I haven't played a wrestling video game since that Mania game in the 90's that had Razor & Bam Bam & Luger and such. And they had all the same moveset I think . But you may very well be right about that with more modern games. Reminds me that whenever that AEW game drops, I totally play it now that I've bought an X-Box One (to endure the third lockdown last year).

Funny, as I'm currently going through quite a bit of 90's NJPW, I find this guy may absolutely have a place, as he's probably been the best Liger opponent, the (second) best Ohtani opponent, the best Kanemoto opponent, in some of the best matches of the decade in the genre. If anything, he's in the top 3 NJPW juniors of the decade, and that's alongside Liger and Ohtani, who are two of the greatest ever (Sano was a 80's guy okay ?). The one thing that kinda works against him is that really, when Liger wasn't the focus of the junior division (and he mostly was) it was just not an important part of the product (at one point Norio Honaga got the belt back in the mid 90's people) so Sammy ended up working in meaningless tag matches on the undercard quite often. But when called up, this guy has a pretty high ratio of classics. He was a mean mofo too, even when working as a babyface underdog against Kanemoto. Great bomb throwing junior, great aggro, and one of my favorite "awkward" (in that he had this unaesthetic way to carry himself) great worker (alongside Taue & Angle). Still figuring him out, but he certainly has a case.

The one thing that has played a part is this form of presentation, that is never talked about, is the RAW stage. It's not called a stage for nothing. Before that point, the entrance was just an entrance leading to the ringside arena, with more or less decorum around the gate. Sure, you got the big stage at the Tokyo Dome, but it was only for special occasions. When WWE began to make it a permanent thing, it changed the way wrestlers would enter the arena, especially as the stage became more and more grandiose. You could not just walk to the ring doing nothing, there was a stage right there to present yourself, you character, to the public. And with the idea of personal branding, what you did on the stage was more and more a matter of branding itself. Likewise the appearance and the name, the way they move would be part of the brand too, so it had to be immediately recognizable and reproductible to be sold (like, well, a video game entrance). To me it was even more noticeable at first with the women, since they had the added "bonus" of being very sexualized, so there had to be some funky little sexy move executed on the ramp (there was this period in TNA when seemingly every women, even those who weren't very sexualized as characters at first, like Taylor Wilde, had to do a little dance routine). Of course this went beyond and to the inside of the ring (again with women, often toward the ropes in front of the hard cam in moves that were reminiscent of pole dance routine sometimes), but the adding of the big stage certainly played a big part is that kind of presentation.

He is. He's been a favorite of mine since day 1 he step foot in IMPACT. His match with Trey at the PPV was awesome. I love his work, so crisp and brutal looking. Right now IMPACT is where it is in term of audience, but as far as the product goes, I've said it before and I'll say it again, Scott D'Amore is the best booker today, has been for a few years, in term of getting the most out of his roster and planning a week-to-week show that always has a direction for everyone involved, with a visible long-term planning. They finally kinda made me care or at least nor frown at the idea of watching W. Morrissey (I was at first and for a good while, but he's been booked very well in term of making him look the best possible), which is quite a feat. The ROH invasion thus far has been a terrific little angle and I love the fact I'm getting a PCO run in a company I follow in 2022. No idea what was his rep in WWE, but Tom Hannifan certainly is a step up from Striker, whom I have a soft spot for but could be cringe still sometime. I have no doubt getting away from the controlled "get yelled at by Vince on the earpiece" environment can only do you good too.

The consensus is that Kazuchika Okada may very well be the greatest wrestler ever. That's why. Also, Meltz actually said Don Owen was not a bad choice and that longevity actually was the reason why.

I want a stereo Panama Sunrise. That's all. (really sounds like a cocktail too)

You're right, I totally forgot about that one. Haven't watch a Rock match in probably 15 years (apart from those Rock vs Cena main events when they happened).

So on Jericho's podcast, Scotty 2 Hotty said that the new directives at the PC was that the coaches had to look younger. Yep. That's the idea from Vince. Dye beard, cut hair, look younger. The future is bright for the future WWE trainee in such a quality environment that puts emphasis on what really matters...

I dunno. There was the same zoom-in/out effect on AJW shows in the 90's if I remember right, at the start of the matches. I don't really remember any comparable cam effect as a gimmick in WWE to be honest, but then again maybe I forgot about it. The fill-in chants probably comes from the Attitude Era indeed. Most notably the New Age Outlaws, Austin & Rock I think.

Cole was already doing this in ROH. That being said, I have no issue with Cole because he's basically an exception (well, Britt actually does the same thing with D.M.D, power couple indeed) but I would not want it to be the way to go in getting people over. Of course, whatever works works, but like you said the more you differentiate yourself from WWE, the better (I was never a fan of the most WWEish stuff Jericho has done in the past). The zoom-in actually reminds me a lot more of Okada's cam production signature. And since Best Friends are part of Chaos (yes they are), well...

A nazi called Adolph ? What are the odds ? I wonder if Gunter Starks will be part of Total Elimination. You realize these idiots could actually book him against Goldy just thinking "Well, that's a big men slapping meat in a cage match, that's a good idea" ? They totally could.

It's tricky and complicated for sure, but it's not novel nor a recipe for disaster either. Whether Cole should turn babyface or not soon is up to debate (he'll do it eventually, I guess), but the sing-along is what makes a lot of the perception that he is a star, so it's not going away as long as he's over, whatever his stance will be. To me one of the most fun thing is figuring out what's happening and how things work, and the ambivalence in the relationship of fans toward the classic heel/babyface roles definitions in reference to the actual performers is pretty fascinating. The greatest exemple of this lately was when Tony Schiavone showed up on the ramp to give a hug to Britt Baker, there was so much layers of lectures (between the kayfabe roles which already are ambivalent between Britt & Tony, the fact the audience was cheering the heel because they love her "as a heel", the real-life friendship of Britt & Tony...) happening at the same exact time, actually would be super complex to explain to a non-wrestling fan why it was such a glorious moment (the highlight of that entire match to me, really). EDIT : and yes, I then had to google simps because English is not my first language. Oh well.

Terrible comment to make. They paid to attend a pro-wrestling show and have fun attending a pro-wrestling show. Yeah, that's awful, I know, how dare they. Good things there are people on a niche pro-wrestling board setting the record straight always not only on how pro-wrestling *should* be worked (no) but also passing judgment on the fans and how they should react (no). Seriously, this is ridiculous. You hate it ? Cool. No one asks you to enjoy it. You don't want to watch the match after that (I know, the indignity of it, my God) ? Well, then don't. But acting houlier than thou on the basis of "But that's not how pro-wresting should work ! How dare they be blasphemous with the purity of trve heat ?" is pretty... well, you used the word yourself, pathetic. And laughable, really. Respectfully of course (as always, nothing personal, I'm reacting to the posting, not the person).

Can't wait until WALTER goes on social media to explain that he actually choose his name and is very happy about it. Then after he's fired like everybody else he'll say how stupid it actually was. In an era where name are actually brands (for better or worse), changing a guy's name that has been established for *years* in the pro-wrestling field, including on their *own* TV shows and PPV's, absolutely hurts the perception and makes everybody seem less special from the get-go. All for both idiotic and petty reasons. Doesn't really matter. WALTER will never be allowed to be WALTER in the main roster anyway, his body type will sour on Vince in a matter of weeks, the German accent will displease them (if Cesaro could not pass that test, no way Gunter does it). Of course he'll be given a good shine in the Rumble or something and the usual WWEptimism will be in effect for a cup of coffee before the inevitable.

Well, that is still a nazi gimmick in a way...

Likewise Randy Orton, if there's one WWE guy of the past 20 years that I should watch, it's Edge. On the strenght of only *one* recent thing : re-watching the Edge vs Taker Mania match last year (or the year before ? pandemic has screwed up my perception of time), which not only was a great match and one of my two favorite Taker@Mania matches (alongside Batista's). It was the smartest, most interesting and smartly put together big Mania Taker matches, and it was certainly *not* Taker putting this one together. Considering that the idea that Edge is not good is pretty much one of those "niche of a niche, bubble in a bubble" odd take (let's be real, he's largely considered a great worker otherwise), he probably should deserve a fresh look. Yeah, him and Orton, ironically enough, would probably need it (Cena also, but I've already made my peace with Cena a long time ago).

What else ?

There is no decline, as showed by the two nights at WK. He had back issues at one point and took it easier for a while, and why the fuck not when you're programmed against Yujiro Takahashi and meaningless tag team matches. So yeah, booking and pandemic is pretty much all what his "decline" was all about. You put him two nights back to back at the Tokyo Dome and he's basically saving both shows (which were very underwhelming) popping out two incredible matches, most impressive of all the second being even more incredible than the first. And then he's having an amazing performance as the already legendary Ace pummeling the frustrated young hope of NOAH in a great tag match that also involved 59 years old Mutoh. Hence my first comment about Okada "waking up" and taking back what's his, maybe the spot of the greatest pro-wrestler ever.

No words on Tammy Sytch threatening to kill her partner with scissors ? Come on now, that's the old Sid spot, only better. What a life this poor girl had... She probably would have needed some help a long-ass time ago.

After the last 2 (well, 3 actually) days of this year's Wrestling Kingdom, I'm like "fuuuuuuuuuuck, this guy actually may be the greatest Ace ever". His match with Ospreay was next level. It's like he just had awaken (not entirely true though, as he ruled in the G1 this year and his feud with Cobb had been great) and was determined on showing how it's done and then some. The complexity of the sequences at one point where just out of this world. And not only you had to think about them, structure them, but actually having to execute them. Of course Ospreay is THAT dance partner, but still. And the guy has developed a style, working from Tanahashi's years, which does not require you to bump on your head more and more and more, so he's got so many years in front of him still. One year ago I wasn't thinking about him as a #1 spot contender, but now and with 4 years + before the poll... Yeah, he could end up just there.

This is bizarre as fuck, especially the fact they gave him the TNT title back at this time. Also, having a TNT interim champion with a belt for two weeks was odd as fuck too. Everything is just bizarre and none of it makes sense. Unless he's very at odds with Omega & The Bucks (he says he is not), I have no idea why anyone would think he'd leave the company he helped create only 3 years ago when they are still growing.

Agree with everything. The ROH stuff has been very well done thus far, having Gresham on the show brings another flavor with the Pure style (which is indeed very cool, I had not watched it when it happened in ROH). Deonna remains one of my very favorite workers in the world, glad she got that ROH title too now. Slammiversary will be the 20 years anniversary of the company. Who would have thought. And when you look at its history, the most obvious lesson is that Scott D'Amore is a terrific booker. He was responsible for its best years in the 00's (2005 and a good part of 2006) and the comeback since 2018. I hope they get Jarrett to make an appearance, I mean, he's smashing guitars in GCW these days, so why not.

The use of the word "women" is really telling too. Not even "women wrestlers" (and really, they could have simply said "wrestlers"). Just "women self-mutilating". Such a dirty, shameless tactic. Of course apparently blading and bumping on tacks is sleazy but promoting an authoritarian regime run by a war criminal is not, but hey, capitalism is hypocrisy so of course sponsors would care less about this (when are the Olympic Games taking place already ? What ? Uyghur ? What is that ?). As far as Ali wanting to get the fuck away, I can only imagine the kind of angle they would have him play.

Not sure what is worse. The fact they are burning yet another remain of the Attitude Era (ya know, that period when people mutilated each other all the time and which apparently, is still the best period evah in the WWE Lore) because they can't possibly make anyone (and have people actually flying off their company while they can, see Toni Storm or pretty soon, Mustafa Ali). Or that bump Charlotte took.