El-P

WWE. Which is why I think the parallel actually works pretty well if you consider WWE as its own franchise (instead of a franchise centered around a character). And really, the franchise inside the self-franchise of WWE in the last decade has been Mania. The stories and characters got rendered irrelevant. The issue is that pro-wrestling always drew because of storyline and characters and the long, drawn out decline of WWE over the last 20 years seems to indicate that the brand marketing, although working as well as anything else in a monopoly context, was damaging in the long term when the writing got totally inept and the star-making machine was deactivated. Seems to work better with movies, although I wonder why really, the complete lack of creativity of Hollywood in the last 20 years has been appalling. Wait a minute...

Jack Gallagher now too. Rape accusations.

Yikes, yeah that one is disturbing too. What the fuck. Hey, you thought pro-wrestling was gonna go back to "normal" after COVID ? Guess what...

Probably not in the best mood to enjoy this episode, which had its ups and downs. Strikes me how really, it's so obvious The Elite (Bucks, Omega, Page & Cody) are the best TV workers of them all. Enjoyed all their matches the most + the main event. Ricky Starks is a cool signing. Lots of potential, good promo and charismatic, although nothing special in the ring to me thus far (I got the same impression from his NWA stuff). I gotta, say, I still kinda like how the Dark Order is developping into a band of really good worker, Cabana maybe going with them is a good little angle. Plus why not add a woman. Speaking of which, that "debut" was straight up from LU. Hey, if this ends up with her going Dark Order, I guess it's ok. However, sorry to say but I have no idea why people are so enthousiastic about Abadon. Totally disagree. What level ? She's a girl with 1996 Marilyn Manson-like make-up and emulating Su Yung. Su's presentation is so much more intimidating and Rosemary is such a better character. I honestly don't see what's so special here. Hey, she has the time to grow, but today she's to Su Yung what Abyss was to Mankind. Just like Big Swole doing a WWF Attitude Era-like angle, did not enjoy that part either (I really don't enjoy Big Swole at all anyway, really, don't see shit in her). However, Britt Baker in the dumpster was legit funny. Billy Gunn vs MJF was bad. Sorry, but I don't want a single match with Billy Gunn on my wrestling TV in 2020. Plus the guy looks and works exactly as he did 20 years ago, and yeah that is a backhanded compliment. The fact MJF did not squash him clean really sucked. The Butcher wins the best look of the night contest. They really need a tag-team league at this point, their roster is ridiculous. Nice build toward Fyter Fest, overall. Cody's TNT title really has been a winner thus far and I enjoy the hints of a heel turn. So yeah, pretty contrasted week to me, as for a rare occasions some stuff I really, really disliked.

Not necessarily fiction, but simply stuff that really aren't big deal at all. I mean, I'm sorry but some of the "unsollicited sex proposal" stuff is ridiculous. People being complete douchebag or flirting in the most heavy handed/dumb way ever isn't sexual harrassement and it dilutes the real issues. Some of it reeks of puritanism too, like : Yeah, really now. However : Ok, I haven't seen the details, nor am I interested. And I won't go into much details about what I'm gonna tell now (although probably too much) : for years I've been involved in a long relationship I am now able to call toxic if not straight up abusive at times. Again, not gonna go into details, but : demeaning comments to undermine whatever I was trying to accomplish by myself (unless it was to her benefit), strong alcohol issues including at times violent behavior toward me (including in public), being put regularly in impossible double-bind situations etc... . Which drove me to depression, nervous breakdowns, suicidal thoughts and whatnot. And this pretty much did not help the relationship that came after that one because I was such in a bad place mentally after years and years of eating shit (so this following one ended up quite abruptly and it took me years to get over it, not to mention watching TNA TV, yeah, that's no joke). After I finally broke up that was followed by straight up harrasment with stalking and emotional manipulation (including suicide blackmailing). So you see, lot of charming stuff. And it took a while *after the fact* to not only forgive but also realize that it was not "just" fucked up shit because she had an issue with alcohol, but straight up abusive relationship at times (see how I still use "at times", like I can't quite come to term with the fact it was ABUSIVE). Anyway. Yet, to me those are privates issues. I would have never tried to fuck up with her professional life because of it. It was nobody's business but mine and hers. It could have gotten much worse. It should have ended much much much sooner. And I won't say anything anymore about that, but really to me it kinda blurs the line between what constitute crimes/misdemeanors and private issues that can be quite damaging but have nothing to do with actual justice cases. And then, there's the issue of trying to reach some absolute "moral state" as part of the entertainment industry, which is a big wheel of the absolutely amoral capitalistic world we're leaving in. And so we get into really complex issues, and so we get back also to puritanism and whatever and all of it sounds so hypocritical as it pertains to that aspect of the issue. Because the real issue everywhere is domination, whatever form it takes. But anyway, this is not the place. And of course this is a complex issue, because WHY THE FUCK DO MEN ACT LIKE FUCKING DOUCHEBAGS SO OFTEN ? Really now. After three messages on Whatsapp you gotta ask if the girl want to blow you ? Or send a pic of your lovely genitals ? You really think that's the way you're gonna get pussy ? I don't even comprehend how their brain functions. It probably doesn't. So yeah, a clean up is more than necessary, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. Thus far the cases that really strike me are Starr, Devlin and Cornette. But a lot of others probably are pretty serious too. Waiting on the brave people employed by WWE to say something, as I can't believe nothing ever happened there... (of course not).

This has nothing to do with a kink and everything to do with abusing a position of power to get sexual favors. Which is sexual harrassment/abuse. If that shit is true, Cornette can go fuck himself, and not with a banana.

This. This stuff turned into the DVDVR Sleaze Thread comes alive in Twitter in no time. Sorry, but some of this is ridiculous and may not only damage reputations for nothing but also, like it's been said drawn legit claim of legit abuse in the noise, which would be quite awful. Not good.

Agreed. I've read the Corny stuff... Yikes. And I have no issue believing it either. 2020 sure is the year that keeps on giving...

If it finally happens, it's long overdue, and hopefully it won't be limited to indie/UK scene and hit the major market...

Oh shit. Wow. That will turned out nicely I'm sure... Yeah this too. Although I'm not sure I want all the details of sick shit if there's sick shit involved. Also, if there's a major shitstorm incoming (and it seems like it is), it will be our responsibility as fans (and hopefully, at PWO, intelligent fans and not Twitter dweebs), to address and discuss the situation in the most, well, thoughtful way possible.

I don't know any of these names, so I can't even put faces on them, so to say I'm pretty removed is an understatement. All I've got to say is "the shit just hit the fan". Good on those speaking up.

I know all that, I don't expect it to be much better in the US than it is here (and considering how puritan the american society is, actually I guess it's worse in a way in term of victim-shaming), but still, at some point, it would be nice to have things move forward in the real world as opposed to having a Twitter war with finger-pointing and fake-ass apologies (really, the whole public contrition act is blah...), surrounded with a crowd of idiots taking sides and making definitive comments on a situation they know nothing about like they are a grand jury in a courtroom. When you can file charges, you do it if only because so many don't even have the opportunity to do so. (now, when stuff happened too long ago to be able to file charges, yeah, then there's nothing more to do other than to out the motherfuckers) Totally seconds the comment about those who act woke-as-fuck and houlier than thou often being the worst... Yeah. Bad stuff.

Why is this stuff happening on Twitter, really ? I mean... Filing charges is not a thing anymore ? And the guy can't talk to his former partner or send his "apologies" to her privately ? And the less said about the cohort of virtue signalers, wannabe priests and "good luck man" wishing dorks inhabiting those threads, the better (although the amount of irony packed up at a same spot is quite overwhelming) Dumb fuck social media generation, really. (damn, I said I would not touch that one with a ten foot pole) On the pro-wrestling side of it, where was the guy working ? What would be some implications of him being "cancelled" (while Jerry Lawler is a Hall of Famer on Raw, but that's for another day) ? Someone else would want to carry the flag of "unionization" (please) ?

Ok, where was my quote from a few days/weeks ago about if you need to only watch good guys in pro-wrestling you basically have to watch David Starr and that's it, so I can edit it ? I guess it was more political than anything, but still, it sure hasn't aged well... With that being said, I can't say that I care too much because I probably have watched about one or two David Starr matches ever, and that's a few years ago, so it's not like I have any kind of connection to this guy (plus the whole "grey rape" issue I won't touch with a ten foot pole anyway). The apology in draft for weeks... yeah, yikes indeed.

Have they tested Flair ? Because, ya know...

The North vs Razcals and Edwards vs Ace Austin were two string TV match this week. Funny bit about "no one watched the North's matches", complete with Matthews talking about maybe they'll be appreciated when they'll be gone from IMPACT. Yeah, they are aware of where they are and that's why they are so good. The North could honestly go straight to AEW and be up there with their best teams. And they have done a masterful job with Ace Austin, who could win the world title and I would not blink. Probably a much better choice than Elgin too, who remains wooden as fuck as a character. They sure have a whole lot of fun with the teasing of who's gonna show up, with direct hints of EC3 this week, subtle hints at Mike & Maria too. Now they have changed the video, with the announcement of a "former world champion" showing up. Sure, they showed people who aren't gonna be there like Sting, Angle and Bully Ray, but also have added Chris Sabin, Austin Aries (who's been done with MLW after a few weeks only last year, surprise surprise) and two interesting ones : Lio Rush and a Canadian flag (which does not represent Eric Young, who's showed already by himself, but has to be someone who hasn't work in IMPACT before). (Drake Maverick doesn't appear anymore, obviously) This is fun.

No. And really, all I saw was a bunch of Twitter "back then she said". May very well be true, but in the meantime : The same thing, allegedly. Wait, no, not allegedly in her case, I believe there's an actual police report because she said that to a police officer, if I remember correctly. And now one cares. So there... Both are dating mexicans, so it's ok... Not "grand scheme of things", but they don't need to (and they never have been their anyway, although everytime a major guy from TNA showed up on NXT or WWE, he got the major pop because hardcore fans know about them). Their product is relevant to pro-wrestling in 2020. Ortiz & Santana came to AEW right off their great stint in IMPACT. Brian Cage came to AEW right off his main event run in IMPACT, and has been put straight into a world title spot because people know he can carry that kind of spot (he wasn't quite there in Lucha Underground). People have signed with them *during the pandemic*, which means they actually give workers JOBS during a time you barely could work elsewhere. They have the more complete women's division this side of WWE. So yeah. On their very small, under-the-radar scale, they are way more relevant to the pro-wrestling industry than a wide number of idiot sycophants jerking off listening to an old out of touch man hate watching a product he doesn't understand anymore.

I though you were totally joking. Yeah.It's AJ.

If you're talking about actual registered sources, you've got the wrong person, that would be Charlotte Flair. So, wrong company too.

Oh man.. Of course they would. Why not. It's both peak pro-wrestling douchiness but typical Twitter-generation douchiness too, really.

Odd. On the last BTE, you have both the Bucks at the last taping showing the two colored bracelets they get, one for COVID testing, one for temperature. That's what they say. Those bracelets have been visible for weeks.

By "non-employees", do they mean pro-wrestlers ? Because they are independent contractors, ya know, not employee... Funny shit though. Has Bischoff really got fired ? Sounds like WCW management of crisis to me...

Of course. One of the best manager ever (#1 or #2 with Heenan). One of the best promo ever (to this day). Interesting promoter. Was instrumental in training/building the last batch of stars the WWE ever produced in the early 00's (Cena, Batista, Lesnar...). Great historian too. I can see your point although I don't agree on the "relevancy" point, but like you said, I think we have a semantic disagreement here too. Maybe part of why I find this so pathetic is that if he had a more open mind, we could see Jim Cornette managing FTR in AEW and cutting awesome promos and get more heel heat than he ever got before. And have fun doing it. And all would be the best in all of the best possible pro-wrestling world, as I had been a Corny fan forever until, well, the last few months, where he got totally out of reach of being defensible for me.

Except "nobody watches" is just wrong. And yeah, IMPACT is an actual pro-wrestling promotion who does employ people and allows them to make a living and improve. Hell, they fucking SIGNED people during the pandemic. I guess some people are really dumb wanting to work for a promotion no one watches instead of doing hate-watch podcast... Meanwhile, Cornette may draw an audience, but that audience is irrelevant to current pro-wrestling. Corny : "Omega and the Bucks suck !" Audience : "Yeah they suck !" Current pro-wrestling scene : "Don't watch it then." Corny & audience "BUT THEY SUCK !" Current pro-wrestling scene : "So don't watch it." Corny : "Yes ! Because it sucks ! Listen to my podcast !" Audience "YES ! They suck !" Current pro-wrestling scene : "So why bother watching it ?" Corny & audience "BECAUSE THEY SUCK !" Current pro-wrestling scene :"Ok. We have a show to put on." Corny : "YEAH ! And I'll watch it and tell people it SUCKS because Omega & the Bucks are killing the business !" Audience "YEAH ! We'll listen tell us it sucks !" Current pro-wrestling scene : "Ok. Do whatever you have to do." Corny : "No really YOU SUCK CURRENT PRO-WRESTLING ! I HATE WATCHING IT !" Audience "Yeah ! Can't wait until Corny reviews the next show because it sucks and it's killing the business !" Current pro-wrestling scene : "You're hurting yourselves..." Corny "NO ! YOU'RE KILLING THE BUSINESS ! I won't watch you again !" Audience "YEAH ! Tell us you won't watch again ! Because it SUCKS !" Current pro-wrestling scene : "Ok, cool." Corny : "BUT YOU STILL SUCK ! I'll watch one last show because you really suck !" Audience : "YEAH IT DOES ! Current pro-wrestling sucks !" Relevancy...