El-P

Nothing could follow that ladder match. Nothing.

Is that Jaguar ?! She's still working ?! Kyoko looks as good as she ever did.

I remember not being that impressed by Mercedes watching the first MYC, but last night I thought she looked like a star. The thing is, thus far there hasn't been much opportunity for the women to shine in singles matches, so we don't exactly know what they have with Britt and the likes. Penelope Ford can do tons of fun stuff but I have no idea how good she is in a straight match. Allie can be a super cool character, but she's "only" a solid worker, not a great one. And they definitely don't have anyone with the star aura to her yet. Hell, IMPACT has a more diverse and really cool female roster with legit star Tessa Blanchard and even Taya Valkyrie (who's really stepped up since her LU days I think, although she was already good there), and now Tenille Dashwood, strong characters like Su Young & Rosemary, Jordynne Grace who's a unique kind of worker, Jessika Havoc who's a really good monster, Madison Rayne who's solid as hell and a really good bitch heel, Kiera Hogan also stepping up since her heel turn...

It doesn't happen very often during a pro-wrestling show, so there it is, I actually laughed out loud during the Alesha & Ace Austin vignette on the beach. The music when Ace chased the "thiefs" into the water, and then Austin emerging out of the sea in slow-mo, totally cracked me up. Ok, so this is like the Undead Realm stuff. I would rather not have the announcer talk about any of this like in LU, but there it is, it really got me. I really like the back and forth banter about Madison Rayne too since she turned heel. Some old-school wink-wink kayfabe going on, it's pretty funny. The Rhyno vs Elgin match (which wasn't any good, surprise surprise) got an ECW chant. In Mexico. That has to be a first.

Nyla didn't look that good in the battle royal. She might be really exposed in a single match, depending on Riho's performance. Then again, she might do ok. She clearly has tons of potential. I must say, about the pre-show, there was some really disgusting transphobia going on on the youtube chat. I know, Youtube is like Twitter, it's the pits of hell, but still, some WWE fanboys comments were repulsive.

Pretty much sums it up. Conrad's podcasts have jumped the shark a while ago for me. I have loved Schiavone's debut and the good first tier of Brucies, I really enjoyed a bunch of Bischoff's in-between the rants-o-rama and JR's was fun for a few weeks. And he's gonna do yet another one ? I'd be interested to see how the numbers of downloads have evolved for all these podcasts over the last two years.

Settle down, trooper, and have some sense of humour. It's healthy to laugh at your own expense, ya know. It was not trolling nor even mean spirited, really. It's called "a joke". Ya know, an attempt to make some people smile, or even laugh.

CM Punk's reaction to learning about Becky & Seth going on vacation for two weeks at Starrcast was pretty damn funny. The guy looks pretty happy with his life too (and why shouldn't he ?). Good for him.

The product has looked the same for 20 years.

He had the scoop on Schiavone going to WWE though. He even quoted himself having the scoop... Well, that is unfortunate for Kylie Rae. Hopefully she is ok.

The fact there isn't more replies says less about the show than about the board, really... I thought it was an excellent show, with Lucha Bros vs Young Bucks easily getting MOTN and honestly, this was a MOTYC to me. Just insane. And they really didn't fell into the most tired ladder match tropes like the slow climb (which they made fun of on BTE). Matt Jackson is such a terrific mind for details too. I guess Fenix's leg was okay... LAX won't be called LAX I guess. I wasn't crazy about the way they showed up though. The matches between these three teams are gonna be crazy though, LAX vs Lucha Bros in IMPACT was great stuff. Second best match was Omega vs PAC. Great match too and quite the surprising result. I like how they are doing stuff that make sense. Omega had his mind set on Mox, he overlooked PAC and got caught. Riho vs Shida was probably my third favourite match of the night. I agree Shida should be the star, damn that girl is dynamite. Not that Riho is anything less than very good, and I get the underdog vs monster story they want to tell for the first championship match. Speaking of which, Nila is not ready. She's better than Nia Jaxx when she was thrown into the mix, but she's too green still to be put in this position. I hope she doesn't get the title already, because it could hurt her if the perception is she isn't ready (which she isn't). Anyway, I want to see more of Shida, I'm a fan already. Jericho vs Hangman was a very good match, but it had no shot of following the Bucks vs Lucha Bros, which emptied the crowd of its energy. It's clear also no one really wanted Hangman to win yet. Plus he should settle down on those shooting star press, although the counter on the outside by Jericho was the greatest thing ever in that it made an otherwise awkward spot into something cool . Jericho is AEW's Terry Funk. He'll have a really hard time getting booed. I thought he looked fantastic, better than Page. Right man won. Page's wife was funny in that she was having way too much fun ! Page is still young and had shitload of potential. Cool entrance on the horse too. Cody vs Shawn Spears was tons of fun. Not a great match, just good, but excellent booking. Honestly Spears was just there. And it was designed that way too. Tully was the second best guy in the match. Seriously, he did a better manager job than I've seen in years. The Arn spot I could see coming from miles away after, but was cool nonetheless. They are slowly building Cody vs MJF, and that is gonna be gold, probably. Loved the six-men SCU vs Jurassik Express match. That Jungle Jack boy is something (more on that later). Totally the kind of opener you want to get the crowd going. SCU are awesome at this. The Dark Order gimmick needs to be revamped badly. They are not over and although their in-ring work is good, they just drag whoever works with them into a hole of silence, despite the goodwill of that crowd. Worst match on the show and still technically good, but yeah, that gimmick is a failure. Kill it before the TV. And it's like they know it, since Orange Cassidy showing up was there to make you forget about the Dark Order. Janela vs Havoc vs Allin was exactly what I thought it would be. Ok, with Janela throwing a tennis racket away, and since we know Corny & Callihan were actually working a rivalry online, I'm that close to expecting Corny showing up in AEW at one point like he did in ECW back then for a showcase against Janela. Allin is going to kill himself, but hey, what are you gonna do. Janela was the star of the match in term of personality What the hell was that orihara moonsault BTW ? The monkey flip in the chair was hilarious. Havoc was kinda hidden by the other too, and in a way he was the smarter worker in not taking the biggest bumps, and I guess the paper cut spots are fine the first time you see them but... The pre-show match with Angelico & Evans vs Private Party was the greatest flippiest match ever. Evans & Angelico as heels is exactly what you need. PP are not ready for anything other than doing awesome spots yet, let's see if they can grow out to be more than that. They certainly have charisma too. Yeah, the women battle royal was a miss. Felt rushed. No real big surprise. Tenille Dashwood from IMPACT working the show was certainly interesting. I hope Ivelisse gets signed. I'm glad Scarlett didn't show up there, would have been a waste. I get what they want to do with Nyla, but when you have a lot better workers around her, I dunno, I would hope the don't go Nia Jaxx with her (although she's got a much better presence). Some good spots at the end though, Britt looks like a star. So yeah, tons of fun, love the presentation and production, love the approach they have with zero backstage segment and stuff. The announcing... Ok, Excalibur is excellent, that's a fact. I have no idea what Goldenboy is here for. Thus far he doesn't display much personality, doesn't add anything to the booth. And then there's good ol' JR. Sorry to say, but he wasn't good. Jungle Jack ? Again and again and again ? And it's not like it's something new. He used to mix Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit in 2000. Did not know how to put Riho and Shida over at all (to say the least), basically saying they have no chance against Nyla anyway. Seriously, I know he's valuable as a name, but his performance here was pretty damn bad. You want a classic voice ? Put Schiavone in. Hell, call Corny, who has been *great* (despite the bullshit) in AEW. Call Don Callis, who's simply a terrific, terrific announcer who also adds humour and character to his stuff, something that is really lacking from this announcing team (hell, even super serious NJPW announcing during the G1 had a lot more flavour and personality). So yeah, that's my big criticism. JR just isn't up the snuff and will not grab a younger audience with this kind of announcing. Goldenboy, I have no idea. Keep Excalibur, he's he anchor. Anyway, terrific show, can't wait for the debut on TV.

I may check it out eventually, although this week-end is already ridiculous with All Out, the London NJPW show and a big CMLL show last Friday. WALTER in NXT UK is a waste to me. He would be so much more interesting doing tours in NJ.

I doubt anyone cares about that at all, honestly. Jericho is the biggest mainstream name they have, he's the veteran heel that's gotta be chase by the AEW babyfaces, he's got everything to be the first champ. Except by your logic of comparing with NJ, Page last year was basically a JTTS in the G1, so what does that make AEW look like. It's neither here nor there, AEW and NJ don't work together anyway...

I was thinking about watching that one, but the last WALTER match I saw at Takeover before Mania lost me by the way of being the typical WWE self-conscious epic pushed to the NXT limits. So I guess I'm not gonna bother.

Wow. After RVD, who is ok doing an older version of himself, Rhino, who's as worthless as he's basically been for the last 15 years, now Swinger, who was always worthless ? I guess he's a very low price talent, but not throwing enough money in the way of Scarlett Bordeaux and Killer Kross to keep them while getting uncharismatic Micheal Elgin and a bunch of washed up ECW guys (and not even the fun ones, as I have nothing against Dreamer there, he just had a quite good brawl with Sami last week) is not good talent relation...

It has to be Enzo ! Ok, seriously, the whole "Only 40% of the roster has been revealed" bit from Cody kinda feels like a bit of bluffing, but it would made sense they have a few aces left on their sleeves for the TNT debut.

I would be shocked if they put the title on Page, although it would be a bold move. With Fenix probably a lot less than 100%, PAC vs Omega should steal the show. Cody vs Spears as a grudge match could be very good, depending on what Spears brings to the table and what they do with the booking (who is gonna be with Cody). Janela vs Allen vs Havoc could be quite fun in a "who wants to die the most" (I guess Allen). Any joshi puroresu match on a major stage is cool. I can't wait to see who is gonna show up on the women's Battle Royal (you know who I'm waiting for).

Yeah, no shit. Just like the accusation of "too much gaga" from the manager of the MX doesn't fly for two seconds. Yep. And scrap "sporting events". Annoying people are everywhere. I don't go to any sporting events, ever, but I've had my share of annoying as fuck people at concerts.

Ah, ok (this is so written in French btw). About the bolded part, no one wants to do that !

That's NZO for you. And the guy has been setting the indies of fire. He's a draw and all. BTW, remember when the talking point was "Enzo is the next Roddy Piper ?". Well, I thought this was ridiculous even way back when, as really their act was the NAO with a hot girl add in (who has been doing the best of the three of them BTW), as in a sing-along catchphrase and matches no one gives a fuck about. Cass also is the worst Billy Gunn ever. Since then, that MJF fellow has surfaced, and really, if there's a "next Roddy Piper" out there, whatever that means in 2019, it's him. Anyway, yeah, please WWE, sign them back or AEW will jump on them ! Release some guys to give those two a fat paychecks. Please.

Really now ? I know the whole "Enzo is star" bit has been a running gag on this board (yeah, I know, those irrelevant 205 Live "big" ratings), but come on now. I mean, WWE can't be THAT desperate.

Meanwhile, IMPACT remains my favourite weekly pro-wrestling. In the absence of Cage (which honestly can't be too good, he has been away forever now), Elgin has been feuding with Rhino in the background, leaving Tessa Blanchard and Sami Callihan, the two MVPs of the promotion, feuding on top. I guess if they have the patience, they can go with Sami winning the title at Bound for Glory then Tessa winning in 2020 (and then leaving for AEW hopefully, not that I want IMPACT to lose a key talent, but I would love to see her in the major promotion I actually want to follow). Falah Bahh vs Moose was a very good big guy match. Rascalz vs Mack, Swann & RVD was also very good. I guess the Desi Hit Squad on the farm will be some classic old-school pro-wrestling vignettes, but at this point I'd like Rohit Raju to actually get more credit and a single push in the X-div, the guy is good. Also enjoying the dynamic between Keira Hogan (the heel turn did her a world of good) and Madison Rayne. Especially since they have super solid matches lately, with Jordynne Grace as the enemy. I guess Grace & Rosemary vs Rayne & Hogan is happening at BFG. The Taya stuff with Bravo is pretty funny in a corny pro-wrestling way. Taya is another one that should land "somewhere", especially after her terrific cameo with her husband on BTE last week. The only angle I'm not a big fan of is Ace Austin & Eddie Edward, not because I don't care about these two, and I actually enjoy Austin actually get some time and a legit angle to showcase more personality, but it's one if those "the babyfaces aren't watching their own show ?" angle. Works in LU because of how the promotion was built, on IMPACT it doesn't work as much, we know Austin is a douchebag. The tapings in Mexico are always fun thanks to the different atmosphere and AAA talent showing up, so looking forward to watch these shows. What's up with Killer Kross ? He hasn't been around. Are they working toward granting him his release ? Hopefully, again, the AAA connection lands him & Scarlett a job in AEW eventually. Despite the ever problematic issue of depth, IMPACT is still doing a terrific job with what they have. And Callis is the best color guy today.

Fuck, I had forgotten about that part of the story !

Thanks for reminding me not to listen anymore. Highlight of Orton's career to me is when he broke his hand doing the idiotic "viper" bit where he hits the mat and overdoes that evil look that he overdoes...

Why I could never care about WWE's modern style (speaking about in-ring, promo style, presentation, everything basically) that debuted in the 00's in two words : Randy Orton. I mean, I've called him the Black Hole for a reason.