El-P

Finally watched that Maclin vs Young dog collar match. That Maclin bladejob was a crime scene in itself. Two weeks after the insane Callihan vs Warner deathmatch, you "almost" figure why they would want to cut back on blood. Then again, blood matches always were part of the TNA charm.

Because WWE has always treated their audience like pavlovian dogs, dating back to the Attitude Era. (which is why the Hurt Syndicate theme in AEW is a mistake when they are supposed to be heels)

These aren't errors. They are just open about it because they feel untouchable. (I mean, they are literally making sportswashing-a-brutal-authoritarian-regime an actual angle where the heel is pushing the babyface to renounce his "principles", to promote the sportswashing-a-brutal-authoritarian-regime show. The level of cynicism is insane. As long as people are willing to gobble this kinda shit...)

There's a joke somewhere about how RFK should have been the one defeating Roman Reigns, since apparently measles is the only thing that can stop the Bloodline. But it's probably a bit dark... Oh well.

When I say shit is piling up https://x.com/TripleH/status/1933662710413341152 Can't wait for the "Headlock on Vaccines" PR campaign. (they absolutely don't care anymore showing who they are)

TNA actually showing Joe Hendry being made to look like an geek at Mania and making a big deal out of it on their TV show is peak LOLTNA. The fact that the audience absolutely were elated about it really demonstrates how far the company has got in term of being The Cuck Era. It's actually quite interesting to see how things are working and how the company is slowly being gutted from the inside. The NXT presence is basically part of the show now, I have no idea how much of it, but I'd say easily 1/4 of the spots and TV time is about NXT talent, a time and slots that could be about more TNA contracted people. Nothing screams more "Our roster is getting depleted" than Cody Deaner getting TV time (nothing against the guy, he's actually a decent performer). Big time talent leaving not being replaced (unless you consider Elijah a worthwhile replacement for Mike Bailey and Josh Alexander, although the funny thing is that he's actually Joe Hendry but much better in pretty much every way except for the fact he never got viral), the best and/or most over talent getting coopted by NXT making their TV time more and more about what they are doing in NXT (and the outside discourse being "they'll go to WWE at the end of their contract"). There are still really good stuff happening though, like the Ali/Santana and to a lesser extent Young/Maclin feuds. Heel brother Nemeths is actually much more entertaining than it looked like on paper. Leon Slater is awesome but he's a guy who will surely not stay there for too long in the current context (would love him in AEW). Masha is great in the ring, but they really have totally neutered her character by making her average English-speaking babyface champ instead of Russian psycho bitch, and she really had it rough with feuds with (ex)NXT talent like Cora Jade (who despite being a heel was getting cheered over babyface Masha, because the audience is cucking) or washed up WWE hasbeens like Victoria Crawford (Alicia Fox for those who wonder). And of course there was the Tessa feud, with the audience derailing it because, ya know, Tessa (who seemingly takes the "she's a racist" chant as heel heat, but then again, these strikes me as really performative by now). At nearly one year of "partnership", the damage has been done. Oh, of course they are drawing better than they did *for now*, but between all the ridiculous restrictions (legit or not, at this point it almost reads like a running gag), the screaming lack of new top quality talent and more and more reliance on NXT contracted people and ex-WWE rejects, Hendry (whom I can't wait to see disappear into WWE ether, and BTW his booking once he got the title has been pretty much abysmal) and probably now Santana leaving as soon as their contract ends, no idea how the long term will look like. TNA's story keeps on being fascinating.

BTW, speaking of funny, Jade Cargill is making her long awaited acting debut. On a movie with Jonathan Majors. The guy who has basically been cancelled for being a wife-beater. I mean. The jokes are writing themselves at this point. No effort needed.

Yeah, I figure 20K would be really good for AEW in a stadium in the US right now, all thing considered. It's already one of the biggest gate I believe. Anything above 20K really can be considered a big success.

Pretty funky to avoid spoilers and post anything while being two weeks behind. Still, I'll gladly have some more toxic spider lady in my pro-wrestling watch. Adam Cole vs Kyle Fletcher Will Ospreay vs Swerve at All In ? I would gladly have too. And yeah, I know they are indeed running Okada vs Omega, as expected. Which apparently sold 1.7K tickets more in a week, so there ya go. Trying to catch up before the Arena Mexico show while not getting overloaded.

You don't wanna watch Thom Latimer legendary World Title reign ? Who doesn't want to do that ? The funny thing is that it's probably a hundred times better than the two previous champ Corgan had too (and yeah, this is the biggest backhanded compliment ever).

I have no idea how to even respond to that. 😂

Same week : CM Punk confirmed for Saudi propaganda show. Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton and Street Profits sings "happy birthday" to the US Army just before a Donald Trump speech amidst fascist repression of the LA protests. bUt WWe iS NoT PoliTICal, JuST ENjoY thE SHoWs Where is the line in the sand for the WWE audience ? I'm guessing not renewing R-Truth. That is unacceptable.

I dunno either. Cargill was the first "big" (yeah, in retrospect, lulz) jump after Cody. Shawn Spears & MCMG are veterans. Ethan Page is probably the last one that kept his name I believe, apart from Penta & Fénix, whose luchador status may have played a part in letting them keep their name (considering these were AAA trademarks to boot I believe). It seems lately the thing is changing everybody's name again. Now I doubt they will change Joe Hendry's... Now THAT would be fucking hilarious. (also, Blake Monroe really hasn't done anything worthwile before she got to NXT. Google her name, you'll see. She's a star because she's in NXT and nothing else. The glamour image and retro-star gimmick is also totally a credit to NXT's genius creative minds)

Why promote a show headlined by a brutal rapist is the actual question. (as far as no way to watch it legally in the US, it's irrelevant because no one would anyway. It's not a WWEAAA show like Worlds Collide was. The fact there's zero actual WWE workers on it is telling. I'm guessing they were promoting it just for facade, as the deal is not inked yet)

So, Triplemania Regia will indeed have Alberto vs Vikingo as the main event. Uh. Really no WWE talent at all. They do get some WWE's third developmental TNA guys, with Moose and Joe Hendry in an X-division match including El Mesias and Hijo de Dr. Wagner (yeah, the X-division has basically been killed by Moose holding the title for months) and the Nemeth Brothers in a 4-way tag team title match, which means Samson & Forastero are also on the card. No La Hiedra though. So, very much somewhat of a AAA card of old on paper.

The fact I actually remember this kinda makes me sad. (old + remembering useless shit)

Same as it always was, they want to own their talent's IP. It seems after a bunch of people got to keep their name (Cargill, Spears, Ethan Page, Penta, Fénix, MCMG), they are back to giving people WWE name. I've seen the vignette. 100% lifted off Timeless Toni (complete with double entendres), only a few decades later, which basically makes her Scarlet Bordeaux (remember when she had hype because she was a fun worker years ago ? I guess being paid to only be an animatronic intro isn't too bad) It's fascinating how WWE wants to be a monopoly despite the fact it's obvious that they actually benefit from not being one. AEW has been around long enough now that there are actually a whole lot "ex-AEW" workers in WWE now. They are slowly drying up TNA from their best/most over talent, and we'll see what it means in two years from now. The fact they are now after Mike Santana too is hilarious for so many reasons.

By this point, the CM Punk fanboys must be high as a kite on copium, really... LOOK IN MY EYEEEEES ! WHAT DO YOU SEE ? THE LACK OF PERSONALITY ! (is this gonna be an "Ethics on a pole match", result : double count-out ?)

I saw the news. It's fucking hilarious. The fact they make it part of the storyline where he actually gets "cornered" by the heel so he has to do it make sit even more hilarious. The guy is the biggest fucking clown ever. (EDIT: damnit and he actually said in his promo that he's no pawn of billionnaires and he's doing it for the people and not TKO ? OH MY GAWWWWWWWWD I'M DYING) They also signed Mark Henry's kid. I said it before, in a few years, Mania will be 100% nepokids and influencers.

There is a world where WWE becomes a big show only business. Like I said in the other thread, it's not like TKO are wrestling people on top. Well, you got Dwayne. But apart from him, you think Mark Shapiro cares one bit about what pro-wrestling is ? He'd fire Levesque in a heartbeat the day he's not satisfied with his ever-growing greed. Also, if I haven't said it a dozen times already I haven't said it once, but Levesque has been totally exposed, again. He got the easiest job *ever* as a booker, getting what was becoming a red hot WWE again thanks to seeds planted by the last months of Vince's era. His first Mania main event which was Cody vs heel-turned Cena (for his retirement year mind you) was universally panned. The guys has just inherited the biggest privileged situation ever, and that's the only reason he maintains this illusion of being a great booker (which, by now, should be shattered). And his PR is nothing but catastrophic and still reaks of insecurity and pettiness.

He probably already has one on his ass. And yeah, sponsorship on outfits has existed in the past, including in NJPW I remember during the dark Inokism days, which also had to do with the MMA connection. But it is gonna be taken to a whole new level. Mark Shapiro doesn't give a fuck about anything but the bottom line. Also, wanna some fun fact ? It's been a year since Hikuleo has worked his final match in NJPW. One full year. Talk about ridiculous.

Finally got to watch the entire show. Incredible card, mostly. And that main event. The post-match with Tam & Saya walking together with no music, and then sitting on the entrance while the show fades to black was incredible. And the match, of course (although SLK vs AZM was also ridiculous).

It's only gonna get worse. And someone mentioned AI slop. Wait until WWE's programs are filled with awful AI shit. This is absolutely coming. Before too long, Mania is gonna look like a giant IA advertisement for crypto (well, it kinda already is, Logan Paul, ya know). Meltzer is saying TKO wants advertisements on outfits too. That will definitely give them a "real sport" feel though...

Two weeks behind and I did not even get spoiled. Awesome show, with only two minor quibbles about it (the usual ones, Hurt Syndicate having the worst match on the show, although better than usual thanks to Sammy, and the tag belts being dead in the water; the other one being the show going a bit too long with poor Paragon vs Don Callis family in a death spot). Mercedes vs Hayter, Okada vs Speedball (damn, if you know your Speedball and Okada well, it was obvious how smart this match was), Anarchy in the Arena (I could have used a different music theme though) and Hangman vs Ospreay were just awesome matches. With strong support from excellent Toni Storm vs Mina, Briscoe vs Ricochet and even FTR vs Nigel & Garcia (which did go a bit too long too, with Nigel being not quite up to it in spots but hey, 49 and "retiring" in 2011 will do that to you) and the six-men who deserve a lot of credit for working that hard after *that* match (hell, even the pre-show matches were really good). All In in a stadium probably was not a smart idea (and I'm guessing TK will be more cautious about it now, London was fun, but it was an anomaly), but the show should be awesome anyway with what this is building too.

Who is even goobling up the "alternative facts" that Paul Levesque is spilling out at "pressers" these days ? The R-Truth debacle is yet another case of WWE just being embarrassing. Speaking of which, the fact a 53 years old jobber/comedy worker 4 life being not renewed then re-signed because of public (and private inside the company) outburst being the most talked about stuff concerning John Cena's latest PLE match (well, apart from the fact it was apparently yet another clunker) speaks loudly about how the booking of the "once in a lifetime heel turn" has been a complete failure (not talking about business, WWE is still selling overpriced ticket so people can Yeet! to support their favorite crappy nepokid) That being said, R-Truth being "great at 00's WWE comedy" is the biggest faint praise ever. The guy being another member of the "I love Vince McMahon" crowd, he can eat shit and AEW better never touch him (why the fuck would they want to anyway ?) once his 6 months renewal is up and he goes to TNA. In other news, Konnan announcing a Stephanie Vaquer match is one hell of a fuckery (like, really, and I heard it was even worse than it sounds on paper). Gotta love people who never watched a second of AAA ever being so excited about it now. The real "interesting" first show will be Triplemania in Mexico, not this fake cross-promotion show (I have no doubt Gabe vs Vikingo was awesome. BTW, how is Fénix's new career doing ? That star making push was worth the drama I'm sure). I also have no doubt in less than a year AAA is turning into NXT Mexico (just watch the amount of cooptation and cucking that is going on in TNA, and they don't even technically own it).