El-P

With Hangman Page showing up out of nowhere and slapping the fuck out of Mox, Danielson vs Dax, AR Fox vs Joe, that MJF shocking ending angle (wasn't to big on the overstatements about WWE, this is getting quite awkward), Willow having a really fun match with Anna (the best she's looked in a while, cool), the awesome main event, that was one hell of an episode of Dynamite. Well, that Cargill/Bow Wow stuff died more death that Mil Muertes, that was just terrible. Which also means that ratings don't mean shit in term of quality. Rampage had some puzzling stuff, I really don't get why Kole Carter is on my TV, he's a mid-as-hell NXT reject, Double J was fine for a special match, but as a weekly TV worker, yikes (Sonjay Dutt does crack me up every week tough). The Acclaimed segment was really good (enjoyed the Balenciaga dig, they deserve all the shit in the world), Athena killing bitches is terrific (I love Athena, she's got that crispness and explosivity about her, a heel role fits her quite well) and the main event was super fun, as QT Marshall knows precisely what his role is and always delivers, and the entire Orange/Best Friends/Danhausen unite works perfectly in that setting. Kip Sabian next, well, if he can't have a fun match with Orange right now, then he's a lost cause. The Regal deal is interesting. I wonder what TK could get out of letting him go back that early. It's obvious Triple H wants *everybody* back from his old NXT crew, he's bringing back Eric Young too. I agree with @Jmare007 when he says Regal has been underwhelming as the manager of the BCC. Not exactly DiBiase as the NWO money man, as he did cut a few great promos and had a few shining moments, but overall, it was never clear what his aim was. Not entirely his fault, but his presence on camera in AEW really did not add that much. Backstage is another thing. Then again, he was signed as a talent, not talent relation. It was obvious the minute Lesveque got in power that Regal would be back, only not that soon (if he indeed leaves soon). With Dax interview last week, it's interesting too as obviously FTR as much bigger now than they ever were in WWE, and if they were to go back, they maybe would get the Cody reactions. Booking wise, tag teams in WWE, they have no shot of having the same kind of matches they have with AEW. The idea of doing a year of indies is intriguing, and really that's what they said they were gonna do after leaving WWE (I remember they had a list of dream matches all over the places), then they signed with AEW just a few weeks after anyway.

Iron cross lover (yeah, I know, Motörhead) Triple H sure seems to be loving those celtic and norske neo-pagan characters lately. How long before we see some Schwarze Sonne on someone's outfit...

In the 80's, it was pretty much enough. I mean, look at the guys who were sold as "heartthrobs"...

More than when he actually calls matches he doesn't understand ? I for one am glad to see JR phased down. He's got a drunken Gordon Solie in 1990 vibe.

I'm sure Tyrus is a smart guy. Like Val Venis. Or Kane. This kind of "smart". Not the first time Foley has some cringe takes about "one of the boys". As far as Conrad goes, the guy has been exposed a long time ago as a carny mofo who will defend anything in case he'll have to work with them. And everybody knows what "non-political" means.

The fact it wasn't because she requested Kendrick makes it even stupider. I guess after that shit show that was the match from all accounts, the guys is not gonna be rehired anyway. Also, it kinda puzzles me when I hear that matches have TWO agents working on them. I mean, really now ? Talk about ridiculous micro-management. When results are as bad it this one to boot, it says a lot about how off we can be in term of judging workers. Some of them surely benefit greatly from having super smart people laying out everything for them in advance. Others, I guess not so much.

The story of AEW, really, since the beginning. Speaking of which, apparently Full Gear did more or less the same number of buys as All Out did. A little less, obviously, but pretty much in the same ballpark. If that's so, oh well...

Agreeing with Disco Inferno. Talk about a moment of self-own. This guy is an executive in WWE. I'm sure he's another one glad to see Kendrick back too.

Xi Jinping, more likely.

Masha & Grace had another killer match at the last IMPACT + special. Kaz vs Alexander was excellent too. The post-match angle was super well executed, although the "hostage taking" at the very end was a bit much. I mean, where was the security ? Bully Ray is fine for a short time. Not sure I want him as the next champ though, although a shorter reign with him losing at Slammiversary could work. Still one hell of a promo/angle worker. Also, I'm so glad they are bringing Throwback Throwdown back. A good fun way to end the year. I honestly look forward to to this more than anything else until the Tokyo Dome.

Well, the quite tedious reactions to this show shows how afar I am from the companies aesthetics, because apparently apart from the expectedly great Sami Uso storyline, there was nothing much in term of quality in this one. And really now, Plundergames don't sound any fun, especially when in fact, the Blood & Guts matches in AEW were not exactly the most successful nor enjoyable big gimmick match they did either , actually they noticeably were some of my least favorites. I guess I shouldn't even bother to press the "cognitive dissonance" button for this one and wait for the Rumble which... WHAT THE FUCK ? KKKanye West at Mania confirmed. Gotta love Lesveque's answer to the question about where they want to go next, and he says everywhere, as they look forward to sit down with local governments. Yep. We've seen that, we've seen that...

The first actual Lesveque Big Four (SummerSlam was the last Vince's booked big show). That's quite interesting that there is none of the traditional Survivor Series match but instead two Wargames matches, which Vince would never use on the main roster. Needless to say that if Cody had not been injured, it would be a cryfest about his father and such. Next year I guess. I'm only following from afar, but judging from what I know, on paper it looks like quite a strong card. I wonder if they'll do blood & guts (if Cody was not injured.... yeah, he would cry, but he would probably want to bleed several buckets too). First year I watched an entire Survivor Series was thirty years ago. Man... High Energy vs HeadShrinkers. Simpler times for sure. Back then a Berzerker was only that, a goof in a viking costume and furry boots, now you know it's actually MAGA Valkyrie and such. Ignorance is bliss, in a way.

I would have said rather late 1998 WCW. Which... is not as positive (despite me loving some of the stuff still, obviously). The elephant in the room is ROH. Either TK can get the ROH stuff its own show and they can focus on this over there (won't mean I'll watch it though, Rampage is such an afterthought already) either this needs to be downplayed big time anyway on the AEW TV. Of course the injuries and drama have hurt the booking a lot, but if I can pinpoint a moment where things really got unfocused, it's when ROH stuff began taking way too much space in a company that already had trouble making all its titles important (and that was before the All Pacific even existed). There was a FTR vs Top Flight match in Rampage for the ROH titles, and it was just there, not even that good really. Then Athena cut that scathing promo on Mercedes Martinez, the ROH woman champion, like there was some actual issue there, when in fact no one cares about that title and Martinez has never been over the rare time she's been on TV. And don't get me started on the Gates of Agony or something. Buying the ROH library was cool and all. The first ROH PPV was cool. But to me it has really diluted the product and distracted the booking, which was never the most focused to begin with.

As Spinoza said (well, KINDA SORTA, you know) : you think you judge something as good and that's why you like it, whereas infact, you first like something therefore you judge it to be good.

Dutch Mantell ? Not sure but it could be.

Why haven't I watched this before ? Talk about people I would like to see more on TV...

I believe Martel and Callis came up with the gimmick themselves. Not WWF's idea at the time. Also, back then WWF was big on "New" something. New Rockers, New Blackjacks, LOD 2000, New Midnight Express. All huge success too.

To this day Thanksgiving is a special episode of my pro-wrestling weekly show. I have no idea what is that fixation with stuffing turkeys or giving random thanks (to whom, for what, I dunno). Plus, Survivor Series used to be shown just before Xmas, because there was that much delay, so really it's just confusing and exotic to me. Hey, enjoy it nonetheless, 'murican PWO people !

This. The thing is, "how to make money" has been used as a cop out whenever something you don't like stylistically is out there being successful. The Elite have triggered people (and still do) for years because they have been exceedingly successful doing stuff that "they should not do". And that success is part of why they are so hated by a part of the pro-wrestling audience. Their success has been met with moving the goal posts and denial galore strictly because of this, a stylistic disagreement. AEW was never supposed to be competitive with WWE. Now that they are not as hot as they were (and despite the fact their most successful year in term of growth, leading to the signing of Cole/Punk/Danielson, happened when the Elite was on top of the cards) it's easier to blame it on a style you don't like, even though it has no actual basis (mergers and financial strategy of big ass media companies are what can kill AEW, not the fact someone is doing "too much spots") As far as "workrate" being a poisonous word, actually, pro-wrestling criticism totally losts its way when "workrate" became a dirty word and "psychology" got mixed up with "status on the pro-wrestling social field". Which leads to stuff like "Oh, the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega (or Will Ospreay, to name another one) don't understand psychology", which is the most hilariously wrong take anyone can make about them (and really, I get not getting it at first, I went through the phase of thinking they were the worst thing I ever saw, all three of them, but it's 2022 now, they have been around long enough for people to actually sit back and think a little bit more about it). Or the fact some people wanna talk about pro-wrestling *needing* CM Punk on a stylistic basis. Listen, pro-wrestling needs CM Punk like I need a blowjob, it's a nice feeling (can even be great) and it's been a while, but I can very much climax without it, thank you very much. One interesting thing is that stuff like Young Bucks vs Lucha Brothers is by far the most appealing stuff you can show to absolute non fans (I know, I've experienced it). Anyone can watch this and have fun. Apart from grumpy-ass pro-wrestling fans yelling at clouds about "how it's supposed to be done". (there's a reason why lucha libre, despite being supposedly "hard to get" (a fiction) is also the most acceptable and cool form of pro-wrestling in mainstream pop culture, and why Arena Mexico is basically a tourist attraction)

I must say, this was pretty awesome Maybe I should try it. Too close to a wrestling burnout though, but I admit lots of GCW shows have cool stuff happening.

Yes and no. Technically yes, but every match was a different gimmick match, because Vince Russo.

What a dickhead move.

I'm not a WWE fan. I only follow what happens there because I follow the business aspect of it. I barely watch anything anymore from them since they are knee deep with "his excellency Prince LGBT Killer". So not sure what you are referring to, really. What type of exact same (funny, I guess) shit ?

Nope. Because I was pretty much ready with the perspective of the Elite being gone and ending up at the Royal Rumble or something at one point (early on after the debacle I mean, I really thought this would be the end for all of them basically), and as an old CM Punk fan I would have popped at his promo too, just like I laughed at the in-ring trolling. Again, I'm a fan of ALL involved. I just don't take this stuff either too seriously nor, god forbid, personally.

Masters at work. Of course it is. I'm not gonna lie, I say I think there's 0%, but deep down inside my pro-wrestling fan heart, there's still a little voice that says "never say never" and a minuscule hope that maybe, one of these days, when his injury has healed up, we hear Cult of Personality again and we get those Punk & FTR vs Elite matches leading to Punk vs Omega. Just a tiny, little, small voice... Anything bigger would lead me to disappointment. In the meantime, I had a good laugh, and it's much needed. I take whatever I can.