Matt D

Maybe the early ticket sales for India were good and that was all they needed?

I don't see why these things are exclusive.

I'm not convinced on this date (clawmaster's stuff says this was in Richmond with the opposite result). This is JIP after the introductions. We get a King of the Mountain control segment, a Mulligan comeback that goes to the outside, Studd taking back over after ref intervention with a cheapshot elbow, a heel control segment in the ring which culminates with a Studd bearhug,Mulligan doing what he does best by teasing the claw, that moment just being a quick second to free himself, and a cross body for the pin. Post match Studd gets his heat back with a beatdown and the prelim guys come out so he'll leave. The crowd's amazing. There are two clear moments of comeback here, the first when Mulligan fights his way back into the ring (mainly by being stubborn and absorbing damage) and gets in a jab to Studd's stomach. The crowd comes unglued. You see this teenager in the background leap up and down, arms flailing. When Mulligan starts to get some revenge on Studd on the outside after this, the kids all run around to get a better view. The second is obviously the slow build to the claw (eyerake in this case) out of the bearhug and it's perfect, with Mulligan teasing it and teasing it and teasing it before holding his fist up in the air, stopping time and letting the crowd know that all of their cheering was about to pay off. I am literally the only person in the world who finds Studd fascinating as a wrestler, but I do. When he's in there against another big man, I swear that he goes out of his way to work small to draw heat. You want to see him go toe to toe with his opponent but he delays that gratification by stalling (which I bet he did at the start of the match here, which we don't have) or by working a King of the Mountain section with very little contact. When he took back over after the ref intervened, it was with the world's tinest, sneakiest back elbow jab. After that he worked bigger, with the clubbering and choking, and he was there on the post match too, but he was excellent at being huge but making it feel like his opportunities were not earned, like he wasn't playing fair or acting like a giant should. That dissonance made the fans want to see him get his comeuppance and I think is very, very interesting. Mulligan's act was so good and the fans bought it completely. I think a babyface could get the claw over today because it'd be so different. It's so easy to tease, so easy to cut off, so easy to build, so easy to pay off. So this is ultimately nothing special, but it really does show how (and to a degree why) Mulligan was so over and is just another tiny piece in the (totally meaningless, I admit) case of Studd being more than he ever got credit for.

I don't believe you or else you'd have kept watching the Continental I put on youtube. Obviously that ruined me for 2017 WWE. Look, I barely have time for anything between work and kids. I've seen maybe four WWE matches in the last two months and one was Triple H vs Rusev (I'm paying enough attention to feel like I can make arguments though. It's not rocket science here. If you want to discount what I'm saying out of hand, that's your prerogative). I just don't think it's too much for people to expect coherent narratives and we certainly shouldn't attack them for that. Heck, I think it's fair game for people to want and expect basic continuity and some character development over time. Likewise, while people should want and expect that, they shouldn't be surprised when they don't get it since WWE has rarely been able to manage it over time, basic as it may be. My main argument is that people shouldn't attack someone for complaining about not getting the most basic things. If people think that Alexa Bliss is booking and agenting her own programs/matches, then you can attack them, sure.

Finally made it through. This was excellent. I hope it moved the needle but it was worthwhile even if it didnt.

Honest answer: Vince/Roman/Sheamus maybe? I watch a lot more old wrestling than new wrestling. It happens in NXT at a much higher level than Id expect from the main roster all the time though.

Yeah, look. I still want those other things, just some basic attempt at coherency too. I want so little, relatively, that I dont think it makes me greedy. You can do something interesting, logical, and surprising at least now and again. Hell, those things can build into one another. Theyre not mutually exclusive. Hell sometimes it can even lead to actual good wrestling too. This is like C+ level expectations. Just a passing grade. Just show your work. It doesnt even have to be great work. They just shade in option A 24 Times and figure theyll win on the odds.

Because professional wrestlers want to win their professional wrestling matches. Why would the wrestlers not want to be on the winning team? Regardless of if they're going to switch teams once the next draft/shake up happens. It's not like free agency makes pro athletes not care about winning the games they play. Athletes care about winning games with something real on the line. Raw vs. Smackdown is more akin to a preseason or All-Star game. Maybe but it's worked so far. SD last week did a really surprisingly good number after the big Raw angle. Crowds are hot for it. The product seems to have momentum and purpose. We can very fairly poke holes in the logic but WWE to me had a hot week of TV and I'm looking forward to SS. They can do the things that work (the surprises for instance) without being lazy. Why is it wrong to want basic competence and coherency?

They should make it for the WM main event slot or for the #30 slot in the Rumble to go to the brand. Something like that.

I always felt 98 Jericho won a ton, but that was part of what kept his heat so big for a payoff. Likewise Rush in Mexico right now. The payoff there will be a huge match at an anniversary a few years down the line. The difference is that i can almost promise you they don't have the first idea for a payoff with Bliss.

How much input do you think she has in things relative to 02 Hunter or King of the Mountain Jarrett or whatever?

He just have just responded to everyone with a simple "kayfabe" and moved on.

The reason that is, because people who don't watch PWG don't watch it because they don't think it's good.This is an interesting factor to consider. For a long time, though not recently, PWG was considered the super indie promotion where guys went to slum it. Maybe that stuck to some fans who felt burned by them? Obviously that's always been a Dave thing (Murdoch, Jumbo), so he'd get that if people raised it. What I doubt he'd get as easily would be people with open eyes and open minds simply not liking the super indy style in the first place.

That initial Balor Universal Title push was very odd to me. Why the heck does Vince like Balor so much? Just the demon entrance? I'd think that planking pose thing would drive him nuts and 70% of the time he's not the demon anyway.

I'm not sure I can handle a non-revisionist take on Tiger Mask-Dynamite Kid in 2017 after spending nearly a decade with you guys.

Does the Junkfood Dog/Anabolic Warrior guy really come off as that pristine? I don't remember Dave being hesitant to deal with either letters or callers in a flippant manner. This is it turned up to 11 maybe, but it's made it to 8 or 9 plenty of times.

This was excellent. Kris and Bix delivered and the clips at the end brought back some great memories, but Beau really shined. The passion and belief and just love for Lance and Memphis Wrestling came through so clearly. Just a very, very nice tribute to a truly great man.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm still hoping to do one on Tiger Conway, Jr. based on the footage, by the end of the year but it depends on how much I can rewatch between then and now.

It's been hugely validating to hear wrestlers (Orton, Dustin) come onto the Edge and Christian podcast and gush on how Christian was able to smartly and effectively change up things (moves/counters/etc.) in clever and logical ways on a week to week basis. That's one of those things where you wonder if you've been reading too much into the wrestling but no, it's intentional and something his peers think he's a downright genius at.

You should give a podcast with Phil where are you both examine specific Fujiwara matches and go point/counterpoint. It worked well for me. http://placetobenation.com/digging-in-the-crates-7/

It could be a russo reverse ladder match where there's a buzzsaw going at the top of the ladder and you have to get your opponent up there.

I wouldn't exactly call that "engaging with their arguments."

There's discussion here: http://voicesofwrestling.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=1759&start=15 including from some of the posters of the board. I imagine you could engage them on the points they made there here.

I only caught bits and pieces of that but the Miz is so good at what he does.