Matt D

Super hot crowd tonight.

This is not a top 5. It's just a 5 fairly diverse ones: Greg Pak/Fred Van Lente's Incredible Hulk/Incredible Hercules run (one leads into the other) Jonathan Hickman's Secret Warriors Peter David's Madrox into X-Factor v2 Jeff Parker's Thunderbolts Kieron Gillen and Margueritte Bennett's Angela

I'd have to look more at his actual matches to weigh in. I don't remember him working tremendously differently in his short hair, Bockwinkel-talking run. I can appreciate reinventions in general, but for the sake of GWE, I'd have to see if he reinvented himself in-ring as much, past the introduction of new finishers over the years. I still get the sense that he does what he's always done and tries to reach for physical spots that are slightly beyond his ability to hit, which was always noticeable but might even be more so as he's gotten older and put on more mass and what he can do has been more and more limited.

I really enjoy her teaming with Bunny/Nyla/Diamante/etc. but…

We get a lot of talk about people training with Dustin or QT or (lately) Danielson but I haven't heard a lot about Emi along those lines, though it's a no brainer, yeah.

Is she training people (Jade or people like Skye Blue or anyone else) on the side too? I wasn't sure if she was just someone there for people to get 5-7 minute match experience against or to work with in tags or what.

There are 40 2000s Marvel runs worth reading pretty easily.

Mine's up there but hopefully one of the others come behind me. As a general rule you never want just my angle on anything.

It played after he won even!

Caught the first two matches. I was looking forward to Statlander vs Leyla but what stood out the most was just how good Tony and Excalibur were as a two-man team. Maybe the best possible announcing team AEW has (Though I'd like to hear more Excalibur/Tony/Taz since they were good on the Hook match or just Tony/Taz maybe). Match itself was ok, though I thought they went a little big at times for an opening match, though I also imagine it was quite differently laid out and set up than the two other women's matches will be tonight. No problem with the springboard. It just made Stat look more impressive when she caught her. The hockey fight stuff towards the end really got across the grudge well I thought. Finish was fine and hopefully they carry it forward to a submission match or something. I liked Hook vs QT a lot. It was definitely Hook's most complete match so far. QT worked exactly like I always want him to work (and like he never does), only getting opportunities due to sneaky tactics like getting a shot in using the ref as coverage on a break in the ropes or redirecting his leverage to toss Hook into the corner. Hook came back by ducking and catching things and hitting suplexes and he looked ok selling though he didn't have to eat any chained offense really. The finish was funny as he just dead stopped QT's clever attempt at getting one over on him and took him down.

Live PPVs just can’t fit into my life and parental responsibilities, especially Sunday ones, but I’ll probably catch everything but the world and tag title matches tomorrow morning (maybe just highlights of the ladder match too even if I like everyone in it). I might be able to catch part of the buy-in which fulfilling said responsibilities though. The big question is how hard I try to avoid spoilers tonight. It really is a stacked card and I hope you guys enjoy it.

In general, I like them bringing guys in for 1-2 shows instead of just hiring everyone under the sun. Having a guy like Redbeard in a pre-show grudge match six man because Fenix got injured is perfectly fine and switches things up a bit. He can do a single shot again in 2023 if he's around too. I'd be fine with that.

Maybe Monday. Honestly not sure how we're dealing with the PPV this week, if Eric will cover live as he used to do with WWF PPVs or Phil will be on a podcast after for the Ringer, or when I'll be even able to make it through the PPV to review, but normal Monday night/Tuesday morning Five Fingers of Death would be looking at Danielson vs Daniels The Darby three way Jericho vs Kingston Danielson vs Mox The Darby six man tag and Punk vs MJF And that's a lot to cover. My guess is that if we don't cover it this week, we'll do it some week where there's no Punk/Danielson/Kingston/Dustin or Darby match though. When we do cover it, though, and it was definitely worth covering, you'll get exactly the sort of review you want out of me. If that's something you're actually looking for, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Is Jericho’s wife a draw?

I did this in 2014. That seems like a million years ago.

The Benoit vs RVD feud in a nutshell.

Having watched her last few matches, I think Brandi's pretty good at taking offense. I'll stop there because I try to be a good person. Also, I didn't mind that Nakazawa spot. There were way more hilariously egregious things in the match. Taz and Excalibur were losing it.

Did anyone listen to Cody and Amanda Huber on Unrestricted this week? Did not sound like a guy leaving the AEW charity work at all. Why even do that podcast if you're on your way out?

Even if that’s the case… He has presence. He has charisma. He has size. He has a roster to help him create motion so long as he can be amazing at creating emotion.

It was a great thread. My takeaway is one of diminishing returns and a 50% grade at best. But I guess that matches my priors.

"The Absolutely Allowed Door"

I'm not saying he should constantly be making it about him, but he should be using the Rampage commentary slot to set up potential programs with everyone in a "make fun of Bossman's mother" sort of way. Just planting seeds that could pay off.

Literally only here. You just happen to be here.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Nothing is worth bringing Nia in.

I’ve certainly enjoyed her on Dark, especially teaming with Emi.