Is the empire crumbling before our eyes?

[strobogo]

20 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

I love that Punk finally got to main event Mania, then actually got to truly main event Mania, and lost both times, cementing him as the guy used to prop up guys they feel bring more to the table. Some things never change. 
 

The thing that really bugs me is there are plenty of folks I’d love to see wrestling on the regular on this roster for various reasons, either having worked with them on the indies or really liking their pre-WWE work, but the machinations of the company make their presence basically anodyne. I can’t understate how difficult it is to take basically any talent on a broad scale like that and make them all look subpar. 
 

That they’re run by a bunch of shifty authoritarian-adjacent types who are stealing money both out from under the workers and the fans who support them, like most right-tinged companies, will only go so far because what they’re “good” at isn’t sustainable. They don’t have too much money to fail; when the midterms hit and they are blown out to the point of impotence, Saudi WM is gonna be such a wet fart (with Vince getting his HOF nod more than likely in the midst of the trial) that the hypocrisy might finally be too much. And good riddance if that’s the case. 

I don't really think 47 year old Punk needs to be going over anyone at WM anyway, but also Roman has been the top guy for a decade straight and his 4 year title run only ended 2 years ago so 

[El-P]

Kevin Nash saying there was basically no catering for talent at the HOF is actually funny. Greed has no limit.

[El-P]

On a more serious topic, there has been a lot of discourse about how the hotel situation in Vegas with wrestlers being harassed by "fans" everywhere. There was an incident where CM Punk basically slapped a phone off a douchebag who was following AJ Lee & Bailey after they already pushed him away. Apparently TKO can't hire any security for their talent nor book an entire floor because, hey, bottom line is what matters.

[Embrodak]

I’m so conflicted because what Punk did was not strictly speaking legal and could really cost him in a lawsuit, but I can’t say I disagree with it. Knock the phone out of the guy’s hand, show him your pissed off face, get held back, leave. Elegant solution to a societal nuisance.

[donsem43]

Development is fine...

 

[Blehschmidt]

The wrist to the face is one of the deadliest moves in all of combat sports.

and Keanu Carver does not at all sound like a name created by a name randomizer on the internet.

[The Thread Killer]

Carver definitely has “it” when it comes to look, athleticism, promo ability, and overall aura, but there is a reason he’s still in developmental and you can see it right there.

[strobogo]

16 hours ago, Embrodak said:

I’m so conflicted because what Punk did was not strictly speaking legal and could really cost him in a lawsuit, but I can’t say I disagree with it. Knock the phone out of the guy’s hand, show him your pissed off face, get held back, leave. Elegant solution to a societal nuisance.

There's no conflict. Fuck that fan. Fuck the insane people following people into the bathroom and filming them. Absolute brainrotted mfs. 

[donsem43]

14 hours ago, The Thread Killer said:

Carver definitely has “it” when it comes to look, athleticism, promo ability, and overall aura, but there is a reason he’s still in developmental and you can see it right there.

The strikes are one thing, that's fixable, but the whole presentation made things worse. Why is the director cutting from a camera that makes the strikes look bad to one that makes them look even worse? That compounded things, almost to the point of making this guy look more like a joke than a monster.

[C.S.]

WWE releases today:

• Uncle Howdy
• Nikki Cross
• Joe Gacy
• Zoey Stark
• Alba Fyre
• Andre Chase

And probably more to come...

[Blehschmidt]

Hey, these releases are 100% on the fanbase. This is what happens when you force them to discount the $9000 tickets.

[The Thread Killer]

13 minutes ago, C.S. said:

WWE releases today:

• Uncle Howdy
• Nikki Cross
• Joe Gacy
• Zoey Stark
• Alba Fyre
• Andre Chase

And probably more to come...

You have to assume Rowan and Lumis are going to end up in the list as well. If they aren’t keeping Howdy, I assume the whole stable is toast.

[C.S.]

2 minutes ago, The Thread Killer said:

You have to assume Rowan and Lumis are going to end up in the list as well. If they aren’t keeping Howdy, I assume the whole stable is toast.

That's my assumption as well.

I wonder if any of the mostly useless MFTs will be released too (I'd keep Solo and never would've hired any of the others in the first place).

[C.S.]

Looks like Rowan is official now.

I'd be surprised if Lumis isn't announced soon.

Update: Add Dante Chen to the list.

Lumis is gone.

[The Thread Killer]

1 hour ago, C.S. said:

That's my assumption as well.

I wonder if any of the mostly useless MFTs will be released too (I'd keep Solo and never would've hired any of the others in the first place).

Apparently Tama Tonga and JC Mateo are getting a shot at the Tag Titles tonight.

[El-P]

If true, per Fightful, the last batch is *insane*

Kairi Sane ? MCMG ? That would be excellent signings for AEW. Give me fucking MCMG vs EVERYBODY THERE. Gimme KAIRI vs Mercedes Moné AGAIN.

Santos Escobar ? Please don't laugh. They supposedly resigned him one day after he was a freelancer last year, then did nothing for ever, then threw him in AAA. I saw some AI slop announcement about Lucha Underground...

ZELINA VEGA AND ALEISTER BLACK ? WOW. Is she gonna be pro-union again ? Is he willing to work a giant program with Killer Kross in MLW ? There's a word called *karma*. And it's a bitch. 

From the earlier batch, I know Carlos Silva is already salivating at the prospect of Samuel Shaw, TNA legend, coming back to renew his vows with NXT Legend Indi Hartwell, masterfully booked by Delirious and Tommy Dreamer. You know it's happening. 

Meanwhile, Nick Khan earned 20 something millions, they would not pay for extra security in Vegas hotels and no food for HOF rehearsals because you bitch ass workers don't need it.

(also, Tyson & Tyriek from NXT. Which I know off because I have seen them in TNA. Yeah, being sent to TNA has been the black mark of death for many. Ariana Grace should be relieved she's not permanently featured on AMC... yet)

[C.S.]

Black didn't do business in AEW, so I doubt he gets another shot there. He completely overrated himself. He's not, has never been, and never will be a top guy. Something has always been missing with him. I actually see far more upside in Zelina Vega. I still feel bad for both of them though.

MCMG are future ROH Tag Team Champions, I guess, or lifers on Collision.

Kairi Sane seems like a weird release. I wonder if she requested it? I could see her having bangers in AEW and NJPW.

[The Thread Killer]

Apparently the Santos Escobar release has some sort of political story behind it. Something involving his family?

[C.S.]

If I'm TK, I bring Black back for a Collision one-shot to do a submission squash job to Brody King and then never use him again.

 

10 minutes ago, The Thread Killer said:

Apparently the Santos Escobar release has some sort of political story behind it. Something involving his family?

Is he from a famous wrestling family? A family of politicians?

I just realized I've never been given any reason outside of NXT to care about this guy or commit his origin story to my memory.

[donsem43]

This is what happens when you buy your Infinity Gauntlet from Temu.

 

[sek69]

2 hours ago, C.S. said:

Is he from a famous wrestling family? A family of politicians?

His dad El Fantasma is the head of the Box y Lucha commission which actually has pull in Mexico. If I were to put on my conspiracy theory hat I might think WWE moved Santos to AAA in hopes it would grease the wheels with the commission and maybe pops said no. 

[El-P]

Nothing demonstrated better how AAA has been turned into WWE Mexico in no time than the story on Luchablog about Escobar's debut in AAA, where he shows up as Hijo del Fantasma and gets zero reaction because this audience doesn't know who that is, and they only react once he drops the mask and they realize he's Santo Escobar from WWE. If the guy has bad relationship with CMLL, he's fucked in Mexico now. I have zero interest in him showing up in AEW, as he already was probably my least favorite of the lucha "stars" back in LU. Cool look, mid work. I'm sure years in WWE has not made him any better (at best). Good pick for TNA I guess. Plus that way he can work some NXT shows again. 😎

Aleister Black's situation is quite ironic. The guy grandstanded AEW and bullshited his way into never doing jobs while denying he was never doing jobs, got a release from his big ass contract, went back to WWE to do jackshit and then cosplay Killer Kross and got cut *again* after one year. He would still be under AEW contract if he had not left I believe. And good luck now, because unlike Andrade, I don't think Coach TK would be so eager to take him back in big 2026. And if he saw AEW as beneath his august talents, he's probably not going to TNA either (who knows what they can pay people anyway when their only "big" signing of the year is EC3 and even the IInspiration get paid better doing jobs on ROH).

I'm amazed Tanga Loa still has a job. Right family I guess (yeah, take that Rotundo !).

[Dustin]

I always hate to see releases. Honestly, AEW has so much talent; I would prefer a good chunk of this talent to head back to the indies and build themselves back up. Go to Japan. Do something other than sit around at AEW.

Sane, however, would be great in AEW.

I'm curious where Lumis, Rowan, and Dallas go. I'd love to see the Bo-lieve gimmick in GCW.

It's not too difficult to try and place where everyone lands. In the end, I wish them all the best. This could be a huge blessing, too.