El-P Posted February 11 Report Share Posted February 11 4 hours ago, DMJ said: most importantly, he burned his AEW bridge and now that WWE and TNA are working together, they're the only other game in town. He's played the opposite of "hard to get." That's actually a great point. Of course, WWE is never gonna pass on one-up AEW, but let's be real here also. They are already hot as all hell and untouchable business-wise. They just debuted Penta on Netflix, and Penta was a much bigger part of AEW than Starks ever was. They probably will get Malakai back (probably won't do much better than Andrade, but that's another AEW to WWE move). They also are waiting for Fénix. They also are gonna move up a bunch of people from NXT to the main roster soon (probably just after Mania). They have just signed Jordynne Grace, which overall is a much bigger deal than Starks, really, because she has been on/off on NXT for a year now and people have waited for her to sign. In term of perception, Joe Hendry right now is a much bigger deal, really. WWE is über-stacked with already over main-event babyfaces. They don't need a guy like Starks *at all*, and in the grand scheme of things, he doesn't bring anything unique to their program (unlike a luchador as charismatic as Penta or an awesome worker like Grace). So yeah, "pick me" is a great term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 11 Report Share Posted February 11 1 hour ago, El-P said: Joe Hendry right now is a much bigger deal, really. See, you say that, but I saw what you said in the TNA thread. I don’t think you actually BELIEVE in Joe Hendry. Even though I have it on good authority that they love him in Paris (and Tokyo, America, Scotland and Canada, and Mexico.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 11 Report Share Posted February 11 1 hour ago, El-P said: They also are gonna move up a bunch of people from NXT to the main roster soon (probably just after Mania). Eventually they are going to move up Trick Williams and Oba Femi and I would expect big things from at least least one of those two guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 17 hours ago, El-P said: It takes them to *want* to put over people. Miro obviously did not. Malakai obviously did not (his single loss record in AEW is a grand 3 I believe, and that's to Cody and Copeland or something). Ricky Starks, who the hell knows, but honestly I would not be surprised that was the same thing as soon as the guy departed to WWE in his head. Whether they "want" to or not should be irrelevant. Tony just saying "oh, okay" to that when he's their boss makes no sense to me. He should be able to sue their asses or at least suspend them without pay if he wants to avoid a lawsuit. Black is the most overrated guy there is. Like Andrade, it will be another lateral move at best. I like Miro, but if he's his own worst enemy, that won't help him in WWE either. Ricky Starks just showed up in NXT - sans name - so we'll see if he gets to keep his. If Ethan Page did, I don't see why Ricky Starks wouldn't, but you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Embrodak Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 Ricky Starks is very close to *the* guy, close enough that he was hanging around backstage at Wrestlemania when he finished the story. He might not be big enough or unique enough to be a world champ, but I could see him easily being in that Nakamura/Dolph Ziggler tier where he's always credible to be a secondary champ and always credible *enough* to be called up for an isolated world title shot at a PPV here and there. Thinking back on Roman's reign, I'm not sure there is anybody as perfectly designed to lose to Roman at Fastlane, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stiva Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 Yeah, Starks being close to Cody is probably going to mean he finds his way to the main roster after Mania and stays at a decent level for a while. He’s a good talker and is charismatic so I can see the WWE machine working well with him and getting him over to a good standard. I’m also of the opinion that every time they gave him something to sink his teeth into in AEW, he came up trumps so, as someone who still can’t get into WWE’s presentation of pro wrestling, he’s the one current AEW release that I’m sad to see leave. As for the latest WWE releases, I could see Paul Ellering signing to manage his daughter and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Bea Priestley turn up but I don’t really subscribe to the opinion that Hurt Syndicate need Cedric Alexander back, even though he’s a good worker. They have enough of those and feels like you could do more interesting stuff with the HS with the guys they have on the roster already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 7 hours ago, C.S. said: Whether they "want" to or not should be irrelevant. Tony just saying "oh, okay" to that when he's their boss makes no sense to me. He should be able to sue their asses or at least suspend them without pay if he wants to avoid a lawsuit. It should absolutely be irrelevant, but it's tricky because of the "independent contractor" status. Plus, he's in a wrestling war. You're not gonna fire people so that they can go directly to the opposition. Especially if that what they want. And suing independent contractors or suspending them without pay is ridiculous. It would be disastrous in term of perception, way worse than just not using them. And it would be an extremely shitty thing to do, really. For all the "workers' right" thrown by WWE fanboys when it suits them, let's be real, Fénix is currently siting at home earning 6 figures. It's ok. And likewise Starks, he can do indies if he wants. But yeah, it's ridiculous for them to just refuse doing business and there's nothing else to to do not use them. If there's no wrestling war, then the solution is easy. And really now, TK finally releasing them makes no difference to the current balance of power. None of them will make an inch of difference in WWE, which already way too big and hot anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 3 hours ago, Stiva said: As for the latest WWE releases, I could see Paul Ellering signing to manage his daughter and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Bea Priestley Bea Priestley yes, for sure. Ellering for fuck's sake no. This guy was last relevant in pro-wrestling around 1987 or something. He brings zero to the table. And his daughter is a middle of the card worker in ROH and that's pretty much where she belongs. She's perfectly fine, but there's nothing more there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Slice Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 Ellering literally took a single tape from his collection and turned it into years of employment way past his expiration date, which is an amazing play on his part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 If Jim Cornette is to be believed, Paul Ellering was apparently very smart with the money he made during the heyday of The Road Warriors (and they made a ton.) Apparently other wrestlers would actually go to Ellering for investment advice. He is supposedly set for life and has only made comebacks through the years because he loves the business, not because he “needs” to. So I guess he will be okay, even if he doesn’t work again. Which is good, because the dude is 71 years old and I’d hate to think of somebody still going out there and scrounging for work because they have to, at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 7 hours ago, Timbo Slice said: Ellering literally took a single tape from his collection and turned it into years of employment way past his expiration date, which is an amazing play on his part. What is the story here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 Yeah, Ellering managed the Road Warriors both inside and outside the ring, handling their bookings and finances and the like. If I'm not mistaken, he's the one who set up the Zubaz deal. By the way. I'm still around. I check the board every day and still follow wrestling (been working on my 2025 GME ballot), I just don't have much to say about the current scene. The only things to catch my interest the past six months or so have been the Punk/Drew feud and the Goto title chase. These things go in cycles and I'm sure something will suck me back in at some point, but my interest as of now is all but nonexistent. As far as politics goes, I'm basically Jokerfied at this point. I honestly don't give a shit if Trump drives the country into a ditch because that's what the American people voted for. Nothing to do now but sit back and let the leopards eat their faces. I do think it's highly unlikely WWE will fully embrace MAGA like UFC has. Even if the people in charge personally support the administration, they know most of the fanbase doesn't (pro wrestling has become increasingly lib-coded over the past several years). If anything, I expect them to go in the opposite direction and become super-woke when the inevitable anti-Trump backlash hits. I wouldn't be surprised if they're doing land acknowledgments before PLEs by the end of his term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 7 minutes ago, NintendoLogic said: Yeah, Ellering managed the Road Warriors both inside and outside the ring, handling their bookings and finances and the like. If I'm not mistaken, he's the one who set up the Zubaz deal. One of the interesting things is that Ellering helped negotiate the Road Warriors deal with All Japan, which ended up being for an insane amount of money. When Bruiser Brody found out how much money they were making, and that it was significantly more than he was, Brody decided to walk out on Baba and that’s why he ended up going to New Japan. (Which he also ended up walking out of because he was expected to actually lose some matches.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Slice Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 1 hour ago, C.S. said: What is the story here? Ellering had the master of The Last Battle of Atlanta, which had long been sought after in full and he agreed to terms with WWE to release it. Around the same time it got released to the public was when the AoT was given their initial push with him as manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 And in news that actually matter (yeah, sorry about that (well, not really)), the federal investigation on Vince is apparently everything but dropped. Expected, but still *vomit* Also, Taker spending the night at the Superbowl alongside Das Rapist says everything you need to know, if you didn't before (or if you are still pretending). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 So many jokes writing themselves... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strobogo Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 The family ghosting Vince but supporting Linda in her new role in the fascist regime. So brave. HHH spitting water all over the halls of congress is 1/6 tier psychic damage visual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 10 minutes ago, strobogo said: The family ghosting Vince but supporting Linda in her new role in the fascist regime. Shane was alongside his father and Taker at the Superbowl (where Taylor Swift was a heel apparently). So much for Shane being the good guy of the family. Also, it's hilarious to me that Taker's public praise of Ricky Starks is not an immediate kiss of death in this context. You can see in this pic that Trip is just boiling inside and wants to cut a promo about the gate or something. The whole thing about loving Iron Crosses on his tights was not a work, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 8 hours ago, El-P said: So many jokes writing themselves... We live in an amazing place (I know you're not here but you've got your own issues and can hopefully raise/break a glass or bottle in "honor" of our shitshow). Too soon to ask for another pandemic? But at least Mania is coming up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 8 hours ago, El-P said: Shane was alongside his father and Taker at the Superbowl (where Taylor Swift was a heel apparently). So much for Shane being the good guy of the family. After seeing him in the Mr. McMahon documentary, that's kind of heartbreaking. He's still a little boy who craves his daddy's approval and affection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmare007 Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 A little late on this but regarding letting talent rest at home while collecting a paycheck. I think that as long as it is someone that had a good run in either of the top 2 companies, it absolutely works on their favor to not do anything. They avoid injuries, they still get paid, and their reputations amongst the fanbase grows larger because they will see them as a "victim" that deserves more. So I honestly don't see the "fucked up" part in doing that as long as it doesn't get ridiculous with the overtime months added due to injury. If anything, it's a huge mistake (mostly on AEW's part) to not use them to put other people over. Even of you job someone out and make fans "angry", you at least have the potential to win something by making other people beat them in a -hopefully- good feud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cad Posted February 15 Report Share Posted February 15 Believing that a son should disown his father is asking a lot of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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