AEW TV - 6/21 - 6/24 - Door Ajar

[The Man in Blak]

You eventually run out of dream matches, though. And that sort of feels like 2023 AEW in a nutshell.

It's sort of counter-intuitive, but the build for Forbidden Door isn't really about the PPV - it's about the stories coming into the PPV that they can continue or spin off to drive later shows and matches. For seemingly every show other than Forbidden Door and All In at Wembley, they're struggling to draw people to the house and keep viewers intrigued through an entire episode of TV.

This has been something that AEW has sort of struggled with from the beginning, but it's especially painful now: they need a way to build some momentum coming off of a PPV, rather than blowing everything off and then flatlining the next week.  AEW PPVs, admittedly, have been good or even great standalone shows as a result of this approach, but they need more than that right now.

[MoS]

 

I know Meltz went full Doomer on CM Punk's return, but if his return allows people like Ricky Starks to cut great promos and show how charismatic they are, then yeah, he should be welcomed back with open arms. Best thing is he let FTR and Starks have their moment, just made an intro to set the stage for them. 

I

[KawadaSmile]

Lost in the mess that is Doomer Meltzer and boomer FTR Bald talking shit is the most important piece of news: Jeff Jarrett's super TNA match did the best numbers of the episode! Truly we are in his world.

 

WEE WOO WEE WOO

[strobogo]

I think it is officially time to crown Double J as the finest carny in the history of this great sport

[NintendoLogic]

[strobogo]

hell yeah

[MoS]

Urgh fuck Jeff Jarrett 

[strobogo]

lmao stay mad slapnuts

[Mr Wrestling 2000]

Douki vs Jungle Boy that was sweet

[KawadaSmile]

Tetsuya Naito teaming up with Sting, motherfuckers. Let's fucking go! Take the beating so the real fucking stars can make the hot tag, get their spots in and make the crowd go wild, Darby.

[strobogo]

Tana looking rough. Guy looks like he has Mutoh knees.

 

I hadn't even considered MiSu murdering Darby as all I was thinking about was Sting no selling and chest thumping after a murder elbow and Suzuki getting spooked.

[Blehschmidt]

Tanahashi looking real rough. Good on Swerve for carrying that shit.

[strobogo]

I would go from rough onto bad. Bummer, really.

[KawadaSmile]

The Brody King/Julia Hart pairing kinda makes me think Black and The Occultist Named Buddy are just... the sidekicks. I like them just fine but Malakai's last singles match in AEW was in LAST JUNE. They are a great trio but Brody is 100% a guy you should give a singles push.

[MLB]

PWO is talking about Tana on here like he's Randy the Ram. He didn't look that bad, I didn't think Swerve had to carry much. It was a pretty basic tv match with Tana popping the crowd with the guitar stuff. Even in a broken down state, I believe Tanahashi is an asset in the ring.

I tend to like the older phase of legends but maybe I am sentimental. 

[KawadaSmile]

The NJPW guys should just look at MiSu, who's been phoning it in every single time in the US and just play the greatest hits. I only expect Okada to wrestle like he means it, which is not a problem! People ordering that PPV or watching it in loco are seeing big fucking names regardless!

[strobogo]

19 minutes ago, MLB said:

PWO is talking about Tana on here like he's Randy the Ram. He didn't look that bad, I didn't think Swerve had to carry much. It was a pretty basic tv match with Tana popping the crowd with the guitar stuff. Even in a broken down state, I believe Tanahashi is an asset in the ring.

I tend to like the older phase of legends but maybe I am sentimental. 

One of his legs doesn't even look like it could bend at the knee, he slipped off the ropes doing his finish that he's been doing for 20 years, to stand on the ropes he has a weird cross foot stance, he didn't even make it all the way around on the slingblade. Randy The Ram actually was still juicing and hitting his spots.

 

I agree he's still an asset in the ring, but not in big time singles matches.

[Blehschmidt]

If it helps, Kevin Kelly has been much worse than Tanahashi was.

[Timbo Slice]

Love that reaction for One Bill Phil, don’t matter if they love or hate him, they are LOUD. 

[strobogo]

Punk vs Kojima certainly just got much better 

[Perfectly Straightedge]

18 minutes ago, Blehschmidt said:

If it helps, Kevin Kelly has been much worse than Tanahashi was.

You know I was thinking the same thing. Which is a shame cause I Kevin Kelly always seemed like a nice dude but he is not made for Collision. 

I know he is RoH but Ian Riccaboni would be awesome in this role in my opinion.  

[strobogo]

Riccaboni/Caprice are a very good team.

[sek69]

3 hours ago, Blehschmidt said:

Tanahashi looking real rough. Good on Swerve for carrying that shit.

There's a reason he's been mainly in six mans in NJPW, dude's knees are being held together by duct tape and wishes at this point. 

[sek69]

The segment on Rampage where Harley Cameron accused Anthony Bowens of being into here, only for Bowens to respond with "maybe you haven't noticed, I'M GAY" going viral (in a good way) was heartwarming to see in the current political climate. 

[Tetsujin]

10 hours ago, Blehschmidt said:

If it helps, Kevin Kelly has been much worse than Tanahashi was.

Oh definitely. I just can't stand him, he's worse than the worst versions of Mauro, JR or Lawler. Most overrated announcer ever.