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taking my friend who has never seen pro wrestling to her first indy show later this week

RE: Rampage Another fun Rampage this week. I was looking forward to Rush v Komander, but was a bit disappointed with this hopeless lopsided bout. Not terrible, but a little more hope and thrills r needed for the 12 minute running time. Fletcher/Takeshita v Privates was fun. Looks like Kyle Fletcher is the new overly talented guy to dunk on who already proves the haters wrong every time out. Pretending not to know the name of the guy you're talking trash about seems to always be the play. Sure, I miss Aussie Open, but away from the w/l records when has Kyle not been stellar throughout this singles run? Callis was great as per usual during his Family Ties commentary. Very much enjoyed the Rush/Don video, but would’ve been better to show prior to his match. The Kingdom promo in there was fun. Taven was particularly good there. It’d be nice to see he and Bennett have an actual competitive match on TV some time. Rather than having no business being at ringside during Roddy matches, and making them all a bit worse than they ought to be. MJF/Garcia/Ospreay video was good. O’Reilly squash was fine. I’d prefer Kyle get a meaningful win here and there – he obviously needs some. Samoa Joe promo was good. May/Shida preview video was terrific. Owen aside, just in general, more of these pre-match packages would be a really good thing. May v Shida was snug and terrific save for the silly finish. I’m not sure I understand why Shida already flailing couldn’t have gotten a shoulder up. Seems it would've been harder to keep it flat on the mat? Ridiculous. May looked great bouncing all over the place. Shida brought a good fight. The Toni Storm/Adora promo video might have been the best thing on this show. Toni seems to have a lot of great stuff on this oft unseen C show. I had fun with this Power Hour of Professional Wrestling on a Saturday morning.

That show was fucking great. It's so refreshing to be in era of WWE booking that all makes sense again. It hasn't really been this way since , what? The 80's?

Double retirement match Cena v Bryan with a Bella in each corner. Cena and Bella reunite for one night and she turns on him and hits him with a hamper for Bryan to win.

I knew the tag match would rule. I was not ready. That step-up Destroyer was beautiful and a good way to make the move not seem as set-up-heavy See this is how you pace a 5-match show. I don't know what you do with Wes or Roxanne now. They can both bring it, but I can't really figure out where you take either of them in the short term. I completely mis-called the booking for the main. I also wasn't expecting it to be particularly good, and I was wrong about that too--it's not an instant classic, but it worked a lot better than I expected. All in all, I had a great time. Definitely not the title I expected to change hands tonight.

Wouldn’t that interfere with his job booking AEW? (Heard that one last week)

It may be just been how it came off on TV, but it seemed like Claudio got no pop at all for his entrance, and the crowd was dead for that excellent hoss fight between Claudio & Mortos. I think that match would've been a lot better if they'd done it on Wednesday in Chicago.

Can I interest you in some MS Paint drawings of Apes?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i4AmDOSEDoo John Cena says he will wrestle the entirety of 2025.

He looked pretty rough on the Vice shows before this even. Hope he gets some coin. Cutting off insurance is bullshit.

Today was my last day at the PT weekend job. It feels great to finally be able to finish up there. I didn't think anyone really knew, since nobody had really said anything about it. But, I had people coming out of the woodwork to say goodbye to me. Both the store manager and assistant manager made a point of coming up to me and telling me that I'd always have a job there if I needed one.

I had the same thinking in a pass out finish would have worked better. I think it can still be vicious, and Lola comes out looking even better having never tapped. Not sure what is next for Roxanne either. So many of the higher status women in NXT that should logically face her are other heels while the most talented faces are more NA level right now. I think Thea would be a good choice, but they seem to have her overly focused on Chase U and Ridge right now.

It felt like the last time NXT was in Toronto because Heatwave stole the weekend. It's crazy how good Oba Femi is when he's probably wrestled less than 50 matches in his career. He's either NXT Champion or on the main roster at this time next year. Also, I need to know who has been showing Femi tapes of Jeff Cobb after he busted out the F-500 and using his opponent as a surfboard. That said I think by the end of the match Oba and Wes were both super gassed which I can't really blame either of them for. Was also really impressed by the match that Sol and Kelani were able to put on together with how new they both are. They really came up with some pretty creative spots and for the most part executed everything pretty well. Fear for what they(and Je'von will do one day in a MITB match.) The fantasy booking in me would have had Lola pass out in the crossface. The Pop Rocks on the table was a nice spot and the repeated finishers was a nice idea for viciousness but I agree that multiple Pop Rocks isn't that impactful. At this point if they're not ready for Giulia, I think they might just have to start bringing in legends to face Roxy. I don't think the main event ever hit that next level but it was really good and enjoyable. They had some inventive spots and I think everyone got to shine a bit. I don't know how many people caught it but I loved the crowd chanting "Rest in Peace" for Evans after his table bump. Thought the finish was perfect because it's the kind of spot that happens all the time but almost never actually ends a match. Trick is probably stronger chasing the title and the circumstances that Page won the title are great for a heel that thinks he's better than he's shown himself to be and that everyone hates. Oh and if you didn't watch all the way through:

Sami vs. Bron was incredible. That pin was a thing of beauty — Bron had to do some taunting before going to spear Sami, and he got caught. Sami took no chances and immediately went for the pin. Loved the booking for this, too. Bron getting beat this early in his career makes him not have to deal with a big winning streak and how you get out of a guy in a Goldberg steak. But he looks even more awesome as he now goes to eventually dethrone Sami by learning where he erred.

The first one doesn't seem weird to me, because going into the show I would have given Private Party a better chance to win than Komander. Obviously they wouldn't be pinning Takeshita, but they're not so low on the totem pole that I couldn't see them getting a fall on Fletcher. And heck, Trish Adora had a better chance of beating Toni Storm than Jay White had of beating Adam Page. But of course there was very little chance of the latter being a squash after it was announced as the main event; it was always going to be Page winning a fairly competitive match.

Couldn;t agree more. My comment wasn't even a dig at Punk, i don't think anyone in WWE is on Drew's level right now and i think he's surpassed both Rollins and Punk at this moment

Drew McIntyre is doing his best work ever.

I'm shocked McIntyre can stand up straight the way he's carrying the Punk feud.

That cash in & angle felt hella lazy to me. Like, folks continue to gush over hhh’s booking like it’s brilliant. If TK had booked something this obvious and uninteresting, the online discourse would be deafening. It wasn’t good, and Summerslam looks pretty lackluster so far.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GRxSWX_XMAA_zXi?format=jpg&name=small Then. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GRxSWX_XcAApDsP?format=jpg&name=small Now.

Solo main-eventing SummerSlam in a title match is wild considering how few matches he’s won on tv past year or so. They heated him up from jtts to main-eventer almost overnight. Even since the new Bloodline started, he’s only got a couple single wins on tv. Feels like he should be softening Cody up for Rock or Jacob Fatu (which maybe is where this goes). i don’t think Drew is the babyface in this feud, but feud would be over if Punk would stop being a petty prick. Dude’s racking up those airline miles just in case he gets a chance to mess with Drew on a show. Punk must think Drew is Colt Cabana in disguise, Does Drew share a bank account with his mother or something? PPV was fun, but I’m still not interested in the big Summer storylines or weekly tv.

I'm the same. Never liked Marko Stunt.

I love Max going with the Brainbuster as a finisher. It's a great move that clearly still pops an audience. That said, there's some needed recovery time. Cutting the devastating looking mid-match brainbusters from both Takeshita's arsenal and especially Fletcher's would do them both a world of wonders. In turn, it's great to see Fletcher rehabbing the Piledriver as a finish rather than a mid-match transitional 2 count before hitting a far less devastating finish. I've never not been sold on the Piledriver as a killer, thank you Mr. Wonderful.

This was an enjoyable show. Great main event (with a very meme-able shot of Christian lying down outside the ring). Max's promo furthered the story and did a good job of adding some layers. I just don't get the people cheering him here though, even if you're a fan of his work you lessen the impact of it with your reaction to his heinous acts. I can only assume these people think Ricky Gervais is an edgy and hilarious comedian. During the first match Nigel made a quip about "titty city" being equally appropriate for the next match, which ended up being Toni Storm and Trish Adora. Someone needs to have a word with him because that's incredibly disrespectful. Schiavone was stunned into silence by it. Nige has some good moments, but he's quantity over quality and he far too often crosses the line to Jerry Lawler "puppies", bleugh! Positive stuff - lots of great backstage stuff here from Hangman, Christian, HOB, the conglomeration. Some interesting development with OC's character becoming more nihilistic.

The only one that I've ever heard, that I've actually given serious clout to was that the producers of Beyond The Mat paid Colette Foley to purposely make the children more upset during filming to generate more interest/controversy/drama.

Getting positive feedback like that is always wonderful and people telling you that you'd be welcomed back anytime is especially heartwarming. This was very nice to read.

Priest seemed off to me all night. There were a handful of little botches in their match tonight I noticed.

Well that was a really good show. I even sat through the post show press conference which is something I never do. I figured Drew would win the MITB match so I was right about that. But I didn't think he would actually cash in tonight. I figured he was playing mind games by saying that. I didn't see the CM Punk thing coming which was nice. Drew going absolutely ape shit in the post show was some great stuff. Plus we get the continuation of the Punk/Rollins feud. Women's MITB was really good. Better than the mens match. Gotta hand it to Chelsea for taking that huge bump at the end of the match. I was hoping she would win just so Matt Cardona could claim he was half the MITB winner since they split everything 50/50. But I'm glad Tiffany won. She's going to be so good as the MITB holder. Rest of the show was good. Sami/Bron, and the Six Man were fantastic. Just a really good show all around.

Think about it... Jake wasn't even crazy enough to do something like that

Or the sound truck fucked up and Drew's music was supposed to hit at 2 (not my idea) I suddenly wonder if Punk is down to the wire on whether he's cleared at Summerslam and Seth v Drew is the backup plan?

Really dug Adora vs Toni and all of the stuff with their respective entourages. Hope Riho is okay. Looked like she injured her wrist towards the end of the match.

Penelope/Tiki was good with a surprise win for Tiki, which was awesome. Liked all of the post match antics leading to the main event. Nice chemistry between Lil J and Ice Cold. Ice Cold has been one of my favorites for a while now so nice to see her branch out solo again. And Lil J Boogie was made to be a face. Nice win for Animal Instinct against Team Spirit. On paper, the animal themed characters sounded iffy but they really work in WOW. The main was perfectly fine wrestling but mainly a set up for continued Island Dynasty/Fab 4 issues, which should be fun.

Men's MITB felt a bit rougher than usual in terms of danger. Was a fun mess. Drew winning was predictable but probably the right move. Sami/Bron was damn good as expected. Wasn't expecting Sami to get a straightforward victory, but Bron can afford such a loss here. Will be more about how he responds to it. Surprisingly dug Priest/Seth more than expected with the two just going at it from the getgo while constantly worrying about the looming threat of Drew cashing in. A fuckup at the pin screwed up the momentum, but Drew finally coming down to cash in right after managed to mitigate the damage a good deal. Punk's interference was expected but well done and welcomed by the crowd. I did like no one quite being happy with the results but Punk. Seth got as screwed as Drew while Priest continues to not quite cement his spot as a top guy. The Women's MITB was kind of insane and scary with everyone doing some dumb crazy shit at some point. When a ladder fall through tables is one of the safer spot you know things are crazy. Thought everyone got in some good moments and love result. Io and Zoey are fucking insane and need their heads checked both mentally and medically after this. Loved what Chelsea did character wise, and it was great seeing Tiffany take home the win. Bloodline vs. Cody/Orton/KO built into something good though it had a hard time following the Women's MITB. Jacob looked good and poor Tanga got knocked loopy saving him. Was happy to see Solo get the pin on Cody. Dug all of the matches and overall results here. The women's match was insane and easily MOTN. Sami/Bron was probably the best right after it. Good show. Cena announcing a retirement tour was unexpected. Hope he gets a good retirement at next year's Wrestlemania.

Kirsten Dunst gets a lifetime pass for On Becoming a God in Central Florida. Absolute crime it never got a second season

It's kinda hilarious to me that we're at almost twenty years since OMD, every poll of comic readers I've ever seen shows that fans overwhelmingly want the marriage back and hate OMD, multiple creators have made it clear they feel the same way, but Marvel remains convinced that a version of the character their customers that fans like less is better in some way.

Nao's produce show was really fun!

I posted this a couple of years ago; it’s a Garvin vs. Les Thornton tv match that consists of a repeated/prolonged cravat hold; really terrific stuff:

But not near Voorhees Township. However, Haddonfield, New Jersey is near there, which is where Haddonfield, Illinois in the Halloween series got its name.

On the payroll once, on the payroll forever.

- Mone has been acting like a heel from the beginning - the extra lavish entrance, the CEO nickname (I mean, is there anyone more hated in modern late capitalist society than a CEO?), the fact that she got visually pinned by Willow in their TBS Title match, the condescending tone of every one of her promos - but I think they didn't want to necessarily beat the audience's heads with it because (a) there was merch money to be made and (b) the fans in Boston and in other cities did want to cheer for her initially because she was the biggest star in the division so seeing her live was always going to get a huge pop.* And, who knows? Maybe they also thought she might get over as a babyface despite clearly being a heel so best not to have Excalibur and Schiavone and Tazz sell her as a villain the way they do the Young Bucks or The Learning Tree? Here's hoping that, moving forward, they do start having the commentary make it clear that she is buddy-buddy with the Bucks and has an attitude (but can back it up in the ring). Then, let Mercedes do the rest of the work to get heat. Also - last thought - I wasn't a huge fan of Britt's lengthy promo. It's a shame that shooting straight from the heart and revealing a very real medical issue has become a wrestling trope, but it has. It just seems like every 6 weeks, somebody is coming out to detail some horrendous career-ending injury and how they're now medically cleared and are back to take their spot back. I'm hoping they make this feud less about "AEW Original vs. AEW Outsider" because that's also a trope and maybe more about their characters. Something like: Mercedes Mone is an arrogant, entitled drama queen who pretends to be pro-woman but has thrown a temper tantrum and walked out every time she's been asked to step aside for a new woman to get the spotlight. Britt Baker is a big fish in a small pond and, like her husband, is too fragile to have ever actually achieved anything at the level that Mercedes has. They don't like each other. They don't respect each other. Now they're going to fight. That, to me, is a dynamic where I'm not sure who is going to win. - They really need to do more with Takeshita. I don't know why Tony doesn't see him as, if not their Brock Lesnar, than at least their GUNTHER. I thought they were setting him up to beat Briscoe for the ROH Championship but that doesn't seem like where they're going. I'd love to see him go after Perry for the TNT Title but I don't think they're going in that direction either. For a company with a half-dozen titles floating around, how this guy doesn't get one and then just go on an undefeated streak for the next 3 years makes no sense to me. * I love to bring up this story just because so I again...Somewhere between 2004-2006, I went to an indy show here in Cleveland (it was pre-AIW, so I'm guessing it was either a Cleveland All-Pro show run by JT Lightning or a Pro Wrestling Ohio show) where Buff Bagwell was the big star they brought in. Of course, the whole time, before he makes his entrance, fans are just goofing on Bagwell, talking about Judy, chatting amongst ourselves at how far Buff had fallen to be doing this show, etc. Then, Bagwell shows up, sporting the top hat, looking like "The Stuff," doing all the shtick and all 100 or so fans are just going wild for him. Myself included. Sure, there was still some "Where's Judy?" heckling, but Buff had fun with it and worked the match as the babyface and got babyface reactions. We came to ridicule and boo this guy, we left with our wallets $20 lighter because we all wanted a Polaroid with him and the hat. In a larger sense, this is why you couldn't have Mercedes debut as a heel. The live audiences were going to mark out for her.

Agreed. The tag/trios division feel aimless. I know the Bucks/Acclaimed are working towards something, but the tag division was once such a strength and now it feels like WWE where the tag division is an afterthought. Weren't the MCMG supposed to be coming in soon?

Oh yeah, now I remember. Tod was like "Is Bill Alfonso gone? Is he gone? OKAY THEN LET'S START THE TAIPEI DEATH MATCH" and then they start slicing the shit out of each other. He had to actually not be present after all. Unfortunately, I've seen too much Tirantes and Red Shoes to want anything more from my refs than proper calls and counts.

I haven't seen the original, but the remake is more dimly lit and Colin Farrell's character is a bit more sympathetic and less outwardly charming than Clint Eastwood's. The remake is more focused on the women in the story versus the original.

That's why Bill Alfonso was there. To get heel heat by enforcing the rules and reversing decisions (removing babyface wins). Onto Rampage: ROOOSH vs Komander reminds us that Rush has spent very little of his time in AEW wrestling other Luchadors. Rush mostly just eats him alive, but that's how he generally wrestles. He's not a guy who has 50/50 matches. Private Party vs Fletcher & Takeshita, that was mostly a showcase for the Don Callis Family team (but the way the angle is going, Fletcher is going to leave the group with Ospreay soon, so it's less of a "Look at this new kickass Tag Team" and more of a what could have been). Quen has done a great job of getting himself back in ring shape though. When he first returned, he looked chunkier and seemed to have lost a step athletically, but he's back to his best now. But PP as an act, they're one of those 2019 signings who had a big future in 2019, but were then eclipsed by later signings. The Acclaimed and Top Flight both took spots that Private Party could have occupied. I was expecting a shorter squashier match, but they kept kicking out of stuff. Not sure about Fletcher and Takesoup hitting stereo Brainbusters for Twos, when that's MJF's new killer finish, but oh well. Schiavone at the desk looking miserable at sharing a camera shot with Callis was funny, can't wait for all of the idiots to screencap it and talk about how he's not happy in AEW. Two matches in a row where a guy called Kyle is in the ring while his questionable friend provides commentary! I do fins it interesting that whenever you have an unsigned local indie guy on AEW TV to do a job, they always get a hometown hero pop from the fans (even when they're clearly the heel in the match, like GPA tonight), which never happens in WWE. Speaking of WWE, we get a couple of promo packages (from Joe on Jericho, and Storm on Trish Adora) and a recap video (of MJF/Garcia) so all of their goldfish-brained fans can remember that AEW has storylines. Hikaru Shida vs Mariah May was stiff as hell in parts. They're both babyfaces, but Shida was working as veteran heel in the match. But considering that the winner gets Willow Nightingale on Wednesday, they're going to be the heel in that match no matter what. The odd thing about the Owen Hart tournament is, it's (a couple of) 8 person single elimination tournaments, but being spread over a bunch of shows like it is, it doesn't have that epic feel that either a one night tournament, or a round robin does... like, you don't feel that people are arriving in the final battered and exhausted. Maybe it's just me. Good show though.

Hope everyone still have all ten fingers

Greg drops diss tracks. Verne kills a guy. Is the daughter still in jail? Whole family is as gangsta as Minnesota gets, I suppose.

Rewatched Logan to psyched for Deadpool & Wolverine. There's way too much dust in this room, keep having to wipe my eyes... It's just a great movie and everyone is bringing their A game. It also makes me wish the Quesolupa was a thing! James

“I’m Greg Gagne and I’m in a rage! I want Brody, and I want him in a cage!” Yeah Greg, imma call bullshit on that one.

Oh. Damn. Did not know that.