Just Dave

They'd be my fucking heroes. I do wonder how you book around Andrade eating another loss. I also wonder why it's so important for Omega and the Bucks to be the first trios champions. It's not like not participating in the tournament means you can't ever challenge for the titles. I'm trying very hard not to assume the worst about Kenny & the Bucks and backstage machinations, mostly because my meds got adjusted and I'm not the conspiracy theorist I once was. I just think that given what's been happening lately the Elite are about the fourth or fifth most interesting team in that tournament and HOB, IG, Dark Order and Best Friends would all make more sense.

As far as aew’s womens division, I certainly think they’ve made strides since the inception of the company. Some of that can be chalked up to who was available at the time the roster was put together. I certainly subscribe to the theory that losing Kylie Rae so early threw a monkey wrench into a lot of what they had planned early. I don’t think anyone thought Brandi was going to set the world on fire, but I don’t think any reasonable person would’ve foreseen how bad everything she tried would turn out. Britt Baker and Kris Statlander getting hurt so early didn’t help. Big Swole was kind of a sunk cost. For a while that division was held together by Nyla and the Joshis (sweet punk band name, btw) and during the pandemic era your roster got so thin that Anna Jay was having tv matches like 60 days after she started training. Thunder Rosa is clearly someone TK has a lot of affinity for, and I can see why. She came in and brought a level of credibility to a division that sorely needed it. It’s just insane to me how poorly she’s performed since she signed full time. I can’t help but wonder if she’s like one of those athletes that gets a big extention/contract and coasts because the drive to get paid is gone. The personnel they’ve brought in in the last 18 months has been a legitimate uptick in quality. Ruby, Toni, Tay, And Serena Deeb have thickened the roster tremendously, and Jade Cargill is an absolute STAR. The division as a whole just feels stagnant. I certainly think introducing tag titles would help, but so many of the women have the opposite problem as the men; underexposure. shit, I rambled. My bad. But there’s a fundamental change that has to happen in aew’s philosophy regarding women before any real change can occur. I still wonder if there’s some edict from tbs or WB that limits the number of womens matches. But getting behind Statlander, Jamie Hayter and one or two other fresh-ish faces (Ruby? Toni Storm?) would do a lot for how the division is perceived…

I’d like to hear it. I know I have one in mind, too…

If I were pitching TK on ideas for ROH, and he'd had a few White Claws and some of that good booger sugar, I'd pitch Danhausen as the authority figure of Ring of Honor. I think his weirdness would play well between ultra serious matches. His character loves money and as he figures out that the more people like the matches, the more money he makes, you could have a lot of fun with that. But I think authority figures have to be done like that now, instead of "biased heel boss oppresses totally not ordained top babyface."

Also, I just got caught up on the drama from a couple pages ago, and let me just say; I hate when people get wound up over subjective shit that doesn't matter all that much.

TK said on an interview recently that Black's got like 5 years left on his AEW deal. FTR ain't going back. Miro is doing more acting, apparently. One thing I think we're discounting is the appeal of the AEW schedule as opposed to WWE's. You're home more. You have more leeway with your likeness ie third party appearances and whatnot. WWE is still a publicly traded company. Nick Khan still has a lot of sway. Some folks will flock back toward WWE, sure. But I don't think it's an exodus of talent TK needs to worry about so much as it is a rabid cost-cutter in the driver's seat at WBD.

That's a good point.

Da Meltz is allegedly a bit butthurt over getting worked by TK and co over the MJF situation. Having said that, I do think AEW has gotten mired down in some nonsense. Assuming they have lost some momentum/ ground to WWE, what would y'all do to have them regain some momentum? For me, the complete absence of AEW talent on other media outlets is baffling. Why are Ricky Starks, Jade Cargill, Keith Lee and Jungle Boy not out doing morning shows and other talk shows? Mox was great at that in WWE. He should be doing that more. I think in 2022 that might be where the "new audience" is. People who's attention you capture outside the wrestling space...

That’s what get for skimming…

To be fair, there’s a tangible downturn in her performance since then. I care less about in ring work than just about anyone here, and even I’m like “damn. This is getting bad…”

Agreed. Mexico, Puerto Rico, the places he hits normally. Andrade’s awesome. I hope bringing in RUSH and (allegedly) Dragon Lee tamp down his anger, if there is any. Ill be interested to see what wwe’s programming looks like in 6 months. There’s a lot of huge changes right now, and excitement around their product, but it sounds like USA, Fox, and Nick Khan still have a lot of influence over the in ring talent & stories. Triple H has historically had blinders for “his” talent, ie Gargano, Ciampa, Rhea et al. I also wonder if being one of Cody’s friends carries the weight it did four months ago. It sounds like Cody & hhh are cordial, but I don’t think it’s as sure a thing as it was that Starks, Wardlow, Jade Cargill, and the other folks Cody gave a look to in AEW are gonna get serious looks now. Jade & Wardlow almost certainly will, but Jade doesn’t want to travel that much & Wardlow has such a shitty experience at the PC (when Trips was in charge)that he almost quit the business. AEW might lose one or two talents to wwe, but I also anticipate some more talent from wwe being available. We’re headed for a fun time in wrestling…

Let’s not forget how much time Andrade spends with one of the biggest malcontents in the history of the business. His father in law is probably in his ear constantly about how much bigger of a star he should be. And to be fair, Andrade should be a bigger deal than he is…

Why would anyone think that’s a good idea?

Miro was filming that tv show, iirc. And Andrade was done no favors by being programmed w PAC and Cody. That dude needs to be wearing gold asap.

I’m not sure they can wait. The trios tourney final is at all out. They have to get this shit going.

Takeshita for BCC. Give him all the Cinnabon he wants…

I love you.

I’ve watched the first three minutes of that Dumpster match probably 8 times, and I maintain it’s one of the best booked segments in AEW history. The Acclaimed taking out Paterfamilias de Hindquarters before the match. Anthony Bowens screaming “eat shit!” At Austin Ass while braining him with a rubbish bin. The sell job Austin Ass did of said braining. Max rapping to the Ass Boys faces about how shitty they are. Perfect. Just perfect. Idk why, but whenever you read my posts about shitty adam Cole and think “does this guy like anything?” Think about this post. I loved every little bit of this.

They should put Hobbs w Stokes.

I really liked this show. The past week has been a reminder of how good Jay Lethal. The Best Friends doing the “two kids trying to get tickets to an R rated movie” popped me to no end. That was fantastic. I thought Wardlow’s promo was the right use of him. Short, awesome. Lethal will die for a lot of people’s sins. I could not have cared less about this super elite bullshit. Adam Cole is back with his “eighth grader playing ‘the dad’ in the school play” faux intensity that he can’t come within a mile of pulling off. I find it interesting that as soon as the theme song goes off, the crowd reactions to him get smaller. Anyway, the kid crying at the UE heel turn popped me. Yeah kid, I cry when these dipshits are on my screen, too. The POP for Hangman Page. That guy fucking rules. Actually reasonably interested in the Hung Bucks. I’ve hated the Bucks’ work much less the last couple months. They shouldn’t let Cole promo anytime right before or after Moxley promos, because Mox does effortlessly what Cole is trying his very hardest to convey. Great promo. Nice little Jungle Boy segment. This women’s tag kicked ass. Thunderstorm vs. The Tooth Commission. Jamie & Toni are the stars here. I can’t recall another performer regressing as badly as quickly as Rosa. I love her, but she’s gone straight down the shitter. It wouldn’t kill Britt to put a few people over, but at least Jamir got the pin. Powerhouse murked a fool. Ricky Starks is a top babyface. Imagine having a wrestling show on which adam Cole promoed and Rick Starks didn’t. Smh my head. That eventual match will rule. I’m not a big Darby Allin fan. I get along with both my parents, so his schtick isn’t really for me. Sweet video packages though. Cage & Hardy. Eh. Jungle Boy; renegade is a fun development though. Ethan Page & Big Stoke will be dope. Because they are both dope. The JAS b-team is so damn entertaining. Anna JAS is slowly growing more confident on the mic. Her choking out a stagehand popped me. That dumpster match ruled ass. Caster waiting til after they put a down payment on that ass whippin’ to rap was king shit. That ruled so hard. The Acclaimed is so good. Bowens yelling “eat shit!” on that trash can shot to Colton popped me. Colton takes fantastic bumps. Right team won. Eddie Kingston might literally eat Sammy Guevara. I’m in. Another great Miro promo. Main was fine. Wheeler Yuta is so fucking special. A year ago he was just a guy. Now he’s one of their top stars. Just a reminder of what can happen when talent is booked to get over. I understand the finish, but I’ve had about enough of Chris Jericho; main eventer. Rampage looks like extremely my shit. Good show.

They could run again in 3 months with a Karen Jarrett/Meghan Flair main event. I’d pay to watch that…

Shit, Lawler would’ve been perfect as the third for Lethal and Jarrett.

Someone nailed it in this thread already; the main could’ve really benefited from one more participant per side. Could’ve hidden Flair even more…

I watched it. Part of me wishes I didn’t, but you can tell everyone involved was doing their best to make Flair look like a million bucks. Jay Lethal is such a goddamn pro. Effortlessly smooth & crisp on his shit. Jarrett is a heat machine. Both Jarrett’s, actually. Double J is in fantastic shape. He looks like he could have one more IC title reign right now. You could tell this was a labor of love for Andrade. Nobody tests your goodwill like family. I hope Ric got what he wanted from this. It was funny to me that Tony Schiavone called Ric “the greatest wrestler of all time” with Bret Hart standing right there. Just made me chuckle.

I’ll have more to say on this show tonight, but the lack of any crowd response at all to the “undisputed elite returns” graphic made me giggle…