just drew

Some folks will think this is funny, given the hills I’ve chosen to die on on this board, but I’m wearing 4 inch lift shoes. Bob Ewell is only an inch or two shorter than me, and I was told I was a little too short lol.

Playing Boo Radley in Augusta tonight. Y’all let me know if anything dope happens…

Isn't it crazy how quick that all came together?

I came here to say this name, too. I think Bad Bunny "gets it" from a storytelling perspective. I also found Johnny Knoxville's Mania match incredibly entertaining, for what it was. Also, I don't know who needs to hear this, but I don't think anyone is claiming Jade Cargill is "fine" in the ring. I think the claim that was and should continued to be made is that if you can't figure out how to make Jade Cargill look like a star, l question your star-making bonafides. Sid Vicious was terrible in the ring. He was terrible on the mic, most of the time. But he had AURA. I forget who it was on this board who said it (Craig maybe?), but motherfucker was dripping with "IT." Jade Cargill, at her height, had that same aura, and it's crazy that she went to a company built on projecting aura and they can't (or don't want to) figure out how best to present Jade. Anyway, just for whoever needs to hear that.

I really, really dug this show. I promised @NikoBaltimore I wouldn’t lose my shit if UK beat the DR, but it ended up being a Moo point. Hurt Syndicate fucking rules, and the Ass Boys showed me something tonight. Dug the MJF/Hangman thing. AEW has hit on several feuds the last couple weeks. Hobbs/Big Bill and now this. Holy shit did the women shine tonight! Megan Bayne is incredibly impressive, but she’s gonna pinch a nerve in her neck if she doesn’t stop sucking her head under on the F5. She’s gotta get her opponent higher. Harley Cameron is a goddamned star. Pay her all the money you’re gonna free up when Saraya’s contract lapses. I’ve never been more serious. Also, puppet Mercedes is more over than… Elmo. Last segment felt flat, and I’m not sure Spike was the right choice to try to destroy a briefcase. FTR was conspicuous by their absence.

Yeah, I messaged you in the discord. Sometimes it's like when Brennan sees Dale's drumsticks in Step Brothers. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself.

Apparently, there was a pretty solid ratings spike during Harley's segment on Collision. I can't think of anyone else involved in that segment that anyone would give a shit about, so I think it's pretty clear that Starley Cameron is a DRAW. Yes, I am kidding about there not being anyone else in that segment. Sort of. But it is noteworthy that people tuned back in during that segment.

If he stays in shape I could see him doing a Royal Rumble or something.

Honestly, if I were him, after the last 18 months of his WWE booking, I’d have been pretty protective of my credibility too.

Laugh, but that guy is right. How any AEW events have you been to with her on them? She’s completely irrelevant…

Because there’s only a small contingent online that’s actually upset about them. Did Righteous Reg tell you to be mad that Mox is still champion?

Rusev might be done. SRS said he’s made good investments and as someone who’s been through a messy divorce, i would have zero desire to go back to the workplace where i met my ex.

As a Braves fan I find this more than adequate lol. Fuck Stephen Strasburg.

I mean, I wonder if the price of talent has just gone up in general. Look at starting pitching in baseball; Guys are getting grossly overpaid relative to their output because that's what the market demands. I think salaries for wrestlers have gone up. We gotta re-calibrate how we judge what's "worth it" and what isn't.

Wait, a week or two ago you were insisting that Mercedes wasn't booking herself, because it fit your narrative. Now you're insisting that she IS booking herself, because that would make her a genius for recognizing the talent within Harley and a saint for going to bat for her with Tony. This is some of the most impressive mental gymnastics I've ever seen. And not only have I seen a lot of that on this board, I've been known to be one of the more prominent purveyors. Harley Cameron doesn't need another talent to advocate for her. She jumps off the screen with her looks and her insane charisma. It also doesn't hurt that for as overinflated as her talent is, Mercedes is capable of getting a decent match out of Harley, for however much that matters. I just don't understand the constant insistence that Mercedes, and Mercedes alone, is solely responsible for all the good things happening in AEW, and is completely immune to any criticism that could be made about the lack of juice on her title reign and the consistently mediocre promos. The video packages produced for her are absolutely top-notch. No argument there. But how many times does she need to ask Harley "are you stupid or are you dumb?" to zero reaction before she gets the message? I've read a lot from you about what a big deal Mercedes is, but I've been to two AEW live events in the last month or so, and at no point was Mercedes Mone perceived as a big deal by either audience that I was in. Maybe she's great on talk shows and radio drive-time segments, but I question how much fan overlap between those outlets and AEW there is. But even that is besides the point; the point is that your para-social relationship with a wrestler you've never met is off-putting to a ridiculous degree, and I know I'm not the only person who it makes uncomfortable.

That's an interesting point. FWIW, I think you still sign those guys, because it sends you audience a message that you value their time and patronage by signing top-tier wrestling talent for your wrestling show. I still don't know how much I believe Nielsen ratings, especially because WBD seems happier than a pig in shit with what they're getting from AEW. If they're retaining their usual TNT audience, and getting solid streaming numbers, it gets much easier to justify spending that kind of money on talent. IIRC, WWE ghosted Jay White, so I doubt he's making Mercedes or Okada $.

I still think it's 50/50 that FTR turns on Mox when he and Cope face off for the title. Mox's thing with BCC was that he had to fight someone before he teams with them.

Yeah, I could see that. Part of me thinks that Rod Strong or KOR might join DR. Strong has the connection to Shafir.

Also, Collision was pretty good this week. Other than the Undisputed Kingdom going over. I'm certain this will garner a reaction, but I don't understand why it doesn't bother people more to see Adam Cole toe-to-toe brawling with guys who dwarf him. I'm relatively sure DR will beat those guys pretty handily, but it's very much "not for me." I'll leave it at that.

I think you do the "oh shit, I won!" title switch here. Where it doesn't sink in for Harley how screwed she actually is now that she's a champion. I'd even consider having her try to give the belt back to Tony Khan at the postshow scrum. I'd switch it back to Mercedes pretty quick, but I'd absolutely have her win Rock/Hurricane style. I'd probably have all the Aussies who are competing for titles go over. Matthews, Storm, and Harley.

Buddy Matthews is also Australian. I think he's more likely to get the "hometown hero" win, but Harley should too.

It was reported multiple places. I met Matthews the other night, and if he's the least bit unhappy, you wouldn't know it from talking to him. I'm making assumptions based on context clues, but it's gotta feel good to work a lighter schedule for a gob of money. It appears that Malakai may have been the albatross keeping those other two guys off of tv more often, and that makes me sad, because his ceiling was so high at one point. Also, you can tell by the way he's booked when he's on tv that TK loves Brody King. They're in a good spot in AEW, and I'd bet they see a tag title reign in the next 12 months if they stay healthy. I'd also, if I were Uncle Tony (I know you lurk here), sign Ali and Cedric Alexander and pitch WBD executives an additional hour a week where you stop just short of plagiarizing the Cruiserweight Classic and season 1 of Lucha Underground. Rich Swann is available. TJP. You've got access to guys on CMLL and New Japan. You could make Buddy the top heel on that, because he fucking rules. Film it in whatever part of Daily's place the FTR/P&P section of Anarchy in the Arena took place in. Damn, I think I might need to strengthen my Vyvanse dosage again...

I’d think it shows he threw a lot of good money away. There are some misused talents, but nothing that’s going to hurt their product. It’s mind blowing that they couldn’t be bothered to find something for AOP or Cedric, but there’s a lot of dead weight on this list, too.

Right? Didn’t they like, screw over TK or negotiate behind his back or something?

Isla Dawn is posting on socials that she has been released.