Custos

I’m not a fan of the defeatist ‘it’s such a sleazy business it always has been, we can’t blackball everyone, just don’t think about it and enjoy the show’ attitude coming out from some places. Change does happen when people speak up and make it clear that there is no place for a type of behaviour. Look at the DeMott style hazing, that went from ‘suck it up, don’t be a pussy, aren’t you one of the boys?’ to ‘get that abusive shit out of here’ in short order.

Well he did at least one memorable thing anyway. The nail in the coffin of the burial https://Www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtpeMSjjxXk

I used to do the Convict Conditioning calisthenics exercises when I was holed up in the hotel room in the middle of nowhere for work. Minor weirdness in the grand scheme of all the disruption, but it was my first day at my new job yesterday, and I spent the first half shadowing the CFO in an emergency exec meeting on how to manage through the crisis, then the second half getting my laptop and gear ready to work from home indefinitely. And I was all psyched to be working in North Sydney with all the pubs and cafes rather than a grimy industrial estate in the West. And it's looking increasingly likely that those Iron Maiden tickets for May aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Oh well, first world problems and all that

Sheesh, tell us how you really feel about him ? Ive always had a soft spot for Havoc, maybe from growing up a few months apart and within a few miles of me, and being on the skinny side and both somewhat of the goth persuasion, he’s that alternate timeline version of me had I pursued in-ring what I was fanatical about watching. As it happens, one Jim Sterling also fits that description (sans the skinniness) and he’s a semi-regular in the ring now too. But I agree with such a plentiful and varied roster it’s difficult to see what great value the likes of Havoc bring beyond the occasional garbage ode to Tony’s beloved ECW.

Beware the Ides of March, Cody. Ive only seen the Jake appearance so far but that was fantastic.

Whoops I missed that, I should have had a look in the locked thread first.

Let's not forget St David's Day in March too (in reference to the St Patrick's Day posts in the gif thread)

Another classic moment from the match, when Ortiz sold Aubrey's 'you'rrrrrrrre outta here!' like he'd been run over by Stan Hansen. I don't know if the still pic does it justice.

Can't have St Paddy's Day without an authentic leprechaun, shillelagh and all

There has been some inane rubbish spouted in these PPV introductory voice-overs through the years but 'your physical matter and energy are about to take you on a journey of a lifetime' might take the cake. The other thing I caught on the re-watch, apart from enjoying the three previously stated matches all the more on the second viewing, was JR's unfortunate 'Hangman Page's DNA is dripping down Matt Jackson's face'. Now I knew what was coming, it was great to listen to JR and Tony come around to Orange Cassidy through the length of the match. I give the man credit, he has clearly honed and perfected the whole act. That pose after he gets up from the dropkick is obviously well-practised in its nonchalance and potentially every bit as iconic as Orton or Rock's corner poses. The image of a downtrodden but defiant generation.

Regarding the forced kiss spot, I think this is an area where all the learned folks backstage with decades steeped in the core ingredients of what draws heat and money took a can’t-miss spot from the past and didn’t apply a modern lens to it. Yes, there are some universals in wrestling but then there are other elements that are very ‘of their time’. Either that or Tony was reverting to his predilection for the ECW edge a la the much discussed face-in-arse spot from the other thread. Either way, it was so tonally off compared to their presentation of gender it was jarring. Why was the wife suddenly shoehorned into the angle anyway? Why did they book the finish to get heat for a low blow when Dustin just gave a blatant one himself half a minute before? I was scratching my head at a lot of that match. Edit to add: I don’t want to be a downer, the show as a whole was sublime and I cannot wait to get off work today so I can go home and watch it again, particularly to soak in the tag, OC/PAC and Allin/Guevara.

It’s a good thing Cody had so much goodwill with the fans going in as the hat-trick of crap theme, controversial tattoo and shafting by the dastardly heel would be enough to cool off a lesser face. I watched the interview with Tony at the Bojangles (?) arena earlier when I was getting in the mood for the show. The man is pretty magic on the mic. Also, I was fearing for Kris Stadlander on that avalanche powerbomb. I think someone mentioned Nyla had enough trouble getting Riho up for the finish before. Kris did all the work to get up into a safe position and even then it looked a bit dicey.

Well AEW does say they have something for every fan. That includes the foot-fetish sadomasochist too. Another thought on the show - the production and stage were top notch. I don't think the Young Bucks have felt like a bigger deal than walking out there with that tron and ramp and the hundreds of bracelets flashing

Well that was a hell of a show. The right length, great storytelling throughout and everyone delivered (with the exception of maybe Downstait). I think MOTN has to go to the tag for the psychology with Matt ramping up the aggression, then pulling back, the dynamics between the individuals and the crowd going BANANA as Kenny shrugged off the Golden Trigger.

Joining the chorus of excitement. The show does feel a steal at $30 AUD on Fite. I see any of the tag, Mox/Jericho or Cody/MJF stealing the show, with Darby and Sammy determined to make their mark somehow too. (I love the Flair's Shadow conspiracy theory above. So far he has been accused of being Fat Spanish Waiter and Tony Khan now. What if Tony = Shadow = FSW???)

AKI inspired video game confirmed. That, and all but confirming the UK PPV this year (pandemic permitting) are big milestones. Even more than that, they are really hitting their stride in building to a PPV with high stakes and multiple storylines that matter and could go in all sorts of intriguing ways. Previous big shows had 1-2 hooks and then basically 'Matches 3-8: Great Wrestling' as the hook for the rest. Between this factor and the consistently great Dynamites they have found their groove.

I knew there was something different about his entrance but couldn't put my finger on it, I thought it must just be that he had the Bucks as seconds. But no, it was swapping out the dozy jet-lagged Kenny walking the streets of Shibuya, which I always felt was bad-quirky Kenny, (as opposed to the many good-quirky aspects of his persona). What a three-show run and lead in to the big PPV. I thought this one held up as well as the previous two with the diversity of match-ups, just the right amount of goofiness, progression with the Elite's relationship in a great sit-down segment, judicious use of star-power, and Jericho continuing to take everything he's involved in to the next level. I'm surprised they didn't push the Women's Championship or have MJF make a last ditch attempt to coax Cody into physical contact, but I guess they have the countdown show and they feel the brief video package was sufficient setup for Dynamite. Edit to add: also I have a feeling that the PAC/OC match may be a few-minute pallet cleanser of OC momentarily frustrating PAC, showing off some lucha things (TM) and getting killed in short order. Which would be a great way to sustain the Bastard as a top level threat.

Thanks, I think I’ll pass on the black pudding with my breakfast today. Regarding the AEW overseas travel, I get that Australia is a reach, but I would think with Tony’s connections with ITV for production and with the discerning fan base (I think TNA had their highest attended show in UK) it should be doable to hop over to London for one Dynamite per year. Maybe partner with a local promotion to add a couple of house shows, to @Dewar’s point, get more juice out of the trip and some more reps for the rookies.

Oh, to be part of the conversation about seeing Dynamite live. When are they going to get their act together bring the crew over to Oz, or any other foreign country like UK? Although last I checked, ratings were not looking so hot for UK so they may be consolidating their US base a while longer before venturing overseas. Yes, this post is composed entirely of entitlement and first-world problems. But dammit, surely 'overseas tour' belongs before 'fully articulated action figures' on the national wrestling promotion tech tree?

KENTA’s top rope clothesline that he used throughout the G1, like CM punk’s elbow, looks like he has lead in his trunks and is ‘falling with no style’, to butcher Buzz Lightyear’s line. It’s as much the way he waddles up to the top rope rather than springboarding and it being such a blatant symbol of the physical decline from his peak. So in a way it is much more pathetic than Punk, who from all observable evidence never had an athletic peak to speak of (I love him but let’s be honest). But, having said that, it is totally in keeping with KENTA’s persona of the bitter veteran who’s past his athletic prime and makes up for it in his viciousness and bad behaviour.

Yeah, the song that plays when you are making the final run through to the heart on each dungeon (I think it’s ‘life will change’) is great too and really gets your blood pumping. I never had a PS3 so Uncharted Collection was top of my list when I got the PS4 (after Horizon Zero Dawn and Bloodborne which sold me on the console) a couple of years back to see what all the fuss was about. Playing them all back to back you could see the evolution in gameplay and mechanics, like AxB said, the stuff that worked and what they thought better of in later instalments. For a while I had Uncharted and Just Cause on the go at the same time. When I got bored of the open world mayhem I went to the more scripted story and then back again.

To be fair, a straight transliteration from the Japanese katakana would be something like ‘Raigaa’ so the R is somewhat forgivable if the translator is being very literal and has never heard of a half lion/half tiger before.

Arguably their most significant cruiserweight ever, a man who broke down barriers and shattered conventions everywhere he travelled in his storied career, is a man who’s still going too strong as an active wrestler to just be a name on a tournament... Yes, the nZo Classic is going to have to wait a few years...

This may be old news now being a week later, but definitely get stuck into The Outer Worlds. The first 10 hours or so is some of the best gaming experiences I had last year. The criticism of it being front loaded are valid but overblown, I had a blast until the very end. Parvati’s story arc in particular is such a poignant and deftly written journey. Witcher 3 is a singular experience but I got the most out of it because I was itching to play that kind of game. Also, the Gwent music is etched indelibly into my brain. I never even knew what a Hurdy Gurdy sounded like before and now it plays in my head at random moments. Ive been out of the wrestling bubble somewhat the past few weeks (barring Wrestle Kingdom and Dynamite) as I have a new obsession involving sharing intimate feelings with school kids and exploring corrupted desires... it’s Persona 5 you perverts! I know I’m late to the party but everything about the game from the music to the art and character design is top notch. It’s also the only game in my post-uni life that I am prepared to grind/farm, and actually enjoy doing it!

In honour of Sammy Guevara's latest antics: