Kyuubi

Okay I have been semi following Smackdown so I will chime in on the Becky thing. Ever since the call-up, I have always had an issue with Charlotte. I had an issue when she put down Sasha who complained about Charlotte receiving the push when Sasha was super over following the eponymous takeover match with Bayley. I had a problem with Charlotte with how she was characterized compared to Becky, Bayley Naomi, and Sasha. I had a problem with Charlotte with how she got over on Asuka. Even though I did agree with @Niners Fan in CT about Vince favoring blondes, I like to emphasize that I meant that in the WWE you can have the preferred look over the ability. With Charlotte, it is not that she isn’t talented because she is. It’s people with her talent if not more talented than her don’t get as far in push. Sasha is by far the better performer and better media person. Yet she has been in this quagmire the moment she was called up. Asuka is far better in the ring and has far better physical charisma. Becky is the complete package. Naomi is the most athletic women’s wrestler in the world. These women are just as good as Charlotte if not better. Yet here we are with yet another superwoman push. WWE’s biggest problem now is the lack of parity not acknowledging it and that is especially prevalent in their handling of the women’s divisions. Becky exemplifies this because she shouldn’t be in the shuffle behind Charlotte or Ronda or Alexa. She shouldn’t be middling. She is one of the best women wrestlers in the world and there shouldn’t be this disparity between her and Charlotte and because of that there is this huge push back against Charlotte.

I’m going to keep it real with you all. I have not watched any of the Omega/Okada matches nor will I intentionally. I cannot stand main events that are over 30 minutes. 30-40 minutes is my threshold and 40 minutes tops is pushing it and I absolutely believe that a match, especially a singles match should be detracted against for going on for too long. Not saying that none of those matches weren’t great because I haven’t seen them. If I had been watching them live, then at least I have an excuse because I don’t know how long the match will go going into it but since I can’t possibly watch it live, the one thing that I am going to pay attention to is the length. It ruins my enjoyment. So I’m going to take everyone’s word for it that the matches are aces.

That is a shame. For all of Tama Tonga's charisma, I thought he would stand out this G1 with the whole Bullet Club break up happening and shit. But you really can't start a faction with no stand out wrestlers. Like every faction, including the factionless dudes have aces and this was supposed to be Tama's time to show up. Anyways, @sevendaughters, thanks for the reference point. I already watched all of Ibushi's matches that were worth watching. Might start watching Ishii sans the Ibushi match. Edit: Oh. So he is sucking on purpose. Cool.

Good lord. I appreciate the star ratings system, but Tama Tonga can't be that bad right?

THE ABSOLUTE MADMAN! Real shit, this match was great. What I love about New Japan is that every one of their "aces" have extremely distinct styles so every match up between them feels distinct. I always felt after learning the history and the importance of Tanahashi that Kota was the ace that New Japan always wanted to succeed him after Naito did not wok out and Okada really didn't fit the same mold as Tana. Kota, for whatever reason just didn't commit to the company. The commentary about Ibushi in this match got me to realize how different their characters are with Kota being like a free spirit ronin and Tana being very orthadox and you can see it in their styles as Tana is always about breaking people down from bottom to top while Ibushi is flashy and bombastic. If you think about it, aside from the High Fly Flow, Tana's offense is hardly flashy at all. He is always consistent and I love that about him in comparison to a powerful Okada and a rapidly moving and bursting Naito. I think Kota is becoming one of my favorite wrestlers. It doesn't matter the level or prestige of his opponent, Kota always brings his A game and never disappoints. Sure, I wish he would sell more, but that is a nit pick because he does sell initial blows enough. He is not Will Ospreay bad at it and he is not Will Ospreay insane at offense being unnecessary and too much. Great match. Surprised about the result as I suspect most people are, but I remember being told that New Japan would never allow a foreigner and a free lancer to main event Wrestle Kingdom when I floated the match last year so I guess I understood why.

Saw the Ibushi vs Omega match and guess what? I saw this. FUCK YES. I saw this and pretty much marked the fuck out. That is how you fucking do that move! For those who do not know, this has always been my dream finisher as a kid. It was when I saw Unleashed with Jet Li as a kid and I thought to myself as a kid....That would be my finisher. When I saw Mike Bailey do this move, I was mad as fuck because he made it so fucking weak. Even from the top rope, it looked fucking weak. It doesn't help that Mike Bailey looks like Tom Holland's doughy and dopey brother. Fuck that dude. Anyways, great match. BUt I don't care. I am happy.

I am starting to hate these crowds. I was initially sympathetic because following a Smackdown is always going to be tough, but these crowds are intentionally being discourteous to the performers in the ring that guys like Mustafa who goes beyond the call to pull off these crazy ass stunts just for a few fucking golf claps. Like Mustafa vs Buddy III should have taken the lid off, but instead it was just like performing in front a Japanese crowd at old time Zero-1. WHat in the fuck?

I don’t want to come down on this show because I don’t see this as a huge step for wrestling as there have always been huge women’s wrestling in TNA and the entire promotions dedicated to it in America and Japan. It is a huge step for the WWE in that Vince finally sees women beyond male gaze. Aw fuck it, I’m throwing the wet blanket away. Unlike every non-Takeover PPV, I am looking forward to this show considering the women’s division is marginally better booked than the men.

I think I like the story of Cedric becoming more and more arrogant with every match and coming across Mustafa after he already beaten him, and just fucking underestimating him. Cedric has been on a winning streak since November and you can see his little heelish mannerisms evolve with every match(constant shit talking, showboating with every match after Kalisto, and just being plain disrespectful like with Hideo).

Looking forward to this match and although I know the crowd won't be because Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles build-up may start tonight for Summerslam.

Nice methodical main event. Hideo beat the shit out Cedric who kept insisting on trying to outstrike Itami and I'm glad that the story correctly played up that attribute. The crowd was dead for most of the match probably after dealing with 2 and half hours of wrestling, but it was a solid match if not a bit too slow. It appears that the next opponent will be Gulak in which yeah, take the title off Cedric. He has been great as champion, but we don't need another repeat of Neville. I can't wait for Lio Rush vs Tozawa next week. Those guys are going to be fast as fuck.

Buddy Murphy is incredible. Pure and simple. Why did he ever debut as a tag team duo because dude is heads and tails better than what he was given in NXT. My top five is; Gargano vs Ciampa Unsanctioned match Cedric vs Buddy Cedric vs Strong Buddy vs Ali no DQ Almas vs Gargano

Ali is super consistent and safe. Dude doesn’t do too much and in general knows how to make even the baseline aerial stuff he does feel spectacular. The fact of the matter is that he isn’t super impressive like Ricochet or Will Ospreay but he sure as shit knows how to make a story count where he isn’t outright killing himself.

Man, fuck that match and fuck this card so far outside of AJ Styles vs Rusev

So yeah. Buddy Murphy is incredible and Ali is pretty much NXT Sami Zayn. Holy shit what a feud.

I admit that it is more of a sentimental hope for me because I would want nothing more than to keep the title on Cedric. But I honestly kind of feel bad for Hideo. He lost his momentum and then subsequent title reign in NXT. He then came back and lost his potential feud and storyline with then champion Balor due to injury. Now dude lost his finisher because Kendrick thought he could take the GTS stiff. I personally thought his feud with Tozawa garnered some reaction as a heel as it was a great match but you are right that taking off the title off Cedric is not the best move because he is one of the guys that brings eyes to the action while Hideo is lukewarm at best.

Hideo has been in WWE for 3 years. He hasn’t won any title or even been in anything outside of Takeover. Unlike Cedric or any run of the mill heel, Hideo can’t afford to lose another title match. Right now he has heat. He is at his peak heel. He finally has character. Putting the title on him, a heel who isn’t cowardly or terrible in the ring, creates a different kind of champion.

Lio Rush was great. Dude is like an unholy mix of Amazing Red and Low Ki. I wonder who is first feud will be. I’m calling it now. Hideo will be Cedric for the title. He just will. Unless they are building For Gulak to do it or waiting for Ricochet to come up, they have to strike now with Hideo.

Hideo’s finisher is straight fucking garbage. Give him back the GTS.

The sad thing is that I really was trying to not insult him. Just everyone else, Big Cass can’t pick his booking. I’m sure he didn’t sign up to be Vince’s avatar of his big man insecurity but it’s what he has. I can’t fault him really.

I don’t hate Cass. To me, he is a less impressive Baron Corbin. I think he is capable and I give him a chance just like everyone deserves one. My issue is the booking. I didn’t wait two years for Bryan to be matched up with Big Cass. This feud is three fucking months of wasting time that could be spent on making more compelling matches. This bothers me about Smackdown as a whole because there is no fucking reason it has been this monotonous shot show for s year. They always had the better workers and more talent than Raw but they waste it on shit like Jinder and now Cass. Everything feels like an excercise of maybe there will be a match that you are interested in and maybe the agent of the match does not try to overproduce said match. Like fuck, let these stars breathe and go out and tear the house down like we know most can do.

Going by Triple H’s formula, Itami definitely seems like a likely candidate. Since no one else has a storyline at the moment. Although I don’t think the Akira feud is over at all, HHH likes to space feuds apart so he can build heat. Regardless, I wonder how they are going to determine a new Number 1 contender. HHH usually has a series of matches or a big multi match to determine who is worthy because he wants the belt to feel prestigious. Since no one on 205 has been on a roll exactly, he is probably booking another multi match. Itami may be in it, Bate as well if his Indy schedule allows it and possibly Gulak.

Pretty much ditto. This was literally the match that I was looking forward to this week outside of 205 and NXT and this poor man’s edge literally made me turn off the TV. I am so done with Cass. It is not like I think he terrible but this entire feud is everything I didn’t want for Bryan’s first feud back. I waited for 2 years for this dude to come back and instead of striking iron when it is hot and throw him in the ring with literally anyone else, I get Cass. A mediocre dude who may one day get it together but honestly just feels like he is in the way.

... So yeah MOTY candidate. It would have been number 1 if Gargano wasn’t a thing but whoa that was a good ass match. Buddy has been packaged as the different CW being seen as the biggest one and all. The exchange in the beginning of the match put over each of their attributes. Buddy was clearly the stronger of the two but Cedric was faster and when it came technical shit, They were even. What I liked was the little bit of charisma that was shown by Cedric that he is completely devoid of outside the ring. Cedric has been doing the solo thumb point at himself thing since he came into the WWE and it was just a signature in his entrance. When he used it after partying the hurricarana, it reminded me of a bit of AJ Styles. There were several spots that were great such as Buddy throwing sweeping Cedric off his feet when the overconfident champ foolishly was posing on the announcer’s table. That was sickening. There was also that huge Michinoku Driver that Cedric pulled off while selling his back throughout that’s match. Overall the match arch had great story telling and both men brought it and dragged investment from a crowd adament on hating it or ignoring it. 20( is the A show for me and can’t wait for next week.

One day. One day soon, I will get Tyler Bate vs Cedric Alexander. So are any of these guys permanent fixtures for 205 Live? Real shit, the UK title might as well be a secondary title if they still haven't made any effort in putting on a show for it yet.