Bryan

You don’t need a set up to make it believable that MJF could tap out a 5 foot tall 85 lb kid. It should be easy.

Also, while Jericho hasn’t been involved with the Elite, Santana and Ortiz have had multiple tag team matches involving the Young Bucks, including most recently the battle royale in which Sammy got wrecked by Matt Jackson’s super kick. So it’s not completely out of left field. There has been conflicts and interactions since the Cody Jericho feud.

It was probably smart to do a more WWE like show when you’re over a mile high above sea level. I’ve seen a lot of WWE guys get blown up quick —and after the first UFC show here Dana White vowed to never book heavyweights here again. I was actually pretty impressed with how everyone did, no one appeared visibly bothered by the altitude. I also don’t have a problem with JR commenting on his frame and the ability to add mass. He’s already gotten into better shape since he debuted. But, at least to me, it’s still a little incongruent that he’s in visibly worse physical shape than a guy with a sloth gimmick. Also, don’t get the complaint about him wanting to make more money as a singles competitor. He was just trying to give an explanation to the tag wrestler (in a top 5 tag team) being in singles competition instead of trying to move up the ranks to become #1 contenders. Also, in AEW storyline terms, AEW winners get a winners purse—so if the tag titles and HW championship are treated equally the purse would be the same, so you’d have to share. I think it’s just math that you’d make more money on your own, not a dismissal of the tag team division.

In addition to not knowing the rules, I’m not sure whatever Matt Hardy is doing will lead back to him being Broken Matt. It seems like he’s going to ultimately become whatever the abomination. I don’t know why he’d introduce the concept without a payoff. But I agree seeing a Jericho vs Matt Hardy match doesn’t move the needle for me either.

Yeah, it’s completely ridiculous like when a football player takes a hard shot and has to be helped off the field and then comes back in after a couple plays and makes a big play. It happens all of the time and in other sports too. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a guy being incapacitated for a few minutes, recovering, and then getting back in the battle. It’s a realistic scenario and allows the match to continue on in an exciting fashion.

JR calls wrestling like it’s a real sport. In real sports commentators are critical of things they don’t agree with that happen during the event. For example, in the XFL game yesterday the announcers were critical of the penalties enforced on kickoffs because they weren’t really penalties. It doesn’t mean they hate the XFL or football. According to the rules, they have a 10 count for the non-legal man to get out of the ring. He wouldn’t be a good announcer if he pretended like they weren't disregarding the rules during the match.

To lull Jericho into a false sense of security—-in the match, Jericho thought Moxley was blind after the eye gouge spot and got really cocky. On commentary, JR really sold that it’s what led Jericho to making an uncharacteristic mistake when he walked into the paradigm shift. And that works for me.

That’s indicative of the WWE’s incompetent booking, not his status as a draw. There’s a reason Daniel Cormier tried to get a fight with Lesnar when he was the champ last year—-he wanted the ppv points for that fight. He can sell ppvs. And Brock doesn’t wrestle on tv. He just stands behind Paul Heyman while he talks and or beats someone up for a minute. The SD! he did wrestle on got high ratings for a WWE though.

Well, he’s literally one one of the biggest ppv draws in the history of the UFC despite not being a very skilled fighter... He’s the biggest draw the WWE has. If AEW announced they’d signed him and he was debuting next week, what would the impact on their ratings be? They’d obviously go way up. That’s how you know he’s a draw (his presence moves the needle) and that’s why he’ll get even more money whenever his current contract expires.

There is a reason that Brock Lesnar is such a draw and it’s not because he once did a shooting star press. It’s because of the combination of how he looks physically and what he does in the ring. That’s always going to be the case. People are fascinated by monsters and always will be. AEW would be foolish not to be looking for athletic big guys.

I think March. The rumor was he’d debut at the New York show since I guess that is his hometown.

I don’t get what was embarrassing about it, she was a little awkward but it was just basic. She didn’t forget what she was saying are sound ridiculous by putting herself down instead of Tony because she was nervous as has happened with other people. I searched for the worst wrestling promo ever and this came up, she was no where near as bad as this guy: What is the Mercury gimmick? I actually think the Nightmare Collective could have potentially worked, Brandi is charismatic and attractive (I’d join her cult way before I’d join the fat masked guy’s cult) but I think it was DOA because people immediately compared it with the Dark Order—-which has repeatedly failed. I think at least Brandi could definitely add value on tv at some point down the road.

She was a little awkward but it was no where near the worst in wrestling history. The Miz flubbing as the host of the Diva search, Reigns’ suffering succotash promo, Psycho Sid saying he has half the brain of his opponent, every time Ahmed Johnson spoke all immediately come to mind as being much worse than that.

I don’t think she’s that bad, I just think she lacks the polish to be the center piece of the women’s division which they initially seemed to be going for. And I think she’s improved since I first saw her in AEW.

I thought this was a good show, especially for being taped. Hangman Page is really growing on me and he seems to be really catching on with the crowds to, so I’m interested to see how the turn they seem to be building towards works. And I actually really like the Omega Page tag team, so I hope it doesn’t happen to soon.

I think Ace has it right, none of these people are names. Which is more reasons why I think is why this story isn’t going to last. And even if more people watch the NWA youtube show, almost no one is doing so for the women or Kay. For instance, the thread here on NWA features several posts about Melina’s hips and being thicker than when she was in the WWE. Not about whatever angle they’re trying to do.

I disagree, the outrage cycle never lasts that long these days. Plus, none of of the people burying her are well known people. Unless there is video of her doing something, I really don’t think Allison Kay’s tweets aren’t going to be able to drive news cycles for months to come.

Personally, I would take everything with a grain of salt. We’re not getting the context or whole story in these. For instance, did she just randomly belittle a trainer for her own amusement, or maybe was the trainer explaining something incorrectly that could have led to someone getting hurt which caused her to react angrily? If this even happens that seems like a more plausible explanation of the event which changes things, at least in my opinion.

Disagree. AEW is very shallow when it comes to big men. Billy Gunn had to play the monster role in their battle royale, for instance. Plus, he’s a legitimate and accomplished athlete which lends credibility to their product. Especially, in light of their previous claim of wanting to present a sports based approach. You kind of need athletes or more guys that at least look athletic for that. Also, I’ve found him pretty amusing with his role. The pirate thing really made me laugh last week. He was good in the documentary and the Dustin beat down.

It appears her first feud is going to be against Taya Valkyrie, so I’d say no.

If that’s actually the case they should consider letting him go and signing her. I think she has a lot more upside than him. And the women’s division isn’t compelling while I don’t think Sorry dude, don’t lose fights to middle aged announcers. Anyway, I’m fine with no one coming to aid Moxley. A month ago he said he was going to destroy everyone. I know it’s probably leading to a break up and feud but I’m surprised by how much I actually like Omega and Hangman as a tag team. I think they could actually be really good as a tag team if they stuck with it.

I think if they wanted any names they would have at the very least signed Tenille Dashwood when she was a free agent instead of letting Impact sign her. I’m not sure they actually have a coherent vision of what they want to do with the division though.

I don’t know the AEW roster is pretty small. I think in some instances it’d look ridiculous for him to be selling a lot.

Why is a Japanese Death Match legend? What is the difference between an American Death Match and a Japanese Death Match? Why should I care? At least for Luther the back of his head appeared in a couple vignettes, so maybe they’re slowly making progress.

It’s not a good role if it’s the intent to have people debut as a surprise and for them to be mysterious. ”That’s the Blade...That’s the Butcher” ”Who?” No further explanation. It would have been better if they just described them, “wow, that’s a big guy, you wouldn’t want to come across him in a dark alley.” than just giving off their names and confusing the audience that doesn’t follow the indies. Even better would be vignettes hyping them in advance of their debuts. Hopefully, after the Dark Order and the Butcher and the Blade surprise debut flops, they’ve learned their lesson. Hype up the indy guys you sign!