Krone

Some next day thoughts. -I can't believe they had Takeshita lose to Moxley. I thought it was almost a foregone conclusion that Takeshita would be beating Moxley here and then probably challenging him for the IWGP Title at Forbidden Door since I know New Japan is kinda skimpy on main event talent these days. Instead, we see a clearly battered and bruised Moxley still manage to pick up the win, and I just don't like that. Takeshita is a guy who is waiting for a push and the longer the wait, the more I feel we're going to see him slip to obscurity like Wardlow. Maybe he would be better off going over to NJPW for a little while and just being the man over there. Not like TK has done a ton with him, let New Japan get the rub from him and simultaneously let his career pop off a little more. -Will Ospreay is just inhuman and in my opinion the best all around worker in the world today. Kind of crazy to think that the 4 singles champions in AEW right now are Adam Copeland - TNT Champion, Kazuchika Okada - Continental Champion, Will Ospreay - International Champion, and Swerve Strickland - AEW World Champion. No hate on Swerve, because I really like what he has going and he IS going to be a big superstar, but he's probably the fourth most over guy on the list which is just insane. It would be like Triple H, The Undertaker, The Rock, and Stone Cold all holding singles gold simultaneously in attitude era WWF (I'm imagining a Stone Cold European title run now). The star power their champions have is mind boggling right now. Also, shoutout to Roderick Strong; a guy I never gave a shit about before but grows out a little mustache and I'm instantly hooked. Such a good in ring worker who's finally getting a little personality behind him. -Jay White should be getting a singles run and Juice should be where Jay is in the six man tag. I honestly don't care about the six man titles and haven't really probably since their inception, but can we please give Jay White some singles love. -Mercedes and Willow had the crowd going. I was thoroughly entertained by this match and am a huge mark for Willow. She has just got it. I was actually expecting to see Kamile debut here and become the heavy for Mercedes and run the tag feud but I must have been reading the wrong tea leaves because I was sorely mistaken. Maybe Stat took a tip from Trent and decided to quit playing the games? Could be some great storytelling within there. Speaking of which, didn't Trent whisper in her ear a week or two back? Here's your sign I guess. -I was exhausted before the World title and Anarchy in the Arena, so I didn't get to see those in full, but did read the results/saw clips and highlights. Anarchy in the Arena seems like it would be such a blast to experience live. One of the only matches that I can think of like it in the world. Would be so cool to see Okada and Danielson just beating each others asses right in front of me as Final Countdown is playing to a crowd of thousands. MJF's return could light a little bit of a fire for Dynamite and we still need our Kenny return. Also, what's the deal with Ibushi? He's still signed right? If so, having him back at some point is just going to make all of this fantastic. There are so many directions they can go with having Okada/Ospreay/White/Omega/Adam Cole.

You say that, but Cash is in Anarchy in the Arena this Sunday - so I'd just hold my tongue for a second.

If that is the case, I think what we ended up with was much better. We can argue about whether Sami was a better choice or Cody, but I'll be damned if last night didn't feel like something really special. Everyone was hoping we would get that Avengers: Endgame style ending and we sure as shit did, and pretty much to perfection. There were so many good neuances about last night that just elevated it in my opinion. I went back and rewatched the ending a little while ago, and everyone in or around that ring does a masterful job of selling the occasions. Paul Heyman's facials when Cena, Rock, and Taker all come out are money. Samantha Irvin choking up at announcing the winner - which is the only time in my memory I can recall a ring announcer actually showing true emotion. Even Charles Robinson, little naitch, with a coy smile on his face ever so gently handing the title to Cody. It was all such good shit. That's what wrestling is meant to be, that's why we are all fans. Moments like that. You can call it a journey of 5, 10, 15 years for Cody or you can call it a journey of almost 50 years since his dad debuted in Vince Sr. WWWF. Absolutely special stuff. Now... what can you do from here? Everyone loves the chase, that's compelling television. What do you do now that the chase is complete?

I feel like a Foley run in would've served a better purpose to neutralize Rocky as opposed to Taker. I can see the connection with him and Reigns at the Mania, but I saw it as the Bloodlines biggest "rivals" coming out to neutralize them. Jey gets Jimmy, then Solo gets Cena since that's his biggest feud, and then for Rock - well Austin would be ideal but if you can't get him I think Foley would fit in just as well. I'm sure they wanted a monster pop though and 'Taker absolutely provides that in aces over Foley.

The gripe I have had with the titles is that none of them really seem like a step in any direction. For instance, if you were to win the IC Title - to me that means that you are just below the World Title. You're getting ready to get that push and you might be able to compete for championships. That worked because the champions (in my era) would be the Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Rob Van Dam, Kane, etc. All people that would eventually get bumped up to that world title slot. In AEW though, two out of your three secondary champions are bonafide main eventers in Okada and Edge. I feel like the International title with Roderick Strong should be that IC "we need to get to the next level" title belt, but that means people like OC should move up after winning it. There's no separation of challengers. I'm not even saying this is a bad thing, but I went through with a buddy the other day and listed off all the people who could win a world title in AEW and it be normal. Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, Adam Page, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, Darby Allin, Eddie Kingston, Jay White, Jon Moxley, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, MJF, Ricky Starks, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Will Ospreay. That ladies and gentlemen is EIGHTEEN names, not even counting fringe people you may want to include (Malakai Black, Jeff Hardy, etc.) I feel like having all of those guys may actually overload your roster. I do think it's possible to have too much of a good thing. This isn't me trying to knock on AEW, christ I've been to a TV show and a PPV - I love them. But as far as titles goes, I feel there are certainly too many with no structure to their order. There's no main event title, this is an upper midcard title, this is a midcard title, this is a gimmick title. Stuff of that nature, and it kind of becomes easy to see how some people can just blend in to the product. Like Ricky Starks could've and should've been on a fast track to a main event, but adding even someone like Edge takes away just one more spot on the PPV. I love Edge too, don't get it twisted, but these guys now have to wait even longer for their potential moment. But boy does it feel good when someone does break through like a Swerve. A non established guy who becomes established. I almost dare say by the tiniest of margins that Swerve has surpassed Darby in the hierarchy of AEW.

But he's just starting his DDP-esque push. I'd love some more Menard on commentary, but I'd love to see him get a big moment in the ring before then. Guy has been a savant on the mic since coming to AEW.

I thought the idea of bringing Punk in was going to be awesome, and there sure were some incredible moments that it produced. However, at the end of the day, it just like the problems far outweighed the positives for the company. Is Punk really that big of a draw (not talking merch sales) because after the novelty of him being back wore off, I don't really think so. Seemed like every other day there was something something Punk news that was just detering from the in ring product. I am glad I got to see him wrestle once, but damn the drama was just too much. All the stories made it seem like he thought he was bigger than the promotion. I mean if it's true, fucking lunging at your boss?! Come on, that shit can't be allowed anywhere. I question if we will see ripple effects, but even FTR/Brodie King/Danhausen can't be dumb enough to condone that type of behavior. My guess is they drop the real World title stuff and now we see the champion bouncing between shows. Anyone is fair game for Collision now. Edit - Now Collision can fully become the Jay White/Juice Robinson show. Fuck. Yes.

Devastating news. Such a young guy who recently had a child. Was hoping to see him comeback at some point too and regain all that momentum he once had. RIP to a great one.

I'd say 85-90% full. Lot of open seats on the side hard cam is set up. For the most part though it seemed pretty full. Which makes me think those seats would actually be pretty damn good to have. Nice and close to the action.

I was there as well and I felt like the main could've used another act. Which is saying something because it didn't feel like a 27 minute match. Same with the length of Ospreay/Omega. That definitely didn't feel like 35+ minutes. Was fantastic stuff. Also shout out to the four way match. OC is just the man and so is Shibata. Crowd loved that DG dance.

Main event was solid, but I felt like the crowd could have been more into it. The Omega/Ospreay match was my MOTN probably followed by the 10 man tag. Crowd loved Eddie Kingston and rightfully so. I will say it felt like the show flew by though. The Final Countdown was awesome.

That's what I'm thinking. Takeshita costs Omega the match or does a post match beatdown leading to an Ibushi save. Takeshita joins UE leading to either Omega/Ospreay III and Kota/Takeshita at All In or The Golden Elite vs. Ospreay/Takeshita.

Fightful Select is reporting a possible match being discussed for Forbidden Door, and it's a big one.

I'm secretly hoping for LiJ vs. House of Black. I think that match would be a banger. If not, OC/Naito would suffice, maybe with Swerve thrown in as well for storyline purposes.

Man, I just tried putting together my hopeful card for the rest of the show and there is just so much talent across the board it's hard to put everyone on there. Going to be interested to see who gets left off this time around. I have a feeling this could be one of the best cards ever constructed for a pro wrestling PPV and storylines aside could be some of the best in ring wrestling we will ever see. I mean those top two matches already have me overly hyped for this.

Boy did I pick a hell of a first wrestling PPV to attend! This is going to be GLORIOUS.

FWIW, I really liked Adam Cole in NXT and his match with Johnny Gargano at TakeOver: New York was one of my favorite matches of 2019. However, I don't know if I liked him because he was that scummy heel with a stable behind him to help pull the load or if it was because he had a lot more smaller guys to work with like Velveteen Dream, Gargano, Pete Dunne, Matt Riddle. I just don't think he's imposing enough against the bigger guys and doesn't have that tenacity that someone like a Danielson has. Couple that with his moves like the Panama Sunrise (which btw was absolutely AWFUL last night) that do seem indyriffic, I just don't think he's connecting with me like he once was. I really hope he isn't next in line to win the title tbh because I think there are much better candidates. It also doesn't help that he's in the same company as Darby Allin now who just throws his body around worse than Mick Foley in his prime that shows that violence.

Last two matches carried the show. Shit absolutely hit the fan in that main event. Kudos to Matt Jackson for taking the bare foot spot on the thumbtacks because YOUCH!~ Four pillars match was amazing and just reaffirms my belief that Darby should be the guy to dethrone MJF. Time for Jade to move onto the AEW Women's title scene finally, and a nice surprise return for Kris Statlander. House of Black should hold onto the title for at least a year, but I want Malakai in the main event scene. Cole/Jericho was not good. I really wanted Planet Jarrett v2 to win the tag titles, but I guess we can't always get what we want. The ladder match was there besides Arn Anderson turning into a cannibal. Wanted an OC title loss, preferably to Swerve or Jay White but I guess we will have to wait just a little bit longer for that. Bring on Forbidden Door!

I actually just realized they can't do the all day WM2000 thing because of the time difference. That means an 8pm bell time would be 3pm ET. I still think a 2pm-7pm ET would work and 11am isn't too early for those west coasters. Noon kick off PT for the PPV, I think that would work well.

Speaking of All In, has there been any talks if it's going to be on PPV? It got me wondering if a supershow like this shown on TBS or TNT would be good for the brand - or would that hurt the optics of the show not being a PPV. Imagine someone flipping through the channels and they saw that crowd with wrestling they might not be familiar with. Now I'm not saying there's a snowballs chance in hell it happens, but ideally you would have to think that may pique some interest in the product. Give AEW a four hour timeslot and let them go hog wild (or road wild if you prefer) on the content. Could be a fun all day extravaganza like WWE did back in the day with WrestleMania 2000. I don't think people will be missing the re-runs of what was it again? Supernatural? Again, I don't think they want to miss out on potential PPV buys (or maybe it'll be on Max), but something like that could be really special and beneficial for the company no? Especially a week before another PPV. Could potentially spike those buys if you garner enough attention Just a fleeting thought I figured I'd throw out there.

I don't think it's that though. I'm looking at his cagematch and he's lost to all reasonable main event people with the exception of Daniel Garcia over a year ago. Even Cena lost to Kevin Federline at one point during his height, so I feel there is a time and place for people to lose in storyline. I wonder if it's because you don't know who or what you're going to get. Us hardcores appreciate a ton of the talent, but maybe for someone less familiar with the show - if it's not a given you'll see Kenny, Danielson, Moxley, Jericho, etc. wrestle that week or even have a long winded promo or segment that kind of makes you think twice about buying a ticket. However that's their 5-6 match model coming into play. That's just me throwing thoughts at the wall.

If we took CM Punk off the table, is there anybody reasonable out there that could actually move tickets for AEW? You would think with their bolstered roster of top level talent that they have more than enough names sans Punk to draw pretty well but it seems like they don't and that makes me wonder why? You have Jericho, Moxley, Danielson, and even Jeff Hardy as big ex-WWE names that were main roster attractions who you think would be good enough. Add in some FTR, Adam Cole, Christian Cage, Miro, plus the AEW guys like Kenny, Bucks, Hangman, Darby, MJF, etc. you'd think they have enough bullets in their gun to draw fairly well right? This is also me strictly looking at those Collision tickets, because if Punk isn't coming in all of those names are on the table to be on the show I'd imagine.

Yeah if Punks not gonn be a part of this, why even have a brand split? I think it just overcomplicates the whole thing unecessarily. I'd much rather just have the whole roster be available.

Oh come on, Iron Man?! Look, I think RDJ did an excellent job in that role, but there are some absolute bangers of Marvel films outside of that. Not even counting Infinity War, what about Guardians? Or the masterpiece that was Black Panther? Also that Collision logo fucks hard. I love that.

The Joe Schmo Show is back?! This is the single greatest day in the history of our great sport.