Nineteen

My guess was Athena (Ember Moon), her and Jade have been a little chippy the twitter recently. I know people think of the more indy style with AEW but it seems like they shine with the big bloody hard hitting hoss brawls, Archer and Dustin just rule together. Speaking of new AEW signings coming in hot and disappearing, I really hope guys like Malakai and Lee are meant for big big things in this company. I feel like the main event scene (Jericho to Mox to Kenny to Hangman) has been handled excellently but you have a great mix of established guys (the aforementioned) and guys like MJF who you know are gonna hold that belt someday, I know there's only so many spots but I really hope do better than "slumming it on dark." I know there's the joke that RoH will the new AEW C show just... I hope TK finds a way to balance all these guys out in terms of air time. For a minute I thought Brian Cage was gonna be the mystery guy behind the Starks banner, Lee and Swerve sounds like a fun tag team but again, Lee really has to be a huge singles star someday. Alos, Nyla's "IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DISRESPECTFUL" ruled. In terms of the pro graps, Nyla sees The Matrix.

Miho and Taichi, has a very "anime end credits" feel, that's a great image for those two https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSzw1GrxmS/

Fuck man... A few years ago me and some friends when to a House of Glory show and Hall did a meet and greet before. In the days after I was kicking myself because I would have loved a photo with him and wanted to tell him that I was glad he was doing so well and that Razor was one my favorites as a kid. Bad times don't last, but bad guys do. Me and my friends I watch the pro graps with just adore Hiromu. I love cats and they're big punk fans so he's like this amalgamation of everything we love. His match with Ospreay at WK a few years ago just blew my mind and I love how most of the LIJ guys are all chill almost to a fault but they still love him as the out there one. During the pandemic I got super in Tanahashi. He was having an MVP run of quality matches but also just like, in that darkness it felt like I needed a hero to root for and he just fit the bill. I went to a Rev Pro show 'mania weekend once and it was him and Osprey vs. ZSJ and Suzuki. It was totally a Suzuki crowd (myself included) but when Go Ace hit and seeing him in person for the first time, dude really has that "once in a 100 years talent" aura to him. For past, most of the old guard ECW guys especially Taz, Sabu, Raven, Van Dam, Sandman. Living in Jersey I remember when friends started talking up this insane wrestling show late late late Saturday nights and how it was nothing like Raw or Nitro but had this totally magnetic quality to it. Everyone in my high school was wearing nWo shirts so I got to feel a little cool like "yeaaah but I know when the real good shit is on."

I really don't think Cody leaving was a work the way others posted about it, especially Aubrey and Amanda Huber. It's hard seeing a situation where him going back to AEW works though. At best maybe it'll be a "sorry guys, we worked it out" which will really cheapen all the heartfelt posts him and Brandi got. And if he does it'll hard to not acknowledge "well he kind of used WWE to leverage more money out of AEW." Even giving him Ring of Honor will be weird since it'll always feel like the B show, or what... the C show... below Rampage but above Dark/Elevation... Ring of Honor = AEW Worldwide? I feel like Cody's given us way more good than bad in AEW, just feels like the bad stuff was all at the end. And as bad as "Cody Solves Racism" was, the company was still really built on his match with Dustin, the programs with MJF, making Darby. He's a complicated and interesting dude but I think people want to like him but there's this layer of self awareness he's missing that's preventing it.... It is kind of impressive how much oxygen he's taking up while being away too.

MJF using Punk (using Kaiser Soze) for that program, Can we get Jade using "Terry Funk ain't wear no mouthpiece!"

Dude I remember when Cena beat Batista in a last man standing by taping his legs together around the ring post I was hoping Raw would with him still like that the next night, haha. Really dope seeing Danielson and CD go at it as a capper for the RoH announcement but dammit Daniels does not follow the Code of Honor how do you mess that up! That Punk/MJF segment, might be the best promo Punk's ever cut, and for the sudden but inevitable betrayal from Max there I hope Sting whispered to Punk "Bro even I saw that one coming..." Really liked Hangman breaking out the purple bandana again that while's not officially in Dark Order that everyone's still got each other's backs when it counts. If Cage/Page (.... Christian/Ethan) is for the last spot, wondering if that means a joker/surprise entrant? Man, even after All Out and Full Gear, AEW keeps bringing the goods with the major shows, I'm soooo stoked for Sunday

Anyone else remember the Bashams and Shanequa?

Well they teased the third member this week so it seems like the two of them are getting a.... Buddy? I feel like when it comes time to end Hangman's reign it's going to be MJF but I man REALLY want to Malakai to have a great run with that belt someday.

If Dark Order are going to be Hangman's backup to counter Fish and O'Reilly I hope this ends up being a Title vs. Name match. Winner gets the championship, loser has to give up the "Adam" name and start calling themselves "BUDGE." Definitely curious about Britt and Rosa. It's felt like Ruby or Rosa would be one the dethrone her but feels like Britt still has some life left in this reign too. I have "Nowhere to Run" and "Manhattan Mayhem" on DVD somewhere in storage and there's a Punk/Rave single's match on RoH's youtube channel so definitely rewatch those before Punk/MJF which feels like it's going to be a hell of a blood bath.

I used to live in a suburb near Newark and I would take the bus there then take the train to New Brunswick when I was at Rutgers. The area outside isn't... the worst (other parts of Newark are certainly worse). I knew to stay inside though, preferably around the main concourse. Anyway so one semester I developed god awful anxiety attacks and there were days my step dad would drop me off at the train station since he worked nearby. So one day I'm not feeling 100% and try to tough it out but I'm waiting for my train and my anxiety just goes into overdrive, I call him up saying "I can't do this today, please come pick me up." So I run outside to get some air to calm down and someone notices I'm clearly in awful shape. So he talks me down for a minute then says I swear to whatever God you believe in he says to me.... "Yeah I can see you're not doing that great, well allow me introduce myself, my name is Biscuit, I'm a hustler, I got what you need" and the offered to sell me crack.

So was there an actual reason established D'Amore is blocking Alexander from his rematch like this beyond "Keep your emotions in check," it feels like there's something missing from this story. I get maybe holding off on it until Bound for Glory or one of the major events but that's a long way off and that talking point feels exhausted from a narrative standpoint. Like why wouldn't D'Amore want Josh representing the company? That aside, Iinspiration and Kaleb have such great chemistry together What's gotten in Morrisey who called him and FKA Curt Hawkins having a banger of a main event like that Christ I love how obvious this Maclin thing is like even Sting could see this one coming

Not gonna lie, I loved Ahmed as a kid because I thought the Pearl River Plunge was the coolest move ever. Him coming back and joining NOD really killed him for me though like dude Farooq tried to KILL YOU. And always....

Is Masha Slamovich the best wrestler name ever? Loving that Cardona probably didn't have to cheat in that match but still figured hey why not. Wonder if there's something to him name dropping Gresham there. -Former GCW champ -Future RoH Champ? Really curious how they handle the open challenge for either title next week, feels like an easy way out of Deonna having the RoH belt but I'd really be down for her making a Women's triple crown if she's the one to dethrone Mickie. Main event was fun! Really liked Alexander/Vincent too, probably my favorite match of the night.

So.... was Brandi out there intentionally trying to act like Stephanie McMahon? It's like Lambert is the bag of dicks but also Brandi was not really.... sympathetic there. Jesus, this Cody-verse things needs to be like Raw Underground, just not a part of the actual show even if it has to be. Also, was the Josh Alexander thing a parody of something Russo would have someone say? I'm so.... not into this.... What I was into! Death two sides of a Triangle/House of Black was outstanding Ruby and Lars, holy shit my heart..... Main event was outstanding. I was totally buying it either way toward the end, either MJF's limbwork pays off where Punk is totally broken down or thought his cheating would backfire, really hoping this is the first stages of what everyone wants with Wardlow though.

Speaking of JTTS, I love that Bowens and Caster get regular air time but these losses are starting to build up on me. Like they can't STILL be in the doghouse, right? (I know they do cutsey stuff with TK during commercial breaks at Dynamite but feels like they lose any major match they have). Not entirely convinced Julia is joining the Church of (Dutch) Satan but I feel like a match like this can set it up either way. Either the losses start to build up and she needs something "more" to come back from the injury, or maybe it just ends up being a reason to split from the Blondes if they're going to be overprotective of her, not joining Black but just going her own way. Julia does still look Green but she wasn't out there trying to do TOO much, and Jade continues to impress. That blind tag into the mind breaker was smooooooooth. Sign me up for Briscoes/FTR like yesterday. I totally bit on that opening match Gin and Juice, Private Party better get those belts someday. AND THE VELVET ROPE WAS BACK!

I know Bullet Club is mostly there to go after Gallows and Anderson but feels weird having two invader groups at the same time. GoD/Switchblad/Bey vs VBD/Gallows/Anderson could be hella fun though. I know Zicky's whole schtick is being, well... gross. Commentary calling him "The human embodiment of Florida" really nailed him down for me. Really loved Iinspiration/Influence. I thought the offense was balanced enough where Kaleb came off like a dick the few times he did manage to land a move but was still able to be outclassed by the two of them. I have high hopes for when Jessie/Cassie vs. Tenille/Madison proper goes down. Liked the little moment with Cary too letting Taven know that he never really represented "Honor," nice for continuity there. I know here it's a low bar but sometimes I feel so wounded by how many times WWE screwed up a simple thing for so many years. PCO carrying over his RoH thing of secretly being the best wrestler ever

Feeling more stoked for what's coming up than really anything that happened tonight. I thought the ladder match was fun but the "flow" was a little off. I was kind of tired tonight so I was half checked out by the time OC/ACBB started, a few fun spots for what it's worth. I do like how AEW continues to just take it's time with things. The Jericho/P&P saga, whatever's going on with Julia. But for what's coming, real high hopes for Rampage with Jurassic Express and Private Party, and definitely next week for House of Black and Death Triangle and what seems to be an Atlantic City death match for Page and Archer. Well, even the "lesser" Dynamite episodes are at least still watchable and do enough to keep people invested. Might as well.... I mean, I get why people like Danhausen but curious how he's actually gonna fit in here. I mean isn't the dude pretty much just the mummy from Aqua Teen Hunger Force?

Dude, Taven is so gloriously douchey "You think we're just going to let you back in here?!" "YES!" "After that crap you pulled last week!" "YES!" I was kind of split on the pure rules when I was really into RoH but I felt like they were perfect for Nigel to put over he was a great wrestler and give him opportunities to do some really creative heel stuff. Gresham really used them in a "wrestling" sense though and really got over how he was able to use them throughout the match vs. the first time Maclin was in a match with those rules. Hoping to see more of that. Jessie and Cassie forever Also I can't believe I'm saying this given the company's history (I know it's a totally different jawn from the LOLTNA days) but I'm really considering going to the Philly tapings in March. They're the go home shows for Rebellion too.

Women's match was outstanding, Deonna is the best! Haas vs. Alexander is gonna rule! With the Ring of Honor stuff, can't help but think when Ring of Honor was at its best, (then) TNA was some hot garbage. Feels weird that Impact is kind of fostering Ring of Honor with the "uncertain future" instead of the other way around. Dynamite (to me) is the clear #1 show these days (yeah plus Rampage) but Impact and NJ Strong have a really quiet but solid battle for the number two spot. And Impact also seems really promising now with Alexander's chase, the "Ring of Honor 5," GoD working the next tapings, and the show has been good for one or two /really/ good matches each week.

if Kris Stat is Chaos I'm totally for Britt being in Cole's new group. Women wrestlers in stables needs to be more of a thing. Even with Allie and Anna in HFO/Dark Order, more of that is great. Man Dante and Hobbs totally tore it down. Those two had great chemistry, Hobbs's cut off spots all felt organic and Dante really felt like he was fighting from underneath all night. Hoping we get some explanation for Dante walking on Team Taz though beyond... curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal. Really dug Punk/Wardlow too. Kind of hoping this leads to MJF trying to bring Nick Gage back like he did with Jericho but I'm pretty sure in twitter kayfabe MJF stiffed him on the check and I would love to see that have a real conclusion. I kept wondering if AEW had the castigo excesivo rule.

My cat's name is Hobbes so if Powerhouse Hobbs is wrestling and the commentators call his name, sometimes my little guy pick his head up a little.

Me and friends who went to the first Newark show were a little let down that the following week was the Arthur Ashe stadium supercard. We had fun at the show but felt little... short changed. Really glad we're getting something really cool this time and yes we're all stoked for Hangman/Danielson II. I finally broke and ordered the anxious millenial cowboy shirt too but don't think it's gonna get here in time. It's weird with New Japan, I'm really not feeling wrestlekingdom this year but really hoping the Noah crossover show delivers.

Generally not a fan of the Gotch Style Piledriver not being a finish but that was a nifty place to bust it out for. Really hoping that was gimmicked barbed wire for the finish and praying less informed dudes on the indies aren't going to look to replicate that spot.

Since the 2.0 rebrand there hasn't been much holding my interest. Checked in tonight since it's been a while and figured why not and..... That MSK/Riddle/Imperium segment.... worst NXT segment ever? I'm not sure anything can come close. Christ that Carmelo/Diamond Mine segment too, I couldn't get past Trik's "You're the B champion because you won't be champion," basic sentence structure, wouldn't him being B champion be because he will be champion, felt like he accidentally threw Carmelo under the bus on that one, like okay it /sounds/ great for the half second it takes anyone to put any thought into it. I doubt I'll watch NXT week but really hoping Strong takes that one. NXT used to be so good too =(

Oh yeah, I was super excited when I found out who Orange Cassidy used to be in CHIKARA. Feels like in the age where everyone knows everything and who used to be who in the indies, that was a super pleasant surprise.... even though it's a little weird seeing a Colony dude in the same stable with a former FIST member.