Horatio

I'm thinking Eddie Kingston is drawing on old personal feelings SINCE he got signed. Who he was is integral to him being able to keep it real and still be that Eddie Kingston, and I'm guessing he looked back and said, Man, I thought that jealousy and those insecurities would never go away. Now, he's got a real-life lense to look forward to keeping it real AND getting paid. Never change, Eddie. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart, King, and you'll never go wrong.

Gordlow needs to slip a Chris Hero or two into his previews?

Has Chris Hero ever not been in shape? He got big yeah, but he could still do kip-ups in circles. His indie-run as a super heavyweight is maybe the best I've ever seen.

Things might have changed for them when VIRGIL agreed to make an appearence. That could not have been cheap.

So I decided to see what IWTV has done lately. These 2 stood out so I watched them: - Malakai Black vs Davey Richards - Prestige -- Richards seems a little more chiseled than in his younger years, and I already like aging Richards more than his past incarnations. Black is getting House of Black chants and it seems really unfair. I think Black thought so, too...The match is worked around Richards left leg getting hurt and he even tries to take out Black's leg in response. At times, Richards is really convincing and his facial expressions got me realizing that the last thing this guy needed was to lose a leg in this ... but it turns out he was faking! Or no, it just got better as the match progressed. But the ending was great and it did include some more great selling from Davey Richards leading to an unexpected House of Black (that's what it's called, right?). Thanks for not forgetting your leg hurt when it counted, Davey. That finish was *chef's kiss* - Matt Makowski vs Tom Lawlor - Black Label Pro -- was this the greatest match ever? It certainly contained the best wrestling. I know, other matches contain greater spots, storytelling, etc.; however, I wonder how many matches are so progressive that the first move in the match is a figure-4 leglock? I remember in the SmackDown Six era, Kurt Angle was seen on Confidential making comments about how only Benoit, Eddie G., and Brock were on his level and how we may someday, somehow, see them usher in a brand new style of wrestling. This Lawlor/Makowski match had to be that style of wrestling and at the same time, something Kurt Angle never imagined. I wish I knew what Tom Lawlor's current likeability was supposed to be; I get that he's the champ in this, which was probably enough, but the crowd acted like they would rather boo him. They didn't though and for whatever character dynamic these two had going in, I wish I knew, they were obviously as real as they needed to be. Is Makowski still in Lawlor Club? If so, this match was wanting nothing.

I thought Penta was playing headgames: pretend to be in ultraviolent mode/work light/block the mist/get the win. I am even thinking the poisonrana was a ruse. With Buddy, they're definitely going with continuity of Buddy knowing he can't beat Black and he's still just a follower at heart. What was confusing is when Penta did a crossbody only to lay around ineffectively afterwards. AND he took the headstomp on the chair, but when the lights returned, he was crawling to cover up Pac. Did we miss something?

This is the only way I can see them justifying that promo, which was just awkward and a little too long in my opinion (the tears were something else entirely, I mean, wow). I want to see MJF go batshit crazy from here. I want to see Raven-esque doctor visits. I want to see Raven and his sister come in to warn him about what happens if he doesn't take his meds. I want to see him get locked up in a straight-jacket. I don't care if it happens every week. That promo last night was deep waters and it may require desperate measures to make it all worth it.

I'll say it again: Jay Briscoe is the best possible version of Roman Reigns. Don't know if he can pull it off today without the F-bombs, but his energy is so right for Acknowledge Me. And he can still keep it up with his bro joshing him for going viral getting knocked on his ass for that table incident. Lucky Charms...Mark is CRAZY.

When you look at his family, excluding those delinquents at the kids' table.

I was hoping Bryan would go the ultimate cheese route and say that at Revolution, it's gonna be a FIRST BLOOD MATCH, but alas, we're left to just be satisfied... I'll go ahead and throw in another this is a good time to bring in Chris Hero. With Claudio this time. *chef's kiss*

As far as Nash and Reigns go, I can see the comparison. Reigns look and demeanor is equal to Nash's immobile style, but I think Big Daddy Cool guy who used to stand on top of Mack trucks and challenge truckers to fist-fight is wayy cooler than angsty Head of the Table Samoan oddity who can't put on weight. Also, the spear is maybe my least liked finisher of all time. Jacknife, cool.

Is Road Dogg into DDPY? He should start his own yoga company, because I would buy that shirt. Really I hope he's okay and I should keep my thoughts to myself, but Road Dogg Yoga seems like it would be cool. Really cool. ... I can't find an emoji to explain myself.

Based on what I saw last night, I think he knows Danielson might be the one guy he's not willing to poke in the eye...2.0 came off as credible enough, but oblivious at the same time.

Has anyone mentioned the awesomeness of a Danielson vs 2.0 fight-forever-we-just-can't-be-friends possibility? I mean, Danielson has never disappointed me, but he's never been my favorite either (vanilla is my favorite, too, btw). I originally thought pairing with 2.0 was a good idea; however, the booking of the two blandest guys to come along SINCE Danielson started, wanting to get in HIS face and fight over whose vanilla has the highest alcohol content makes TOO MUCH SENSE. Garcia has to eventually find his way out of this.

No Jeff, plz. We've all wrestled Jeff at some point in our journeys. But seriously, there's no good reason he shouldn't have faced all of those former WWE guys by now. Roster differences? In the same company? They just didn't want CC having any fun.

He changed his style of ring-gear a time or two...

Those 10 guys (no Jeff, plz) are a good 10 week start for Claudio. Is there any good reason he hasn't faced any of those guys?

New member of the Inner Circle then? And there's no way Eddie and Santana/Ortiz can survive these odds(!) sort of thing.

His left foot gets maybe 2 inches off the ground, but he's got that strong yogic flex a la Dhalsim from Street Fighter.

I think I remember Danielson/Buddy now...yeah, I think I knew Bryan agreed to put him over so they would drop it because it's just Bryan putting someone over... On tonight's show... - That bald guy in FTR is so good. I think everyone knows he's got an It-factor, he just likes tagging. - We need more crying in wrestling. Who started that? Ms. Elizabeth? HBK? - I like Penta showing up all evil only to show his secret weapon is brain-power. That's deep face psychology that he and Pac are showing. Granted, they did look like buffoons on that accidental poisonrana, but wrestling has room for diehard babyfaces putting over an actual monster's inhuman strength. - I like that Black is bringing continuity through the forbiddendoor. He's got his evil-eye and now, Buddy coming in as an ever rudderless self and doing the old can't-beat-em-join-em that only heels really practice. I like Matthews getting his beard pulled and acting like a pitbull on gunpowder diet. He's built like a tank whereas Brody is just a quiet mountain. - Eddie couldn't beat Cody, Mox, Bryan, or Punk, but maybe he can use Jericho as a stepping-stone to remaining a contender. I'm down to see that, although not even Kingston gets me excited to see Jericho's in-ring (it's never been my thing). - Daniel/Bryan got better as the match went on but I don't think anyone really wanted to see Garcia working progressively under Danielson's insufferable cruelty, if that makes sense. I like Garcia as a spidery pest that's quick enough to get under anyone's skin and he didn't seem able to access that spidermonkey vibe too much and I think the crowd expected that, too. - was a good ending. I'm beginning to see how this Insufferable Cruelty methodology could be grounds for a strange stable. Strange as in something we don't get to see too often... EDIT - also, remember Buddy was following Seth Rollinz when Seth was doing his cult-leader charade? Maybe Buddy has a hole in his soul. Maybe he's the real King of the Black Throne and he'll keep the stable even when Malakai turns face some day. 'Cause let's face it, guys, Buddy needs Jesus.

Roman Reigns?? Don't remember a Danielson match even happening...

Very interesting. I didn't think an actual Batman could give his identity away anyways, but very cool that this guy got his start in India.

I can't believe I'm really the first to ask this, but who was Batman? I'm assuming he's not the American WWWF Batman...?

Trent's gotta be in contention for that gatekeeper-ish role of title contender that Pac, Kingston, and Archer currently occupy. He may not be there in the rankings, but he carries himself very well.

I think Jericho knowing he's old hat has got to be a part of his current character development. I wouldn't be surprised if he lets Eddie do the talking. The Demo-god is a bit old to go back to being an annoying asspouch.