[Dynamite - 12/1/21]

8 hours ago, NoFistsJustFlips said:

This thread is a bummer. It's also kind of convinced me I'm probably out of touch. There's multiple negative takes on the flaming table spot. And I'm legitimately shocked by that. It's a bunch of people too, a lot who are generally positives most weeks, so I gotta be the one with the wrong take then I guess. Because I thought it was dope as fuck. So I'm left to kind of break things down and ask a few questions to see why my opinion is so different than the the rest of the thread.

Do you like the Reverse Suplex off the top as move in regular form? A whole lot of people shit talking the execution. So do you like the way it looks as a move normally? If the answer is no I can understand still not liking it when it's leveled up with fire. But if you normally do then I totally don't get shitting on the execution. It was the same move it's always been. Cody's back takes the brunt of the bump. In Kayfabe Andrade's face / torso takes the impact. Like the visual of this is exactly what the visual of The reverse Suplex always is, which I've never seen shit on before. And if you pause it during the impact (I did), yes Cody back is in fire, but Andrade's whole face is in fire and looks like an explosion went off in his face. Face damage > back damage.

Someone mentioned why didn't Brandi move the table. Keep in mind the human aspect of the execution. You can't make a guy take fire in the face. Andrade might have agreed to take the spot but only if they did it in a safe way to where he's not in danger of getting his face burnt off. The table placement was definitely agreed to ahead of time I'd think. Andrade most likely was okay with the spot if he could essentially land with his feet under him and able to flop away immediately.

Also someone asked rhetorically if maybe Cody's back was burnt up from practicing the spot earlier in the day. Not trying to pick on ya but that is just insanity to even consider lol. ZERO percent chance they practiced landing in fire. Now they probably practiced burning the table to see the speed of the burn rate. They probably practiced the move and positioning of the landing to keep Andrade safe, may have even done that with a table (which is normally never done). But I promise you no one is going to practice a bump into live fire with a camera off. If something goes wrong during practice it's an emergency and you didn't even get a TV moment out of it. If something goes wrong on live TV, it's still an emergency but at least you get a TV moment out of it.

I will end by asking the question, is this a legitimate beef with the spot? Or are people kind of done with Cody so whatever he does makes you roll your eyes? I mean both answers are valid. I'm just genuinely curious. I dig Cody's stuff more often than not. But that isn't shading my view on the bump. I'd think anyone pulling it off with that exact same execution is fucking crazy and dope as fuck. So is it a Cody thing? (The Blood & Guts finish was shit on in a similar way and I loved that. So I'm starting to just assume the things I grew up admiring and loving are just not what the younger audience love and admire today).

This is an interesting take.

I liked the whole show, but as I said: I didn't feel like I needed to see a flaming table spot.

It isn't "a Cody thing" for me, in this case, and it certainly wasn't any kind of issue with the technical execution of the spot (though I can see elements of both of those elsewhere in this thread).

For me personally, and I'd assume it's true for others, I just don't like seeing pro wrestlers take wildly unnecessary risks for relatively  limited pay-offs. It's the same issue I had with the finish to Blood & Guts, and Exploding Ring. Even if the camera angle on Jericho 's cage bump had been perfect, I think I would have enjoyed the match a lot more if it had ended inside the cell. Even if the explosion had been spectacular, I think Mox and Kenny could have put on a great match without it. You know what I mean? 

I don't think that this is a case of "the younger audience" not liking what you like, considering that I am 56 years old. I just don't like that level of risk taking. I'm worried that someone is really going to get hurt, badly, some day in an AEW match. 

Also: I've seen Foley take a bump off the cell. I've seen Onita work in an exploding ring. Any attempt to replicate that... is going to look like "an attempt to replicate that." Any attempt to top it is doomed to fail because when you are competing with sacred memories you cannot win. So, I just don't feel like the pay-off can justify the risk.

 I have no equivalent comparison for flaming tables... What would the apt comparison be, here?

My other issue with the spot was a "why now" issue. No pun intended, but Cody vs Andrade did not feel heated enough to justify that spot. Why wouldn't you save something that insane for a blow off to a major blood feud on a PPV? 

You have answered that question, though. It wasn't a "why now" but rather a "why here"? I hadn't considered the location/Cody's hometown/this is where he did his cage moonsault... So that part of it makes more sense to me now. Thanks!

Still, while I love almost everything about AEW, I sure wish they'd go to the Attitude Era Big Stunts well less often. That is a "me thing" though. It's cool that you, and others, mark out for that stuff. AEW gives me loads of wrestling comedy, relatable characters, highly technical wrestling, Japanese guest stars, and on and on that I love but that aren't for everyone. 

So, I guess it would be churlish of me to complain too much about massive contrived stunt bumps that other people love but aren't my cup of tea.

 

[Secret Santo Holiday Season 2021]

I flat-out love participating in Secret Santo. I have had an absolute blast every time I have participated. I learned about some great matches, revisited some old favourites, even had some fun thinking about why I didn't like certain matches. And, it is a ton of fun to pick matches for other people, trying to figure out something they will love or find something crazy or unusual... and to read everyone's reviews, recaps, and thoughts.

Sadly I will not have adequate time to participate fully this round. I will lurk here, read as close to everything as I am able, maybe even chime in with a comment or two. But I need to skip this round.

I'd absolutely urge anyone who A) is interested and B) will have time, to participate. It really is a lot of fun.

[AEW - DEC 2021]

AEW YouTube wrestler of the year: Legit Leyla Hirsch. I mark out any time she's on Dark or Elevation, which is pretty much my sole criterion for these awards.

Male AEW YouTube wrestler of the year: JD Drake. Our lad has come a long way in 2021. He's consistently very entertaining and enjoyable to watch. I want him to go back to his old Dick Murdoch style gear some day, even though I like his current look as part of The Wingmen.

AEW YouTube tag team of the year: Bear Country! And people complain that there are no fat guys in AEW. AEW has the best fat guys! Love to see them slowly and organically making their way up the ladder.

AEW YouTube match of the year: Bryan vs MiSu. Could end up being "The Best Match Ever to Debut on YouTube" when all is said and done. Rampage Buy-In currently has over 1.3 million views! I wonder how many of those are from folks like me who have watched it over a dozen times.

[Dynamite - 12/1/21]

Somebody take a time machine back to 2017 or 2018 and try telling me that in 2021 I would be watching Sting vs Billy Gunn in a tag match, and be tickled pink to be doing so, and I'd enjoy the hell out of the match... 'cuz I don't think I'd believe you.

Loved Darby killing himself, as always. 

Dug the great wrestlers making young guys look really good in the first two matches. 

Dug the crowd going crazy for Cole and Cassidy facing down. Nice way to let the crowd pop for those entrances.

Was proud of @just drew for not jumping the rails and going all Krav Maga on the Bucks! Nice show of restraint!

A Wardlow squash on Dynamite is jake with me.

This whole tbs Tournament has just been a festival of good matches.

You know me, I love a nice show of respect after a hard-fought match. I wouldn't mind Ruby Soho becoming Best Friends adjacent.

I like Andrade wearing a necktie to a street fight!

I felt kinda bad for Cody getting booed while taking a beating in his home town.

Don't really feel like I needed to see a flaming table spot.

Ho hum, another great show. Hope I never actually start taking it for granted.

 

[November 2021 Wrestling Discussion]

I am proud of being a pro wrestling fan. I wear pro wrestling shirts, hoodies, hats and caps, warm-up jackets, even my gym shorts have the lion mark logo on them. I doubt there is anyone who knows me well that doesn't know that I love pro wrestling.

Maybe it helps that I live in Japan... but I was the same way in Canada.

Some people don't get it, but almost everyone has always respected that it's one of my passions. I can't imagine feeling ashamed of being a fan of pro wrestling, or trying to hide it. 

In fact, I have made a lot of real-life friends based at least in part on a mutual love of pro wrestling.

I guess I was lucky to grow up where I did. And have continued to be lucky everywhere I've been to since then (i am definitely very lucky with people) ...or maybe people just sense that there's no point in trying to make fun of something that I'm obviously proud of?

[All-Purpose Health and Fitness Thread]

Here's a thoughtful and thought-provoking video from calisthenics guru Al Kavadlo about how he eats. Main reason I'm posting it here is that he makes genuinely funny use of pro wrestling pictures in the video. I legit lol'd twice while watching this, and I wanted to share:

Second reason is this: I'm down under 100 kilos for the first time in probably 20+ years! My health markers are all genuinely good and I'm feeling the best I have felt, physically, since my second daughter was born and I got very lax with my eating habits.

I'm 56 years old now, and over the past couple of years I have transitioned from always wanting to be the biggest and strongest guy in the gym (or at least one of the top 4 or 5) to paying more attention to "functional strength" mobility, health, longevity, etc. My daughters are 7 and 10 years old and I'm more concerned with being there for them than with anything else. It's good motivation!!

The Kavadlo brothers (bodyweight training, getting ripped, sensible eating), Mark Wildman (kettlebells, mobility, function), Martin Burkhan (Leangains, intermittent fasting), my friend Chizuki (fasting, natural eating), Chris Shugart (the Velocity Diet) and to a slightly lesser extent Pavel Tatsouline (kettlebells), and Ori Hofmekler (warrior diet) have all been major influences on how I think about eating and training and on how I have been successfully changing my body (though I have not been strictly doing intermittent fasting, I have been influenced by their thoughts and ideas, and have IF as a strategy I can go to if I hit a major plateau or if I eventually decide I want to try actually getting ripped some day).

I'd recommend checking out The Kavadlo Brothers and Mark Wildman's videos on youtube, and the Kavadlo's books  (particularly Get Strong) and The Leangains and Warrior Diet books if you are interested at all in functional strength and/or fat loss. Interesting food for thought!

I'd also very much like to hear about whoever all y'all watch on youtube and whose books you read w/r/t training and diet. 

In particular, @Shartnado, I'd like to hear more about how you eat to get ripped.

[Rampage - 11/26/2021]

There was some really good pro wrestling on Rampage this week.

I liked how the opener mixed goofiness, athleticism, and violence.

I missed a big chunk of Riho vs DMD (my younger daughter wanted my attention) but what I saw looked great. Riho's offense is looking more believable now than when she was champ.

I'm sure Garcia vs Kingston was (almost) everyone here's cup of tea, and rightfully so. I'll bet at least one person is going to say that Kingston gave Garcia too much (and if you feel that way, fair enough, I suppose) but I love love love love love how a lot of the veteran/higher-card AEW wrestlers can be so giving in the ring with younger/lower-card guys. It's one of my favourite things about this promotion.  

[November 2021 Wrestling GIFs and Pics]

5 hours ago, cwoy2j said:

Bruce Prichard--"The Red Rooster gimmick was not a burial. It would've worked if he committed to it!"

The Internet--"Imma just leave this here...."

 

 

Ahem! 

Actually...

Roosters don't lay eggs.

[Rampage - 11/26/2021]

Your traditional Black Friday Deal Match: Riho vs DMD

Kingston vs Garcia, which, holy moley yes please!!

A team without Trent ? or tennis shoes but is still clearly Best Friends vs Bay Bay Fish (Doot dootdoot dootdootdoot)

Edit: It occurs to me that Dinosaur (good ole) Jr very nearly use the "Baby Shark" rhythm in this song (and also a heavier version of it in Watch the Corners) so here is something nice to listen to before the Road To:

 

[November 2021 Wrestling Discussion]

1 hour ago, Cobra Commander said:

The Egg from the Survivor Series is at the Ole Miss/Mississippi State game tonight. The WWE really knows how to get their talent on the big shows.

/s

*Egg gets over*

"The WWE has come to terms on the release of the Survivor Series Gooker Egg. WWE wishes the Egg the best of luck in its future endeavors."

[What's Going On?]

Some more general navel-gazing, in the form of two old zen stories that have helped me get through pandemic life and even find a kind of upside in things slowing down so much:

A great scholar approached the Buddha. "I have questions I want to ask you. I am told you are the only one who can answer them."
 " I will answer your questions, " replied the Buddha, "but I have a requirement. First you must study beside me in silence for one year. You are not yet ready to hear the answers to your questions. You must first clear your mind of preconceptions."
 The great scholar agreed to the requirement. He sat in silence for a year. The Buddha said to him, "You may ask your questions now." 
 The scholar remained silent. He no longer had any questions.

 

An eager young athlete approached a martial arts master. "I have mastered many martial arts. Now I want to master yours. How long will it take?" 
 " Ten years, " replied the master.
 "That's too long!" Replied the athlete. I am very fit and strong and have a great deal of experience. I can, and will, train fourteen hours a day every day and work harder than any other student. In that case, how long will it take? "
 "Twenty years, at least."

[November 2021 Wrestling Discussion]

On 11/24/2021 at 3:33 AM, Technico Support said:

I find this shit fascinating and should probably start an "explain your username" thread.

My name is Gordon, I generally go by Gordi ("i" rather than "ie" or "y" in tribute to Jimi Hendrix), and Gordberg is an ironic nickname I got from my weightlifting friends because, while I am above average in terms of strength and muscularity, I have never had the kind of impressively over-developed trapezius muscles that Goldberg or, say, Kensuke have (most likely because I'm not a steroid guy - I'm not anti steroids, I just don't use them - and huge traps are usually a result of massive steroid abuse). Also I shave my head, have a little beard, am middle-aged, and look kind of Jew-y (my biological mother is Jewish, but I was raised by Scottish-Canadian Presbyterians). So, I look rather Goldbergian (pic spoiled because shirtlessness):

Spoiler

 

I've also been gordi (the lower case in tribute to the great Canadian poet bill bissett) and El Gran Gordi (in tribute to Otis' masked alter ego) and Jailbreaker Bullnoi (A Fire Pro character)

[AEW Navel-Gazing Thread Number Two]

In recent weeks, AEW has continued to incorporate sensitive subjects into broadcasts. Eddie Kingston, a foul-mouthed brawler from just outside New York City, noted he takes Zoloft for depression. And in early November, the day after it was announced Moxley had entered an inpatient alcohol treatment program, the famously straight-edge Punk called on the Independence, Mo., crowd to chant Moxley’s name, commending the former champion for seeking help.

Page thinks the values of the company have created an openness that helps performers too. “Ten, 20 years ago, you would never walk away from a top spot, for any reason,” he says about Moxley going into rehab. “You would let your life crumble around you before you walked away from that top spot. Knowing AEW is a different kind of place, a different environment, I think has helped people be more honest with what they need in their lives.”

- a direct quote from here:

https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a38225563/adam-page-hangman-aew/

We've been arguing (often obliquely) for quite some time whether the move (in AEW) away from broad caricatures of machismo and masculinity and towards more nuanced, vulnerable, damaged, and otherwise relatable characters is a genuine change for the better. 

The second paragraph above, in particular, sums up a lot of why I quite passionately believe that it is.

I think it also touches quite directly on the value of nurturing and maintaining a positive/supportive/friendly atmosphere in a company.

I certainly don't remember anybody here suggesting that Mox was wrong to go into rehab while building toward a main event program, so maybe those ideas are no longer as controversial as they seemed to be when the company was starting out?

Please feel free to discuss, if you are so inclined.

(Or to lay out any other theories or considerations about AEW). 

[Dynamite - 11/24/2021]

I got a lot of legit lols tonight:

Reba's "awwww" when DMD tossed her roll

 "No! We're not doing the DMD"

 "A less famous Miz"

and so on...

Tully and Arn were the in-ring highlight of the night for me, and I in no way mean that as a slight on the rest of the action.

GREAT night for promos, obviously.

A little joke for the hardcore fans: That was a real Gut Check for Bryan. 

[The DAD Zone]

On 11/22/2021 at 4:00 AM, Octopus said:

I AM DAD

Congratulations, as long as your kid is healthy and has eight tentacles you can count your blessings!

Here's my younger daughter doing unicycle tricks with her friends:

 

 

[What are you making for THANKSGIVING DINNER~??]

I mix a cup of yogurt with a cup of rolled oats and half a cup of frozen blueberries, then leave it in the fridge while I go off to work. 

That'll be my Thanksgiving dinner. I'll have a smoked chicken breast and a handful of almonds and cashews at work, as well, most likely. And a nice bottle of tea.

What do you want me to say? I'm Canadian, I live in Japan, and I'm on a diet.

I LOVE a nice turkey dinner. I miss my mom's stuffing and gravy. I once went to Subway on Canadian Thanksgiving/my birthday, and had a sliced turkey breast sandwich (which is the only easy way to get turkey over here). Bad choice. Made me miss real turkey even more.

The food here is amazing, even the stuff that fits into my diet (like smoked or peppered chicken breasts, frozen mango chunks, soy sauce flavoured boiled eggs, and spicy bean sprouts with pork loin, all of which I can get at 7-11 here). But oh boy do I envy you lads your full on Turkey dinners.

Enjoy!!

[AEW - NOV 2021]

1 hour ago, (BP) said:

Tonight’s Dark has a Wardlow match that is one of the greatest squashes I’ve ever seen. 

Rest of the show was pretty strong. Glad to see Bear Country being put in a position to be players in the tag division. Their recent match with Shook Crew in Beyond is in the internet match thread and it’s worth a look. 

The Moriarty/Comoroto main was very good stuff, and I loved finishing the show with a post match Schiavone interview. 

Completely agree with all of this. I mainly skipped to the big man matches cuz that's what I am in the mood for today (did you do the same?) so my thoughts are all on the same three matches.

I'd add that each match had at least one AMAZING power spot: Bear Boulder slamming Carter and Lennox simultaneously, Wardlow's press slam Casualty of War, and Comoroto's multiple presses, and the one-armed press, on Moriarty. The Bear Country spot was incredibly cool.

Rolando Perez looked great bumping and stooging for Wardlow. I'd like to see him do something with Marko Stunt next.

That was a great Dark main event. Both guys looked good, and it told a nice story of size and power vs technique.

 

[Dynamite - 11/24/2021]

November 24th, Thanksgiving Dynamite in Chicago!

Will AEW be able to come up with a wrestling storyline anywhere near as electrically compelling as the saga of the stolen golden egg (as seen on the other channel)?
Unlikely, but you gotta figure Cookie Monster Punk will get a huge crowd reaction going against Cutie Marshall
And you maybe gotta wonder if Colt Cabana's Chicago roots will be enough to get keep the crowd booing Brian Bryan?
You also probably gotta figure that after Andrade Malakai and Fear The Restholds all lost on the (excellent, excellent, excellent)  PPV that the heels are gonna win the 8-man tag... but who outa Cody Homelander, PAC, Fenix, and Penta el Gesture Spammer will take the fall?
Oh my golly! Oh my golly Rosa!! takes on Jaymie the Hayter in a tournament match, which could well steal the show. Then Rosa will face Jade in the tournament semis.

[Rampage - 11/19/2021]

On 11/22/2021 at 8:55 AM, L_W_P said:

The 123 Kid had enough birthdays to turn Syxx.Then he was X-Pac. X of course being the Roman numeral for 10.

Great progression there.

And of course now he goes by Sean Walt Man.

In fact, pro wrestling is chock full of guys who have made the switch from boy or kid to man, such as Honkey Tonk Boy or the Big Boss Kid.

My personal favourites are probably:

Kid Abu Nakanishi

Paul Hey Kid

Strong Boy

Braun Strowkid

Macho Boy Randy Savage

The Sandboy

Mad Boy Pondo

The Z-Boy

"Real Kid's Kid" Steven Regal

One Boy Gang

Icekid King Parsons

Arachnaboy

Billy Kidkid

The Boogie Woogie Boy Jimmy Valiant

Chesskid

Calvin Tanklad

El Muchacho sin Nombre

Kiddy Fernandez

Maxwell Jacob Friedboy

Boykind

somewhat confusingly, Kid Ami Toyota

and of course Gentle Boy Jervis Cottonbelly

 

[Rampage - 11/19/2021]

6 minutes ago, EVA said:

Pretty sure he lost his job at NXT because he pissed hot enough to melt the cup at a powerlifting competition...

This guy ain't gonna stand for anybody using steroids in his company! 

[NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 2022: 1/4, 1/5 and 1/8]

You could pretty easily do NJPW vs "Dudes who have been released by WWE and not yet signed up by Tony Khan" and it would be an excellent show. Tell me you don't want Keith Lee vs, say, Shingo or, like, Tucky vs Ishii. 

[Rampage - 11/19/2021]

I liked the storytelling in this show. You had two matches where the bigger more muscular heel put a savage beating on the smaller plucky babyface, and a tag match where the smaller guy got beat down until he barely managed to make the hot tag to his big strong friend... and you had the modern classic AEW flavouring where the babyfaces have friends who can counter the heels trying to play the numbers game, and that makes the difference between winning and losing.

Enjoyed Darby, Velvet, and JB doing their part by bumping around like crazy and Darby and Velvet in particular doing great rag-doll selling.

[November 2021 Wrestling Discussion]

17 minutes ago, Octopus said:

Any of you guys have a Top 10 (or whatever number) wrestler GOAT list? It’s always fun to see people’s personal taste.

Sure. Why not?

Top of my head:

Terry Funk

Jumbo Tsuruta

Bryan Danielson

Jushin Liger

Bret Hart

Eddie Guerrero

Mitsuharu Misawa

Andre the Giant

Akira Hokuto

Minoru Suzuki

[Rampage - 11/19/2021]

A dinosaur and a boy vs a fish and a bay bay which, frankly, seems like an unfair match-up.

Jade vs Velvet in a battle of 70s rockstar fashion statements.

The New Age Rockabilly Ass Man Outlaw "Cute" Kip Montana-Winchester vs  if I understand correctly, a skateboarder who is married to one of the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions. (Edit: I apparently do not understand correctly).

Screw it, let's do it!!!

[AEW - NOV 2021]