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Anthony Joshua understood the assignment. Jesus.

It kind of depends on if Chito ever gets out of first gear and if O'Malley is perhaps a little spooked from the first fight. Best case scenario is we get a mean and confident Marlon Vera, vs. the O'Malley that is dying to finish him. That's a compelling fight.

I mean it's not really worth debating because it's Vince's Hall of Fame(until this year I guess), but she probably should've gone in before any individual in the celebrity wing. Probably should've gone in with Captain Lou in '96, but they technically didn't have a "Celebrity Wing" then. But boy oh boy, looking over all the other "celebrities" selections and... it gets rough. In order: Pete Rose Refrigerator Perry Bob Uecker Drew Carey Mike Tyson "The Predecessor" Mr. T Arnold Schwarzenegger Snoop Bawitdaba William Shatner Ozzy Osbourne Andy Kaufman Bit of a sausage party. Honestly, Maria Menounos should be in over several of those people. ... I will say that I actually think Hunter, for all his faults, is a better steward of wrestling history than most folks that they could put in charge. It does seem genuinely important to him, based on his actions regarding the hall over the last several years. I think him putting US Express in, highlighting their involvement in the first Wrestlemania, might be an indicator that Cyndi Lauper has to be on the short list. If she doesn't want to do it, that's totally her call, and I respect it. But she 100% is significant part of wrestling history and deserves to be recognized as such.

Awwww. I didn't even remember this thread existed. A lot of the Colossus Build-A-Figure Wave is sitting at Ollie's right now for 9.99 a figure. I already got all of that wave, and am also casually looking for the Sugar Man wave. With MArvel Legends I generally stick with X-Men related figures, unless there's some random release that I have a soft spot for like Frog Man and White Rabbit. I've been really big on GI Joe Confidential figures. Just dipped my toes into the Ninja Turtle Ultimates Line, for, and I'm not joking, the Muckman figure. It was one of my favorite figures growing up and the Ultimate version is pretty damn cool.

I was just reading the other day about Cyndi Lauper and Roddy Piper, and I didn't even know she wasn't in yet. That's a pretty egregious omission. Paul Heyman has worked for WWE longer than ECW existed, but as a former ECW mutant, it still sounds bizarre that he's going into the Hall of Fame. Feels like US Express means it's highly likely Bray is going in too, right? Bring tissues.

This card is nuts. Look at Michel Pereira and Ion Cutelaba hanging out on the earlies. Curtis Blaydes vs. Almeida was a fight night main event. Now it's a prelim with Gamrot and RDA. Every fight in the main card could potentially be fight of the year.

Seth did some history rewriting last night, saying that when they were in The Shield he wanted to take that power from the top and give it back to the people. Roman wanted it for himself. Would be nice if Paul Heyman or Roman called this part out, because Seth shot first, and Seth joined the Authority. Maybe create a little intrigue as to whether Seth can truly be trusted.

Rock comes up with Cody Crybabies and tells people to go do some more crack. Seth calls him Diarheah Dwayne. I don't think the quality gap is that big here. I've got no problem with those two just slap fighting each other with play ground insults. I don't really care which one "wins" this war of words. Seems like Seth should come out on top, since you're paying him to draw houses every week, but whatever I guess. The nonsense between them honestly makes Roman and Cody seem even more important. That's the serious business fight. MEANWHILE Drew Mac is doing all of it better. I hope he didn't sign his extension yet, because his stock has to be through the fucking roof now.

This is really a problem with the entertainment industry as a whole(not just a rasslin' problem.) People talk about Love Bombing, and with entertainment the bombing comes from fans. There is nothing like performing and feeling even just a handful of people love what you're doing, let alone arenas full. And if you want it again you gotta go back to the person who gave you the opportunity to get on stage, in the ring, in front of a camera. That's a terrible amount of power to have over generally insecure people(as entertainers and artists are prone to be). And I don't think we'll ever be rid of people(male or female) who exploit it. I don't mean that cynically like the entertainment business is trash forever. I mean that people have to be more aware of their own self worth and when other people are taking advantage of it. You don't need Vince to feel valuable.

That's essentially how all cults operate.

I get a little defensive when folks categorize anyone as a "failed actor". As though they shouldn't want to keep making the art they want to see because Hollywood didn't want them. I see it a lot in my work and I think it's crappy. I'm not saying you or anyone have to love Cody Rhodes. He's corny as fuuuuuck. I can see that. But there are thousands of actors who wish they could be a "failed actor" like Cody Rhodes is right now.

Goddamn that was a pretty great performance from Rozenstruik. He was really feeling himself in the fourth. And kudos to Godard for getting in that corner's face and telling him to "do the right thing."

That's really my point. It's almost irrelevant that he makes fun of people for not being as famous as him. It's like no shit bro, no one here has a million dollar gym that travels with them where ever they go. Rock is in rarefied air in terms of the entire entertainment business. No one in wrestling compares to him. He could tap out to every guy and gal on the roster and it wouldn't get them closer to his level. Despite him shitting on Rollins, I think Rock is actually helping the show. He's the bright and shiny frame around the potential master piece that is the Roman/Cody Saga. I can't tell others how to be fans, but I can say I buy into Cody Rhodes as a guy who really really cares about pro-wrestling. Even though the company has put the machine behind him, he doesn't feel like a guy who was hand picked and manufactured from the beginning. He feels more like product of his own hard work than purely the choices of a promoter. And anyone can say whatever they want about the dude, but it doesn't change the fact that I'll continue to fuck with him, because he clearly loves doing this and wants to tell cool stories. I relate to that. And honestly, I don't really care much for Seth Rollins in the ring, but over the last year I can't help but respect the dude the same way. Roman and Rock dumping on them doesn't mean much to me. It doesn't make me respect or support Cody and Seth less, it makes me, as a fan, want to justify why they deserve our support even more. In that respect, Rock and Roman are doing exactly what they're supposed to do. They're making me want to cheer the other guy. Like I'm not going to root for the guy who made Black Adam, just because he's went back to referring himself in the third person.

Honestly it's a common mistake. I've got the Cassavettes box set from Criterion, and I just enjoy seeing his characters think, you know what I mean? Sometimes his characters feel they're backed into a corner trying to suss out an escape route. Love Chinese Bookie. Love Woman Under the Influence.

Though it can't help but have a similar vibe because it features John Cassavettes and Peter Falk, Mikey and Nicky is an Elaine May film.

I guess it depends on how you look at it. Roman says Seth's title is Second Place, which one could say is true particularly when they unveiled it a year ago. Seth says Roman's title reign is padded by Roman sitting at home for months on end, and when he does show up it's one fight with lots of interference from his cousins. Which is true, but it also similarly undermines the historic nature of Roman's title reign. So it's almost a wash as both guys are trying to shit on the other to build up their own legacy. HOWEVER. One guy has shown up to work every week and defended his belt not just on Premium Live Events, but on TV. A year of Seth's Title Reign does not equal a Year of Roman's. And for me that's the difference. Rock and Roman can shit on Seth, but Seth can always say - he's working every week until his body won't let him. And he can say they've built WWE to something special again and Rock is just trying to leech off of younger stars success. And he wouldn't be wrong. Rock can say the suits at Netflix don't know who Rollins is. But are fans supposed to get excited about Ted Sarandos' favorite wrestlers instead? Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes will most likely never ever ever be as famous as Dwayne The Rock Johnson. That's just reality. But I don't think that means folks should give up on them because they can't be transcendental generational ultra super mega stars. That being said.... Rollins has been getting the worst barbs during every exchange. I feel like he's gotta be getting something out of this at some point. But wrestling history is littered with guys who didn't get theirs.

I don't think Seth has to get the win, when Drew Mac can be the spoiler, and siphon some of this heat for his match on Night 2. I mean I guess you could go either way on Night 1, but logic would dictate that the bad guys don't get pinned until Night 2. So Drew and the Bloodline fuck Cody and Seth on Night 1. The good guys couldn't get it done on Night 1 together, what hope do they have on Night 2? Tune in to find out. On the other hand, I feel like there's got to be some kind of reward for Seth Rollins somewhere. Something more than beating Drew Mac(again). He's done a lot of great work recently on the microphone trying to make all of these stories work, and it feels like he's getting done dirty with this angle.

No joke. I don't know if there's really a difference between knock outs physiologically. Bad is bad, right? But that KO made me feel uncomfortable in a way few have.

Oh my shit and it ends with a stomach turning flying knee KO for the ages.

If anyone is sleeping on this card(and why wouldn't you) definitely look for Oliveira/Sopaj - specifically Round 2.

Hahaha.

That Rock promo was perfect and pretty much established everything anyone needs to know about the story and where we are. It's the perfect onboard for anyone wondering what all the fuss is about. The bad news(or great news depending) is that Seth Rollins got bodied again. That bit about the Netflix meeting and how no one was wondering if Seth Rollins was going to be champion was brutal. I think what's best about the Rock's POV is that, even though he's saying facts, it still only takes a little thought by anyone to see why he's still a douchebag in this. I honestly can't tell if Cody Rhodes wins the title now. He should. But you could MAYBE get away with having him lose again if it means The Rock plays An Evil Authority Figure until next Wrestlemania and Cody is his Steve Austin.

Surprised to see Moreno real fade those last two rounds. Royval's output was insane and perhaps very inefficient, but I don't know if it was exactly overwhelming either. Moreno seemed to be reading it fine, he just never really turned it up, other than the round he was ending combos with the leg kick. So much drama in the Ortega/Yair fight, particularly in the first. Ortega rolling his ankle in the intro and panicking. Getting rocked. And then by the end of the first he realized, "Oh even if I'm loopy, Yair Rodriguez has nothing for me on the ground." What a weird 6 years for Brian Ortega. 2018 - Fights Max for the Title, gets housed and loses his 0. Spends next two years injured. 2020 - Comes back and beats Korean Zombie to get another shot. 2021 - Loses to Volk in a barn burner 2022 - Fucks his shoulder against Yair, setting Yair up for an eventual run at the title. 2024 - Comes back and beats Yair, and maybe set himself up for a third shot at the title. He's either injured or about to fight for the title. Kinda like Conor McGreggor without the money.

Lots of back and forth scraps so far tonight. Judges having a tough night. I made a joke about not knowing a bunch of these folks, but every fight I've recognized someone. I just can't keep up with these names. First round of Barcelos/Quinonez had some fence grabs that felt like Barcelos was working rudo. The crowd was yelling everytime his fingers went through the cage.

That's a crazy good main and co-main. Everyone else not named Raul Rosas Jr, I'll need a refresher on tho.