Brandon Bones

I’ll posit the theory that this whole belt collector thing has gone as far as it can. In my infantile brain. I saw the path for Omega adding the New Japan title to the bunch with perhaps an empty challenge in the direction of WWE as it’s zenith. I would really hate to lose all that build up. But between Hangman’s family stuff and then awkward coordination of far too many other companies trying to do their own thing during a pandemic. I get it that perhaps it has gone as far as it can. At least if one must pivot. Pivot in the direction of Punk and Bryan. Someone else where on the board suggested an idea that Omega/Christian “over deliver”. At this point I’m thinking it going to be mandatory otherwise Christian is fucked in AEW. If he nails it at the level of his series with Orton. I’ll be satisfied. But he might have to exceed even that just to start relevant in an increasingly more crowded pool of stars. But hey! It’s Christian. He’s awesome.

That got a big pop from me brother brother brother. Yeah. That Christian vs Abyss cage match from (IIRC) the first episode on SPIKE impressed me.

I liked the first episode pretty much. I have a soft spot for Carter ever since I binged the network show off the recommendation from some of you here. But man it went by too fast to really let some of those good character moments really breathe. The twist of Steve’s injury not at all getting in the way of Peggy having feelings for him was so great. But man did a viewer barely have a chance to have it register.

I’m leaning towards Christian getting taken out and going INTO the PPV with no declared challenger. Normally, I wouldn’t ever suggest something like that being a good idea. But these are unique times with the specter of Punk and Bryan hanging over each show. It’s works as a nice slight of hand where both the surprise and potentially awesome match sell it just as well as any names on the marquee. Another fun show that should make WWE feel ashamed of the last 10 years of adversarial booking. Daunte Martin is this weeks MVP.

Just discovered this band. Reminds me if L7 got into a knife fight with Suicidal Tendencies.

And now I am a Peter Avalon fan. Just like that.

Welp! So much for my Wild Bunch finish. Though I am still pretty geeked for the finale.

I remember how much I loved that 2/3 falls match with Flair in 91. I loved that whole singles run he had post Midnights. Eaton was so good he got me to like a few Terry Taylor matches. That’s just something I don’t do.

Going into this show. I was somewhat concerned for this episode getting to play out on its own merits with all the buzz surrounding the company. I figured there’d be Punk or Bryan chants enough to distract from the show. Apparently… not an issue. Lol Happy to be wrong about it too. As a big fan of Black. Seeing him get put over so strong like that gives me some hope. I really liked his stuff in NXT. Super glad geeked that he is off to a running start. The rest of the show was ok to good. But that judgement is in part a side effect of downshifting the pace to get some other work done. The one negative being Christian being good. Just not quite strong enough to contend for the title at a ppv.

So the idea of a tournament begs the question for me. Should AEW do a G1 style tournament in the the United States? Would that kind of long drawn out structure alienate North American fans? Would it get in the way of “Dream Match” scenarios? When a first time match is given away in a middling spot in a dense populated tournament. Is that wise to do when historically (NA as opposed to Japan) those matches are saved in better money making positions? Would doing it sooner rather than later make a difference?

Great episode this week. Good action and some table setting has me primed for the finish.

It’s thinking about this stuff when I have the thought that: 1. This is definitely a good time to put Page over and make him champion. The momentum and narrative certainly suggested as much before the 10 man. 2. But the belt collector stuff makes me think that Kenny’s run (considered unto itself) isn’t quite ready to drop the belt and give Page every bit of pass the torch credit. Every bit that is required will be readily available so Omega can possibly spend it to make a baby face “the guy”. Omega hasn’t won or fought for all the belts he could be winning as of yet. Page winning now pretty much cuts that off I’d think… right?

I think the real hurdle to get over is what to do about maintaining current storylines AND making it ok that Punk does a job in Chicago. I’ll spitball the idea of an early in the show promo battle with Punk, Darby, Sting. Set up a number 1 contender match. This way Chicago gets a Punk win and an after match pipe bomb where he promises to win the title as Dynamite or Rampage go off the air. Punk would have to lose to a top rope OWA or something following a visual pin to sell it. But Chicago would’ve got their fill of the long awaited return. I don’t know. These are big moves converging all at once. It’s going to be tough to cram it all in and make it work. Then yeah. Put Adam Page over. Afterward… pivot Punk over to Colt. DO WANT!

I am so smart. S M R T! I’m 1 out of a million in guessing shit right.

So one potential positive in this is if this scandal is henceforth referred to as “PizzaGate”… fewer Googling morons will be fed bizarre conspiracy theories.

Well, ok I guess. I’m in if y’all think it’ll help. I’ve never done it before so I can’t promise quality. That wasn’t your actual plan… was it?

I gotta say. I really enjoyed the match. I’m genuinely afraid of Gage getting AEW into some trouble this week.

Wow. I really loved Charlotte/Rhea. Color me surprised. Just when my tolerance for WWE was at a minimum.

I didn’t realize how much I wanted a Bryan/Yano match before now. If Bryan can work with Kane for ten minutes teasing only a hug? We could have the first 5star comedy match here.

Think of the time saved every week by just having the announcers do it with a graphic.

My memory is kind of vague on this one example. As I don’t recall who was in the match specifically. But I believe I saw the match on a Coliseum Video or Prime Time Wrestling. Anyway, a heel manager was distracting the referee while the heel in the ring did some cheating dastardly shit. But in a blink and you’ll miss it moment. The ref kept his head on the swivel and caught the infraction. Proceeded to get rid of the manager and turned to the action in time to see the heel making the pin. To drag it out even further. The ref gets down on one knee in front of the pin and just makes few a nondescript gestures but not a count for the pin. Later when the dq is announced. Gorrilla and whoever he was commentating with, called the slomo replay where they point out how sharp the ref was for making the catch when he turned his head. Just to illustrate it a little more. I THINK the match dynamic was an established heel star vs. a jobber who was probably outmatched anyway. But the heel shenanigans just happened to cost him that day. Plus I’m pretty sure the Jobber paid the price after the fact for daring to oopsie his way to getting a check in the win column. If I had to guess it was probably Muraco or Terry Funk.

The sudden stop of Mox hitting that chair arch gave me the super douche chills. Ruggedx2.

Another fun show. Nic Gage getting that kind of pop when he hasn’t any history at this level of television is remarkable.

I’d say probably no. They had a decent tag match during a tournament with Ibushi (no idea who his partner was) that I had a killer finish. Ibushi was up on the shoulders for the springboard doomsday device. Ibushi caught the Briscoe in mid air and turned it into a C4 and the 3. As memorable as that finish was the Briscoes didn’t go to Japan enough to truly get over.

A lukewarm episode this week. Hopefully, now that we are in the home stretch. These last four episodes really need to tie things up. Omega needs a payoff that reflects the characters importance (though I suspect a longer arc is intended). Crosshair needs a reckoning with his brothers (the scenario most likely to have finality). But of course the asshole in me wants them to go out in one season like the Wild Bunch.