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After seeing Knuckles in the crowd, I had the voice of Warner Wolf in my head ... "AND KNUCKLES WAS AT THE GAME!" A bit of nitpick, but does NXT even try with its ring announcing? No weights, no where they are from. It's "HERE'S WRESTLER A! AND THEIR OPPONENT, WRESTLER B!" This is the first time I've seen NXT matches in full -- is this par for the course? Tony D'Angelo has promise, but needs something better than "FBI Version 2" to move up. Main event was OK, but the ref bumps were a bit absurd. Also, a high knee doesn't seem like a big finisher in a main event.

NY Post reports that Norby Williamson has been given the boot at ESPN. Pat McAfee may lead an hour-long conga line on his show to celebrate.

Watched the DDT Philly show online. Saw Dan the Dad wrestle a giant baby otter mascot. One announcer said if you just tuned in and have no clue what is going on, dont worry, he has no clue either. The otter superplexed Dan through a door to win, only to be attacked by Chris Brookes, who hates giant mascots. Then Yoshihiko came out and saved the day. No clue what was happening, but it was hilarious and absurd. Andrew Everett was also on the show -- hadnt seen him since his Impact days. Curious why he has never been picked up by a larger promotion -- he was pretty talented in Impact.

Saw just now that Martin Short announced a fundraising drive last month to get a FT caregiver for Joe, who was in "failing health." Went on an SCTV binge a few weeks back ... all cast members were great, but Joe, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin were the rocks of the show. I think they were there for every episode and could be the utility players that such shows need. Now I want to see a wrestling company adopt a Guy Caballero gimmick with a guy who only uses a wheelchair for "respect" and simply walks around because he can. Also a shame that Netflix never released its SCTV tribute while Joe was with us.

She teamed with Rachel Ellering in that womens tag tournament that aired on YT during the pandemic.

Didn't realize some of them were under contract and/or still under a deal. I think Jora Johl worked one ROH show but hasn't been seen on AEW in a year. Cagematch lists his last match as November, so I'm curious if he's hurt or moving on with his life. (honestly believed he worked on a per-match deal) Didn't understand the Grayson re-signing -- turns on DO, joins The Righteous then vanishes without a trace. Dasha was a surprise release, as I thought she was a good B-show ring announcer.

Highlights of AEW vs. CMLL from March 29 at Arena Mexico ... (2) CMLL - AEW VS CMLL / ARENA MÉXICO/29-03-24 - YouTube Highlights of Team Willow Nightingale vs. Team Stephanie Vaquer ... (2) CMLL - LA CATALINA -WILLOW N. -TESSA BLANCHARD VS LLUVIA -ZEIXIS - S. VAQUER/ARENA MÉXICO/29-03-24 - YouTube

The Bang Bang home invasion was unintentionally funny -- from Jay White arriving in a minivan to Billy Gunn leaving the TV and lights on in his house, as well as apparently only watching his own matches and storylines on his own TV. Once Jay mentioned "no pictures of Caster and Bowens," part of me wanted me to hear " ... but lots of pictures of Chuck Palumbo for some reason or another." Toni Storm now being introduced as being "from Stage 7 of the Warner Bros. lot" (I think) demands an Animaniacs cameo now if not sooner.

Wheeler Yuta has been pulled from Friday's Arena Mexico show over medical clearance issues. He will be replaced in the eight-man by Matt Sydal.

Walsh was actually in a movie that was released earlier this month. It's a Mario Van Peebles Western called "Outlaw Posse." Currently available to rent on Prime and YT.

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON The film version of the classic children's book arrives in theaters August 2. In the book, Harold was four. In the movie, Harold is middle-aged and played by Zachary Levi. And this is why we hate focus groups, too many cooks, etc.

Lord Crewe has a nice day job ... hard not to root for him. Pro wrestler has day job driving seniors (wcpo.com)

I do recall John Tenta posting on the WrestleCrap boards from time to time. RD Reynolds would refer to Tenta as a "friend of WrestleCrap" whenever he did inductions that involved Tenta in some way.

Fightful reports the suspension is because Guevara did not follow concussion protocol by continuing the match when it was obvious that Hardy was injured. Sammy has maturity issues, though it seems he has improved in some aspects (becoming more responsible as a husband and father is a plus, and he seems like a decent person outside of the ring). Releasing him would be bad optics since he just became a dad, and it may lead to Tay leaving as well. Honestly, if I were Tony I would have an older wrestler or official.backstage (Danielson, Mox, Jerry Lynn) work with him and go over proper protocols and the like. He seemed to get that message after the Kingston fight in terms of attitude and saying stupid stuff, but now he needs to focus on in ring.

Linda is booked to speak at a "Moms for America" summit in Dallas next weekend. It is a group promoting "parental rights and patriotism." Usual suspects speaking -- Jim Caviezel, Kevin Sorbo, Ben Carson, John Rich.

David Katzenberg has been tapped to direct "Sam and Victor's Day Off," a movie about the two valets who took Cameron's father's Ferrari on a joyride in "Ferris Bueller." I remind Paramount once again that an Abe Froman origin story about his rise to becoming Sausage King of Chicago was RIGHT THERE and would be much better than this.

I have seen a few places mentioning that Scott is "independently wealthy" and essentially does the wrestling out of his love for the business. What is his business background outside of wrestling? More a curiosity question than anything.

Today's CMLL Informa has been quite entertaining, even though I don't understand Spanish ... WILLOW NIGHTINGALE will appear on CMLL's "Honoring Two Legends" show on 3/29 ... she will team with Tessa Blanchard and Catalina (that Chilean woman who was paired with the second Sin Cara prior to the pandemic in WWE a few years back) to take on Stephanie Vaquer, Lluvia and Zeuxis. We also have the Blackpool Combat Club (all four of them -- Yuta was mentioned) taking on Mistico, Volador Jr., Ultimo Guerrero and BLUE PANTHER on 3/29. Danielson cut a promo (in English) challenging Blue Panther to meet him at Arena Mexico, saying BP was his favorite luchador growing up and wants to wrestle him. Panther accepted the challenge in a live interview with the Informa host. Given how Panther looked, I couldn't see him work a one-on-one match with anyone.

I swear I remember reading Regal and/or Punk pitching a Cannonball Run reboot with WWE wrestlers over a decade ago.

Seems odd that Wheeler Yuta is not involved in this CMLL feud. Is he hurt? Given we now have 6 CMLL guys and 7 AEW guys in this feud, curious if something equivalent to the CMLL Grand Prix could be booked in AEW. Love Renee, but could she at least try to say the first names of Japanese wrestlers? Very WWE-ish and shows little effort in knowing who these guys are?

wkrp | Aw Phooey Someone recently took all of Dr. Johnny Fever's (Howard Hesseman) air checks from "WKRP in Cincinnati" and made a three-hour radio show out of it. I'd listen to this station.

If Max Caster does not appear on TV this week, this is why ... Richard Caster, ex-Jackson State and New York Jets tight end, dies at 75 (clarionledger.com)

Abadon speaks?! | Hey! (EW), 1/28/24 (youtube.com) Abadon: Academic Zombie was not something I'd expect to start 2024. But I'm good with it.

Watched the Rumble in its entirety and viewed AEW Collision on tape this morning. I mentioned while reviewing AEW Worlds End that there is a real difference between the WWE and AEW fan -- the latter gulps down everything newsworthy (hence AEW misreading the room on how the fans would react to Jericho) while the WWE fan and pretty much only knows the E. And it showed ... -- Zero reaction to Jordynne Grace entering the Rumble. She was one of the Top 3-4 performers in the match, but the casual WWE fan knows nothing about her. -- Fans pretty much sat on their hands for most of the men's and women's entries unless it's someone who gets lots of TV time and the like. Go to Collision, fans show immediate respect to Yuji Nagata, Serena Deeb, etc., and seem excited for everything. Yes, crowds are different, but I liked a show where fans gave a plop for just about everything. Women's Rumble was OK. Bayley winning was the right decision but, once Becky was eliminated, it was pretty obvious. As Coletti noted, Chelsea was the MVP. She reminded me of a side character in a Three Stooges short who's always getting punched and slapped and hit with pies yet is still trying to take charge. Think Emil Sitka in "Brideless Groom" (HOLD HANDS YOU LOVEBIRDS!). Heck, make Chelsea the pastor the next time the WWE wants to do an in-ring wedding. Jade held her own and the fans were impressed, but she looked limited in the ring and the ring post spot seemed odd. Also noticed Nia did about 90% of the work on the elimination. I'll give Nia credit -- she looks better both physically and in-ring and actually appeared confident in her ability. The R-Truth bit was beyond stupid. Managed to bury Sarah Logan and, as my 12-year-old daughter watched this (she caught some of the show while texting friends), she openly asked me if R-Truth's gimmick is that "he's in special ed classes." Kayden Carter looks like someone left Nyla Rose in the dryer too long. Got up this morning and pretty much forgot what happened during the Roman 4-way. It was that forgettable to me. Owens-Logan was decent, but I hated that ending. The trope of "wrestler is too stupid to hide the weapon" is tiring. Felt like a Dusty finish, but at least builds to something toward WM. And Logan is quite good for someone with so little experience. Men's Rumble seemed off. Some of the eliminations looked wonky (Omos, Bronson Reed. Jimmy Uso turning his back before taking the Bron clothesline for the elimination was weird). Bron looked like a star in the making, even with what appeared to be a limited moveset. Natural charisma and hurty looking moves. Surprised the announcers didn't say anything about his family lineage (yes, his father is a no-go given his behavior, but someone could have said things about "another Michigan champ" or "works like a gremlin.") Pat McAfee spot was pretty stupid. I would have slotted Montez Ford in that slot given he and Bianca have a reality show premiering soon. Referencing Big E's proposed meaty man tournament was cool. I had to mute the announcing several times during the show. Way too much "OMG" and 'CAN YOU BELIEVE IT" nonsense. And Michael Cole apparently getting aroused by Sarah Logan's antlers led to the rest of the women's Rumble being muted. Did like a focus on numbers during the Rumbles, as well as mentioning the length of title reigns and the like. I don't watch a lot of WWE, but the CGI animations before a wrestler came out, honestly, seemed dumb. And there's nothing unique about much fo the entrance music. There was a lot of sameness to the music and the "videos."

Meltzer reporting there will NOT be a Kurt Angle episode, but there will be ones on Chris Colt, John Tenta and Terry Gordy.