Dolphman 3000

If we're headed towards Cole turning on Max and taking his title, then heating up Babyface Punk vs. Babyface Max wouldn't make any sense - the unification bout would be Cole vs. Punk at that point But yeah MJF looks like a chump for not responding to Punk

Bret vs. Owen at WrestleMania X is the most accessible technical match for non-fans - the pre-match hype video explains the brother rivalry perfectly, and the match doesn't overstay its welcome Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher from IWA Mid-South similarly packs all its violence into a tight 10-minute match Ibushi/Jigsaw/Generico/Nick Jackson 4-way from CHIKARA is probably the best "video game" match where they're going a million miles an hour, but they're all still talented enough to make it look realistic (well except Jigsaw - he's a step behind the rest, but dammit he tries!) TLC II from WrestleMania 17 is the best gimmick match - the next 10 years after that match was everyone trying to replicate/top its bumps The Liger PWG 10-man tag is the best comedy match I've ever seen All great matches for different reasons

Is Sting still hurt from that table bump? We were talking about a retirement match a few months ago and now he just kinda dropped off the planet

HonorClub AEW Plus

A good time to bring this up - Willow did an interview earlier this week where she was asked about Mercedes breaking her leg during their match and how she felt. Willow refused to break kayfabe in the interview and said that while the injury was unfortunate, she was happy to win since that's the point of competition. Jericho's known to toot his own horn about every goddamn thing - I remember after his initial Wrestle Kingdom match with Kenny a few years ago, his bright idea was to release a podcast 2 days later where him and Kenny revealed every detail about how they planned the match out. We need more Willows in the world.

WrestleMania doing two nights at Wembley plus a sold-out Hall of Fame ceremony at Wembley Arena with Regal/Finlay/Johnny Saint/etc. going in would reduce All in to a footnote

I've gotta wonder if Cena teasing the impending Wembley WrestleMania shook Tony's confidence and he's already written All In off as a loss in his head

Expectations have dropped from "biggest wrestling show of all time airing in front of millions of people for free on Max with a 5-star banger main event" to "giant house show airing on Bleacher Report to the same 100,000 people who always buy AEW pay per views with a snoozefest main event"

Oh my god they're doing a TLC tournament at All Star Jr. Festival USA

If that's true...are Kenny and the Bucks really done? Feels like the NJPW/ROH MSG show where it sold out on the hype that The Elite would be there...and then they weren't Jay White saying he sold out MSG is adorable, though

...Britt's only worked 13 matches this year. Whoever suggested Britt vs. Jade at All In...lol. Unless Britt goes over clean in 2 minutes, she'll never go for that. Jade having her own title on Friday nights was the original "the locker room can't get along" half-measure in AEW

Waltman worked GCW last year - he's in really bad shape and can't go at all

Assuming you're only counting Americans here - in that case you're forgetting Rhino Masato Tanaka and Rey Mysterio are probably in the best shape overall

I think "MJF and Cole did some well-received funny skits" has turned into "everyone on the roster wants to be an actor" and that's working out about as well as you would expect Loved AR Fox turning and joining up with Swerve. Hated that they couldn't let OC lay dead for more than 5 seconds without Darby running out like an idiot to protest the heinous act. Jerry Lynn, who was never ever regarded as a good promo being the one to teach Jack Perry mic skills? That is quite the choice.

I had just heard a story a couple days ago about Rob Black paying Dusty Rhodes to no-show a 3PW show in 2002 where he was supposed to wrestle Abdullah, and Meanie called Bigelow on short notice and he came and worked the match with Abby instead. Question from the episode - I think they implied that WCW told Bam Bam to stay home the rest of his contract since he was a liability, but cagematch shows he was still working right until they closed shop. Did they mean that WWE told him to stay home once they absorbed his contract?

Hannibal had worked in Puerto Rico against Primo, so I'm guessing either Carlito and Primo put in a word for him, or WWE scouts noticed him when they were scouting Primo

Ilio DiPaolo's in Buffalo deserves a mention

My first thought last night was that MJF last pulled the "funny ha ha" card when he was threatening to leave, and turned his blowoff with Wardlow into a comedy match He could also be one foot out the door at this point - dropping the belt to Cole might be his final act 2024 is fast approaching

Cody just said today he's in touch with the Bucks and they helped him out with BTE footage for his documentary