Burgundy LaRue

It's not the end of the world, but it's a really bad look. When it seems you can't use a calendar when setting up matches with someone who has other dates arranged weeks in advance. . . someone dropped the ball. Whether it was Kris in not clarifying her schedule or Khan/Omega in not planning around it, that's a big YIKES.

You may be right. Maybe the change of scenery is throwing me for a loop. Either way, it's annoying and takes me out of his matches/character development.

I've watched a few of Omega's New Japan matches. He's always been animated. But he's a full-blown cartoon now, with the gesturing and flailing hands. It feels fake. On the other hand, Page comes across as properly serious and actually trying to win the match. Page has a lot of potential, but he's not going anywhere with iffy booking and having to compete with Omega's antics. Having PAC kidnap Nakazawa seems out of left field. Cody/Darby vs Lucha Bros. was pretty good. Darby's Coffin Drop still makes me cringe. He's not going to have any working vertebrae in five years. Not sure if beating Butcher & Blade that neatly in their second match was the way to go. But since they're the appetizer to the main course of Cody-MJF, it's probably not a big deal. Jericho-Jungle Boy was the best part of the show. Doing a short interview with Jungle Boy worked wonders to give a better sense of who he is and how he sees himself as a wrestler. I'm still not keen on Marko Stunt being part of Jungle Express. It works better with just Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus, IMO. Jericho did top-tier work in building sympathy for JB. I liked how Jericho doubled down on being a jerk heel with bullying his way into five more minutes before leaving in a huff when JB started getting the best of him. Jericho is the central battery for AEW. He's holding the entire operation together. I like what I've seen from Kris Statlander. She's raw and the alien gimmick needs to be fleshed out, but I have no issues with it so far. Her potential is really high. The match with Britt Baker was just OK, but I like how they had Kris power out of Britt's submission maneuvers. Someone backstage has got to tell Brandi her gimmick is missing the mark. I don't mind the idea of her being a seductive witch, luring people into her dark web. Kong as part of the act is also fine, though we all know she talks perfectly well, so having her be mute isn't for much. But even by wrestling standards, it's cheesy. More like Velveeta, really. Dark Order, HOO BOY. The execution of this has been bad. They first appear with zero fanfare. As course correction, we get vignettes where they become self-help quasi-religious cult gurus. Now they're beating down everyone in The Elite, save for Hangman Page, who looks smart for leaving the group. Is he going to become part of Dark Order? They need a bigger name if this is ever going to work. Meanwhile, they're recruiting guys who get beat in nine seconds. Their presentation is awful. Everything about them feels low-rent. It's not clicking enough to have them on TV regularly and be involved with AEW's top stars. Having a bunch of random nobodies in black sweatshirts hovering around as they deliver phantom punches and poorly done 'bloody' mouths is a terrible way to end the show and 2019 for AEW. Why does the leader wear such a cheap suit? I think Dynamite has good things going for it, but also has some repetitively bad gimmicks that need to move quicker to make any sense.

Yeah, if you have two NXT stars win the Rumbles and one chooses to go to what is still considered one of the main roster shows while the other elects to remain in the lesser-known NXT, it may seem odd. Great all-around show. Lots of stories furthered and seeing what they do with Rhea as champ will be interesting.

I apologize for the confusion. J.T. quoted your post and I combined them as a result. What I was saying is when you or anyone else ask dismissive questions (or, in J.T.'s case, use the asshole label), it cuts off any real chance for conversation. Because why would I or anyone in my position want to talk when we've been looked down upon before even talking? All because we watch a certain kind of carny-ism they don't enjoy. I have been called anti-White, racist, mentally unhealthy, and a man-hater on this board. Had a number of sexual comments implied and coyly said toward me. It's why I bang the drum so much about it. It's admittedly a sore spot, but I think I have good reason for it. That's not joking between mutuals or even a misunderstanding. Those are personal attacks with no merit because I point out what I feel are gatekeepers being dismissive toward anyone who doesn't share their opinions. It's why I talk about it often. Because it's unfair for anyone to feel they can't express themselves without being verbally abused by those who claim that we're all friends here.

The back of Lee's shirt looks like a jazzy chalk outline at a crime scene.

Moving along! Following WWE's YT trends is amazing to see how they correspond with what the hardcore fans say. For example, the arm-wrestling match between Strowman and Lashley was mocked. It currently has 36 million YT views on WWE's channel. Maybe it's indicative of our micro society. Everything has to be quick and easy to explain. So if someone sees a thumbnail of some wacky wrestling segment, they click and in 3-5 minutes, know the story. I understand wanting to see great matches that mean something in the overall scheme. I want that, too. But we're deep in the wrestling bubble. For others who aren't as invested, a crazy fake Russian leaving her husband for a guy who looks like the lead in Blacked's new video is entertaining. It's easier to understand if just passing by.

I have some things to say about AEW, but I'm sure some would track me down and cut off my hands for typing anything negative. I thought telling Niko not to edit himself for what he feels was self-explanatory. But to clarify: all of us can like or dislike whatever we want. And we can say as much. But again, if this is supposed to be a board about encouraging at least some dialogue, then all reasonable opinions should be welcomed. Asking who would watch such garbage and pretty much brushing off those people as assholes says a lot and nothing good. As for @West Newbury Bad Boy's point: there have been plenty of times I've offered opinions, only to be met with condescending responses. To be called a sheep because I dared to say something that wasn't vehemently anti-WWE. I like WWE overall, but that doesn't mean they're above criticism. I've criticized them plenty of times. What I don't appreciate is when someone carries the anti-WWE sentiment over to WWE fans. We aren't an enemy, looking to steal anyone's wrestling joy. We like to talk about what we watch, just like everyone else. Wouldn't be here if we didn't. But I don't like being considered a lesser-than because I watch WWE regularly. That's gatekeeping, and my background doesn't accept that on any level for anything. I wish I could better ignore certain things, but it's not in my nature. Never has been.

Dana's viewpoint is pretty narrow on this one. First, Asuka and Kairi are heels. So why should we be that invested in them celebrating? Especially if Kairi couldn't do so? Second, I imagine the refs were finally aware of Kairi's injuries and were sending for doctors. So the brawl, while clearly already planned, was probably done at that exact point so Kairi could be treated off-camera. Third, we've seen countless men have their victories interrupted to further other stories over the years. With all that said, they handled the situation poorly. Referees were unaware, no one from the back noticed despite the 50 cameras they have around the ring, and Charlotte's situational awareness was lousy. You can't be considered one of the best if you can't pick up on your opponent being that hurt. It could have gone much worse. Thankfully, it didn't. Kudos to Asuka and Becky for protecting Kairi as best they could. Back to the drawing board regarding CTE protocol, WWE.

It actually was on social media, YouTube, etc. These segments often do well. It's no different than when Braun tears down the stage or Brock halfway kills someone. If there's shock value involved, it gets play.

No one cares if you don't like RAW, SD, NXT, or WWE in general. You don't have to edit yourself on anyone's behalf. But for most of you, if you expect to be heard and respected, then do the same for those who see something differently. Don't say we're all friends who've known each other for years, then devalue our opinions and say we're over-reacting when we point it out.

How many times has someone on the board tried to have a nuanced conversation about such things, only to be called sheep and WWE bootlickers? At some point, people get tired of being judged by 'smart' gatekeepers and mostly stop talking.

Some won't like the dog food bit. I can understand why. But it works in its old-school simplicity. Corbin knows he has almost no chance of beating Roman in an even match. He's already lost one minion in Roode due to Roman beating him senseless. So he has several goons swoop in to handcuff Reigns, then do the one thing he's been trying for while Roman is helpless--embarrass The Big Dog by using his nickname against him. It's a natural progression of how Corbin operates now. And to be fair, Corbin and Ziggler were good at having most of the dog food hit the floor. I don't think Roman that much in his face and hair. Still, it has to stink to High Heaven. If this ends with Roman putting a leash on Corbin after winning at TLC, then it comes full circle. Imagine seeing a guy get hit with wet Alpo, and that's not the most humiliating thing on the show. Drake Maverick getting bent over Elias' knee and spanked was something else. WWE is in full-on fetish mode these days.