Just Dave Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 @Tarheel Moneghettifwiw, I've been vocal about TK shitting the bed by passing on Murphy to sign Tony Nese. He'll sign Swerve Scott. Of this I have no doubt, especially given recent events. There are going to be some spots opening up as contracts start to expire. A lot of AEW "OG's" who were signed to fill a roster are gonna fall by the wayside. Mustafa Ali makes your team better. You sign him, regardless of who's in the spot he's gonna take. Also, if AEW wants bigger guys, they should sign Keith Lee, not the fucking biggest dorks in the land. Kross is a tryhard idiot and Strowman doesn't give a shit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'm sure if Mox has any say, Killer Kross will at least get a look. He thought Kross could be a main event foil for Roman Reigns and gave him Triple H's number. If nothing else, AEW is definitely one of those "it's all in who you know" type places, where your chances of getting signed goes up if people vouch for you (or in Tony Nese's case, is looked up to by a lot of the younger New York area talent). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Touching back on the "gory self-mutilation" thing (which I am generally for in this particular wrestling sense) I think what is overlooked slightly is that this isn't a statement aimed at wrestling fans, I can't see it turning a single person off of AEW and the type who'd be bothered by it likely already don't care for WWE so in that arena it is basically a net neutral. This is aimed squarely at advertisers and WWE in general (and Vince in particular) likely knows exactly how much stuff like this can affect those relationships given their experiences from their more attitude-esque days. One can argue it is a bit of dirty pool but everything considered it's probably not an awful tactic from a purely competitive POV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 7 hours ago, Ziggy said: I wonder if he thinks he could've been in the spot Kofi had a few years ago. I know Kofi was his replacement in that EC but I don't think they would have planned to go all the way like they did with Kofi. As indecisive as Vince is nowadays its kinda wrong to say if a certain hypothetical situation would happen because how ADHD minded he is. Ali is one of those guys I've felt should have left a few years ago Honestly, I don't think so. I think it worked for Kofi Kingston because he already had that decade+ year in WWE at that point and times where he got close to tasting the main event level, but never broke through the glass ceiling. It was just one of those weird perfect storms that worked out in his favor somehow, despite WWE. Also, Ali was put in a WWE title match the following month anyway. I think Kofi-Mania happened because it was Kofi. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, Ziggy said: I wonder if he thinks he could've been in the spot Kofi had a few years ago. I know Kofi was his replacement in that EC but I don't think they would have planned to go all the way like they did with Kofi. As indecisive as Vince is nowadays its kinda wrong to say if a certain hypothetical situation would happen because how ADHD minded he is. Ali is one of those guys I've felt should have left a few years ago The way Ali handled that as well, missing out on opportunity and still supporting Kofi Kingston. The way he gives his salary from Blood Money to charity as well. Ali's a good man. Edited January 17, 2022 by The Natural Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) 32 minutes ago, username said: Touching back on the "gory self-mutilation" thing (which I am generally for in this particular wrestling sense) I think what is overlooked slightly is that this isn't a statement aimed at wrestling fans, I can't see it turning a single person off of AEW and the type who'd be bothered by it likely already don't care for WWE so in that arena it is basically a net neutral. This is aimed squarely at advertisers and WWE in general (and Vince in particular) likely knows exactly how much stuff like this can affect those relationships given their experiences from their more attitude-esque days. One can argue it is a bit of dirty pool but everything considered it's probably not an awful tactic from a purely competitive POV. It's 1996 all over again. Also, Brock Lesnar intentionally bladed at WrestleMania 31 in 2015 and you can't convince me otherwise. Edited January 17, 2022 by TheVileOne 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eikerir Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) 16 hours ago, ReiseReise said: I don't like the modern plunder street fight matches. I don't think blood/blading hurts matches, but sucky apronside table bumps, kendo sticks and hours of setting up shit just sucks imo. So much this. Gimme me something like Bret vs. Austin at WM 13 or even the recent Punk vs. Kingston match as a modern day street fight instead of the random trashcan and kendo stick shots. Intensity > Plunder. Edited January 17, 2022 by eikerir 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SturmCRF Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 10 hours ago, Tarheel Moneghetti said: What does Ali bring to the table that, say, Buddy Murphy or Swerve Scott don't? Or Bandido or Jonathan Gresham, for that matter. I think AEW should 100% sign Buddy and Swerve, I love watching both of them and the potential matches make me drool. Never been convinced by Bandido as a top tier talent, but he's good and I wouldn't be unhappy to see him there. Gresham is excellent but incredibly short, I know his style makes up for that but I think it limits his main event potential in a company of AEW's size. Again though, would be happy to see him there. Having said Gresham is too short, I don't think any of these guys, or AEW's current roster, should be pigeonholed as cruiserweights. I don't even like the idea of a junior division in Japan, where they're treated with relative respect. Darby Allin shows how a small guy can be a believable main eventer if they work to their strengths, and in a company where an Alan Angels can get 10 minutes with the champion, someone with Ali's level of talent and presence can be presented as capable of beating the champion. As far as what Ali brings that separates him, apart from the superb wrestling and promo abilities, he's been hinting/outright saying for years now that he wants to present an heroic Muslim babyface character, which pro wrestling is definitely ready for and would firmly put a stamp on what separates AEW from WWE. But probably getting ahead of myself, as they could yet stick him in Pac exile for years for not being satisfied with being an ineffective Antifa ringleader or whatever the fuck he was meant to be until they settled on him as Mansoor's unsupportive friend. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 2 hours ago, SturmCRF said: I think AEW should 100% sign Buddy and Swerve, I love watching both of them and the potential matches make me drool. If the pandemic wasn't happening and Murphy got to wrestling New Japan proper, like as a Gaijin touring regular, He'd be killing it on Mid-South Tony would be wishing he'd brought him in. Strickland was killing it in WWE for a long time before HitRow and Even HitRow was an entertaining act. It's more of a WWE type act but I think HitRow would get over big in AEW. Strickland has more than enough workrate to even it out for the rest of the act. Top Dolla probably won't never get an offer though. I selfishly want to see that faction on someone's TV. I could see them I'm on MLW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zendragon Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I thought the word was Buddy got a better offer from NJPW. Also with Tony Khan signing all these 200lbsish workrate guys (I like Jake Atlas but he checks the same boxes as several other guys) if he's trying to make The Owen something like BOSJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwoy2j Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 6 hours ago, eikerir said: So much this. Gimme me something like Bret vs. Austin at WM 13 or even the recent Punk vs. Kingston match as a modern day street fight instead of the random trashcan and kendo stick shots. Intensity > Plunder. Give me Magnum vs. Tully as well. I think I counted 4 actual wrestling moves max in that match and the only plunder they used was the microphone and the wooden chair at the finish. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shartnado Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 9 hours ago, TheVileOne said: Honestly, I don't think so. I think it worked for Kofi Kingston because he already had that decade+ year in WWE at that point and times where he got close to tasting the main event level, but never broke through the glass ceiling. It was just one of those weird perfect storms that worked out in his favor somehow, despite WWE. Also, Ali was put in a WWE title match the following month anyway. I think Kofi-Mania happened because it was Kofi. And Kofi became so hot for a bit there that people who were cheering Ali on before his injury, were actually booing him a bit when he was added to that one title match before Mania. He was being booed, because he wasn't Kofi on that particular night. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 4 hours ago, zendragon said: I thought the word was Buddy got a better offer from NJPW. Also with Tony Khan signing all these 200lbsish workrate guys (I like Jake Atlas but he checks the same boxes as several other guys) if he's trying to make The Owen something like BOSJ I’m pretty sure Buddy’s whole deal was that he wanted to be signed by New Japan or at least have Japan be his priority, not sign with AEW (or anywhere else) and just be allowed to work there when he could. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 If AEW's roster wasn't so bloated right now, I'd be all for them signing Murphy and Strickland. I think they are better off not signing right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SturmCRF Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I disagree, I think they need to keep signing as many wrestlers who can improve their roster as possible. The possibility of new people debuting is the thing that excites me most when I tune in. It doesn't even need to be a permanent signing every time, something like Samurai Del Sol or Matt Cardona or Jeff Cobb showing up for a one off, or a one month programme, keeps things fresh and unpredictable. Give me a bloated roster any day over an understaffed one, split in half and full of endless rematches. They need more TV time, but until then it won't hurt to upgrade the level of matches on the Youtube shows to something closer to last week's episode of Dark. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawful Metal Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I don't give a fuck about AEW's finances. Pay the wrestlers as much as they can and have a fun show and product. Make the wrestlers happy. Don't be cheap. There's no way AEW should be outbid by anyone. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Should they have paid $3 million a year for Owens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoFistsJustFlips Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, SturmCRF said: They need more TV time... Hard disagree. At least in my opinion. Adding Rampage has been subtraction by addition for me. Throw in The Battle of the Belts deal and AEW is actually producing too many first run hours for me to keep up with already. Wish they stayed at just 2 hours of Dynamite. But that's just me maybe. If they add any more it's gonna start to overwhelm people tho. They're already burning out the live audiences taping Rampage after Dynamite. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawful Metal Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 51 minutes ago, Dog said: Should they have paid $3 million a year for Owens? IT AIN'T MY MONEY FUCK YES PAY HIM 7 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Lawful Metal said: I don't give a fuck about AEW's finances. Pay the wrestlers as much as they can and have a fun show and product. Make the wrestlers happy. Don't be cheap. There's no way AEW should be outbid by anyone. This strategy worked well for WCW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 19 minutes ago, Mario said: This strategy worked well for WCW. Totally differently structured companies...comparing apples and oranges. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supremebve Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 8 minutes ago, Infinit said: Totally differently structured companies...comparing apples and oranges. Not only this but I'd argue that the fact that they gave too many people power was a bigger detriment than giving too many people money. They were really successful when paying people shitloads of money, they fell off when they couldn't tell good stories because too many people had too much creative input. If Starrcade '97 ended with Sting going over clean and strong and looking like a fucking superstar, I'm pretty sure they had another six months to a year of incredibly profitable business. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 If you give multiple people creative control, you’re asking for failure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 4 hours ago, TheVileOne said: If AEW's roster wasn't so bloated right now, I'd be all for them signing Murphy and Strickland. I think they are better off not signing right now. I agree some of these guys are going to stand out better outside of the big 2 for a minute. AEW might be more exposure for alot of these guys but it'll be easy to get lost in the shuffle. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiztor Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 4 hours ago, SturmCRF said: They need more TV time 2 hours ago, NoFistsJustFlips said: Hard disagree. At least in my opinion. Adding Rampage has been subtraction by addition for me. Throw in The Battle of the Belts deal and AEW is actually producing too many first run hours for me to keep up with already. Wish they stayed at just 2 hours of Dynamite. But that's just me maybe. man, i'm torn. based on their incredibly deep roster, 2 hours of Rampage is becoming damn near a necessity. SOOO many underutilized talents. on the other hand, there's weeks that i struggle to make time to watch what's already airing. adding another hour certainly compounds that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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