Dynamite - 8/24/2022

[Technico Support]

I haven't taken the plunge and gone back to current WWE yet but did have a brief "Abe SImpson walks in the house, takes off his hat, turns around, puts hat back on, walks right back out" moment.  It went like this:

(Meltzer and Alvarez talking about an excellent 15 minute match between Owens and McIntyre)

Me: That sounds awesome!  I should go check that out!!!

(Meltzer describes the match's fuck finish because they booked a match where they didn't want either guy to lose)

Me: Yeah, no.

Edited August 25, 2022 by Technico Support

[Just Dave]

7 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

It was six weeks

Were we ever clear on whether or not that timetable got condensed a bit because of Brodie’s health issues?

[Jiji]

Nyu-nyu-nyuzu update! Latest on Kingston/Guevara:

Quote

What happened with Sammy Guevara and Eddie Kingston, Eddie comments
In an update, we've learned much more about the situation between Eddie Kingston and Sammy Guevara.

We're told that Eddie Kingston was mad because Sammy Guevara hadn't spoken with Eddie or cleared the content of a promo that ended up being edited off a show. The two had not conversed since the Blood and Guts show where Kingston threw Sammy Guevara off of the cage. We've heard that Kingston had asked to work with Sammy, who didn't have people exactly angling to work with him, after his feud with Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page.

Those that we spoke to said there were some pretty clear parameters set on Sammy Guevara feuds and promos to not mention his ex-fiancee, which we're told has never come up or been pitched anyway. The original plan was for Eddie Kingston to win the All Out match. In the edited out promo, Sammy Guevara referred to Kingston as a "fat piece of shit," which Kingston took exception to as he felt it buried the match if a "fat piece of shit" beat him. The crux of the frustration, however, was how Sammy Guevara followed up with this after being perceived as difficult working with Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page and Sonjay Dutt in the months prior.

After that, we're told that Kingston had yelled at Sammy Guevara, who smiled at him. Kingston responded by pie facing Guevara. Sammy ended up being incredibly unhappy with this and Kingston was suspended for two weeks.

We were able to reach out to Eddie Kingston, who wouldn't confirm the recounting of events, but said "I was wrong. That is all."

Again, Kingston did nothing wrong. This sounds like a scorpion and the frog scenario lmao.

Edited August 25, 2022 by Jiji

[DEAN]

4 minutes ago, Craig H said:

Since it looks like we're headed for a board AEW Civil War, insert a .jpg or .png with me saying I'm with Team Dean.

Eh, folks can have their opinions.  I'm just trying to remember the downfall of WCW and for me it was the introduction of Vince Russo, who ruined WWE before he showed up in WCW, I thought.  I dig that AEW can book all this shit on the fly and the work gets it over.  As long as people keep watching, buying tickets and getting the PPVs, I'll be happy.  I like that AEW has to produce in the ring to stay alive and can't just coast like the WWE does.  I mean the WWE is making money whether Mandy Rose is over or not. The fact that they TRY to put out a good product is heartwarming, but it's really unnecessary from a bottom line sense.  The rubes are showing up no matter how many good matches Kevin Owens has, pretty much. AEW has to worry about quarter hours and buyrates and ticket sales.  It makes it a lot edgier.  Actually, as long as the Jaguars money, the Ford/Chevy money and SOCCER~! money keep pumping in, they probably don't need to worry either, but I dig that Tony Khan is TRYING to not make this a vanity project.  It's a REALLY good time to be a wrestling fan.

[Just Dave]

Why would anyone try Eddie Kingston like that? I am 1000% sure he has watched other men take their last breaths because of something he did to them. I’m not saying he’s killed someone. But I’m also not not saying it.

[Jiji]

Building on what Dean is saying, I do feel like Khan has very recent experience in dealing with discord and chaos in both of his other sporting ventures. Fulham is off to a great start this season at least. 

[Technico Support]

1 minute ago, just drew said:

Were we ever clear on whether or not that timetable got condensed a bit because of Brodie’s health issues?

Absolutely.  "Brodie did the job because he was sick" is one particular conflation of facts and timelines that I'm so tired of.  He lost the title in early October and didn't start treatment until late October in what was, by all accounts, a fast-moving health issue.  As the story has been told in may places, notably by his widow, the onset was fast and he was treated fairly quickly.

[Just Dave]

Just now, Technico Support said:

Absolutely.  "Brodie did the job because he was sick" is one particular conflation of facts and timelines that I'm so tired of.  He lost the title in early October and didn't start treatment until late October in what was, by all accounts, a fast-moving health issue.  As the story has been told in may places, notably by his widow, the onset was fast and he was treated fairly quickly.

I’m not making accusations. I just couldn’t remember. Cheers.

[Technico Support]

2 minutes ago, Jiji said:

Building on what Dean is saying, I do feel like Khan has very recent experience in dealing with discord and chaos in both of his other sporting ventures. Fulham is off to a great start this season at least. 

Right.  This is the guy who, after that abysmally bad Dark Order angle a few months after the company started, switched up creative entirely and righted the ship decisively.  I honestly have no doubt this backstage bullshit is getting sorted.

1 minute ago, just drew said:

I’m not making accusations. I just couldn’t remember. Cheers.

Oh yeah, no biggie.  If I came off like a dick, I didn't mean it this time. 

[John from Cincinnati]

Is this the first we're hearing about Sammy being difficult with Scorpio, Ethan, and Sonjay? 

The news has gone from a slow drip to a flood. 

[DEAN]

As for the main event, the trio title is TOTAL ode to Dragon Gate.  I can't watch Dragon Gate because it doesn't have enough psychology and MEANING of Lucha Libre (which is bullshit, I know.  Folks who actually watch all of Dragon Gate can site a million examples where I'm wrong.  I just don't have time to watch ALL the wrestling the world.  Actually, Dragon Gate and current Puerto Rico are prolly the only current major wrestling I totally ignore, currently.)  But if AEW can have THIS main event and have last week's main event in the same time continuum, I can dig a Dragon Gate main event like last night's.  So yeah, I am full of shit for loving last nights main event and dismissing a thousand similar (or maybe superior) efforts in Dragon Gate, but... HEY!  HERE WE ARE! 

[For Great Justice]

Holy shit, I hadn’t thought of special guest trios title match time keepers DO FIXER and BLOOD GENERATION. 

[DEAN]

17 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

I haven't taken the plunge and gone back to current WWE yet but did have  brief "Abe SImpson walks in the house, takes off his hat, turns around, puts hat back on, walks right back out" moment.  It went like this:

(Meltzer and Alvarez talking about an excellent 15 minute match between Owens and McIntyre)

Me: That sounds awesome!  I should go check that out!!!

(Meltzer describes the match's fuck finish because they booked a match where they didn't want either guy to lose)

Me: Yeah, no.

But that was the ONLY shitty finish on the show.  TWO MONTHS ago there would three hours of NOTHING but shitty finishes.  WWE is quickly curing it's horrible illnesses.

[Pedro]

3 hours ago, Coach said:

After lurking the board for 15 years, I finally made an account and my first official post. 
 

I find it odd that people who used to slam wrestlers like RVD and others who were “masturbatory” and sold as much as Circuit City has in 2022 absolutely love Will Osperay and groups like Death Triangle. 
 

The irony is quite strong. 
 

Btw, I called this in a tweet a few days ago. Punk and MJF will end up teaming up as The Salt of Personality. Heard it here first:

 

 

is this Paintedbynumbers?  Hopefully this guy doesn't have to go through the shit I did. 

[FourPostMassacre]

24 minutes ago, just drew said:

Why would anyone try Eddie Kingston like that? I am 1000% sure he has watched other men take their last breaths because of something he did to them. I’m not saying he’s killed someone. But I’m also not not saying it.

You do know Urban Wrestling Federation was a work right? 

[Pedro]

1 hour ago, Zimbra said:

Re: Garcia I think he has a specificity of character that he's able to convey through his work and his mannerisms that really help smooth over his weaknesses in delivery.  

Garcia will be face by the time AEW is in Buffalo. I wouldn't be shocked to see him get a huge win at that show over Jericho or his hero the American Dragon.  

[Just Dave]

6 minutes ago, FourPostMassacre said:

You do know Urban Wrestling Federation was a work right? 

What’s Urban Wrestling Federation?

[Craig H]

I mean, should anyone be surprised that Sammy may have some maturity issues?

And, to be fair, should anyone be surprised that Eddie takes some shit way too seriously (although, to be fair, if I was Eddie and Sammy called me a fat piece of shit then I probably would have done more than just pie facing him).

Regardless, that's a punk ass move to go crying about getting pie faced. THIS DOESN'T EXCUSE WRESTLING'S PAST, but Sammy is lucky this isn't 20 years ago where he would have been soma'd on a plane, had half of his head and both eyebrows shaved, and had his nose broken in his sleep with no one claiming they saw anything.

[Cobra Commander]

15 hours ago, porksweats said:

I feel putting the Mox/Punk match as not the main worked much better with the finish than having the 30 minute trio with a main event unification match starting at 9:50. KiLynn King Rocks! Cleveland Rocks! Motor City Machine Guns Rock!

starting the main event with enough time for a long main event and having it go short works a lot better than starting it with no time and having it go short.. if you start the main event late and it goes 5 minutes, it's less of a surprise

now if Tony had done the main event at the halfway point and had it go short and followed it up with standby matches, he would have been doing his best Mid-South episode possible

[Jiji]

Fightful update on the Thunder Rosa situation:

Quote

Thunder Rosa-Jamie Hayter Heat, More on Thunder Rosa's injury
Thunder Rosa isn't competing at All Out, and has heat with a significant portion of the people that are, sources tell Fightful.

Fightful can confirm Voices of Wrestling's report that indicates that Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa can't stand each other, with that having been the case for well over a year. Still, the two attempted to remain professional and work with each other, and from what we're told remain open to doing so for the sake of simply doing their jobs. However, Jamie Hayter also had developed heat with Rosa after she got her nose broken in a match recently. Much of the heat on Rosa has emerged from her working stiff in the ring.

Word emerged shortly before Dynamite that Thunder Rosa was injured, and wouldn't be competing at All Out. Fightful Select had gained word that the original plan was for Toni Storm to emerge victorious and win the AEW Women's Title. Now, she'll compete for the Interim AEW Women's Title against Hikaru Shida, Dr. Britt Baker DMD and Jamie Hayter. We've not learned of the creative plans set for the title since.

We've had talent contact us on both sides of things regarding Rosa, with many saying that she's worked hard to help get other young women's talent booked, and others that perceive her as developing an ego and being difficult to work with. Those that we've talked to who work with her at Mission Pro Wrestling have had positive things to say about her leadership when she's around.

We've been unable to confirm their reports that Thunder Rosa hid in a bathroom after the Jamie Hayter spot. Rosa is said to have been injured, but the actual injury is unknown, speculated to be related to bulging discs. The extent of the injury isn't known, but it isn't a kayfabe situation by the company. 

We've reached out to Rosa but haven't heard back.

She was calling out Shida iirc during their first match on PPV saying something very audibly "are you going to work with me?!" out of frustration. Fast forward and she sandbags and stiffs people (and it's not like it even looks good outside of the dropkicks). 

Edited August 25, 2022 by Jiji

[Matt D]

The good thing about AEW is that it has some easy solutions to backstage issues given the roster.

Like, for instance, let's say the solution to the Rosa situation is a best of 30 series between Storm and Hayter.

Sounds good to me!

[porksweats]

11 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said:

starting the main event with enough time for a long main event and having it go short works a lot better than starting it with no time and having it go short.. if you start the main event late and it goes 5 minutes, it's less of a surprise

now if Tony had done the main event at the halfway point and had it go short and followed it up with standby matches, he would have been doing his best Mid-South episode possible

We did get a stand by match on Rampage when Hook took Zack Clayton down to the Jersey Snore!

[Craig H]

So let's talk about this 4 way for the title. I know Dave is all like, well, um, uh, you have to put your title on the biggest character, and, you know, that has to be, umm, that's gotta be Baker.

To me, and it's not because I'm a fan of hers, but I think the smart move is to put the title on Hayter. Toni doesn't lose anything by not winning the title now, Britt is going to stay over regardless, and Hayter seems like she could be a hot hand given that Kris is on the shelf. Then you build to Hayter vs Britt.

[John from Cincinnati]

1 hour ago, Jiji said:

For those saying this is setting up a world title rematch, in what world? Punk, according to the story they told us very clearly, came back too early and also got his ass kicked decisively as a result. Why would I be interested in a rematch a week and a half later? That match effectively killed an immediate rematch in my opinion and sets one up later down the road. How is Punk going to be any better in 11 days after theoretically reaggravating his injury yesterday? Where is the logic? This would have worked if it were a month ago, not so much now imo. 

No idea exactly how they get there, but if they run it back at All Out then I think last night's match went a long way toward setting up a rematch that's more unpredictable and has a lot more questions surrounding it than if they'd just done it on the PPV. Would Punk really take back-to-back decisive losses? Would Tony really have two back-to-back champions lose in their first defense? How would people respond to the optics around Punk losing the belt and then immediately being crowned in his hometown? Where do people expect Punk's health to be after the weirdness of last night? What kind of far-flung scenarios will people go in imagining (heel turns, MJF, etc)? What could have been the simple formality of Punk just coming back, picking up his win, and carrying on where he left off is now so much more. 

Is he desperate for a quick turnaround? Does he think last night wasn't truly reflective of where his health really is? Does he bust out the "if I lose, I never challenge again" proposal? Who knows. He's generally pretty smart about this stuff and good at talking people into it, so I'll wait for him to do his thing. But we now have a more interesting All Out match coming out of the craziness of their first match. I'm here for all of that, and I'm here for lots of foot selling. 

Now of course I realize some people will hate all of this, even some who aren't inclined to dislike Punk by default. But I think that "anything can happen" feel is worth it. 

[The Idiot King]

I'm pretty into all of this. I like being surprised, I like not knowing what's happening next, I like when the dirtsheets don't quite know what's happening next and nobody is precisely sure what's a work and what's not. I don't like not knowing what's happening next and then what happens is nothing, or what happens is the same thing that everyone thought would happen but then convinced themselves it wouldn't because it would be too obvious. And, of course, the danger in working the dirt sheets is that it becomes your main, increasingly weird niche focus and you lose the larger plot entirely, but that doesn't feel like what's happening here. This isn't "GOLDBERG WON'T FOLLOW THE SCRIPT, SO THIS WILL BE A REAL FIGHT" territory, and it's not even close. I feel like some people are severely underrating how sharp and clear the death of WCW was. 

No idea what the main event for All Out is, not even sure I could make a reasonable guess, but it's not like that'll keep me from watching. Jon Moxley is maybe having the best year in all of US Wrestling and it's really fun to watch him get to enjoy it. I tend to buy the boringest explanation of all this, which is that Punk isn't actually ready to come back but they wanted to unify the belts and doing a squash match at the PPV seemed risky in a bad way. 

I like Interim Titles. To me, it just feels like a (slightly complicated, slightly nerdy) way to build up a match between the person who won a tournament for the vacated belt and the person who never got pinned to lose it in the first place. This is something that already happens all the time. The visual of someone holding two belts is fun, and it elevates someone as a legitimate world champion (and tests how the crowd responds to that) without taking any momentum away from the person on the shelf. I get why people don't like them, though -- there are certainly enough fucking belts as it is in this company.

Weirdly, I am not really into Kenny or the Bucks, but something about how clean everything Ospreay does, and his smarmy little prick act is growing on me. I will also say,  I think a lot of this go-go-go high spot no sell back flip choreography style of wrestling is WAY better in person than watching it by yourself in your living room. While that trios match was super fun to watch on my laptop, I can only imagine how hype it is getting to see a bunch of performers do so many insane things back to back while surrounded by a hot crowd. Yeah, it can be a little cirque du soleil, but that's fun! Who doesn't like Cirque Du Soleil!! As long as that is not the only style of wrestling happening on the show. Another reason why I am enjoying Mox as champion.

Everything does feel a little chaotic, though, and everything could absolutely end up disappointing and fucked but I would rather have wrestling I am invested in break my heart as a grown-ass man than to watch Karrion Kross and Johnny Gargano be the exciting new direction of a company (with all due respect!).