AEW - SEPTEMBER 2022

[just drew]

Also, I still can’t decide if I think those guys are actually leaving or not. I think both guys should look at wwe’s creative right now and ask themselves who’s spot they think they’re filling. Aleister can be really intriguing and a great worker w the right partner, but I don’t see where he fits if Kross, Judgement Day & (allegedly) Bray Wyatt are all on tv. Buddy is a tremendously gifted worker but is limited by his size & promo ability. Who’s midcard title is he challenging for? Gunther? Lashley? I don’t see him being in a better spot there. I hope for their sakes it is just a mental health break, because it seems like a miscalculation for them to believe they’re just going to waltz into top spots…

[For Great Justice]

I think the question of what fat there is to cut that isn’t a jobber is a very interesting one, because it gets very divisive very quickly. Like if I had a say, I’m thrilled that Adam Cole, CM Punk, Thunder Rosa and the Bucks are off my TV, as those are kind of the guys I wanted off anyway if they were active and I was asked this question. 

And as for whose left, I guess of the non-Dark crew a top (bottom) five of Jay Lethal, Matt Hardy, Luchasaurus, Tony Neese and 10 can go. Still all JTTS for the most part.

I guess I’m saying that I’m pretty happy with the upper tier roster construction, the lack of Miro notwithstanding. 

Build the roster around Hobbs, Hayter, Darby, The Acclaimed, Garcia, Butcher and Blade and 2.0 tho

Edited September 26, 2022 by For Great Justice

[The Natural]

Meltzer:

Quote

Regarding Buddy Matthews, AEW has made no comment on the situation. It appears to be a situation similar to Malakai Black but there is nothing on his getting a release at this point. He did an independent show for Fight Life Pro last night and said basically the same thing Black said, that he is going away for a while, needs to recalibrate and it's not good bye, it's see you later. In this case, there is no confirmation of a release although just about everyone figures he's got a long-term deal, wants to go back to WWE and has to work something out to do so. We were also told Tony Khan is not hot on releasing people to go to WWE so we'll have to see how this plays out. But there is a feeling he and Black are done in AEW, and for certain, both are gone for now, meaning Brody King is likely a single with Julia Hart.

Saraya will be making a statement on Wednesday which would likely talk about her AEW direction. If she will wrestle or not would depend on Dr. Michael Sampson and his ruling about what she can and can't do physically. 

[Craig H]

Why or how is it that everyone keeps glossing over Black saying promises weren't kept to him over the last two years? That's referring to WWE and AEW, not just AEW. 

And in any event, Brodie is the real motherfucking deal.

[Octopus]

I’m not in favor of people losing their jobs, outside of disciplinary reasons. I hope that a company can honor their contracts or at the very least work towards agreed upon buyouts. 

[John E. Dynamite]

What is House of Black if not a group of three people who, uh, hold on here... represent the words House and Black?

Replace Buddy with Powerhouse Hobbes. New leader? Obvious. Negro Casas.

[DreamBroken]

Buddy does whatever Black does.

Their WWE feud started with Buddy mimicking the squashes that Black was doing, then their feud consists of Black beating him over and over and over in the same basic match, PPV, RAW, etc with Buddy never winning once. Then they go to the indys and Black beats him again and again. Then they come to AEW and Buddy is Black's underling. Black leaves, Buddy leaves and even copies the same goodbye speech. He was a decent cruiserweight champion, but never saw much in him outside of that. 

[username]

It is forgotten but Buddy was also "kinda" suspended/disciplined in AEW previously due to some issue with working an outside show that may not have been agreed upon and if we are honest hasn't really had a chance to do a lot outside of being the 6th person in trios matches, if he wants out that both seems fine and given that AEW hasn't really seen much use in him beyond that I don't get why they would be opposed beyond the principle of the thing.

I think that if their is concern/a desire for the locker room to become less... let's say explosive moving forward then having people who don't want to be there any longer in it is a questionable decision, and if any of them decide to make a public request for their release it is a legit problem for AEW given how much people asking and in a certain case being denied their release from WWE plays into their "creation myth". If the tv contracts do get sorted out in the immediate future then I could see the wisdom in offering a blanket one time "you want out, you can go" offer to the entire roster afterwards and having a unified "everyone wants to be here and pulling in the same direction" locker room to build around, and it will likely do a good job of tightening up the roster IMO which has grown too fat around the middle.

If that's too much then I think the most reasonable thing for Tony to do would be to tell the people who asked out "listen, give me six months as we've got tv negotiations coming up and the appearance of everyone jumping ship could hurt everyone here. Give me that time to get those taken care of and to prove that this is the best place for you and if after that time you still want out then so be it." I can see the companies wanting the certainty of knowing people are gonna be around X period of time when it comes to planning ahead but I think the bigger deal is that these independent contractors should have the right to quit their jobs and not be throwing their careers away (this is industry-wide opinion, not AEW specific) so if they gotta eat some time off so be it but I don't think anyone benefits from keeping someone in a job they don't want or on the shelf for the better part of 5 years.

[HumanChessgame]

I also got the sense that Black's comments about promises were more about his angles in WWE. He did a few Q&As on twitch after his release and talked extensively about his creative ideas that they never let him go ahead with. Then again if all the HOB business was his idea then I can kinda see why as that was definitely in need of an editor. There's no telling how much of the start/stop of that storyline was due to booking or injuries or what but they never really quite hit their stride despite all being good wrestlers. Black has been one of my favorites for a long time and I wish the best for him.

Buddy has been a fantastic worker ever since 205 Live was a regular thing but he's never caught on outside of that. He got saddled with that awful angle with Rey and his family and hasn't been able to do much in AEW. I'd like to see him get a good shake somewhere but it seems like he just has never found a place to be a regular. He's the type of guy who would be perfect as an upper card player in ROH if they can manage to ever get it going again.

[TheVileOne]

5 hours ago, NoFistsJustFlips said:

But again this is a false position. If you release Matt Sydal, it won't get Andrade on TV more. If you release Serpentico it doesn't get Miro on TV more. We're 3 years into AEW. I think it's safe to say (whether you like it personally or dislike it personally), the infrequent appearances is the structure TK is using. It's not because of the number on contracted talents. It's because he wants to leave people wanting more vs burning people out and making them all just another guy.

We can debate if we like it or if he's doing a good job at it. But constantly wishing for releases as a catalyst to change that is a misplaced thought. He's not going to change how many appearances talent get in his rotation strategy no matter how many releases there are.

I personally wish he would get less rigid in the Dynamite format and throw in more matches sometimes. Rampage had 8 matches this week. Dynamite never ever goes above 6 per episode. Throw in an 8 match show once in awhile. Throw in a 10 match show once and awhile. That would get more people on TV and more women's matches. But he's steadfast in booking Dynamite at 6 matches a week. I don't know why. But he is.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't think the bloated roster and the issues its causing is debatable at this point.

[A_K]

12 hours ago, Technico Support said:

Looooool I was just wondering where the “it’s a work” guy has been.  So you’re pivoting to “still a work but Punk is hurt and the Bucks were actually due some time off.” I haven’t seen such a wild “no no no I’m still right!” pivot In conspiracy type thinking since QAnon had to rewrite their whole narrative after THE STORM~! didn’t happen.  You’re hilarious.  Never change.

You're an addled little weasel, aren't you? A handful of hours before your comment .. you couldn't wait to come out of your hovel when I posted for the first time in weeks. If you want to compare our standing in real life then let's take this to DMs before you start bringing in reference to QAnons and whatever other weird, unsolicited social and political pre-occupations and chips on your shoulder that you project here, you absolute nobody.

As for AEW -- no, to be clear I still believe this was a work in the manner that MJF's "fire me" leaving speech was a work. If Punk has a tricep injury suffered in the match that required surgery then he needed to drop the title again, period. A storyline would have been needed one way or another. This gave context for dropping the title and keeps heat on Punk for an eventual return / program / heel turn. I'd be more inclined to believe this was all genuine spur-of-the-moment stuff if it emerged he has not really had surgery and is legitimately suspended without pay. Given there has been no development in the supposed "external investigation" with "lawyers and stuff", I remain most dubious. If one of the two parties involved quietly leaves the company under a lawsuit and they do not build a future grand narrative arc around it, then I will very happily recognise the 'legitimacy' of these entertainers fighting each other. I will be bemused and underwhelmed as it will be contrary to what Khan & co have said they want to evoke on screen and signal severe lack of planning/cohesiveness  to end up in this situation, but happy to recognise nonetheless. We will see where it goes. 

Edited September 26, 2022 by A_K

[Shartnado]

15 hours ago, zendragon said:

Listens to Fleetwood Mac once....

...and decides that Buddy can "Go Your Own Way"?

This pic is giving me very decent Fields of the Nephilim-vibes, actually! I mean, it's also the hat (and long coats), but still...

Edited September 26, 2022 by Shartnado
FotN -vibes, as well!

[Zakk_Sabbath]

Random bit of fantasy signing/booking while I sit through yet another meeting that should've been an email: I would like to think that we're heading to Brody/Wardlow for the TNT title, but in the event they want to continue HOB as a trio (plus Julia) - what would you guys think about an all-hoss supergroup of Brody/Rowan/Damo? 

[Shartnado]

Just now, Zakk_Sabbath said:

Random bit of fantasy signing/booking while I sit through yet another meeting that should've been an email: I would like to think that we're heading to Brody/Wardlow for the TNT title, but in the event they want to continue HOB as a trio (plus Julia) - what would you guys think about an all-hoss supergroup of Brody/Rowan/Damo? 

I'll have one of those, thanks!

[just drew]

2 minutes ago, Zakk_Sabbath said:

Random bit of fantasy signing/booking while I sit through yet another meeting that should've been an email: I would like to think that we're heading to Brody/Wardlow for the TNT title, but in the event they want to continue HOB as a trio (plus Julia) - what would you guys think about an all-hoss supergroup of Brody/Rowan/Damo? 

They should've added Rowan months ago, and Big Damo would rule, too. I still think it's still more likely than not that Mathews and Black are back in AEW when they next wrestle on TV, but there's nothing wrong with expanding stables. That was my biggest complaint about the early Wyatt family; a cult leader that can't add followers is a shitty cult leader.

[Infinit]

Wasn't Malakai's back messed up for a majority of his AEW run? Not sure he had enough time healthy on the roster to have that many promises broken.

[elizium]

2 hours ago, Shartnado said:

...and decides that Buddy can "Go Your Own Way"?

This pic is giving me very decent Fields of the Nephilim-vibes, actually! I mean, it's also the hat (and long coats), but still...

Automatic like for any Fields of the Nephilim mention, who I took my username from in the long, long ago

[Shartnado]

10 minutes ago, elizium said:

Automatic like for any Fields of the Nephilim mention, who I took my username from in the long, long ago

Awesome band, which has also spawned about a dozen more awesome bands with previous members! Too bad that new material by Carl McCoy is so few and far between.

...(ok, a dozen may be stretching it, but I counted 8 so far: The Nefilim, Rubicon, NFD, The Eden House, Sensorium, The Last Rites, October Burns Black, The Saints of Eden)

Edited September 26, 2022 by Shartnado
Almost a dozen, anyway!

[Craig H]

4 minutes ago, Infinit said:

Wasn't Malakai's back messed up for a majority of his AEW run? Not sure he had enough time healthy on the roster to have that many promises broken.

Yes, which is something else people gloss over. His back is still all fucked up and he's relying on something called "dry needling" which looks like a more painful version of acupuncture. He's says it's helping, but he's still hurt, so who knows. I like Tommy End a ton, but my dude, go get a fucking x-ray or MRI or something. Whether you're working for AEW or WWE or indies or whatever, I just want to see the guy be healthy and not have his career be at risk. 

[just drew]

1 minute ago, Infinit said:

Wasn't Malakai's back messed up for a majority of his AEW run? Not sure he had enough time healthy on the roster to have that many promises broken.

That's kind of what I think, too. The only indication anyone has that he might be a Triple H guy is a throwaway joke Brian Myers made on the podcast with Cardona about seeing how lovingly Black & Ricochet were staring at Hunter during the Hall of Fame ceremony. I'm sure he's frustrated to no end that his body is betraying him. I'm sure he was probably told some things that might not've come to fruition due to his injury or TK's insistence that HOB face all 3 Death Triangle guys in a blowoff before moving them on to other things. That was a misstep. He's a guy who, when healthy, is someone who's interesting enough and a good enough worker that you can put the TNT or World Title on him. I really do hope he thinks about the top of the card in both major promotions and sees how much more room there is for a top level quasi-heel in AEW than in WWE. When Wardlow inevitably takes the title off of MJF, Black is the guy I'd line up to take it off of Wardlow. Call it early 2024. Let Black do anything he wants (within reason) until then. Add Butcher and Blade, Damo and Rowan to HOB. Put the Trios titles on HOB. Whatever. I don't see a scenario where he (or Mathews, or anyone) would be more creatively satisfied in the corporate WWE than in AEW. 

 

If he and Mathews and Andrade really just want to work where their women do, then more power to them. Enjoy working Main Event and being fed to Gunther and Lashley.

[For Great Justice]

You could also just add Butcher and Blade to HOB, which I support 

[Wyld Samurai]

20 minutes ago, Zakk_Sabbath said:

Random bit of fantasy signing/booking while I sit through yet another meeting that should've been an email: I would like to think that we're heading to Brody/Wardlow for the TNT title, but in the event they want to continue HOB as a trio (plus Julia) - what would you guys think about an all-hoss supergroup of Brody/Rowan/Damo? 

Can we call them The Meatslappers?

[Craig H]

I feel for a guy like Butcher. Who knows, maybe he's perfectly content with his spot in AEW. But here's a guy who already had an awesome look, but kind of shitty cardio. Then he gets in ridiculous shape, starts wearing those sunglasses, looks like a star, and here comes Brody King who basically blows up Butcher's spot and does everything Butcher does and then some.

I know it sounds crazy, but I'd really like some kind of hoss title or tournament or something in AEW. It's something that's never been done before, to my knowledge, and AEW's roster of hosses is awesome. Let Butcher have a go at that or something. Shit, get Butcher in a singles feud with Hobbs and let those two monsters destroy each other. Blade just feels like dead weight and only drags Butcher down. 

[Zakk_Sabbath]

Butcher/Blade/Brody makes all the sense in the world and was *right* there. Almost actually mad I didn't think of it first - great idea @Craig H 

I'll also co-sign the hoss tourney/title. Not sure if it was you or not, but I've read the idea of a Brodie Lee memorial big boi tournament here a couple times, and though I get that it might be a little bit of overkill with the Owen having just wrapped, it's too good not to do. Honestly, even if it's just kind of a side attraction on Dark/Elevation/Rampage with only the finals on Dynamite/PPV it's just too good not to do. 

Also, I know I must have annoyed the shit out of everyone with how often I was saying this, but back when Brian Cage was Champion, my big agenda was to use the FTW title as the meat slappin' belt. I'm generally against any kind of weight limit (so FTW is good because you're not hamstrung by it) - A Cruiserweight title made sense back in the days when size was the default, so inversely, if the house style more geared toward your Darbys and Sammys and Bucks, it might make sense to do the opposite (though again I emphasize, I am firmly, firmly against any kind of formal weight division)

[Log]

16 minutes ago, just drew said:

That's kind of what I think, too. The only indication anyone has that he might be a Triple H guy is a throwaway joke Brian Myers made on the podcast with Cardona about seeing how lovingly Black & Ricochet were staring at Hunter during the Hall of Fame ceremony. I'm sure he's frustrated to no end that his body is betraying him. I'm sure he was probably told some things that might not've come to fruition due to his injury or TK's insistence that HOB face all 3 Death Triangle guys in a blowoff before moving them on to other things. That was a misstep. He's a guy who, when healthy, is someone who's interesting enough and a good enough worker that you can put the TNT or World Title on him. I really do hope he thinks about the top of the card in both major promotions and sees how much more room there is for a top level quasi-heel in AEW than in WWE. When Wardlow inevitably takes the title off of MJF, Black is the guy I'd line up to take it off of Wardlow. Call it early 2024. Let Black do anything he wants (within reason) until then. Add Butcher and Blade, Damo and Rowan to HOB. Put the Trios titles on HOB. Whatever. I don't see a scenario where he (or Mathews, or anyone) would be more creatively satisfied in the corporate WWE than in AEW. 

 

If he and Mathews and Andrade really just want to work where their women do, then more power to them. Enjoy working Main Event and being fed to Gunther and Lashley.

Agree with all of this.  

Would also add that Black and HOB should stop the spooky shit. You're all a bunch of scary-looking dudes. You don't need to disappear and shit. Just walking to the ring should scare people. I'd like to see them pivot to "people who look scary and like heavy-ass music".