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Ordered this show because fuck this date. The fucking worst of my life losing my much missed Mum eight years ago. "What's Going On?" is locked so I can only say this here. Today's been really fucking bad. Fuck.

So I’m getting this show because fuck this week. I’m at a child’s birthday party at a black light mini golf place at 10:00 am. My wife forgot to tell me my daughter was invited to the party until 9:32 am, so as a make good she’s keeping the kids busy tonight while I veg out in front of the 75 incher. I’m very annoyed being here right now, but if I wasn’t I would have never seen this enormous piece of black light art depicting Tony Chimel doing ring intros for a match between Buddy Rogers and Ali.

So I was at the run yesterday with Mandy when I complemented one of the other dog dads on his Inner Circle shirt. Guy sidled over, pulled out his phone and showed all sorts of selfies with them backstage from AEW Grand Slam... then some clips of him working out in the ring. Turns out Joey Ace (of ECWA, various sundry indies and an AEW Dark cameo) has been living in my complex the entire time. What a funny world.

The Wyatt Squad?

Guys, I just came up with a great idea: Show opens up with Danhausen coming out to the ring and apologizing for accidentally cursing the show and then announcing he is now uncursing it and now everyone can enjoy the show.

God doesn’t close a Forbidden Door without opening a Forbidden Window.

Nyla Rose is a national treasure.

OK, this is going to be a pretty ambitious post. It is entirely inspired by @JLowe promising to be "less of a dick" about Marina Shafir and @just drew responding that he is going to try and do the same and asking to be held accountable for it. Actual quotes: "I'm going to stop being such a dick about things, including Shafir. Life's too short and the world is already fucked enough" - JLowe "Keep me accountable. I’m gonna try that too." - just drew By coincidence, I have been re-reading The Willpower Instinct, a really excellent self-help book by Kelly McGonigal Ph.D. I was really surprised, on the re-read, to see that Dr. McGonigal lists complaining among the bad habits that people want to control (among other things like eating too many cookies, putting off what needs to be done, or cheating on their spouse). But, yeah, of course. She explains, backed by psychology, neuroscience, and practical experience, some methods of changing those behaviours that genuinely work. it's an oversimplification, but basically she identifies three kinds of willpower: The "won't" power, which enables you to stop doing things you don't want to (or shouldn't) do, the "will" power which enables you to do the useful things you tend to put off or avoid, and the "want" power which reminds you what your long-term goal is so you can keep moving toward it. focus on the "want" helps us control the "will" and "won't" stuff. Since October, I have lost 20 kilos. I was pre-diabetic, had gout, and had lots of minor health issues, aches, and pains. That's a lie. I had full blown type 2 diabetes. The kind that's caused by eating and drinking too much and not exercising enough. I was too shocked and ashamed to admit it. There were more than a few books and videos and people, including @Shartnado, who inspired, encouraged, and influenced me. Dr. McGonigal's book provided the key. My "want" was to have my doctor tell me I didn't need to take diabetes medication any more. Also, I wanted to feel better, move better, and look better. My "won't" list included buying chips and ice cream, ordering pizza and burgers for delivery, drinking sugary drinks, and so on. My "wills" included moving more (going for long walks), getting to the gym regularly, eating lots of vegetables and fruit, getting 150+ grams of protein and 25+ grams of fibre (from food) every day, and so on. And to count my calories. Every day. And I f'n did it. Doc told me on Monday I can stop taking the pills now and we'll see how my blood work holds up. It's a gross oversimplification, but the key is breathing. The prefrontal cortex enables us to control our behaviour and breath focus meditation strengthens our prefrontal cortex. There are endless videos on YouTube etc that teach basic breath focus meditation. Basically just breathe and focus on the breath and if your mind wanders just bring it back. It's the wandering and coming back into focus that is the process. Not the breathing. Personally, I have been using the Wim Hoff method for my breath work, because I enjoy it. Followed this video daily for a couple of weeks until I got it down. Now I can do it anywhere anytime. A practice like this really does strengthen your self-control. It's f'n amazing how well it works. Also, taking a few deep breaths and remembering our larger goal can be extremely useful when we feel tempted to do something we are trying not to do, whether that is eat a bag of Doritos or make a joke about Adam Cole's biceps. Not to put to fine a point on it, but my "want" is to enjoy watching and discussing wrestling (and listening to music and playing games) in my somewhat limited free time, so my "will" is to watch, discuss (play, listen to) the stuff I really enjoy (and there is a lot of it) and my "won't" is to waste too much energy bitching about all the other crap out there even though it's fun to complain sometimes. That's a legit thing I did, to help me stop being such a grouchy 'grandpa' about everything. That. And, just breathe. Obviously, there is way more to it. The whole book is easy to read and very well worth it. Here's a good summary: https://www.naveedjan.com/notes/the-willpower-instinct The Power of Habit and Atomic Habits are also well worth reading. Adding more positive habits and removing some negative habits is probably the easiest and most efficient way to change your life for the better. An interesting bit from Atomic Habits is that if you improve something by 1% a day, in a year you'll be 37 times better at it.

Anyway, what we'd do is a spoiler post and then beneath the spoiler would be "Alabama Doink."

It turns out that my health insurance policy started covering hearing aids in 2021, so after 8 years of tinnitus and hearing loss, I can now afford to actually get some help!

Good job Brian Knobbs was wearing that t-shirt as he's unrecognisable otherwise. He looks great.

I get how some people may not be interested in the card because it might have had some uneven storytelling leading up to it. But the way I see it...there has really never been a PPV card like this. A company has never had to build to a PPV like this before. Yes, AEW has introduced alot of NJPW talent over the past few weeks on American cable tv. Those introductions were to i) build to the PPV and ii) introduce them as long term characters in the "AEW Galaxy". I think the potential high quality card we're going to get on Sunday (especially considering NJPW talents haven't really worked in front of hot vocal crowds in 2 years for the most part) will offset whatever shortcomings there were in the storytelling leading up to the card. I'm super pumped for what we are going to get to watch on Sunday night, and what the success of the card will do to future AEW/NJPW co-promotions.

The same two people would fight again and again, going approximately 50/50 until the premium live event where whichever guy the fans like least goes over?

Tonight at 11:00: Are your children Following the Buzzards? The dangerous new viral trend your teens may already be doing.

I am an archaeologist (official title is Lead Archaeologist/Principal Investigator) for a national Enviromental Consulting firm. We do pre-construction assessment and clearance work for projects that have regulatory compliance requirements with local, state, and federal laws. Things like roads, utility infrastructure, most large energy projects (solar and wind farms, for example) because they are either funded by state and federal money, occur on public lands, or require permits for impacts to things like Waters of the United States, protected wetlands, or endangered species habitat. I’ve been at this for over 18 years, split between private sector and public sector (state of Texas agency).

If I was producing this thing I’d have Maki Itoh sing over an in memoriam segment paying tribute to every wrestler pulled from this show.

The media scrum has been scheduled for 12:30 am, so you can imagine.

Caprice Coleman has been a breath of fresh air during his recent AEW commentary joins. He and Riccaboni might be the next best team to Hannifan and Rehwoldt in Impact.

I have to be up for fieldwork at 6:30 tomorrow (this project requires someone with my level of experience to assess any documented archaeological sites, and the person who would normally do it is still recuperating from foot surgery). I don’t mind, there is a “cold front” moving in so tomorrow’s high is only 96, and there is a chance of rain starting in the afternoon so I have motivation to be efficient. I might well order it Monday or Tuesday night depending on the reviews.

It’s ok to just say Roman vs. Brock.

I could and it would be awesome and no one would want to watch it. Tom Baker would be in it.

Allright! Hirooki Goto on my TV set! Aaron Solo is in over his head! QT Marshall is a HEAT MACHINE! CLUBBERING! MORE CLUBBERING! Aaron Solo gets in some offense! The Factory is so awesome. Goto hits a SWEET lariat! Solo with a great Tope Con Hilo! This match is fun! Yoshi-Hashi makes the hot tag! Goto gets the pin! Chicago seems ready for some wrestling. And there will be LOT more. Nick Comoroto vs Lance Archer! This is the best episode if Elevation EVER! HOSS BATTLE! Lance crushes his skull getting in the ring. Nick on offense! The Factory are so over as heels. This is GREAT hoss battle! Lance Archer with a DIE HARD KANSAI! Almost. Chicago is molten for wrestling. Awesome! El Desperado! Shane Strickland! Keith Lee! KANEMARU! Has he ever wrestled in America? Strickland and Despy are a match up I'm looking forward to. And they are fucking GREAT together. Keith Lee is fucking awesome being a total HOSS while also selling the knee. GREAT fucking BRAINBUSTER by Strickland. NICE SPINEBUSTER by Despy! Yeah, Strickland and Desperado need to have a best of 7. Oh man, this match is fucking great. So FUCKING GREAT. What a fucking match! Desperado is a MAN. ASS BOYS! TOKYO DOME! GREEN BAY! THE ASS BOYS THEME! Alex Coughlin is a beast. The Ass Boys disappear and don't return? That was an odd match to follow the fucking AWESOME Kanemaru/El Desperado vs Lee/Strickland. The best episode of Elevation EVER!

Well these last 2 weeks have sucked for AEW. But brighter times are ahead of us because according to Fightful Orange Cassidy is getting his old music back ? Just hope Jane doesn't get hurt too

Aside from the 4 way for the IWGP title, this was my PPV of the year. Holy shit I had a blast watching it.

Welcome to AEW, Claudio Castagnoli.

what I got out of this post is that if I’m less snarky about wrestling I too can have a sexy body like @Gordlow! much love to @just drewand @JLowe. They get hugs from me for attempting the world of positive wrestle posting. I wish you strength on your journey. There will be tough days but you both have the perseverance to make it through and become a @DEAN.

I would have given you a 'thanks' trophy if you had also covered the pre-show. Pretty much agree with all of your predictions, but I am holding on to my longshot call that Substitute Dragon will be someone lesser known but awesome enough to win the crowd over by the end of the ZSJ match. Or Sibata. It won't be Shibata. But imagine Shibata in Blackpool Combat Club.

Let’s fucking gooooooo!!!! I’m so ready for this shit. Yeah, the build is more awkward than a 12 year old boy taking a group photo with the Swedish Bikini Team. This may or not be a true story. But Okada and Tanahashi are going to be performing on a big stage on PPV in the United States. They are awesome. I love awesome. More of that. Mox is winning here because nothing is stopping him from becoming The Man in 2022. But my heart would soar if Tanahashi pulls it off in a come from behind victory in a match that delivers his reputation of quality to any newcomers.

Isn't it kind of ironic that less than a week ago that was the topic of discussion here... and here we are? Seems to happen pretty often around these parts. Almost like someone is lurking.

Oops. Hadn’t heard that. Guess I almost put my foot in my mouth on that one.

Voted Fenix/Andrade, but have not yet seen Cobb/Wheeler commercial free. And that Ospreay/Aussies-OC/Rappongi 6 man was awesome. I'm gonna check out that Impact Six man now. Love this poll and hope it carries on weekly.

I think Riccaboni should be next in line for an AEW announcers gig whenever Schiavone or Ross retire. I have all the time in the world for that man.

Don't watch it. Buddy Rogers flops on his back and tries to catch Ali in a figure-four for fifteen rounds.

It’s very NJPW too, I would have just made the IGWP title match a straight up one on one between any of the three that are not Cole so it would stand out more from the shit load of multi man matches.

Everyone missed THE blockbuster move by Utah:

The key is to focus on what you like. Focusing on the negative just isn't good for anybody's peace of mind. Find your inner DEAN and let loose!

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED~! Bench Press: 100kg x 10. RPE 8.5ish.

“On the 6th I’m coming, and it won’t be a peaceful protest, it will be a Wyatt.”

The injuries and what not could be a blessing because think now of what Forbidden Door II could be? We didn't see: Bryan, Omega, Punk, Naito, Takahashi, Ibushi, etc..

Watched the first half of the show, and I'm gonna practice what I've preached on here before and watch the second half of it tomorrow on my own schedule, so that I won't be a zombie at work. So if we're allowed to talk about the Buy-In, I loved Despy & Kanemaru breaking down Keith Lee and trying to keep him out of the match. Like it was more than just the typical formula of "isolate Swerve and don't let him make a tag", they wrecked Lee's knee and cut him off whenever he tried to get in the ring for any reason. And then eventually it all fell apart for them in spectacular fashion. Goto really overdelivered in some of his earlier US appearances on ROH shows. I'm thinking of these strangely great matches he had with Beer City Bruiser and with Punishment Martinez. His match tonight wasn't quite up to the standards of those ones, but still pretty decent.

Good. Indefinite suspension. Make him reapply every year. Hope them girls can force him to go to trial. Hope more girls come forward. Hope our DA, who apparently is considering prosecuting abortions of all things, grows some balls and reconsiders criminal charges. A no bill is not an exoneration. I've had cases that have been to multiple grand juries before they indicted. I hope it's at least 5 years before he sets foot on a real football field.

So two four ways, a three way tag, 2 trios, and an eight man tag. This kinda has the feel of one of those "get everyone on the card" wrestlemanias

I never got rid of anything and thankfully have the storage for it. All the tape dubs, VHS, CDs and CDRs. They're memories. Can't let go of em.

I’m not sure my count but I’d guess I have ~600 LPs, ~75 12” singles, ~500 7”, and a couple dozen 10”. I thinned my CDs out some but I still have a couple hundred plus 50 or so CD singles and maybe 70 burned CD albums. Plus 150 or so cassettes, some of which I’ve had for almost 40 years. Once I was no longer able to rip my stuff to iTunes and my iPod died I realize how important it was to me to keep physical media.

They're also going to be putting in work because this is the biggest exposure they could ever hope to have. They need to get eyeballs on their product. Misc thoughts: Match graphics team putting in the biggest shift of their lives to keep up to date with this event. That Bucks tag was the match I was most looking forward to. Sad face. But! Nothing is going to shake my appreciation for this show existing. Having Tony orchestrating this is like Sakurai running Smash Bros - it's a miracle to have someone who's probably a bigger dork than you are at the top calling the shots. As a result everyone coming in is going to be treated with respect and we get a huge profile event for maximum fanservice. Fanservice for US. I remember Okada in TNA, ffs. The countdown show had a lot of things people here said were missing from the main shows. Including a set of promos from Mox and Tana that I loved, a quote from which is on the last page. Hiroshi 'I created the forbidden door' Tanahashi against Jon 'I am the forbidden door' Moxley is good hype. Turns the replacement main event into the natural main event. A shame a few of the NJPW wrestlers didn't have a voice in the build up, even if only via quotes mentioned on commentary. I understand that you don't want to be having a subs or dubs debate about your primetime American wrasslin show, but that's not an issue when you've got ZSJ on the ramp. If they're hyping ZSJ v Bryan down the line as a match to determine the best technical wrestler in the world, and they're specifically promoting this match as being a technical one then Zack should be winning. Could any big name like Claudio job on their BCC/AEW debut to a departing opponent? Tana as intirim AEW champ wouldn't be without its appeal, but I don't think it's happening unless it was the plan for Punk to drop in the first place. Kevin Kelly will be on the commentary team, calming my nerves about the 'explain who all these Japanese dudes are' problem. I keep hearing that Naito doesn't care about American wrestling, though that doesn't explain his absence from this card as he has flown over before. I remember a press conference with CM Punk answering to the idea of facing NJPW wrestlers without the enthusiasm you get from some others (paraphrasing 'If Tony wants me to do it, I'll do it'). So on the basis of that alone in my head canon he is AEW's Naito equivalent. Fitted well when on the Tanahashi debut he was all 'Ok we've got a pay per view to sell, who have I got?' I'm sure Connors will do fine, and I agree that he should be Ishii's replacement but the result is that the match no longer feels like it has any real NJPW presence. Great spot on Okada's throwback to the NOAH show build. 100% deliberate. He's pumped! I'm sure the relationship between the companies will continue, but no idea if it will retain this format. The big upside to all these absentees is that even if they were only planning this as a one-off there's enough left on the table to do an encore. That injury list is your list of reasons to tune in next time. People wondering why this is cursed when we all know the door they're passing through is forbidden. Things will be better on 2024's AEW and NJPW joint 'Door' PPV.

LOL. Red McNatural/@Gordlow teamup! I've had a colonoscopy. Worst thing is what needs to be done on the day itself before you have it done. I was given a general anaesthetic which suited me as going in I thought it was a local. Naturally (no pin intended) uncomfortable afterwards. Wouldn't recommend. Good job Fartsauce got deservedly ethered into the Phantom Zone!

He does. But this fucker loves his handicap matches. And partners that hate each other. Partners that hate each other handicap match hookup is right up the old man's alley.

The best current Piledriver.