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Like most bad habits in wrestling, you can blame WWE for this shit. "Your music must play and you must do your signature pose because BRANDING."

When I was a little boy, my parents took me to a barber and they said, "you can tell him to cut your hair anyway you want." I got in the chair so excited, knowing exactly what I wanted. I told the barber: "I want my hair to look like Theo's." Back then you didn't even have to say the name of the show, you could just say a name like Rudy, Claire and most everyone knew the show. That day I learned that there was a difference between my hair and black people's hair. I didn't get it. I thought it was all hair. Regardless, Malcolm Jamal Warner was the coolest kid in the 80s. After the birth of my son, I rewatched most of the Cosby Show because I was young and clueless, and the Cosby family was like an aspiration to me. That was the kind of family I wanted. I remember seeing Warner's performance and being struck by how varied his character was. He could be an annoying little brother or a caring big brother, while also playing a goofy teen without a clue. He could just as easily be cool or the fool, and his ability to slide between the two was deft and honest. I'm sorry he's gone. He was a talented guy. I'm sorry a part of his legacy is tied to something that may no longer bring folks the happiness it used to because of one man's terrible actions. They did something truly special, and Malcolm Jamal Warner derves recognition for it

The thing I love about an music-free run-in or debut is the rolling wave of a pop that comes from more and more people in the crowd seeing what's happening. There's like a murmur and then a little more and then the full-blown, "Oh shit!". It's great.

now i want to see a wrestler just sprint down to the ring and his entrance music starts when he's already halfway down. Only for a second wrestler to come barreling out of the tunnel, and HIS music doesn't start until too late. Then two more, and we get a camera on gorilla position music person, who is just frantic and exasperated trying to cue up these themes but he's overwhelmed by the number and frequency of wrestlers running by.

I mean he may be biased, or just old fashioned, sure, but every week Meltzer points out that WWE has essentially dumbed down their presentation and fanbase to the point where all their audience cares about are catchphrases, finishes, entrances, and the manufactured moments. Their product has become the wrestling equivalent of Ow, My Balls! The more AEW can do to differentiate themselves from that shitshow, the better.

The issue with music playing is that it gives the impression that some dude, woman or man, is in gorilla, just waiting to go and then they can't go until the producer hits their music. There are some exceptions to this like a big return or a debut, but even then, it goes right back to when someone is in gorilla and just waiting to come out. So, what, they slip the guy running the music a $20 to play their music when they come out? It's an odd part of production that the older I get the weirder I think it is. Like another example that made for a good "moment" were the debuts of Adam Cole, a heel, and Bryan Danielson, a babyface, on the same night after the main event. Sooooo, they're just standing in line like they're at an amusement park ride and Adam Cole was first, there's a carny at the curtain for gorilla checking to see that the ramp is clear for Cole to go out, points to the guy at the board to play his music and then let's Cole come out, Bryan Danielson then steps up and has to go through the same wait until the time comes for him to come out? That shit is all about "making moments." I fucking hate that. It's such a WWEism where the moment and heat is favored over just good storytelling. It's all moment, moment, moment, heat, heat, heat. It's old and it's lame. Maybe there's a time and a place for it, but when it's overly done, it is dreadfull. Also, if you're going to be interfering, why would you want your element of surprise spoiled by the need to have your music played and the need to pose?

Certainly as Daniel Bryan. I honestly think it might be Bryan Danielson's best match period. I'm probably in a small minority if not the only person who thinks that way. So many Bryan Danielson matches to choose from. Thanks for agreeing with me on Bryan/Cena better than Lesnar/Punk at SummerSlam 2013. I have seen a number of people preferring Lesnar/Punk like WWE.com had it higher than Bryan/Cena, cagematch.net and Nintendo Logic, an internet poster. I really disagree with them. Bryan/Cena smokes it. Like you I can understand rating Ramon/Michaels over Hart/Hart from WrestleMania X but as you rightly note, they're totally wrong ;). You're right to bring up Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus two out of three falls from Extreme Rules 2012. You're also right including Bryan Danielson, there's a lot more ***** to choose from. You're right to bring up Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt from Royal Rumble 2014. By far Bray's best singles match. My top five Daniel Bryan matches: 5. Daniel Bryan vs. Antonio Cesaro. RAW, 22nd July 2013. 4. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton vs. Batista. WrestleMania XXX. 3. Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus. Extreme Rules 2012. *****. 2. Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles. TLC 2018. *****. 1. Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena. SummerSlam 2013. *****. I agree with you on John Cena vs. Umaga from Royal Rumble 2007 and CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011. Gave both *****. I'd throw John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules 2012 in there. Gave that ***** as well. Thank you for sharing your personal story. I don't have a brother, I have a little sister. You've named the top three CM Punk/John Cena matches. Money in the Bank 2011 is #1 at *****. RAW 25/4/13 is #2 and #3 Night of Champions 2012. Our very own Brian Fowler has it at the best.

https://youtu.be/PofqpWL0Eic?si=PHnjtVvZ337mRN2W 04:38. Jeff Hardy getting his dance in while Matt Hardy is getting his ass kicked in is one of the funniest moments in wrestling history.

Slightly surprised to see the Iinspiration lose, but looks like the feud continues. TNA vs. 4th Rope was super short with more time on Real1 doing his traditional pre match promo. Indi/Tessa was pretty good as expected. Surprised to see Indi pick up the clean win, but a nice victory, and then the feud continues after. Thought Jacy/Masha was awesome, big fan of both. Shocked to see Jacy win it basically clean in the end, but a very cool moment for her. She's been a fav since the Toxic Attraction days so I love seeing her finally break out on top. Moose/Leon was fun. Knew Leon had to win, but loved Moose's reign so I'm sad to see it end still. Epic pop for the AJ Styles appearance. the 4 way Ladder Tag was wild, really enjoyed that one. Insane bump from AJ Francis going out through the ladder, Jeff taking out the Rascalz with back to back Swantons across ladders, great stuff. Did not expect to be getting Hardys vs Team 3D, but I love it for the random craziness of it. Love the epic entrances for the main event with Santana getting a live theme performance and Trick getting a Harlem choir. Pretty good main event. Thought going in that Santana might win it but once Trick started faking the injury, I figured that would be the finish. Great reactions from Tom Phillips screaming at Kazarian for interfering and putting over the nightmare of NXT having TNA's titles. Pretty enjoyable show overall. Full results TNA Slammiversary:

Here we go: caught on the Kisscam!

The only person whose music should EVER play when they come out to interfere in a match is Stone Cold Steve Austin. No one else. Full stop. That glass shattered and Stone Cold didn't fucking pander to the crowd or taunt or whatever. He had one missions - get to that motherfucking ring and open up a can of whoop ass, stomp a mudhole, and walk it dry. As the t-shirt said, "Arrive. Raise Hell. Leave." I loved that Moxley vs Hangman main event from All In because EVERYONE who came out came out to NO MUSIC. It RULED. It felt realistic and was the perfect contrast from the horseshit earlier with Cope doing the Penta and Jeff Hardy thing as his maybe sorta friend again was getting killed. Also, heels and faces always look like such a fucking dope when they get distracted by the music. It's so lame. The only other exception I would maybe make are the two times Undertaker came out to American Bad Ass, first on his return at Judgment Day, and second on the night after just because it was pure chaos and people were jumping up and down in their seats. Otherwise, any other interference needs to happen without music.

Forcing people to go to rehab and listen to his music played on the projector

This is what they did for 'ALL IN' everyone came out of nowhere. Place exploded when Bryan got in the ring.

A man walks down the street, he says, "Why am I soft in the middle now? Why am I soft in the middle? The rest of my life is so hard Last week, it looks like Hunter suddenly remembered SummerSlam was in a couple of weeks and announced more matches than he ever had before! Maybe if we all say our prayers we can get more! I need a photo-opportunity, I want a shot at redemption. Don't wanna end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard. Meanwhile in the locker room.... Bone digger, bone digger, dogs in the moonlight. Far away in my well-lit door, Mr. Beer Belly, Beer Belly. Get these mutts away from me, you know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymore... This week... we have a number 1 tag team contender's match... we have a Women's IC Title Confrontation~... we have CM Punk talking! and Roman Reigns TALKING! And... Sami Zayn JOBBING! Well, they can't all be good things. (My theory has always been, Chevy came in and told Paul he'd only do the video if he 'got to sing' and Paul was too polite to say otherwise.) Enjoy the week!

The Hurricane. Good call.

All this reminds me of: 1) Vampiro on commentary IMPLORING the sound guy to PLAY MY FUCKING MUSIC COME OOONNNN before he would run in 2) Wheatus playing Spider Nate Webb out to the ring at a GCW show and the fans didn't pop for Webb at all at first because he entered on the stage and fans mistook him for a band member

I definitely have mixed feelings about this current TNA run. I’m pretty much any other situation, this would be cause for celebration and a sign of good health for the industry. But it’s tough to hold much enthusiasm for it when, at the same time, TNA is low-balling/trimming the roster and filling out their cards with NXT scabs and allowing those scabs to clown their own roster constantly, all of which is clearly happening in hopes of selling the company. It’s not really a feel good story.

SPEAKING OF Charlotte... The Hornets won the Summer League yesterday. This marks the first championship in franchise history. Note... this is a title at any level (summer league, divisional, conference, etc.).

Are you just talking about her in-ring promos? Because I felt the segment she had at 'Grand Slam Mexico' leading into her attacking Mercedes was fantastic and I felt her promo during their video package was very good as well. Hell, both women had some great segments. Mercedes segment where she knocks over the projector and sits down revealing she has Toni Storm stickers on the bottom of her boots was awesome too.

I always kinda hoped that wrestling would move more towards MMA style shorts and away from briefs style tights. I know it was a bit divisive, but I liked how ECW introduced cut off t-shirts, shorts etc. that helped make less attractive or unrefined bodies look more presentable. The ROH Gabe move towards trad gear was good in a way, but not for guys like Kevin Steen. Steen is a great example of a guy knowing how to properly present himself. Wrestler's gear in AEW is mostly fine, but could certainly be a lot better. There's a couple hundred tacky tight designs that would look a lot better without them. It's a TV product that could really benefit a tasteful designer. Especially the Women's Division. I'm not sure the sequined catfighting look with all the lingerie straps is such a great presentation for such seriously talented athletes. It sometimes feels like a lot of ppl are stuck in the Divas era. Toni's generally got cool ideas tho. I think they underestimate how big a turn off some of these outfits are to a non-adult male audience. Probably the best exmple of bad design is Hologram. He really could've benefitted a proper tasteful costume designer. That's one of the worst looking masks I've ever seen. On the otherside of the coin, is there a better presentation than the clean crisp look of Katsuyori Shibata?

Quick thoughts: 1. Match holds up great and everyone had their working boots on. 2. Bryan is a lunatic for taking a fuckin SUPER REVERSE PILEDRIVER. My god. 3. John really makes the Buisaku (?)... (eh fuck it, I like my name better) ... makes the Knee Plus look like instant death. His sell is like he got hit by a truck. 4. Randy's cash in is... stark. Yes, the people will pop for any title change, but this was an utter shocked reaction. VERY quiet after the screaming when HHH turns.

w/ Punk: MITB 2011 or RAW 2/25/13. I'm inclined to go with MITB '11 personally, I think it's damn near a perfect (modern day) WWE main event match. I haven't seen it in YEARS, but apparently the Night of Champions 2012 match is pretty good too. I'll go with one that isn't mentioned a lot, but should be: Judgment Day 2005 versus JBL in an I Quit match for the title. On this day, Cena broke the Muta/Eddie scale. Weird that this happened twice, both times against JBL, and at the same PPV, a year apart. Eddie & Cena both bled buckets.

I mean,, it’s going to get more eyeballs on the product and get at least a few people into WWE system. TNA has probably had 15 different “identities” and a dozen regime changes over the years, so worrying overmuch about their identity seems silly to me. There’s really not much left of their brand or legacy to protect at this point. The point of it all is ultimately to make money while entertaining people and TNA finally seems like they might do that. That said, it feels like they are risking waiting too long to pull the trigger on Santana. I think he finally gets the big singles win over Trick at the next ppv, but the crowd seems ready for a Santana title run sooner instead of later. I think he’s the wrong guy for this spot at this time and Joe Hendry should be getting the title push instead but Santana is the one the crowds seem to want. I didn’t have “Jacy Jayne - Belt Hunter” on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are. Wondering if someone in WWE suddenly sees main roster potential in here, because otherwise her megapush seems really random.

I just finished Phil's book about the AEW bloody matches (Way of the Blade 2/AEW Edition) and that book's contents would be my top 30-40 or however many (it's in the other room right now). It rules, btw. The only unfortunate thing is that it went to press before the Texas Death that just happened, which absolutely belongs in the book

They finally let somebody who likes Superman make a Superman movie again. I'm so incredibly happy about this movie that I'm probably downplaying actual flaws because it was such an incredible blend of original 1930s Superman, Silver Age Superman, and Post-Crisis Superman and it didn't decide to make The Big Blue Boy Scout into a miserable prick.

Yeah you jabronie mark without a life that don't know it a work when you work a work and work yourself into a shoot, mark.

Eh? Why would AJ care? Was she even in TNA?

Let's go to Page 66 of "King of New York" This is my favorite match of all time. It's an amazing technical bout, and the little brother wins cleanly. When you're a little brother, you lose to your big brother 95 percent of the time in every imaginable game and sport. But every once in a while, the sun shines on the little brother. Owen beating Bret reminded me of the rare occasions when I would actually beat Rob at tennis.

Pretty sure that ended up in Way of the Blade 2 in one of the off-brand chapters

If I had any faith in their collective health, I think I would really like what the Clippers have done this year

The Edge talk reminds me of his promo on Collision where I fast-forwarded through what felt like yet another ten whole minutes of an old dude growling at a camera with his face six inches away from the lens. You can complain about his music getting played but that's certainly not his worst aspect.

i recognize that name. Did he used to post here? not sure if i could nail down my favorite Bryan Danielson match. It would almost certainly be something from AEW, but there's such a plethora to choose from. Off the dome, the Omega match sticks out. now, my favorite John Cena match? That's much easier. Cena vs. Edge, New Year's Revolution 2006. followed by Cena vs. Kevin Federline, Raw 1/1/2007

Yeah, they've got him dead to rights. I'm guessing Pat is jumping around his office like a lunatic waiting for the Federal indictment before he can cut him. The Hornets finally got their revenge on the Heat.

It's more of a case by case basis. Yeah, a crowd pop to a returning wrestler's theme can be a great thing. A crowd coming to their feet and seeing somebody charging the ring without music is often more exciting. More natural and thrilling. It feels less cliche (and, yes, less WWE). The All In Main Event is a great example of no music being that much better. As is Mox's original debut. Or the numerous examples watching Crockett TV. The pure crowd sound sans music has become underrated. My original post was following Hobbs making a save for Shibata on Collision. The music and pagentry for a regularly seen wrestler in a situation where he/she is saving their tag partner seems gratuitous, and towards the ridiculous (if hilarious) Hardy/Edge/Penta kinda way. Regardless, I don't think it's a matter of one way works and another doesn't, but the psychology should be better considered. Music works beautifully, but should be saved for the right moments. With ECW, Heyman always knew the right route. See the contrasting Raven and Sandman returns. Two of my all time favorite run-in/returns.

hey, been a year or two since the last "doomed show that is airing on Comedy Central directly after South Park" was on TV but we got one of those again

I finally figured it out from the music hint and the face tats. He's lost some weight too. An addict who won't quit talking about that shit being involved with pro wrestling is really amusing. I'm envisioning him handing out pamplets to pilled up people. Just think about if he was around when ECW was going.

OH FUCK!!! YES!!! I didn't know who that was, it couldn't be Heyman though the coat was old him, it vaguely looks like Buh Buh Dudley (fuck you Bully) but he's busy being an asshole elsewhere. DIE JELLY ROLL DIE!!!

I just had a video pop up in my Facebook feed of Bucks vs. Swerve/Ospreay and they pulled off the most absurdly flippy fast section that I have literally ever seen in my life. I can see how that would blow people's minds, and I respect it, but after all these years it's like hearing another shredder guitarist.

I probably listened almost the whole Christie catalog on audio in the last few years : Poirot, Marple, T and T and the rest. Some of the later novels can be out there, I forget which book but there’s one that involves a world wide youth revolution.

For non TAKE/Tana matches I'd say the following: Night 1: ZSJ vs Narita, Uemura vs Boltin Night 2: Taichi vs Uemura (best match of the two nights IMO) I really enjoyed Finlay vs Oiwa (night 1), Takagi vs O-Khan and Oiwa vs Boltin (night 2) but i wouldn't call them standouts.

Dory Funk Jr after winning the NWA title off of Harley Race (when it seemed every man alive was born looking 45)

I haven't watched any of his stuff since it happened but I remember thinking the Wyatt match was really good.

I'd love to see AEW run-ins allow for the sound of the crowd. Cueing up theme music for the save often feels extremely cliched. Hearing the sudden excitement of seeing somebody running down the aisle, or through the crowd, is more than enough. At least, for most occasions.

I just did, so to save anybody some time: Total Fascist. Like, seriously. Literally said democracy doesn't work and we need dictatorships, and supported guys like Orban etc.

So Terry Rozier is like, COOKED cooked.

We have to stop this "Ex-WWE wrestlers don't want to lose!" nonsense. Unless your name is Bryan Alvarez, there's no place for it here. First of all, almost all of the wrestlers have spent time in WWE at one point or another. Secondly, everyone out there is trying their hardest to put in the best possible work they can put in. Nobody has "creative control". All of the booking goes through Tony Khan. He literally just said this the other day. The Hurt Syndicate will lose when it makes sense for them to lose. Shelton has already dropped falls in singles matches. This is complete nonsense.

I am enjoying Teddy's logic of "I dont work for them so I can't be suspended" Not sure that's how it works but sure Teddy

COWBOY SHIT MOTHERFUCKERS! LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My body is so fucking ready for the catharsis of Hangman winning the title again and putting an end to this Moxley reign. There is nobody in wrestling that looks as angry as Hangman. He was giving big Seth Bullock energy. Just a dude ready to blow up on someone at any minute. Holy shit. Is Hangman the Seth Bullock of AEW?!

So the guest commentator for the TNA shows in Pittsburgh this weekend is going to be Mark Madden. As if the Pittsburgh area has suffered enough from the Aaron Rodgers signing this month.