Go2Sleep

The split screen segment with Toni and Deonna was great. I'm glad they're having someone finally point out that Toni is delusional and has a real past. As much as I love Timeless Toni, the gimmick can't last forever and eventually someone's going to have to hit her in the head and set her straight again. It shouldn't be Deonna because we're not near the expiration date yet, but it's good to lay the groundwork for that eventuality. Another possibility to extend the gimmick, though, would be to fully rip off Wandavision and have her go through a new decade of Hollywood each time she gets cracked. The rest of the show was there. Cope/Minoru was a fun old guy slugfest and everything else was basically a 2024-inflated version of Worldwide. The "competitiveness" of each match was greater, but the results were never in question.

I'd still trade 4 down months for getting off of Saturdays year-round. They still have to deal with college prime time games and a handful of WWE PLEs that eat their lunch there anyway. Let's be real, this week they might not even crack 300k against the Rumble. There's no way they do worse than that against weekly MNF, especially that at least leaves the door open for split viewership.

I would agree with that. Saturday night is a death spot, and they'd basically be unopposed on cable outside of NFL season. Raw would still likely get higher total viewership, but it would still look good for AEW and they'd almost certainly get some increase in live viewers over what they get now. The color scheme is all Nitro anyway, so why not?

I liked the Collision main because it was totally an AJ/NOAH midcard match with two high second-tier guys vs. Ace/Jobber. You know exactly how the match is gonna go. The second tier guys are total dicks to the jobber. The ace kicks ass each time he's in there, but eventually gets worn down and has to do the cold tag. The jobber gets a hopeless run before getting steam-rolled by a higher-ranked guy. It's not the kind of match you want multiple times a show like in NOAH, but it was a nice change of pace for AEW. Kobashi/Go vs. Akiyama/Tenryu is my favorite example of this formula.

Joe/Hook brought me back to 2005 TNA when he was killing X-Division guys to build up to his matches with AJ and Daniels. Really effective TV main where the challenger looks like a tough bastard with a bright future while not being seriously competitive with the champ. It really sucks that Juice is hurt, because BCG really misses him. Jay's the star, no doubt, but Juice as the transition guy between the credible star and the stooges is what made the group work. Without him, it just looks like Jay is being used to pump up the cred for Billy's fail-sons as a favor to the promoter, especially as babyfaces. I'll accept this temporarily if the trios belts merge, though. They probably should've had Private Party do a few weeks of warm-up matches before hyping a big spotfest with Top Flight. Marq Quen looked out of shape and rusty as hell. I'm hoping we'll get an extensive series of Deonna/Serena matches down the road.

They're good (and I've been a supporter of Big Bill since his AEW debut), but they've done nothing with the belts since squashing FTR. This is more on the writing then on Starks and Bill. In a world with only one set of tag belts going back to this summer, Cole and MJF complete their ascension by winning the gold against FTR, the rest of the year plays out pretty much the same way with the belts ending up on Taven and Bennett. You can still build up a big match between Starks/Bill and FTR for Collision that goes the same way to establish them as a big team before they get sucked into the Jericho-verse. There's no need for two sets of belts for both of these story arcs. On Hangman: I think pissed-off Hangman is the best version of him, he's just wildly misplaced in the world title picture right now. The loss to Swerve is too fresh in everyone's minds, and no one wants to revisit that so soon. Everyone just wants Swerve to get his moment in the sun, and in the absence of MJF, building to Swerve/Ospreay at All In for the title should be the obvious course of action.

Would it really be so hard to turn one of the BOTB shows into a Survivor Series 01 type event where all the unnecessary belts are consolidated? Booking wise, there is no need for The Acclaimed, Starks/Bill, Christian, or Toni Storm to hold belts right now. Not every good character needs a belt! Even Eddie's is pretty worthless since it's indistinguishable in function from the TNT and International. The CC should've been a trophy. AEW would still have a ton of belts if they only kept the useful ones: World Title - Self explanatory Secondary Men's singles title (I prefer the Int'l with the idea it can be defended against non AEW wrestlers) One set of Tag Titles - Tradition One set of Trios titles - This division is a good way to cram a lot of people on TV. Women's World Title - Self explanatory Women's Tag Titles (Roster isn't deep enough to warrant a secondary singles, but the tag serves the same purpose as men's trios) Pure Title - It's ok to have one low-card gimmick belt, just please stop reading the rules before every match. FTW only if it's an official hardcore/death match title, otherwise it should just be a prop for Hook and never defended. ROH needs to be completely re-booted as a Dark/Elevation type show.

Thought Collision was a really good show. Copeland has just the right touch of giving the jobbers enough to look good but not making himself look worse in the process. Dustin/Willie was cool because it was a rare coinflip match. Dustin/Christian in a battle of surly vets should be fun. 6-man titles was fun as expected. Archer is great as the part-time monster, and his entrance is pro-wrestling af. Bishop should not be using the pedigree as a finisher. Red Velvet is always a good show-case opponent and her match with Deonna was good despite no one knowing if Deonna is a face or heel. Her introduction was obviously babyface, but all her mannerisms and moveset scream heel. As much as I've ragged on Nigel as an announcer, I have to give him credit for his line about every wrestling match ever being online somewhere being the reason today's wrestlers can do so much so early. It was probably the most incisive kayfabe point made by a wrestling announcer in decades. Hangman/JD was really good. Glad to see JD get to show he has another gear, and Hangman's finishing sequence was slick. Hook squashing a bigger dude with superior technique reminded me a lot Benoit squashing Big Ron Studd to build his match with The Giant (that Benoit lost in like 10 seconds). The 6-man main was nearly perfect. While the 6-man style has been oversaturated for the last 10 years, this really evoked the spirit of the peak Shield run, and I think HOB is the best trio since the original Shield for these type of matches, probably because they mirror the roles of each member in some ways. Obviously FTR and Garcia are good fits to hang with HOB. There weren't any dull moments, and Garcia's hot tag was one of the best in a while. Definitely a stand-out match in a company where 90% of the card is trying to have a stand-out match. The transition to BOTB was good, but the rest of the show was not. I love Roddy's quick-hitting jumping knee, though.

Also, unrelated to Sting, I never thought I'd be excited for a Righteous match, but them and Archer vs. Mogul Embassy has my interest. Logical setup in the 8-man for what should be a fun heel/heel slugfest.

I don't get where the idea that Sting couldn't work a singles match comes from. He ain't gonna be doing an Omega/Ospreay type of match with anybody, but couldn't he just basically do what he does in every tag match for 10 minutes? Brawl around the arena, jump off something high, brawl back to the ring for the finish. Darby is the perfect guy for that because he'll bump like a maniac for Sting's limited offense. The story is right there too. Sting would love to retire from AEW undefeated but as man of honor, he can't accept that accomplishment by only letting Darby do the heavy lifting. He needs to prove he can actually beat someone that represents the core spirit of AEW on his own merits. Darby has the utmost respect for Sting, but knows he needs to step out of his shadow, not just for himself, but for an entire generation of wrestlers. Although I will accept the Bucks if the build is them claiming to be the true spirit of AEW and that Darby is a traitor to the cause for aiding a star of the past. Then Darby ends up agreeing and Sting's last match features his partner turning on him.

Really hoping the Bucks thing is a misdirection. That's a fine Dynamite tag in a few weeks, but Darby being the only guy to pin Sting in AEW is the only way to go here. Sting never actually gave an answer, so I'm hopeful. Darby's new bump in the main was an all-timer. Need a .gif of that one.

All my wrestler in the wild sightings were just lucky Mania town run-ins. Greg Valentine at the same hotel, Hacksaw in a restaurant, Jay Lethal at an indy show he wasn't wrestling on, Shayna Baszler at restaurant. In those cases, it was just a quick nod and wave. I can definitely appreciate them not wanting to be troubled for more than that. The only time I asked for a picture was Mick Foley whose seat was literally right next to mine at the WWN show in Dallas. He was there because they were doing something to honor Funk and was nice enough to do the pic.

Live crowd was clearly pissed at the botch with Shida not kicking out on time. Shida was heavily pushed last year and she's alright, but not someone crowds are dying for more of. People were ready for Anna to win there and then that happened.

1. I forgot how jacked Blackman was. 2. It's always jarring seeing how much offense was Irish-whip based in attitude era matches. Pro wrestling hasn't changed as much from 2000-2024 as it did from 1976-2000, but there are some very noticeable stylistic differences that date those matches without even getting into the obvious entertainment-side tropes.

Good Dynamite. Reset shows are AEW's best shows. Opening promo was a bit long and didn't like Cole/Wardlow doing the exact same thing as Christian/Luchasaurus, but we got a brief glimpse of fiery babyface Jay White before settling on tweener BCG. 3-way feud for the trios belts finally gives the Acclaimed something meaningful to do. May/Aminata was fine although Aminata came across as a bit more of a star in the ring. Good to see Deonna on board. Darby/Takeshita ruled. Darby really is AEW, and the shows have missed him. The 4-way was the classic "playing SVR with your friends and all agreeing to pick random" AEW match. I hope they find something for Bryan Keith to do besides trying to set the record for how many midcard titles he can be a filler challenger for. Main was good and both guys worked through the botch nicely. I like pissed off Hangman, but I think it's too soon to go back to Swerve. Hopefully they're just fighting because they love to fight tonight and they go their separate ways soon.

This felt like the most WWE show AEW has ever done. The E/C title swap thing, main title change as an afterthought to a sports entertainment angle, hometown guy treated like shit. Not my cup of tea, but AEW has been dealt a shit hand with injuries this year. Since Joe is likely a short-term champ anyway, they should definitely have the goons rough him up and Wardlow takes the belt on a Dynamite. Make the point that you never get the better end of a deal with the devil.

The NWO was the only group to figure out how to win with the man advantage in Wargames. The secret is making sure one extra guy from the other team abandons them mid-match.

The Acclaimed exist to move merch, but unless they're selling a ton of pink scissor belts, I don't see why they need the straps. They could easily be in the Best Friends role and accomplish the same thing. Instead of the ROH 6-man belts existing, Mogul Embassy should've beaten the Acclaimed a while ago and set up a big win for Top Flight Action right about now.

Pinnacle isn't a terrible idea, but doesn't work as well without Spears. Wardlow would have to be the main guy, and FTR should be above just being the muscle. Spears' movie-psychopath-mashup was a highlight towards the end of that group.

I've kinda felt like Joe is the classic "build up the monster to feed to the top face" angle from the beginning. He really isn't top of the card material at this stage of his career. This match only works as a ppv main because it's in MJF's hometown. It's definitely time to give Swerve a run with the strap, though.

Is there gonna be a Rampage/Collision double header on Friday, or just no Collision this week?

Everything about the Shayna Wayne segment was so awful. She isn't talented enough to be on TV. Her promo was predictably bad even though she clearly spent a lot of time memorizing it. The whole thing plays into the worst misogynistic instincts of everyone who writes for this company. You have Christian talking about negging a woman into fucking him (while Nick stands around with the same derpy look he always has) and Kelly's stupid and poorly-delivered Karen jokes going on in the background. Shameful stuff, worse than even the tag title setup that was so bad it gave Kenny diverticulitis. The CC stuff was good this week, though. Loved Garcia getting a W, and Menard going more face than heel as their relationship evolves.

Kind of a foregone conclusion you're just getting to a Dusty/Cena final, right? Akeem and Filthy Animal Kidman aren't making any waves.

My life is better now that I've started down the Hey EW rabbit hole.

If TK strapped the rocket he did to MJF without a new contract, he's the biggest idiot ever and deserves for his company to fail. Wouldn't mind seeing the alternate universe where this is true, though. Lots of doom and gloom only for AEW to keep on skating by at the same level with Swerve and Will Ospreay at the top.