Nineteen

Great, was planning on wearing my House of Black shirt to my All In watch party now they're probably losing. Figured that match would have been for All Out though. Love Malakai's spiel on the afterlife too. Hate to compare it to Bray Wyatt promos but Malakai showing you can do the spooky stuff while still actually telling a narrative. Darby yelling "WHO DO YOU HAVE" while Swerve was standing right next to (Brian) Cage was pretty funny. Is the coffin match an 8 man now? That was a pretty quick turn around for AR Fox but nice bit of character for Darby taking the high road there. I hope they let this all play out to see if Nick will be as forgiving, maybe create a wedge between Nick and Darby over this? Toni Storma Desmond is the best thing to ever happen to the AEW Women's division. Really good promo from Ospreay but really needs to stop forcing the ", bruv." I get it's there to make him sound obnoxious but there's a line between "he talks weird" and "dude's trying to get that on a shirt." Really liked that 2.0 had a point about Sammy's loyalty too. Skye Blue and Ruby was fun.

Feeling like Shooter is an easy pick for the BCC side. Danielson should be just about healthy now, right? Jarrett really did all the heavy lifting in that one. With how limited Jeff Hardy has been recently this easily could have been an 8 man and they probably could have done more creative stuff with more moving parts like that. Really liked the costumes for the match though and Jeff Hardy's facepaint. (JOKER!) Sting and Prince Nana in a segment together.... stuff like that is why AEW is the fucking best. I'm ready to say Cole and MJF has been better than the (recent) Bloodline stuff.

Favorite AEW promos, when Mox and Kingston were teaming after the blown finish to the Kenny/Mox II had some gems, particularly right after. I remember on the Dynamite after they had an exchange like Mox: I really wanted to see that explosion King: Yeah a lot of people did.... Don't know if it counts as a promo but pre House of Black Malakai (the faction) had some great hype videos, I remember the one that lead to Brody King's debut being especially awesome and creepy where closed by talking to a hooded figured "Now you're more than a King." Punk's "won't you be my valentine" is probably my #1 company wide. Punk and My Jewish Friend were both in absolute top form during their program.

"I tell you what, Tony Schiavone. When High Voltage goes to the pay-winduh tonight they're gonna have to show TWO FORMS of identification!"

So that's "your dad is dead" angle #2 in this company. Probably gonna come off as heartless here but I'm not really getting behind Wayne like the booking wants me to. I remember back in CHIKARA when Eddie Kingston straight up killed Tim Donst dead and cut a promo after it like "you put him in the match, what did you think was gonna happen?" With Wayne, I keep thinking back to that. If he's gonna get beat up, I keep being told that he's trained and good so it's hard to find sympathy toward "he's just a kid" when I keep getting told the other stuff. Okay I get it attacking him at home and bringing up his dad is some dastardly stuff but don't sell it like he can't fight back. Speaking of, AR Fox kind of sounds like he has a point in all this. HOLY SHIDA! That was the most surprising title change in company history (non TNT title wasteland division). Kind of wondering what this means for the Outcasts now with that little news blip of Saraya not really liking the gimmick or the booking. It's weird since it feels like the fans want to cheer for Ruby and Saraya can't really wrestle that often. I do like the story too of now Shida gets to be a champion in front of fans. I really did like her run during the Daily's Place era. Was really happy someone other than Mox got the win in the three way. Looking forward to Best Friends/BCC in the parking lot. Best Friends vs. Santana and Ortiz is feeling like a forgotten classic. I liked Kommander a lot more in a tag match tonight. He has that problem where his stuff takes a liiiiitle too long to set up but here at least it worked with the other 3 guys doig other stuff to work around it too. Reminds me, I need to hunt down FTR/Aussie Open from last year. Matt Jackson and Satnam was an AMAZING visual and I popped pretty hard for Kenny and Nick walking away like "nope, you wanted this!" So, friend of mine managed to score pretty good tickets to Metallica this Friday and Pantera are opening for them and.... this feels like chapter 1 of Jack running through ex ECW guys but I screamed when Walk hit

Was trying to come up with a different answer but I think Logan Paul takes it forever. How this dude wasn't just launched into the sun after the suicide forest thing completely escapes me. Fuck that guy with the business end of a weed whacker.

If we're talking great CHIKARA matches where Jigsaw keeps up with 3 more established guys, there's also this. Maaaaybe the best CHIKARA match ever? (Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw vs. Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli). https://youtu.be/A1QzDuhGLbE

I love that match! I don't know, I thought Jigsaw did a fine enough job keeping up but I haven't watched it in a while. Maybe tonight. I know there's probably a huge asterisk on it but I think John Cena vs. The Fiend in the Firefly Fun House gets consideration if your barometer is "did this match accomplish what it set out to." The total deconstruction of Cena's character telling his history with little nods to personal life (Bray's "you can look, but you can't touch) and how he's been perceived by the company vs. how the fans see him and acknowledging that... Cena's really been kind of a bad guy. As far as cinematic matches go, it really did the best with the format and it was the full potential of The Fiend character realized. I rewatched Misawa vs. Kawada 6/3/94 last year and it really is a masterclass. How Kawada finally takes control around the middle section of the match but all the damage Misawa put on him slowly takes it toll. Even knowing the ending, it still hits me the same way each time I watch it. It's like if I had to show a non-wrestling fan ONE match, this would most likely be it.

I guess if MJF was Dynamite exclusive it would add a little to how Punk is treating that belt. Also, I'm hoping it was a deliberate statement that the X covered up the E on the belt? Still really not sure what to make of Punk since the comeback, like they'll have to address his belt at some point but I'm guessing Cole/MJF is gonna take us to All Out probably. Laughed a little at "Malakai and Brody being banned from the arena" but Julia was fine. I know commentary addressed her having a manager's lisence which gives her a pretty nice resume at this point. Licensed manager, national champion cheerleader.... spooky witch..... Match was great too. A lot of times with ladder matches it feels like the spots are chaos for the sake of spectacle but it felt like these two were trying to incapacitate each other using the plunder in the match. Probably could have done without the handcuffs spot especially once the bolt clippers came out (like... did Buddy and Julia have them there as a plan C?) but glad Buddy to shine in a singles match. Kaze Ni Nare! I get The King as at a point in his career where he's not winning as much but I love that anyone who faces him still comes out of it like they've been through a war. I liked Darby countering the choke counter like he learned after what happened with Joe. Cardboard Jay White was incredible. I hope Gedo starts carrying one around too. Was really surprised Max took the pin in that one, loved the post match drama too and Cole having the handshake moment with FTR. Cole's "do what you have to" before hugging it was a great moment too. Hoping they don't turn MJF face off all this since the big storyline is still his contract situation at the end of the year but he's gotten so good at milking the crowd with little stupid stuff like the double clothesline and t-shirts. Collision continues to rule!

King also got to meet Kawada(~!) and made it to Ribera. He posted pics on his insta and got the jacket.

And Christian saying "Dirty Jersey" like it's a bad thing. I don't know, he isn't from here so he doesn't get to say it anyway. When Collision was announced as being a thing I thought to myself it'd be a "well if I'm free on a Saturday night and it's on I guess I'll watch" but it's been surprisingly solid. Feels like it has regulars that I can look forward to seeing (Miro, House of Black, Andrade, Switchblade), it feels like early AEW where everything had a week to week progression. Being AEW, you can count on one or two really dope matches each week. This week's episode brought to you by Teddy Long? FTR bringing up unfinished with The Bucks was intriguing, All In is kind of looming now and they really need to start announcing some matches for it.

Yeah put BCG/FTR on the MotY shortlist. Collision has been really good about re-establishing what a lot of the roster can be about. Malakai/Andrade addressing their past connections and each having a pretty solid point in their arguments. Just please let this playout rather than kneecapping it like Malakai/Miro last year... speaking of.... Miro being presented like a real threat and now as a guy who's renouncing what brought him which makes him that much more dangerous. Scorp reminding people what he can do in the ring. Three shows is A LOT but feels like each week that Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision all at least have one or two things worth watching each week.

Every thing My Jewish Friend did tonight was so incredible. Getting the crowd to get Adam to cheat on the abdominal stretch spot, the streamers for the happy birthday surprise. It's weird though seeing Cole try to take some semblance of the high ground as if he hasn't been a career heel before the injury. Was hoping for Punk/MJF III at Wembley but if this build stays this good I'll totally be good for Max/Cole. I like that BCC and Elite have a lot of intrigue for who their fifth is going to be at Blood and Guts. I know who it /should/ be for The Elite but a debut for a STAR of that GOLDEN stature probably should come at a bigger event. I guess if everyone is willing to play ball, Punk would make a lot of sense and they can finally address the gripe bomb and aftermath. Lee crushing Darby under the steps using OC for extra weight one of the most horrific visuals I've seen in wrestling in a while. Me and a few friends were talking recently about how a lot of shine has come off Lee but tonight was amazing for "Oh yeah... Keith Lee kind of rules." Just please end this storyline with Swerve soon. I wish commentary would have brought up Outcasts doing to Britt what she did to Toni when she dropped the title to Hayter. Toni was kiiind of right that she got screwed in that one and the fans didn't really seem to care. Can we just take a minute to appreciate Callis and Takeshita as Centaurs?

Logan ate all the shit in the world on that Spanish fly........ I liked a lot of what the show had to offer. Priest is definitely the most intriguing pick for holding the briefcase. I know Knight was the sentimental favorite but this opens up a lot of storyline possibilities for with him and Balor and the group. I was /really/ pulling for a Balor win with Priest holding it too. Was worried they were gonna with Riddle there but WALTER IS STRONGEST!~ The women's ladder match was the superior ladder match tonight. There was a lot more creativity and character interaction in it. I kind of never want to see Zelina attempt anything like that ever again. I was rooting for Iyo but didn't think she was actually going to do it though. That ending too was so creative and a nice little payoff to Iyo and Bayley's little infighting. I'm guessing Dakota is gonna be out for a while but I hope the group at least makes it to her return with her trying to play peacemaker before it dissolves. Cena, who saw that coming? With the crowd like that during the main event I'm hoping that London 1) does get a Wrestlemania and 2) it is open bar. The main worked for all the right story beats. I loved bringing back the stack 'em pin for Roman trying to put a real statement on the Usos but it just not being enough. The Spear/Spike is such a disgusting spot and I really bought into that for the finish. Jey getting the pin was totally the right move, especially after the punch to the groin kick out that Roman uses. Jey was totally the right man to be the first to pin Roman too and doing it for a win with his brother too. The match itself it was.... fine, but the story totally delivered. With WALTER/Drew and Jey/Roman seeming like the current path, I'm pretty stoked for Summerslam and I can't remember the last time I've been able to say that.

I was picking up some takeout the other night and saw someone in Rick Boogs "Always Time To Shred" shirt and I had that bad wrestling fan moment of "who would wear that in public?" I talked myself back because maybe... the dude just really likes Rick Boogs. I feel like there's always pockets of fans who will have really strong admiration for wrestlers you might not expect. I like Sanada enough but I can imagine who was stoked enough that he finally beat Okada and would get anything to commemorate it. Somewhat related, someone really does have to explain the "37" thing he's doing now too because I can only think of Clerks.

I'm so glad they're back. At Full Gear '21 when Hangman was challenging Kenny and it read "we're proud of you - the graphics team," i teared up a little, like for all of Hangman trying to find his place and his history with the Elite and Dark Order, that the story was there were people that did have his back, even including the graphics department

AEW is definitely feeling more like the early days again where it's possible for roster to have overlapping storylines. Elite beefing with BCC while Kenny has his own thing against Takeshita and Callis while having to watch his back against Ospreay too. Kingston's beef with Claudio has it's own baggage because of King's friendship with Mox. I remember the first Dynamite (in that building) ending with EVERYBODY FIGHTS~ too so that was a nice callback. I liked Cole/MJF but I think Cole works way better as a heel. I know My Jewish Friend ate a pin in the iron man match with Danielson but I feel like he should be taking any kind of loss until actually drops that belt. The 30 minute draw was solid finish from a storytelling perspective. Little things Max does too like grabbing Cole's kneepad so he can't properly set up the last shot. During the lockdown days, Tanahashi really became one of my favorite wrestlers. I went to a Rev Pro show before G1 Supercard that had Tana/Ospreay vs. Suzuki/ZSJ on it and while the entire crowd was there for the king, when Tana came out I had this moment of, "shit, I get it now." The dude has this incredible aura to him in person. I say this because..... I'm gonna be rooting him for hard at Forbidden Door even knowing he's not winning that one. .... Go Ace More Character History! I liked that they addressed Sammy and Jericho's separation during Sammy's chase and that each of these characters are having their own personal battles after Double or Nothing. Jack knowing his journey isn't over, Darby knowing he has to start over, and Sammy reexamining his life especially with a daughter coming. If they do this right, I think this can be a great storyline of Sammy finally "growing up" and breaking away from Jericho. And Jericho's not exactly wrong, a lot of what Sammy has was because of his time in the Inner Circle. Also, Le Sex Gods was super underappreciated tag team in AEW history so glad we're getting one more match with them (at least). When Sanada made the open challenge and OC came out for the next match, I was hoping that would be the match. At least for OC and Sanada standing by quietly while TAKA, Chuck, and Trent did all the talking. Jack/Sanada should be a fine match and I'm totally in for OC/Zack. Hoping/Praying we finally get Danielson/ZSJ at Wembly though.

If this is leading to Ibushi, they might literally blow the fucking roof off when that music hits. FTR/BC Gold should rule, I hope afterward Jay moves onto some bigger things. All for Billy getting one last title run but hoping it's not at the expense of House of Black. Oh hey, Dark Order sighting! ZSJ!

MJF might be my favorite wrestler these days and I'm not sure how I feel about that...... OC/Fletcher was fun but fell into some indy tropes I had wished we had gotten away from, a top rope michinoku driver kick out especially the way Fletcher spikes dudes with his just.... I get they're trying to put over how tough OC is with how he keeps willing his way through more grueling matches but sometimes something that should be a finish should be a finish or just don't do the damn spot. Speaking of Fletcher, got a little Jimmy Rave vibes off him tonight. Mark Briscoe has been so dope in this program, that Lethal is the one he has the closest connection to but even in this moment its so strained because he sees through his bullshit. Ricky Stars - "What I can do to two men, I can do to twenty men!" Sterling Archer - "So, are we just not doing phrasing anymore?" I know it'd be the SHITTIEST way to end a PPV but wondering if Jack feeds into the darkside and is the one to lay down for MJF. Darby's been on fire for this build up but the reign of terror still has a long way to go. And now, in celebration, some verse, by the Jay's Utsler and Bruce. What is a Juggalo? A hulkamaniac! He powerbombs motherfuckers into thumbtacks! People like him 'til they find out he's unstable, He Sabu'd your momma through a coffee table (Ohhh myyyy God!)

I'll take this sanitized stuff over her NXT entrance. As a biker it drove me mental every time she'd come out on a motorcycle without a helmet on. Like I know it's only down the entrance ramp but if you're trying to play to the kids in a lot of ways BASIC SAFETY, CABRONES

Recently she hasn't had that many quality opponents but looking at her cagematch, she had a little run a while back that included Bunny, Nyla, Tay, and up and coming Anna Jay. I like Jade and think she's got a lot of upside but this whole holding pattern because Kris Stat was supposed to beat her has long run its course. If Statlander was gonna be out for a while, why not go with someone else like Athena or Taya?

Really solid two hours of wrestling. A few great pro-graps~ matches with OC/Garcia, Claudio/Fenix, and House of Black/Best Amigos. I did like the atmosphere for House of Black, it wasn't overdone like how with Fiend matches it actively took away from the match. Here, it just felt like an eeriness like their opponents have to live in their world. Julia/Anna was really strong. I get the criticism that most big AEW women's matches have some kind of violence stip but considering how young most of them are it's not a bad way to get them on TV while they grow as performers. The plunder is a fun smoke and mirrors and Anna's building a good resume of these kinds of matches. Loved the promo packages for each of the pillars too, each one really got their personalities over and how they felt about each other and their own paths. Sammy really has this unlikable shit bag air to him but you remember how talented he is and how many moments he's been a part of since the company started. Liking too how there's still a few different ways Elite/BCC can go down, guessing Hangman will round out the Elite squad but could we get Takeshita on either side giving us a surprise entrant? DoN's really shaping up right now!

This joke's been told before but I think people will replica belts should to defend them against people with replica MitB briefcases

Feels like she's getting a little that territory where it's nothing exactly against her but she keeps beating people that fans would rather see. Bayley comes back last year in a feel good moment with Iyo and Dakota backing her up and felt like she could have taken it off Bianca and have Bianca chase her to get it back but that didn't happen. Asuka brings back the Kana persona as if she's going to go on a monster run then Bianca beats her clean so no possibility for a follow up. It's that thing where "well, have have to get her to beat whoever's [Becky's?] record so we have to keep lining up people the fans love" Like milestones are great and all but sometimes other things are sacrificed for them. Bianca totally deserves to be the face of the women's division, don't get me wrong, but she doesn't need to have the belt all the time for that to happen.

The Hardy Compound matches are usually a good place to just go crazy so felt pretty lacking. Stokely felt like the only one really trying to engage with the gimmick. I'm glad Broken Matt isn't a regular thing since it'd make one offs like this be something to look forward to but, they just didn't nail it last time. Feels weird that Anna is trying to come off as a little righteous with telling Julia's been brainwashed while I sort of remember that being a clever ruse and she willingly went dark. And also that Anna is a part of the stable of the biggest shit bags in the company right now doesn't really give her much moral high ground. Team Spooky B-.... Team Julia here. Trios match was fun, wasn't really into Briscoe/Vance but Mark and Lethal's crew is weirdly entertaining. Middling praise for tonight's episode, AEW does still rule the motherfucking world.