The Natural

Crap news. Wes Craven created the influential Freddy Krueger and the Scream series. Scream remains one of my favourite horror films ever. R.I.P.

Isn't some of that editorial chasing off other writers and wanting people they can control? Such a shame what went down with W Haden Blackman/JH Williams III and editorial interference with Batwoman. Well, I'd argue that execution has a lot to do with it, but Snyder's "Bat-Chappie" arc has been pretty damn solid. On the other hand, there have been plenty of substitutions that stuck and went over well with the general readership. Superior Spider-Man comes to mind. Barry Allen and Hal Jordan - Flash and Green Lantern in most casual fans' minds - were dead for years (decades, in Barry's case). Marvel is on the verge of making some major changes to flagship characters, etc. I agree that changes are hit and miss. I tend to think the Bat-chappie and Superman backlash are more of a reflection of how little goodwill DC has with readership after years of soft reboots and arbitrary changes. I read Batman via Batman, a monthly UK magazine reprinting recent Batman stories. I've only read two issues of Bats as Gordon as I jumped ahead of Batman by buying Batman #40 and Convergence on Free Comic Book Day through the comic book shop I'm a subscriber at. I'm back in line with Batman (UK) now. I've liked the little I've read of Gordon Bats. I have an interest in a hero getting replaced by their student/friend if the hero is alive advising them or if the hero is dead and the replacement who knew the original hero wanting to do right by him/her. The best example of this is Dick Grayson's Batman by Grant Morrison. Great fucking read. The other great replacements: Terry McGinnis as Batman, Damian as Batman #666, Bucky Barnes as Captain America, Kate Kane as Batwoman and the Superior Spider-Man. I've always wondered how many people really buy books based on creative teams and how many simply buy for characters or titles. I've never done that. Actually, my pull lists usually specify issues to pull, or at least writer. It's standard practice for me to skip fill-in issue or annuals if the creator I'm following isn't involved. Same thing with company-wide events. I usually read the main book and skip tie-ins unless it's a book/creator I'm already reading. I used to assume most serious customers of lcs' followed creators and casual fans and people buying comics at newsstands/bookstores bought for characters, but i suspect I was wrong about that. Bit of both for me, the creator or the character. For the former: Grant Morrison for sure, Scott Snyder and Dan Slott though Slott is recently hit or miss. As for the latter: Batman (UK), The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen. Read DKSA for the first time this year. WTF was the main reaction then coming round to liking it. Add another voice to the choir. Thank you to Brian and The Unholy Dragon who recommended Gotham Central to me years ago so I read the available ones at the library, #6-40. Shame I wasn’t able to read the whole run. Luckily Batman: Arkham, a monthly UK magazine which collects stories from Arkham Unhinged and Detective Comics has started printing the run from the beginning in May of this year saying it’s the inspiration for the hit TV show, Gotham. Least I can say I've read the whole thing then.

Well fuck sticks. That definitely harshes the mellow on this news. I was thinking, "holy crap double title main event for huge stadium show." I really wanted that Condit/Lawler fight too. Seems insane that a thumb injury derails a fight that far off, but whatever. Guess they can give Lawler/Condit the original Rousey/Holm spot. Fuckity fuck.

Cheers, Casey for finding that leak.

This will be contentious...I'd say the same about the Jason Bourne trilogy. There's no fourth film out there ; ).

You got me looking at my top ten for 2013 and top ten for 2015 to compare. I think you might be right. 2013: 1. Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena. WWE SummerSlam, 18th August. ***** 2. Daniel Bryan vs. Antonio Cesaro. WWE RAW, 22nd July. 3. Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk. WWE SummerSlam, 18th August. 4. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton. WWE RAW, 24th June. 5. The Undertaker vs. CM Punk. WWE WrestleMania XXIX, 7th April. 6. Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio. WWE Payback, 16th June. 7. The Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio. WWE Smackdown, 11th January. 8. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho. WWE Payback, 16th June. 9. Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian. WWE SummerSlam, 18th August. 10. Goldust/Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns. WWE Battleground, 6th October. 2015: 1. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins. WWE WrestleMania XXXI, 29th March. ***** 2. Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins. WWE Royal Rumble, 25th January. ***** 3. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks. NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, 22nd August. 4. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch. NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, 20th May. 5. The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar. WWE SummerSlam, 23rd August. 6. Seth Rollins vs. Neville. WWE RAW, 3rd August. 7. Rusev vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens. WWE RAW, 13th July. 8. John Cena vs. Kevin Owens. WWE Money in the Bank, 15th June. 9. John Cena vs. Cesaro. WWE RAW, 7th July. 10. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn. NXT TakeOver: Rival, 11th Feburary. I'd certainly take Bryan vs. Cena from 2013 over all in 2005. I'd also take Bryan vs. Cesaro which I recently watched for the first time since it happened. From 2015, my top five.

Shit. Sorry 'bout that matey. Oh man - you better hope you aren't on his Shia LaBeouf list LOL Cheers bud.

Redwing!

Thank you. Shows and matches. Matches the better of the two. I know you want a brief list, but Senor Lariato updates his NJPW World guide all of the time. The darker the gold, the better he thinks the match. Standouts from this year for me include: Ishii vs. Honma, Kyle O'Reilly vs. KUSHIDA in the BOSJ final, Kenny Omega vs. KUSHIDA, Ibushi vs. Honma, Styles vs. Tanahashi from 2/11 (I can't find video for it), Ibushi vs. Goto (3/15, again - can't find video), Styles vs. Ibushi, Shibata vs. Sakuraba, and Styles vs. Okada. Those are all from prior to the G1. My favourites are the BOSJ final and the Honma matches. There's a lot more, but I thought I'd pick the best of the best as you said. People generally seemed to like the Goto vs. Nakamura match for the IC title at Dominion but it didn't do much for me. Cheers for the help pal!

IOU a like! Let's see if these are legit. Look it. I'm with Cap'...till the end of the line.

Posting this here as it was the best part of the build to The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar.

Best one in ages.

I'd agree with that. While I enjoyed Becky/Sasha more, the story Bayley had to get to that match was more compelling and worth the extra half star I wasn't sure if I preferred Bayley/Banks or Banks/Lynch watching them one after another today. Right now I'd go for Bayley/Banks as I found it more emotional with a hotter crowd. I'd give Bayley vs. Banks ****1/2 and Banks/Becky either the same or ****1/4. Can't go wrong with either match.

This: followed by the the kneeling punches exchange is one of my favourite moments from a wrestling match this year. Might top it.

Awful story. Thoughts go out to reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward families and friends.

Horrible story. Thoughts go out to the families.