Zakk_Sabbath

I've gotta wonder if we get one more Cody/Dustin tag team run before Dustin hangs it up, and if so, maybe they'll get a quick title reign (though generally speaking, AEW has been pretty good about not hotshotting titles around for quick ones). As far as a Cody world title reign, I see four possible scenarios: 1) a semi-illogical situation where the Champion goads him into breaking the stip for reasons unknown. Probably something that we'll all roll our eyes at like "Cody, I know you're such a great and honorable guy who always keeps his word, but I *need* to defend my belt against you because it's the *biggest match possible*" 2) At some point post-vaccine when we have crowds again, Cody becomes so popular that the fans demand it - maybe they put it to a fan vote, worked or otherwise - whether this is months or years from now or ever even happens at all (organically, anyway) is anyone's guess. 3) The extremely cheap yet extremely effective move of turning heel and saying "What about the stip? Who gives a shit - I'm an EVP and I can do whatever I want" to a chorus of boos from people who are about to go home and tweet about how AEW is JUST LIKE WCW IN 2000. 4) Cody legitimately never challenges for it and retires content as a 12 time TNT Champion, 8 time Tag champion, 5-time FTW champion, and 3x Dynamite Diamond winner

I like this a lot, but I kinda also feel like this is where they were heading with Hangman already anyway, so it's certainly possible it's blended in somehow. Thinking about it, maybe it would be cool if they turned the story on it's ear and instead they are the ones who teach Hangman to believe in himself - the way Brodie taught them to believe in themselves.

Very classy on Sting

I just can't believe it man, even with the best doctors in the world on the case. I just feel so sad.

I LOVE that. That's awesome.

I mean, logically I understand these illnesses exist and freak things happen, but on an emotional level, it's pretty fucking crazy whatever it was took him so quickly. I mean, that dog collar match feels like it *just* happened. Im having a lot of trouble processing it.

A friend just texted me the news, I'm in absolute fucking shock I really don't know what else to say

Those glasses make MJF look like a high school kid in court who just beat a pervert charge because "he's got a bright future."

It's not a shit take! I thought it's been a great conversation so far, and people are making great points. I understand that for all intents and purposes, the NBA twitter stuff is totally anecdotal, I'm just saying that if even the smallest correction could hook a few thousand more eyeballs on the next go round, why not? Its not a big enough deal to totally change course on the whole promotion or anything. I myself may have contributed to that perception by overreacting here when I first saw the twitter stuff, but it is what it is I guess.

AEW is less than two years old, and despite the massive success so far, is still in a stage where it needs to appeal to any and all audiences possible. The next time they have this opportunity, it needs to be such that it's final whistle right into like, Bucks vs Lucha Bros, no entrances. Or Eddie Kingston interrupting JR/Tony's rundown of the card to talk some shit. Grab them with just the best shit you've got to offer that they aren't getting on Mondays. That should be the MO. Maybe this is antiquated late 90s thinking, who knows, but I'd focus on making "WWE ripoff" the absolute last fucking criticism coming out of anyone's mouth.

Thinking it over, I now 100% think the Bucks/Acclaimed match would've been the best possible thing on that card to open with. If we're outright fantasy booking, I'd have sent Kingston out with a mic, or offered Mox a couple extra grand to fly out.

@Burgundy LaRueyour posts summed up a lot of my feelings quite nicely and I agree with you hard on the part where you said that it was a look outside the bubble. That's why even though it's bullshit Twitter trolling, it's still sort of like, meaningful feedback if you're building an audience. I guess there's a part of me that just wanted or hoped for better because it would be, as you alluded to, sort of a step into becoming possibly once again part of the zeitgeist.

I respectfully disagree. I took it as stunned silence, like man what did we just see?

Yeah fair point it's just a bummer, I'm a weirdo that way, I want people to like the stuff I like

I guess it's a good thing his Dominos never showed up the other night, he'd look even rougher

God fucking dammit. That sucks. Maybe in retrospect they should have opened with Sting or the Bucks match.

Dude Im sorry but I'm totally fucking down for 65 y/o Tully in a tracksuit vs Marko Stunt I don't even care

A few random thoughts: The Abaddon/Shida pre and post match angles were freaking awesome. Between this and the Taker sit-up a couple weeks back, I am becoming a full-fledged fan of hers. Also, I heard the woman Shida wrestled had a pretty bad match on Dark in one of the other threads, which I didn't have time to watch before today's show incidentally, but I didn't think she was that bad at all (save for one vertical suplex Shida gave her that looked a little funky). I can't say enough about the Kenny/Don pairing. To my ears, Don is on fire like Heyman was when he and Brock were still fresh. Have to agree on Dustin/Uno being a pretty great TV match. I really liked the missed powerslam/finger stomp spot a lot. Jade Cargill is one of the worst promos I've seen in a while. Plain and simple. I have no idea at this point what this is even building to. I thought Brandi throwing water on Shaq was the payoff and we got our fun little gif and we all moved on? If/when Archer vs. Kingston happens, I wonder what kind of match that's going to be. I liked the matches both had with Moxley so maybe something in that vein I'm slowly getting sold on the Miro/Kip/Penelope pairing, but I'm not quite there yet. Their promo wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad either. I don't know what it is, maybe the issue people want to cheer Miro but obviously they're full blown heels here with the wedding shit and opposing perennial babyface best friends. (On a side note, I hope Trent isn't being written out for a legit injury issue or anything - I haven't heard anything if so). If they were more tweener/faces, I could see them maybe capturing some of that random Dolph/AJ Lee/Big E energy. I was surprised that the Sting segment wasn't Taz' guys beating Sting/Darby down and then Cody/Arn/Dustin/QT etc. making the save. I have to wonder if this is heading there next week, cause this is like the second week in a row they've just kinda said their thing and then just... walked out of there, so maybe that'll be the final segment together to hype the title match.

I agree with you on this, and I myself am American. Personally, I blame HHH's reign of terror from 2002-2005, with honorable mention to late-era ECW Shane Douglas. You'll never hear two guys "in this business" it more.

I never really thought about this before, but when he came back in '98 as The Disciple, was it ever even mention d that he was Beefcake/Booty Man/etc. or were we supposed to believe he was just some dude who liked Hulk Hogan a lot?

I don't like it any more than you do, but for what it's worth, Jericho was the first to make the Eddy comparison when he was introducing the Inner Circle during their first promo together. So in this particular case, there's a little bit of gray area there in that it might be a talking point about Sammy that they're simply trying to get over. But to reiterate, I agree with your original point - totally outdated and dumb.

This is a weird one, but for some reason Griff's face reminds me of Chris Nowinski on Raw circa 2002. Maybe it's the whole ivy league thing.

I know the roster's already loaded, but God I'd love to see that.

Narratively/creatively speaking, I don't at all disagree with you, but I think in 2020 with everyone hip to the fact that he and Renee are expecting, it's not unforgivable. I think relative radio silence followed by a big return pop down the line is, while imperfect, a much better call than either a bullshit WWF injury angle that no one buys, or a lame via satellite "Kenny, watch your back! I'll be back when you least expect it!"