Brandon Bones

Do you think there is any merit to the idea of “referee’s discretion” as far as the arm drop goes? We also see it with a rope break being an actual contact with the ropes vs. a part of the body being out of bounds UNDER the rope. Yeah, it’s weird and visually inconsistent to the crowd in the room. But it’s happened enough either way maybe that idea could fill in the logical gaps.

I had a great time watching the PPV.

I’d wager that NJPW has their expectations managed. They will often have the champ lose matches within the borders and framework of the existing G1 tournament. I seriously doubt they’d be unaware or even have a fear of it casting any sort of dark cloud over WrestleKingdom.

But that’s only because of the Darby injury, right? On the surface, him being a substitute as a tag wrestler would make it easier to plug him to do a bunch of jobs. Or maybe these would be the matches Darby would have won and Coach Tony is still following the mapped out plan?

And Joe winning being something of a curveball too might be indicative of the current booking mood. Could invite a “flailing hot shot booking” accusation. But the idea of Eddie Kingston winning the AEW title isn’t someone being unrealistic.

I really appreciate episodes like this where the format for a typical Wednesday night goes out the window. A bit of variety for a break in repetition. You shouldn’t do it all the time. But when ya do… Loved the Women’s B&G. Thought the entire heel team in particular were excellent throughout. Shafir stood out to me but for me she often does. Skye’s blade job was monstrous. Loving Bryan on commentary. As somebody who fucked his tailbone up doing sledding jumps as a kid. That Hobbs bump off the announce table really hit me different brother brother brother. Fucking ouchie. I hate that goddamn sled. The cage being lowered a bit faster during the Hangman beatdown might have given a bit more of a sense of urgency. But Hanger managed to keep it on track with the ferocity of his promo. And boy does it warm my old man heart to see Ricky Steamboat (get beat up). Anytime I do I think about his comeback against Jericho and smile. I suppose one of the challenges of doing a show with two big and exactly the same gimmick matches on the same show. So going second can be a tougher spot. But they largely achieved what they were going for. The advantage at the beginning does work best when the heels can put the faces in danger. But you can get away with it if it means a little shit in need of a beating like Yuta and Garcia can hold the narrative down long enough for them to pull some shenanigans to tip the scales and get the heat anyway. And they both set up their finishes beautifully. Loved it.

I haven’t seen the whole show. But Claudio and Roddy was great for me as a “nothing but wrestling cut out the bullshit” match. What I really liked was the prison window segment. It’s not the brand of thing I’d book all the time. But here it did a service to allow the characters to just talk TO each other rather than AT each other like you’d get with an in ring promo battle. The reflection in the glass was a beautiful benefit so the camera can get right up in the face of who is speaking while still catching the reaction or just to see them actually listening. Now just wait another 6-8 months before AEW tries anything cinematic again.

In contrast to how last season crushed me like a bug. I’m really looking forward to season 2. Hopefully they can keep it going.

Bringing Cedric in with the predisposed expectation that he fall in line with the HS. Only for him to plot twist it into a different direction isn’t the worst start of an idea.

Gen V is pretty great. 5 eps in. This Hamish Linklater guy is quite the revelation. Maybe I should go finish Midnight Mass.

Did anyone else notice that after Darby/Mox… The announcers were doing a 3 shot promo. While Ex was doing the run down. Bryan seemed kind of “in his head”? Like he was planting a narrative seed for something in the future?

I think that might be the selling point that makes bringing him back acceptable. That tag team would have a lot of upside. It certainly couldn’t hurt the often overlooked Rush.

In a world where AEW PPVs are almost routinely called “Greatest of All Time”. This time around I guess I will have to settle for merely fantastic. Loved: Bryan on commentary. Bozilla having a great debut. Toni being on a streak of amazing. And that cage reminding me of the ROH Cage of Death vs. CZW from 06. AEW crowds. Might have been the best Zero Hour ever. Moné well spent. Didn’t love: The finish of Hanger/MJF. Still a killer match. Both guys rule in ring.

I can breathe easy now.

Paul E. Smooth vs. CM Punk. I don’t know who Paul E Smooth is. But everything he said about Punk is true. https://youtu.be/slLln3jLZLc?si=yM1Zx9gDL7fu6HJk

I had not ever heard or seen pro wrestling in the latter half of ‘84. It was in 4th grade I overheard a trio of boys comparing the heights and sizes of Hogan, Andre, and Dusty. This was the criteria by which that they would determine the outcome of whatever combination of match. Actually… excuse me. The height and sizes determines who was guaranteed to kick whoever’s “fucking ass”. All within earshot of my disinterested Home Room teacher. Meanwhile the MTV crossover would soon grab my attention and I’d later completely buy in from the Orndorff piledriver heel turn.

https://youtu.be/p7JD2CqTKS4?si=QOEC2XbR7yD88V4G ”Ozzy” - Beck ”Ozzy… you’re THE MAN! How can I… vast your power?”

He got that last show. He looked elated sitting on his evil throne. Ozzy rules. I’m going to find a sharpie to write O-Z-Z-Y on my knuckles.

I just checked and it’s still available at the moment.

But I’m still betting the show itself will be really good.

I’ll spitball this booking philosophy idea, that even in the face of all the dream match potential of inter promotional shows. They’re a pain in the ass to the existing narrative of your weekly shows and big destination events. I’m guessing the booking would seem to be burdened by the interruption. Made even heavier by how one weaves it back into things. It’s like taking the off-ramp and then immediately getting back to the on-ramp to the highway. I haven’t much liked some of the pasted together feel in the vibe of Forbidden Door build ups. It only ever feels like things pick up until that go home episode of Dynamite when all the outside talent gets into town. The events themselves have been brilliant. Because of course it was. A lot of great wrestlers worked those shows. So what do you do with your champion who has the most important character arc on a show that kind of gets in the way of it. Historically, in the rare occasions inter promotional events… has anybody been that generous to put World Championships on the line? Not really and who could blame them? Not much from shows like these carries over once the narrative main stream returns. The all too obvious and unfortunately reductive choice is IF YOU DID do a title for title deal. Time Limit Draw. Ugh. And who would really have that much trust to actually let the other teams guy go over and relinquish control of that narrative you built? I’d love to see them try and what an earnest effort could produce. It’s ironic that my suggestion is pretty much everything that often gives these shows a placeholder feel. Hide Hanger out in the open in a tag match. Team him up with Darby against Mox and Umino (there has to be something a bit bigger than that) and have your actual main event be more about pride or whatever. I’m spitballing of course. Is there anyone in NJPW or CMLL that even could have that marquee value that could catch up people like me against Hangman title match or not? I’m way out of the loop. It did just occur to me that lower card titles over the years haven’t been as taboo. But that not really what you’re trying to push out front.

https://youtu.be/c-f0DwbNF08?si=EG2hqpgsd43Y8fRd Roger Moore as James Bond kicks that car with a guy in it off a fucking cliff.

Hang in there, sir.

I agree that the game engine had a lot of potential. But my criteria is a bit different since I run a sim league and rarely ever play the game. FF I thought was a strong start but it has a long way to go. Perhaps my needs are really only being met by the 2k games BECAUSE OF the annual turnaround times giving the developer years to set me up. You’d have thought they’d have examined every other wrestling game and improved upon them. That history could be the teacher. But I’m thinking budgets got in the way to build from scratch like that. So like the idea of continuing to build on existing property.

I nominate Roddy Strong. Also I would KEEP doing that to Roddy so it becomes like that running joke on Jimmy Kimmel where Matt Damon is always booked on the show but they always run out of time.