SovietShooter Posted January 6 Posted January 6 5 hours ago, Brandon Bones said: So you don’t think that some supplemental content delivered through an alternative couldn’t have some merit? Maybe to an underexposed talent that could parley that onto TV? 5 hours ago, Brandon Bones said: But I wasn’t necessarily suggesting BTE specifically be brought back to prominence. Just that the work done on the show week to week did a lot of heavy lifting in getting things over. To go back to my original reply... aside from BTE, a lot of these Vlogs rose to prominence during the pandemic. These guys were kinda trapped in bubbles at Dalys Place or at hotels, so they could just fuck around making content all day. Now that the world has gone back to normal (ha!) I don't think these folks have the same amount of downtime to do the skits and stuff now. I do think AEW themselves could really take advantage of online platforms more, with things like streaming content, long form interviews, etc. But, they don't seem interested in that. 3
Casey Posted January 6 Author Posted January 6 Ethan Page taking AEW wrestlers on toy hunts was the best thing to come out of any of these vlogs because the viewer gets to see a side of, say, Jamie Hayter, that they wouldn’t see on TV. That’s the kind of stuff I personally want, real life things. Not John Silver, the character, defending a title where they see who can throw ketchup packets the farthest or whatever. Maybe that’s just me, I’m not sure. I’m probably in the minority but I think the way AEW handles what they have right now for TV is just fine, as in rotating characters out on a rolling basis. The Outrunners have done just fine for themselves without a vlog for their characters to show growth or whatever, for example. I mean, who are we really advocating to get a BTE-like shine thrown onto them in 2025? Serpentico? AEW doesn’t have a wealth of jobbers or “lower midcard” guys like they did during the pandemic when they brought a ton of indie dudes in. Maybe you can argue for some women, but honestly, I dunno, maybe book more than one women’s segment per show? Crazy idea. 6
Craig H Posted January 6 Posted January 6 The Bucks were burned out on BTE well before Brawl Out even happened. A couple times they nearly ended it. The best stuff to come out of BTE was all of the Hangman stuff, which people can argue should have been on TV more, obviously Brodie Lee and the rest of Dark Order getting massively over as a result of BTE (HYPERBOLE ALERT - Mr. Brodie Lee's stuff is probably up there with some of the funniest shit from Chappelle show), the Best Friends/Statlander beating the shit out of Wheeler Yuta every week, Eddie Kingston cutting a promo on Sour Patch Kids or Oreos, some of the stuff with the Librarians, and obviously a ton of the pre-AEW BTE stuff before we learned Joey Ryan was a disgusting piece of shit. When Brodie passed BTE died with him. It was never the same and it just became the Bucks buying sneakers somewhere, the weird as fuck shit with Ryan Nemeth, Private Party doing their own version of Atlanta, and basically stupid games for the BTE title which would then get dropped. I did really enjoy Ethan Page's toy vlog because it was cool seeing a bunch of toys I had as a kid and it was awesome the one time they went to a Toys R Us in Canada. 7
Curt McGirt Posted January 6 Posted January 6 (edited) 1 hour ago, Craig H said: Brodie Lee and the rest of Dark Order getting massively over as a result of BTE (HYPERBOLE ALERT - Mr. Brodie Lee's stuff is probably up there with some of the funniest shit from Chappelle show) I was gonna bring that up right before I read this. Brodie's constant verbal abuse complete with innumerous "FUCK"s and Silver and everybody being cringing lackeys (TM Skeletor) was hilarious. The KFC one, as I recall, was the best. EDIT: Oh man. Here is the full 48 and change minutes of Brodie and the Dark Order on BTE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTa8RH1jZ5o&ab_channel=TILWrestling Edited January 6 by Curt McGirt 2 2
twiztor Posted January 6 Posted January 6 1 hour ago, Craig H said: When Brodie passed BTE died with him. It was never the same and it just became the Bucks buying sneakers somewhere, the weird as fuck shit with Ryan Nemeth, Private Party doing their own version of Atlanta, and basically stupid games for the BTE title which would then get dropped. i was trying to remember the stuff that i consistently skipped. Ryan Nemeth's bits was the fucking worst. i am not a sneakerhead so didn't care about the Bucks' shoehunt, but it was mostly unimportant and only took up a couple minutes so i'd watch it. I forgot all about the Private Party bits.....never understood what they were even going for. i liked the BTE Title stuff though. but yeah, Kingston's short lived "promo school" was awesome. 10/10 need more of that.
RazorbladeKiss87 Posted January 6 Posted January 6 For a while, Page's vlog was one of my favorites because he was doing indie shows and Impact so you got to see life on the road and that's always going to interest me. Road life in any profession (or hell, just any way of life) is interesting. I very much identified with the Modest Mouse line "I like songs about drifters, books about the same." 1
JLowe Posted January 6 Posted January 6 I watched Ethan’s vlog a couple of times because I vaguely collect vintage figures, and it was enjoyable. I once thought about reaching out to him to see if he wanted to trade AEW tickets for some toys, but I also once posted here that he would be more over if he showed half as much personality in the ring as he did on the show. I watched Rosa’s taco vlog once to see where she was going in San Antonio. It was fun enough. In the end, I’m an old who has limited time after my work and other duties and sitting down to watch YouTube is not something that really appeals other than Dark and Elevation. I was one who complained about storylines being advanced on YouTube. I think there is a lot of room for a YouTube highlights and interviews show, like the old days syndicated stuff, but i would not want to feel like I had to watch that to know what was going on when i sat down to watch dynamite. 3
JLowe Posted January 6 Posted January 6 I guess I can add that i don’t really care for live or sketch shows either, not just watching/listening to someone talk about stuff. I don’t listen to podcasts or sports/news talk radio.
Casey Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 no joke, outside of the stuff around the Toni Storm character, the interview that Renee did with Statlander today might be the single best piece of women’s content (non in-ring) they’ve done. She’s a babyface, realizes the mistakes she made in the past, is pretty down on herself, and doesn’t know if she deserves forgiveness from Orange, Chuck and Willow because “all I’ve done is lose lately”. 2025 is basically her redemption arc, and hopefully it leads to the Women’s World title. Great stuff, IMO. 6
username Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I guess I'll drop this here but... it was odd to end Athena's 2+ year unpinned (unbeaten?) streak on a NJPW preshow match, right? Like I know it wasn't clean but it was the first time I pondered if she's being kept down in ROH because they don't see as much in her rather than to anchor the company. 1
Go2Sleep Posted January 8 Posted January 8 13 minutes ago, username said: I guess I'll drop this here but... it was odd to end Athena's 2+ year unpinned (unbeaten?) streak on a NJPW preshow match, right? Like I know it wasn't clean but it was the first time I pondered if she's being kept down in ROH because they don't see as much in her rather than to anchor the company. I think that's obvious, whether that assessment of Athena by the powers that be is right or not. She's clearly the veteran "good hand" to give the young women (mainly Billie) some practice working big matches. It's too bad, because running a condensed version of the minions angle would've played extremely well on the main shows and they'd have Billie as an emerging young star. 1
Casey Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 6 hours ago, username said: I guess I'll drop this here but... it was odd to end Athena's 2+ year unpinned (unbeaten?) streak on a NJPW preshow match, right? Like I know it wasn't clean but it was the first time I pondered if she's being kept down in ROH because they don't see as much in her rather than to anchor the company. I’m not sure about pinned, but she’s definitely not undefeated in tag/six person matches. And she’s lost to Willow once before during the Owen Cup in 2023, I believe. The only streak that matters involving Athena is her ROH Women’s title reign, which has already passed the two year mark I’m pretty sure. I think she’s just being used to build up Starkz, so she ends the reign eventually, possibly WrestleMania weekend I guess? And she’s definitely given the title way more prestige than it ever had before. I’d be shocked if she’s not on the AEW roster by All In Texas. 6
stuntmanc Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I'd love to see Athena pin Mercedes at All In, just my own personal fan booking. 5
The Natural Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) 16 minutes ago, stuntmanc said: I'd love to see Athena pin Mercedes at All In, just my own personal fan booking. Athena deserves a big AEW push. Athena's great. I do think it'll be Kris Statlander who ends Mercedes Mone TBS Championship reign. Edited January 8 by The Natural 4
stuntmanc Posted January 8 Posted January 8 1 minute ago, The Natural said: Athena deserves a big AEW push. Athena's great. I do think it'll be Kris Statlander who ends Mercedes Mone TBS Championship reign. I wouldn't mind that at all. I am just going off of recent interviews saying that Athena wants to wrestle Mercedes. But I keep ignoring the Statlander element and that's on me. 1
NikoBaltimore Posted January 8 Posted January 8 12 hours ago, username said: I guess I'll drop this here but... it was odd to end Athena's 2+ year unpinned (unbeaten?) streak on a NJPW preshow match, right? Like I know it wasn't clean but it was the first time I pondered if she's being kept down in ROH because they don't see as much in her rather than to anchor the company. I don't get that impression at all even though I see why you think that. She's main evented a few of their PPVs and the minion stuff is the one most talked about when ROH is mentioned. I definitely see her as the anchor and feel she could ease into that on AEW proper with different people. Even without the minion stuff she's a helluva wrestler who kicks all kinds of ass so not sure what they wouldn't see in her. 3
worldcupfever Posted January 8 Posted January 8 3 minutes ago, NikoBaltimore said: I don't get that impression at all even though I see why you think that. She's main evented a few of their PPVs and the minion stuff is the one most talked about when ROH is mentioned. I definitely see her as the anchor and feel she could ease into that on AEW proper with different people. Even without the minion stuff she's a helluva wrestler who kicks all kinds of ass so not sure what they wouldn't see in her. Agreed, she's pretty easily been the best thing in ROH over the last 18-24 months. Also, minions are hot these days. 2
Godfrey Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Got caught up on the AEW matches I wanted to see over the holidays and I have to shout out Shelton Benjamin vs Kyle Fletcher from the CC. A near perfect sports-based, character-driven TV wrestling match, tightly worked but not over the top with a great finish. Shelton has been doing god's work in that company. The only downside was Don Callis on commentary, terrible as a manager and as a heel announcer. I also watched Fletcher/Ospreay 1 and the fist half of the rematch (snooze) and as far as I'm concerned Fletcher is already the better wrestler of the two. Kyle can go toe to toe with the best at the breakneck flip style but I'm not sure Ospreay has the intangibles to work a match like Fletcher/Benjamin. Excited to see how young Kyle develops from here 2
Matt D Posted January 8 Posted January 8 30 minutes ago, Godfrey said: Got caught up on the AEW matches I wanted to see over the holidays and I have to shout out Shelton Benjamin vs Kyle Fletcher from the CC. A near perfect sports-based, character-driven TV wrestling match, tightly worked but not over the top with a great finish. Shelton has been doing god's work in that company. The only downside was Don Callis on commentary, terrible as a manager and as a heel announcer. My favorite match of the C2. 4
NikoBaltimore Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) Fletcher does an Orton tribute but manages to not make it an Orton tribute act. In doing that I think it's allowed him to slow down and really get a feel for how to interact with the crowd. Which he excelled at in Hammerstein especially against Garcia where they chanted "Randy". I'm not gonna get on whether Orton is a GOAT or anything but you can do a lot worse to pattern off of than him. Oh, and yeah his match against Shelton was aces. Edited January 8 by NikoBaltimore 2
Zakk_Sabbath Posted January 8 Posted January 8 1 hour ago, NikoBaltimore said: Fletcher does an Orton tribute but manages to not make it an Orton tribute act. In doing that I think it's allowed him to slow down and really get a feel for how to interact with the crowd I agree, the comparatively slower pacing since the turn has helped his crowd work improve tenfold along w assists from Callis, but by the same token (and this is where your '...but manages to not' comes in, IMO) it's not like he's just catching chinlocks for 2 segments straight or anything either. He's doing a good job so far of warding off that Seth Rollins/PAC thing we've talked about here some years back, where they can be almost too flashy to work heel sometimes because it's legitimately impressive shit 1
twiztor Posted January 8 Posted January 8 6 hours ago, Godfrey said: I have to shout out Shelton Benjamin vs Kyle Fletcher from the CC. A near perfect sports-based, character-driven TV wrestling match, tightly worked but not over the top with a great finish. Shelton has been doing god's work in that company. The only downside was Don Callis on commentary, terrible as a manager and as a heel announcer. couldn't agree more about the match. fantastic. couldn't disagree more about Callis. I find him the highlight of every segment he's in. His time at the booth is, to use one of his words, tremendous. 1
The Natural Posted January 9 Posted January 9 If you didn't watch Wrestle Kingdom 19 and Wrestle Dynasty, the AEW standouts were Kenny Omega, Konosuke Takeshita and Mercedes Mone. Wrestle Kingdom 19 was one of the worst Wrestle Kingdom's ever whereas Wrestle Dynasty was great and felt more like an actual Wrestle Kingdom.
The Natural Posted January 9 Posted January 9 5 hours ago, twiztor said: couldn't agree more about the match. fantastic. couldn't disagree more about Callis. I find him the highlight of every segment he's in. His time at the booth is, to use one of his words, tremendous. I'm with you on Don Callis on commentary. Always enjoyed him there. 2
username Posted January 9 Posted January 9 18 hours ago, Casey said: I think she’s just being used to build up Starkz, so she ends the reign eventually, possibly WrestleMania weekend I guess? My fear after she beat Starkz again last ROH ppv is that she's gonna be stuck in ROH until her title reign is at least a day longer than Roman's for the longest "major" title reign of the past how many decades as... well I'm not saying Tony is that petty but I wouldn't be shocked if he was. The thing is ROH has no real audience of note (my gut feeling is the random variance between AEW show's ratings each week is likely larger and is only considered statistical noise) and Athena getting as hot as she did while stuck there was a minor miracle in the first place yet there was already less excitement around her come Final Battle 24 then there was at 23. If she gets out by Mania week she'll be fine, if we are waiting another year or so I worry.
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