4 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

  I would think this will bring Athena into the mix. 

Didn't Toni call her out when she threw out a challenge to the "forever champion"?

3 minutes ago, SovietShooter said:

Didn't Toni call her out when she threw out a challenge to the "forever champion"?

She also mentioned a belt collector aka Mercedes.

Dralistico deserved to get pinned after those flubs. It almost looked like him and Hobbs weren't getting along at the end. 

For all the post-PPV story progression tonight I think everything was done really well. I mean there were two MJF segments and both were good. The second time, he cut an intense promo that I liked. That does not happen often. (The spray tanner though... jeez dude, don't ask somebody if you missed a spot, ask them if you should do it at all next time.) Granted, I did miss the first half hour of this, so I'm gonna have to go do another run-through.

Not just poor Swerve,  poor everyone if this reign continues.  It's not just here, man.  Nobody likes this Death Riders thing anywhere and that crowd of 11k+ in L.A. shit all over that main event.  We've talked about Tony pivoting. Some have argued that he often does.  I would argue that he doesn't pivot quick enough.  That Young Bucks story line with them acting like they were Succession brothers went over forever and nobody cared about that either. 

19 minutes ago, Casey said:

Next week, I believe. It might bring Athena up, but if the plan is All In for their match, it's still too early. Maybe we get a Billie/Mercedes feud in between? I'd be okay with that, the youngster can go.

Speaking of All In - oh, poor Swerve. The way Ospreay was cutting that promo, specifically about Mox, leads me to believe he's retaining at Dynasty (and probably Double or Nothing, if they run a title match).

Probably not at Double or Nothing. It'll be Death Riders in an Anarchy in the Arena match.

10 minutes ago, Curt McGirt said:

Dralistico deserved to get pinned after those flubs. It almost looked like him and Hobbs weren't getting along at the end. 

I think what happened was that Hobbs wasn't supposed to roll out of the way when Dralistico came off the top with the elbow drop after the big outside-in-suplex from Cage.  Dralistico went for the cover like he hit it, and Hobbs just covered it by selling up from the suplex.  I think Dralistico then started trying to sandbag Hobbs, who in turn slowed down and kept things from falling apart.

And yeah, I agree, Dralistico should be eating pins...

Let's see what I missed tonight...

 

Mortos is still the company's designated job guy.

 

Mox /Cope again next week because someone is grumpy about the response the ppv match got.

 

...Good week to miss, with the bonus of not having to worry about next week either. Save us Collision?

9 minutes ago, SovietShooter said:

I think what happened was that Hobbs wasn't supposed to roll out of the way when Dralistico came off the top with the elbow drop after the big outside-in-suplex from Cage.  Dralistico went for the cover like he hit it, and Hobbs just covered it by selling up from the suplex.  I think Dralistico then started trying to sandbag Hobbs, who in turn slowed down and kept things from falling apart.

And yeah, I agree, Dralistico should be eating pins...

There were at least two clotheslines where Dralistico bumped before Hobbs hit him and he missed one of his own kicks by about two feet.

Also that sequence where Harleygram gyrated while Mortos stood there with his hands on his head was reminiscent of WWE Attitude-era shenanigans.

Kenny Omega continues to do nothing for me. Him being the first Grand Slam Champion is transparently because he's in The Elite.

Osprey's winding and wacky story involving his wife got a legit chuckle in this household, and apparently the internet as well.

That was the worst chair shot since Thunder Rosa.

I'm slightly intrigued by them having Hobbs pair with a lucha wrestler again. The mismatched dynamic kinda worked for me.

Never seen this Speedball fellow, but he looks like a weeb.

Hechicero is still the man! I really wished he become a full-timer.

MJF name dropping the pinnacle; a subtle hint or just a throwaway use of the word?

Max and his open challenge will never not be funny. Please keep doing this.


 

Edited March 13, 20251 yr by The Green Meanie

15 minutes ago, The Green Meanie said:

Osprey's winding and wacky story involving his wife got a legit chuckle in this household, and apparently the internet as well.

"Bad cobbles" 😄

26 minutes ago, The Green Meanie said:

Never seen this Speedball fellow, but he looks like a weeb.

I have to admit: I dug the jacket. The epaulets were cool. And his hair is less a mullet and more an insane grown out mohawk style mullet, so in other words, totally pro wrestling. Very Nasty Boys. 

Didn't pay a lot of attention, but one thing that came to mind during the match was that it must be hard coming into a fed where a lot of the stuff you can do can already be done by many of the luchadors there, and in a way already has. Or Ricochet.

Also, I noticed Castor lifting the “you are looking live” line from Brent Musburger even if nobody else did

I'd rather see Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin, Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Adam Page than Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay at All In. I can't see Mox losing the AEW World Championship till then.

Cope will have to cope with doing a job next week.

8 hours ago, Casey said:

She also mentioned a belt collector aka Mercedes.

I think Athena beats Mercedes for the TBS belt sometime soon (maybe in Warrior/HTM fashion?) and then we get Toni/Mercedes at All In. That’s definitely a stadium-level match. 

Obviously a rest show after the big ppv, but I thought they set up some interesting stuff. Nick Wayne finally stepping up to Christian, MJF starting to crack, and Ospreay with a genuine relatable promo that sets up him getting back to the main event scene. I wish that they would reverse the Mercedes feud with Athena stepping in prematurely to "defend" Billie, only to lose with Billie finally proving herself by being the first to beat Mercedes in AEW. The matches will be good either way.

Haven't seen much of Speedball. He looks cheesy as hell, but he was super over already and his style looks like it will play well in AEW.

Wasn't feeling Speedball.  I've seen the name for years, never went out of my way to seek out any of his matches.  Small, weird WWE-esque Cobra Kai presentation.  His outfit reminded me of Miz.  I was expecting a fast, flippy guy....not a barefoot, methodical karate gimmick.  This isn't someone I would have signed and treated like a big deal, felt out of place

And he beats fucking Mortos.  I feel like I've been begging for a Mortos push for a year now.  I hate that they're using him as a JTTS, I hate that they kept him heel and stuck him in that going nowhere stable with now you see him now you don't Rush.  Fuck, what a fucking waste of a super talented organically over guy.  Instead you're going to shove SPEEDBALL down my throat??  Fuck you.

100% with Soviet Shooter on the 97 WCW vibes with the luchadores.  I thought the same thing watching the show and it wasn't the first time

And of all the lucha guys they use Dralistico has shown me the least.  He's not even a good JTTS because he never makes his opponents look good.  Totally only there because he's related to Rush.  As great as Rush is, and how seemingly low maintenance he is when it comes to wins/losses....I feel like he's playing an entirely different game.  Pin me, pay me, hire my dad and my shitty brother, sorry gotta stay in Mexico for another 3 months I got "visa problems" esse......

I see you Rush

Edited March 13, 20251 yr by ExcellenceofAirPollution

Ouch. Too true.

Tony K coming in and reading that post:

TK is re-running Mox and Cope next week again? This is Vince levels of fuck you I'll tell you what you like. 2025 AEW is becoming 2013 WWE. When does TK bring his family out to say I hear you and we're making changes just keep watching lol.

Idk that I'd go that far. Cope/Mox was an ill-conceived program, but for where they're at now, they kinda have to see it through. A quick turnaround Dynamite match almost certain to end in shenanigans that send each guy their separate ways is fine. Not anywhere near stretching the Big Show/Orton feud multiple ppvs then trying to make babyface Batista happen when people only wanted Bryan.

Going back and watching the matches: 

Spoiler

Boy Dralistico was off. Who is Holly-gram? 

Speedball is silly. That was my verbatim response to seeing that stupid multiple kick into a pose, it's silly. That only works for me if this guy is a heel and trolling the crowd. As usual the heat is during commercials so we don't really get to see Mortos beating the crap out of him, unless you want to focus on it (and I never do unless a match has totally got me). Mortos clearly blocks a kick with his arm in full view of the camera and sells it like he got hit in the head anyway. I'll give them this, they do make it look like he could possibly squeeze out a win and Speedball might lose his first match because he's such a skinny weenie getting crushed, which would be novel, but it's Mortos! He'll do the yob for ANYBODY! (Nice kick to finish though, gotta admit)

Caster gets beat up again, now by Takeshita. Because of this, I finally (kinda) like Caster. The line about "maybe I could finally get that contract" is some internal-dialogue-that-shouldn't-be-coming-out shit, good work. 

Willow has been missed. The mini-feud with heel Stat was fun but an unnecessary detour, she needs to be at the top of the mix. Last night I thought this had a lack of heat at first but I was mistaken. Unfortunately it does suffer from the PnP. The incredible flexibility of Penelope in that crazy Gory Special that Willow puts her in is something else. Alas, Willow will beat your ass down. Penelope responds with a Lance Storm pulled chairshot -- maybe worse -- no, definitely worse -- so Stat comes out and kicks the thing right in her fucking face. Megan Bayne is now going for the top of the card and the middle? Interesting way to go. Without the chair this would be tops. 

Hechicero says "look into my creeeestal baaaaall" and uses that to twist the wrist which is a neat variation of the rudo handshake. He also promptly lands on his face from bouncing off the ropes and runs away from a tope. It's the little things. The heat is really good with Orange's head getting kicked right into the side of the steps and eventually going to work on the knee, where at one point he dragon screws Orange's leg through the ropes then uses the second one as a fulcrum to jump up, drop on it with his shin and apparently damn near dislocate the knee. Veeeeeery nasty looking. Cassidy not being able to kip up is beautiful. We forget that Hechicero was also working the hand earlier to avoid the punch! The mousetrap that ends everything is messy but it looks like it should be due to injury. Great little match and I'd watch them go again in a minute. 

On a scale of 1-5 of "Would Gordi Like This Dynamite" I'd say 4. The wrestling was pretty good and balanced out what wound up being a LOT of talking and angle advancement. Watching all that stuff in fast forward reminded me how good all of that was, too, especially Christian being an uber-dick to Renee and both Waynes while whats-his-face just stood there with his thumb up his ass until following Christian away like a dog left behind while it wasn't paying attention. 

Edited March 13, 20251 yr by Curt McGirt

Speedball’s WMAC Masters Ho Sung Pak gimmick just makes me miss Morris 

It makes me miss Ernest the Cat Miller is who it makes me miss. "You people make me sick!"

I don't like Speedball Mike Bailey either.

https://www.wwe.com/videos/scott-norton-vs-ernest-the-cat-miller-nitro-feb-1-1999

"Cat's callin' you out!" Steiner running in off camera fuelled by a massive amount of steroids to yell at Norton and demand he go to the ring is the cherry on top. 

25 minutes ago, Go2Sleep said:

Idk that I'd go that far. Cope/Mox was an ill-conceived program, but for where they're at now, they kinda have to see it through. A quick turnaround Dynamite match almost certain to end in shenanigans that send each guy their separate ways is fine. Not anywhere near stretching the Big Show/Orton feud multiple ppvs then trying to make babyface Batista happen when people only wanted Bryan.

I agree, they kinda have to have a blowoff now, especially since they honestly couldn't do it at the PPV. They just couldn't: they need blood and two matches already gave the crowd more blood than they could possibly stomach, and both those matches work-wise blew anything they could throw at them for the finale out of the water. Look at it this way, it could be a mercy killing. This depends on what they do with the Riders of course. In any case everybody needs to go away for a hot minute and give everything room to breathe.