DreamBroken Posted May 6 Posted May 6 AEW announced Rhino will appear live this week, being in Detroit 4
Casey Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Taking away TV time from (insert AEW original here), that's terrible smh I'm sorry I couldn't resist. 2 4
TheVileOne Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I hope Darby Allin is documenting his expedition. I badly want to see a documentary showcasing his journey to Everest. Since he's finally doing it, AEW should milk this for all its worth. https://x.com/AEW/status/1919420056137580667 2
HarryArchieGus Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I suspect Rhino will be in to avenge his good friend Adam's injury at the hands of the wonderfully treacherous FTR. Maybe a segment on Wednesday sets up a 'Collision Main Event' of Rhino/Garcia vs. FTR. If that is the case those three will know exactly how to best use him. 1
RazorbladeKiss87 Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Of the WWE releases, I wouldn't mind seeing GiGi come in. Dakota too. Cora really regressed after her injuries and I didn't think she was that good to begin with. In all honesty, I wish they'd just use the women they have better. I will continue to heat my drum about Willow being a huge potential star. Tony, if you're lurking: there's room for more women. Come on man.
HarryArchieGus Posted May 6 Posted May 6 14 hours ago, COLETTI said: While I find it weird that this conversation happens every time there's a few releases and despite that AEW has never signed every name out there, I'm also willing to give most anybody a chance to try something new and come on over. Not everybody's gonna be a home run but why not see what could happen? Toni Storm has been mentioned a few times and while I've always been a fan and had high hopes for her, NOBODY could have predicted how amazing she'd end up being with this character. ...but also sign every one of them if it means no money for fucking Gabe Kidd /wishfulthinking Not that anybody could have predicted the Timeless character, but there was somebody from the beginning who saw Toni Storm as a top star - Dean. I hadn't seen Toni prior to AEW, but Dean suggested to me that she was as good as anybody in the world. He sang her praises every week in his wonderful and sorely missed reviews. 8 1
Craig H Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I will say that TK is really, really, really missing the boat with Willow. She is fucking over. Give her some room to work. Again, you have 4 hours of TV a week. There is no reason why so many matches need so much time. Fuckin, uh, christ, some of these tag matches where it's one tag team vs a jobber team don't need to go through one commerical break. It's fucking dumb. You can trim down some of these other matches to get a Mercedes match and a Willow match or a Stat match or a Toni match ON THE SAME SHOW. Also, caught up in all of this, I just realized AEW has the Grizzled Young Vets and they've been nowhere to be seen. We're heating up FTR again, which is cool, but can we carve out some room to get the GYVs over or not stop start with whatever they're trying to do with "JetSpeed?" 8 2
AxB Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I think one of the GYVs is injured. I do like the move in AEW to have six/eight man tag matches on the TV shows, it's a far better way to get more talent on TV. They should start doing that with the women too. If rather than the parade of Women's singles matches and occasional squashes, we start getting a women's trios match every week, far more women can get on TV and advance their angles (and they're a great way of moving from one feud to another; If they do Harley Cameron & Anna Jay & Willow vs Meghan Bayne & Penelope Ford & Abadon, it's a great way to segue the singles feud into Willow vs Maghan. 2
NikoBaltimore Posted May 6 Posted May 6 (edited) It's too bad the main thing Willow did recently was counter what Marina was trying to do. If Marina was a better wrestler it'd make perfect sense to have a feud between the two. But it feels like they're protecting Marina which isn't doing Willow any favors. EDIT: That felt mean for me to say that about Marina. To clarify she is pretty solid when doing squash matches but when going against a name talent things fall apart. With Death Riders she has a presence to her and does contribute well when called upon. It's just the wrestling that feels lacking to me. Edited May 6 by NikoBaltimore 1
Craig H Posted May 6 Posted May 6 The Marina experiment needs to end. It's like a baseball team trotted out someone that sucks but they paid a lot for so they have to try and use them, except Marina probably isn't getting paid a ton. 2
HarryArchieGus Posted May 6 Posted May 6 1 hour ago, Craig H said: I will say that TK is really, really, really missing the boat with Willow. She is fucking over. Give her some room to work. Again, you have 4 hours of TV a week. There is no reason why so many matches need so much time. Fuckin, uh, christ, some of these tag matches where it's one tag team vs a jobber team don't need to go through one commerical break. It's fucking dumb. You can trim down some of these other matches to get a Mercedes match and a Willow match or a Stat match or a Toni match ON THE SAME SHOW. I agree on Willow. She’s long been ready for a far bigger spotlight. I sorta wondered if there was an outside reason for the lack of tv time. The position alongside Cope was an okay rub, but that should have been parlayed quickly. Willowmania needs to run fucking wild already. 1 hour ago, Craig H said: The Marina experiment needs to end. It's like a baseball team trotted out someone that sucks but they paid a lot for so they have to try and use them, except Marina probably isn't getting paid a ton. I totally agree on Marina-the wrestler, but Marina-the bodyguard has been pretty great from the beginning. I just always hoped the endgame wasn’t her wrestling.
The Natural Posted May 6 Posted May 6 13 hours ago, DreamBroken said: AEW announced Rhino will appear live this week, being in Detroit Gore! Gore! Gore! 1
RazorbladeKiss87 Posted May 6 Posted May 6 9 minutes ago, HarryArchieGus said: I agree on Willow. She’s long been ready for a far bigger spotlight. I sorta wondered if there was an outside reason for the lack of tv time. The position alongside Cope was an okay rub, but that should have been parlayed quickly. Willowmania needs to run fucking wild already. I totally agree on Marina-the wrestler, but Marina-the bodyguard has been pretty great from the beginning. I just always hoped the endgame wasn’t her wrestling. My favorite thing about Willow is how genuine she seems. I know that social media is curated but I've always had the vibe that her real personality is close and it comes through in her wrestling. Willowmania probably isn't far from what they could have if they push her correctly. I feel you could have a Bayley style fandom of younger fans but also have the Millennial parents backing her too. 3
NoFistsJustFlips Posted May 6 Posted May 6 15 hours ago, SovietShooter said: This is my position. AEW didn't have enough time for Abaddon or Layla Hirsch, and I would love to see folks like Penelope Ford, Deonna Purazzo and Serena Deeb more than they are featured... not even considering folks like Athena, Red Velvet and Billie Starks toiling over in ROH purgatory. I'm not saying don't take a look at someone that may have some potential, but none of them are worth signing and rushing into Dynamite like they are a big deal. Your issue isn't with signing WWE women then the issue is with AEW's rigid format. There's no reason your two hour show should only have 6 matches a week when you're roster is so large. Worse yet, only one women's match a week on Dynamite. Period. No wiggle room. Craig's post explains it better than I can. In general using the exact same formula almost all 52 weeks in a year is so uninspired. People can say the booking in AEW is better than WCW's was or whatever. But there's so much more to booking than having 6 slots you just mix and match new matches into every week like it's an EWR sim. It's lazy. It doesn't matter that Collision and ROH also exist and have more flexible formulas. Dynamite is your A show and your A show has a lazy format. 1
Kevin Wilson Posted May 6 Posted May 6 4 minutes ago, NoFistsJustFlips said: There's no reason your two hour show should only have 6 matches a week when you're roster is so large. Worse yet, only one women's match a week on Dynamite. Period. No wiggle room. Craig's post explains it better than I can. I know this is one of your main talking points but its not really true at the moment. The last 12 Dynamites had 5, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 6, 4, 7 matches (this was a quick skim and count so if I missed one, not intentional) so 25% had six matches with a variety of match times but most in the ten minute range which has always been kinda true (as an average) for TV wrestling matches. While I do agree that it would be nice if there was an additional women's match more often, or more multi-women matches, the match number format isn't as rigid as you sell it as, probably different factors go into it. Personally I don't think forcing another match is the solution, the shows already have a fair amount of in-ring wrestling and there are always going to be promos to push the stories. But mixing up the mens/womens ratio I'd certainly be happy with. I also love Willow. Need more Willow and not just chasing around Marina although at least that gets her on the shows so she isn't forgotten. 4 2
ExcellenceofAirPollution Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I like Marina the bodyguard a lot. It's Chyna-esque. I kinda get the hate, but not really. Why does everyone need to wrestle? Like seriously, wrestling has been full of "non-wrestlers" who hang around forever She doesn't need to be wrestling straight matches, and it's easy enough to come up with some contractual reason why she'll only agree to "fights" but not sanctioned matches or some shit. It's wrestling, you can literally do anything you want and make it work 2
NoFistsJustFlips Posted May 6 Posted May 6 51 minutes ago, Kevin Wilson said: I know this is one of your main talking points but its not really true at the moment. The last 12 Dynamites had 5, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 6, 4, 7 matches (this was a quick skim and count so if I missed one, not intentional) so 25% had six matches with a variety of match times but most in the ten minute range which has always been kinda true (as an average) for TV wrestling matches. While I do agree that it would be nice if there was an additional women's match more often, or more multi-women matches, the match number format isn't as rigid as you sell it as, probably different factors go into it. Personally I don't think forcing another match is the solution, the shows already have a fair amount of in-ring wrestling and there are always going to be promos to push the stories. But mixing up the mens/womens ratio I'd certainly be happy with. I also love Willow. Need more Willow and not just chasing around Marina although at least that gets her on the shows so she isn't forgotten. One of the 12 weeks you posted defy my overall point. My point is doing so few matches every week is a disservice when your roster is so large. In 2023 and 2024 it was at at least 90% of the year they did 6 matches. I did the research at the time. Saying that number is more like 40% this year only debunks my point if you're fitting on more matches, not less. My personal preference for a 2 hour show is more like the pacing and variety of 2 hour Nitros. I looked it up back in 2023 when this became a talking point for me. But Nitro would vary wildly. It would be 8, 12, 9, 6, 14, 7, 11 etc. The amounts weren't static. The match times weren't static. One women's match isnt enough. 4 / 5 / 6 matches a week total isnt enough. You don't have to do 3 minute squashes where people don't get to shine. But not every match needs 15 minutes. Mix it up. Make it fluid. Make it fresh. Make it unpredictable. I don't think that's a crazy ask.
Kevin Wilson Posted May 6 Posted May 6 11 minutes ago, NoFistsJustFlips said: One of the 12 weeks you posted defy my overall point. My point is doing so few matches every week is a disservice when your roster is so large. In 2023 and 2024 it was at at least 90% of the year they did 6 matches. I did the research at the time. Saying that number is more like 40% this year only debunks my point if you're fitting on more matches, not less. My personal preference for a 2 hour show is more like the pacing and variety of 2 hour Nitros. I looked it up back in 2023 when this became a talking point for me. But Nitro would vary wildly. It would be 8, 12, 9, 6, 14, 7, 11 etc. The amounts weren't static. The match times weren't static. One women's match isnt enough. 4 / 5 / 6 matches a week total isnt enough. You don't have to do 3 minute squashes where people don't get to shine. But not every match needs 15 minutes. Mix it up. Make it fluid. Make it fresh. Make it unpredictable. I don't think that's a crazy ask. I guess my point is I do think they mix up the match layout and isn't just lazy 'six matches a week plug in different matches' as your post mentioned. I don't think Dynamite needs seven matches a week either. One week two big matches went 20+ plus, I'd rather that then four five-minute matches. They don't use the exact same formula week to week which was what I was showing. You mention not wanting a formula but in a way you are asking for one if you want Dynamites to have 7+ matches every week (which to me is too many matches on a regular basis), your issue is not wanting a low number of matches period even if it means variety. Variety is good, women's matches are very good. I do think what you are pushing for is a crazy ask as it would be difficult week to week to book seven plus matches, have them tell their stories, and also still have promo time to push other stories. I don't want TK to feel he has to hit X number of matches just due to the roster size, I want entertaining matches whether the show as three or eight of them. And honestly I don't think the majority of AEW fans want that either. You mention Nitro but I hated the late 90s RAW/Nitro formula where there were tons of short matches so maybe that is our disconnect. They'd have big matches like DDP vs Savage and it would go four minutes. Just trash, give me a 20 minute Fletcher vs. Page match any day of the week even if that means less matches that week. Honestly think that sounds awful, who wants two hour shows with this many matches squeezed in: Nitro 12/22/97: Fit Finlay vs. Eddie Guerrero Meng (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Steve McMichael Hector Garza, Juventud Guerrera & Rey Misterio Jr. vs. La Parka, Psychosis & Silver King Hammer vs. Chris Benoit Rick Steiner (w/Ted DiBiase) vs. Scott Norton WCW United States Heavyweight Title Match: Curt Hennig (c) vs. Disco Inferno Lodi & Riggs vs. Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) Buff Bagwell vs. Chris Jericho Randy Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs. Lex Luger Seven of the matches were six minutes or less even with that level of wrestler. That's garbage as far as I am concerned so if that's your ideal show setup then I don't think we are going to be on the same page on this one. But I do agree with more women matches/match type variety so we aren't on totally different pages, TK can always do better. 4
Matt D Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Will put it here instead of the weekly thread, but here was my take on Page vs Fletcher which does tackle the length/structure: http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2025/05/aew-five-fingers-of-death-and-friends.html 5
Technico Support Posted May 6 Posted May 6 41 minutes ago, Kevin Wilson said: Nitro 12/22/97: Fit Finlay vs. Eddie Guerrero Meng (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Steve McMichael Hector Garza, Juventud Guerrera & Rey Misterio Jr. vs. La Parka, Psychosis & Silver King Hammer vs. Chris Benoit Rick Steiner (w/Ted DiBiase) vs. Scott Norton WCW United States Heavyweight Title Match: Curt Hennig (c) vs. Disco Inferno Lodi & Riggs vs. Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) Buff Bagwell vs. Chris Jericho Randy Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs. Lex Luger Thank you for posting this. When I read "it needs to be more like Nitro" my first thought was, "outside the cruiserweights, Nitro kinda sucked. I should go look up a random Nitro to see if that's true." Fit Finlay vs. Eddie Guerrero -- might be okay, sounds like a real styles clash Meng (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Steve McMichael - shit Hector Garza, Juventud Guerrera & Rey Misterio Jr. vs. La Parka, Psychosis & Silver King - probably decent Hammer vs. Chris Benoit - Benoit probably did his best Rick Steiner (w/Ted DiBiase) vs. Scott Norton - shit WCW United States Heavyweight Title Match: Curt Hennig (c) vs. Disco Inferno - shit Lodi & Riggs vs. Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) - shit Buff Bagwell vs. Chris Jericho - Jericho probably did his best Randy Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs. Lex Luger - probably a fuck finish Double checking, this was also the episode where the NWO tore down the set. What a shitshow. Yes, please be less like Nitro. The good old days weren't always good. 1
Kevin Wilson Posted May 6 Posted May 6 To be fair I just picked a random 1997 Nitro as I couldn't remember when they went to three hours in 1998 (or 1999) but knew it was two hours in 1997. Times were different back then but I just don't think its something current wrestling should be trying to emulate. 2
NoFistsJustFlips Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I'll just have to withdraw my argument then because we're coming from two different places. I'm sorry longer doesn't mean better. That Fit Finley vs Eddie Guerrero match sounds fucking dope to me and it probably only had 8 minutes. Long matches for the sake of long matches is tedious (to me). I dont care if you run a 4 match Dynamite or a 6 match Dynamite if it's one week of a random rotation of variety and some weeks get 10 or 12 matches. If you want to run 4-6 matches a week cut your roster. It does no good as far as building sustained pushes and getting people hot if you see the average mid carder once in a four week span. I'm legitimately baffled there's people who enjoy a 4 match show and only seeing like 10 people out of a stacked roster that could support seeing way more talent. Including more women on a given show.
NoFistsJustFlips Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Just to support my argument a bit here a video came up in my You Tube feed where Wrestle Me reviewed the Raw where HHH tore his quad. And my god the pacing and format was such a breath of fresh air. Shit happened. A lot of shit. So much shit. On the same show. It wasn't just a slow content churn like 2020s wrestling is. An Austin promo to start the show. A major Shane and Angle program starts with a medal ceremony angle. Undertaker messing with Austin is threaded through the show. Terri trying to seduce APA to protect her. Spike & Molly romance. And one of the best TV matches of all time is your main event. -Rhyno v Big Show -APA vs Saturn & Malenko -Matt Hardy vs XPac -Dudleys vs Holly's -Edge & Christian vs Eddie Guerrero & Jeff Hardy -Kane vs Kurt Angle -Benoit & Jericho vs HHH & Austin It's 7 matches but shit happens. There's varriety. There's story advancement. There's unpredictability. There's a fucking banger of a match in the main. That's what I look for in my wrestling TV. Give me some of that in 2020s wrestling. And if you disagree then we just aren't going to have nay common ground here. 1
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