Poll of the Day > Kayfabe: Official Wrestling Topic of POTD

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm trying something new. It could be a success or a massive failure, but you don't know until you try.

Professional Wrestling has been a hobby and a way of life for me for over 30 years. I've been to countless house shows and dozens of Pay Per Views and a few Wrestlemanias. I even somehow convinced my wife to become a huge fan. (I'm a lucky guy)

Those of you old enough can remember more than 20 years ago when I started posting here because my brother found a place to get video games cheats and walk through from one of his high school buddies. Therefore, I've been here a while. I gained a wife and a family and lost two kidneys and a leg over that time.

The point is that life has ups and downs and so does Wrestling. I understand that Wrestling will never be as popular today as it was in the Attitude Era, or the Monday Night Wars Era, and I don't expect it to be. What I do expect is that enough people on these boards will care enough to drop in and post a thought or two every few days.

Much like the Geek topics I will have an opening question.

"Whois your all time favorite Professional Wrestler and Why?"

HappyPosting!


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Macho man randy savage because I like the song "macho man"

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My favorite is also Macho Man Randy Savage b/c he was my favorite as a kid (never was a fan of Hogan). Just really solid all around, in ring athletics, very distinctive look and voice, and one of the best promos.
If I tried to ignore nostalgia, it'd probably be Kurt Angle, though

Sting overall is my fave. Then Jericho

I'd have to go with Mick Foley. He just did so much in and out of the ring

I still remember Royal Rumble 5 with Ric Flair... that was the craziest rumble

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Lokarin posted...

I'd have to go with Mick Foley. He just did so much in and out of the ring

I remember as a kid logo g his matches with the undertaker when he was going by mankind.

Jimmy Valiant, Ryback and Goldberg.

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I still think it should be called the Mark (or Smark) topic instead to go along with the Geek topic's theming.



Btw, Rusev's promos have really gotten worse since getting fired from the WWE >_>

The Wave Master posted...

"Whois your all time favorite Professional Wrestler and Why?"

Either Hulk Hogan or CM Punk. Hulk Hogan has had an insane career and, even though he works a limited style, he has charisma (whether he's selling , a great promo, a great look, and a. The only reason I'm putting him over CM Punk is because I've been a fan for a lot longer (and, you know, because Punk is scrawny). CM Punk is a great worker, he has an incredible promo, the tattoos are great, and a tremendous amount of charisma. And on top of all that, he's straight-edge. The only thing I don't like about him is that he got out of wrestling way early and I missed his whole fucking championship run while it was happening because I stopped paying attention back when VKM decided to push Lashley on ECW over Punk. And other than having an incredible physique, Lashley was lousy at the time (and even now he has a terrible promo).

Other favorites (in absolutely no order) include:

Roddy Piper, for his promos -- and I've always been surprised he didn't have more of an acting career

Kurt Angle, for his in-ring work.

Scott Steiner, for his absolutely insane promos, monstrous physique (in his later heel years), and style.

AJ Lee, for the personality and agility. She's also adorable.

Alexa Bliss (who I haven't watched in a while but they've given her some ridiculous storyline), who can deliver a decent promo and is a natural chickenshit heel.

Cody Rhodes is a tremendous talent, even if it's being squandered now. He's also sometimes done stupid shit like stopping in the middle of a fucking grudge match to give a kid a high five.

Maybe Edge, although his in-ring hasn't always done it for me.

Matt Hardy, but only for the ridiculous gimmicks and promos. He's lousy in the ring.

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https://youtu.be/4LfIa8M2htE

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Clench281 posted...

Macho man randy savage because I like the song "macho man"

streamofthesky posted...

My favorite is also Macho Man Randy Savage b/c he was my favorite as a kid (never was a fan of Hogan).

100% agree.

I didnt like Hogan until 96 when he went to the NWO.


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Stone Cold, baby!

I've been a Sting mark since I was a kid. Doesn't matter which Sting either:

Beach Blond Sting - Yes
Crow Sting -
Older Worker Sting - Yup
Can't wrestle anymore because he's 60 Sting - Of course.

Chris Jericho - because he's awesome and has been for decades.

CM Punk - Because he's great in the mic and once stole a Suvway sandwich for a promo.

Undertaker - Because he's the best big man ever. Sorry Fro Man, bit he is.


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HornedLion posted...

100% agree.

Snap into a Slim Jim!

The Wave Master posted...

I've been a Sting mark since I was a kid. Doesn't matter which Sting either:

I never liked Sting, but I really wasn't watching as much during the 90s when he got big so I didn't have any real attachment to him once I got back into wrestling and was watching TNA years later. I guess the other half of it was that I always saw him as a WCW guy whereas I'd been more of a WWF/E fan, and only really bothered with WCW for its ex-WWF/E talent.

The Wave Master posted...

Chris Jericho - because he's awesome and has been for decades.

Jericho has had a lot of great runs over the years, including that thing he had going with Owens which I guess VKM finally wound up burying. His last WWE run was probably what made me a fan finally, but then his stuff with AEW has just been bad. He looks like shit (which they tried to work into his gimmick), he's still trying to do a lot of the same moves but he's kinda sloppy now, and I still have mixed feelings about his new persona. Plus it was just weird that they were trying to have him be a heel yet also making the wrestlers posing as audience members sing his entrance music, which is just such a slap in the face considering the guy was so committed to being a heel in WWE that at one point he refused to sell merch because he didn't want fans to either support him or show support for him. Now he's supposed to be a heel again yet he's peddling branded booze and having the fake audience members sing his music?


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The Wave Master posted...

"Whois your all time favorite Professional Wrestler and Why?"

Undertaker. I love gothic things and he's had some of the best feuds in the history I've watched wrestling (around 30 years at this point). His streak was awesome and he knows the business so well. I doubt we will see another like him. Mark Calaway seems a down to earth guy too in person based on his broken skull sessions interviews. Sadly never met him in person.


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wwinterj25 posted...

His streak was awesome

It was such bullshit that they broke it on Lesnar, of all people. Lesnar is a part-timer who was already over. They could have used that to build the next big heel and give him permanent heat. Otherwise they should have let him retire with it.

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Zeus posted...

It was such bullshit that they broke it on Lesnar, of all people.

I disagree. Brock made good of the rub. Plus Taker and Brock are good friends irl. Thing is though Taker had a concussion during the match and he's always wrestled with carrying on the streak and wrestling in general so just let Brock take it. His Last Ride documentary is very insightful.

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wwinterj25 posted... I disagree. Brock made good of the rub.

It didn't give him anything he didn't already have. So instead of getting some use from it, you didn't really get anything. Yeah, they played it up afterward, but Lesnar was ALREADY the company's top heel and the fact that he barely worked meant that interest in the brand as a whole was down in that time, particularly when put the belt on him.

wwinterj25 posted...

Plus Taker and Brock are good friends irl.

I'm going to need a citation for that, because they seem naturally opposed given that Taker's love for the business should have made him more inclined to dislike Brock. And if it's just a remark from a documentary defending the decision, I wouldn't take that at face value because Taker is a company man and does what VKM asks.

wwinterj25 posted...

Thing is though Taker had a concussion during the match and he's always wrestled with carrying on the streak and wrestling in general so just let Brock take it.

Which is why they shouldn't have had him wrestle at all. Just retire him with the streak.

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Zeus posted...

It was such bullshit that they broke it on Lesnar, of all people. Lesnar is a part-timer who was already over. They could have used that to build the next big heel and give him permanent heat. Otherwise they should have let him retire with it.

I hate Brock so much. Hate might not be a strong enough word, and my hate only grew when he beat Taker at Mania. You're absolutely right about putting permanent heat on an up and coming star, but then to use it on that no talent idiot. It was the wrong move, and Vince's booking is just insane the last 10 years or so. It's probably the steroids. Naw, it's definitely the damn steroids.

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Zeus posted...

I'm going to need a citation for that

https://youtu.be/L-E1OJuneXw

I'm not going to provide more "evidence". This is well known.

Zeus posted...

Which is why they shouldn't have had him wrestle at all. Just retire him with the streak.

That would benefit nobody. He got a concision during the match.

The Wave Master posted...

It was the wrong move, and Vince's booking is just insane the last 10 years or so. It's probably the steroids. Naw, it's definitely the damn steroids.

Not sure it was the original plan. Taker just couldn't kick out due to concussion.

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wwinterj25 posted...

That would benefit nobody.

First, it didn't "benefit" anybody now. Second, leaving it intact would have done more for Taker than it did for Brock, as well as doing more for Wrestlemania.

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Zeus posted...

First, it didn't "benefit" anybody now. Second, leaving it intact would have done more for Taker than it did for Brock, as well as doing more for Wrestlemania.

Brock got beat and kinda past on the rub. It doesn't matter if you agree or not. I'm not bothered with debating this with YOU.

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wwinterj25 posted...

Brock got beat and kinda past on the rub. It doesn't matter if you agree or not. I'm not bothered with debating this with YOU.

Passed the rub on to who?
Even MORE part time Goldberg (first guy to beat him clean, before they 50/50 booked it to give Lesnar his win back)?
Roman Reigns, who was so hated by the fans that it took a literal cancer diagnosis for them to stop booing him (but still not really cheering)?
Seth Rollins, who got over on his own and if anything his sketchy WM 35 win and then hot potato of the title to an from Lesnar a few months later basically killed interest in his reign?

Lesnar spent half a fucking decade burying the entire active roster, and it's that godawful booking that lead to the huge drop off in viewers over that time period and since. Like, why the fuck should we get invested in any of these dudes when Lesnar is just gonna show up again someday, destroy everybody in his path, and immediately get a title shot and win it?

Beating Undertaker was a poor decision, but it's utterly dwarfed by how terrible his booking was since then. Like, it almost seems quaint to be mad about breaking the streak now compared to everything his run in WWE has been since then.

It was delicious watching the SD ratings plummet to below USA Network levels within a month on Fox (in twice as many homes...) after God Beast Lesnar truly jumped the shark on the Fox premiere episode, at least.

WCW: Ron Simmons
ECW: Sabu
WWF/E: Shawn Michaels

Honorable Mentions: Barry Horrowitz, Kofi Kingston, Chris Jericho, Kevin Nash, Shane Douglas, Andre

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I was wrong, but I really thought Razor Ramon was the same actor as Irwin R. Scheister


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streamofthesky posted...

Lesnar spent half a fucking decade burying the entire active roster, and it's that godawful booking that lead to the huge drop off in viewers over that time period and since. Like, why the fuck should we get invested in any of these dudes when Lesnar is just gonna show up again someday, destroy everybody in his path, and immediately get a title shot and win it?

This so fucking hard. VKM's obsession with a part-timer who would often hold the world championship then, in addition to rarely showing on tv, would only defend the fucking thing every third or fourth PPV had a pretty clear hand in lowering interest.

Brock Lesnar could have been the best worker in the world (which he's not, although he's an impressive physical specimen who can do a handful of moves incredibly well) with the best promo in the business (which he was never known for) and it would have been a stupid idea. It's hard to get people to care about a brand with an AWOL champion.

Granted, it was just one part of a larger trend of VKM burying the current roster (except Roman Reigns) in favor of part-time attractions which is just another reason why the WWE has struggled to build stars despite having a tremendously talented roster.

And thinking about Brock Lesnar, it still pisses me off how much the WWE fucked up poor Shelton Benjamin. The shit that they stuck him with -- like that Shelton's mama gimmick -- could have buried anybody. (Granted, it still wasn't as bad as the Beaver Cleavage gimmick which was DOA, or that time they put Vito in a dress for no fucking reason.) They've always under-used him, misused him, or just straight abused him despite the fact he's an incredible talent. (Granted, in the time I wasn't watching, apparently he was used in the Hurt Business which, by the time I learned it was a thing, he'd already been removed from >_<)

Lokarin posted... I was wrong, but I really thought Razor Ramon was the same actor as Irwin R. Scheister

They don't look remotely alike >_> Plus both IRS and Razor were active at the same time, during at least some of which they were working for different companies (albeit "Razor" was going by his real name in WCW, etc)

Fun fact -- IRS is Bray Wyatt's (and Bo Dallas's) dad

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this isnt keyblades

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Zeus posted...

They don't look remotely alike

I know, but at the time I was like 8

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If I was king of wrestling I would make it illegal for wrestlers to use their real names. Also everyone must have a gimmick.

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I was reading through the Ashley Massaro deposition (because that clip Winter posted reminded me about the incident and I realized I'd never learned the details), but before even getting to that shit I ran into a major WTF:

On August 15, 2005, after weeks of competition on air LIVE on Monday Night RAW, I won the 2005 RAW Diva Search, which the WWE had represented would entitle me to $250,000in prize money and a one-year contract with the WWE. I continued to wrestle for the WWE until July of 2008. I did not wrestle for any other entity before or after my time with the WWE.

Upon winning the competition,I was informed that I could choose to accept the $250,000 prize money,and rather than work for WWE as a wrestler, serve as the faceof the womens division. I accepted this offer. It was my understanding that I would receive the full $250,000 and would not be required to wrestle but would work for WWE in a spokesmodel capacity for one year. I was given a contract by John Laurinaitis, which I no longer have a copy of, and signed it.

After I signed the contract, Vince McMahon insisted that I had been represented by an individual named Rich in Marina Del Ray, CA, and tried to force me to pay him 20% of the $250,000.This individual had never represented me so I refused which almost resulted in me losing my contract. This was my introduction to the coercive and unscrupulous tactics employed by the WWE to take advantage of its performers.

And it just gets fucking crazier from there:

I was classified by WWE as an independent contractor rather than an employee. I still have copies of payment records. Despite WWEs classification of me as an independent contractor, I was obligated to perform at shows four to five days every week. At the time, I didnt really understand the difference the significance of this distinction.Not only was the requirement that I perform 4-5 days a week inconsistent with my independent contractor status, but it came a shock to me because I was specifically told I would not have to wrestle and would serve as the face of the womens division.

However, one week from the day I won the competition, I was thrown into a wrestling match and forced to perform in a wrestling match. I had literally no wrestling training at the time and I did not know how to safely execute any moves or be on the receiving end of any moves. As a result of being immediately thrown into a grueling schedule of performing at shows four to five days week with no training, I immediately began sustaining constant injuries.In my first month with WWE, I had a match with a veteran WWE female wrestler at a house show. She performed a move on me called a back-breaker. I had an expectation at the time that if she intended to perform such a move in a match, she would have taken me aside beforehand to show me how to do the move properly as she was aware I had no training and was expected to learn along the way. However, she not only neglected to teach me how to perform the move, but she worked me stiff (which means she was being particularly rough) because I was new. As a result, my back was slammed directly into her knee,and I sustained a severe back injury.

During my second week with the WWE, I asked Stephanie McMahon if I could receive wrestling training. Typically, this would have required me to attend WWEs Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) school in Louisville, Kentucky. Stephanie said no, because I would be off TV and I would lose my fan base, and I would lose my spot and the WWE would not give it back to me. The reason for this was that I had been fortunate enough to develop a strong fan base while participating in the Diva Search competition.This however was a double-edged sword. Since I was popular with fans and generating higher ratings and profits for the WWE, WWE would not allow me to take any time to actually learn how to wrestle.

I always had mixed feelings about Ashley because, while I kinda liked her, she never felt like she really belonged in the spot that was given and this really goes a long way in explaining it.

Granted, that must have changed how the whole thing worked because I can't remember Layla having those problems. Plus she had a reasonably good career, both in terms of performance and duration. (Then, of course, you have fucking Eva Marie...)

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The independent contractor thing is blatantly illegal and against the definition of that employment category, but nobody is willing to get blacklisted from the business in order to spend tons of money in court fighting against a bllionaire's legal team.

Andrew Yang (who is a big wrestling fan) repeatedly said if he was part of Biden's admin, he'd specifically investigate WWE and pro wrestling's use of independent contractors and bring the hammer down.
But sadly, Biden didn't pick him for anything and he's apparently going to be mayor of NYC instead.

streamofthesky posted...

The independent contractor thing is blatantly illegal and against the definition of that employment category, but nobody is willing to get blacklisted from the business in order to spend tons of money in court fighting against a bllionaire's legal team.

I'm not even talking about the independent contractor thing -- which, in the case of the WWE, is bullshit because they have non-competes (and, come to think of it, a lot of non-wrestling 1099 work is bullshit because there are non-competes as well) -- but it's all the other insanity between trying allegedly changing the terms, trying to cheat her out of some money, and then having her work tv without any training (...then again, that kinda seems like what they're doing with AEW at times >_>)

streamofthesky posted...

Andrew Yang (who is a big wrestling fan) repeatedly said if he was part of Biden's admin, he'd specifically investigate WWE and pro wrestling's use of independent contractors and bring the hammer down.

And like a wrestler, that was probably just kayfabe.

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streamofthesky posted...

Seth Rollins

Bingo. Doesn't matter how or why but yes this was the "kinda rub" I said. Your feelings on Brock are irrelevant here. Brock beating Taker was shocking but now I liked it in insight. The streak was for some folk the only defining thing about Taker and that's bullshit. Ontop of that who was the right person to end the streak? Some folk think nobody and I think it had to be somebody despite being advocate for Undertaker even now. Good times.

Lokarin posted...

I was wrong, but I really thought Razor Ramon was the same actor as Irwin R. Scheister

Bray Wyatt sends you hugs.

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wwinterj25 posted...

Bingo. Doesn't matter how or why but yes this was the "kinda rub" I said. Your feelings on Brock are irrelevant here.

When is this supposed "rub", exactly? His WM win was...sort of clean? But most consider his clean win to be months later after Lesnar cashed in on him to get the title back, at like Summer Slam, I think.
And that "rub" was so good that just like 1-2 months later, fans were booing him and rooting for The Fiend to take the title off of him...
Some rub.

streamofthesky posted...

His WM win was...sort of clean?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD57egIcW88

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wwinterj25 posted...

Bingo.

Wasn't it like a year before Seth beat Lesnar? By the time Seth got over on Lesnar, I would imagine people had forgotten about whatever impact that Lesnar might have got from beating Taker. After all, Lesnar is and has always been an attraction. Having Rollins beat Taker, however, would have given him permanent heel heat.


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Lokarin posted...

I was wrong, but I really thought Razor Ramon was the same actor as Irwin R. Scheister

Not to be mean, but that's funny. IRS is Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas' daddy. But Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall was too drunk to play multiple roles on any show. Unless that other role was drunk and confused.

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Zeus posted...

Wasn't it like a year before Seth beat Lesnar?

Brock beat Taker at WM 30. Brock won his matches at WM until Seth beat him at WM 35. This is a almost 5 year wining streak for Brock at WM save for the cash in from Seth at WM 31. I'm not sure I'd even bother counting that cash in though as it was a throw away thing as most cash-ins are. Still technically Brock was beat at WM after a year and that's why I said it's a kinda streak he was on. Nothing will ever come close to what Undertaker had achieved but I wasn't against the streak ending. It's just a shame Undertaker got a concision during the match so was wrestling like a drunk. Otherwise it could have been a fun match and maybe we would have got a different outcome. I guess we will never know.

I would also say the build up and matches Taker and Kane had are part of the one the best feuds in wrestling history period. The first Hell in a Cell mach at Bad Blood 1997 was awesome when Kane made his debut. I miss Percy Pringle too. They don't make managers like they used to anymore. *sigh*

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I plan on doing a review of Smackdown, Raw, and AEW every week. They will be of varying lengths depending on what happened each week. Since Raw is basic an hour of recap every week... then it'll be the same length as Smackdown and AEW.

What I need or hope... is that someone is willing to bite rhe bullet and review Impact Wrestling every week. It's usually two hours of mess on AXSTV. I might peak in on the show and post my thoughts if I'm not too busy, but I can't promise consistent reviews of that show.

Also, I hate to admit but I don't have a subscription to New Japan World or Ring of Honor or Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and if anyone is keeping up with them more than I am thoughts are always welcome.

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At this point, the only shows I'm actively following are AEW Dark & Elevation since they're on YT (meaning it's easier to skip forward) and are almost exclusively just in-ring stuff. (And as I may have mentioned here or elsewhere, WWE's matches are better but I really want to see more matches rather than a lot of filler... and I'll skip ahead pretty heavily at times when the performers are really lousy or do shitty stuff.)

Elevation has been getting hard to watch because they're starting to run it 2.5 hours at times

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Review of Smackdown April 30th. (Sppilers)

The last day of April probably gave us the best match on Smackdown in a long while between Roman The Reigns and Bryan Danielson. The biggest surprise wasn't that Roman won, but that he won clean. No interference, no shenanigans, just a great clean match. For once the booking didn't fail us, and as I enjoyed my Raspberry a Lemonade on a slightly warm Saturday afternoon, I was really proud of Vince for letting the match be stronger than the booking.

Now that DB is off Smackdown where does he go? Does he retire to be a father to his kids? (I've watched wrestling and Goku from DBZ as a father long enough to know he's not taking this option.)

Maybe he goes to Raw or maybe he goes to NXT and works a program with Finn Balor, which would be great. This is where I'm sure WWE will drop the ball. They always do.

I do like the "Conchairto" that Roman hit DB with as an nod to Edge, who has disappeared after Mania. I'm sure this sets up the main event for Summerslam if the long term booking holds.

There was some other stuff on Smackdown with Big E (who hopefully gets a push up to Roman after Summerslam) and Apollo Crews... Who is gotta be the first person in WWE to gain a foreign accent after losing his American one, but Commamder Azeez using The Average Khali's finisher helped keep the belt on Crews.

More wrap up on the next post...

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Part 2 of the April 30th Smackdown. (Spoilers)

Bianca Bel Aire Is a beast; picking up Mr. Ziggeles in a fireman's carry, which was impressive. Again, I know she picked up and carried a posted Otis before Mania, but this was a dead lift carry, no posting. Furthermore, I can feel that hair lash tail whip she hit Roode with as I type this. She shouldn't use that move too often against women, but if she's going to use it against men, it's a nice ace in the hole. Overall, predictable WWE booking of a tag match, but it was fun, so I was pleased.

Bel Aire vs The Man at next Mania, you can book it, if injuries or maternity leave doesn't hinder the potential match.

Finally the stuff with Reggie, Baseler and Oreon's crush, Nia Jax. Unless, and I mean unless, this whole things evolves into Baseler admitting she's in love with Nia Jax, and WWE isn't that damn progressive, then what are we doing? I'm not saying they have a better option with the Women's Tag Titles, but this isn't the answer either. Unless Reggie gives us a swerve and says he's in love with Baseler, which probably isn't happening either, then this is a waste of time, because the matches aren't good either.

I'm going to refrain from giving number scores, but overall I was pleased with the main event and some of the undercard stuff.

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At last Reigns has new music. I like your review and Reigns vs DB was the highlight of that Smackdown. A clean win is also very good. It seems Cesaro will be next in line to face Reigns on next weeks "retro smackdown". On that note I love when Cesaro came down for the save only to be tied up in the ropes and been forced to watch Reigns give DB a con-chair-to on his neck that took him out of action when he retired. No idea what happens with DB now. I'm hoping he turns up in NXT.

I'm also enjoying Apollo lately. As predicted the IC match ended in a DQ and will probably lead to Backlash but I like it. It's refreshing with his Nigerian persona going on. I'm also keeping my eye on Aleister Black. His new promos are fun but I hope it won't suffer from Bray Wyatt syndrome where they say a whole lot of nothing in their promos and loose where it matters because WWE don't know what they are doing.

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What the hell is going on with Wrenkowski at this point? Last week's Elevation saw Nyla Rose powerbomb Madi (her tag team partner), leaving her for Swole & Velvet to pin. This was after she came out looking scared -- also not terribly well-explained, although their first and only other tag match saw Madi coming in against Nyla's wishes. I'm not sure if this is the start of a really weird feud to finally push Wrenkowski or if the storyline is just Nyla trying out a series of new partners until she finds a top gal to work with..

However, I'm not sure why AEW has so many women's tag matches (well, other than having too many women on the roster) since there's no women's tag team title. (Which also bugged me about AEW running so many "trios" matches; it's like they copied the concept from WWE doing it, while not understanding *why* WWE had often been doing that. In the WWE, it was very often used to put wrestlers in upcoming PPV feuds in the ring together as a way of teasing the PPV fight without taking heat off that upcoming match. But instead these are just matches for the sake of matches, and don't even fit in the sports-based crap because you can't exactly rank trios when there aren't any trios titles and treating trios wins as just normal wins would be silly. Granted, how much can you expect from Tony Khan when he has a massive, epic blowoff where the Inner Circle get their revenge and utterly humiliate the Pinnacle... basically at the start of the feud. The only way the Pinnacle's treatment would make sense if they were the faces)

Otherwise the penultimate match was Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky (who I'd never liked before he teamed with Page, although his inclusion in SCU had always been weird and now I just he's just not in SCU because... lazy booking? Not to mention that they've been talking about SCU being the top-ranked tag team for months now yet countless other teams have had tag team title matches) vs.... I think Alex Reynolds and number 5? Just two Dork Order job guys. Decent enough match, it should have been the main event instead of a fucking Janella match which I wound up skipping because Janella was in it. Page is good in singles, but he also works great as a team with Sky. Hopefully Tony Khan doesn't break them up too quickly. (Also what's up with AEW having two Pages and two Cages? >_> That roster is way too big.)

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Zeus posted...

In the WWE, it was very often used to put wrestlers in upcoming PPV feuds in the ring together as a way of teasing the PPV fight without taking heat off that upcoming match.

It's actually because they want everyone they possibly can on the card and if a singles wrestler in a six man tag match gets hurt then there is no drawback. Not unlike the reason WWE struggles to do tag teams these days. They just throw two single wrestlers together. Moreover just look at the womans tag team title match scene in WWE. Shayna Baszler has no business being in a tag team title scene. A single monster run is what she needs and deserves.

But instead these are just matches for the sake of matches, and don't even fit in the sports-based crap because you can't exactly rank trios when there aren't any trios titles and treating trios wins as just normal wins would be silly.

Trio titles are coming soon I believe. Probably why they have so many factions. A little too many really. I wish the ranking system wasn't a thing. It makes stories hard to follow. I only watch Dynamite though. If you can't tell me the full story on your main show then it's not a story worth my time. Although I do watch Being The Elite but that's nothing more than a backstage pass of sorts. I really love The Dark Order and how they are paying tribute to Jon Huber.


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wwinterj25 posted...

Trio titles are coming soon I believe.

tbh, it would be a great addition and something that would set AEW apart from other promotions. I'm not opposed to the idea of trios, I just haven't liked how they've been used in AEW so far.

wwinterj25 posted...

I wish the ranking system wasn't a thing. It makes stories hard to follow.

That and it completely buries enhancement talent, especially ones who they start to actually use later on. It makes sense to mention the wins/losses for top competitors, but knowing that somebody is 0-9 doesn't do them any favors and having the announcers scream, "They're looking for their first win in AEW and tonight can be that night" is just ugh.

The whole thing is just so counter-productive. Not to mention that it flies in the face of the sports-based presentation since other sports wouldn't be bringing back people who had never won a bout let alone using those people to determine rankings.

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This week's Elevation saw Ryo v Abaddon, a match I wouldn't have expected since both are still pretty new and seemingly being pushed

In general, I've kinda grown to like Ryo despite having some comedy wrestling leanings. She should not be doing that leg drop finisher, though. That's what fucked up Hulk Hogan.

Also AEW has the worst refs. Fucking Aubrey keeps calling bites as a break instead of a DQ. Crappy match all around. And I kinda figured that Abaddon would have to go over Ryo, since Abaddon hasn't lost to Hikaru yet and AEW needs to keep feeding her new opponents because Hikaru doesn't work programs with anybody.

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Still making my way through Raw, and it's already fading from my memory. That's just how pedestrian it is, and I still have 45 minutes left. ..

Eva Marie's fine ass is coming back to barely wrestle but look great, and I guess i'm okay with that from the standpoint of being a straight male, but as a wrestling fan this doesn't move me at all.

I am upset about the terrible no notice break up of Shelton Benjamin and the other black guy not The Beta Male, Cedrick Alexander, because there was zero buod up and there will be zero pay off, making it pointless. I guess I'll finish tomorrow, but with NXT tonight who knows.

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All favorite wrestler is Christian. I always was a fan of Luigi over Mario, and he fit the bill.

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...I don't know what the fuck the AEW is trying to do with Madi Wrenkowski at this point.

First, the other week they stick her in a random tag team with Nyla Rose where Madi is acting obnoxious, but not out of character. Then their next tag team bout, Vicki is cutting a promo on Madi (despite being Nyla's partner) and Madi comes out acting scared. At the end of the match, Nyla gets ticked, powerslams Madi, and lets either Velvet or Swole pin Madi while she walks out.

So in Elevation #8, it's Nyla vs Madi. Nyla comes out first (which surprised me, since I was wondering if it meant that Madi was already out) -- with Vicki doing some shitty Vicki things -- then Madi comes out, not acting scared of Nyla but watching her back, and I was wondering if they were going to do something really crazy like let Madi beat Nyla. But no, it's a squash match. Madi gets a few hits in, but she's straight-up demolished and Nyla breaks her own pin attempt so she can use another finisher on Madi.

That could have been a whole fucking angle if Tony "Slow Burn" Khan had let them tag for a while *then* broke them up the same way and let cut the girls cut some promos on each other before having a match. I'd probably even keep the same outcome, because -- as much as I love Madi -- she's *not* on Nyla's level. She's a tiny/petite early 20-something who's still green at the gills. I'm kinda expecting that at some point they'll start using her as more than enhancement talent, especially because AEW has maybe a dozen half-decent job gals now (maybe they'll have to make a female version of the Dork Order >_>)

Also, on the subject of AEW's horrible booking, in TWO matches tonight you had a wrestler deliberately break their own pin so they could keep punishing an opponent. WTF? That's a cool move with a lot of impact *because* it's not often seen.

Oh, plus what the fuck is up with AEW pronouncing QT Marshall's name two different ways, even in the same program? The pre-tape pronounced it Mar-shale while during the match it was Mar-shell. I've noticed this happen quite a few times, and I don't get it.

The Wave Master posted...

Eva Marie's fine ass is coming back to barely wrestle but look great,

"Barely wrestle" is a lot more than Miss All Red Everything (as they kept awkwardly pushing as her nickname) did in the past. They used to just have her sit in the audience for NXT or whatever. I remember one of the channels I had been watching back then ask if she was even a wrestler any more.

The Wave Master posted...

I am upset about the terrible no notice break up of Shelton Benjamin and the other black guy not The Beta Male, Cedrick Alexander, because there was zero buod up and there will be zero pay off, making it pointless. I guess I'll finish tomorrow, but with NXT tonight who knows.

So after getting kicked out of the Hurt Business or whatever, their team also broke up? Oo

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Zeus posted...

So after getting kicked out of the Hurt Business or whatever, their team also broke up? Oo

Yeah. Didn't make any sense to even split up the hurt business in the first place. Alexa Bliss promos are going nowhere fast too. Also someone should send out a SOS for Bray. Nobody knows where he is. I do enjoy RKBro though and imagine they will be built up to face AJ Styles and Omos for the belts. They probably will win too.


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