I do like these answers. Brock doesn't seem like a grilling debater though...
But couldn't Brock just smash through them all?
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Joshiuary Wrasslin |OT| The Year of the Shining Star
- Thread starter Serene
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Makes sense. Wrestling peaked with that tag match last night.
Heel vs Heel expect Nattie and Becky to get involved. Beth is there tomorrow so they can further the Kabuki Warriors vs Divas of Doom Wrestlemania match.
Carny as hell. Wonder who they could get to replace him. Too late to bring in some other exclusive japanese legend due to time needed for VISA's. They may be able to get someone already in town but that doesn't have the same appeal since they're probably working some other show which is less impactful then being the only show Muta is wrestling at.
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I really enjoyed Revolution overall. I feel like as emotional payoff for the build that they've been developing it worked in that respect. Here are my totally unsolicited match ratings and explanations.
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) (with Alex Reynolds and John Silver) defeated SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) - 2.5 stars - This match bubbled to just above 'ehhh' status. The match needed to do two things primarily. Establish that the cool dads who let you eat ice cream for dinner will stick together (to serve as an emotional contrast for The Elite) and to emphatically disprove that Christopher Daniels is The Exalted One. The match did both things but nothing more than that. Aside from inverting McMahon's "It was me all along" entrance nothing really clever or new happened here. It did what it needed to and didn't outright suck. Not the thing to encourage last minute PPV buys.
Jake Hager defeated Dustin Rhodes by submission - 1.25 stars - This match fucking sucked. Everyone looked like shit in this match. If you showed someone this match in a vacuum and said 'they signed Dustin' it wouldn't make sense. The match didn't tell any kind of compelling story and the action didn't mount in any kind of compelling way. There was no reason for Dustin, the babyface, to attack/kiss Hager's wife. It felt like throwback to Attitude bullshit. Also, we get it Hager has had a few MMA matches. Jesus.
Darby Allin defeated Sammy Guevara - 3.5 stars - I wish they had given these lovely, suicidal boys more time to die for this business. I was pretty sure at one point that Darby had eaten his last shit sandwich and was doomed and they absolutely got their shit in. Fast, breathless and fun this match more than other match makes the case for a TV title. Darby and Sammy are growing stars and a TV title would let them exploit their current momentum.
Kenny Omega and Adam Page (c) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) - 5 stars - Flat-out perfect. One of the talking points over the last year has been Hangman needed another year in Japan. This match seemed like the proof that all he needed was a year, it didn't matter where that year was. His work since Full Gear culminated with this match. There were moments in the match that were obviously calculated to draw boos but instead netted cheers because of how invested the audience is in Hangman's journey and how much they believe Hangman has been wronged. Hangman spit in Matt's face and the crowd was with that shit. Hangman and Kenny's work was magical throughout the match. Hangman and Matt divorcing themselves. Nick joining in and divorcing himself of Hangman. Kenny desperately trying to remain competitive while not having every relationship shatter. By the time we got Hangman's One Winged Angel and the teased attack I was emotionally spent. Amazing.
Nyla Rose (c) defeated Kris Statlander - 1.75 stars - Statlander looked slow and foggy. Timing was off and sequences came off as plodding, as if done in mud. This match needed to establish Nyla as a dangerous champ and Statlander as permanently in orbit of the title. It did neither. Both have had significantly better matches in the promotion. Nyla's match with Riho where she won the title was an absolute banger and it made the case for her as champ. A match this weak so soon after says 'maybe it was a fluke and she was wasn't ready.' If Statlander was still getting from under the flu they could have offered Nyla another opponent and used it to build story between Nyla and Kris Stat.
MJF (with Wardlow) defeated Cody (with Arn Anderson and Brandi Rhodes) - 2.25 stars - This match fucking killed me. I am now deceased. There has been no louder advocate for Cody than me. Every match he has had in AEW until this one has been great. He's told great stories, helped build new stars and made a case for the slow, deliberate style he favors. Cody does slow and intentional better than Randy Orton. I didn't just expect this match to move MJF to the title picture I expected it to make him a STAR. It didn't. When Downstait's entrance droned on and on. I thought the only possible end to it was that MJF go up the ramp with Wardlow and attack Cody. It seemed designed to be one more moment for MJF to ruin of Cody's. One more thing MJF could take from him. No. Instead he stood there in the ring looking like an absolute asshole while Downstait did their pitchy, out of key entrance. The only sequence in the match that seemed committed to emotionally paying off interactions between Cody and MJF was when Cody whipped MJF. That's it. Aside from that we got that MJF is dick who wins by hitting people with his diamond ring. He didn't even get the ring from Wardlow as he did in the match with Jungle Boy. He just got it out of his trunks, hit him and they collapsed. So instead of any number of spots they could have done to do to cement MJF as a star it just limped across the finish line. Folks, have I not just watched enough MJF matches? Is he a notably OK worker carried by his talking? Was the match just too fucking long? I am stymied. What went wrong?
Pac defeated Orange Cassidy (with Chuck Taylor and Trent) by submission - 4.5 motherfucking stars - Orange Cassidy has always seemed like his own biggest doubter. In the Kenny Johnson documentary about Orange Cassidy he described himself as an "OK wrestler". He is most definitely not an OK wrestler. He is a great wrestler and the joy in watching an OC match is watching how the gimmick is multi-dimensional and how much fun it is to see him work with a great talent. From Orange Cassidy's half-assed pyro it was evident that this was a gimmick that could work on the national stage. Like, this guy is OVER. He is Cody levels of over. Add to that PAC was obviously game for the bullshit that would be required in the early match there was a recipe for magic. For me, the thing that sits with me is that Orange Cassidy made a Superman punch look awesome. I've never screamed and clapped at a Superman Punch. It's weird because this match did what the previous match was supposed to. It established one of the participants as a fully realized star who rightfully belongs in the title picture. The endgame for Moxley's reign (whenever that may be) is likely either PAC or MJF. I now emphatically hope it is PAC because that means we would likely get a PAC and OC rematch for the title and I am here for that.
Jon Moxley defeated Chris Jericho (c) (with Santana and Ortiz) - 4 stars - These guys had to follow that PAC and Orange Cassidy match, a thankless task. Fortunately they were up to it. This felt like a fusion of the kind of matches that both guys have been putting on in Japan. From Jericho grabbing a camera to a piece of the barricade being grabbed to be used as a weapon this felt like a greatest hits compilation but decidedly not in a bad way. Moxley's entrance from the street felt potent, earned. Like he was growing more powerful from entering further back. It totally worked. This match also cemented Aubrey as a star as well. The 360 ejection which resulted in the entire arena chanting for the ref momentarily cements her as one of the best in the world at her craft if not the best. The eyepatch reveal was timed perfectly and something that felt inevitable but totally felt great. Moxley's postmatch interview in-ring felt very New Japan in it's execution. Glad to see that AEW understands their audience wants the catharsis of an in-ring interview after a title change and I hope they stick to it. I want to mainline Moxley's absolute euphoria after winning the title. His 'Hey, what the fuck?' helped set the tone for his reign and I am here for a cool dad who also kicks all the asses. Only thing missing was his SON.
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) (with Alex Reynolds and John Silver) defeated SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) - 2.5 stars - This match bubbled to just above 'ehhh' status. The match needed to do two things primarily. Establish that the cool dads who let you eat ice cream for dinner will stick together (to serve as an emotional contrast for The Elite) and to emphatically disprove that Christopher Daniels is The Exalted One. The match did both things but nothing more than that. Aside from inverting McMahon's "It was me all along" entrance nothing really clever or new happened here. It did what it needed to and didn't outright suck. Not the thing to encourage last minute PPV buys.
Jake Hager defeated Dustin Rhodes by submission - 1.25 stars - This match fucking sucked. Everyone looked like shit in this match. If you showed someone this match in a vacuum and said 'they signed Dustin' it wouldn't make sense. The match didn't tell any kind of compelling story and the action didn't mount in any kind of compelling way. There was no reason for Dustin, the babyface, to attack/kiss Hager's wife. It felt like throwback to Attitude bullshit. Also, we get it Hager has had a few MMA matches. Jesus.
Darby Allin defeated Sammy Guevara - 3.5 stars - I wish they had given these lovely, suicidal boys more time to die for this business. I was pretty sure at one point that Darby had eaten his last shit sandwich and was doomed and they absolutely got their shit in. Fast, breathless and fun this match more than other match makes the case for a TV title. Darby and Sammy are growing stars and a TV title would let them exploit their current momentum.
Kenny Omega and Adam Page (c) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) - 5 stars - Flat-out perfect. One of the talking points over the last year has been Hangman needed another year in Japan. This match seemed like the proof that all he needed was a year, it didn't matter where that year was. His work since Full Gear culminated with this match. There were moments in the match that were obviously calculated to draw boos but instead netted cheers because of how invested the audience is in Hangman's journey and how much they believe Hangman has been wronged. Hangman spit in Matt's face and the crowd was with that shit. Hangman and Kenny's work was magical throughout the match. Hangman and Matt divorcing themselves. Nick joining in and divorcing himself of Hangman. Kenny desperately trying to remain competitive while not having every relationship shatter. By the time we got Hangman's One Winged Angel and the teased attack I was emotionally spent. Amazing.
Nyla Rose (c) defeated Kris Statlander - 1.75 stars - Statlander looked slow and foggy. Timing was off and sequences came off as plodding, as if done in mud. This match needed to establish Nyla as a dangerous champ and Statlander as permanently in orbit of the title. It did neither. Both have had significantly better matches in the promotion. Nyla's match with Riho where she won the title was an absolute banger and it made the case for her as champ. A match this weak so soon after says 'maybe it was a fluke and she was wasn't ready.' If Statlander was still getting from under the flu they could have offered Nyla another opponent and used it to build story between Nyla and Kris Stat.
MJF (with Wardlow) defeated Cody (with Arn Anderson and Brandi Rhodes) - 2.25 stars - This match fucking killed me. I am now deceased. There has been no louder advocate for Cody than me. Every match he has had in AEW until this one has been great. He's told great stories, helped build new stars and made a case for the slow, deliberate style he favors. Cody does slow and intentional better than Randy Orton. I didn't just expect this match to move MJF to the title picture I expected it to make him a STAR. It didn't. When Downstait's entrance droned on and on. I thought the only possible end to it was that MJF go up the ramp with Wardlow and attack Cody. It seemed designed to be one more moment for MJF to ruin of Cody's. One more thing MJF could take from him. No. Instead he stood there in the ring looking like an absolute asshole while Downstait did their pitchy, out of key entrance. The only sequence in the match that seemed committed to emotionally paying off interactions between Cody and MJF was when Cody whipped MJF. That's it. Aside from that we got that MJF is dick who wins by hitting people with his diamond ring. He didn't even get the ring from Wardlow as he did in the match with Jungle Boy. He just got it out of his trunks, hit him and they collapsed. So instead of any number of spots they could have done to do to cement MJF as a star it just limped across the finish line. Folks, have I not just watched enough MJF matches? Is he a notably OK worker carried by his talking? Was the match just too fucking long? I am stymied. What went wrong?
Pac defeated Orange Cassidy (with Chuck Taylor and Trent) by submission - 4.5 motherfucking stars - Orange Cassidy has always seemed like his own biggest doubter. In the Kenny Johnson documentary about Orange Cassidy he described himself as an "OK wrestler". He is most definitely not an OK wrestler. He is a great wrestler and the joy in watching an OC match is watching how the gimmick is multi-dimensional and how much fun it is to see him work with a great talent. From Orange Cassidy's half-assed pyro it was evident that this was a gimmick that could work on the national stage. Like, this guy is OVER. He is Cody levels of over. Add to that PAC was obviously game for the bullshit that would be required in the early match there was a recipe for magic. For me, the thing that sits with me is that Orange Cassidy made a Superman punch look awesome. I've never screamed and clapped at a Superman Punch. It's weird because this match did what the previous match was supposed to. It established one of the participants as a fully realized star who rightfully belongs in the title picture. The endgame for Moxley's reign (whenever that may be) is likely either PAC or MJF. I now emphatically hope it is PAC because that means we would likely get a PAC and OC rematch for the title and I am here for that.
Jon Moxley defeated Chris Jericho (c) (with Santana and Ortiz) - 4 stars - These guys had to follow that PAC and Orange Cassidy match, a thankless task. Fortunately they were up to it. This felt like a fusion of the kind of matches that both guys have been putting on in Japan. From Jericho grabbing a camera to a piece of the barricade being grabbed to be used as a weapon this felt like a greatest hits compilation but decidedly not in a bad way. Moxley's entrance from the street felt potent, earned. Like he was growing more powerful from entering further back. It totally worked. This match also cemented Aubrey as a star as well. The 360 ejection which resulted in the entire arena chanting for the ref momentarily cements her as one of the best in the world at her craft if not the best. The eyepatch reveal was timed perfectly and something that felt inevitable but totally felt great. Moxley's postmatch interview in-ring felt very New Japan in it's execution. Glad to see that AEW understands their audience wants the catharsis of an in-ring interview after a title change and I hope they stick to it. I want to mainline Moxley's absolute euphoria after winning the title. His 'Hey, what the fuck?' helped set the tone for his reign and I am here for a cool dad who also kicks all the asses. Only thing missing was his SON.
it's so good
sincerely did not give a fuck about 2020 muta outside of The Vibe
Listening to Post Wrestling's Revolution review, and man, that PAC vs Cassidy match really was awesome. They suggested that OC should be AEW's Brock Lesnar and only wrestle on PPVs lol
AAA wants a stronger toehold in the US. AAA having a stronger toehold in the US does not fuck with Tony Khan's business. The hardcores will consume both and the TV casuals will still default to Khan's product. When they have brought in AAA talent other than the Lucha Bros they've not really made them look like stars (Laredo Kid and Faby Apache). AAA is full of stars and AEW absolutely benefit from the relationship if they took seriously. Why don't they get it? More and more it just seems like "this is the way we got Pentagon and Fenix". More than any relationship with a Japanese promotion I want them to take their existing lucha relationship seriously.
I'm really fucking torn. I want to see both of these guys get paid and get a national stage because I think the gimmicks will work at that level but I really want to see them to start bringing in some blue chip talent that ain't so white and treating them like blue chip talent. In a year people are gonna be fighting over Treehouse Lee. Don't doom him to a shitty Court Bauer contract or Largo. Also all the pieces are in place for AJ Gray. He is a main eventer and young AF. Make the move. Queen Aminata has looked fantastic over the last year. Great in-ring, oozes charisma and has IT. I know they wanna make movez with some of their new TV money but movez don't have to be just white dudez.
Looking forward to Scurll knocking the belt off this fucking nerd at The Crockett Cup.
This match will take less time than you will take spellchecking your post about the results. DarkstarIV you may reach your final form with how mad this match will make you.
LMAO! Should have asked for 20% cut for every ticket sold for Spring Break while he was at it.
Well to be fair he wants an all expenses paid free trip to Mania lol
Is the March OT up yet? Also just getting caught up on this Sonny/Muta shit. Man fuck that. Muta is only a draw for the look now. Ain't nobody going to Spring Break to just see him. Fuck that noise.
Same with Private Party.
They've gotten pretty popular but they mostly just wander from one match to another, no promos or storylines.
I have figured COVID-19 could affect Mania for a bit now.
The US government doesn't have the vested interest to shut down major events like Japan currently has though.
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March Wrasslin Tattoos |OT| Embrace the Empty Arena Match Era
Post your worst faves and talk about wrestling I guess. Also have a drink for our new god:
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It's okay we all know wrestling fans are the most hygienic among us
The character work from Matt Jackson during Revolution got me wondering, has there ever been a established tag team where one member turned heel and they continued on? I'm not talking about teams that split due to this either. I find it interesting that tag teams are usually treated as one voice, but in this instance only Matt is being the asshole, but he's not against Nick.
Lex Luger and Sting in the mid 90's, Lex Luger turned heel because he hated Hulk Hogan but was still friends with Sting. In their tag matches Lex Luger would do heelish things but Sting wouldn't notice. Lex Luger turned babyface at uncensored because they were about to have the NWO storyline where Lex Luger would doubt Sting, and Sting would leave because he felt betrayed by the fact that Luger didn't stand by him like he had stood by Luger.
Oh man, yes! That shit was so corny lol. Hilarious to go back and watch now.
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March Wrasslin Tattoos |OT| Embrace the Empty Arena Match Era
Post your worst faves and talk about wrestling I guess. Also have a drink for our new god:
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