The Thread Killer

You will get no argument from me whatsoever. I think it’s pretty much criminal that those guys are not signed somewhere big right now, whether it be AEW preferably or even NXT/WWE. From a selfish standpoint I would much prefer to see them in AEW. This past weekend just confirmed what I already knew and that is they are still one of the best teams out there. I know there is still some residual heat on them for that tweet by Jay nine years ago, but they have apologized multiple times since then, I don’t know what else they need to do to get past it. It’s not like it is an ongoing issue. An authority no less than EFFY has said that they are “changed men” and are a welcome presence in the locker room. It would be a whole different story if they were still saying stuff like that to this day, but they have been contrite about this whole issue for nine years now, I honestly think it’s time to let that go.

I am most curious to see how they handle FTR vs. The Young Bucks Part Deux, from a booking perspective. There have been a lot of rumblings and rumours that The Bucks are not fond of FTR IRL and have wanted to, or tried to, basically bury them. Dax Harwood went so far as to joke about it in one of his promos leading up to their match with The Briscoes. He encouraged Dem Boys to sign with AEW, so they could job to the “EVP’s” and get buried like FTR had - and then The Briscoes and FTR could get on with having their match. Of course, you can look at that two ways… Dax could have been saying it tongue-in-cheek and was just having fun with the online rumours, or he could have really been sniping at The Bucks. Cody had said in an interview way back when that The Bucks were offended that people used to say The Revival are the best Tag Team in Pro Wrestling when they were with WWE, when The Bucks clearly think they are. I would say that even the most ardent Bucks fans would have to admit they are notoriously sensitive and thin skinned when it comes to people criticizing them in any way or questioning their status as the so-called “Best in the Business.” Regardless of whether or not you believe it is just a stupid online rumor, a joke, or is there some truth to it, the way the initial match between the two teams was booked was a little strange if you ask me. There was so much hype around those two teams finally meeting that they had a custom T-shirt printed up for “The Dream Match.” They match up once (in front of next to no fans due to the pandemic) and The Bucks go over and then…that’s it. Rivalry finished! It might not be a burial, but it sure has all the signs of one. An argument can be made that The Bucks just wanted to get their win, make their statement and then disengage. Even if you don’t believe the conspiracy theories about a burial, I don’t know why that was never turned into a full-time feud or angle. It seem to me to be a wasted opportunity at the very least. It’s a fact that CM Punk held off debuting with AEW until after the pandemic because he didn’t want to waste that opportunity by having it happen in front of no fans. I obviously don’t think that TK should have held off debuting FTR due to the pandemic, but he certainly could have kept those two teams apart until the fans came back. In fact, that was a golden opportunity to build up suspense and momentum for when they eventually did face off in front of fans, really build up the hype. Instead it was one and done and kind of unremarkable the way it was booked. The Bucks are no longer booking the AEW Tag Division but they certainly have Tony Khan’s ear. I for one am not a fan of how FTR have been booked so far during their time with AEW. AEW has a much deeper Tag Division than NXT/WWE had (plus AEW actually treats Tag Team Wrestling seriously and not like an afterthought) but FTR’s greatest matches came in NXT despite all the potential matches they could and should have had so far in AEW. And that’s booking. They ended up jobbing to Sting and Darby, they lost to Moxley and Punk who aren’t even a team FFS. It’s hard not to wonder if somebody is trying to hamstring them. Now we finally get to see the rematch tonight. All I can say is that if FTR ends up doing a clean job again, you are going to have a hard time convincing me that there is no truth to the rumors.

That is what I was worried about going into the pay-per-view. I was worried that I had such high expectations, no matter what happened it would end up being a disappointment. Luckily the match lived up to my expectations and the hype. If you have enjoyed other FTR matches, I would say this one ranks right up there with their absolute best. I enjoyed this as much as the matches with American Alpha, or even the 2/3 Falls with DIY, which is one of the all time great tag matches, IMO.

This. I can’t. I just…can’t. Life is too short to subject myself to hours of nauseating quick cuts peppered with Michael Cole bleating out WWE robocorporatespeak at the top of his lungs. I don’t know what the hell WWE has turned into but it sure isn’t Pro Wrestling anymore. I used to enjoy these PWO watch along threads but even that isn’t enough anymore to get me to watch this shit.

That was a damn good show. I thought the women’s match was a little clunky, but aside from that there really wasn’t a bad match on that show. The main event was outstanding. I liked the surprise at the end, even if Joe is really starting to show his age. I am really looking forward to see where ROH goes from here.

I was so hyped up about this match for so long, but yet it still did not disappoint. One of the rare occasions where something lives up to the hype. I certainly hope we get to see a rematch at some point.

Yeah, sending Cage to ROH for a reboot makes sense, too. He and Tully are a good pairing.

OMG KWANG!

Holy crap…Swerve/Zayne was a perfect opener. Crazy spots, high energy and didn’t overstay it’s welcome. Swerve is awesome. Yet another entry on the “why the hell did WWE release this guy“ list.

I am watching the show as we speak. I was there the minute they announced Briscoes/FTR, and Tony Khan has been building this card all week. It’s a great show on paper, and Tony Khan is promising a surprise as well.

AEW PPV’s are $40.00 on FITE in North America (or Canada at least for sure). They are $50.00 on traditional PPV. I know the last NWA Crockett Cup show was $20 per night or $30 for both shows. On FITE. ROH used to be available on traditional PPV here but they no longer are, and the NWA has never been. I have no idea how much Impact shows cost because…c’mon. If I ever get to the point where I am seriously considering paying money to watch Impact, then that will be the sign it is time to seriously reconsider all my life choices. I am going to be watching that ROH pay-per-view with a couple of my friends and we will be splitting the cost three ways, which basically means I will be paying 10 bucks. I would pay $10 to watch the Briscoes fight FTR all day long. That’s a deal as far as I am concerned.

The last few times I used FITE to order NWA and AEW shows it actually worked out okay for me, so that is probably how I will check it out.

Hell yeah! I posted about this in the AEW thread but this is such big news it calls for a cross-post…

FTR just announced on Twitter that they will be the ones challenging The Briscoes on April 1 at Supercard of Honor for the ROH Tag Titles. FUCK. YES. Finally. It would have been better in AEW PPV but I will take it where I can get it. I’m buying that sumbitch.

Uh…what? Please tell me that you mean 90% of books written ABOUT capitalism are bullshit, and not that you mean because capitalism exists in and of itself as a system, that thereby means that 90% of all books about all topics are therefore bullshit.

Listen, if you can watch the Sharmell vs. Jenna Morasca 7* classic from TNA Victory Road 2009, and then turn around and say that Sharmell doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame…then I just don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you aren’t really a wrestling fan. Never mind the pointless WWE Hall of Fame. Why is this woman not in the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame? And The Observer?

I assume that is leading to a match between them at the PPV? I trust Danielson to get a good actual wrestling match out of Moxley and help reign in some of his more excessive tendencies. In this case, there need not be mouse traps, pizza cutters or sparklers. Those two have what it takes to have a good old fashioned rasslin match.

Yeah, and he is pretty much my all time favourite and my choice for GOAT. But I have a really hard time watching his matches now.

Not a huge fan of FTR losing a match to a couple of guys who have never teamed up in AEW before…but it’s hard to find fault with the quality of the match, and Punk pretty much had to win for the MJF feud to continue, so it is what it is, I guess. I am starting to fear the Briscoes are not getting signed, and the dream match is going to end up being in ROH, if it happens at all.

You said it. This is outstanding.

Somebody please inform Jake Hager that the flood is over.

They really need to bring the Briscoes in. I want that damn FTR/Briscoes match, dammit…and I prefer it to happen in AEW.

Corny likes the box gimmick, it was Russo who hated it. Cornette’s infamous line was that anybody who comes out of a box is instantly over.

It didn’t help that Pillman Jr. punted that whole angle/match so badly. I am sure there are other examples of young talent failing to take advantage of a golden opportunity in recent years…but I can’t think of one off the top of my head. That whole deal just showed BPJ just doesn’t get it, and probably never will, sadly. When MJF said all that heinous shit about his family only to have Jr. come out, smile and cut some lame ass generic promo with pretty much zero fire? Sheesh.

Not me, brother. I’ve always been a fan since I saw him in MLW. My only issue is I don’t like it when he leans too heavily into the 90’s shock jock routine. I thought he was being unnecessarily vulgar when he cut that promo on Brian Pillman Jr., for example. He’s so good he doesn’t need to resort to lame cheap heat tactics. But I think he’s a natural and a once in a lifetime talent. It’s scary how good he is already and he’s still a few years away from his prime. I just always thought he was strong on the mic and mediocre in the ring. Now…I am seriously reconsidering that opinion.