Timbo Slice

So let me get this straight…instead of running back Cena/Punk at Money in the Bank to bring that full circle and run the warm-up rematch tag at Saudi Arabia, they swap the matches for…R-Truth scissoring his braids off to become Ron Killings again. Because they got dumb and released him. K.

I don’t know why the new WWE protocol is to debut someone without a name and then give them their name the following week. Very odd.

Watch them have a bloodless technical match.

The one thing that was always creepy with Vince liking Killings and him being close was that it was pretty obvious Vince saw him as a minstrel of sorts; looking back, there are plenty of cringey moments that made me feel bad for Ron given the racial stuff Vince was obviously getting at. And I get where TKO is coming from, but also? That doesn’t allow you the leeway to actually create stars. One of the main reasons why I’ve been out on UFC for a while strictly for the in-octagon product is due to the fact that the fighters have become homogenized and it’s tougher for them to become notable unless they do something stupid. It’s also what allows TKO to continue to underpay them and why certain stars were able to get their own paydays by calling their bluff and proving value elsewhere. If that’s where they see the need to send WWE, then for all the complaints we have now, we are gonna be drowning in them like AI slop in the coming years.

A great show top to bottom, filled with the little details like Manders’ selling and some of the Cibernetico pair offs, which blew my mind with how hard all ten guys went. Bryan’s appearance and the main event were a fantastic flourish, too. As tight and as fulfilling a two hours of wrestling you’ll watch all year.

That tells you all you need to know about what they think about ADR. Plus, WWE Canon usually dictates how they want to start things, regardless of what’s already in place.

Okay, that was a choice; I’m not even the biggest Ospreay guy but that seems like a result too cute by half.

If I recall, a lot of that had to do with giving folks freedom to work elsewhere given AAA knew they had money problems, so they couldn’t just keep folks under a binding contract knowing they wouldn’t be able to make money otherwise.

LOL, so they’re just gonna run Vegas again. K

They CALLED HIM JEFF COBB WHEN HE DEBUTED. If this was the plan, either you have incompetent people who can’t file a fucking trademark in a timely fashion, or you have incompetent people who think fans won’t notice.

Anarchy sounds awesome but the faces look like they’re short a man. Kenny/Swerve/Joe/Hobbs/???, and it won’t be Bailey because it looks like he’s gonna get Okada.

The problem is they’d know how much they need to pay Takeshita and the money he’s making with AEW is good enough that NJPW can’t pay him what he’s worth. While some of his complaints a while back were a work, part of it was so he could have a contract that would satisfy what he’s been presented as on TV, and I doubt after letting Naito leave they’ll give Takeshita what he wants given it’s gonna be just as much as he asked for. There’s a chance he might bolt if the US economy downturn to come is bad enough that it’s worth being in NJPW for, but it won’t be anytime soon. Although I do see him being a part of the G1 and probably get to the final this time.

Ricochet whooping Zack Gowen was classic pro wrestling bullshit; Gowen still knows how to sell and bump really well.

They’re running a very similar angle to the Death Riders too with this whole “This is bigger than us” thing.

If there’s no Swoll, there should be no Master P cameo.

So they really did this so Cody can just become Homelander, huh?

John Cena, the new film from James Mangold.

Yeah, you could see Orton legit be happy telling him how he showed up for all those people.

Look, that’s a great piece of business. Joe got all the shine there.

I know folks don’t think he’s a great wrestler but for a dude to be a viral sensation and get a singles match at Mania, pretty insane.

Legitimately cool.

Okay, somebody said something backstage tonight because this is literally the other side of last night’s coin. Methinks folks aren’t into a two night event anymore.

After Friday night, I have a feeling Cody is gonna get booed out of the building.

The best option is watching on your phone while other sports dominate the ear space. At least they woke up the crowd. But an already bleak looking night is looking very dead the rest of the way. And they won’t care enough in time for the main event.

These matches wouldn’t even be main events on weekly TV at this point.