subatomic_elbow

When I started watching AEW, it was when Dark first launched. The only current wrestling I'd watched in years was the NWA YouTube show, until Cornette got himself fired, so Dark scratched the itch. I eventually got Sling so I could watch Dynamite, too. I was happiest as an AEW fan when the schedule was Dark on Tuesday, Dynamite on Wednesday, and quarterly PPVs. I could defer Dark if something came up and I could easily set aside one night a week for rasslin'. Rampage made it harder. I play Magic the Gathering on Fridays, so Rampage is never watched live and I barely watch it at all, to be honest. Collision had the double whammy of being both Punk-centric and on Saturday nights. Hard to justify spending prime Saturday hours watching my fourth and fifth hour of wrestling each week. I love AEW but it feels more and more diluted and scattered. I've become super casual without intending to.

Bought All Out after the news of Punk's dismissal. We hadn't watched AEW in about a month and had skipped All In because of Punk fatigue. Show was fantastic. I love that there were 2 Hoss fights, a bloody strap match, and the main event was fantastic. I can't wait to see where things are going.

I enjoy the MJF/Adam Cole pairing because it is temporary.

Ricky really needs a definitive babyface win. Beating Punk because of Joe or losing to Punk will make the Owen Hart Memorial Trophy a concession prize. Joe beating Punk through desperate/nefarious means and losing to Starks after a Punk distraction would have helped more than this. Plus, Ricky would have a win over Joe that Punk wouldn't have, which could have moved either Punk or Ricky to tweener. The current situation has misfire written all over it.

It feels like Ricky is being setup for failure here. If it is a babyface vs babyface match, Punk gets the bigger reaction. Punk turning heel went out the window when Joe choked him out, so that's not going to happen. Punk staying babyface but working the match as a heel makes Ricky look like a chump. Ricky turning heel on Punk could work, but he needs a face push, especially with Hobbes turning face. I don't know how Ricky comes out of this match looking good and "feel-good" babyface Punk beating Ricky for the Owen Hart Memorial Cup is a bad look and feels sleazy.

This was one of my favorite Dynamites ever. The way the opening match lead to the Renee/Mox/Eddie promo was great. The Renee/Mox/Eddie promo had the "Who cares about some CHIKARA BS from 10 years ago" line that made me yell in my living room and demonstrated that Eddie respects and likes Renee. The Elite/Dark Order segment and match were fantastic, I loved the continuity and Evil UNO being aggressive against Hangman was something I needed to see. The aftermath of the match wrapped up all 4 of those segments into a nice bow and we have our Blood and Guts match. Very exciting.

I wish Punk would stay in his Collision ghetto instead of ruining Dynamite, too. The announcers Poochied him all night and I'm right back to last summer.

Eddie Kingston isn't the biggest guy or the fastest guy or the strongest guy, but he is THE guy. He carried CHIKARA during their hottest period and he makes whomever he is feuding with interesting. I missed him greatly.

I'm really curious what sort of Anti-Elite unit Callis is building. Could be fun.

When the BCC appeared behind the Young Bucks in the parking lot, I gasped. It felt dangerous. Hangman's return was such a great story beat.

Driving down to Corbin, KY on Saturday for the house show. I figure, worst case, I get to watch Jeff Jarrett have a house show match in 2023 in Colonel Sanders' home town. Definitely worth the 2.5 hour drive.

The end of Dark and Dark Elevation happening the same week as Leva Bates leaving saddens me. Dark was what hooked my partner and I on AEW. We didn't have access to TNT/TBS but we had YouTube, so we watched it weekly, starting just a month before the pandemic. Cutler and Avalon, the Dark Order, Jon Cruz/Serpentico, Angelico... We eventually got Sling to watch Dynamite, but Dark was our flagship show. I know AEW is growing and changing, but this feels like the end of our era of AEW.

MJF has been the only on-screen partner for Sammy that has worked. It's a shame it won't last.

Gringo Loco won me over on the ROH show. He's got a great energy and is naturally likable. I expect him to be All Elite quickly.

The Vicki Guerrero stuff is super gross and I'm glad she won't be on AEW TV again.