C.S.

Pretty sure Cody is playing the AEW audience like a fiddle and knows exactly what he's doing. Maybe that wasn't the case during the Ogogo promo - probably not, since the one episode of the reality show I did watch made that out to be an awesome moment - but he has since adjusted and course-corrected.

I don't entirely agree. You're right in that there's been no real gain that I can see. But there's been no real loss either. At worst, it's cancelled after one season and everyone forgets about it. Exactly what I've been saying this whole time. To me, it's no risk if it doesn't work and all reward if it does. The exposure, if there's any, can't harm AEW - it can only help. If non-fans are still indifferent to AEW after this, no loss from before.

QT does his job well. I liked his match with Big Show at All Out. It was exactly what it needed to be - get in, get murdered by a giant, get out.

Meaning what exactly? That he'd be forced to vax up? Not quite sure what you're trying to say. If he does have to get vaxxed, good - one less ignorant asshole running around spreading a contagious disease.

Supposedly he's looking to re-sign for a big money deal (by Impact standards), so we'll see what happens.

W. Morrisey's contract has apparently expired.

Isn't Ogogo an anti-vax lunatic? So fuck that guy. Glad he got "Codyed" (which is a bullshit ICW thing anyway, because Cody has made everyone he's ever stepped into the ring a better wrestler who has shined brighter after being in his luminescent light - including and especially Malakai Black). I'll go one step further and say Brandi is a better character than most (not all) of the women on their roster! They could learn a lot from all the little things she knows how to do so well.

According to Monet, she was lied to - repeatedly. Then they fired her husband two weeks later. All of this after they packed up and moved from Southern California - where they loved - to Florida just so she could be closer to the PC, all while thinking she had job security, which was apparently promised to her. I'd say she has a strong reason to be pissed off.

I 100% side with Top Dolla here. AJ Francis could have been an asset for years to come. He was great on that A&E show, and Hit Row was a modern act that could have helped get WWE out of mothballs.

They weren't enough like Men on a Mission for Vince's liking?

Taker's retirement, yes. Two matches where the result was a foregone conclusion (both Brock matches), no. "But they were good wrestling matches." That doesn't matter by itself. Never has. Never will. A good wrestling match in a vacuum is next to useless. A good wrestling match with compelling characters, a great build, and (hopefully) an uncertain conclusion is what makes a good match into a great and meaningful one.

Crossbones too? Gotta have crossbones!

Even if he could, how would he undo all the massive changes? New logo, new set, new wrestlers, new PPV names. 95% of "his" guys have been phased out or released.

I'd argue the ones with the returns of Sting and Angle felt important too. After that, I got nothing.

This is a fun interview with Jimmy Hart, but man oh man, it is jarring when someone outside the company - the interviewer, in this instance - uses WWE-speak like "sports entertainment" and "WWE Universe." https://411mania.com/wrestling/411-exclusive-interview-jimmy-hart-wrestlemania-38-ticket-party/

Ric posted and deleted this tweet. Oh, Naitch...

Press release from the new champion!

I think you misunderstood my post. I was not saying they should've had a rematch at Full Gear. I was saying their first match should have been there.

Boggles my mind that they didn't save Britt vs. Ruby for this show. Instead, they went with a much "lesser" match in stature and intrigue. Why?

Yeah, the Windham Rotunda rumors were kind of a turn-off to me (although I'm curious to see how he'll reinvent himself), but Jay Lethal makes me wish that had happened instead.

Not a good choice. One of the perks of being an FoB (friend of Bucks), I guess. I'm assuming the fans popped for it though, right?

What's happening? I passed on this show precisely because it was locked to B/R in the U.S. (unlike All Out, which was on Fite in the U.S.). AEW needs as many options as possible and to make it as easy as possible. Sounds like a great show though. (Well, you wouldn't know that from reading the Wrestling Classics thread. I'm an old curmudgeon sometimes too, but geez...)

I think your son is onto something. Jungle Boy needs to transition to Jack Perry to step up to that next level IMO. The name is fine...for now. But he's not Buddy Rogers and Ric Flair where he can make something as ridiculous as "Nature Boy" (in their case) work forever. I guess the Young Bucks are the exception. It's the "Jungle" part of the name that's the real issue for Perry though, at least long-term. J.R. was onto something, whether he was doing it intentionally or not, by trying to push the Jack Perry name so hard for a while initially. Bobby Fish is the dude's real name, but yeah, I'm surprised he didn't go through the NXT new name generator when he got there - or even before that. If anyone's name calls for a colorful wrestling pseudonym, it's Fish.

Fightful: Joey Janela Feels He Has To 'Step It Up' Before AEW Contract Expires I sympathize with him about the pandemic, but he's the shits. I'd honestly be shocked if his contract got renewed. IMO, let him go to Impact and rebuild himself there on someone else's dime.

Not a chance in hell.