...TG

I'm not sure why AEW would need to pay Dave when he's clearly in the bag for the Bucks anyway. But to be fair to Dave, his coverage in the print Observer at least has been pretty even-handed so far. I'll probably never watch their show, but I wish them all the luck in the world. I think their ceiling is replacing ROH as the #2 promotion, especially if they can steal ROH's New Japan affiliate status.

Tatsumi Fujinami stopped by Toshiaki Kawada's ramen place last week. Fujinami is well into his 60s and looks great - genetics are unfair.

That entire segment, climaxing with Vince getting off on AJ's punch, was one of the best things they've done all year. His faults are legion but the man is an all-time great television performer.

Thought it was amusing that when someone hipped LA Park that he'd been elected on Twitter and he had no idea what it was.

My guess is it's New Japan's cachet plus some voters' vague memories of Nagata in WCW in the late 90s.

I'm shocked, but not displeased, that Omega did not get in. Not that I don't think he's worthy - I have no opinion on that - but rather that inducting someone smack in the middle of his career is absurd.

I'd like to think that Vince lurks on this board, saw my criticism of his suit last night, and vowed to do better. He's looking good tonight.

So after all this giving the audience what they want talk, we get a 10+ minute Ziggler match?

Steph was really enjoying pandering to the crowd asking for those boos for Corbin. Anyone else like Vince's tie? Suit isn't a great shade of blue, but that tie is on point.

I never really believed "X-Pac heat" existed until Corbin came out just now. Probably should rename that.

Is it just me, or was that a weird crowd reaction when Vince came out? Not a pop, not boos, just odd.

Seth was really, really over 6 or so months ago. Then came the interminable Dolph feud. Now here we are, getting boring chants from a crowd that's been hot all night.

Even worse - it's a Saturday house show in front of a half-empty crowd match.

I kinda like the shearling jacket!

A half-crab for a near-submission and an inside cradle reversal finish that both got over! In 2018! All hail Daniel & AJ.

Stone Cold Becky with the receipt on Nia!

Not much else left to say at this point except that Ronda is amazing.

Slater deserves better, but he's on the PPV at least. Fun angle, no pun intended.

I shouldn't expect much from WWE these days, but Truth & Carmella at WWE HQ should be good for a giggle or two.

As much as I miss Dean's careful curation of this thread, we can build on his work. I don't have access to a bunch of old Observers - I'm a print edition guy, which I share with a friend after I'm finished reading - or else I would start. (Unless someone wants to hip me to some semi-public Observer archive I don't know about.)

This is simply unfair - way too much charisma for Ted & Borne to deal with. Just a wonderful, fun matchup giving the fans want they want. Wish I could go back in time and be in the building.

If you happen to start the thread before KawadaSmile and briefly mention Wallonian political events in the title, I think we'd be okay with that.

Of course the open challenger is Dolph. That's enough Raw for me tonight, folks.

Well that part I understand. I'm just curious as to how/why Khan, a bumper manufacturer and sports team owner, is now apparently getting mixed up in the independent wrestling world.

If it's this real it probably needs its own thread, but where is this story coming from? What is Shahid Khan's connection with wrestling period, let alone the All In guys? From the outside it seems very random.