FMKK

I don't really want it to fail but I feel like it's been coasting on reputation for a while and has lost a good bit of the original charm. It would be nice for that to be rediscovered but if they lose the ratings for a couple of weeks, it's more likely that there's more hotshot matches and main roster names called up. I think it's just quite a bland promotion working a style I'm not hugely fond of (the Takeover mains have been fucking death to me the last year or two tbh). Really, I'm not huge on Gangarno or Cole and I can't listen to Mauro without cringing. I totally understand the appeal of a wrestling show that has WWE production values but no main roster BS. EDIT: Also WWE being humbled and seeing consequences for their bad booking that's run off so many fans would be satisfying to some degree I admit.

Yeah, it just felt like a bigger buzz show. The real test is keeping up that interest though. Of course, the usual suspects who were jumping on Dave for downplaying expectations before are now jumping on him for trying to will and AEW win into existence. I'm sure those hot girls are absolutely loving hanging around with nobody WCW midcarder.

Dave was very sure that NXT would win the ratings war up until the morning of the shows, where he felt AEW had superior buzz. Also said that it was fed back to him that far more people watched AEW than NXT via Playstation, while obviously acknowledging that that's not a representative sample size.

Cody and Dustin vs Jericho and Hager will be a fun tag in a few weeks

Alberto is a coked up mess though. And definitely seems himself as a much bigger star than he is, so there's no way he'd be in as Jericho's lacky.

It's hard to pick up anyone who's ex-WWE that hasn't been booked into absolute oblivion at some point tbf. Jericho has barely got his ass backstage and he's already retweeting every positive comment anyone has made about him tonight lol.

Yeah, I can understand wanting to go with action on the first night but they've got to get Cody, Jericho and others on the mic next week to get over their personalities. Plenty of time til the PPV though. Good show overall and they still have cool characters like Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus to be introduced. Tag tournament should be fun.

I was worried about the timings but they managed to cram two hot angles in there.

I want a New Japan and AEW relationship ASAP at least partially because Death Rider is such a better name for Moxley and his finisher than Paradigm Shift

I appreciate going all out to have lots of action in week one but I think they could've used more promos tbh

People already rallied behind Asuka last year and managed to get her a brief push and title reign due to her overness. You can't expect people to do much more when she's just added to the list of squandered talents who're running around in hardcore title segments like complete geeks. You've got a demoralised fan base there. My entire Twitter timeline, I know not exactly representative but wider than PWO, buries Mauro all the time. And I just disagree on PAC. Strong worker, can be a good promo as a heel. He needs time to get an actual push before we can judge how over he can get.

Really didn't expect Rhio as the first champ. Kenny booking.

I was thinking as in Kenny getting his wins back on Jericho and PAC, who Cody also happens to have beaten on PPV by that point but I'm all for more Dustin matches. And really, anyone feuding with Cody should be doing beatdown angles on Dustin in the build.

Yeah, I think that seems like the obvious path. With Kenny going through the men who beat him/people who Cody beat to win the title at Double Or Nothing or All Out 2.

Is this going to be your new 'Asuka isn't over' or 'Mauro is a good commentator' hot take for AEW?

Wondering how the get this match, the six man main and a Mox promo/angle into 40 minutes

I think her being the first champ is good publicity for them but I expect them to switch to to Baker soon enough after and establish her as the ace of the division. They seem to like her a lot.

Nyla Rose is definitely more company push than organic hype at this point but I don't think anyone in their women's roster has much hype about them so I guess they've just got to push them

I just want to know how these geeks get the time and the money

Finn's new haircut is not good

It's almost like that shit works and Vince just completely lost his way

I know Jericho is their most mainstream name and you'd get lots of crying online if it happened but they must surely be tempted to put the belt on him at the PPV

If someone told you three or four years ago that the former Stardust would be over as a fucking god to a crowd of 14k people you wouldn't have believed it for a second.

I hope Tony Schiavone has a good night and gets some appreciation