Boss Rock

Two hours I think is the most ideal amount of time for a wrestling show, but I really love how brisk Rampage is at just one. AEW was going to do a second show at some point and I think doing just an hour rather than two makes everything that much easier to consume and digest.

Mox has always seemed incredibly motivated since leaving WWE. He's definitely not the best in-ring worker in AEW, but the only downright bad match I saw him have was that endless FCA match with Hager.

I dunno, his match with pre-Vader Leon White is good.

Shame they never crossed paths.

I thought it was fine but it went too long and Kenny talked too much. My hope is that this means the Lucha Bros. are going over, but I certainly don't think Christian should.

I still wonder about his chances of getting the book once Vince dies and the company gets sold to like Disney or something.

Went from the heir apparently to likely being written out of the will. And while I don't really watch NXT and haven't in about 3 years, from the clips I've seen it's still miles better than the MR (incredibly, incredibly low bar I know). Can't imagine Vince will turn the ratings around, ha.

Ooh, this is a tough one especially as I've been watching more Onita. Foley has higher peaks but I think Onita has more volume. Foley got great matches out of so-so to downright subpar opponents and yet Onita has killer matches with martial artists. My gut says Foley now but this could change.

Step up from Dynamite. ME was whatever as an angle and Tay-Bunny was just fine, but the opening tag ruled and the Miro-Eddie-Fuego segment was awesome.

Yeah that would be perfect.

I forget where (maybe PWT?), but I read that building Page and then taking time off was the intended plan and was meant to build heat for an eventual match down the road. Not sure how true that is and I was initially anxious on postponing the match, but he's going to get a massive pop when he returns to challenge Kenny one last time.

Typically not what I would have chosen to end a show, but I thought the Black-Anderson squash ruled. Black looked like an absolute killer and the ending with Arn was great.

Watched the Aoyagi matches and they're terrific. Onita certainly knew how to make a match feel both chaotic and like a spectacle.

Best entrance ever.

I don't see them selling until Vince physically can't run the show anymore. He's not gonna retire or just act as a consultant.

Also, Charlotte has been made to look more dominant than Reign of Terror Haitch. Like I get he had longer title reigns, but I don't think he went over cleanly nearly as many times.

I'll put it on my to-do list. Knee jerk reaction is top 10 but his career is the one I've visited the least of the pillars.

Way to completely blow the goodwill of the return of one of your biggest stars.

What a great show.

I know Summerslam 2013 disappointed in terms of ppv sales and Bryan's TV segments weren't doing great numbers, but by 2014 his segments were getting the highest ratings. When he returned in 2015 I'm pretty sure the house shows he ME'd were rivaling Cena's.

I think Ariel brought up the case of Punk, but yeah Reigns' response was really dumb.

I think done correctly (logical escalation of spots, wrestlers who are actually trained and know what they're doing), death matches can be very good. Like almost anything in wrestling, it's all about the execution whether it be a huge move or a spot through glass/light tubes. Masashi Takeda's 2018 in BJW sticks out to me in that regard. But knives is where I draw the line as doing too much.

Christ Almighty how did I forget these two? These are two of my top ten best matches ever.

I think Brodie was injured during the match and it was during training and rehab that he began to get sick. My thinking at the time was that Cody came back too soon and that they should have stretched it to the next ppv. Brodie was likely to feud with Hangman so that may have been why they put the title back on Cody when they did.

AEW has also proven that smaller wrestlers can be stars.