MLB

True, although Kennedy is probably the better worker of the two. I meant more in the sense of the loud, Rock/Austin mashup singalong type of promo that gets over but isn't quite enough to break into the top guys because he is bland in the ring.

It appears LA Knight is getting the briefcase. How far do ya'll think his push will go? What's his ceiling right now? Knight is getting over with his look and presence, but I'm not hyped to actually watch him wrestle. Is this the next Mr. Kennedy? (...Kennedy)

It was a cheap pop for Cole. Yup. Also, MJF opened the promo by putting over how great Cole was, called him the greatest NXT Champion of all-time, followed in his footsteps with CZW, etc. I thought it was an excellent segment. To echo @Dav'oh, I would be interested to hear other constructive ideas of how else MJF is supposed to generate heat for this angle with Cole.

MJF referring to Adam Cole as "Keith Lee's manager" ... oh TAG, that has to sting a bit.

Cody wanted to work a dog collar match and Brock said no.

They've done a great job with the current roster, no question. Outstanding. Yet I still think it is Vince's show and HHH hasn't proven anything creatively. Hunter seems very good at managing the talent and public relations.

Marked out over this weekend seeing Zandig and Jun Kasai appear at GCW's ToS. Although, the crowd reaction I thought was lukewarm, I expected a better pop. Zandig scrapped a bit with Gage in the opening segment, they both bled. He is more remembered now for "Jeeezus!", but Zandig is the greatest American deathmatch wrestler ever behind Foley, I'll always be a fan.

I'd reckon Okada is very motivated for FD with Danielson. He has stated recently he is bored in New Japan, and there's been speculation he wants a deal in the States. Looking forward to it, this is a big match for Okada's legacy.

I am curious if Punk will embrace being a full blown heel coming out of the fallout of this whole drama. You'd be turning FTR in that scenario as well. I don't anticipate massive pipebombs incoming, but we'll see. He'll probably remain a face in Chicago no matter what, which is already the situation with MJF and Long Island. Bret was able to pull it off, too. I expect we're gonna get a safe, "I respect you" type of match with Samoa Joe and take things from there.

He also says closing a show with the world title match is "dead". I guess that's a bit of a hot take, but maybe he's right.

Flair absolutely idolizes Wahoo, which might've contributed to the overboard bumps from Ric (even by his standards) for this match.

With Omega, Page and Moxley seemingly off the table, what other Punk programs are left in AEW? A final Joe match is intriguing. Jericho. A rematch with MJF. Something with Bryan or Claudio. It'd be a great opportunity for Jay White. Miro? There's Adam Cole, Malakai Black, Keith Lee. What do you want to see from Punk?

Huge Sabu mark here. Kudos to TK for giving legends like Sabu and Gage their respect and a payday.

Those are all valid points, it was awful timing for WCW to sell. I didn't know live event programming became so coveted in that span of time. JCP paid $4 million to Bill Watts for UWF in 1987. Tony Khan paid "less than $4 million" for ROH (we don't seem to have an official number on that). I recall Jericho saying if he knew how cheaply WCW would've sold for he would've made a bid for it. I'd think just the nWo trademarks are worth more than that now. What a sweetheart deal for VKM. The $9 billion sale is shocking and I can't help but marvel in comparison, it's a fantastic leap.

How are media rights in a whole different ballpark now? Wasn't creating a narrative, it's a vast disparity in sale numbers. I think it's insane. You think having the FOX/USA/Peacock deals and 20 years of inflation is worth $8.6 billion dollars?

Von Erichs vs the Gunns could be a good feud. Maybe a country stable with Page, Von Erichs and Mark Briscoe. If were Mickie James were younger she'd be perfect for that group. With The Iron Claw starring Zac Efron and produced by A24 coming out this year, it's a good idea to at least bring them in to capitalize on the movie.

I touched on this before but it is fascinating to consider Graham and Hogan. The father runs this character as his top heel in the promotion with Graham, then his son takes over the business and inverts the role with Hogan as the top babyface. Later on, Vince Jr would rather move on from Hogan altogether than consider turning him heel. Hogan leaves Vince and dials up the Superstar persona even more with the Hollywood gimmick full circle as the top heel. Hogan goes back to Vince Jr and becomes the top babyface once again within months of returning as a heel. VKM always viewed the Superstar archetype as a hero in his promotion. Even Scott Steiner initially arrived in WWE as a babyface against HHH. Conversely, you had Vince Jr book Backlund as a heel champion rather than a babyface champion. He turned his dad's biggest heel into a babyface and his biggest babyface into a heel.

WCW sold for $4.2 million and WWE sold for $9 billion. You do the math.

I don't want to rain on the Hangman parade, it got a nice reaction. I think he's really good. A nitpick, but I thought the eye patch looked cringe. I've always seen Page as being shoehorned into the Elite. Kenny and the Bucks have history in Japan together with a natural connection. If Page is portraying a cowboy gimmick, for me it's like in '97 putting Jeff Jarrett in DX or something. Page is 2nd banana to Omega anyway, he should be leading his own faction. I remember they briefly tried something with Page and FTR, and then quickly dropped it (given what happened with Punk later on there likely was chemistry issues back then). I liked him better as a loner that had a weird bond with the Dark Order. Or I could see him with a team like Ross and Marshall Von Erich who've recently had their deals expire with MLW.

From what I understand, Dusty Rhodes vs Superstar was Vince Jr's favorite match of all-time. Very good point about Billy's drinking.

That's fair to say. Graham was a public relations nightmare for WWE and a royal pain in the ass to Vince for years. His appearance on Donahue with VKM was legendary. I recall Graham's war of words with Jericho over Eddy's funeral. He called Jericho a liar and threatened to cut his tongue out (they were able to bury the hatchet lol). I think a star like Billy didn't want to be forgotten. I know Hunter had spoken a bit with him. In the last year, Graham insinuated that VKM personally reached out to him on the phone. You could tell hearing from Vince really meant the world to Billy despite all of his claims.

Hard to imagine Hulkamania ever existing without Superstar. Ironic for a man that is so remembered as a major heel would inspire the biggest babyface of a generation in Hogan. Even in the famous loss to Backlund, Graham was protected to a degree (foot on the rope). Aside Hogan and Steiner, you can see shades of Billy's style in Batista and currently Alex Hammerstone.

Despite their many failures and disappointments, I can't help but be impressed by the WWE empire. They've weathered the storm from the pandemic, AEW, Vince's fiasco and somehow came out stronger. I saw an interview with Becky Lynch a while back, she was shaking her head during it saying they're on a whole other level as a production, and it's true. I'm astounded McMahon actually got $9 billion for the company. I continue to believe VKM is a starmaker and "still got it".

Rollins reportedly is getting time off to shoot Captain America: New World Order, so I am guessing it will be a short reign?