El-P

Oh, Dave...

Could very well be. They are building him for Max, and there's no way in hell MJF doesn't defeat him at this point (unless Coach TK has totally lost his mind). Speaking of contract not being renewed, guys like Shawn Spears and Scorpio Sky (hey, remember his amazing comeback on Collision ?) are totally goners, right ? And honestly I would not be surprised if Santana was gently forgotten about too, while Ortiz will be happy collecting a paycheck to be around Eddie for a while. Sure, he got three vignettes and a win on Rampage. But the guy is going nowhere up the cards. The one person they really should go after next year is Deonna Purrazzo, who is obviously done with IMPACT/TNA (she has done nothing but put people over for the last few months). I selfishly want to keep watching her, and she's bestie with Baker I think. Well, she's also bestie with Chelsea Green, but really now, I want her vs Athena.

Looking from afar, CM Punk in WWE has been dirge of creativity thus far. "I'm CM Punk, I'm home, I love WWE" / "What WWE Brand is CM Punk gonna choose ?" / "I'm CM Punk, I'm choosing the WWE RAW Brand and I am entering the Royal Rumble". Next step : CM Punk points at sign. This has been so compelling. Also, Mania is in for yet another year without women main-eventing. The Becky vs Rousey (and Charlotte too) match was 4 years ago now. Then there was the pandemic, then Sasha & Bianca had this incredible match (fun to think too that only 2 out of the 5 people involved in the main events are still in WWE currently, that tells a story right here of how the scene has been shaken up in the last few years, as it very, VERY seldom happened, gotta go back to Angle main eventing in 2003 and gone by 2006). I know last year there was some talk about how Charlotte vs Ripley deserved a main event spot, but this year I don't see how anyone is getting even close to that main event spot with Punk showing up. Which is, you know, a bit ironic when you think of it.

Negativity check : at this point, the Wardlow push is a case of escalade of commitment. There's no reason whatsoever for this guy to still be this overprotected (or pushed to this level at all, really). The ref ending matches because the guy does a bunch of flat powerbombs is the dumbest shit ever too in a promotion where people get thrown onto their heads left and right, beat the piss out of each other until one passes out and drink their opponent's blood without matches getting interrupted, ever. Considering he's been here since the beginning, his output has been ridiculously mediocre. His character is still basically a dude flexing his muscles and sticking his tongue out. I can think of 5 monster type guys in AEW off the top of my head who are way better than him on every level (Archer, Hobbs, Miro, Brody, Cage). He was over like crazy for about a month or two thanks to an MJF angle. That's it. Move the fuck on already. And Willie Mack deserves way better too, btw. Apart from that, yeah, Collision was tons of fun. Danielson is having the time of his life and he's making the Continental Classic just that.

This Wrestling Kingdom show on paper is the most meh I can remember in years. The only really cool, unique match is Okada vs Danielson, and it's one that has happened already, so it's not even a first time. Rest of the card is the definition of there, although the in-ring will probably be very good on average, if not excellent. But there's no feel of anything special. They made a big deal out of having Stardom talents before, they introduced the IWGP women championship, only to not even have it on the card at all this year (that says a lot about how much they basically only wanted it for Mercedes). Tama Tonga and David Finlay, all due respect to them, in championship matches. Tana vs ZSJ and Hiromu vs Despy are great matches but matches that have occurred a lot already I feel. And of course, SANADA in the main event. Where the FUCK are Tsuji and Umino ? I don't see any of this jumpstarting a strong year for NJPW at all.

This is just insane. They got both Okada ans Ospreay for those tapings. The story of TNA keeps on being fascinating. I love how they really play on what the promotion used to be and acknowledge its complicated (to say the least) past too.

"Coach TK loved me, but that American Dragon, what an asshole."

Fuck yeah. Moné, Giulia. Show Coach TK how you do an actual women's division that matters. And really now, I dunno how long Trinity is still going for that ride, but Trinity & Moné reuniting in TNA would be such a coup. And selfishly speaking, I just want it.

It was a very nice episode of Dynamite, with three Continental Classic matches that delivered, Timeless Toni's match was more on point this time (although the pin was ridiculous, that's a pet peeve of mine, try and make an effort ref, please, have the shoulders on the mat before counting), Riho showing up was really cool and hopefully she gets more than a cup of coffee of TV time, nice interactions with the Kingdom, Joe/MJF/Hangman, all that good shit. Then I dunno, I guess the feed got lost and I got a WWE-style main event with the most obvious badly executed swerve in the history of badly executed swerves (and believe me, I've seen a shitloads of them). And really now, are we supposed to feel bad for Copeland ? He literally tried to murder an 18 years old boy who did nothing to him, really. In what world do we blame Nick Wayne's Mom (yeah, I know, she's got a name now) ? I kinda feel dumb for buying into the angle last week now, because this is still pretty much crap, really. Yeah, Christian Cage might be a great performer, but he's currently a great performer in a shitty movie. Oh, anyway. Continental Classic is great. Nope. No one cares about a name that was last relevant in Texas about 35 years ago. And please no because they aren't good. I've seen them in MLW for years. They bring nothing to the table apart from "Our name is Von Erich". They're ok at best, and they've been around for years now. Plus, their rep being what it is (which is completely ridiculous, who the fuck do they think they are ?), I see no upside bringing these nepokids who have done basically nothing notable in their entire career. Having them for a one-shot in Texas to ride on the hype of the movie, if there's any, is ok I guess. There's way too much underutilized actually good to great talent on the roster to bring scrubs just because they have a name that used to be famous (in one fucking state to boot).

Now I really wonder if Bumfuck, South Dakota is anywhere near Parts Unknown.

Damn. From El Hijo del Shibata to Dick Togo's new NPC. Talk about a kiss of death already.

Gotta love TKO exploring the idea of running less house-show as "cost cutting" measure. Yeah, because they don't make enough money as they are. I guess the idea is not so much putting smiles on people's face anymore, uh ? It's fascinating how WWE is now basically just part of a rights-fees management company. It's pretty ironic when the pro-wrestling product is actually more focused on being pro-wrestling fans friendly, more than ever probably, thanks to Lesveque. Wonder what would happen if/when he gets removed for reasons (which may be many, including health).

Ospreay working the first TNA-is-back TV tapings is quite cool. The guy really wanted to work in the actual TNA-named company. That comes after they made him a really good offer, which shows they are serious about getting bigger free agents too.

CMLL in 2023 is the gift that keeps on giving. First, the return of Tessa Blanchard, and after La Rosa Negra and her made up, I'm just glad I get to see a bit more of Tessa, I missed watching her in the ring. Her past backstage issues may still be a problem for US companies (yeah, the irony of that comment in the current context), but I'll be glad to see her pop up in CMLL from time to time at the very least. And then, the teasing for Andrade coming back to Arena Mexico. I guess no one had this one on their 2023 (or 2024) bingo card.

If Okada signs with an american company, it's not because he wants to work for NJPW more than occasionally, or at all anymore. Okada's aura in WWE would so not translate at all. His identity is being the Ace of NJPW. That's not something you can transfer to a US company, especially WWE, with just snapping your fingers. Hell, Shibata in AEW does not come off even close to what he was in NJPW (although mostly working ROH in front of half-empty buildings don't help). Saying he did everything in NJPW is ignoring he can be grumpy Jumbo Tsuruta beating up the up and coming generation for years. Plus, it's still a different culture, although this has changed a lot with pro-wrestling becoming more and more of a global market. If Okada leaves NJPW and Giulia leaves Stardom (both for WWE too), that would paint a pretty dim picture of Bushiroad's management. Losing your top foreigners was bad enough (White and Ospreay, and one could argue Mariah May could also have become something for Stardom if she had stayed, although she never went higher than tag champs), but the two top native stars (although Giulia lost the belt early, I think it's safe to say she's still considered the biggest star long term) at the same time in both companies would be just terrible.

The Continental Classic has been a total blast thus far. Good cast, despite so many big stars not being in it, terrific matches after terrific matches, a feel of importance and freshness. Everything I ever wanted from AEW. The Women though... jeez, Kiera Hogan vs Abadon ? Really ? that's it ? There was really a need for Vikingo vs Sabian, you couldn't get Statlander, Skye, Willow, hell even the Outcast in that spot ? Where has Taya Valkyrie vanished btw ? I'm sure Mercedes and Giulia are salivating at the prospect of working there... Yup. Parasocial relationship with "stars" are bad enough, but with companies, now that's the most absurd effect of ultra-capitalism. Same thing goes for Apple (although maybe not so much now), Starbucks and the likes. People are just brainwashed. I gotta say I did not expect such an advance for the second All In, especially with prices that have been said to be higher. Although let's say they get 50.000, which would be great, and WWE zombies would call it a huge fail, so there's no way out of it with these people. 2001-2018 really has had a disastrous effect on US pro-wrestling.

When he's a 30 years old heel in the late 70's, saying shit like this doesn't matter. When he's a 75 years old creep who's been accused of sexual assault in a post #MeToo world, it does. The excuse of "But it's always been his character" doesn't fly for one split second. I would be baffled if Coach TK let this guy have a live mic again. He brings nothing to the product anyway (apart from being embarrassing). In much more positive news, Serena Deeb seems close to making a comeback, after a year of serious health issues (seizures). Meanwhile, is Thunder Rosa ever coming back ? Also, All In apparently sold 33.000 tickets after day 1. Well, I guess that bet is won again.

Damn, Zach Effron is already 36 years old. I saw that Maura Tierney is in the movie. Funny, Helen Solloway from The Affair (ya know, that show with an awesome first two seasons and a collapse as brutal as WCW in late 1999 afterward) in a pro-wrestling movie.

You're missing the point. MJF has not been accused of sexual assault in a documentary (and let's be real for a second now, that's not the only thing Flair has been accused of). Which of course means that Flair should not be on TV anyway, but him dropping that line, with no context of him being a performer anyway (not that it would make it less gross, let's be real) apart from just being side to side with Sting during his retirement tour, makes it a thousand times worse than anything that's been said in the context of fictional characters having issues with each others and talking shit about it.

At least they heard the backlash. There's a super obvious edit in the middle of Flair's promo. Kinda sucks that Sting's retirement tour is being stained by horny grandpa. Sometimes, the pleasure of watching pro-wrestling comes from the smallest things. During the 8-men between Dark Order & 2.0 and the Best Friend Extended, which is absolutely a match that happened, Danhausen at one point gets the purple hat from his tights and puts it on his head, and Wheeler Yuta on commentary goes "Come on, a foreign object !". Beautiful.

Yup. Teenage girls today are into K-pop and videos you have no idea about (and neither do I) on Tik-Tok. Not into 80's Texas rasslin'. It's like thinking 2023 Japanese teenage girls would automatically be into a Crush gals movie. Wrestling bubble + time capsule. The trailer makes it look like it will be one of those cleaned up version of history, like 99% of biopics are anyway. Lots of footage from a good ol' Texas family and not a whole lot about a bunch of womanizing coked up jocks who'll end up shooting themselves and bust their hearts on drugs. Hopefully it will not be too much of a revisionist history and mindless celebration of the legend, because the wrestling footage itself looks damn good. Yep. Plus AWA did not go from fucking hot to fucking dead in a heartbeat. It was already super soft and looked dated for a while by the time it got on life support. And yeah, Larry Z. and all.

Late WCCW is probably some of the worst shit I've ever seen. Even late AWA is less depressing. Hey, more corporate lay off in WWE offices. McKenzie Mitchell being one of the victims. No idea how she fared in NXT, but I remember her being kinda cool in IMPACT, and she sure had the look to get the big WWE contract. I wonder what's next for someone like her though now if she wants to remains in the pro-wrestling landscape. With Renee Paquette & Lexy Nair, AEW has it more than covered with the two best backstage interviews in eons and TNA has Gia Miller, who's really good too.

No one watched the old stuff on the Network. It's not worth the effort for them. (and yeah, I know, not *literally* no one) And really now, they are already making completely ridiculous bloodmoney and TV rights, why would they bother for some drops ?

I'm basically one of them, although a bit late to the party (I really did not get all of them completely before 2018). And I totally echo the sentiment, that's actually pretty much what I said earlier on. And yes, there definitely have been a switch of part of the audience, that goes back for a while now, with the current audience being more shared with WWE (and sounding more like a WWE audience too at times). Well, yeah, please do then. Just have him show up with a bouquet of flowers at Sting's retirement will absolutely do.

The same. Both. Although that says a lot when I have enjoyed Copeland's last two bits (the promo on Collision and now this entire angle, although obviously Cage was terrific too) and am actually sold on their match now, considering how much I disliked pretty much everything that led to it previously. Having in it happen in WWE territory (Montreal) is smart too. It's gonna be interesting to see how Copeland fits once the entire WWE-angle-that-never-took-place thingy is done. That's where the "jury's still out" part comes in. Well, that's true. And I guess them not going FOREVER before triggering Billie vs Athena is ok after all, considering some of the track record. Still, I do thing this is too early. Dynamite was excellent. That is all.