El-P

The 4th Anniversary show concluding with an angle between Adam Copeland & Christian Cage felt like TNA. Which strictly on a pro-wrestling show level, wasn't a good thing. Ric Flair showing up feels like WWE. Gross. AEW truly has failed. Not failed to be perfect, because nothing is never gonna be. But failed to be different. They just gave in. Ok then.

I doubt he would, because Warrior is not a significant part of Sting's legacy in term of mainstream pro-wrestling (really, who the fuck cares about the Bladerunners in 2023 ? Or at any point, really.). And Warrior's image was deteriorated for a long, long while before WWE whitewashed his putrid hateful ass. Flair's "only" dent was that Dark Side episode (if you discount the hundred stories of him exposing his dick to everyone in shoot interviews for the last 20 years of course), and it's very different from having actual recorded proof of you being a hateful homophobic shit (the reaction to Hogan's name last week demonstrated this too). But it's neither here nor there, really.

What makes it worse, and I don't think much people will make the connection (but maybe they will), is that last week Coach TK was making this super stiff (no pun intended) tweet about Vince's "issues", only to book Ric Flair a week later. Well, point taken. Would it have been that hard to, I dunno, roll out Lex Luger instead ?

THIS. I actually think Bunny is dealing with mental health issue, or so is the word out there. Hopefully she gets better. But they still never did anything with her really (despite the fact she beat Roman Reigns in the ratings once, yes she did). I'm still waiting for an angle for women as strong, focused and well written and executed as the Allie & Maria Kanellis angle in TNA from way back when. Saraya at least is actually fun as an outside the ring performer, her getting in the face of fans is never getting old. She's got tons of presence and personality that makes up for her physical limitations (which also are understandable). I guess she got a fat-ass contract too, and she only wrestles every other week (or less). But I sigh everytime I have to watch a Ruby Soho match. Kinda like I sigh whenever Wardlow is on screen, but that's another story.

Damn, and I see Okada was on that show ? Talk about highs and lows. I'm glad I spoiled myself though, so I don't get the bad vibes of the surprise. I just hope Flair goes the way of the roll of coins, and just as quickly. Just starting ? The jury was out for a while because I wasn't familiar with her WWE work, but at this point, I've written her off as easily one of the worst in-ring worker in the company. She just isn't good. Her offense looks like shit, her bumping is awkward, her running his awkward, her timing is mediocre at best. Yeah, she's got a different look and a cool personality I guess (although she really came off poorly in the TV series I thought). But that's pretty much it. It's insane and ridiculous she's still featured as much as she is, and Athena is stuck at being awesome on Honor Club. Not to mention the tons of other much more talented women worker in the roster getting no time. I guess she's got a nice contract, coming from WWE, and they make the most use of that money. Wait, Athena ALSO CAME FROM WWE. Yeah. Nonsense.

This. I haven't seen it yet because I'm way behind my watching schedule so I just read the spoilers. *HUGE SIGH* Yeah yeah yeah, this is pro-wrestling and he's a legend and yaddi yaddi yadda. I guess it's ok then. Well, can't wait for Matt Riddle's debut now. And yeah, it's foolish to expect any level of decency in major entertainment companies, and people gonna cry about cANceL CuLTuRe if you do. But you know what, apparently, Flair made more money the last two years than he ever did. So yeah, so much for the "but accusations destroys powerful men's career" and shit. Hey, Coach TK, I've gotta sleaze thread entry for ya : "AEW booked Ric Flair after he was publicly accused of sexual assault in a documentary TV series". Jeeez. If there was no Bloodmoney show in a few weeks, that would deserve the most disgusting promotional tactic award. This is very disappointing, but then again, but what would you expect I guess...

TF1 broadcasted Flesh Gordon's promotion twice on French TV for a very short while. Once in 1988, the other in 1991 (which I actually watched, since I would watch anything pro-wrestling than as a very new fan). That Collins/Harvey vs Ocean/Dean match I'm pretty sure I saw then on TF1 actually (with French announcing of course), likewise the Lailee vs Kapo Woman match I posted earlier.

Yep. That's the mood.

Well, Aces & Eights was most probably the worst major angle in TNA history ever. And that's saying something. That was Brucie working his magic creative talents. Totally unbearable stuff, and Bully was the centerpiece of it, I give you that. He probably had bad stuff to do in Corgan's NWA too, because Corgan's NWA.

I dunno, in a WWE thread maybe ? This has nothing to do with AEW, because there are not competition, you see.... Fuck the Berlin right-wing municipality for giving money to this shady company (because I guess they are doing the "buy a WWE event" deal that they did in Whales and such, as opposed to WWE just running an old-school house-show). They also have been threatening the techno club culture in the city. Fuck those assholes. Hey, I'm hearing Paris is also probably gonna get one too. Jeez, like getting the Olympics weren't bad enough ? So glad I'm not living there anymore.

Strictly as far as a worker, I'd say so. When he showed up in IMPACT a few years back, he worked a lot with Eddie. Like, a LOT. Which was really a way to make him look the best he could, which at first wasn't that much. After a while, you could see what it did for what he brought to the table and his confidence. Of course he did not work only with Edwards, but I don't think it's a stretch to say that working so much with a guy as good as Edwards will eventually rub off on you if you are willing to learn. And that's because he looked so good against Wardlow in that one-off appearance (he was still with IMPACT then) that he probably got the job in AEW.

Plus he's tall enough they'd actually want him back. "Hey Cass, we have a great idea for an angle. So, Lexy is hot as fuck and you're a cuck. Here's Bobby. Remember Bobby Lashley, right ?' This guy has quite a story. From being a joke of a worker 4-Life and a alcoholic/junkie, whatever he was on, to cleaning up, improving by leaps and bound to the point I actually look forward to watch him every time around and being in couple with Lexy Nair. Man, Eddie Edwards sure deserves an invitation to the wedding... Yeah, she's gold interacting with Maria too. It makes such a difference in that you actually want to watch all these little backstage bits and not miss any.

If you watched the product, you'd know why Bully Ray has been a positive. Also, Bully Ray is not an ECW tribute act, at all. They did a Team 3D reunion for the 1000th episode, and why not, it was a special case, and Team 3D has been a big part of the good years of TNA. But Bully Ray ? That's actually 100% a TNA character.

Gotta say this about Bully Ray too. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at all when he showed up last year, especially since he said some really dumb things in the past. But I gotta say, he's been nothing but a positive. Great at promos, great at angles, knows exactly how to work with his own limitations and get the most out of it, puts other talent over and has no insecurities about his character at all (was dead afraid of PCO, can do a dance-off with Sonny Kiss, can sell for Josh Alexander's wife, can do a job for Jordynne Grace). And really it has to be said, it's pretty much in synch with what Team 3D did during their entire stint in TNA. So yeah, whatever one thinks of him personally, I have all the time in the world for Bully Ray in a promotion I enjoy.

Lexy Nair is such a treasure. Best backstage interviewer in eons, and that's because she displays so much character and actually react organically to what happens. Above everything, the fact she is more often than not on the verge of cracking up makes her even more fun to watch. Hopefully AEW does what they have to to keep her, because she's one non-wrestler I could see WWE jumping on as soon as they can. Plus she has so much potential as a performer too, as showed by the on-going Minions-in-training angle with Athena & Billie in ROH. Yep, she's a keeper.

He's office. And although I don't really need to see him in the ring in 2023, he still can cut one hell of a promo, as demonstrated twice over the last few months. Him winning the Digital Media title from Kenny King was actually a legit real feel-good moment, and damn this guy sure needed one after losing his mother and Terry Funk in a very short time. The ex-WWE guys are used exactly how they should, really. Even when Nick Aldis came in, as a former TNA World Champ and with the "NWA hype" (yeah, lol, I know), they basically used him to put over Shelley, and then Eric Young, and then bye-bye. Maclin has been slowly built to winning the world title and it felt warranted, he's been such a great worker since he showed up (with a heavy sense of both Foley & Austin circa 1996, which I love). Guys like Heath, Brian Myers and the likes are good veterans to have around and they are filing spots that is ok for them to have, they don't outshine anyone (and really, if you consider the current regular roster, that's 3 people out of 20 in the Battle Royal, so it's a small minority). Booking is very conscious of the past mistakes. Trinity coming in a star is pretty much the exception, but in her case it make sense that she would be pushed that hard, and she sure has over-delivered to me. IMPACT TNA works wonders as a "big fishes in small pond" company (which is maybe what I like the most in pro-wrestling after all, as a old ECW fan), and I sure hope they keep in the direction they have spent the last 5 years to rebuilt the perception about them. If Dolph Ziggler shows up at Hard to Kill and challenges Shelley for the TNA title and wins it, then you know the bad TNA is back, but I highly doubt that's what they are gonna do.

It better be a slaughter, if not then it's not even worth doing. Here's hoping this shit is so offensive that the TKO stocks drops a bit more and Vince gets fucked a little bit more by Ari Emmanuel in the end.

So was Jade Cargill. Yeah, it's different, I know. Of course he could turn around and in 5 years he'll be terrific, and more power to him if that's the case. But in a company where they have soooo many already terrific wrestlers, both young and veterans, that don't any serious time, what was purpose of an Brock Anderson at this point ? The guy is better off moving around and finding himself and more importantly his own style. Cosplaying his dad is not gonna work. Unless you're called CW Anderson.

Bound for Glory was a terrific show, delivering on all front. The Ospreay vs Speedball match was as awesome as it sounds (really, Ospreay in 2023 has been completely ridiculous, the guy's output is untouchable, not even by Danielson who is having a career year, but whose schedule is not nearly as heavy), some cool surprises like Sunny Kiss and Juventud Guerrera (who was already announced for the next show which will honor lucha libre), PCO winning basically "his" match and shining through and through (how long can he go like this ?), tons of very good matches up and down the card, with both main events delivering. Mike Tenay's speech was GREAT, this guy is such a class act. As far as the TNA brand being used again, I guess it's part of a global strategy of reclaiming their most popular name, streamlining the product as a whole (went though two name changes in the past, which kinda was confusing I guess for some partners), playing on nostalgia (and before anyone laugh at this idea that TNA actually has produced both fans and workers themselves think again, hell, Will Ospreay just said TNA made him a pro-wrestling star, which is mind-blowing when you think of it) and obviously get some attention before they obviously put more ressources in the thing as told by what's un store for next year. The story of this company, which for the last 5 years has consistently been at the very least good and fun, and with a lot of actual great stuff, and a great place for talent to find a spot where they could express themselves the best (latest example being Trinity, who's having the run of her life right now), is fascinating. I hope they eventually get the Jarrett AEW crew for one Slammiversary angle and match now.

Those CMLL Friday shows are just incredibly fun again. Talk about a rebound from the post-COVID slump.

Jeff Jarrett is having one of the best stints of his entire career, and maybe the most plain fun and absurd. Not everything hits the mark (the ridiculous sponsored deal for Texas Chainsaw Massacre was "so bad it's good" level), but his entire group (which really digs deep on the TNA roots, which is kinda nice tbh) has just been mostly a hit.

He never showed jackshit even for a rookie, really. Even less than Pillman, which wasn't much. If he wasn't his dad's son, he would never have been signed to begin with. You can't win all the time, at least Daddy Ass' kids improved greatly to the point of not looking out of place at all on the main shows, despite their relative inexperience. As far as Brock goes, he would be a perfect fit for William Corgan's NWA, now on TV. He's got the look and the talent to challenge for their World Championship...

I don't know what's worse and more stupid. The bump he took on those stairs during the Christian Cage match, or this. Ok, who am I to judge ? Plus, that bump really got a pop... Also, I must say, it kinda sucks that Darby goes the route of "rich celebrity buys his way into getting atop of the Everest".

It's obvious from interviews even before she got in AEW that she's very attached to ROH, and it's possible she asked to be used over there to help get some talent over. I really enjoy the dynamics between her, Cole Karter (ponder that for a second, she makes me care about Kole Carter, who admittedly has a great slapable face, and the "I love hot moms" T-shirt makes him so obviously over-the-top douchebaggy) and Griff Garrison. I would love her to be involved with the OGK thingy going on though. Hopefully eventually she does.

If Ospreay is really "testing the waters" with IMPACT, they sure are serving him the best they can possibly deliver. "Hey, have a match with Mike Bailey. Hey, have a match with Josh Alexander. Hey, Have a match with Eddie Ewards". And that's a bunch of dream matches for the audience too. Whatever happens, this little Ospreay in IMPACT stint is the gift of the end year that I did not expect. The idea that he may up end there is not as absurd as it would have seemed some time ago. The fact Trinity choose to sign with them instead of AEW (which she could have in a heartbeat) is saying a lot about how that company is seen in term of getting a fine productive stint with creative freedom and not too much pressure. Catching up on the shows, Eddie Edwards vs Frankie Kazarian was brutal, in a good way. It really picked up with Eddie just bloodiing Kaz chest, and that was quite gory. Terrific match, and this is why Kaz left AEW to sign with IMPACT, he would not have that kind of matches over there (not stylistically, but in term of spot on the card). Ace Steel is getting a try out as a producer at BFG, uh ? Come on Phil. DO IT.