Matt D

*I also reserve the right to go back on what I said after a second watch because I was posting after mid-night with an unhappy baby in my arms. I'll revisit soon. There were a few things that stood out at the time though. Almas is an Ingobernable too which isn't 100% the same.

Could you elaborate on this, what is the difference? I'll bs my way through it, but not tonight. Too late here. Tomorrow or Monday.

I'm not 100% sold on the main yet (I just need to digest it. I just finished it), but I do think what made it work so well were three things: 1.) The counter stuff/athleticism felt next level at times, and so many things were built up and paid off. 2.) But it was always grounded in the characters and who they were. Even when it got a tiny bit too dancey or slightly too pop-uppy, it was always Gargano as the arch-babyface and Almas wrestling like a rudo (which isn't necessarily the same thing as a heel). The roles mattered and they drove the match. 3.) They gave it both highs and lows. They had time to make things breathe and to build and build and build and payoff. If there's a four, it's Gargano's quasi-concussed dead-eyed facial sell.It's almost uncomfortable to watch him sell, and that's just artistry. He can take that to the bank.

That I would take you up on. It might be 20 women with 30 second intervals next year, but they cant go back on it so soon.

Maybe if they get Oprah to put up her hair and Reigns and Brock both get eaten by Sharks.

Yes. Maybe it could main event Extreme Rules. Maybe. Its like you guys dont know this company at all. Shane vs Hunter is way more likely to main event the show.

I applaud and appreciate that you so badly want it to be good and torch bearing and stigma changing and it's a step on the road, sure, but if you think they're all the way there yet, I fear you have disappointment ahead of you.

Not unless you want to win, sure.

I do wonder if the whole reason Vince created a Womans 30 Rumble just so Stephanie can win the thing. There is 0% chance she is in the Rumble, let alone winning it. Why would you wonder that at all?

Jetlag gave me Masanobu Fuchi © vs. Shinichi Nakano (AJPW 4/16/1989) http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/40991-masanobu-fuchi-vs-shinichi-nakano-ajpw-4161989/ It was well out of my normal watching habits and I got a kick out of Fuchi's attention to detail and control of the match (and Nakano's poor limbs). I'll definitely go out of my way to see more Fuchi Jr. Heavyweight title matches this year. Thanks.

I've seen a bit of Fuchi in Memphis and some of his work in the mix of larger tag matches into the 90s, but I hadn't seen anything of his Junior stuff before this. According to Jetlag, Nakano was a Fujinami trained outsider that tanked his career by leaving with Tenryu in 90. This was one of many shifts of the title in 89. In the first seven months, it changed hands seven times, which seems wonky for me for an AJPW title but the tag belts changed hands five times in 89 so it's not that strange, I guess. This was absolutely a Fuchi showcase, but one that helped to elevate Nakano as well (it better have, since he was winning it), solely through the fact that he survived, didn't give up, and found strength in his desperation. Unfortunately, they put the belt on Momota four days later, but what are you going to do? It actually leads me to wonder if it was the intent or not. Fuchi had such control here. Some of that played out obviously in the narrative. There was early matwork with Fuchi manipulating Nakano however he wanted. At one point ,Nakano locked in a deep headlock (which is really the most basic move in the world, potentially gutsy, but basic), and Fuchi didn't just shrug him off, but was able to get a leg, shift it this way or that, and then toss him against the ropes. Even this was more to foreshadow and set up when he used the leg to escape a move later. The illusion of believing that a wrestler is one or two moves ahead is hard. That's why we don't see it more even though it's not a massive intellectual leap when you think about storytelling, but Fuchi had me absolutely believing it. He shifted an escape attempt into another hold, floating over, snatching up a limb, jockeying, very often making a pointed and deliberate attempt to show the crowd he was doing something (like using his foot to break hands apart so he could lock in a hold) and making futile Nakano's every action. Mastery is really the only word for it. Nakano tried to get the first strikes in since he wasn't getting anywhere matching holds (and this is after Fuchi had given him a supportive clap on the shoulder after a rope break too). All it did was make Fuchi grind down a bit more the second he got a limb back though. Here he was making sure to press his knee in for leverage, or just cut into Nakano's personal space as he had a hold on. Again, mastery, little things you don't often see. Whenever Nakano got in a shot or a hold, it was obviously through desperation. Both wrestlers locked in double wristlocks in the match, but Fuchi's was so deliberate and Nakano's was far more grasping, straining. Fuchi wouldn't just allow himself to get whipped. Everything Nakano did ended up looking earned, often by the skin of his teeth, which, I think, helped the fans get behind him all the more when he kept fighting. Occasionally his athleticism would win through and he'd be able to hit a suplex or even a small flurry, but Fuchi had so many visceral and believable ways to cut him off, whether it was taking a limb or reversing a whip, or just having him walk directly into a straight punch to the face. Towards the end, he was bullying Nakano more and more, including just bum's rushing him right out of the ring. It meant that when the finish did hit, with Nakano desperately leaping across the ring with a shot to the back of the head to prevent a probably overconfident Fuchi from escaping a waistlock and hitting a hail mary German, the crowd popped hard with appreciation. It's a shame that he went and lost the belt four days later. Ah well. Now I need to go out of my way to see a lot more of these Fuchi title matches.

Guys, it's nice you think the women's rumble is that important to them, but it's not. It's hugely telling that neither Alexa or Charlotte are on the card, either defending their belts or at least in a special novelty match (I'd say with a stake but they never realize how important stakes are) against each other. They aren't even announcing. That's Steph. It's just a little bit of exploitation to go on first to start the show. Steph gets the credit/attention. This isn't some massive trailblazing thing or even a trend. It sure as heck isn't main eventing the show.

Ill take stock of where we are people-wise next week and try to include everyone.

I believe it was Bryan vs Sheamus. The fact they were trying to push the Yes chants on to Big Show is telling. I have pretty much zero doubt.

Recency rules?

Watch them rehire Swoggle

Hes their only actual draw?

I do think some things were at least competent for a lapsed audience. The women got a ton of time, which would feel new. The Jordan/Rollins story worked fine. Balor Club did get a rub. Elias got more than a rub. There was a title change which will give Miz some momentum going into the next few months. If they don't know Braun, then after last night they do. But for people following it, it was definitely a snoozer.

Week 4! You guys know the drill. Even if you're behind, make sure to give a match for your partner. I tried to make sure no one had someone they had before but this might be the last week of me doing that. Chad's had to drop out for now at least. Tim Cooke is his mystery replacement. CapitalTTruth Beast Jmare007 Richeyedwards Laz Tim Cooke dawho5 PeteF3 Jetlag Matt D SirEdgar Nintendo Logic dkookypunk43 WingedEagle topropepodcast C.S. Wahoo's Leg concrete1992 Tim Evans Grimmas Migs AstroBoy SPS Matt Franklin southofheavy Rah Jetlag, I think I'm going to PM you with a few options later on today. You've seen so much stuff and are such a specialist in some ways that I might come up with things you've seen otherwise.

I work myself into a shoot every milestone thinking OKAY THIS IS THE YEAR WWE CREATES AN ACTUAL MEMORABLE SHOW...of course I am then let down. Egg and pie on my face. Wait til Mania.

I just checked and Vince giving himself the award for the success of Wrestlemania I at MSG is not online anymore. What a tragedy.

And it starts with Shane and Steph. That's as Raw as you get pretty much. You just need Hunter in there too.

So it looks like there's a Randy Savage: Unreleased coming out at the end of May. They went to that well a bunch of times for this release. Curious what'll be on there.

If they're putting a heel over (especially a midcard one like Corbin or someone), I could see him in the Santino role vs ADR. It's not like any of that actually worked though.