Matt D

It's April. Styles debuted at the end of January. If they had pushed him strong from the start, there'd be no backlash, not even "He's going to be fed to Reigns!" backlash. Those people would just think that he was on the right side of the HHH vs Dunn war or something, or that they'd successfully hijacked, or that the injuries meant WWE had gotten desperate, or something. And he'd be more over with the casual fanbase because he'd be a dominant winner.

AJ is the definition of "us" to everyone but the people who he needed to be presented strong for the most.

Workrate clinging dinosaur! How did Sayama do in the last one?

I want a Cesaro vs Gotch exchange so much.

Here's a thing. If AJ was presented strong throughout, if he was debuted even more strongly, if he was protected in his first couple of matches (a showcase to debut, for instance, his offense not kicked out of so much so early), if he won at Wrestlemania, then this would matter even more right now. That's what they do in NXT. That's what they do in lucha Underground. If AJ was going to be challenging upcoming in either of those places, they wouldn't have had his offense kicked out of so much and wouldn't have had him lose. Is it good that he's the challenger and not Jericho or whatever? Sure. Is it a push? Sure. But there's a way to build a guy most effectively, and this wasn't it. No "Oh we got fooled!" moments change that. He was just another guy last night. Tonight, he was the just another guy that they're giving a title shot. He was the midcarder, out of four midcarders, that was getting that nod. Almost every wrestling territory in the 80s would have built him different. Vince, in the 80s or 90s, would have built him differently. None of this changes that. That's history. It was a good moment. It should have been better. I'm sick of settling because the either can't or don't want to actually get anyone over. It's not rocket science. It's wrestling.

That'll do the trick.

Very glad that JR and I got Kellett out of the basement. Better than Shane!

I don't feel so bad for Haward now

They do that every ten years apparently. WM10, 20, 30. I bet 40 will be pretty hot.

Kelly, do a podcast with Johnny or something. I'd want to hear it.

It's also easier than ever to dip in and out. They have 4 minute raw/smackdown recaps on youtube. If there's a great superstars match you miss, it's on the network to catch. Etc. It's not a big commitment to keep a toe in the water. It's barely even a conscious decision. If they put together a good card next month, we'll watch. If not maybe we'll watch something else. And there's always the month after either way.

They did that in 1991 with L-O-D at the Boston Garden.

And where you when we needed you the most?

Yeah, this was great. Let's never do it again.

You know, now that I think about it, the end to Wrestlemania IX had some really strong points.

They could salvage this if he just cut a promo about how much he hates all of them right now. They would throw trash.

I was honestly asking about the arm, because I was just blanking out there. Good on him to do it, but man... You saved us. It probably cost you your soul, granted. Thanks, friend.

Did the arm selling get dropped? I'm blanking here. And this is in front of my face.

UBERMENSCH PUNCH!

Great Camera shot of Reigns looking like a moron running into that knee.

No, I'm series. If the viking lord doesn't get that purple confetti off his head soon, Parv might start asking uncomfortable questions about him to the rest of the class.

Hunter, Hunter, ... dude, your head. You've got something on your head. Hunter. Why is no one telling him?

Actually, this would be a fucking awesome time for a musical number.

Ironically, it's kind of like Virgin. Would that sign make more sense or not?

Is there even a way out of this match? There's no booking scenario that makes any sense, is there? Is this limbo?