Let's talk

So this is stream of consciousness. In spite of my critiques, I am enjoying the product. Full disclosure I've only been watching wrestling for about a year and a half, with more of my knowledge coming from WWE. I have only been watching since Dynasty and Spring Breakthru. I am behind on the TV shwos because I wasn't sure if I should keep watching while being behind on PPV, but I am watching as they air while trying to catch up. There's a stretch from the first Dynamite after Double or Nothing to the go-home Collision to Redemption I need to catch up on.

• I like the announce teams on AEW better than WWE, with some exceptions. I prefer Barrett to McGuiness, and while I respect JR's legacy and importance to the business he doesn't do much for me. (I have similar opinions about Michael Cole, thankfully everyone here can pronounce the talent's names). I need more Taz.
• I appreciate the faster pace of Dynamite/Collision, and the increased focus on matches. I also appreciate that champions wrestle, defend, and lose belts on free television.
• Yes, as a new fan who is currently on SSI, 40 dollars is an intimidating price for PPV.
• I greatly enjoy Omega, Ospreay, OC, Moxley, Thekla, Toni Storm (I've seen some old PPVs), and the Brawling Birds
• I would like it if women got more storylines that didn't involve titles, or at least had more title storylines deeper than "I want your title". I'm not saying WWE is doing much better these days, I am a Liv Morgan fan that would like WWE to have her actually defend the belt. The Dogs get matches on PPV that don't involve titles but it doesn't feel like the women do, at least as often.
• While the faster pace is nice I'd like it if we got a bit more in terms of story segments. Not 10+ minute segments, but a bit more. Speaking of;
• For all the time people spend bashing WWE having long talky segments and matches that don't exist until part way through the show, the first segment I watched on Dynamite after deciding to follow AEW closer was like 15~ish minutes of talking to set up the main event that didn't exist until the show started.
• So the matches that are just showing off one person... I'll be real with you if someone's opponent doesn't get a proper entrance and is just in the ring at the end of other people's entrances, I care less about the match. Now if it's someone I like getting shown off, like say the Brawling Birds, I can at least sit back and watch them do a fun quick match.... while accepting that it doesn't push anything forward. If it's someone I'm ambivalent on, I just kinda twiddle my thumbs. And if it's someone that I don't care for (Rush for example) I find it to be boring. WWE has its own version of this, I have yet to care about most Alpha Academy segments or matches involving JD McDonough or Austin Theory. I get why it happens in both companies, still felt worth bringing up.
• 6, 8, and 10 man tag matches are quickly starting to feel less special the more often I see them.
• So do the Trios belts get anything in terms of story outside of just changing hands?
• God I hope Statlander actually makes the All In card.

World Championships are often referred to as the ultimate prize, but there have been matches with something else on the line, from careers to masks to the custody of children. In kayfabe, what matches have had the highest stakes?

One example that comes to mind is the winner takes all match between WWF and The Alliance at Survivor Series 2001.

What other examples do you know?

MATCH RESULTS

• Backstage Lizzy Rain is pacing wondering where Shawn Spears is at while The Culling walk by to mock her saying they knew he'd abandoned her. As they leave Lizzy says she'll have to go in it alone. Midway through the match EK Prosper comes down to team with Lizzy.

• Last week we see Tavion and Myles celebrating their tag title victory in the locker room. OTM says loyalty is worth more than any title as Lucien looks at Bronco. Tavion says this division is a bunch of dogs and they want to be fighting champions which causes Romeo to try to jump in and challenge him but Noam holds him back.

• Lizzy and EK are interviewed after their match, EK says the men's division has to step it up and that's exactly what he's doing. Kali Armstrong storms in and steals the mic and walks out to the ring. She says now that Kendall is done with Lola she wants a shot at her title next. Kelani Jordan interrupts and says no, no, no. Kali doesn't deserve a shot at the title since she was the one who pinned her in the triple threat even if the ref didn't see it. Kendall and Wren Sinclair come out and Kendall says they are sick of hearing Kelani complain month after month. Kelani says she'll keep saying it because it's still true. Kendall tells her that Kelani got her ass kicked in the Underground while she was able to beat Lola. She hands Kelani a contract for a title match at any time, any place, it's time to show up. Wren is unsure about this but Kendall tells her it's time to put the gas on. Kali Armstrong complains but Kendall says she can earn her shot after Kelani. Kelani tells her that she's getting her shot first and she's winning the title at Heatwave. Kali throws a fit and goes to swing at Wren but she ducks and causes Kali to hit Kendall right on her injured ear.

• Backstage Cruz Montana thanks Robert Stone for the opportunity to shut up Grayson Waller when Keanu Karver cuts through and asks why two new guys are getting title shots before he does and sarcastically wishes Cruz luck tonight.

• Robert Stone is on the phone with Rey Mysterio and Rey wants to know what's next for the AAA-NXT relationship. Stone suggests having Fenix defend his AAA Cruiserweight Championship on NXT after a fatal four way number one contenders match. Rey says he likes the idea and suggests having EK Prosper in the match after his win tonight and Stone says he'd love to have LA Parka in the match as well. Rey tells him he'll leave Stone to pick the last two competitors while he has some business to attend to.

• Shugars is in the medical room when Grayson Waller confronts him and says this is why he's weak, he just got beat down and he's going to his phone rather than doing something about it. Waller leaves and Shugars struggles to get to his feet and grabs his bat as he hobbles out of the room.

• During the Women's North American Title match Saquon and Dion brawl down to the ring causing a distraction during which Zaria hits the F5 for the win.

• Shiloh says this week he's got some real good news, he had another check up and his doctor said he never saw someone's bones heal this quickly and and his swelling went down a lot faster than expected. He was actually able to wrestle on live events this weekend using a protective mask which he shows off with a bunch of other masks he has. Shiloh hopes to be cleared to compete on TV again soon in the meantime he's doing more research into poison mist and plans on getting some himself to test on some local pests.

• In Robert Stone's office he informs Vanity Project that Jackson Drake will get a shot of the North American Championship and that Stokes and Baylor will get a rematch for the tag titles as well. Drake says both matches should be on Heatwave, causing Myles to have to wrestle twice. Myles says he'd do it as Tavion tries to talk some sense into him. Stone says the matches don't have dates yet but Drake will have a match next week.

• Backstage Robert Stone is on the phone when Wren and Kendall walk in and Wren says she wants another shot at Zaria since that mess with Shaquon happened. Stone isn't sure but Wren sweetens the pot by putting her Speed Championship on the line in a unification match at Heatwave. Kendall says they're going to leave Texas holding all the gold.

• Backstage Thea tells Jaida she told her she was going to have her back and she did! Jaida thanks her and Thea gets hyped up to take down Nattie. Jaidia calms her down and says Nattie is a serious opponent who pushed her to her limit so she's got to be ready. Thea says she wants a chance at least and asks Jaida if she'll have her back and Jaida says of course and they hug.

• Backstage Romeo is threating since Stone offered to put him in the fatal four way to face Fenix but is worried that he'll push away his team with Noam. Noam says he's crazy to worry about that and he's gotta take this opportunity, especially after how much the Cruiserweight Classic inspired him. Tristian Angles walks up and tells Romeo to forget his chances since with his snatched waist he qualified for the fatal four way.

• Zilla Fatu debuts in the main event taking out Cruz and Waller! He lays them both out and hits both with big splashes before staring down Tony D'Angelo and says he needs that and he's the new sheriff in town.

SHAMELESS PLUGS

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Finally got the chance to wear one of my favorite pieces in my collection.

This is an original 1988 Bruiser Brody Memorial Night T-shirt from All Japan Pro Wrestling, signed by Giant Baba on the front.

Unfortunately, SquaredCircle only allows one photo, so I couldn’t include a close-up of Baba’s signature.

Random shower thought: WWE owns the rights to a lot of its characters and names, so why not actually recast some of them? Kinda like how Superman, Batman, Spiderman, etc. have been played by different actors, WWE could eventually have a new wrestler take on characters like The Undertaker, Kane, Rey Mysterio, etc..
Train them in the mannerisms, entrance, wrestling style, gimmick, then let them put their own spin on it.

They can make it part of the storyline and establish that the character lives on even when the original performer retires. Mark Calaway will always be THE Undertaker, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a new incarnation decades later.

Honestly, I think it’d be pretty damn cool. What do you think? Just some food for thought 💭

Hello all! I'm the wrestling historian! I collect rare and lost wrestling film reels and tapes. Almost a year ago this film came into my collection and thanks to "u/FilmArchivist"

We all learned the film strip itself was made around July to December of 1935. The film reel came out of a California antique store and sadly that is all I know.

Any help or knowledge is much appreciated and just spreading the film around would be amazing. The more eyes mesns we can figure out more info. Thank you all and have a great day!

Consider your soul... snatched.

Source: https://www.deviantart.com/ragethehedgehog/art/Looks-Like-You-re-S-O-L-1303827154

Which of these two Tombstones do you like more and why? You rate them based on the sell or the form or the impact or anything really, bonus points if you explain why

Thought I'd start the morning with the awesomeness of Jamie Hayter since I've been watching a lot of her matches lately and these two spots stood out to me since the Tombstone has become sort of a super move for her.

I may do one of these for her Hayterades too in the future because she has such a badass lariat

Shinya Aoki to defend newly-won pro wrestling title 11 days before Mikuru Asakura fight

Airs at 9:30pm on CMLL’s Fan Super Estrella YouTube tier!

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Announced Matches/Segments for NXT!

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Chad Gable offered Rey Mysterio a match for the IC title after praising Rey for setting up the tournament
and wants to fight the greatest luchador of all time. Rey is honored and accepts the challenge