Self

Free weekend for Diablo 4 on Xbox, so I'm going to see what the fuss is all about. Just finished with Arkham Knight and Lamplighter's League. I thought Arkham Knight was awesome. I tried playing it last year but hated the Batmobile so much I quickly gave up. What a fool I was. Really fun time. I can see myself going back to it or looking into the previous games in the franchise. Anyone know if they hold up, or if they're too dated for modern consoles? Lamplighter's League was unfortunate. I love X-Com style games, and this is a good twist on that, but the bugs were piling up. I was stuck on one level, purely due to crashes. It crashed when I tried to save. It crashed when I threw a smoke bomb while graphics were already stuttering. Finally, I beat the level, it faded to black... and never came back. I've uninstalled, but maybe I'll go back to it if it's fixed, or if I upgrade my Series S. Tried Starfield. Not my cup of tea. Not a NASA-core kinda guy. Story didn't grab me.

Having the "best wrestlers" is only part of the puzzle. I think a good show also needs identity and freshness. New things that you don't get from having a bunch of ex-WWE guys. I remember buying my first wrestling magazine when I was a teenager and learning about ECW. It had a host of (almost entirely) new characters that I was fascinated by, and I loved learning about the promotion, even before I discovered the VHS tapes where I could actually watch it. It was similar when I discovered things like PWG, Dragon Gate. Hell, the TNA X-Division was so much more interesting to me than their main roster. Not just because of flipz (although yes, the flipz were cool) but because of the new cast. Some ex-WWE talent are needed at this level, sure. And on a case-by-case basic certain wrestlers could be awesome in a new environment. But I don't think being 'great' is everything, and I don't think everyone's entitled to a forever job in wrestling just because they were on RAW for a few years. No one in particular strikes me as a bad hire, although... what have they done with Buddy Matthews? He's amazing. If I watched more regular he'd likely be my favourite. But has he sold any tickets or done anything that Joe Indy couldn't have done 80% as well?

Those posters are incredible. I played around a little, but found whatever content blocker they have on there frustrating to dance around. The women come out a little too attractive for my liking. I was trying to find a new pic for a dojo graduate; adding a luchadora to a police-themed stable, and all the AI gave me were airbrushed supermodels. Dainty and perfect. I'm looking for 62 sex appeal, and I could find the words to get that out of the process.

My fantasy booking changes to 'save' companies are usually the same. - Give each show a unique identity, aided by a soft brand split. The best thing about early Collision to me, was Andrade. He was featured every week, and was exclusive to Collision. If I only watched wrestling on Saturday, I got to see him consistently. If I loved Andrade, I only had to watch Saturday to get his entire story. So each show would have exclusive 5-10 acts, with mostly undercard or cameo acts floating around. - I'd extend that to the secondary belts. The 6-man tag team titles, the champions, the challengers, and the stories, would only be on Rampage (for example). Love Lucha clusters? You want Rampage. One of the Women's belts would be exclusive to Collision, aided by that show being 50% women's matches. Love women's wrestling? Collision is the show for you. - Drop the Tertiary titles. Excess belts are a lazy man's booking crutch. - Rip off the G1 tournament, albeit retooled for television. My TEW version is typically 8 guys I want to feature, everyone fights everyone over 12-13 weeks. Points system. 10 minute time limits. Loser gets fired. Winner gets something bigger than a title shot (not a good prize). Everyone gets a journey and a story and (short) promos to talk about matches, performances, tactics. Taz and Big Show as pundits talking about how Ricky Starks only needs a draw this week to retain his lead, Hangman Page should probably try to work on his submissions to earn some extra bonus points, and Buddy Murphy should stop getting disqualified because he's really close to coming in last. - Hire a woman to lead booking the women's division. Not because they would have better ideas, but because it would be their top priority. They would (probably) have a deeper interest than a typical booker/ex-wrestler. Like having someone who spent 90% of his career in a tag team booking the tag division. Although if you went back in time 10 years, I'd probably have the same ideas for TNA. I never thought AEW would be this much of a success just doing what they're doing, and I was wrong. They are fine.

Unless you want to capture the authentic frustration and disappointment from the fans, and really tank your main event. One minute match. Pinfall. Storytelling. Keep it Simple on Hogan. Keep Strong on Nash. Protect, if that's the one I'm thinking of that tells workers not to work too hard or take risks.

It's 2026 and Romeo Romaro has somehow become my top heel. Pro Wrestling WILD is the (slightly depressing) spiritual successor to CGC, a small Albertan indy promotion run by Bobby Thomas and Art Reed. For several years, Eddie Chandler was the top star, a former CGC icon returning to Canada after a successful run in TCW. First as the company's top villain, surrounded by various thugs and lackeys known as Chandler's Golden Court. Then, as age was catching up to him, spinning off into a fun babyface trio with fabulous tag team The Loverboys; Quentin Queen and Romeo Romaro. Quentin was always intended to be the breakout star of the group, while Romeo only got the gig because he fit the gimmick. He was the extra guy, never particularly talented, and not improving much, even with Chandler's guidance. He was acceptable in the role. Alas, just as I was thinking it was time to pull the trigger on Quentin Queen's big betrayal... he betrayed me and left to join GSW. Too lazy to come up with a new idea, Romeo took his place in the story instead, turning on Chandler for what I expected would be a fluffy midcard story at best, where the veteran would ultimately prevail. Then Chandler announced his upcoming retirement, pushing fast-forward on the story and giving Romeo the big win in the end, running his mentor out of town. Then Shane Nelson announced he was retiring. Having a soft spot for CGC, I gave him a 3-month farewell tour and needed someone to beat him in his final match. Why not Romeo? Then the same thing happened with Lee Rivera. Then I decided it was time for my user character, Bobby Thomas, to also hang up his boots. Romeo Romaro is now The Glam Reaper, Slayer of Careers. He's surrounded himself with his own lackeys (mostly graduate dojos in gimp suits and fetish gear) and has his sexy scythe pointed towards Acid, the only veteran left active in the locker room. He's still not very good. He's still too small to take seriously as a true threat. He's pushing 40 himself. Yet in terms of storyline and push he's the most dastardly villain on the roster. A far cry from the beginning of this save, when I brought him in to do 3 months of jobs and doubted he'd be back for more.

Do people buy DVD's of small indy promotions? I used to see cheaply made discs for sale at lots of shows I used to attend. Who bought them? Who would possibly want "Pro Wrestling WILD: Best of 2022". 1. Davis Wayne Newton vs Philippe LaGrenier (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, January 2022) Evil Eddie Chandler has melted down the Calgary Openweight Title to create a Calgary Golden Crown. Now these two heroic heroes battle to become the No.1 contender. (66 rating, 1,118 in attendance) 2. Davies Wayne Newton vs Eddie Chandler (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, March 2022) DWN challenges for the Calgary Golden Crown. Chandler's entire Golden Court are at ringside. Will shenanigans be afoot? (68 rating, 1,272 in attendance. Match of the Year.) 3. Quentin Queen vs Davis Wayne Newton (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, April 2022) After being screwed in his title match the previous month by The Loverboys, Davis Wayne looks for revenge against one of those Fabulous Flunkies; Quentin Queen. (63 rating, 1,329 in attendance. Davis looked like he was going to dominate this year, but soon after this he was snapped up by CWA. A bit of a shame, as when FCW went bankcrupt and Davis moved to Alberta, I got my hopes up about making him the figurehead.) 4. Alan Parent vs Jerry Martin (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, June 2022) Someway, somehow, Alan Parent has ended up with the Edmonton Openweight Title in his possession. Can he survive his first title defense against WILD's resident Wild Man? (61 rating, 602 in attendance - By this point, the Edmonton shows had become Lesser events in smaller buildings, and because Eddie Chandler is really expensive, I played hot potato with the belt until it was on someone cheaper and separate from the main Calgary stories.) 5. Poison Ivy & Pinky Perez vs Anderson & Snyder (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, June 2022) Ava Anderson and Lily Snyder, one of the great women's tag teams of the modern age, have put out a worldwide open invitation for opponents. This month's challengers are two spectacular Luchadoras. (66 rating, 979 in attendance - The women's division became the Anderson & Snyder show this year, training rookies and having quality bouts with young AAA/QAW teams. This was a whole other level though.) 6. Eddie Chandler & The Golden Court vs Philippe LaGrenier, Jerry Martin, Chris Ball & Penfold Perdition (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, July 2022) Two armies collide in a match that promises to get out of control fast. Chandler is protected by his Court (Canadian Crusher, Quentin Queen & Romeo Romaro) but LaGrenier has recruited some big guns to deal with them. (57 rating, 602 in attendance - The dominant story at the top this year was pretty basic, an evil faction cheating their heart out. This match is that.) 7. Philippe LaGrenier vs Eddie Chandler (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, August 2022) Following the absolute chaos of last month's eight-man tag, this match for the Calgary Golden Crown will be settled in a Steel Cage. With the Golden Court unable to interfere, will this be LaGrenier's chance to dethrone Chandler? (64 rating, 979 in attendance - Spolier alert. Yes. By this point 47 year old Chandler was slowing down, and with a lot of top babyfaces having left, I didn't have any more challengers for him. ) 8. Alan Parent vs Christopher Ball (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, November 2022) Calgary isn't big enough for the both of them. Loser Leaves Town! (61 rating, 979 in attendance - It's a shame Parent lives on the other side on the country, because he proved to be a really effective secondary villain. Ball, the local lad, took the win here, hoping to fill the void left by DWN & Penfold's departures. ) 9. The Unforgiven vs The Loverboys (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, December 2022) Without the Calgary Golden Crown to unite them, the Golden Court have split in two. The serious thugs (Todd Haverford & Preston Fuller; The Unforgiven) on one side, and the fun-loving scamps (Quentin Queen & Romeo Romaro; The Loverboys) on the other. (57 rating, 979 in attendance - The Golden Court didn't really work for me as a faction. Too big for an indy promotion, and I fell in love with Chandler & the Loverboys. It's like Dalton Castle and his Boys, except the leader is older and flabbier, and one of the Boys is really good. They would be babyfaces before the end of the year.) 10. Robin DaLay vs Jerry Martin (WILD Pro Wrestling in Saskatoon, December 2022) Free of the shackles of CWA and his father's watchful eye, Robin 'The Rock' DaLay is out to make a name for himself. (59 rating, 159 in attendance - A portent of things to come. Not only the expansion into Saskatchewan, but the arrival of Robin. A big, young heavyweight with tons of experience and a CGC legacy. Couldn't think of a better top heel if I tried.) Some disappointing elements of the promotion missing from this disc. Nothing from the masked cruiserweights, despite Acid coming in to lend his experience. No Bobby Thomas, who massively slowed down and got lost in the Golden Court shuffle. And I honestly expected more Anderson & Snyder. Really great performances all year from them. I like writing these. Like writing a dynasty, but doesn't absorb my entire life.

With all of the hype around Starfield, I got into the RPG mood and bought WrestleQuest. It's a JRPG mixed with wrestling mixed in a toy box, and it's alright. It's clearly made by a smaller team, a little bit buggy, and a little too on-the-rails for my liking (as of the 5 hour mark) but I'm having a decent time. I've complained before how I hate games where you're treated like most special boy in the universe. Where everyone loves you and thinks you're great and would follow you to the ends of the earth. That isn't WrestleQuest (so far anyhow). Most of the other characters think I'm an idiot and regularly tell me so. I love that. Gives me something to prove. Spite is a hell of a motivator. Speaking of proving something, I finally got around to getting rank in Overwatch. Bronze 2, which I hear is not the dirt worst rank you can be. After years of being vaguely afraid of online gaming, I am very proud of myself. Only had one person be specifically mean to me too. Although I don't have a headset, so there could be all manner of fired up promos going on that I'm unaware of. I'll try out Starfield when I can wrangle a free month of Game Pass again. They jacked up the price for this game, and there reviews aren't getting me too jazzed for it.

My gut reaction is "Screw AEW. I'll never watch them again!" However, that's an empty threat, as I haven't watched AEW, or any wrestling, since sometime during the pandemic. And I get all of my news via Jim Cornette, so there's probably some bias there. I don't really know what it's like backstage. Hell, I don't know if Punk is a wrestler I enjoy. I no longer have any desire to see Omega, the Young Bucks, Hangman, or Jungle Boy ever again, but again that's an empty threat. I have oddly strong emotions for someone who, at this point, should stop considering himself a wrestling fan. I'm a wrestling video game fan at best.

The sequel DVD soon to be gathering dust in almost 30 homes, it's "Pro Wrestling WILD: Best of 2021". A much tougher list of matches to come up with, given my rule that no one can appear more than 3 times. 1. Eddie Chandler vs Shane Nelson (WILD Wrestling in Edmonton, March 2021) Former CGC & TCW megastar Chandler has returned to Canada. He claims to simply want to 'help' his friend Philippe LaGrenier by 'softening up' the Edmonton Openweight Champion, but can anyone trust the Prince of Lies? (503 in attendance & available on WrestleWorld, 59 rating) 2. Hudson Drake vs Shane Nelson (WILD Wrestling in Edmonton, April 2021) A month after losing his title to Chandler, Shane Nelson squares off against WILD's most-annoying motormouth. Isabella Encarta seduces/kidnaps the referee to try to get the match cancelled for her client, but Jerry Martin steps in as guest official. (514 in attendance, not broadcast, 55 rating) 3. Hudson Drake vs Jerry Martin (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, June 2021) Having spent months ducking and dodging WILD's resident maniac, Hudson finds himself locked inside a cage with his foe. This feud must end tonight! (580 in attendance & available on WrestleWorld, 63 rating - Match of the Year, which was a nice surprise. The feud was fun, with a crazy, slightly-dim-wild-man going after a cowardly weasel, but I didn't think the blow off would have ranked this high.) 4. Philippe LaGrenier vs Penfold Perdition (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, July 2021) Hawaiian Heavyweight Penfold has earned a shot at any title he chooses. As luck would have it, Edmonton Champion Eddie Chandler is 'sick' and 'can't compete', so Penfold chooses to fight Philippe for the Calgary title instead. So predictably honorable. (647 in attendance, not broadcast, 52 rating - If I was willing to break my 3-appearences-per-wrestler rule, there were some much better LaGrenier/Chandler vs Big Ballz tag matches that could be put here. Chandler was a revelation.) 5. Shiva vs Davis Wayne Newton - (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, August 2021) A cold match, only notable for being the debut of DWN. (623 in attendance, not broadcast, 59 rating - Davis had a similarly great match with Quarrel (a masked Kid Fantastic) the next night in Calgary, but that match would be too similar to include here.) 6. Danielle Sweetheart vs Ava Anderson (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, August 2021) Women's wrestling is alive and well as Alberta's newest adopted daughter takes on America's (not Canada's) Sweetheart. (673 in attendance, available on WrestleWorld, 56 rating. I've had a small women's division from the start, but adding Ava this year is the first time it's gone beyond a training program for rookies.) 7. The Fantatic Fur vs Hudson Drake & Jawsome (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, September 2021) Six-man tag team action! Gnaw (Alistair Shufflebottom) Gnibble (Bowden Snoop) and Fuzzball (Flying Patriot) have been feuding with Hammerhead (Reggie Bishop) and Ripster (Reilly Patton) for most of the year. Now Hudson Drake has decided to get involved. Flips ahoy! (718 in attendance, 54 rating. Thrilled to see this make it onto the disc. The masked 6-man division was an undercard delight to book this year.) 8. Eddie Chandler vs Jerry Martin vs Philippe LaGrenier (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, October 2021) LaGrenier has been suspicious of Eddie Chandler's 'friendship' all year, and now the Prince of Lies has orchestrated himself into a three-way for both titles. Chandler promises to lay down once they eliminate Martin, but will he? (876 in attendance and available on WrestleWorld. 63 rating) 9. Eddie Chandler & Bobby Thomas vs Jerry Martin & Philippe LaGrenier (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, November 2021) Dastardly double champion Eddie Chandler has surrounded himself with The Golden Circle (Bobby Thomas, Canadian Crusher, and the Loverboys; Romeo Romaro & Quentin Queen). Jerry Martin needs a tag partner to fight them, and LaGrenier has shockingly stepped up. Has he turned over a new leaf? (987 in attendance, 62 rating - Probably should have been the last match of the disc, showcasing the new status quo going into 2022, with Chandler's new generic heel stable and LaGrenier's babyface turn.) 10. The Fantastic Fur vs Quarrel & The Rock City Stars (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, December 2021) Celebrating Christmas with a frantic festive six-man tag. (982 in attendance, 53 rating)

As soon as I finish a game's story, all motivation I have to play a game disappears. I'll often try to keep going, to do some more side quests or finish off a close achievement, but it very quickly feels pointless. It's not like I pay full price for anything any more. I'm aiming to finish Far Cry 5 this weekend, and once I see the credits I'll be deleting it off of my hard drive and moving on. Had a really good time though. Surprising hit for me. Story is a big motivator for me. I've tried to get back into fighting games in recent years, but Mortal Kombat 11's story mode has been the first one I've played for more than 15 minutes. I also just tend to get bored and wander off after 30-35 hours. At that point it's complete enough. If there's any good content I didn't see, that's the game's fault for not putting it in earlier.

I believe that means D'Lo doesn't work well with a manager in his corner. Any manager. It's not a devastating penalty, so if the manager is performing well in segments, I wouldn't worry too much.

I vastly prefer smaller rosters. A show with 5-7 matches needs 14-20 wrestlers on the card, plus a few in reserve to mix things up and add some options. 24 is ideal. I'll add a few Special Attractions from time to time. If I'm running a televised promotion, when I don't want people wrestling every week, it's more like 4-6 matches, times two so people wrestle every-other-week, so 26-30 wrestlers. I really cut out the multi-man nonsense on TV. I use a revolving door policy, where half of the roster is one short term 3-6 month deals. They come in, get a lot of focus and work, then move on. Monsters of the Week villains. Rookie babyfaces gaining experience. Nostalgia acts good for a quick story. I like shopping for new talent as much as the next guy, but I don't want to clog up my roster with acts I'm going to get bored of once the dopamine hit fades.

Always a fun topic. My current game sees Bobby Thomas trying to recapture his former glory by opening a small indy promotion in Alberta. Presenting "Pro Wrestling WILD: Best of 2020". I started with the best 10 matches of the year, but made a few adjustments. No rematches. No wrestler can appear more than three times. No more than two matches from a single show, and because I run two different venues, I wanted an equal-ish split between them. Going for diversity as much as quality here. Matches listed in date order. 1. Hudson Drake vs Bobby Thomas (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, June 2020) An insufferable loudmouth challenges for Bobby's Calgary Openweight Championship. (219 in attendance, 51 rating) 2. Kirk Drury vs Art Reed (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, July 2020) The final match in a Best of Three Series between WILD's best submission specialists. (242 in attendance, 47 rating) 3. Hudson Drake vs Gnaw (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, August 2020) Flips ahoy as Drake is trapped between the ropes with Alberta's masked WILD animal, Gnaw (aka Alistair Shufflebottom). (284 in attendance, 49 rating, They had a better match the night after in Calgary, but Edmonton needed some love on this DVD) 4. Art Reed vs Bobby Thomas (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, September 2020) Two old friends fight to become No.1 Contender for the Calgary Openweight Title, now in the hands of evil French-Canadian Philippe LaGrenier. The twist? The loser must retire. The final match of one of Canada's greatest unsung veterans. (315 in attendance, 45 rating, Only the 38th best match, but I felt it was an important moment) 5. Hudson Drake vs Christopher Ball vs Philippe LaGrenier (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, October 2020) Cowardly Hudson's feud with MMA bad ass Ball was a back-and-forth highlight of 2020, leading to them sharing this title shot. Much like in Calgary, LaGrenier holds the Edmonton Openweight Title with a French-Canadian iron fist. (327 in attendance, 53 rating, 2nd best match of the year) 6. Jerry Martin vs Kirk Drury (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, November 2020) Jerry proved too honourable/crazy to be bought by Kirk Drury's (father's) money, so it's time to fight. Technical wizardry versus fists of fury. (357 in attendance, 49 rating, Another one where they had a better match in Calgary, but rules is rules) 7. Shane Nelson vs Philippe LaGrenier (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, November 2020) After defeating LaGrenier for the Edmonton Openweight Title the night before, Shane Nelson looks to take the Calgary belt as well. Can he do it? Let's find out. (377 in attendance, 57 rating, Match of the Year - It would be tempting to also include their Edmonton match, as it was only a fraction worse, but both matches would have been extremely similar. Same spots, different crowd.) 8. Philippe LaGrenier & Jawsome vs Shane Nelson & Big Ballz (WILD Pro Wrestling in Edmonton, December 2020) The LaGrenier/Nelson feud continues as their teams meet in the finals of the Edmonton Six-Man Tag Team Tournament. LaGrenier has netted the shark-themed of Ripster (Reilly Patton) and Hammerhead (Reggie Bishop) as his partners, while Nelson has Christopher Ball and Hawaiian heavyweight Penfold Perdition. (389 in attendance, 51 rating) 9. Shiva vs Quentin Queen (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, December 2020) A sleeper hit between two relative newcomers to WILD, an evil martial arts man and a handsome young chap. Who will rise up the ranks? (387 in attendance, 47 rating - The night before in Edmonton, these two stunk out the joint with a 17-rated opener that damn near saw me firing them. What a turnaround.) 10. Bobby Thomas vs Jerry Martin vs Shane Nelson (WILD Pro Wrestling in Calgary, December 2020) Three heroic fan favourites meet in the finals of the Calgary King of Triangles Tournament. Philippe LaGrenier watches from the crowd, knowing the whoever wins will be coming for him next. (387 in attendance, 53 rating,)

In between Game Pass subscriptions, so decide to try some 'free to play' games. I'd played some Fortnite previously. It's smooth and easy to jump into, but after 8-10 games I feel like I've been there, done that. Hearing that I'm probably playing against bots took some of the shine off of my two victories. Halo Infinite has made me rethink my history with the Halo franchise. I think I hate it now. I'm really bad at this game, and now I wonder if, from Halo 2 in Uni to replaying Reach last year, I always have been. I like the variety of modes, I guess. Lots of difference ways for me to be an absolute liability to my team. Roller Champions is a weird little roller derby game. First play was fun, I felt like I helped (I can tackle, but not shoot). Didn't feel any urge to play another game though. Overwatch 2 on the other hand... I think I understand the appeal of these games now. I'm not 'good', but as a healer I can help and participate while I learn the ropes. I've played an hour every night for a week, trying the different characters, completing different challenges. I like it. I can actually see myself getting the battle pass next season to get the full experience or unlocking nonsense. I'm not a 'skins' guy, but I'm starting to see why some people are. In a total coincidence (and not because my phone spies on me) my news feed is now full of "Overwatch in decline" "Blizzard are terrible" stories.

From the sounds of it, if they even hinted that Call of Duty could become an Xbox exclusive, they would have lost the case. Giant franchise. Unfair move. Creating a monopoly. Etc. So I'm sure they've been very careful not to say it. I'm not a huge gamer. This might mean more options for me on Game Pass. Maybe. I'm not too familiar with what Activision Blizzard do. I am slightly uneasey whenever big companies get bigger, and threaten to control an industry. Competitive prices are better for me than one monolith charging what it wants.

I'll pick it up when it's on sale. I've been spoiled with Steam sales and Game Pass, so £40+ for just one game feels like madness to me. A lot of the criticisms don't turn me off. Entrances in WWE 2K22 were the bane of my existence. A lot of loading when I just want to get to the action. And I just don't have the patience for create-a-whatever any more. Three recent games I played (Far Cry 5, Street Fighter 6 demo & Marvel's Midnight Suns) had character creation bits up front, and it's just not my jam. I like the idea of playing something unique, but I would rather have my avatar be carefully crafted by the game makers, and not whatever Claymation monster I come up with. While I'm listing pet peeves in video games, Marvel's Midnight Suns has been particularly in-my-face about another. The side characters are [i]constantly[/i] telling me how great my avatar is. He's so talented and a great listener and a great friend and not like the other girls. The game had potential for an interesting story, playing as a half demon who has to slowly build trust with a bunch of Marvel heroes... but pretty much instantly Captain America is telling me I'm the world's only hope and a great leader, and offering to braid my hair. It's a weird power fantasy that I find off-putting, and it was similar in Mass Effect Andromeda and Persona 5. Everyone loves me instantly, for little to no reason. And they won't stop telling me about it. This is probably a Me thing. I love games where you control a squad, but I also prefer to roleplay an underdog. There's a thematic disconnect there. I love the combat in Midnight Suns though. X-Com but cards. Ditching grid movement and adding superheroes. Just my cup of tea.

I admittedly do get a kick out of watching rich people fail. Either billionaire is fine by me.

They're amazing. As much as I like the cartoony vibe of the C-Verse, these are such a breath of fresh air.

It certainly sounds like Vince is back in charge. Shane's appearance made that clear enough on its own. I grew tired of the McMahon empire over a decade ago. I keep up with the news, and I bought the video game last year, but I don't actually watch WWE, and I think I'll keep it that way. The sale had me interested because I was hoping for big changes. Seems like quite the opposite. P.S. My prediction for Money in the Bank is Jey. The paranoia would be palpable.

Roman Reigns loses after the Bloodline is destroyed. Narratively, that is Cody's next goal. Or maybe Sami's. They exposed some weakness in the Bloodline, but didn't remove the actual problem (lots of interference) which has been Roman's ultimate weapon. Jimmy or Jey needs to turn (as a twin, I'm always going to want to see twins eventually split off and do their own thing) Solo needs to be put on the shelf. Get a cage in there. Roman is alone, and afraid, and then Heyman turns tail at the end of the match. Helluva Kick. 1. 2. 3. That's how I'd book it.

I remember not too long ago when one of the women (Julia Hart? Anna Jay?) went through a table and came really close to a bad head injury. Some wrestlers on social media defended her for the dumb, needless spot by saying she did it "for the fans". I hope that was a lie, because if they truly think the fans are bloodthirsty monsters who crave bloodbaths and furniture multiple times every show... Why would you want those fans? More likely, wrestlers do these things because they want to look cool/be tough. I get the impulse. I worked indies. I argued for the chance to do a dive on some shows, but I'm under no illusions that it was purely an ego thing, and looking back I can't think of a single dive I did that will be remembered or really mattered... except for the one that damaged ligaments in my ankle. In front of 300 people. Still hurts sometimes. For some reason no one is teaching these kids that not every night is WrestleMania.

I watched a highlight package of Elimination Chamber, and there were so many spears. Far too many for me to respect it as a finish. Most of them looked pretty gentle.

Darrell Stubbs graduated from the DeColt Power House in 1998. A skinny cruiserweight in a land of giants, he didn't seem to have much hope for success, despite promising charisma and aerial skills. Just not a great fit for the product. Still, I believe in training my graduates, so he bounced in-and-out of CGC for his first few years, doing jobs on pre-shows. First under a variety of randomly generated names, then as MASATO, part of a preliminary ninja-themed tag team with another Asian graduate (YOSHINO). They came. They lost. They went. But I always kept bringing them in from time to time to give them experience. In 2002, CGC introduced house shows, and it was during an intensive 6-month loop that MASATO started to stand out from the other rookies. Great entertainment skills. Consistent performance gains. He got Ripped. Terrible by comparison, YOSHINO was released and I tried to find something for Masato to do. Teams with Ryan Powell and Ricky DeColt fell flat, as did making him the third member of Youth Energy. In 2003, he did get some TV wins against Damian Carvill and Dog Fyte, but that was more about punishing them than pushing Masato. He left soon after, but refusing to be disheartened, soon became Due North Championship Wrestling's World Champion and starting tearing up Northern Lights Pro Wrestling. The guy had something. Success in my promotions isn't a meritocracy. Skills mean nothing if I don't have the right story for you, and 2005 was where it finally happened for Darrell. Staunch traditionalist Eric Tyler had returned to CGC, planning to stick it to the DeColts by turning wacky gimmick babyfaces into traditional heels. Real names. Trunks. Grab a hold, kid, it's the Wrestling Reclaimation Project. As a former 'Ninja', Stubbs seemed like he'd be a good minion for a group. Someone to bump for the babyfaces and take the falls. Yet he quickly became the standout. Not just for his promos (turns out he's even better than Eric Tyler) but he was the only one who didn't have bad chemistry with the DeColts or his stablemates. Everyone else seemed to fail somewhere, but as luck would have it, his partnership with Derrick Jarrett (as 'Blackout') became vital as gatekeepers to the tag belts, staying strong and pushed consistently. In 2006, it was time for someone in the Reclamation Project to turn babyface, and even though that was originally planned to be Ryan Powell, at this point it HAD to be Stubbs. Red Hot momentum. Better promo. Better babyface. He invented a new move that got people talking, AND started dating Jenny Playmate to help backstage cohesion. Meanwhile Powell was a chilly whipping boy struggling to stay Recognisable. Stubbs turned, rebranded himself TKT Stubbs, and beat former boss Eric Tyler at WrestleFestival. Then, another stroke of good timing. Following the canon timeline, Youth Energy were supposed to win the tag belts in July 2006. Problem is, in this timeline, Youth Energy kind of suck. So I thought to myself "Why not Stubbs?". Blackout got back together and won the belts instead, having a series of awesome matches (and even better promo battles) with The Specialists and Club Olympus. His popularity skyrocketed, and he was suddenly in the mix for the World Title at Ultimate Showdown (every other babyface was busy) and was a strong contender to be a shock winner of the Last Man Standing Rumble. Heading into 2007, Darrell Stubbs is a runaway Major Star, arguably the No.2 babyface in the company given recent DeColt turns. It's only a matter of time before he drops the tag titles (and his tag partner, who has developed an unfortunate backstage feud with Steve DeColt) and becomes a singles star. His size holds him back, and the DeColt boys will always create a ceiling over his head, but who knows? At 28 he's got a lot of time ahead of him. Maybe he'll save this timeline's version of CGC.

The follow up to this. I jobbed Athos down the card, and as soon as he dropped down to Well Known he stopped running his mouth. Even though he wouldn't negotiate with me when his contract came up, Boss George DeColt managed to resign him to a big money, long term deal. He's a talent, but at this point he's been with the company 8 years, and if I can't push him beyond a certain level, it's not worth it. A few high profile jobs later, and he asks for his own release. You either learn to live underneath the DeColts, or you go somewhere else. Simple as. It's 2006 in my CGC game, and Alex DeColt has joined The Elite. Or has he? Yes. But he's up to something. We think. Out of nowhere, Alex has joined the DeColt Family's long term rivals; The Elite; a motley crew of sponsored athletes represented by Sports Agent to the Stars; Adrian Garcia. This move was sudden and confusing, especially to The Elite themselves. After years of heated rivalry, Alex entered their open invitational battle royal to win a spot, and all of a sudden is acting like a fully committed member of the team. He's wearing the tracksuit covered in sponsorship logos, he's recording ads for 'male performance' pills without complaint, and he's even interfering in his new stablemates matches... although sometimes he 'botches' that interference and 'accidentally' helps his brothers win. However, just when the Elite are convinced he's a double agent, he slams a cage door on his brother Jack's head to protect Sponsored Submission Expert John Maverick keep the CGC World Title. What is his game? Whose side is he on? I've taken some inspiration from the Bloodline for this one. I like the idea of a heel faction with ambiguity and allegiances and restrained inner turmoil. Every main event player has a different idea of what Alex is doing. John Maverick trusts him, for now. Eddie Chandler absolutely does not. Dan DaLay believes he's finally seen sense and followed the money, and Adrian Garcia badly [i]wants[/i] to believe it, because Alex makes more sponsorship money than the other three combined. Meanwhile, in the family, Jack DeColt is convinced Alex has gone to the dark side, Ricky believes he has a heroic plan, and Steve... poor Steve is just trying to keep the peace. For Alex, this represents a turning point for his character. Since 1997, being "The Thinking Man's DeColt" has just meant he went to college. This is when he levels up and becomes the Sherlock Holmes' level intellect, playing everyone around him like chess. Which is exactly what's happening here. He gains Maverick's trust, and enrages Jack into challenging them to a 3-way for the World Title ("I'll take you both on!"). Chandler throws a spanner in the works, suggesting a 4-way, but fails to win the spot himself due to infighting between himself and DaLay (that Alex debatably started). High flying underdog Darrell Stubbs won the spot, and as luck would have it, that's the perfect person for Alex to 'accidentally' pin to become CGC World Champion. Naturally, Alex is apologetic and eager to give the belt back to its rightful owner, but Garcia sees money in a big presentation, (who could have predicted?) Jack sees revenge in ruining the presentation (who could have predicted???) and now Dan DaLay is questioning why Alex isn't a better pick for champion. This is the most fun I've had booking the DeColts and The Elite in at least two in-game years, and there's so much more to go. In canon, 2007 is a big shakeup year for The Elite, and this story looks like it'll be the catalyst.