Matt_Black

Can't speak about why not Swerve, but I can tell you why not Jay White- he's dull. They've hidden it well by surrounding him with wrestlers who are even more tiresome and uninteresting than he is.

I was SO happy to see Harley on TV again. She quickly became the stand-out of the QTV segments (though Johnny *Insert Current Name Here* was fun too). I was concerned that with QT's departure, she'd get lost in the shuffle, so I'm glad they're finding something for her. Even if it is with Saraya who, thus far, has been a complete and utter drain on the women's division.

I loved how, despite the onscreen differences, Daddy Magic came in to try and save Garcia and was covering him up.

There's also the fact that in AEW, he's basically THE guy. In WWE, he'll be A guy. He'll most likely play second fiddle to Roman, Seth, Cody, and whoever strikes Vince or HHH's fancy that particular month. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that in WWE, he'd most likely be jobbing out a LOT, because they do that with popular guys, because "oh, they can eat lots of pins, they'll get their heat back."

If memory serves, that was the game after they did the story where Spike and the Dudleys were feuding with Taker, and Taker was mopping the floor with all of them. I believe THQ/ Jukes did the weight classes to reflect that, even if it didn't make a lick of sense (Bubba Ray is like 300 lbs!). And that's fine, but it should be used sparingly. AEW doesn't rely on DQ finishes or no contests very often.

If I'm not mistaken, that was the same installment that classified the Dudley Boyz as Light Heavyweights.?!?

Except for that one installment of Smackdown vs. Raw. 2005, I think. That was OBNOXIOUS. The titles could change hands that way, too. The heck?!?

Or, you can save the actual 1-on-1 match for the blow-off to the feud.

And that was fine back then, because TV wasn't as prevalent. Now, when there's 5+ hours of wrestling TV per week (and that's just WWE!), it's a different kettle of fish.

They're a LAZY way to advance programs between two wrestlers.

It's happened enough under Triple H's reign for me to notice it, and to become tired of it.

Both Trips and Vince have a tendency to hype up a main event on TV and then it ends in DQ, because they are creatively bankrupt.

Oh, and Toni Storm? Great job building up interest for the #1 Contender's match next week. Nothing builds up interest in a PPV title bout like saying, "I don't really care who wins."

Triple H: "Ha ha! I don't think AEW could do such an awkward return for one of their big stars!" Tony Khan: "Hold my beer."

CW Exec: "Hmm we need more bland, unappealing content that features Gen Z people." Assistant: "Hey, boss, have you heard about this thing called NXT...?"

Thunder Rosa has been out for over a year. They teased a return back in June. And THAT is the best they could come up with for her big return?!?

He is? Because to me, it seems like he's doing the EXACT same stuff that Vince did. "Tonight, on RAW, our main event, for the first time ever, it's Cody Rhodes versus Shinsuke Nakamura!" Me: I bet it ends in DQ. "Oh, no! The red mist, right in front of the referee...!" Me: Dammit, Hunter.

It also doesn't help that the title was hot potatoed with little seeming rhyme or reason. Toni dropped the belt to Shida, who dropped the belt to Saraya, probably for the feel good moment of THE HEEL celebrating with her family in her home country (because the people who had a friggin' movie made about them really DO need more pats on the back), who dropped it back to Shida instead of Storm (which, you know, would have made sense to pay off the Outcasts break-up storyline), and THEN Shida drops it back to Toni. It makes the TNT title business from 2022-2023 look steady and stable by comparison.

Toni Storm is quickly reaching Britt Baker levels of "ENOUGH already." I think there were more camera shots of her than the actual match transpiring. At least with Britt, there was a clear end goal to look forward to- Thunder Rosa. With Toni, it feels like AEW just said, "Eh, let's put the belt on her, we'll figure out something later."

Nah, I think Paul London had him pegged right. It's STILL about getting himself over above all else, he's just had to adjust on how he does it.

More like Triple H isn't an active performer anymore and can't derail their momentum.

Though not without it's flaws. While we criticize how they handle the women's division now (and there's a LOT to criticize), at least the division reliably gets one match per show. That's not something that can be said about AEW during the first year.

"A Tribute To The Troops is our most important show of the year!" "Is the Universal Champion here?" "... No." "The U.S. Champ?" "No." "The tag team champs?" "No." "..." "Dominik is here, though!"

The little kid from Pet Sematary was tiny too, and he was creepy AF.

I thought that might be you. Granted, sometimes different people use the same names...! 😉