The All Elite Wrestling Discussion Thread

[milamber]

- Best Friends vs FTR © was great. Nice payoff with the arcade machine to setup a feud with Kip & Miro.

- Archer and Mox attacking each other earlier in the show added some heat to their feud. The MJF/Inner Circle segment went on a bit long but it was funny. I hope they use the storyline to turn Sammy and Wardlow. This Dr. Britt/Reba/Tony segment LOL.

- Cassidy vs Cody © was my MOTN. I loved the character work and in-ring storytelling. Cassidy looked strong in defeat. LOL at Silver and the Dark Order ringside ejection. If Taz has his way, Darby won't make it to Full Gear.

- Looks like that Sammy babyface turn will have to wait. Not a fan of continuing this cursed feud with Hardy. The Tag Title Contender match should be a banger.

- Swole vs Shida © was solid but a little sloppy. The pacing felt rushed due to a lack of allotted time.

- Fun match-ups in the Championship Contender tournament. Solid promo from Spears.

- Archer vs Mox © was great. I'm down for a Kingston vs Mox rematch at Full Gear.

[Jaysin]

<p>I could see Wardlow and Sammy teaming up at some point. I think their styles would mesh more Wardlow and MJF.</p><p> </p><p>

Not a fan of Sammy and Hardy feud continuing.</p>

[milamber]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I could see Wardlow and Sammy teaming up at some point. I think their styles would mesh more Wardlow and MJF.<p> </p><p> Not a fan of Sammy and Hardy feud continuing.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Matt hinted at a Hardy Compound match on twitter. At least if it's pre-taped they might be able to end this thing safely.</p>

[Jaysin]

Mox vs Kingston in an I Quit match!? I'm sold on Full Gear based on that match alone.

[Matt_Black]

World Title- Has a hot, interesting story heading into Full Gear.

 

Tag Titles- Have a hot, interesting story heading into Full Gear.

 

TNT Title- Depending on how things play out, this could have as many as THREE hot, interesting stories heading into Full Gear.

 

Women's Title- Sorry, Kenny Omega was too busy coming up with his overly elaborate entrance to work on anything interesting or compelling for the division this week. Please enjoy a glorified AEW Dark match.

 

At least when Riho was champion and disappeared from TV, there was an excuse. "Oh, she's in Japan this week." There is really no good reason for the Women's Champion to not have a storyline of some sort.

[Jaysin]

I skipped Britt's match. Strange that they've signed Ivelisse and she's been relegated to Dark. Serena is making an appearance for NWA/UWN next week against Thunder Rosa.

 

Kenny looked like the biggest dork ever tonight though. Dumb, drawn out entrance. It was cheesy and unneeded. Squashing Sonny was dumb too.

 

Fatal four way tag match was one of AEW's signature fun Trainwreck matches. It's nice Silver and Reynolds are getting a chance to work main events. I've really enjoyed them.

[Matt_Black]

Ivelisse SAYS she's been signed, but I don't think I ever heard any confirmation from AEW's end. She hasn't been added to the official roster page in any case.

 

I'll forgive Kenny's entrance, because that's the kind of things heels do, and he's totally turning heel.

[Jaysin]

I some how missed the announcement of the Elite Deletion match for Full Gear. At least they'll be able to edit it and do a much safer match style. As much as I've enjoyed Matt, hopefully Sammy wins and the feud ends.

[milamber]

- Wardlow vs Jungle Boy was great.

- Kingston and Mox are 2 of the best promos in wrestling today. The stipulation is perfect for this feud.

- That entrance and introduction LOL. I wasn't a fan of Kiss getting buried but it did a good job of putting over Omega's change in attitude.

- Cody's cockiness will catch up to him soon. They need to fix the echo on these backstage segments.

- Fenix vs Penta was my MOTN. Kingston taking no prisoners on commentary

- Silver grabbing that brass ring on BTE and getting more screen time on Dynamite.

- Cabana vs Page was good.

- Team Taz not happy. The MJF/Jericho segment took an unexpected turn. Going after that 50+ demo LOL.

- Dr. Baker vs King was good. Britt was super agressive.

- Main event was great. The post-match was interesting... heel vs heel feud.

 

Awesome show.

[CQI13]

Apparently Alex Reynolds was knocked out during the match and it just continued until someone noticed.

[milamber]

<p>I love AEW's roster but Starks is my favorite right now... except when Kingston has a mic.</p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="jh1iLds.gif" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jh1iLds.gif" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Kijar]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="milamber" data-cite="milamber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I love AEW's roster but Starks is my favorite right now... except when Kingston has a mic.<p> </p><p> <img alt="jh1iLds.gif" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jh1iLds.gif" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> We are on the same page. Whatever "it" is, the kid has always had it. Always will.</p><p> </p><p> And Kingston's so raw. No joke, just so real with every word, or at least sounds like it.</p><p> </p><p> Some underrated people on the roster to shoutout. Angelico (and that TH2 theme), the Lucha Bros, Kenny Omega's face after his win this week, Jungle Boy, John Silver, let's give it up for Best Friends as well... Eric Watts/Ray Rosas were very solid on Dark together.</p>

[milamber]

<p>I love BTE Silver spilling over to Dynamite with Tony Khan's blessing. On Dark he wanted Brandi to let him on her cooking show and she said yes. Cody is not happy haha.</p><p> </p><p>

Shame about Reynold's although he did walk to the back unaided. There was a lot going on at that point of the match but still no excuse for no one to spot him unable to move.</p>

[Jaysin]

I'm just glad people are noticing what I've been saying about Ricky Starks since his NWA Power debut. Dude is a star in the making.

[Derek B]

I had watched the first 7 or so episodes of NWA Powerrr before I lost interest in the product, and didn't see much in Starks there from those episodes so had no idea why people were high on him from that. From his AEW debut, he came across as a star and has been growing non stop from then. Whether he's having fun with Taz and Excalibur on Dark, feuding with Darby Allin (another huge star in the making) or his general attitude to everything... Starks has been fantastic. Definitely one of the high points in AEW recently, among a company full of high points recently.

 

I LOVED Dynamite this week... it had high quality matches, it carried on storylines, had a hugely entertaining and unexpected segment with Jericho/MJF and generally is everything I want to see in wrestling in general.

 

When you compare Dynamite with RAW, which had the go home show for a PPV this week.... it's a no brainer which show is better. Dynamite, which isn't perfect by any means, is sooooo much better than anything WWE is putting out. Every week I look forward to Dynamite (and Dark) because I know it's going to be good.

[MightyDavidson]

Apparently Alex Reynolds was knocked out during the match and it just continued until someone noticed.

 

Somebody posted the part of the match where the KO happened on Twitter and, to be honest, it was rather difficult to tell that anybody had taken a legit KO. The KO was actually confirmed, he wasn't just selling really well?

[CQI13]

Yeah, it was confirmed. Blade I think dragged him to the corner to tag himself in. They tended to him outside the ring from what I read. But he was not involved after that. Cody even came out in his EVP role to check on him when the show ended.

 

https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1207182-alex-reynolds-issues-statement-aew-dynamite-injury

[Self]

That looked legitimate to me. Part of selling well involves getting out of the way afterwards, especially in a match like that with guys flying everywhere. He didn't move, and he was in the way for a few things. Just a little bit.

 

I dont consider this a scary situation, but wow a lot of people are getting hurt lately. Chill out guys. Doing big moves to make the fans think they're easy, and then being surprised that people get hurt. Fans are a bit sensitive these days (simulated combat isnt going to be 100% safe) but theres a happy medium to be found.

[milamber]

Injury spoiler from the tapings in white text below:

 

Abadon got stretched off against Conti and hospitalized

 

I doubt the match will make TV unless they try to spin it into a storyline like Sammy & Matt.

[MightyDavidson]

Yeah, it was confirmed. Blade I think dragged him to the corner to tag himself in. They tended to him outside the ring from what I read. But he was not involved after that. Cody even came out in his EVP role to check on him when the show ended.

 

https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1207182-alex-reynolds-issues-statement-aew-dynamite-injury

 

Ah I see. Well I hope he wasn't injured to badly then.

[Mootinie]

- I'd like to see Wardlow go all the way and win the tournament, doing Omega vs. Page in the final just seems too obvious. I'm hoping there's a twist or turn but that's probably because I've seen enough Kenny Omega in main event matches to last a lifetime LOL.

 

- Le Dinner Debonair was fun. I was really surprised by how strong MJF's performance was, he can sing, dance, talk, wrestle, perform, oh my. He made Jericho look like a bit of a slouch by comparison!

 

- People on the internet tend to go a bit overboard but the Alex Reynolds situation was bad optics. Hard to believe nobody stepped in and took control, not even Rick Knox who has surely been around long enough to know better.

 

- Anybody else not really that interested in The Young Bucks vs. The Revival? I don't know why but the stuff they've done with both teams in the last couple of months has put me off the match. I don't really care about it... and I probably should.

[CQI13]

- I'd like to see Wardlow go all the way and win the tournament, doing Omega vs. Page in the final just seems too obvious. I'm hoping there's a twist or turn but that's probably because I've seen enough Kenny Omega in main event matches to last a lifetime LOL.

 

- Le Dinner Debonair was fun. I was really surprised by how strong MJF's performance was, he can sing, dance, talk, wrestle, perform, oh my. He made Jericho look like a bit of a slouch by comparison!

 

- People on the internet tend to go a bit overboard but the Alex Reynolds situation was bad optics. Hard to believe nobody stepped in and took control, not even Rick Knox who has surely been around long enough to know better.

 

- Anybody else not really that interested in The Young Bucks vs. The Revival? I don't know why but the stuff they've done with both teams in the last couple of months has put me off the match. I don't really care about it... and I probably should.

 

My only experience with Omega and The Young Bucks was at Triplemania before AEW got on TNT (the one with Cody and Cain Velasquez in the 6 man tag). I can appreciate their athleticism but the triple superkicks and dives to the outside kind of turned me off on the match. From what I have heard, it is a common spot for them. Just didn't make sense in the context of the match other than "Hey, look what we can do."

[milamber]

The Young Buck's character is that they have always stayed true to their backyard wrestling origin. They gained a reputation as the best tag team in the world during the ROH/NJPW years and weren't afraid to let people know it. After failing to reach the top of AEW's stacked tag division, being usurped by FTR (who claim they are the best in the world) and screwed over by Page, more of the Bucks' old selves are showing again, cockiness and show-off highspots included. Same trajectory Omega is taking.

[Self]

- Anybody else not really that interested in The Young Bucks vs. The Revival? I don't know why but the stuff they've done with both teams in the last couple of months has put me off the match. I don't really care about it... and I probably should.

 

I lost interest the second they teamed up in an 8-man tag. And more every time FTR appeared on the Young Buck's YouTube show. There was (what could be perceived as) real life heat between the teams, but the more generic wrestling angles they do together, the more it's obvious that there is no heat, and that they're all friends really. Yet they keep referencing real heat that we know isn't real.

 

It's similar to Bret Hart vs Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 26. Real life situation. Believable heat. Then Bret's doing typical phony wrestling nonsense like getting fake hit by a car. As soon as the guy is following a script, the idea that things are going to get violent with the boss is less interesting.

 

I'm having a weird relationship to kayfabe these days. When I'm watching a TV show, I want to believe in the characters that exist in the world. AEW makes that very difficult sometimes. By referencing real heat, but also doing story heat, I end up not taking either seriously. I'd prefer it if they either took situations like this 100% legit (if FTR hated the Bucks, they wouldn't team with them, do skits with them, etc.) or 100% fake (introduce them fresh, create a new story that doesn't reference star ratings). I can't really blame them for bungling this. They put off the match, likely thinking they'd have crowds back by now, and you need to fill TV time somehow.

[Mootinie]

The Young Buck's character is that they have always stayed true to their backyard wrestling origin. They gained a reputation as the best tag team in the world during the ROH/NJPW years and weren't afraid to let people know it. After failing to reach the top of AEW's stacked tag division, being usurped by FTR (who claim they are the best in the world) and screwed over by Page, more of the Bucks' old selves are showing again, cockiness and show-off highspots included. Same trajectory Omega is taking.

That's a good insight but rather than saying that on TV they just keep asking 'what's up with The Bucks?' and we aren't getting promos or anything to explain it. It just reads to me as them not knowing what the hell they're doing and instead just making it up on a week-by-week basis.

 

I lost interest the second they teamed up in an 8-man tag. And more every time FTR appeared on the Young Buck's YouTube show. There was (what could be perceived as) real life heat between the teams, but the more generic wrestling angles they do together, the more it's obvious that there is no heat, and that they're all friends really. Yet they keep referencing real heat that we know isn't real.

 

It's similar to Bret Hart vs Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 26. Real life situation. Believable heat. Then Bret's doing typical phony wrestling nonsense like getting fake hit by a car. As soon as the guy is following a script, the idea that things are going to get violent with the boss is less interesting.

 

I'm having a weird relationship to kayfabe these days. When I'm watching a TV show, I want to believe in the characters that exist in the world. AEW makes that very difficult sometimes. By referencing real heat, but also doing story heat, I end up not taking either seriously. I'd prefer it if they either took situations like this 100% legit (if FTR hated the Bucks, they wouldn't team with them, do skits with them, etc.) or 100% fake (introduce them fresh, create a new story that doesn't reference star ratings). I can't really blame them for bungling this. They put off the match, likely thinking they'd have crowds back by now, and you need to fill TV time somehow.

True, them feuding over Dave Meltzer was a bit stupid.

 

However, I can blame them for bungling it because they easily could have put The Young Bucks in a feud with a different team until they were ready for a collision course with FTR. There's no reason this shouldn't be a babyface Young Bucks against a heel FTR with both teams competing to simply prove who is the better team. The way they've got to this point and everything they've done has put me off because it's basically heel vs. heel now and I have no reason to root for either team. I'd rather they stick Best Friends in the match now, make it a three way and have them win the belts because I want to see that team win, not either of these two teams.