The All Elite Wrestling Discussion Thread

[Mootinie]

I thought the last Dynamite was a pretty bad show, the worst one so far for me.

 

Shida vs. Shanna was rough, I didn't see much from either lady that convinced me. I've seen Shanna wrestle in person and feel she's better when she can have the lions share of the offence and have fun with the crowd. Shida was every Japanese wrestler ever. Knee strikes aplenty, nothing unique about her in terms of, this is national television and what are you bringing to the table? I don't know how these people get signed over Jody Threat, Big Swole, Kris Stadtlander and the likes, but there's a reason IMPACT has been building around Tessa, Jordynne, Taya and Rosemary for the last 18 months. They are interesting in a way that nobody in AEW's division is.

 

There was also a surprising lack of mention of Riho, which I expected because surely every non-title match is about putting yourself in contention for a title shot. Having a Champion that isn't there, and not having Bea or Britt Baker on the show when they're working an angle, all this stuff is a mistake on a weekly broadcast when you're two weeks removed from the PPV. Are we getting a Women's match at Full Gear? This was surely the week to try and advance towards that.

 

I don't know what to say about the Brandi video or the attack on Jamie Hayter last week but it's all bad television for me and she's god awful in the ring, so no thank you.

 

The Cody and Tony limo skit was change the channel worthy. Low volume, mumbling, boring, Jeff Jarrett-esque this is my territory, everything should be about me gimmickry that needs to go out the window ASAP. I don't know how anybody watches that video and green lights it to air on national television. They need segments with more urgency and more intensity to lock viewers in and keep them interested. That segment was a miss for me.

 

I HATE Kenny Omega in AEW. The match was okay. It was every Kenny Omega and The Elite match ever. Bunch of stuff nobody understands, some moves and they win. They decided not to advance the Kenny vs. Moxley thing outside of it now being unsanctioned for "reasons" and Mox being annoyed, but Kenny just showed up as though he was just a bloke there to cosplay and wrestle with his friends. What does he have to say about the match being a Light's Out match now? He can't have been that bothered or phased by the whole thing because he still put on his costume and had some silly video play before his match. I don't understand any of it. I am 24, this stuff shouldn't be going over my head. God knows how anybody 40+ watching this show feels.

 

I did, however, like the opener, the contract signing and the main event, even though I think SCU were the wrong choice. Lucha Bro's are fantastic. Having them lose to a roll-up and then going off the air in such a sudden fashion wasn't great and I would have preferred a more decisive finish and a longer post-match celebration angle so I could soak it in a little more. It lacked a pomp and pageantry. Needed more confetti and pyro.

 

It all felt a little hollow this week overall. Not much was progressed and there was very little work done to build towards Full Gear. I can only hope next week is an improvement but the people I am watching the show with are already losing patience. I'm pretty sure they're out if Cody wins next weekend, even though he does feel like a top babyface star in a way that Kenny and Moxley don't so... I don't know. I don't think he's winning.

[The Swanton825]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Mootinie" data-cite="Mootinie" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>He can't have been that bothered or phased by the whole thing because he still put on his costume and had some silly video play before his match.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> My eyes nearly rolled out of my head when I saw the dumb Undertale costume. And "as he calls on the power of Sans from Undertale!" has to be one of the most embarrassing lines I've heard said on commentary. I hope it's just a dumb Halloween thing, but the fact that you and I seem to be in the minority worries me he's going to keep doing "how do you do, fellow kids?" stuff.</p>

[Jaysin]

<p>Kenny Omega on twitter about the costume</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I just do what I want and I don’t really care if anyone gets it. It’s always gonna be like that.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I never played Undertale, but I knew what the costume was. Not sure why people are crapping on it. He wore ridiculous entrance gear in New Japan too and no one batted an eye.</p>

[cappyboy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Mootinie" data-cite="Mootinie" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> I HATE Kenny Omega in AEW. The match was okay. It was every Kenny Omega and The Elite match ever. Bunch of stuff nobody understands, some moves and they win. They decided not to advance the Kenny vs. Moxley thing outside of it now being unsanctioned for "reasons" and Mox being annoyed, but Kenny just showed up as though he was just a bloke there to cosplay and wrestle with his friends. What does he have to say about the match being a Light's Out match now? He can't have been that bothered or phased by the whole thing because he still put on his costume and had some silly video play before his match. I don't understand any of it. I am 24, this stuff shouldn't be going over my head. God knows how anybody 40+ watching this show feels.</p><p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Well, speaking from the perspective of 47, I have to say I feel exactly the opposite when it comes to Omega. I've never enjoyed and appreciated him more than I do in AEW. I can finally see the guy in the moment in an atmosphere where he belongs and what he's doing is actually my business. When he used to visit Ring of Honor, he used to drive me nuts because it was just about all Bullet Club related. Which meant it felt like it had nothing to do with me and just made me wish they'd show an undercard match instead. Bullet Club was a New Japan thing to me for most of that period and as such felt like it really was none of my business. I couldn't relate and trying to do the homework to get clued in required more effort than felt sensible for a wrestling show. Now that he's somewhere that he's a key piece and easily followed, I have much more room to invest in the guy. And while some of his stuff is quirky and confusing, I get that's his nature and can just freely go with it. Rather than rack my brain trying to get some interloper whose relevance is remote to me to start with.</p>

[Astyn]

<p>I love how AEW does whatever they want and dont follow the ridiculous "wrestling show" format everyone seems to want them to follow. </p><p> </p><p>

As a wrestling fan of 20 years, the one thing that keeps me interested in AEW is the fact that i have literally no idea what will happen. </p><p> </p><p>

For me, there is no such thing as bad or good in wrestling because its all stupid and none of it makes sense anyway and thats why i love it.</p>

[The Swanton825]

I never played Undertale, but I knew what the costume was. Not sure why people are crapping on it. He wore ridiculous entrance gear in New Japan too and no one batted an eye.

 

Is there anyone who has an internet connection who doesn't recognize the reference? Undertale is as inescapable as Homestuck used to be.

 

And I can't speak for moot, but I never watched enough of his New Japan stuff to feel like I knew enough to comment. Living near Chase Owens' home base will make death preferable to seeing one more Bullet Club anything.

[guyver3]

I’ll raise my hand as someone who has internet and plays video games but has not one idea what undertale is or homestruck. I watched last weeks show with a friend who also had no idea what that video or Brandi’s was about. I also would like to ask for those more well versed in the Lucha brothers do they ever do more than big move after big move? I understand that with them getting TV they’re trying to expose everyone to a wider audience and most Lucha has no psychology but after seeing them in this tournament I feel like that’s all they are.

[The Swanton825]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="guyver3" data-cite="guyver3" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I’ll raise my hand as someone who has internet and plays video games but has not one idea what undertale is or homestruck. I watched last weeks show with a friend who also had no idea what that video or Brandi’s was about. I also would like to ask for those more well versed in the Lucha brothers do they ever do more than big move after big move? I understand that with them getting TV they’re trying to expose everyone to a wider audience and most Lucha has no psychology but after seeing them in this tournament I feel like that’s all they are.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm genuinely impressed you avoided both of those. Teach me your secrets to avoiding annoying internet trends, oh master. My sanity is at its limit thanks to reddit.</p><p> </p><p> And I can't speak for Fenix, but Pentagon Jr is good at storytelling when he's asked to. Lucha Underground made a great angle out of him breaking every opponent's arm and all of his matches were built around him trying to get them in position to snap their arm.</p>

[Astyn]

Im desperately keen for Pentagon & Fenix to split and have succesful singles careers.

[Mootinie]

<p>It's not that I don't know what Undertale is. For the record I don't, I'm not really an avid video gamer. But that's not the issue here. His match against Moxley is now a Lights Out match, which is a no DQ, unsanctioned match where nobody has the power to reign in Moxley's most destructive impulses. </p><p> </p><p>

That they didn't present this little nugget having any effect on Kenny Omega was a missed opportunity, which is fine, because they aren't going to hit all the right notes all of the time. </p><p> </p><p>

But that they chose this moment to have him, or rather, <strong>let him</strong> cosplay was the wrong move for me.</p><p> </p><p>

I want to be invested in him vs. Mox, but when Kenny is doing his little fun video games stuff, it does take me out the moment because it's to the detriment of the story. I wanted to see a deadly serious Kenny selling the gravity of now wrestling this kind of match with somebody as unhinged and dangerous as Mox. I thought that would be the smart move.</p>

[milamber]

The cosplay / Undertale stuff was probably only for Halloween. Can't see them doing it outside of a PPV again.

[BlueStar]

Well, speaking from the perspective of 47, I have to say I feel exactly the opposite when it comes to Omega. I've never enjoyed and appreciated him more than I do in AEW. I can finally see the guy in the moment in an atmosphere where he belongs and what he's doing is actually my business. When he used to visit Ring of Honor, he used to drive me nuts because it was just about all Bullet Club related. Which meant it felt like it had nothing to do with me and just made me wish they'd show an undercard match instead. Bullet Club was a New Japan thing to me for most of that period and as such felt like it really was none of my business. I couldn't relate and trying to do the homework to get clued in required more effort than felt sensible for a wrestling show. Now that he's somewhere that he's a key piece and easily followed, I have much more room to invest in the guy. And while some of his stuff is quirky and confusing, I get that's his nature and can just freely go with it. Rather than rack my brain trying to get some interloper whose relevance is remote to me to start with.

 

Darn, I'm younger than you!

From what I've seen, I can't get behind Omega -in ring-. Just does some good looking spots, nothing special. If he'd won every match in AEW, I'd have said AEW found its John Cena.

[Astyn]

Im proud to say if it wasnt for Kenny Omega, I would not be a wrestling fan today (i watched a shit ton when i was a kid but growing up i grew distant and MMA took its place)

[milamber]

For anyone not impressed with Omega and Lucha Bros, the Omega vs Fenix AAA title match is free to watch on youtube:

 

 

Dark:

 

- Spears vs Nakazawa was fun but too slow-paced.

- Swole & Martinez vs Gibbs & Allie was solid given 2 of them are green. Noticed some weirdly timed camera cuts but not as bad as last week's obvious editing.

- Strong promo from Britt. I don't mind AEW turning a shoot into a work with Bea and Britt. It's the only storyline in the women's division other than psycho Brandi. I just hope there isn't any bad blood for real. I'm surprised it's been relegated to The Buy-In.

- Jurassic Express vs Havoc & Janela was good. Stunt was murdered again. Spears vs Janela set for Full Gear.

- MJF on commentary makes everything better!

[Astyn]

Cody Rhodes has to be the hottest babyface in the business atm

[Makhai]

It's not that I don't know what Undertale is. For the record I don't, I'm not really an avid video gamer. But that's not the issue here. His match against Moxley is now a Lights Out match, which is a no DQ, unsanctioned match where nobody has the power to reign in Moxley's most destructive impulses.

 

That they didn't present this little nugget having any effect on Kenny Omega was a missed opportunity, which is fine, because they aren't going to hit all the right notes all of the time.

 

But that they chose this moment to have him, or rather, let him cosplay was the wrong move for me.

 

I want to be invested in him vs. Mox, but when Kenny is doing his little fun video games stuff, it does take me out the moment because it's to the detriment of the story. I wanted to see a deadly serious Kenny selling the gravity of now wrestling this kind of match with somebody as unhinged and dangerous as Mox. I thought that would be the smart move.

 

They've dropped the ball with Kenny so badly. He's a dork and that's part of his personality and it works... but that killer side of him that vaulted him from wrestling blow-up dolls and 8-year-old girls to the first gaijin to win the NJPW triple crown and lead the hottest stable since the nWo, is totally gone. He's 100% white meat DDT babyface, and it's so awful I hope Moxley kills him in 6 seconds.

 

Which is pretty much my take on their television right now. They pitched TNT "modern mid-south" instead we got US DDT.

[milamber]

<p>- PAC vs Trent was great. Shame about the pin botch near the end. Loved the heat PAC got from the crowd. Trent has breakout star potential if they ever split up Best Friends.</p><p>

- Cody's announcement was worth the wait for that promo.</p><p>

- Dark Order vs Private Party was great. Dark Order are starting to click. They just need some backstory development and eventually a 3rd member.</p><p>

- The Jericho promo was hilarious. Virgil got some work!</p><p>

- Jamie & Emi vs Shanna & Riho was easily the best women's tag match so far and my MOTN. Jamie and Shanna are already earning their keep. They should have held off announcing the title match until after Emi won even though it was an obvious match-up.</p><p>

- Brandi as Kong's manager doing Lucha Underground style vignettes is probably the best way to use her.</p><p>

- Cutler vs Spears was solid.</p><p>

- Page & Omega vs Sammy & Jericho and the post-match brawling were great. Jericho's commercial break promo before the match was funny.</p><p> </p><p>

Best show so far in terms of match quality. That's how you book a go-home show.</p>

[cappyboy]

- PAC vs Trent was great. Shame about the pin botch near the end. Loved the heat PAC got from the crowd. Trent has breakout star potential if they ever split up Best Friends.

 

But why did they not allow Trent a last name? If the Barretta name is trademarked against them, why not call him Trent Wesson or Winchester or something else gun related like that?

 

- Cody's announcement was worth the wait for that promo.

 

And man, that War Games match he teased should be epic once the Elite v Inner Circle feud comes to a head.

 

- Dark Order vs Private Party was great. Dark Order are starting to click. They just need some backstory development and eventually a 3rd member.

 

Maybe. Maybe it's the fact I'm just not keen on dark gimmicks to start with but I just don't feel it with them. Grayson just doesn't seem to belong with Evil Uno. I'd much rather see the two as parts of different tag teams. Maybe Grayson and a pre-AEW style Orange Cassidy against Uno and someone who fits better in a dark stable setting. A Crazy Steve or a Sinn Bodhi maybe. And maybe you're right on the backstory. If I understood why Grayson and Uno are together, maybe it would start to click. All I know now is that something isn't

 

 

- The Jericho promo was hilarious. Virgil got some work!

 

Could have done without the old lady though. She sounded like a hired actor trying too hard to be the prescient neighbor from his youth. And not only was I glad to see Virgil get some work but to have it be under his indy name. I've always felt he was best in the ring during his days as Soul Train Jones. So much that if I ever became a convention guy I'd want my item for him to be a pic in his Soul Train garb.

 

 

- Jamie & Emi vs Shanna & Riho was easily the best women's tag match so far and my MOTN. Jamie and Shanna are already earning their keep. They should have held off announcing the title match until after Emi won even though it was an obvious match-up.

 

I wouldn't go quite that far at all. It was a solid enough match to be sure and I wouldn't say anybody did poorly. But I didn't get why either Jamie or particularly Shanna was there. Had it been Riho and Britt Baker vs Sakura and Bea Priestley, okay. You have bad blood on all sides. That makes sense. Maybe concoct some heat between Hayter and Shanna. Have a segment where Jamie had been bullying Shanna based on the historical bad blood between England and France. Perhaps combined with Jamie feeling she's done more to be worthy of a platform like AEW than Shanna has. But something to make their involvement feel more meaningful given that this was a go-home show.

 

- Brandi as Kong's manager doing Lucha Underground style vignettes is probably the best way to use her.

 

The thing I really love about how they are portraying Brandi is the marriage mystery. That is to say, how much in character knowledge does Cody have of Brandi's dark side?

 

Heck, you want the Dark Order to make sense maybe she should be secretly in league with them somehow. Uno & Grayson run afoul of the Bucks or maybe Cody & Dustin. Some combo of the Elite. And THEN Cody discovers his wife's demons. That could be some awesome wrestling drama.

 

- Cutler vs Spears was solid.

 

Think I would have been torn by this match had I been at the venue. On the one hand, this would have felt like the perfect pre-main event bathroom break because of how Cutler's fared to date. But on the other hand, I really like the mentor/protege relationship between Tully Blanchard and Shawn Spears. So I would have hated to miss seeing them. Solid match as you said but one I likely only saw because I was watching from home.

 

- Page & Omega vs Sammy & Jericho and the post-match brawling were great. Jericho's commercial break promo before the match was funny.

 

Best show so far in terms of match quality. That's how you book a go-home show.

 

Absolutely agree about the main event. All four men are strong performers and they staged a great battle before it all went south. My inner mark was rather disappointed it all went to seed. But the more mature me that plays booking sims loved the payoff of the post match brawl and all the threads they managed to weave into it. Epic finish to a show leading into a vital pay per view.

[Astyn]

Which is pretty much my take on their television right now. They pitched TNT "modern mid-south" instead we got US DDT.

 

I dont remember them saying anything about "modern mid-south" whatever that means and THANK GOD!

[Astyn]

But why did they not allow Trent a last name? If the Barretta name is trademarked against them, why not call him Trent Wesson or Winchester or something else gun related like that?

 

Im pretty sure Trent just likes Trent and thats a good enough reason for me.

 

 

Could have done without the old lady though. She sounded like a hired actor trying too hard to be the prescient neighbor from his youth.

 

Wasnt she was meant to come across as a hired actor? This segment had me rolling out loud from the mirrored kiss on the forehead from Jericho to the Bath with the Bubbly to the obviously hired actor. "The youngest AEW Champion in HISTORY!"

 

I wouldn't go quite that far at all. It was a solid enough match to be sure and I wouldn't say anybody did poorly. But I didn't get why either Jamie or particularly Shanna was there. Had it been Riho and Britt Baker vs Sakura and Bea Priestley, okay. You have bad blood on all sides. That makes sense. Maybe concoct some heat between Hayter and Shanna. Have a segment where Jamie had been bullying Shanna based on the historical bad blood between England and France. Perhaps combined with Jamie feeling she's done more to be worthy of a platform like AEW than Shanna has. But something to make their involvement feel more meaningful given that this was a go-home show.

 

Weve already seen Riho & Britt vs. Sakura & Bea so that would be another thing to complain about if it did happen. I was happy to see them give Shanna & Jamie more time because ive been really impressed by these two since they arrived. Much better then Britt & Nyla at least. So please more and more of Shanna & Jamie Hayter.

[Jaysin]

Cody Rhodes cut the promo of the year.

[Derek B]

Jericho's video package was amazing and made me laugh at how dickish The Inner Circle are, they've been great so far. But as Jaysin said above me, Cody's promo was just magic with the AEW crowd. Dynamite's angles and story telling have been fantastic so far, and while I could do with a bit less of the spotfest matches, I still love AEW so far. Wednesday nights with AEW and NXT is the best wrestling nights I've had since the 90s.

[Jaysin]

That brawl to end the show was chaos and I loved it!

[milamber]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Derek B" data-cite="Derek B" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Jericho's video package was amazing and made me laugh at how dickish The Inner Circle are, they've been great so far. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> But as Jaysin said above me, Cody's promo was just magic with the AEW crowd. Dynamite's angles and story telling have been fantastic so far, and while I could do with a bit less of the spotfest matches, I still love AEW so far. Wednesday nights with AEW and NXT is the best wrestling nights I've had since the 90s. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I didn't even get the Southpaw Clint Bobski reference at the time... that's how amazing it was.</p>

[milamber]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="cappyboy" data-cite="cappyboy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>But why did they not allow Trent a last name? If the Barretta name is trademarked against them, why not call him Trent Wesson or Winchester or something else gun related like that?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He actually just goes by Trent? but I guess they removed the question mark to avoid confusion.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="cappyboy" data-cite="cappyboy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46243" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Maybe. Maybe it's the fact I'm just not keen on dark gimmicks to start with but I just don't feel it with them. Grayson just doesn't seem to belong with Evil Uno. I'd much rather see the two as parts of different tag teams. Maybe Grayson and a pre-AEW style Orange Cassidy against Uno and someone who fits better in a dark stable setting. A Crazy Steve or a Sinn Bodhi maybe. And maybe you're right on the backstory. If I understood why Grayson and Uno are together, maybe it would start to click. All I know now is that something isn't</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Maybe Marty can be their leader.</p>