All Elite Wrestling

[Mr. Nerfect]

Approx. 93% of everyone involved with the rassling business is a jackass

Which is why it’s important to look at the actual situation(s) and the context of what has went down. You’re not going to get an accurate read by just saying “Hmm, Punk’s an asshole, therefore it’s definitely his fault.”

The difference between the assholes in this scenario is that one side has a bunch of stupider assholes. And the more that Punk forces out of Meltzer the more apparent that becomes.

[Lock Jaw]

Mr. Nerfect is excellent at measuring and weighing assholes. He will scrutinize all the assholes and sniff out the s**t

[Fignuts]

I dunno — that seems like the safe position and there are differing levels of jackass.

Sometimes the safe position is the reality of the situation. Everyone involved behaved childishly. I don't find it necessary to single out who was more childish. It's irrelevant.

[xrodmuc316]

Approx. 93% of everyone involved with the rassling business is a jackass

99.9% of pro wrestlers aren't the worst MMA fighter in history. :yes:

[Sepholio]

It's cute watching Noid blame Chris Jericho for everything with no evidence while complaining how its unfair for people to blame Punk for constantly getting in drama every single place he goes.

We all know the reality is that the only reason Noid stans for Punk now is because he has an irrational hatred of AEW and will digitally fellate anyone he perceives as going after upper management there.

[Sepholio]

"The sentiment is that CM Punk is not welcomed back. The wrestlers don't want him back, the vast majority of wrestlers don't want him back. Maybe 1 or 2 of the top 3rd of the roster would want him back and then I’ve heard there's some younger guys who really liked him.”

- Wade Keller (via PWTorch)

[Sepholio]

The vast majority of people that actually know him are wrong! Fuck Chris Jericho!

- Noid

[Mr. Nerfect]

Sometimes the safe position is the reality of the situation. Everyone involved behaved childishly. I don't find it necessary to single out who was more childish. It's irrelevant.

I would disagree it’s irrelevant. There’s a difference between good business and bad business. There is a difference between the environment with Punk and the environment with The Elite. You can say both sides are assholes, but there’s context to the situation.

[Mr. Nerfect]

"The sentiment is that CM Punk is not welcomed back. The wrestlers don't want him back, the vast majority of wrestlers don't want him back. Maybe 1 or 2 of the top 3rd of the roster would want him back and then I’ve heard there's some younger guys who really liked him.”

- Wade Keller (via PWTorch)

Who does Wade Keller talk to? Your irrational ranting aside, Punk left WWE on his own accord after navigating that system for almost a decade. What was his drama in ROH? Sure, some people are magnets for it anyway, but when you tell the truth in the room full of workers that can happen.

He’s an outspoken prick. He doesn’t suffer fools. It doesn’t make him wrong in this situation. He was ambushed by a jealous idiot on the microphone — true or false? He was asked to work hurt — true or false? Even if the issue WERE his in other places, it doesn’t excuse this mess. I can hate AEW and still assess the situation properly. Your Punk thing is way more out of balance than my AEW thing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

P.S. I don’t think I’ve solely blamed Jericho at all, but that dude’s a cunt. Let’s take a poll of the black wrestlers who know him. What is the point you are trying to make? Because he doesn’t like someone they should go?

This whole Dave Meltzer apologizing for telling the AEW-friendly story is good evidence that your view on this whole thing is skewered by a gang of toxic people who have Dave’s ear to get their narrative out.

[Evil Vito]

Renee Paquette has confirmed that Mox will be on her podcast this week and that he will talk about the Punk situation and his now-deleted post.

Wonder how long until the podcast before Mox blades.

[Sepholio]

P.S. I don’t think I’ve solely blamed Jericho at all, but that dude’s a cunt. Let’s take a poll of the black wrestlers who know him. What is the point you are trying to make? Because he doesn’t like someone they should go?

This whole Dave Meltzer apologizing for telling the AEW-friendly story is good evidence that your view on this whole thing is skewered by a gang of toxic people who have Dave’s ear to get their narrative out.

My view isn't skewed at all. The fact that Punk attacked Jericho in the post says everything that needed to be said. Jericho had nothing to do with it. The meeting was between Mox, TK and Punk. Meltzer wrote the report. Punk attacks Jericho.

You seem to really struggle with the concept that not liking Punk and thinking he's an overrated toxic asshole doesn't mean someone supports TK and the Elite. This has been repeatedly pointed out to you but you still just blindly ignore it. They are all assholes but the rest of them aren't using public platforms to throw each other under the bus; only Punk is doing that shit.

And he has a history of it which makes it way harder to keep overlooking.

I await your response trying to further insinuate Jericho is racist even though I'm not sure what that has to do with anything here.

[Evil Vito]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“I will say this. As an observer, it seems like I spent 8 years on the Indies, did a couple years in developmental, did 8 years in WWE. <br><br>I have never seen so much bullshit drama in one place (AEW) in my entire fucking life.“<br><br>- Jon Moxley<br>(via The Sessions) <a href="https://t.co/QYpeEHLtPL">pic.twitter.com/QYpeEHLtPL</a></p>&mdash; WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrestlePurists/status/1640669640538955776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He does mention that the vast majority of the locker room are good people. But this is gonna be the line everyone runs with. Especially the weirdos who spend their days praying for AEW's downfall.

[Evil Vito]

The "big happy family" narratives really did start getting blown up in 2022 though, starting from Cody's departure and rumored backstage power struggles right on through to now. Then again I don't think it was ever realistic for them to maintain the sense of "togetherness" you always heard about during the pandemic era shows.

Read any story about any company in any business growing and expanding and you'll find people concerned about what this means for their jobs, now multiply it tenfold to account for some of the bombastic personalities you get in wrestling and yeah. This isn't terribly surprising.

[Sepholio]

Stay tuned for the next episode, "MoX bAcK tO wWe CoNfIrMeD" or "ThIs Is AlL a WoRk LoL lOnG-tErM sToRyTeLlInG"

[Mr. Nerfect]

My view isn't skewed at all. The fact that Punk attacked Jericho in the post says everything that needed to be said. Jericho had nothing to do with it. The meeting was between Mox, TK and Punk. Meltzer wrote the report. Punk attacks Jericho.

You seem to really struggle with the concept that not liking Punk and thinking he's an overrated toxic asshole doesn't mean someone supports TK and the Elite. This has been repeatedly pointed out to you but you still just blindly ignore it. They are all assholes but the rest of them aren't using public platforms to throw each other under the bus; only Punk is doing that shit.

And he has a history of it which makes it way harder to keep overlooking.

I await your response trying to further insinuate Jericho is racist even though I'm not sure what that has to do with anything here.

He doesn’t like Jericho. Why does he need to leave Jericho out of his gripe with the company of Jericho is part of that gripe?

Punk’s story is the one you seldom here. The others have been using Dave Meltzer and a whole bunch of other people to get their narratives through.

[Mr. Nerfect]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“I will say this. As an observer, it seems like I spent 8 years on the Indies, did a couple years in developmental, did 8 years in WWE. <br><br>I have never seen so much bullshit drama in one place (AEW) in my entire fucking life.“<br><br>- Jon Moxley<br>(via The Sessions) <a href="https://t.co/QYpeEHLtPL">pic.twitter.com/QYpeEHLtPL</a></p>&mdash; WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrestlePurists/status/1640669640538955776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He does mention that the vast majority of the locker room are good people. But this is gonna be the line everyone runs with. Especially the weirdos who spend their days praying for AEW's downfall.

Fucking lol. Moxley is supposed to be “Mr. AEW.”

[Mr. Nerfect]

Moxley has stated that he was AEW World Champion without a contract. It’s hard to make out everything he meant, because he talks like an angry teenager, but in the excerpt I saw he claims he could have walked into SummerSlam with the fucking AEW fucking belt shit.

Does he have anything more on CM Punk other than basically “I was doing you a favor dude because I didn’t have to come back and work for this company at all?”

[Mr. Nerfect]

Is Mox trying to do a thing where he is such a company guy that he didn’t leave with the belt so he’s so great? Did he realize how much he was burying the company? My first read was he’s so frustrated with that place, but maybe he was just trying to (poorly) defend himself against the Punk implications?

[Mr. Nerfect]

He kind of highlighted that WWE really doesn’t want him anymore. If they could have had the AEW Champion show up at SummerSlam, they’d have done it. The self-mutilation and garbage stuff has really boxed Moxley off from them.

So Tony’s an idiot for backing a truck up.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I tried to listen to clips. Holy fuck it’s unlistenable. Renee is basically playing AEW cheerleader and Mox sounds like he’s a total mark. I think he is trying to do an “AEW has so much great wrestling, but why do fans not talk about that?” thing to try and remind people that there’s supposed to be this cult of not questioning anything they do.

[Mr. Nerfect]

He seems to want to paint The Elite as great trend-setters who made AEW possible. It was Tony’s money, guys. Hate to break it to you, but PWG ain’t getting off the ground without $100 million (maybe more) sunk into it.

Buy the line, guys.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh, and according to Mox there are a bunch of people who hate The Young Bucks because they hate themselves. It can’t simply be because they’re the drizzling shits?

“Love. This. Company. By the way, they made me World Champion while I had no contract. Also, there’s more drama here than anywhere else I worked. And I worked with CM Punk for years. So we’re blaming it all on him, even though it’s the guys I’m about to champion so I can continue to do garbage wrestling for millions of dollars.”

[Mr. Nerfect]

“How was that, Tony?”

[Mr. Nerfect]

I am absolutely loving the spin AEW fanboys are putting on it. “Of course people take the thing he said that makes the company look stupid and ignore the rest.” Yeah, because it made the company look so stupid. Stop doing that if you don’t want it to look stupid.

They’re asking why people aren’t posting the full quotes. It goes from “Tony put the World Title on me when I wasn’t under contract” to “Tony put the World Title on me when I wasn’t under contract…oh, and uh, The Young Bucks are great.”

LolAEW

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Gotta say. Noid really hitting the nail on the head here.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Thanks man. Sorry about the stream of consciousness again — I just love this shit, lol.

[Sepholio]

Having inside sources at TPWW makes that little exchange so much more hilarious than it otherwise would be.

[Evil Vito]

Mox spends a significant amount of the podcast putting over a ton of different people at AEW and talking about how much he's enjoying things. In general just seems like he'd like everyone to just sort their shit out because all stuff like this is distract people from the actual product.

But naturally this will all be lost to the ether because the first 10 minutes provide plenty of "juicy" material for everyone to run with and cherry pick as they see fit.

[Evil Vito]

Like...does Mox not understand how the news cycle works? This is literally how it always works and has for over a decade.

AEW, WWE, doesn't really matter - you don't have to be an expert social media manager to realize that negative stories get significantly more engagement. Doesn't matter what "side" you're on, negative shit whips people into a frenzy. Positive stories are boring.

Ditto for the news industry as a whole really, even beyond wrestling. Says a lot about the human psyche.

[Evil Vito]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/IMAGERENDERING_521856-T1/images/I/41b6ud+gERL.jpg

[xrodmuc316]

I like how he said Tony isn't his boss. Another Tiny Khan meltdown soon, it will be glorious.

Also, what makes Mox think he could have just walked into Summerslam? I am thinking Brock Lesnar would have told him to fuck right off :lol:

[Mr. Nerfect]

Mox spends a significant amount of the podcast putting over a ton of different people at AEW and talking about how much he's enjoying things. In general just seems like he'd like everyone to just sort their shit out because all stuff like this is distract people from the actual product.

But naturally this will all be lost to the ether because the first 10 minutes provide plenty of "juicy" material for everyone to run with and cherry pick as they see fit.

It’s part of the product. The environment that throws random Omega/Vikingo matches in main events is the same lack of polish that sees the World Title go on uncontracted talent. They’re not completely unrelated.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I like how he said Tony isn't his boss. Another Tiny Khan meltdown soon, it will be glorious.

Also, what makes Mox think he could have just walked into Summerslam? I am thinking Brock Lesnar would have told him to fuck right off :lol:

Oh, the meltdown is coming.

[XL]

Mox seems a bit drunk on that podcast…

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’ve seen a few people say the same thing. I just assumed the guy is a fucking idiot/has brain trauma.

[xrodmuc316]

Mox seems a bit drunk on that podcast…

https://i.imgflip.com/7g81bu.gif

[xrodmuc316]

I’ve seen a few people say the same thing. I just assumed the guy is a fucking idiot/has brain trauma.

https://i.imgflip.com/7g81m7.gif

[Sepholio]

lol damn

[Mr. Nerfect]

Random AEW I had. I don’t think I would do this, but I was spitballing, it came to me, thought I’d share. It’s very Russo, but because it comes from me, I feel it makes a little more sense:

When they do the Four Pillars match, Darby Allin wins the AEW Title. Christian Cage fucks over Jungle Boy. Andrade fucks over Sammy. Sting fucks over MJF. They’re all in cahoots. Darby is their chosen guy. Everyone whinge and whines, he’s the self-appointed savior of AEW.

MJF is pissed. He and Sammy shouldn’t see eye-to-eye. Sammy can spin-off into Jericho, who hates him breaking out. MJF is left picking up the pieces. He brings back Miro, he begs Wardlow and he even teams with a reluctant Jungle Boy.

Darby, Sting, Christian and Andrade as top heels against MJF, Miro, Wardlow and Jungle Boy. Wardlow is TNT Champ. Hobbs kills QT after losing it, beats Goldberg in a special attraction, is a loose unit — sometimes clashing against old friend Ricky Starks, who can maybe-kinda-sorta sub in for Jungle Boy, but also out of necessity, because Christian, Darby, etc. fuck him up.

[ron the dial]

but because it comes from me, I feel it makes a little more sense:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Sepholio]

Noid is the only person on Earth who can make me thankful that we have Cocaine Tony on the book.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I would get that show back up to the halcyon days of 999k viewers.

[Evil Vito]

Supercard of Honor Lineup

<b>ROH World Championship</b>
Eddie Kingston vs. Claudio Castagnoli (C)

<b>ROH Television Championship</b>
Mark Briscoe vs. Samoa Joe (C)

<b>AAA Mega Championship</b>
Komander vs. El Hijo del Vikingo (C)

<b>ROH Pure Championship</b>
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Wheeler Yuta (C)

<b>ROH Women's Championship</b>
Yuka Sakazaki vs. Athena (C)

<b>"Reach for the Sky" Ladder Match for the vacant ROH Tag Team Championship</b>
The Lucha Brothers vs. Aussie Open vs. The Kingdom vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

<b>ROH 6-Man Tag Team Championship</b>
AR Fox, Blake Christian, and Metalik vs. The Embassy (C)

fuck me....this card looks fun

Tanahashi vs. Garcia added to the card now too. Sweet.

[xrodmuc316]

NXT Battleground announced for May 28th, 2023! Tiny Khan will NOT stand for this shit!!!!!!! :rant::mad::rant::mad::rant::mad::rant::mad:

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tony better put his foot down.

[Sepholio]

Meh. TK just ran a PPV on a Friday against the go home show for Mania. Turnabout is fair play. Hope they constantly start running shows against each other so maybe we can get some kind of actual competition out of this. It'll never be the Monday Night Wars, but it could be something.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It definitely won’t be the Monday Night Wars, that’s for sure.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Khan told <a href="https://twitter.com/SI_wrestling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SI_wrestling</a> about the major announcement he's making on tonight's Dynamite <a href="https://t.co/LYAvSs1lzo">https://t.co/LYAvSs1lzo</a> <a href="https://t.co/K9ZhBVVcMQ">pic.twitter.com/K9ZhBVVcMQ</a></p>&mdash; Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) <a href="https://twitter.com/WONF4W/status/1643651426445295619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh no, he’s doing the thing again.


TONY, STOP HYPING YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS!

[Vastardikai]

If he isn't hiring a full time Booker, I don't care.

[Mr. Nerfect]

“It’s just a promoter promoting.”

No. It is possible to build up false expectations.

[XL]

Announcing UK/international show?

[Sepholio]

Fight Forever gets a release date is my prediction.

[Fignuts]

He's going to announce they've signed the cinnamoji mascot

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Apparently that Sol Ruca chick from NXT was in the mascot suit so wouldn’t be the worst plan.

[xrodmuc316]

But guys, they dont have scripted promos and they REALLY love Tiny!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Saraya wishes she didn't take a shot at WWE during her AEW debut promo.<br><br>&quot;The one thing I do wish I didn't say, I got asked to say a certain sentence, the sentence where I was like, 'Finally, a boss that listens to me' I wish I didn't take that low hanging fruit. I've always… <a href="https://t.co/F0taFMljXu">pic.twitter.com/F0taFMljXu</a></p>&mdash; Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fightful/status/1643697927347396612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Sepholio]

Ha I was just coming here to post that. Made me chuckle. TK makes people do the WWE bad promos.

[Mr. Nerfect]

That line helped bury Saraya.

[Sepholio]

That line helped bury Saraya.

It really did, didn't it? I mean she went from everyone being hyped at her return to everyone despising her pretty damn fast.

[Sepholio]

Also something that's been bugging me is that The Outcasts and The BCC are pretty much the same faction doing the same story. GRRRR WE'RE THE REAL PROFESSIONALS (except Yuta but we're working on him!) FROM THAT OTHER COMPANY AND WE'RE BETTER THAN ALL OF YOU NOW FEEL OUR WRATH GRRRRRR. Why they aren't just one big faction doesn't make sense to me as such.

Lol that a bunch of ex wwe people made to cut wwe bad promos by the boss are now running the gimmick of "we're better than you because we we're from that place that we said is worse than here".

[Sepholio]

Calling it now: Omega vs Ospreay in London.

[XL]

That line helped bury Saraya.

It really did, didn't it? I mean she went from everyone being hyped at her return to everyone despising her pretty damn fast.

I mean that was one line from a Top 10 Worst Promo.

“I was the revolution here, I’m gonna be the revolution because I am the revolution”.

“Your name rhymes with shit”.

Then she went and did a terrible job on commentary if I recall. Just bad.

[Evil Vito]

Saraya is terrible in general. Hated the signing from the jump, and it won't be long before she does something toxic or tries to get her edgelord bf on TV.

[Sepholio]

lol Ronnie Radke is such a douche canoe. You know he's going to be on at some point though.

[Evil Vito]

The Outcasts are a terrible gimmick in general - Saraya's awful and neither Toni nor Ruby are people I actually want to boo. Plus that gimmick has just enveloped nearly the entire women's division and got everyone running in circles on Dynamite. Meanwhile Jade gets shunted to Rampage and they just keep having her squash people ad infinitum because they wanted Statlander to take the title off of her and Tony can't ever give up on his plans even if injury means people go into a holding pattern for a year.

I don't think the BCC are the same as the Outcasts. Especially because people actually care about the BCC guys. Decent chance the Elite/BCC Anarchy in the Arena, Stadium Stampede, Blood and Guts, Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch Tack Match will headline the PPV.

[Evil Vito]

Saraya had to turn heel because she was instantly dislikable

Bryan turned heel because shithead ROH heel Danielson is GOAT tier and he's outright said that's his favorite role to play, so I'm all for it.

Bryan's a good enough heel that he's gonna manage to get Mox booed by association.

[Vastardikai]

Tony is a trash can booker.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

The Outcasts are a terrible gimmick in general - Saraya's awful and neither Toni nor Ruby are people I actually want to boo. Plus that gimmick has just enveloped nearly the entire women's division and got everyone running in circles on Dynamite. Meanwhile Jade gets shunted to Rampage and they just keep having her squash people ad infinitum because they wanted Statlander to take the title off of her and Tony can't ever give up on his plans even if injury means people go into a holding pattern for a year.

I don't think the BCC are the same as the Outcasts. Especially because people actually care about the BCC guys. Decent chance the Elite/BCC Anarchy in the Arena, Stadium Stampede, Blood and Guts, Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch Tack Match will headline the PPV.

Idk why they don’t just build up Willow to get her the tbs title. She’s got everything they should want in a younger talent; good in the ring, tons of charisma, she’s over, and has great music. Just let her dethrone Jade.

[ron the dial]

TK 100% has no idea what to with jade after she loses that streak/title so he'll just keep stalling until she's 100-0 and all viable options have become ineffective.

[Vastardikai]

She should be in the Originals vs Outcasts angle, but for some reason, she isn't...

[xrodmuc316]

TK 100% has no idea what to with jade after she loses that streak/title so he'll just keep stalling until she's 100-0 and all viable options have become ineffective.

To be fair, TK 100% has no idea what to do with anybody. 4 years in and almost everybody is exactly what they have been since day 1.

When he does change something up, it is random and not followed up on at all. Remember Preston Vance and his dastardly heel turn? I dont even remember how long ago that was, because there has been nothing afterwards. What was the point?

[XL]

Tony is a <s>trash can</s> 3 x booker of the year

[Evil Vito]

TK 100% has no idea what to with jade after she loses that streak/title so he'll just keep stalling until she's 100-0 and all viable options have become ineffective.

To a lesser extent it's the same thing with Hook. He's afraid nobody will care about him once he takes a loss. But how do you expect the guy to improve if he's mostly wrestling the same match every time?

More broadly I think a lot of promoters now are aware that "the smarks" are the only people who watch anymore and it sometimes causes them to ignore the basics. Don't want to put the title on the hot babyface the fans have clamored for because the smarks always eventually turn on the faces, so guess the chase just needs to go forever.

[XL]

Look guys, I don’t think 4 years is too long for TK to be getting his pieces into place. He’s playing 5D chess while Vince is <s>playing checkers</s> getting is sack licked by an intern.

[XL]

Just be patient and TK will deliver a wrestling renaissance.

[XL]

Hmm has there ever been a team/faction called The Renaissance?

[Maluco]

It’s interesting that the only talent that seems happy after 6 months of the jump to AEW are the inmates running the asylum (Ambrose/Jericho). There have been some outrageously quick backpedaling.

It’s almost like the lack of structure and organization is a bad thing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

LolAEW

[xrodmuc316]

AEW is the pension plan for former WWE Wrestlers

[Mr. Nerfect]

It just plain sucks.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

She should be in the Originals vs Outcasts angle, but for some reason, she isn't...

Ideal situation would be getting the title on Saraya, and building Jade up to destroy her in eventual rise to the top of the division. The story is right there. But for some reason Tony refuses to pivot when a wrench gets thrown into his plans.

[Sepholio]

Nah that doesn't work for me. Jade is Goldbergette. If she isn't built up to the top of the division by now then no one is. She's undefeated for like 2 years. Jobbing to Saraya of all people destroys that.

You want her in the main event then just stick her there because she's already qualified for it. If you want to get the title off of her, have her give it up before going for the big belt or do the ole multi-person match and have everyone gang up to take her out before someone else eats the pin. Do not under any circumstances put either belt on Saraya. She's terrible.

[#1-norm-fan]

Just have her give up the secondary title after winning the main one and hold a tournament for it. Can’t stand the “winning a title by beating someone else” thing.

[Sepholio]

They could always merge the belts and give TK an opportunity to do one of his favorite things ever and unveil a new title as a huge announcement that will change the wrestling landscape for ever on Dynamite next week!!!!

[#1-norm-fan]

The AEW Australia Title to cater to the Australian audience since AEW has a TV deal in Australia.

[XL]

Ideal situation would be getting the title on Saraya, and building Jade up to destroy her in eventual rise to the top of the division. The story is right there. But for some reason Tony refuses to pivot when a wrench gets thrown into his plans.

Nah that doesn't work for me. Jade is Goldbergette. If she isn't built up to the top of the division by now then no one is. She's undefeated for like 2 years. Jobbing to Saraya of all people destroys that.

You want her in the main event then just stick her there because she's already qualified for it. If you want to get the title off of her, have her give it up before going for the big belt or do the ole multi-person match and have everyone gang up to take her out before someone else eats the pin. Do not under any circumstances put either belt on Saraya. She's terrible.

I think he means put the Women’s World Title on Saraya and have Jade beat her for it.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Absolutely I do. I’d have Saraya take the belt from Hayter, then build up Jade to be the one to overthrow her.

[Rammsteinmad]

AEW at Wembley Stadium? I'd absolutely love to see this happen and for the stadium to be absolutely packed! I feel this is somewhat over ambitious for the promotion though.

[Sepholio]

I think he means put the Women’s World Title on Saraya and have Jade beat her for it.

Absolutely I do. I’d have Saraya take the belt from Hayter, then build up Jade to be the one to overthrow her.

While not as bad as the way I read it, it still involves putting a title on Saraya and that's gonna be a nope from me dawg. She's terrible and annoying. She was a turn the channel segment in WWE, she's a turn the channel segment now.

[#1-norm-fan]

I never thought she was particularly good in any way but I can see it from a “building a star” standpoint. Have Jade take the title off your biggest star instead of someone she’s already above. Booking 101.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Pretty much what fan said. They’re clearly prioritizing Saraya. If she’s going to be their top heel, which she is, you may as well use that to help further elevate a young star that is clearly being groomed as the future of the division. It also works because Jade is homegrown and fits as a foil for the outcasts.

[Mr. Nerfect]

AEW at Wembley Stadium? I'd absolutely love to see this happen and for the stadium to be absolutely packed! I feel this is somewhat over ambitious for the promotion though.

I think they’ll fill it, but they’ll also do an AEW show, so it’ll mean nothing.

[Evil Vito]

Billie Starkz signs an AEW contract. She's worked a few Darks and was on TV this past Friday. But the full-time contract doesn't officially start until she finishes high school in a couple of months, similar to Nick Wayne's deal.

Wayne himself is scheduled to wrestle Swerve Strickland on Dynamite in July, a day after his 18th birthday.

[Evil Vito]

Oh and Brian Cage re-signed as well.

Not really sure he had any other choice other than maybe Impact. WWE were never going to touch him since he would've never been able to pass Wellness tests. Guy is so comically roided.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I guess you’ve got to start somewhere, but talent that young could really use developmental and some life experience first.

[Fignuts]

Oh and Brian Cage re-signed as well.



How does this keep happening?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I thought the whole Speaking Out thing might have shone a more negative light on adults training kids to wrestle. Should maybe be something you start pursuing after your 18th birthday.

[Mr. Nerfect]

How does this keep happening?

WWE wouldn’t want him, Impact Wrestling can’t pay him, Tony Khan wants to keep all his toys.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Brian Cage going to Wembley, baby!

[Mr. Nerfect]

There’s more AEW video game drama. Despite Tony Khan and Kenny Omega saying that the video game is finished, the social media manager for THQ Nordic has come out and said that it’s not finished. He’s had to go into overdrive explaining he’s not calling anyone a liar, there’s no miscommunication, etc. All the while he is saying that opposite of what the AEW side is saying. That sounds like pretty clear miscommunication.

[Vastardikai]

I thought the whole Speaking Out thing might have shone a more negative light on adults training kids to wrestle. Should maybe be something you start pursuing after your 18th birthday.

People will bring up Race, Gordy, and Regal as counterpoint. Thing is, Gordy at 15 was bigger than most of AEW's talent is now. Race never didn't look old. Regal was in carnivals, not mudshows.

Also, let's not bring up Riho's age when she started. Or Saraya's, and think about the folks she fell in with.

[Sting Fan]

Oh and Brian Cage re-signed as well.

Not really sure he had any other choice other than maybe Impact. WWE were never going to touch him since he would've never been able to pass Wellness tests. Guy is so comically roided.

Interesting given the new sites all saying WWE and more importantly HHH was interested in him.

Never saw it myself given he’s on the shorter side but him and FTR re signing are good keeps for AEW.

[xrodmuc316]

AEW already has like 200 people they don't use, but yay, lets resign Brian Cage who at one point they paid for like 20 months without using him on TV. Now that he is locked up for another extended period, well Tiny can put him back in the drawer for another 2 years once he gets bored with him again.

Good signing though, now they can rebook him throwing Darby around again in 2026, long term storytelling!

[Mr. Nerfect]

Brian Cage is a shorter guy, artificially inflated, close to 40 spot monkey they’ve already cut before. The rumors WWE wanted him probably came from him or his wife.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Some of these guys are more valuable as Trojan horses for you. Especially since you know Melissa Santos gets on social media and complains about the company when he isn’t used. So either that happens or the company uses him and you get crappy television. Win-win.

[Evil Vito]

I don't think Regal is averse to people training to wrestle early like he did, but one thing he's been consistent about is you should work in some different places before signing with WWE. His own son trained in NJPW first and then worked a bunch in England before moving to WWE, at least he had some exposure elsewhere.

Think the example I remember from a way back was DH Smith, Smith asked Regal for advice right after he got in and Regal told him he should quit and go see the world first.

Dunno to what extent that applies to AEW when even people like Starkz and Wayne have wrestled all over the place before signing, and AEW will probably allow them to keep taking bookings elsewhere.

Some of Regal's comments on this were pre-NXT as well, but at least the indy/well-traveled folks they bring in to NXT and eventually let go have experience to lean back on to get bookings. Not exactly an extensive nor great track record for the total "trueborns" of NXT where they were completely built within that system. Parker Bordreaux might be the worst wrestler I've ever seen and I don't know if a trip to any country will help him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

There are plenty of wrestlers who started young and didn’t turn out to be car wrecks. Regal and McIntyre have both had their rough patches, but overcame them. But I think it’s just objectively creepy for grown-ass adults to engage children in that manner. I find it weird when adults give children drugs too. Let them take responsibility for ruining their lives when they are adults themselves.

But yes, having an actual background in wrestling where you have been places and worked for a number of different places is useful. WWE could benefit by letting their talent do more of it. There’s an actual chance that Tony Khan will let these people do that under him. But the future isn’t too bright for anyone in AEW, so who cares?

[Sting Fan]

People will bring up Race, Gordy, and Regal as counterpoint. Thing is, Gordy at 15 was bigger than most of AEW's talent is now. Race never didn't look old. Regal was in carnivals, not mudshows.

Also, let's not bring up Riho's age when she started. Or Saraya's, and think about the folks she fell in with.

As/If wrestling continues to be a bit more mainstream and less carny I dont see an issue with it. Sports and entertainment always work with younger people who are working towards the top of there proffessions. Unfortunately it attracts creeps and weirdos because of that but thats true of anywhere young people gather.

Throw it onto the spotlight, protect the young but I dont have an issue with people training young for what they want to do.

[xrodmuc316]

Why is Jericho talking about how Jay White is a 6'4" guy?? How liquored up does one man have to get to think Jay White is 6 feet 4 inches tall??? :rofl:

[Mr. Nerfect]

Lol wtf?

[xrodmuc316]

Lol wtf?

"What a great example of us still having momentum," Jericho said. "[He was] the hottest free agent in the world, [on] a silver platter for WWE. I mean the guy is 6'4, he's international, he's got the accent that chicks love, he's a great worker, great heel, great babyface. And he chose AEW. If that doesn't tell you what's going on with us, I don't know what will."

Read More: https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1256005/chris-jericho-comments-on-jay-white-and-ftr-choosing-aew-over-wwe/

:rofl:

[Mr. Nerfect]

He must be busting chops. Since when do chicks dig the NZ accent?

[Sting Fan]

So Punk wants to come back to AEW it seems. Cant say I'm super psyched for it but whatever. Elite vs. Him and FTR would be a watch but if Omega and the Bucks arent into it I dont particularly blame them.

Punks kinda the one who needs someone to work with him for relevance atm.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Love him or hate him, Punk leaving damaged the popularity and perception of the show. He’s easily their biggest star. This is TK’s mess for not controlling the situation and getting on top of The Elite (and likely Jericho).

It’s important to keep in mind none of these dirt sheets talk to Punk. This is more than likely from the Elite/Jericho camp. The closest thing we’ve got to confirmation is Dax saying Punk wants to return to wrestling. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s still Punk holding out on them and looking for a buyout.

[Mr. Nerfect]

25k have apparently lined up for the presale. I don’t know how impressive that number is/isn’t. It sounds like a lot, but when you consider that 59k were queued up for Clash at the Castle and there ended up being 64k tickets sold, it may not be the hottest start for a UK show.

Is there a history of AEW doing much higher attendance than their advance leads you to believe?

[Evil Vito]

SRS claiming that plans have been set in motion for a Punk return.

Love that this is seemingly such an agonizing, fraught process that we're just going to continually get updates on as it incrementally gets closer to happening rather than it be a big surprise, holy shit type of moment it otherwise would've been.

[xrodmuc316]

Punk sucks, gets injured constantly, gets along with nobody but other crybabies, and is an old, beat up, no credibility having malcontent.

Tony Khan is an idiot playing with his daddy's money, so he probably doesn't care if any of the wrestlers get along with each other, just as long as they get along with/pretend to be his friend. Also based on what Saraya said, they also have to "FEDBAD TONYGOOD" to stroke his fragile ego.

[Destor]

Now there's a post i can get behind

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Elite and Chris Jericho are also massive crybabies who got jealous when it was exposed what can be achieved in terms of metrics when Punk came in. TK wanted this chaos, he got it.

It was very telling when Saraya put the “fedbad” line on Tony.

[Sting Fan]

SRS claiming that plans have been set in motion for a Punk return.

Love that this is seemingly such an agonizing, fraught process that we're just going to continually get updates on as it incrementally gets closer to happening rather than it be a big surprise, holy shit type of moment it otherwise would've been.

The twenty updates that really update nothing are getting old I agree. Neither the Elite or Punk are cared about outside the IWC and I could see the whole thing being a limp noodle if it happens because people are over hearing about it.

I loved the way FTR worked the IWC leading into the title win but by the time the match was announced I was more relived I could stop hearing about it than being super pumped. All these guys telling there own stories might be a bit too into themselves as artists and storytellers I think.Thats the creative addition AEW needs is someone telling these guys when the angle has gone on long enough. I include Jericho, Punk and the Bucks in that. Not sure about Kenny... some of his shits been so fire and well timed.

[Sepholio]

TK tweeted that he read the sheets and has an update to the update in that there is no update but he'll keep you updated through future HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON DYNAMITE.

[Lock Jaw]

TK tweeted that he read the sheets and has an update to the update in that there is no update but he'll keep you updated through future HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON DYNAMITE.

The fact that I didn't disbelieve this and went looking to see what the tweet said speaks volumes

[Mr. Nerfect]

Did FTR really work people, or did they just make up their minds recently?

[xrodmuc316]

Did FTR really work people, or did they just make up their minds recently?

They worked one person for sure, Tiny Khan. Just by teasing they weren't happy and would leave, FTR got a monster 4 year contract and the tag titles. Similar to Brian Cage, the idea of losing a friend is too much despair for Tiny to handle, and he gets his dad to write a new check. It is a Hell of a negotiation chip to play for the best deal possible.

[Frank Drebin]

AEW has been shit save for MJF since All Out for whatever reasons. Bring Punk back. It can only help.

[XL]

The Elite and Chris Jericho are also massive crybabies who got jealous when it was exposed what can be achieved in terms of metrics when Punk came in. TK wanted this chaos, he got it.

It was very telling when Saraya put the “fedbad” line on Tony.

Oh come on now! It’s really obvious what happened here. TK, being the super great guy he is, jumped on the grenade to take some heat of Saraya’s terrible, terrible return promo. Best. Boss. Ever.

[Evil Vito]

The rumor is that Warner want AEW to facilitate a roster split when Collision starts, as they want Dynamite and Collision to each have a unique identity. As opposed to Rampage which feels exactly the same as Dynamite but far less important. Unknown if it would be a full blown roster split with everyone, or just a soft split for the bigger names the shows would be marketed around.

The talk of this comes right along with the reports yesterday about tentative Punk plans. Presumably, they'd use the split as a way to keep people with issues apart from each other.

Feels like it would inevitably become a mess if/when one show is viewed as more important than the other. No different than how in the mid-2000s they'd do the WWE Draft and keep their talent in the dark, and it was obvious people got pissed off when they were drafted to SmackDown because it felt like they'd been demoted on live TV.

[Lock Jaw]

Roster split is genius!!! Maybe then they could introduce more titles!!!

[Mr. Nerfect]

A true alternative to WWE.

[Mr. Nerfect]

IF they can coax CM Punk back, the obvious thing to do is run him against MJF in Wembley Stadium. It’s their biggest match, their best story, their best media publicity, etc. The idea that people give a flying fuck about the backstage drama is way overblown.

* MJF vs. CM Punk
* Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
* Adam Page & The Young Bucks vs. Death Triangle

That’s way more on-point than wasting Punk in a program against The Elite, where the heat would be in Punk telling the truth and burying the company.

[Evil Vito]

In fairness, if Warner are actually telling AEW they want a split there's not a whole lot the company can do about it. At least all of AEW's programming would still be under the Warner umbrella vs. WWE having to placate both FOX and NBC in case either of them get pissed off about someone being exclusive to a show.

But it just feels like an inevitable clusterfuck. A Saturday evening show is not gonna put up good numbers no matter who is on it, nevermind a 2-hour Saturday show. People who are "exclusive" to that show are gonna get miffed.

[Evil Vito]

With The Elite in the process of working out contracts (Bucks contracts expire in January, Kenny's sometime in November-December depending on how long AEW extended it)...imagine if they left because AEW put them on the Collision "brand"/B show.

Would be a hilarious way for The Elite to leave All Elite Wrestling.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They could have gotten their ducks in a row so the overlords didn’t feel the need to intervene.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can see the Wembley Stadium show being a disaster as to how it impacts talents’ egos. The number of folks that will need to be left off, thrown into meaningless matches and the jealousy that goes towards the talent who aren’t is going to be a clusterfuck.

[Mr. Nerfect]

AEW’s talent management is horrendous. And their booking sucks. So coupling the two together is leading to a lot of these nightmares.

[DaveWadding]

With The Elite in the process of working out contracts (Bucks contracts expire in January, Kenny's sometime in November-December depending on how long AEW extended it)...imagine if they left because AEW put them on the Collision "brand"/B show.

Would be a hilarious way for The Elite to leave All Elite Wrestling.

They'd work the B show anywhere they didn't have a front office title, tbh. And yes, I mean Kenny too

[Sepholio]

If they do this other show they need to scrap rampage and elevation. Also hope the Saturday show is ROH and they aren't trying to operate a 3 way soft brand split.

[Sepholio]

If the Saturday show does turn out to be ROH you could probably keep Rampage.

[xrodmuc316]

Splitting the roster because so many people cant get along shows what a GREAT leader Shad's doofus son really is!

[xrodmuc316]

Tiny gave 39 year old Brian Cage, who he went 2 years without booking on TV, a 5 year guaranteed contract, with an option for a 6th year lol

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tiny gave 39 year old Brian Cage, who he went 2 years without booking on TV, a 5 year guaranteed contract, with an option for a 6th year lol

Wtf?! Is it really that long? If there were rumors of WWE being interested, I bet they were fed to get TK to panic and make that move.

[xrodmuc316]

Wtf?! Is it really that long? If there were rumors of WWE being interested, I bet they were fed to get TK to panic and make that move.

That is what is being reported. Probably gave FTR Hair and Bald that deal too.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Brian Cage is not worth that investment.

[XL]

AEW’s talent management is horrendous. And their booking sucks. So coupling the two together is leading to a lot of these nightmares.

Bad take.

You can look at how 3-time Booker of the Year Tony Khan has guys go weeks/months between TV appearances and understandably think it’s poor management but consider this: who are WWE top stars?

Roman, Brock, Cena, Logan Paul.

What do they have in common? They’re all talents that aren’t there week-to-week, they’re special attractions. TK is making Miro an attraction to eclipse them all!

[Sepholio]

Yeah TK only wanted Miro to job to Hangman when he came back because he is a master of long term storytelling. It would have all made sense after he returned again after another year long hiatus.

[xrodmuc316]

Yeah TK only wanted Miro to job to Hangman when he came back because he is a master of long term storytelling. It would have all made sense after he returned again after another year long hiatus.

Miro, another guy Tiny resigned to a multiyear deal and who has had 4 matches in the last going on 2 years. Totally making the best of that financial commitment :shifty:

[DaveWadding]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vikingo had three televised defenses of the AAA Mega title on AAA TV last year, will have three in AEW/ROH in about a month in the TK verse.</p>&mdash; luchablog (@luchablog) <a href="https://twitter.com/luchablog/status/1647066516620230656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[XL]

Miro, another guy Tiny resigned to a multiyear deal and who has had 4 matches in the last going on 2 years. Totally making the best of that financial commitment :shifty:

Say it with me: “Special Attraction”.

[Mr. Nerfect]

LolAEW

[xrodmuc316]

Say it with me: “Special Attraction”.

That might work better if when he did get booked it wasnt just in a random 6 man tag or as a replacement when somebody got hurt or too drunk too often.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The latest bullshit from the dirt sheets is that Punk is returning in June for 2hr Collisions.

It would be funny if Punk gets better ratings on a Saturday than The Elite get on a Wednesday.

[Sepholio]

The go home Dynamite for Forbidden Door 2 is in Chicago. How convenient. I'm sure there will be a huge announcement.

[Mr. Nerfect]

There’s a huge announcement every week.

[xrodmuc316]

Debuts do not get the rating bump anymore.
Special Edition Dynamites do not get the ratings bump anymore.
HUGE announcement ratings bumps lost their last gasp with a fucking reality show.

We are now at the point where a wrestler needs to die that Tiny can then exploit to get a ratings pop. That is where we are now, and lets hope Shad will finally draw the line and tell Tiny NO, he will not fund murder for ratings.

[Destor]

Wrestlers die a lot so thatll probably work out

[Sting Fan]

Pre sale wait list of 50k for the England show, sounds promising. Wonder what pricing will be like.

[xrodmuc316]

Even Dave responded, guess Tiny's check was late this week :rofl:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They have not sold any tickets, let alone 45,000. There will be no tickets sold until 5/2. <a href="https://t.co/nxiiCAbuxL">https://t.co/nxiiCAbuxL</a></p>&mdash; Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/1646934729713754112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Destor]

They know how presale works right? 100% will be sold the second the gate is open

[Mr. Nerfect]

They’re probably en route to sell about 53k right now. It will probably be more by the day.

[#1-norm-fan]

That’s a lot.

[Sepholio]

Imagine the rant about THE BOTZ we'll get if they don't sell that many now.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Well, who knows how hot the ticket actually is versus how hot it is perceived to be by scalpers, etc. Selling the tickets initially and filling up the building aren’t exactly synonymous.

Clash at the Castle had about 59k people queued up for the presale. They ended up with 64k in the building, or about 5% over what the presale was.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think the risk AEW needs to try and mitigate is putting on a show that doesn’t exactly encourage repeat business. I think there’s a good chance of backstage backlash at talent positioning too. TK needs to sort his house out and make sure that he can run Wembley again, not just the once with the low-hanging fruit of London being ripe for a stadium show.

[Tom Guycott]

There’s a huge announcement every week.

This was something that nobody learned from Impact...

[Evil Vito]

Hayter and PAC are the only AEW Brits that need to be on the Wembley card. But you know they're gonna book Saraya in a match there even if she's undeserving.

I do actually like Kip Sabian well enough as an undercard act but if they randomly start pushing him out of the blue just so he can have an International Title match it'll be really transparent. If they do a pre-show battle royal and want to throw him in then whatever, but not a regular match.

From the partner promotions, Ospreay's the only non-AEW Brit I think would make sense to book, particularly if it's against Omega. Everyone would be fine with that I reckon. Even a guy like ZSJ who I love, Bryan vs. ZSJ feels like a great Forbidden Door match, going out of your way to save it for Wembley would feel kinda forced.

[Sepholio]

Kinda funny that AEW is gonna run a TV show in the same timeslot as WWE PPVs. I can just hear the crying if WWE does the same to them.

[xrodmuc316]

Kinda funny that AEW is gonna run a TV show in the same timeslot as WWE PPVs. I can just hear the crying if WWE does the same to them.

Remember when Kenny Omega got pissed that WWE was evil enough to air an Evolve show on the WWE Network the same night AEW had a "for charity" Fighter Fest show? Not a WWE show, an Evolve show that was already booked, but WWE was hurting the wrestling business by airing an Indy show. Classic AEW :rofl:

[XL]

Kinda funny that AEW is gonna run a TV show in the same timeslot as WWE PPVs. I can just hear the crying if WWE does the same to them.

Tbf, this is DTW making them do it. I know 3 x Booker of the Year Tony Khan would never do anything to harm the business.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Don't get why Punk and The Elite need to work separately from each other as is being rumored. I've had fist fights with people I shared a drink with almost right after. Motherfuckers need to get over it.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

And nobody needs to apologize. Just fucking work together and make money. Christ.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They’re a bunch of fucking pussies. And the root of the problem. The Elite are always going to get in between AEW and success.

[Frank Drebin]

Don't get why Punk and The Elite need to work separately from each other as is being rumored. I've had fist fights with people I shared a drink with almost right after. Motherfuckers need to get over it.

And nobody needs to apologize. Just fucking work together and make money. Christ.

Dale is correct. This is what would be best for business but if you just want to play in the sandbox with your friends and get Tony to put some of the adults on an entirely different show to keep the sandbox the way they like it this is another route that helps no one. At least you get to gang bang Riho whenever you need to feel better about yourselves.

[Frank Drebin]

This whole Punk/FTR v Elite drama is maybe the only time I'd want Vince to be in charge just because he'd probably make everyone involved eat shit or find a way to have them sit at home not getting paid until they did what he wanted.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I just can’t bring myself to care about this Elite/Punk stuff. Any tension dissolves the moment you put them in the ring. They don’t have the style to deliver on personal issues.

[Evil Vito]

The Elite are clearly still butthurt about Punk and don't want to work a program with him because they have no direct financial incentive to do so. Even if it's "best for business", the only person who could make any actual money from this is Tony Khan. Such is the drawback with giving people guaranteed deals in an industry filled with bruised egos.

And before anyone says "well that's easy then, tell them if they don't do it they're fired for insubordination"...yeah that sounds easy from afar but it's almost certainly way more complicated. Much like how people said Punk could hold "hostile work environment" over Khan's head, The Elite would just do the same thing. "How can you say we're fired for cause because we didn't want to work with someone who assaulted us?"

Very easy to see how this could turn into yet another legal quagmire. And so that's why Khan is pretty much over a barrel here. He did this to himself.

[Evil Vito]

Dax Harwood has announced that he is shutting his podcast down, saying he felt it was doing more harm than good. He claims there was no pressure from AEW or Tony Khan to end it.

[Sepholio]

The fact he felt the need to say TK didn't shut it down is proof that he did.

[Evil Vito]

Had he said nothing, everyone would've blown him up on Twitter asking if TK put him up to it lol

Even if TK really wasn't involved, there's been too much bullshit going around for people to not just assume it was him anyway

[#1-norm-fan]

Yeah. The fact that he needed to say it is more an indictment on the predictability of IWC blowhards who are always desperate to create their own scuttlebutt and treat it as fact to fit the narrative they want pushed.

Thank God we don’t have any of those people here at TPWW…

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Elite are clearly still butthurt about Punk and don't want to work a program with him because they have no direct financial incentive to do so. Even if it's "best for business", the only person who could make any actual money from this is Tony Khan. Such is the drawback with giving people guaranteed deals in an industry filled with bruised egos.

And before anyone says "well that's easy then, tell them if they don't do it they're fired for insubordination"...yeah that sounds easy from afar but it's almost certainly way more complicated. Much like how people said Punk could hold "hostile work environment" over Khan's head, The Elite would just do the same thing. "How can you say we're fired for cause because we didn't want to work with someone who assaulted us?"

Very easy to see how this could turn into yet another legal quagmire. And so that's why Khan is pretty much over a barrel here. He did this to himself.

The Elite don’t care about AEW’s growth. It’s a vanity project for them. They’d rather get 850k viewers with it being “their show” than it get double that with them in a minimalized role. This is what the drama between them and Punk is really about. Punk proved you can do over 1 million on a Friday night and was petitioning for an improved product that clashed with the philosophy of The Elite.

[xrodmuc316]

At this point I can comfortably estimate that I have consumed over 500 hours of AEW content, and CM Punk still sucks :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[GD]

Shit! Punk's coming back :lol:

[Evil Vito]

Justin Roberts will miss Dynamite tonight after reporting a positive COVID test, he’s staying home in isolation for a week.

That 90% of the comments to the tweet about it on Reddit are “who still tests for COVID?” just serve as a reminder why we live in hell.

[xrodmuc316]

Justin Roberts will miss Dynamite tonight after reporting a positive COVID test, he’s staying home in isolation for a week.

That 90% of the comments to the tweet about it on Reddit are “who still tests for COVID?” just serve as a reminder why we live in hell.

Absolutely why it is still so rampant. We live in a time where in home entertainment is at an all time high, yet people couldnt stay home, wouldnt mask up, ignore social distancing, etc. It is the same people who would tweet stuff like that.

[#1-norm-fan]

At this point I can comfortably estimate that I have consumed over 500 hours of AEW content

Even the haters are hooked.

Booker of the year.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New Observer says Punk was extremely important to getting AEW a new Sat show from WB (Some saying the deal was incumbent on his return) and Dave theorizes that if WB even pays AEW their median rate for prime-time programming, it'd net AEW an extra 52 mil a year. WO HOF Punk up.</p>&mdash; Trevor Dame (@TrevorDame) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorDame/status/1649323468838817793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Elite will love this lol.

[Sepholio]

Dave said it so you know it's gospel.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Elite will DEF think it's gospel since Dave is their butt buddy.

[#1-norm-fan]

Buddy of the butt ONLY.

[Sepholio]

I wonder if Meltzer has gangbanged Riho

[#1-norm-fan]

Just him? I doubt it. I don’t even see how that’s technically possible. Unless you’re this guy..,

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theonemangang_8553.jpg

[Mr. Nerfect]

Anyone who thinks The Elite are more valuable to AEW than Punk is fucking nuts.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New Observer says Punk was extremely important to getting AEW a new Sat show from WB (Some saying the deal was incumbent on his return) and Dave theorizes that if WB even pays AEW their median rate for prime-time programming, it'd net AEW an extra 52 mil a year. WO HOF Punk up.</p>&mdash; Trevor Dame (@TrevorDame) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorDame/status/1649323468838817793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Elite will love this lol.

Not a needle mover tho

[Frank Drebin]

"But....but....he's never gotten anyone else over but himself."

*is integral in getting AEW $50 million just in TV contracts*

Nah, he doesn't get a dude here or there over. He gets entire feds over.


Punk draws. Plain and simple. People will consume the product just for him so he has high value. You need that if you're AEW.

People have pointed out in other threads that Punk hasn't gotten anyone else over but himself. Ok, I'll give you that. The same was said about mega stars like Hogan and Cena. How quickly we forget that Punk's arrival catapulted AEW into "legit" status and made casual fans take notice. Yeah you had your Stings of the world but he's not really an active talent at this point. Let's say Punk never got anyone else over. Fine. How many other guys have gotten an entire wrestling promotion over? You can't just ignore the reaction to The First Dance and the fire that it lit for AEW at the time.

[Frank Drebin]

Waiting on Orange Cassidy to do the same. Any day now......

[GD]

Waiting on Orange Cassidy to do the same. Any day now......

Checkmate liberals

[Frank Drebin]

Hitting up Mindy's Bakery this weekend.

[xrodmuc316]

So if Punk doesn't come back, they aren't getting the show?
If Punk gets hurt again, is the show getting cancelled?
What if Punk went to WWE, is that why Warner wants to make a play for WWE?

I mean CLEARLY these options are all thanks to the worst UFC fighter of all time :rofl:

[Sepholio]

Its sad to see Drebin turning into a sheep on account of his old man dementia.

[Evil Vito]

Supposed seating chart for Wembley

https://i.redd.it/dlwsksoqxeva1.jpg

The stadium seats 90k for football in just the seats alone, based on this they have a little less than 2/3rds of the normal seating capacity open. Figure the seats themselves are around 50-55k and then the A-G seating around the ring probably takes it to 60k or so.

That would be a hell of a gate on its own. They could always add seats if tickets move quickly.

Will be interesting to see what happens when the sale starts.

[XL]

So if Punk doesn't come back, they aren't getting the show?
If Punk gets hurt again, is the show getting cancelled?
What if Punk went to WWE, is that why Warner wants to make a play for WWE?

I mean CLEARLY these options are all thanks to the worst UFC fighter of all time :rofl:

xrod in shambles.

Surely this is a win for you? You can still hate-watch AEW but not have to have Punk and FTR Bald triggering you every 30 minutes.

[xrodmuc316]

xrod in shambles.

Surely this is a win for you? You can still hate-watch AEW but not have to have Punk and FTR Bald triggering you every 30 minutes.

FTR Bald has never triggered me, he just cries a lot.
Punk himself isn't even a trigger, I just find it impossible to suspend my disbelief that he is this super tough fighter who can beat everybody, because he can't. It is a disservice to any other wrestler who has to job to him, and an insult of people's intelligence who saw how inept he is at fighting.

Besides that, I surely won't be watching any Saturday show with any consistency, it will be Rampage part 2.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Punk has gotten plenty of people over. It’s absolute horseshit that he hasn’t. The guy makes you care about wh is working with him. I think some people here have personal issues with the guy, coloring his career.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Punk’s talented in the ring enough for me to suspend my disbelief that wrestling is a different “style” of fighting. I mean, I can’t buy The Bucks or Omega as fighters either. They’re just not good enough to cover it up. At least Punk’s got that much.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I mean, The Bucks actually did get whipped by Punk. Imagine how quickly they would go down in UFC.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’m looking forward to the backstage chaos this Collision show causes.

[Sepholio]

I notice crickets from the people who were whining like little babies about WWE scheduling an event to go head to head with AEW now that AEW is apparently scheduling themselves against every single WWE PPV ever.

[xrodmuc316]

I notice crickets from the people who were whining like little babies about WWE scheduling an event to go head to head with AEW now that AEW is apparently scheduling themselves against every single WWE PPV ever.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eCdLoVkEECdkURqGmsVaR79j30s=/0x0:592x267/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:592x267):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16680019/OmegaTweet.png

An Evolve show :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Frank Drebin]

Its sad to see Drebin turning into a sheep on account of his old man dementia.

Imma buy you a single donut from Mindy's and you'll see that I'm not as crazy as I sound.

I notice crickets from the people who were whining like little babies about WWE scheduling an event to go head to head with AEW now that AEW is apparently scheduling themselves against every single WWE PPV ever.

The point is valid but playing devil's advocate I'd say that as the big behemoth it would seem beneath WWE to try to undermine a fledgling AEW but its ok for the "plucky underdog" to use those tactics.

[XL]

Behemoth!? You’re not taking about WWE are you? Little mom-and-pop company WWE?

[Fignuts]

Never underestimate a good bakery.

[Mr. Nerfect]

An Evolve show :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Omega is such a wanker.

[Sepholio]

Jeff Hardy wants to end his career in AEW on an "extremely high note".

When is he not extremely high though?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Lol, were those his actual words?

[Sepholio]

yeah on Rampage lol

[Sepholio]

At this point I'm more worried about him getting extremely high and ending someone elses career.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I hope Jeff stays clean this time, but I’m about done with The Hardys. Jeff had something, but it really feels like he’s kind of done his last dash with how he left WWE and how quickly AEW went off the rails.

And the act just feels tremendously dated now even compared to 2017.

[Jordan]

How is AEW live attendance doing? Anyone got a good site for wrestling news these days?

[xrodmuc316]

How is AEW live attendance doing? Anyone got a good site for wrestling news these days?

They have to go out of the country to get their most attended show. They really are TNA 2.0 :rofl:

[XL]

Meanwhile WWE’s next three premium events are taking place in Puerto Rico, Saudia Arabia, and England.

What an odd thing to try and spin into a negative. AEW, the #1 viewed wrestling promotion in the UK, puts on a show in the UK. It’ll never work!

[Evil Vito]

Me on March 22nd:

More importantly I'm interested in figuring out what Callis' actual game is between trying to isolate Kenny from the rest of The Elite and also Hangman and also trying to recruit Takeshita. Is he going to try and make an astroturf Golden Lovers?

Bingo.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qht" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenBrothers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenBrothers</a> <a href="https://t.co/UTx7ycrmY1">https://t.co/UTx7ycrmY1</a></p>&mdash; The Invisible Hand (@TheDonCallis) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDonCallis/status/1650114178282147841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Fignuts]

Oh good, butcher and blade get to job again.

[Evil Vito]

Speaking of Butcher and the Blade, a couple of weeks ago I dream that I was going to a show AEW brought back the World War 3 concept but this time as World War 4 and with 4 rings so it was an even bigger mess. Moreover, despite their massive roster for some reason they still needed bodies to fill the rings and I ended up in the match despite not being a wrestler nor having any other training.

Thankfully, Butcher and the Blade were cool about it and let me just blend in and work some punches on them in the corner for a bit until it was time to pare down the numbers and they eliminated me. And so ended my wrestling career.

[xrodmuc316]

Meanwhile WWE’s next three premium events are taking place in Puerto Rico, Saudia Arabia, and England.

What an odd thing to try and spin into a negative. AEW, the #1 viewed wrestling promotion in the UK, puts on a show in the UK. It’ll never work!

Settle down Stan, one it was clearly a joke. Two, are we really back to "BUT WWE...." arguments?? :rofl:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can’t believe The Blade is still around.

[Frank Drebin]

Speaking of Butcher and the Blade, a couple of weeks ago I dream that I was going to a show AEW brought back the World War 3 concept but this time as World War 4 and with 4 rings so it was an even bigger mess. Moreover, despite their massive roster for some reason they still needed bodies to fill the rings and I ended up in the match despite not being a wrestler nor having any other training.

Thankfully, Butcher and the Blade were cool about it and let me just blend in and work some punches on them in the corner for a bit until it was time to pare down the numbers and they eliminated me. And so ended my wrestling career.

You should show some appreciation and at least buy a tshirt of theirs of something.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Butcher seems to have some value in him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Collision is allegedly going to be branded heavily around Punk. The performance of this show is going to cause so many problems.

[Evil Vito]

I don't think there will be any hard roster split aside from keeping people with genuine issues from each other apart. But with WWE doing another draft I'm just doing a quick fly through of the AEW roster and figuring out rosters in the unlikely event they went for more of a hard split.

Even if they went for a hard split I think it's beyond stupid to have two world champions. So the World title is exempt and I'd also make the Tag and Trios belts exempt too so they can go wherever and those divisions go across brands.

I think with two women's singles titles it'd be easy to have one on one show and one on the other, but I don't think they'd want to draw more attention to the fact there's only one women's match per show, and might be worried about the optics of the Women's World title not being treated like a World Title, so let's say officially that it floats too.

The TBS Title goes to Dynamite and TNT Title to Collision to be featured on their namesake networks. The International Title goes to Dynamite since the TNT Title is Collision's midcard/male singles title.

Draft Exempt
Brody King
Buddy Matthews
Cash Wheeler
Dax Harwood
Jamie Hayter
Julia Hart
Malakai Black
MJF

Dynamite Roster
Adam Cole
Adam Page
Alex Reynolds
Anthony Bowens
AR Fox
Austin Gunn
Big Bill
Brandon Cutler
Bryan Danielson
Christian Cage
Chuck Taylor
Colten Gunn
Daddy Ass
Danhausen
Dante Martin
Darby Allin
Darius Martin
Dustin Rhodes
Ethan Page
Evil Uno
John Silver
Jon Moxley
Keith Lee
Kenny Omega
Konosuke Takeshita
Kyle O'Reilly
Lee Moriarty
Luchasaurus
Matt Jackson
Matt Sydal
Max Caster
Michael Nakazawa
Nick Comoroto
Nick Jackson
Orange Cassidy
Preston Vance
Ricky Starks
Rush
Samoa Joe
Scorpio Sky
Sting
Stu Grayson
Trent Beretta
Wheeler Yuta

Athena
Diamante
Dr. Britt Baker
Jade Cargill
Kiera Hogan
Kris Statlander
Leila Grey
Madison Rayne
Nyla Rose
Riho
Serena Deeb
Skye Blue
Yuka Sakazaki

Don Callis
Jose the Assistant
Stokely Hathaway

Collision Roster
Aaron Solo
Action Andretti
Angelico
Angelo Parker
Ari Daivari
Brian Cage
Chris Jericho
CM Punk
Daniel Garcia
Hook
Isiah Kassidy
Jack Perry
Jake Hager
Jay Lethal
Jay White
Jeff Hardy
Jeff Jarrett
Josh Woods
Juice Robinson
Kip Sabian
Komander
Lance Archer
Luther
Mark Briscoe
Marq Quen
Matt Hardy
Matt Menard
Miro
Ortiz
PAC
Penta El Cero Miedo
Powerhouse Hobbs
QT Marshall
Rey Fenix
Sammy Guevara
Satnam Singh
Serpentico
Shawn Spears
Swerve Strickland
The Blade
The Butcher
Tony Nese
Wardlow

Anna Jay
Emi Sakura
Hikaru Shida
Mercedes Martinez
Penelope Ford
Ruby Soho
Saraya
Tay Melo
Taya Valkyrie
The Bunny
Thunder Rosa
Toni Storm
Willow Nightingale

Arn Anderson
Harley Cameron
Sonjay Dutt

---

There's some other people listed on the roster page that haven't been seen nor used in an eternity so I have no clue who is hurt and who isn't.

But kept Punk apart from pretty much everyone in the immediate Elite circle, plus Mox in case those two really do have a beef. I'd suspect given Tony Khan's booking, the Elite/BCC angle will stretch for an eternity through the summer anyway. Jericho does end up on the same show as Punk since they're rumored to be agreed to work together, and you know they're gonna draw that feud out beyond measure too.

Otherwise, tried to mix some "bigger", well known names onto each show tried to keep known couples together.

With the size of their roster I can understand creatively why they might think a split could help, but it's a damn joke that they might have one entirely because they apparently can't figure out how to get talent to co-exist.

[xrodmuc316]

The funniest thing about another 2 hours of AEWTV is that it is another 2 hours of Tiny Khan's match randomizer machine.

First episode:
Show starts with the return of CM Phil, who invites FTR out. They hug and cry while Excalibur talks about a game changing announcement from Tiny Khan on Dynamite
Juice Robinson w/Jay White vs QT Marshall w/factory, ends in a brawl
We hear from TNT Champion Wardlow w/Arn Anderson and free agent Brock Anderson
Penelope Ford w/Kip vs Tay Melo w/all of JAS but Jericho and Thunder Rosa on Spanish Commentary
Pretape of MJF saying wrestling on Saturdays is almost as stupid as Chicago Bears fans
Pac vs Miro is cancelled because both fail to show up/have visa issues
Recap of Jade Cargill interview from Dynamite, she tells Renee to "cut the shit"
Toni Storm w/Outsiders vs Willow, spray paint angle with save by Shida and Sakura (Paige may or may not try to get away with saying Twat on TNT)
Backstage interview with the Hardy's, but Butcher and Blade walk up. Matt Hardy says they will be DELETED on Rampage
Tay Melo says something incoherent while Sammy wags his tongue, Jericho arrives late and tells them he invented Saturday wrestling
Main event DREAM MATCH Jungle Boy vs Wildman Marc Mero. Match end when Jacqueline Moore shows up to help Mero beat down Jungle Jack, only for Hook to slowly walk out and make the save. We go off the air with Tony Schiavone saying
"IT'S HOOK, IN THE RIIIIIIIIIIIING!"

[rez]

Watchable

[xrodmuc316]

AEW getting rid of Dark Elevation, now what is Tiny going to get Big Show to do for that Million $ contract?? Shad's money well spent :rofl:

[Evil Vito]

Having Dark AND Dark Elevation was redundant as hell anyway.

Dark is still there and Rampage will effectively become the new Elevation once Collision starts.

[Mr. Nerfect]

We’re finally admitting that even AEW’s early developments were redundant. Can we admit Rampage was stupid?

[Vastardikai]

I think Britt has the least self awareness in wrestling history, and think of the ground that covers. (https://wrestletalk.com/news/top-aew-star-criticism-controversial-shirt-britt-baker/)

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Lol!

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

She def looks like a DV victim. I get not noticing it at first cuz you’re all caught up in “being a badass” but maybe when it’s brought to your attention, don’t double down lolol

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Like if the picture was taken in the ring it would’ve fine. But she’s just standing there looking sullen with a black eye hahahahaahaha what a dumbfuck

[Frank Drebin]

Would love to see Adam Cole holding up the shirt with a big smile on his face.

[Frank Drebin]

Like if the picture was taken in the ring it would’ve fine. But she’s just standing there looking sullen with a black eye hahahahaahaha what a dumbfuck

Yeah. They thought "chick with black eye" equated to "in-ring crimson mask"

[Lock Jaw]

Didn't WWE release a Becky Lynch T-Shirt that was just her bloody face from when she invaded RAW?

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

People actually know who Becky Lynch is. Plus, Brit looks like she’s being photographed for evidence.

[Fignuts]

Didn't WWE release a Becky Lynch T-Shirt that was just her bloody face from when she invaded RAW?

Was that made by WWE or by something like pro wrestling tees?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Britt’s the type of person who claims she has literal PTSD from people saying she faked injuries, then goes and poisons a locker room against Thunder Rosa saying she’s faking her back injury.

[xrodmuc316]

Was that made by WWE or by something like pro wrestling tees?

Yeah that was certainly a bootleg tshirt. Only shirt I can remember WWE officially releasing with blood was the red Austin 3:16 shirt that had him bleeding from his match at Mania 13.

[XL]

If only they knew she was dating Adam Cole. No way she’d be the victim of DV in that relationship, she outweighs him by 30lbs.

[Vastardikai]

If only they knew she was dating Adam Cole. No way she’d be the victim of DV in that relationship, she outweighs him by 30lbs.

Trash take, as Waltman allegedly abused Chyna.

[Destor]

Allegedly looking suspiciously like definitely in that post

[Lock Jaw]

Remember that Curb episode where Larry visits a home for battered women? Classic stuff....

[xrodmuc316]

Trash take, as Waltman allegedly abused Chyna.

Agreed, if anybody is gonna sit there and tell me Adam Cole couldn't take Britt out to a Superkick party, I would kindly remind them that it is all about the BOOM! Adam Cole BAY-BAY!