Articles by Scott Keith — Page 4

Is Punk done? Bonus: is this why he flipped out?

7th September 2022 by Scott Keith

https://twitter.com/WONF4W/status/1567608264443006982


He had to have known that he was injured – *again* – by the time he got back to the scrum don't you think?   Feels like a bit of the injury/stress related burnout that led to his meltdown / walkout from the WWE in the first place, just this time it happened far more publicly.

Likewise I can't imagine this dude comes back from any of this to a full time capacity anymore.   Is there any singles competitor who 
a) got re-injured within a month of returning 
b) later ended up coming back in a significant way? 

I can't think of anyone off the top of my head…

-J

TEAM CHAOS.  Some of us just want to watch the world burn.  
I think he’s done.  This will be a convenient way to get him off TV and get the title on someone else.  Maybe a tournament?   I’ve heard Tony likes them.  
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What’s the audible?

7th September 2022 by Scott Keith


Scott- If Tony ends up firing Punk what's the call in the aftermath? Back to Moxley? Hell Jericho until they figure it out? What direction do they head? 

Either put it back on Moxley or have MJF claim the title as the holder of the chip, or just have those two fight for the title in New York!  
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Better, less taxing finishers

7th September 2022 by Scott Keith

I think we can agree that it's probably a little too late to tell a guy like Ziggler that he needs a better looking finisher, but of the younger guys out there, who would you get in the ear of and suggest get a different finish? 


I can't help but watch Bron Breakker’s press-powerslam deal and think of Mark Henry talking about how his shoulders are still messed up from press slamming big guys like Vader early on in his career. You can't be building to a gorilla press slam as your finish every night, especially when you get to the main roster and the guys start to get bigger. Nothing wrong with breaking it out occasionally, but I just don't see it lasting as the primary finish for a guy who will likely be winning as many matches as Bron will. Honestly, if I were him, I'd be going with the Steinerline and the Recliner all day to prolong my career. Hell, go with a Torture Rack or a Death Valley Driver if that's a little too on the nose and he wants distance himself from the Steiner name. 

Oh yeah, the Steiner Recliner is like a cheat code with built in overness already.  Completely agree.  
The guys still doing the spears and diving headbutts need a talking to as well.  The neck is not to be messed with.  
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Fired for fighting?

7th September 2022 by Scott Keith

The media scrum and what happened after are all anyone can talk about. When I hear cries for Punk to be fired or who should Tony side with I’m still a little confused. Haven’t fights in THIS BUSINESS been happening forever and many times people weren’t fired? Jericho and Goldberg got into it over years old WCW talk, did either of them get fired? Booker and Batista fought on the SET OF A COMMERCIAL in front of, I’m sure plenty of non wrestling people just trying to do their job for a commercial and neither of them were fired. And of course the famous Bret and Shawn incident where Bret ripped Shawn’s hair out and Shawn said it was an “unsafe work environment” and still Bret was not fired. I’m not trying to be uncaring but Punk mouthing off at a press conference and him and the Bucks getting into a scuffle doesn’t seem to fit the precedent for someone losing their job if all of the ones I named didn’t either.
We’re not even to the point of ribs that guys used to play on each other in the 80s.  These guys need to watch some Memphis wrestling and learn how the pros worked together after pulling guns on each other and shit.  
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The other Khan owner

7th September 2022 by Scott Keith

Whenever news comes up of possible dealings and/or business opportunities for AEW, I'm always reminded that Tony's dad, Shahid Khan, is part owner.  And per wikipedia “billionaire businessman and sports tycoon. He is the owner of Flex-N-Gate, an American automotive company. Khan is also the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and Fulham F.C. of the Premier League”

Now as much can be speculated on TK's decision making and his publicly stated opinions on certain topics, his Dad has to know even more what works and doesn't work in terms of profits/loss,  optics, perception, press handling, etc. etc.  And not to mention he rarely, if ever, is mentioned when it comes to AEW's higher ups.

When All Out 2021 ended, AEW had all the momentum it seemed, and carried it through for quite a while.  A year later and this press conference, I'm not sure what direction it's going to go in next, and with who's in and who's out. 

AEW may be on the smaller side of investments compared to his other ventures, but its still a huge investment regardless.  And I'm guessing Shahid has taken more things into account then his Son.  At least that's how it seems.  Do you see a point where, as you've suggested, TK takes a step back from the public eye, and Shahid moves someone in that can handle whatever fallout may be coming very soon?  Shahid obviously sees the potential, growth, profit AEW can produce, but will he get more involved with recent events?

EVERYTHING IS FINE. 
No, seriously, let’s at least watch Dynamite before we talk about ownership changes.  
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The old baseball analogy….

6th September 2022 by Scott Keith
Since Punk spewed out a baseball analogy during the media scrum, I got another baseball analogy for you Phil. Clubhouse Cancer. You're it.

Seriously, if any of this true concerning this backstage fight. Good grief is this embarrassing stuff. Are they trying to recreate 1997 WWF? Ace Steel (who I've never heard of in 30 years of watching wrestling until I googled his name last Thursday) bit Kenny Omega? Punk threw one his horrible punches at a Young Buck? I have visions of an old Three Stooges episode. I'd pay $60 for Full Gear if they show that footage on a loop for 4 hours.

I'm really getting my $5/month worth out of Fightful Select, I'll tell you what.  Personally, I'm Team Chaos, so the more that the dancing monkeys throw shit at each other for my entertainment, the better.  That being said, SRS has noted that the assumption and rumor is currently that Punk is going to have get gone or else major amends are going to be needed, but that's all we know at the moment.  But yeah, I say send CM on his way and go back to putting your money behind the Bucks and Kenny Omega again.  

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Interesting slip of the tongue

6th September 2022 by Scott Keith
I don't know if you caught any of the Triple H interview with Ariel Helwani on YouTube. There was a point where Triple H was praising his amazing wife going from dealing with his health crisis to taking over as Co-CEO. At one point he says and “and Nick Pawn…er…Nick Kahn has just been an incredible partner”. Freudian slip? Was Nick the shark they needed to bring in to find dirt on Vince and force him out? He was all just a pawn in “The Game”?

Huge if true.  But I think we all know that it was a semi-anonymous tipster named “T. Ryzin” that set everything in motion.  
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Misery Loves Company

6th September 2022 by Scott Keith

Let’s forget about people throwing chairs and biting each other and whatever else might have happened off camera…


The new top rivalry in AEW is the miserable champion who “celebrated” winning the World Title in his hometown by going off on all of his co-workers vs. the miserable challenger who tried to get himself fired and the owner responded by begging him in a voicemail (whether it’s a work or not) to come back.

What exactly does anybody get out of that kind of feud besides chaos?  Who in their right mind wouldn’t at least consider wanting to work for HHH after being in the locker room at All Out?  Did the wheels start falling off when Cody Rhodes left because he was Vince McMahon to Tony Khan’s Vince Russo and now all we’re left with is the inevitable spiral towards WCW 2000?

I mean, “inevitable” is a strong word.  But it’s sure looking like Cody was a good influence on SOMEONE.  
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just so I’m clear…

6th September 2022 by Scott Keith
Hey Scott,


So the story they're going with is CM Punk and Ace Steel beat up the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega? Punk knocked out Matt with his MMA striking ability, Ace Steel–(apparently tougher than Meng and Harley Race combined) threw a chair at Nick, knocking him out, and then Steel, after throwing said chair then grabbed Kenny by the hair and bit him?

And despite suspending Eddie Kingston for his miff with Sammy–Ace Steel, after throwing a chair is still employed with the company? 

Listen I get Tony needs something big for the fall to get that TV money….but at this point we're one “bro” away from this turning completely into some Vince Russo shit.

Thanks
Unless they’re also involving the cops and legal team, it’s not a work, bro. 


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The Sad Story of Malakai Black

6th September 2022 by Scott Keith

Everyone else is talking about Punk's meltdown, but I think some attention deserves to be given to what a wasted opportunity Malakai Black turned out to be.


In a company that has occasionally lacked top heels, he had it all. His look is unique, the entrance was among the best of anyone in the business, he can work, he can talk, and he was OVER after he squashed Cody. Sadly, that Cody loss killed him, as they never gave him a huge singles win to recover from that.

What did the House of Black ever really get a chance to do? We got a Julia Hart payoff that took FOREVER and led to her….what? Wearing black clothes instead of a cheerleader outfit? What else did they do besides have a forgettable feud with Death Triangle and wrestle some nothing matches against midcard jobbers like Fuego? 

He could've at least been allowed to terrorize the midcard for a while as TNT champion.

Strongly agree.  The Cody feud killed him and he never really was allowed to be booked at the level of his overness.  

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Hook and Action Bronson

5th September 2022 by Scott Keith

I mean, we know Hook can and will murder anyone on the main roster in singles competition. Maybe last night is how we transition him into murdering anyone in tag team action now?
They should sign the guy who sang Danielson's theme song.  He looked like MGK but with abs and no personal issues.  That's your money!
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Nothing?

5th September 2022 by Scott Keith

When Punk mentioned Page hasn't done anything in the business…isn't that a HUGE knock on the company? The guy was the AEW World Champion for 6 months. Doesn't that imply that if you haven't won the WWE World title you haven't done anything in the business?  And Tony was sitting there just nodding his head like an idiot?


It can be argued forever if this is a work or shoot.  It seems a lot like Punk is painted like Hogan was painted backstage in WCW. He came in as the WWF guy who has done much bigger things than guys in WCW. And then guys like Sting got offended that they were there from the beginning.

On the bright side, apparently Punk improved his MMA record to 1-2 after the press conference, so there's that. 

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Born for Tag Teams

5th September 2022 by Scott Keith

Scott,

I figure Bobby Eaton is the likely answer here, but who do you consider as the wrestler born to work tag teams that just didn't hit the same stride as a single? I think of guys like Arn Anderson and Ricky Morton who were GREAT tag workers but also were great in singles. Who is the guy you loved in tag teams but didn't do it for you as a single?


Bobby Eaton's singles run in 1991 was amazing and it's tragic that he got his legs cut out from under him so early.  

I'm going to go with Barry Darsow, who was a tremendous tag team presence as a Russian and a Smash, but an extremely dull singles worker otherwise.  
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Oh man.

5th September 2022 by Scott Keith

If this is a shoot he’s a total dick, and if it’s a work, how does this benefit anyone?

No wonder the E didn’t want anything to do with him.  HHH seems more correct every day.

It’s hilarious because I never watch those press scrums, but I was still awake after the show and was on YouTube and just decided to put it on in the background and HOLY CRAP did we get the most batshit crazy press conference I’ve ever seen.

I think Punk needs to take a seat, especially about the “million dollar gate” stuff, since they literally didn’t even announce the main event until the Dynamite last week.  He’s a big draw but is he THAT big of a draw where he’s worth this much trouble?  Starting to seem like it’s not the case.

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The next year for Drew

4th September 2022 by Scott Keith
What's next for Drew McIntyre after tonight?  HHH should consider a losing streak gimmick for him. Doesn't win a match for the next 18 month, but he never lets it get to him because sings a song after each loss, reflecting on the great performance he put in even if he came up short.  By the time Wrestlemania 40 rolls around, he'll be the most over guy on the roster!

Man you guys are really triggered by this singing stuff.  I thought people in the UK loved singing at wrestling shows?  Pick a side already.  
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Disappointing IC Reigns

4th September 2022 by Scott Keith
Hey, Scott:

Hope all is well with you and the family. So…both Ricky Steamboat and Davey Boy Smith won the Intercontinental Title in front of huge crowds at a “big 4” show in heavily-hyped matches that lived up to their billing.

Steamboat was famously struggling to draw money with Savage chasing him and was probably going to drop the strap regardless of the paternity leave deal. Bulldog was going around the horn defending against the goddam Repo Man and even if Davey wasn't fired, Shawn Michaels was getting that title sooner rather than later. 

With 30+ years of hindsight, whose reign was more disappointing?
Steamboat.  Bulldog overachieved by even getting that shot at Wembley in the first place and it would have been his career highlight even if he hadn't won.
Steamboat, on the other hand, was part of a match that stole the show at Wrestlemania, paying off a months-long storyline that was drawing on the house show circuit and then suddenly died once the good guy won.  There was so much more he could have done as champion, but it wasn't in the cards, and that's the bigger disappointment to me. 

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Was Bayley calling part of the match on the fly?

4th September 2022 by Scott Keith
Since the crowd was pro-Bayley and she was intent on turning them against her did she start calling the match on the fly by tagging herself back out to troll them? It would explain why the six person was so screwy at points seeing as how Bianca and Alexa aren’t as experienced with on the fly wrestling.
Well as noted you could literally hear her screaming instructions at people at a couple of points, so it does seem likely that she was doing stuff on the fly, yeah. 

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Clash ending

4th September 2022 by Scott Keith
Scott

First off

I CANNOT believe that Drew didn’t win with that crowd.  But whatever.

But my god.  Couldn’t we just have had Tyson Not shake hands w Roman.

I mean wtf

Just have him go.  GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE RING. And have Roman conwer. And then do there little singing thing.   

Would have beeen more impactful.


People seem pretty angry about this Tyson Fury thing but I had already shut off the show after the pinfall and put on “Death Rides a Horse” with Lee Van Cleef on the recommendation of a Twitter conversation, so the ending seemed fine to me. Not sure what you guys are all complaining about. 
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AEW Fight Forever wishlist

3rd September 2022 by Scott Keith
Good morning Mr. Keith.  Recent Gameplay footage is echoing No Mercy traits to your delight.  The small to start roster(50?) means multiple DLCs fan will pay for, and that's just the nature of the video game business these days, unfortunately.  With that being said, what is a few top things on your wish list you hope this game provides that past wrestling games haven't.  

Mine is a true, clean slate, build from the bottom up, GM/Booker Mode.  House shows, tv, specials, ppvs.  I get to control just about facet of every card of every wrestling day in a year, travel time taken into account too!  Pump the EWR vibes into my veins!


I just want No Mercy controls and a deep CAW engine to play with.  The whole wrestling nerd world has basically just wanted a high res version of No Mercy to make their own people for so long now that it'll be an instant success if they can even just deliver that.  
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