Being protected well

1st October 2022 by Scott Keith
Booking in 80s and parts of early 90s Crockett/WCW was good in this regard: all of the top guys were protected bigtime. Luger, Windham, Flair, Nikita, Muta (let's forget Starrcade 89), Ronnie Garvin, Rock&Roll, Midnights (let's forget some of 1989/1990), Roadwarriors, Doom, Steiners, Sting, The Horsemen in general, later on Vader…it was always a bit of a shock to see any of them lose! Because it didn't happen that often thanks also to tons of squash matches and good interviews! Nowadays guys like Rollins, Riddle or The Usos lose regularly on free TV and big events, it seems. Thoughts?

Yeah but that wasn't just Crockett, that was WWF even more so.  That's why they had “jobbers to the stars”, so that even if they wanted to have the illusion of someone doing a competitive match, ultimately Brooklyn Brawler or Red Rooster were going to be the ones taking the loss on TV in the end.  
Rants

Britt Baker = Locker room cancer?

1st October 2022 by Scott Keith
Why does Tony continue to allow Britt to bury every babyface in the Women's division? She's completely destroyed Ruby 2 weeks into her debut, did the same to Athena, Toni Storm, Thunder Rosa and Kris Stat. The only girl she hasn't touched yet is Jade since Tony pretends there is 2 different Women's division. Her character is beyond stale and has basically turned into AEWs version of current Charlotte. At this point, is there anyone who can take the mantle of top face? 1 week in and I can't see it being Saraya especially with that flaming death promo. Supposedly Sasha is officially done with WWE so maybe her?


I can't see Sasha coming into that dumpster fire.  She should maybe stick with Hollywood for a while anyway.  Although I thought that narrative was that HHH held out his arms like Snow White and all the lost birds flew back to him at a reasonably negotiated rate of pay?  Never mind, we're talking AEW.  I still think they should have turned Britt face and matched her up with Jade to transfer some of her rub onto Jade.  
Rants

Rampage – September 30, 2022

1st October 2022 by Thomas Hall

Rampage
Date: September 30, 2022
Location: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone

Rampage is back to normal this week and that should make for a decent enough show. You never know what you’re going to get around here, though odds are you’ll get at least one important thing. Other than that though, there is a good chance you’ll be seeing some names who aren’t around on Dynamite very often. Let’s get to it.

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Smackdown – September 30, 2022

30th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

Smackdown
Date: September 30, 2022
Location: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

We are eight days away from Extreme Rules and the card is mostly set. There are enough matches ready to go for the show but it wouldn’t surprise me to see a little more added this week. That isn’t a bad thing as there is no major match just yet, but that leaves some ground to be covered. Let’s get to it.

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Smackdown – February 1, 2008

30th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

Smackdown
Date: February 1, 2008
Location: Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman

We’re done with the Royal Rumble and Edge is still the World Champion. Other than that, John Cena from Raw won the Royal Rumble so that means Edge is going to need another challenger for the title at Wrestlemania. That is what No Way Out, in just over two weeks, is for so let’s get to it.

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Rants

ECW On Sci Fi – January 29, 2008

30th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

ECW On Sci Fi
Date: January 29, 2008
Location: Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We are done with the Royal Rumble and that doesn’t mean much for ECW. Given that the new ECW World Champion Chavo Guerrero was in the Rumble and competing for a shot at a title rather than being the possible champion being challenged, there isn’t much to be excited about around here. I’m sure CM Punk will want some revenge though so let’s get to it.

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Impact Wrestling – September 29, 2022

30th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 29, 2022
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We are done with Victory Road and that means we are only a little over a week away from Bound For Glory. I’m still not sure why Victory Road was such a necessary show before the biggest night of the year but at least it wasn’t an eventful night, meaning Bound For Glory got even more build. Hopefully that can continue tonight so let’s get to it.

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Rants

The Fall Of The Dirtsheets

30th September 2022 by Scott Keith
What's up Scott?

So people have always had a love/hate relationship with the dirtsheets but I feel like they've really been missing the mark lately. Especially in regards to AEW news, first The Bucks break Punks door down then Punks gone but then now maybe he isn't then Malachi Black is gone, then he isn't, then Buddy Matthews is gone, now he isn't then Bobby fish tries to reunite the UE in WWE which Bobby just came out and denied. Then Miro asks for his release which now he never did. Latest is Andrade leaving AEW which im sure will turn out to be false to. Then the AEW locker room is in disarray but every talent whose had a interview lately has said otherwise. Why is it that they've been really wrong lately? Moreso then usual? Bad sources?

Who is “they”?  I subscribe to the Observer and Fightful and neither one has said almost any of what you're talking about.  

Rants

Rock for Chairman

30th September 2022 by Scott Keith
I think a lot of us find the I Quit match from the '99 Rumble a bit hard to stomach these days.  One of the stories I've heard is that Rock took a few liberties with the number of chair shots he laid in.  What I'm wondering is why have them all be to the head? 
Fans have always bought chair shots to the back and body as incapacitating, so couldn't he have done a few of those and accomplished the same finish?  Yes, I know, heat of the moment, and the business was a LOT more cavalier about unprotected shots to the
head pre-2007, but it still didn't enter Rock's or Foley's heads at any point during that whole sequence that walloping a guy in the head over and over might not be a good thing?  Particularly in a business where everyone talks a big game about the need to
protect your opponent?

I think Rock just got really into the moment and Foley isn't the kind of person to tell him to knock it off and it turned into a bad situation.  Rock has apologized many times since it happened.  They should do a TikTok sequel where they hit each other with tortillas instead and it would probably do a billion views.  
Rants

94 Luger

30th September 2022 by Scott Keith
Scott,

If Luger had been the one to sell out to Dibiase and gone on a heel run, could he have salvaged his WWF time or was he too far gone at that point?

(I accept the Million Dollar Corporation was epically boring anyway, but just maybe Evil Luger could’ve at least done something different.)

I think Evil Luger would have had some juice, and not only that, it would have given Diesel someone to feud with after winning the World title.  Honestly Luger going the other way with the character and becoming a proto-MAGA nationalist would have been a pretty interesting direction, talking about how he loves the US but foreigners keep ruining the country, sort of like where they were originally going with Slaughter before the Iraq war. 

Rants

Afternoon Daily News Update

30th September 2022 by Adam Morrison
Randy Orton

WWE “Concerned” Over Severity Of Randy Orton’s Back Injury

A new report has claimed that WWE are growing increasingly concerned about the severity of Randy Orton’s back injury.

Number Of WWE Stars Set To Miss SmackDown And Upcoming Live Events

As Friday Night SmackDown rolls into Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada the blue brand looks set to be without a number of Superstars.

AEW Ticket Sales “Do Not Tell A Good Story”

A new report has claimed that AEW’s advance ticket sales for a number of upcoming shows are significantly down on the previous year.

Rants

Monday Night Raw – January 28, 2008

30th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 28, 2008
Location: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

The Royal Rumble has come and gone and that means it is time to start the Road To Wrestlemania. Randy Orton retained the Raw World Title over Jeff Hardy last night, but the big story is the return of John Cena, who is back months ahead of schedule and wont he Royal Rumble. That means Cena is going to be coming for Orton sooner than later so let’s get to it.

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Rants

Morning Daily News Update

30th September 2022 by James Holder
Saraya

Saraya Admits She Was “A Little Rusty” During Dynamite Promo

Saraya spoke on a televised wrestling programme for the first time in a while on the latest AEW Dynamite, admitting that her promos aren’t what they once were.

Drew McIntyre Addresses Bizarre Clash At The Castle Singing Segment 

Drew McIntyre seemed a little too pleased at WWE Clash At The Castle, despite a loss in a blockbuster showdown vs. Roman Reigns.

Rhea Ripley Slams Sexist Stereotype

Rhea Ripley has hit out at the sexist stereotype that she hates, while commenting on being an inspiration to young women around the world.

Rants

New Japan Strong – May 7, 2022

29th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

Strong
Date: May 7, 2022
Location: Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 582
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Kevin Kelly

So this is a regular episode of the New Japan Strong show which was taped following their Lonestar Shootout special in Dallas, Texas over Wrestlemania weekend. The show was not advertised as a Strong taping so it was kind of a surprise to see the event split in two. This is the more storyline based stuff so let’s get to it.

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Rants

Evening Daily News Update

29th September 2022 by Adam Morrison
Finn Balor stands as WWE United States Champion on WWE Raw 2022

Planned Date For WWE’s White Rabbit Reveal

With White Rabbit teases having been ongoing now for a few weeks, the planned reveal for the character has now been unveiled.

Finn Balor To Have “Significant” Plans Moving Forward

A current WWE Monday Night Raw star is reportedly gearing up for a significant push going forward, six years after they last held a top championship.

Mustafa Ali Posts Cryptic Tweet About Being Held Back In WWE

Mustafa Ali has failed to reach his full potential in WWE – could his latest cryptic tweet hint at why that is?

Rants

New Japan Lonestar Shootout

29th September 2022 by Thomas Hall

Lonestar Shootout
Date: April 1, 2022
Location: Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 582
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Matthew Rehwoldt

So this is an interesting one as it is part of the NJPW Strong promotion, but there were two shows taped here. First up was the Lonestar Shootout special, followed by a regular TV show. That wasn’t mentioned during the night so this will be split in two rather than the one night that I watched it live. Let’s get to it.

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