AEW - All Elite Wrestling (*Spoilers for Latest Show*)

beakerjoe

J. Marston wrote: »

I never bought the "Asuka is mishandled." narrative.

This reign has been terrible and people always point to incidents like Charlotte ending her undefeated streak but Asuka is arguably the most decorated woman in WWE history. She has achieved everything...

- 2 and a half years undefeated.
- NXT champion.
- Raw champion.
- Smackdown champion.
- Tag team champion.
- Rumble winner.
- MITB winner.

She tapped Becky out clean at the zenith of her popularity. She tapped Charlotte out. She beat both of them in a triple threat at TLC. The last year was her worst period and she's still booked as champion.

That she achieved all that between the Becky's unprecedented run and Charlotte's "Golden Girl" status is a sign of how highly they regard her, in my opinion.

All that is fine on paper, the execution has been awful. Its all been handled poorly.

Her matches with Becky and Charlotte were arguably her high points, but they are too far part. In between has been lazy, half hearted and botched.

Also her in each of her high points she was not the main focus. She was just a player in the Becky Lynch story, then cast aside for Flair in that one. And her feud with Flair the year earlier it was all about Flair.

Handled poor IMO

i dont argue she isnt highly regarded, but the execution of most her achievements has been substandard.

The White Wolf

Listing her accolades with WWE makes it worse because it illustrates how forgettable each reign was treated. Did she tap out Charlotte and Becky clean? I can't honestly remember and that's the problem - they want you to forget.

The best thing Asuka has done for me in WWE is Sky Pirates and that says it all to me.

Riddle101

Even if you were to ignore all her questionable booking in the past, her current title reign could have been WWE's opportunity to rebuild Asuka back up and restore her to great prominence in the women's division considering that Becky is out of action with the pregnancy and Charlotte took some time off. Yet I find her title reign rather forgettable. When she loses the title it won't feel like a big deal compared to what it would have been like if she was booked like she was in NXT. Although it might have something to do with the Raw Women's Divison being lackluster and not having some proper competition as well.

beakerjoe

Riddle101 wrote: »

Even if you were to ignore all her questionable booking in the past, her current title reign could have been WWE's opportunity to rebuild Asuka back up and restore her to great prominence in the women's division considering that Becky is out of action with the pregnancy and Charlotte took some time off. Yet I find her title reign rather forgettable. When she loses the title it won't feel like a big deal compared to what it would have been like if she was booked like she was in NXT. Although it might have something to do with the Raw Women's Divison being lackluster and not having some proper competition as well.

Wrestlers can be rehabbed very quickly. Take Apollo Crews in WWE. He went from forgettable lower card talent to interesting mid carder in a matter of week with a little rehab.

Would take long for Asuka to be more credible as a character

CastorTroy

Did Max Caster learn promo skills from Riddle for Dark last night? Seemed like he forgot the words as he was coming to the ring

Omackeral

The White Wolf wrote: »

The best thing Asuka has done for me in WWE is Sky Pirates and that says it all to me.

Which is impressive seen as she wasn't even in that team :pac:

Headshot

Nice to see the continued story progression with Team Tazz on Dark

I feel they dont have to do it on a show like Dark but by doing it I feel they make the show really relevant

Agent Coulson

Great to see an old school wrestling match no mad spots or bumps just two guys wrestling for close to 20 minutes.

Agent Coulson

Nice turn there by QT and some of his students.

Agent Coulson

Nice vignette from Page & Sky.

ShaneU

loving all these new factions, feels like wcw

Agent Coulson

Rebel not Reba is so good with Britt.

Cherry_Cola

The Statlander return was excellent, table spot looked amazing too.

ConcertKing

Jesus!

Having Miro lose and look weak is beyond a flipping joke!

They do this time and again to anyone being portrayed as a monster!

Same with The Murderhawk!

Also Penta losing 2 weeks in a row when he looked like a star a few weeks ago really cheeses me off!

At least Christian looked fantastic for his first proper singles match in 7 years.

Inner Circle looked absolutely awesome as well!

Agent Coulson

I think I'd rather land on tacks than legos.

The White Wolf

Omackeral wrote: »

Which is impressive seen as she wasn't even in that team :pac:

Apologies, Kabuki Warriors. :P

CastorTroy

Most important question I have after this week is where's Peter Avalon these days?

Was kinda expecting a double superkick to Mox

LineOfBeauty

And that was what a hot episode of weekly US TV wrestling looks like. Tremendous, maybe one of the best Dynamites they've done yet.

Shiminay

I enjoyed the Christian and Frankie match a lot. 2 very good workers with a good understanding of their game.

The Inner Circle's return was played very well - bonus points for giving MJF a swirly in the toilet

It was good to give Bunny the win to build her up a bit and the Hardy group vs Dark Order thing could run for weeks on end with loads of great matchups. It'll obviously culminate with -1 beating King Maxel

The Arcade Anarchy was glorious nonsense! Pretty much what I thought it would be, but it still more than delivered. It's great to see the returning Trent AND Sue I would also rather take a bump on thumbtacks than Lego I think They'll be able to split Miro and Kip now I think - Kip took the pin, so Miro will blame him - they seem to be running Miro off into a sort of unhinged monster. I agree with the general sentiment that Miro's time in AEW so far hasn't quite lived up to expectations. I know there are some people who hate that sort of match, but I really like some silliness in my wrestling.

Also, a big hat-tip to the company for the way it's been trying to help Cezar Bononi - giving him screen time and paydays as well as as much legal assistance as they can. He looked better against Mox this evening than he has in some of his other matches, so it's good to see he's learning and improving too whilst going through all this awfulness with his family.

Headshot

Really enjoyable show.

I particularly loved the Christian v Frankie. Just a slobber knocker match. I feel you don't see many matches like this in AEW and was very much welcomed.

The Inner Circle waiting in the Bathroom was brilliant, I just laughed at that for some reason.

I wasn't expecting much out of arcade anarchy and was pleasantly surprised. I know where people are coming with Miro looking weak but damn he looked like a monster to me and took all of Best Friends to bring him down

Great to see Trent back too, the main back bone to the Best Friends

Headshot

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Nice turn there by QT and some of his students.

That was really nicely done and gives the students a chance to shine now

superb

savemejebus

Headshot wrote: »

That was really nicely done and gives the students a chance to shine now

Agree, but it's a shame that Cody is so unsympathetic. Everything about that angle was working except the fact that it was Cody being the babyface. Just makes you want to cheer QT and reduces the impact.

Oh, and the red velvet thing was a bit pointless....unless they go with Cody turning and having been having an affair with her but as it was it was just a shrill woman stopping him taking a bump which just might have garnered him some sympathy.

beakerjoe

Half way through Dynamaite, an interesting show thus far.

Enjoyed the opener. Christian looks great can can still move, however he looks like he hasnt the gastank he once had. But thats just an observation rather than a negative considering his age. Both men worked hard and Ive enjoyed the slow burn turn on Kaz, that surely will come to a head when SCU lose to The Bucks.

Cody v QT,.....well before I get into it, Ill just note my only negative was the timing so soon after Inner Circle / Pinnacle angle, far too similar and far too soon after it. I would have waited a few more weeks at least.

But that aside I loved it, wasnt expecting it. I loved the commentary during this match, acknowledging the lack of entrance for QT and actually sympathizing with him. Very refreshing for Tony S to say he can totally understand QTs POV rather than the usual WWE approach (good guy does A, hes a hero...bad guy does same thing, hes a bastard, despite them doing the same action).

The angle gives QT some much needed character, and its all been very natural, nothing seems forced. It will also elevate those in his new splinter group, all of which have great potential. Very brutal.

Id wonder if Jade will be revealed as the mastermind behind it. When Red Velvet came out, i wondered will she now present herself. Thats said She doesnt need to be in cohoots with this faction.

I will say, i can see the seeds slowly being sewn for a Red Velvet Cody affair angle.

Mox v Cezar was fine. Nothing wful, nothing fantastic. Cezar has a porn actor crossed with Wade Barrett look going on. Hes very green, and it shows but he did ok all things considered.

JD Drakes jacket and hair make him appear like hes cosplaying Nikoli Volkoff.

While I couldnt give too ****s about Nemeth as a wrestler, he could have the makings of a decent heel manager. My daughter watches a show on Nick - Adventurs of Henry Danger - and Nick reminds me so much of the character Frankenweenie.

So far, a decent show with a very well executed turn.

Pentecost

I really enjoyed that show. Just a fun couple of hours that didn't have me shaking my head and asking "whose f*in idea was this?". The Inner Circle v The Pinnacle was good craic. All of the matches were good.

Agent Coulson

Ogogo on Dark commentary over the last few months was planting the seeds of that turn and being in QT’s side.

CastorTroy

I think every faction needs at least 1 female member.
The reason being we get things like how we saw Velvet stopping QT. If they had a woman with them she could've handled her. So Jade being part of it could happen.

I think the difference between Tay here and WWE is the amount of time she gets. In NXT she would only be on occasionally and changing between face and heel every time, pretty much.

beakerjoe

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Ogogo on Dark commentary over the last few months was planting the seeds of that turn and being in QT’s side.

Its like.....they planned it for weeks..... not just an hour before the show **cough cough Retribution ** cough

The White Wolf

I also got a fleeting fear that they were going to an affair angle between Velvet and Cody. I'd say Jade is aligned with QT.

beakerjoe

The White Wolf wrote: »

I also got a fleeting fear that they were going to an affair angle between Velvet and Cody. I'd say Jade is aligned with QT.

It feels that way and if they werent going in that direction, they may have stumbled into it now. Its got a great hook, Brandi on the sidelines, pregnant, Cody spend smore time around a new woman, they get close..... no need for it to be rushed with Brandi not gonna be back until maybe 1 to 2 years..... let it huge slow burn.

savemejebus

beakerjoe wrote: »

It feels that way and if they werent going in that direction, they may have stumbled into it now. Its got a great hook, Brandi on the sidelines, pregnant, Cody spend smore time around a new woman, they get close..... no need for it to be rushed with Brandi not gonna be back until maybe 1 to 2 years..... let it huge slow burn.

But the downside is too big....an even more prominent role for Brandi when she comes back. It'd be like the fall of WCW with with Brandi playing the role of Nash, Hall and Hogan's egos combined.