The AEW Thread

[cb_diamond]

57 minutes ago, Stellaboz said:

Watching the title match now, is it just me or does Kenny Omega scream out as a mid carder, rather than a top guy?

Im not a regular cornette listener but had one on the other week and Brian Last was saying more or less the same thing, his feeling is that he would buy Omega more as a Intercontinental champion level worker. The argument being he's too corny (no pun intended) for the big belt 

Edited September 6, 2021 by cb_diamond

[FairWeatherFan]

When Cole came out I just burst out laughing at how stupid this whole thing is. A little over 3 years ago it was all about the WWE's global expansion with NXT becoming McDonald's. After the half hearted attempt of TNA, I never thought there would be a real alternative.

I did think they were going to have Cole, Punk, and Danielson standing against the Elite. So it was nice to see Cole's turn.

Makes me more confident that Hangman will be the one to dethrone Omega.

[Jacky1990]

1 hour ago, Stellaboz said:

Watching the title match now, is it just me or does Kenny Omega scream out as a mid carder, rather than a top guy?

Nah, he can do everything. Phenomenal in the ring, great on the mic and has a massively protected finisher. 

After the Moxley bad ass, super serious reign, Omega was the perfect guy to replace him at the top for something a bit different IMO.

He'll rotate back to the mid card or do NJPW stuff once he loses the belt, but the guy is (pun intended) elite.

[FairWeatherFan]

After the show went off the air...

[Lyle Lanley]

Jungle Boy’s theme tune may be favourite wrestling song at the moment. 

[8MileBU]

12 hours ago, TheGoon said:

Jungle Boy might have the best theme in the biz. 

 

8 minutes ago, Lyle Lanley said:

Jungle Boy’s theme tune may be favourite wrestling song at the moment. 

Jungle Boy and CM Punk’s themes taking me back to my childhood, the Jungle Boy one in particular when I was really wee. Probably on a “Now” compilation or the like but can remember my maw used to play it a lot!

[djchapsticks]

Just top to bottom wow!

Don't even know what else to add. That was a fucking genuine pleasure. Anyone who shits on that show will never, ever be happy and might as well just chuck watching it.

[forameus]

So first AEW show I've watched really, and it was...good.  Really good.  But I'm not sure if it was just me not really getting a lot of the characters with it bieng my first show, or just unrealistic expectations, but I expected slightly better.  They definitely did a whole lot better than WWE do, and some things worse, but in all fairness it's different, and in a good way.  It's nice that they're not just trying to ape all the good things WWE do to try and compete.  They're definitely their own thing, and while that won't always work, it was a really good show they put on.  

But then the end.  I said when Punk came back that I'd have rather they kept it as a secret (although completely understand  why they didn't) and things like that are why.  When Omega won I looked to see still 12 minutes left, so clearly something big happening.  When Cole comes out it's a big pop.  Guy deserves all the success that he clearly isn't going to get in WWE the way they're going, and a nice swerve not to have the usual trope of "the next guy up comes out".  And then of course there's no way you're going to get another one, are you?  

Bryan Fucking Danielson.  I will never, ever tire of seeing that guy happy.  As long as he can stay healthy, I hope he has a fucking brilliant time.  

Definitely going to make a habit of watching AEW now I think.  Fite TV was seamless in the end.

EDIT: Also, fairly sure it wasn't intentional, because he was fairly poor all night, but I imagine JR uttering "The Game has changed" as they were going off the air was probably the point HHH finally kicked a hole in the TV.

Edited September 6, 2021 by forameus

[djchapsticks]

53 minutes ago, forameus said:

So first AEW show I've watched really, and it was...good.  Really good.  But I'm not sure if it was just me not really getting a lot of the characters with it bieng my first show, or just unrealistic expectations, but I expected slightly better.  They definitely did a whole lot better than WWE do, and some things worse, but in all fairness it's different, and in a good way.  It's nice that they're not just trying to ape all the good things WWE do to try and compete.  They're definitely their own thing, and while that won't always work, it was a really good show they put on.  

But then the end.  I said when Punk came back that I'd have rather they kept it as a secret (although completely understand  why they didn't) and things like that are why.  When Omega won I looked to see still 12 minutes left, so clearly something big happening.  When Cole comes out it's a big pop.  Guy deserves all the success that he clearly isn't going to get in WWE the way they're going, and a nice swerve not to have the usual trope of "the next guy up comes out".  And then of course there's no way you're going to get another one, are you?  

Bryan Fucking Danielson.  I will never, ever tire of seeing that guy happy.  As long as he can stay healthy, I hope he has a fucking brilliant time.  

Definitely going to make a habit of watching AEW now I think.  Fite TV was seamless in the end.

EDIT: Also, fairly sure it wasn't intentional, because he was fairly poor all night, but I imagine JR uttering "The Game has changed" as they were going off the air was probably the point HHH finally kicked a hole in the TV.

Good summary.

They don't get everything right all the time - far from it - but having watched it since the very first week of Dynamite, it's improved massively. The camera direction, production, overall flow of a show just feels better than it did at the start of their run.

Punk and Danielson being on board definitely brings them to the next level, especially as Punk looks like he's never missed a beat and is in the shape of his life. 

Agreed on JR too - I caught him calling out Big Show and Ruby Riott last night. He is still one of the best of all time but I can't help feeling that although his style is abrasive to some, someone like Mauro Ranallo out there is going to bring more to the overall presentation.

[Stellaboz]

It's hardly a big deal JR calling those two big their old names. I'm aware he's slipped a couple of times but it's been utterly harmless stuff. He still knows how to get talent over and do his job fairly well. 

[forameus]

Just now, djchapsticks said:

Good summary.

They don't get everything right all the time - far from it - but having watched it since the very first week of Dynamite, it's improved massively. The camera direction, production, overall flow of a show just feels better than it did at the start of their run.

Punk and Danielson being on board definitely brings them to the next level, especially as Punk looks like he's never missed a beat and is in the shape of his life. 

Agreed on JR too - I caught him calling out Big Show and Ruby Riott last night. He is still one of the best of all time but I can't help feeling that although his style is abrasive to some, someone like Mauro Ranallo out there is going to bring more to the overall presentation.

Presentation is a mixed bag for me.  I've heard they had pretty big issues with it earlier, so it's clearly improved massively.  It feels a bit "small", which I know won't really be the right way to describe it, and is probably just because you're putting it up against the "big" (and empty) of WWE.  I think they could do better with video packages in the lead up to matches.  WWE for all their faults do them very, very well, and AEW's felt a bit shit in comparison.  I liked the talking heads part initially, but not for every match.  When they did actually lean into the "here's why they're fighting" part, they were good but ultimately too short.  

But on the other side, whether it's "small" or not, everyone seems to be having a brilliant time at all times.  It feels a whole lot less artificial which WWE can really suffer from.  Entrance themes are getting used better than the shite, generic stuff we're getting on the other side.  

I could be completely wrong, but has there been a moment in the life of AEW where they feel like a bigger threat to WWE than they did last night?  They've taken talent before, but with the best will in the world to some of them, they're really talented guys who WWE probably wouldn't miss too much.  Miro, Andrade, Christian, Spears etc - all largely replacable no matter how good they are.  Adam Cole was arguably the face of the best part of WWE for a long time, and obviously has huge upside if handled correctly.  CM Punk would have made WWE a whole load of money.  Daniel Bryan was at the centre of the best story they've told in a long, long time at WM30.  He was a world champion and a huge part of one of their other great stories against Kingston just 3 years ago.  He was in the main event of WM just a few months ago.  Vince and co can point to the piles of money they'll continue to make, but privately they surely must realise that the past few weeks have not been good for them, and the next few might see it get worse.  Roman Reigns can't save them on his own.

1 minute ago, Stellaboz said:

It's hardly a big deal JR calling those two big their old names. I'm aware he's slipped a couple of times but it's been utterly harmless stuff. He still knows how to get talent over and do his job fairly well. 

I thought he sounded a bit tired, like his heart wasn't really in it.  I agree the old names are totally harmless, and its what a lot of fans will know them as anyway (particularly the new fans in, who they were smart to mention a few times).  I don't imagine Khan and co give us much of a shit as Vince likely would if it was the other side.

I wonder if they'll get to a point where just being "good ol' JR" isn't going to be enough.  As @djchapsticks says, I think someone like a Ranallo who can really lead a broadcast with a certain style might be a good fit for them.  Particularly when he's not got JBL jawing in his ear every 2 minutes.

[TheGoon]

Agree re: the video packages. They actually do them really well and the “Road to” shows are always enjoyable but they very rarely make it onto the actual shows/PPVs. I know they like things moving at a fast pace like old WCW, but when they’re adding new viewers I certainly don’t think it’d hurt to keep telling character stories and feud backgrounds. 

Edited September 6, 2021 by TheGoon

[djchapsticks]

16 minutes ago, forameus said:

 

But on the other side, whether it's "small" or not, everyone seems to be having a brilliant time at all times.  It feels a whole lot less artificial which WWE can really suffer from.  Entrance themes are getting used better than the shite, generic stuff we're getting on the other side.  

I thought he sounded a bit tired, like his heart wasn't really in it.  I agree the old names are totally harmless, and its what a lot of fans will know them as anyway (particularly the new fans in, who they were smart to mention a few times).  I don't imagine Khan and co give us much of a shit as Vince likely would if it was the other side.

I wonder if they'll get to a point where just being "good ol' JR" isn't going to be enough.  As @djchapsticks says, I think someone like a Ranallo who can really lead a broadcast with a certain style might be a good fit for them.  Particularly when he's not got JBL jawing in his ear every 2 minutes.

Yeah, on the presentation part, 'small' isn't the right word, maybe 'rough' but then being a wee bit rougher around the edges makes it that bit more interesting.

Watching back on the network, WWF/WWE back in the first few years of Raw were constantly trying new things, camera angles, styles but eventually they found something that really fit. It was slick, professional and polished but ultimately after years and years of producing everything the same way, now comes off as boring, formulaic and soulless and really, that does seep into the majority of their product for at least the last decade. That's why folk fucking loved NXT so much.

I think most folk are forgiving of a few mistakes and missteps as it does give it that authentic, live telly feeling.

On the JR part, yeah agree with @Stellaboz and was just using those as a couple of small examples. What I will say for JR though is that his commentary and style now, again is much more like JR than the early days where he clearly didn't know who anyone was and it appears didn't bother to read up on them either. Suppose you need to factor in that he's 70 and hasn't always been in the best of health, so it's understandable that a wee bit of that oomph just isn't there but he's still easily the best they have on their books currently.

Edited September 6, 2021 by djchapsticks

[FairWeatherFan]

13 minutes ago, forameus said:

Presentation is a mixed bag for me.  I've heard they had pretty big issues with it earlier, so it's clearly improved massively. 

If I remember right they were like WCW in the beginning where they were dependent on Turner's production crews. Who are used to shooting other sports/events, not arena sized wrestling. Which quite a specialised production effort. For better or worse there's a reason why Kevin Dunn has been where he is for decades.

Much like the wrestlers who had only experienced armories and halls, the production crew have had to learn on the job what it's like doing live TV every week. While also catering to the person in the cheap seats in the arenas.

[FairWeatherFan]

5 minutes ago, djchapsticks said:

I think most folk are forgiving of a few mistakes and missteps as it does give it that authentic, live telly feeling.

It took them ages to work out the audio kinks going from the arena to backstage/recorded bits.

[TheGoon]

More talent jumps to come towards the end of the year apparently, think Bryan even alludes to it in his promo after the show. 

Got to be thinking Charlotte. 

[Sherrif John Bunnell]

36 minutes ago, TheGoon said:

Agree re: the video packages. They actually do them really well and the “Road to” shows are always enjoyable but they very rarely make it onto the actual shows/PPVs. I know they like things moving at a fast pace like old WCW, but when they’re adding new viewers I certainly don’t think it’d hurt to keep telling character stories and feud backgrounds. 

In that behind the scenes video showing the production of Punk's debut, there was an excellent little video package hidden in the middle telling the back story of Christian, Omega and Callis' early days in Canada, which I don't think I've seen anywhere else. That's the kind of thing they should show on the pre show.

[Slacker]

28 minutes ago, TheGoon said:

More talent jumps to come towards the end of the year apparently, think Bryan even alludes to it in his promo after the show. 

It's a pretty stacked roster now and you wonder how they're going to keep everyone happy, especially with Bray Wyatt rumoured to be joining.

Kenny Omega, CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, "Hangman" Adam Page, MJF, Adam Cole, Darby Allin, Chris Jericho, Miro, Malakai Black, Andrade El Idolo.

That's 12 main event calibre people (13 if Bray joins) without mentioning the likes of PAC, Jungle Boy, Christian Cage, Lance Archer, Sammy Guevara and the best wrestler they have - proven again last night - Rey Fenix.

Good problem to have I suppose.

Edited September 6, 2021 by Slacker

[TheGoon]

5 minutes ago, Slacker said:

It's a pretty stacked roster now and you wonder how they're going to keep everyone happy, especially with Bray Wyatt rumoured to be joining.

Kenny Omega, CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, "Hangman" Adam Page, MJF, Adam Cole, Darby Allin, Chris Jericho, Miro, Malakai Black, Andrade El Idolo.

That's 12 main event calibre people (13 if Bray joins) without mentioning the likes of PAC, Jungle Boy, Christian Cage, Lance Archer, Sammy Guevara and the best wrestler they have - proven again last night - Rey Fenix.

Good problem to have I suppose.

Aye, less politics I’m sure but still a lot of egos there. I think once Japan opens up they might start rotating guys out more - like they’re doing with Lance Archer at the minute. Bryan defo wante to go there.

[FairWeatherFan]

I don't see the roster thing as an issue. They've just started Rampage. You've got the likes of Moxley appearing on GCW, Archer doing NJPW. If people aren't being used they aren't stuck in catering. They can go work elsewhere.

It wouldn't shock me to see FTR turn up in the NWA. If they're playing the angle of it nearly being over, why not go for the one historic set of titles they've never held.

The balancing act might be more the women's division. There were moments in the battle royale where I thought certain pairings would make a good feud. Problem is they're going to need more than one TV match a show to work that in.