PaperThinWalls

FTR is a weird one because they are guys who are over and they’ve had tremendous matches and some memorable promos but the booking and their overall creative direction has a lot to be desire. So yeah, it’s a mix bag for them.

Hahaha. You’re being comical. Wasn’t it just a few months ago you accused me of hating all wrestling including WWE and now you’re acting like I’m some WWE fanboy? I talk shit about all kinds of wrestling including WWE as you very much know. I also talk highly about the wrestling I like, too. My enthusiasm and criticism is not bound to any period, style, or promotion. You’re seething that I’m not as favorable to the things you like and you’re lashing out at me like you typically do.

And the brilliant thing about everything that transpired: it’s going to get Cody even more over.

That is true. The booking won’t help Mercedes, so that for sure will complicate judging her “overness” and popularity.

You literally named GCW. How is that promotion all that different from any other indie promotion like an XPW or JCW? No wait. I get it. You get to choose which title is a major, recognized world title, right? Oh it’s a bad thing cause it tends to make people say ridiculous things like you or book awful shows like Tony Khan. They lose sight of what truly matters. It’s all subjective man. What you consider amazing might be different from I what I consider amazing and vice versa. One difference, though: the stuff I tend to like usually expands business whereas the stuff you tend to like constricts business. For example, you think this CMLL invasion angle is putting asses into seats? I think it’s a big waste of time — an angle not worth pursuing because it’s creatively bankrupt and won’t make AEW more money. You on the other hand probably think this is cool, right? Because it’s a bunch of CMLL stars facing off against the BCC and others. Matchups galore!! See, that doesn’t make sense to me in terms of money since I’d wager many viewers barely know these guys. But put aside business, creatively when these type of matches are pursued, the bare minimum is done to get people invested and care for these non-AEW guys and that’s what’s really irksome. I understand people of your ilk don’t think story and creative should probably be the highest priority but I think history continues to show why that works better for business and fan investment. That’s why AEW is where it is rn: way behind WWE and becoming increasingly irrelevant. Theyre booking shows catering to a small niche that is seemingly getting smaller. This is what you don’t understand because you’re so stuck in your bubble. There’s only so much wrestling one can watch when they have a whole bunch of other shit they’re interested in. Usually when I refer to other promotions it’s usually in the context of watching AEW where they do a shit job at getting people invested in these random wrestlers from other promotions. Not only that, I also get peeved that these people take time away from talent who are actually on AEW’s (massive) roster. So yeah, that’s usually when you see complaints like that. I got nothing against these promotions per se (well, except the quality of some of the wrestling), it’s just I only have so much time and energy to devote to wrestling and I think many others are in that same camp as me.

^ Exhibit A, folks. Exhibit A. This is what happens when you’re stuck in the wrestling bubble, you say ridiculous things like this. His logic says XPW, Juggalo Championship Wrestling, your local rinky-dink promotion, your cousin’s trampoline wrestling league have titles more important than WWE’s tag championships simply because they have the word “World” on them. Son of a billionaire* And so what a wealthy person owns the promotion? Sinclair owned ROH and it was still an indie promotion. What’s ROH’s budget? Tell me what major platform airs the show? How big are the crowds when they don’t piggyback off AEW’s crowds? I can’t believe you’re trying to spin this one, man… Yeah, a small developmental brand that no one watches. Again, so what? That doesn’t make the title more important. No one gave a shit. Most everyone complained that ROH was taking up too much time on AEW and didn’t want to see Claudio do his ROH business on AEW TV. Doesn’t this go against your argument? Ppl generally care less about Claudio in AEW than they did when he was in WWE. Thats the whole point. People aren’t clamoring for Claudio like they were in WWE at his height of popularity. He’s not more popular now, hence his value has gone down. He’s a dude in a group who does group things and was champion for a brand that people wanted to see less of. That’s his AEW career so far.

Yup. Exactly. Very smart and refreshing to see Rock actually go in this direction.

ROH isn’t AEW. The dude is booked mainly as a lackey in AEW and yeah, for a period he held a smaller promotion’s world title. You’re seriously arguing an indie promotion (that isn’t even on a major streaming platform or TV) — you’re arguing that having that is a bigger deal than WWE’s friggin’ tag titles? Wtf???

Really glad how that event turned out. What a twisty road to WM this has been. The Rock going full on heel is definitely a positive. Really interested to see where this goes.

I’m so in Punk getting some jabs in at Rock! Ha!

CODY CHOOSES ROMAN!!!

Rock totally leaning into being a heel. lol

Man, you so deep in that wrestling bubble of yours. lol The Bar, I’d say, is the most over Claudio has ever been. Ask the average wrestling fan who is Claudio/Cesaro is, most I guarantee would bring up his WWE days and the Bar. You do realize how much bigger WWE’s audience is compared to AEW’s, right? Most fans probably have no clue what Claudio is doing right now, let alone know what the hell ROH is, which btw is a promotion I respect and acknowledge. Most of my favorite wrestlers got their start there. So no wise guy, I’m not going to say the ROH world title isn’t a “real title.” It’s a belt that has had tremendous champions in the past, but I can at least acknowledge that only diehard wrestling fans give a shit about it, which you can’t do because you’re stuck in that bubble. (In fact, I respect that belt so much that I think it’s an absolute insult how much Tony Khan has made that belt irrelevant. It’s a joke that belt has been absorbed into that Continental Crown bullshit. I look forward to the day the ROH world title is separated from that bullshit.)

I’d argue Bryan and Claudio have lost value compared to their WWE days. Claudio is a guy who is just there. He has not done anything as significant as The Bar, for example. As for Bryan, he’s been plodding around having forgettable, pedestrian feuds. He’s still over but he definitely doesn’t have that aura he had in WWE when he left. Then there’s Moxley who’s lost value in a different way. In terms of booking and kayfabe accolades, he’s done significant things. That’s true. But in terms of wrestling talent? He’s exposed himself as an abysmal wrestler with terrible instincts. So in that respect, he’s lost a lot of value for many in this community.

That’s rich coming from you. You do an awful lot of bitching yourself. lol Mercedes is an average, mid card wrestler. She’s not awful but she ain’t truly exceptional either. She’s similar to Claudio in that respect. Both are worth having on a roster, but neither are difference makers. At least for Claudio ppl accept him for what he is whereas for Mercedes ppl can’t help but go out of their way and make her into a bigger deal than she really is… like you just did.

She’s certainly not the difference maker that some make her out to be.

With the negative reaction they’re getting right now, I’m hoping they correct course. It could something as simple as having an in-ring promo between the Rock and Cody where the Rock tells Cody that while he appreciates Cody’s selfless gesture, Cody needs to finish his story with Roman at WM. Then the Rock goes on to say that after WM in the near future Roman is his. Something as simple as that can fix this whole mess. It shouldn’t be too difficult at all to pivot if they wanted to.

Man, I'm so bummed. The beginning of this year for WWE was looking so promising. Punk was back and ready to main event WM with Rollins. Cody was going to finally finish his damn story after they delayed it a whole year. Fast forward to now. Punk’s injured and not main eventing WM and Cody’s not going to finish his story for yet another whole damn year… I’m for Roman/Rock. It’s a feud and match I want to see — but not at the expense of Cody’s narrative.

Thanks.

Nice match.

Bron Breakker?!? Sign that man asap, Aldis!! Really well crafted segment. Love this continuing story between the two GMs.

Fine pitch there but the choice is obvious.

Nah. He beat you. He’s got nothing to prove.

Pretty solid tag match.

Punk Drew you son of a bitch! What a scumbag Fantastic babyface promo from Punk. Really pulled the heart strings. Drew being a deplorable heel was terrific. Now I’m super excited to see Punk/Drew. And Sami making a babyface save was a very smart choice. Fabulous segment.