METAL ON METAL

So it’s since been revealed by his management that Virgil was actually 11 years older than he was billed as!

Everyone (himself included) had always stated he was born June 1962 but it turns out he was born April 1951, meaning he was 40 when he won the Million Dollar Title. A true worker till the end.

41 minutes ago, Supremo said:

Also, to anyone who thinks this has been some miraculous save, just remember those counter-chants, "We want Cody!" was getting. Very loud responses of, "No we dont'!" He'll probably recover because he's Cody, but man. The risks they take with what is essentially their Golden Goose should be studied until the end of time.

Not disputing the shitshow booking part of this but I wouldn’t pay too attention to the crowd reactions at this press conference. It was in Vegas and it’s currently full of NFL fans on the drink as the Superbowl is there on Sunday, it’s just people being divisive for the sake of it. Journos at the press conference said there were people booing all three guys regardless.

It’s if Cody started getting those reactions at a Raw or Smackdown that they’d be getting worried.

That is fucking grim. That poor woman, hope she takes him for every penny he’s got.

Wrestling really is the scummiest industry.

All I really remember is her being very anti-vax and posting Covid conspiracies continuously while still employed by WWE. Always came across as quite dim, not that either of those will hold her back in the wrestling industry.

17 minutes ago, TheBurningRed said:

Did anyone else ask any questions regarding the allegations or was that it? Because someone needed to follow up and try and get something that wasn’t waffle. Although he would’ve probably said they’re the safest company another 4 or 5 times. 

He was asked a further two times but gave essentially the same shitty non-answer. He had the nerve to get annoyed on the third time too when asked to expand on it, ending with:

”So again, Kevin earlier asked about that policy, and I think I gave a pretty robust answer on that, and it would apply here too.”

The Newcastle Turning Point show looked a lot better visually, both in person and on the actual PPV, albeit still very indie-looking. Handheld cams are still pretty horrendous on it mind.

The Walker Dome is a pretty good venue for wrestling though and was packed, would’ve looked miles better had Impact made a bit more of an effort in their presentation - barely anything covering the floors around the ring, basketball/badminton markings on show all over during every entrance.

8 minutes ago, LaGoosh said:

Previous Tony Khan announcements have been:

- buying ROH.

- announcing Forbidden Door.

- announcing Collision.

- announcing All In at Wembley Stadium.

So on previous form this could be pretty major. Or it could be some shameless promoter bullshit looking for a ratings pop. 

 

Previous announcements have also been that AEW All Access show and once a total lack of (a previously promoted) announcement. So it’s probably best to temper expectations.

Someone summed Khan up perfectly, his announcements are meetings that could’ve been emails.

1 hour ago, simonworden said:

As people have said, no idea why Shera or Godderz are hanging around OVW, both seem like decent workers who could fill a place anywhere else. Did they burn their bridges with Impact?

 

Thankfully, Shera has been on Impact almost every week over the past couple of months. Not in a massive role or anything but at least it keeps him away from OVW a bit more frequently.

With Cody, I’m hoping the teased feud with a newly heel McIntyre (when he fully turns) comes to fruition. That should rebuild his momentum and keep him preoccupied until the Rumble and inevitable Reigns rematch at Mania.

They’ve really fucked up that Jey Uso trade, when they really should’ve found a way to trade Cody & LA Knight. To me it really feels like they should be champions/challengers of the brand they’re not on.

I don’t think I’ve seen a bad Dragunov match, he is always excellent.

Just watched the first two episodes so far.

Slow start as most of the first episode is obligatory explaining of the wrestling business. Second episode is much better, you get a lot more in to the guts of it and just generally a better flow.

Highlights the carny aspect of wrestling immensely, the stereotypical southern hick is well represented. The main woman they have focused on so far (and her wrestler boyfriend) is incredibly unlikeable and trashy. However, Al Snow and especially the commentator, Bryan, come across very well on it.

The radio DJ co-owner is an absolute obnoxious cunt though. 

Ending the show with Nia Jax is just a massive fuck you to the audience. Surely no fucker can be glad she’s back? 
 

With Cody, I’d imagine this little holding period is just until he gets unveiled as the trade pick going to Smackdown from the Jey Uso deal.

Once on Smackdown, you only need to keep him occupied for a few months until they restart the Reigns feud by having him with the likes of AJ Styles, Lashley, Grayson Waller or even Cena (with him hanging around for the next several months).

In the meantime, in his rare appearances actually on the show, they’ll no doubt have Reigns stop dead the momentum of LA Knight.

Absolutely devastating. This is one of those real gut-punch and stop you in your tracks moments. Sadly the last time that happened for me was, well, Brodie.

I can’t even fathom what his poor family and friends must be going through right now. No age at all and with such a young family. Seemed well-liked and respected by everyone he came into contact with. Heartbreaking.

When he was on form, he was one of the best minds and talkers that wrestling has ever seen. That NXT & initial main roster run was such a breath of fresh air.

In what I’m sure is a total coincidence, Russian media are reporting that Prigozhin  and nine others (including other high-ranking Wagner officials) have been killed in a plane crash just outside of Moscow.

What are the odds…

Pretty good show, nothing spectacular but a good use of a few hours of your time. Main event was good, Dragunov always delivers - only a matter of time until he’s on the main roster. Hell, put him in Imperium like many suggested a while back.

The 8 person tag match (Frazer, Dragon Lee, Feroz, Leon vs. Meta Four) on the pre-show was a cracker. Very enjoyable and everyone got a chance to shine. Nice to see Lash Legend finally starting to put it all together, big future for her if she continues this progress.

I fucking love the Eagles. Meisner was always a favourite of mine, he just seemed way too nice to be in a band with Frey and Henley - which was his undoing.

Almost hard to believe how short of a period he was actually in the band for though. I know it was fairly common back then, but truly a phenomenal output to release an album a year for 5 years and have it be your best work.

Understandably ‘Take It to the Limit’ gets all the praise, superb song and performance by him (I must’ve watched the Capitol Centre performance hundreds of times over the years). However, during a particularly bad breakup years ago, as sad and cliche as it sounds it was ‘Try and Love Again’ that helped me so much - I had it on a repeat about 10-15 times at one point. Just a beautiful voice he had. Timothy B. Schmit could never.

Poor bloke had an absolutely torrid time in his final years though. Ended up in a coma from choking of food (thus missing being part of an Eagles tour), then there were massive accusations of his wife drugging him daily to keep him sedated, then he witnessed his wife accidentally kill herself with a shotgun and finally he was sectioned on mental health and potential suicide grounds.

Why do they even bother mentioning Spurs? Christ, might as well just put ‘Blyth Spartans are interested in signing Mbappe.

Ignore.

3 hours ago, Chest Rockwell said:

On the topic of film length these days, intermissions would get me more excited for the cinema.. 

They still do it in certain places in America. I remember going to see Batman v Superman when I was in DC/Virginia several years back and I was so happy that they had about a 10 minute intermission during it. The joy was short lived when I realised I’d have to go back in and watch the second half of that film.

7 minutes ago, Loki said:

So typical Nolan then.  I think I will give the film a miss, the subject matter and cast interest me but I have come to detest Nolan’s filmmaking style.

Pretty much. Definitely style over substance a lot of the time.

One of my biggest gripes with the ’untouchable’ directors like Nolan, Scorsese, Spielberg and Villeneuve is they’re above having anyone rein them in and often end up having their films being 45 mins-1+hour too long for no good reason. I’ll give Ridley Scott a pass though, he usually gets it right. There’s definitely a far superior 2 hour cut of Oppenheimer that could’ve been released instead.

Totally different genre and kind of film entirely but seeing MI7 the other day (which is a similar length) just absolutely flew by for me, at no point did I think it was dragging or unnecessary. Also, I would equally just happily take a 3 hour Pom Klementieff cut on repeat.

I really don’t see the issue in the marketing/fanfair, it’s harmless fun from some people on the internet. What I will say though is the whole thing is a fantastic and so needed shot in the arm for cinemas right now, weeks after Empire shut down nearly all their locations and places still continue to struggle.

I went to see Oppenheimer at my local Cineworld yesterday morning for a 10:20am showing and not only was my screening sold out but the whole cinema was absolutely packed - something I’ve only ever really seen when there was an Avengers release. After my post-film piss, while waiting for the missus, the audience leaving after one of the screenings of Barbie came past me - it was like a stampede of pink-clothed chaos. Everyone seemed in a good mood from the film.

As for Oppenheimer itself, I thoroughly enjoyed it but I don’t know how much having a historical interest plays into that. Very, very good Nolan but I’m not sure I’d class it amongst his best as it suffers from pacing issues and timeline jumps weren’t clearly differentiated at times. My missus was starting to check out a little near the end, I can’t blame her as it’s 3 hours of almost sat down dialogue but just enough to hold your attention (anyone expecting tons of action and continuous explosions will be left disappointed). Overall I left the screening feeling overwhelmed yet somber.

Great performances by Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr (he warrants the early Oscar buzz) and Emily Blunt - although I wish she was given just a little more to work with. Hidden gem for me was the performance of Josh Hartnett, that guy has aged well and transitioned fantastically to the second-act of his career.

The film is a very solid 8/10 for me.

As soon as I saw that video I just knew it was at Dunston (shit hole at the edge of Gateshead only known for having the Metro Centre and a Costco).

Apparently it’s all in protest of Steve Wraith being involved with that club, on those pieces of paper thrown from the car are accusations of noncing.

For those unaware, Wraith is a cunt of the highest order and a wannabe-gangster. Self-proclaimed Krays expert and if some shady money-grabbing event is taking place in Newcastle, he’s definitely involved.

People may remember him best as leading that fucking embarrassing fake funeral ‘protest’ against Mike Ashley. The state of this bellend:

I get what you’re saying and I do see your point but I don’t think it’s 100% comparable with someone of his standing to the likes of you and I. We don’t have that same platform or established reputation of a role-model to millions of people - which he’d been a model professional towards until now. His words and actions are always going to hold more clout than ours.

Unrelated point I’d failed to mention, purely from an on-pitch perspective, with this move he’s surely totally giving up any future with his England career and the chance of one last opportunity at next years Euro’s. Then again, Southgate picks his favourites regardless of form or playing time/standards so he’s probably a shoe-in.

6 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

Adam Devine is not a good looking man, and I know that's really unkind and I myself am no beauty and everyone is different and blah blah blah, but when you are pretending to be married to someone as good looking as Nina Dobrev, it just really jars.

It’s not that much of a stretch, he’s punching so much with his actual wife Chloe Bridges.

I might be in the minority but I like the guy, I am a big fan of Workaholics and their podcast though. I find him funny, although I can definitely see why people might not like him.

12 hours ago, David said:

He stands to make over £100 million during the three year contract he's signed. Even to an enormously wealthy man, that's a not inconsiderable sum of cash, and is still life-changing for him and future generations of his family. 

When pushed there's very few people who are going to turn down £100 million from anywhere. Regardless of how strongly they support a cause.

You’re talking like a man with an estimated £30M+ already in the bank (with a guaranteed £10M+ to come in the last two years of his Liverpool deal) is going from Jobseekers to Brewster’s Millions.

As Danger said, it’s his hill to die on and the reaction he’s getting is self-inflicted. If you drop all your beliefs for that blood money, you’re fair game for any and all criticism of character or lack their of. I have friends in the LGBTQ+ community, to think of the atrocities that they would face for just being theirselves purely dependant on where they happen to be in the world just makes me absolutely sick. I feel that way and I’m just an ally, Henderson was a fucking figurehead and ambassador - until it suited him to fuck them off for blood money. That’s why there’s outrage. I’m sure his first press conference will be the usual “I signed because I want to help make a change to the culture from over here” bullshit.

Maybe my disappointment is from growing up at the same time, playing on the same streets and being in many of the same circles as him and being baffled how someone with a similar upbringing can just drop everything they ‘believe’ in at a moments notice. The guy was championed so much in the area and hailed as such a local hero, that’s why it’s not like any other player going over there.

I live and work in Newcastle these days and since their takeover I’ve seen so many people just abandon all their roots just at the hope of being successful and it’s honestly sickening at times. Some of my own friends have become walking propaganda machines for their Saudi owners, to the point we can’t have fair balanced conversations we once had and it is extremely sad that’s the case - people change and they’re not even the ones getting paid for it. In the balance of fairness I also have friends who hate what their club has become and are uneasy at their owners but aren’t going to stop supporting the club they’ve loved all their life for something they can’t affect (which I totally understand and must be hard to deal with). I promise this isn’t a Newcastle bashing post, it’s just a very big recent example that hits close to home.

Sorry for waffling on and being all over the place, I just really hate the place football is in right now. I do love what my own club is doing right now and after a very turbulent 6+ years, I honestly have never felt closer to my team on and off the pitch in a long long time but I feel like that’s an ever increasingly rarity in modern football. But yeah.

Fuck Saudi. Fuck Sky. Fuck FIFA. Fuck Henderson.