I Bent My Wookie

I always felt their get out of jail free card for keeping Aldis as an authority figure would be to claim he's too banged up to fight, much how they note that Adam Pearce is a former world champion but his neck or back (i forget what) is in pieces, feel like this was mentioned back when they teased he'd face Roman Reigns a while back.

Of course the longer they stay off this course the better if it does mean getting a match out of him. Maybe have Roman and whoever still stands with him after WrestleMania destroy Aldis for having him lose the title, and instead of Reigns getting suspended for attacking an official have it signed off as a non sanctioned street fight or the likes. Reigns can win, Aldis can look strong and then Reigns can fall into his storyline suspension and take a few more months off.

I don't really know, it's 11am and I'm riffing after a SmackDown I was fairly sure two guys broke their necks on the same spot that never seemed like it was going to work.

Week 23 fixtures 

Championship

Cardiff City 0-2 Leeds United

Southampton 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland (17:30)

Queen's Park Rangers 0-1 Watford (Sunday 12:00)

FA Trophy Fourth Round

Welling United 0-1 Chesterfield

FA Women's Cup Fourth Round

Derby County 0-3 Leicester City (Sunday)

Segunda División

Rácing Ferrol w/Fog Dude 1-3 Espanyol (20:00) 

Serie A

Fiorentina 1-0 Udinese (Sunday 17:00)

AC Milan 1-1 Roma (Sunday 19:45)

Hana Kimura is a difficult one. It's absolutely something that needs addressing, the constant abuse and trolling of wrestlers, especially females online and the weird behaviours encapsulated within wrestling fandom, but they're probably isn't an hour's worth of material there, especially when a lot of the abuse she suffered online came more from fans of the reality show she was on than just purely wrestling fans. 

It's absolutely heartbreaking it happened, but there probably isn't enough source topic that can be made to make it a full episode.

I always used to absolutely love listening to Annie Nightingale and the impact she had on bringing forward so many female DJs to mainstream radio can't be underestimated. A lot of my favourite DJs now wouldn't have had the opportunity without her efforts.

I'll always remember being like 14/15 and I swear she had an early morning Radio 1 show. Used to stay up Friday night, watch all my wrestling I had taped on Sky that week, stick the radio on for Annie and then chill and wait for someone to offer me breakfast at 7am before they went to work. Then sleep all day Saturday.

The fact she was still going and was scheduled on the radio this week is sad, but hopefully the BBC pulls out all the stops honouring her. The documentaries and stuff they did on her 50th anniversary were all so great it'd be wonderful to see a change to listed viewings over the weekend to incorporate some of them, even just her Desert Island Disc recording being replayed.

33 minutes ago, Big'Olympic_Hero'Pete said:

Bit confused with the dynamics of the 8 person matches -

 

Preston Vance has been on a heel side for a while, yet tag's with the face team

Same with Anna Jay in the women's match, although I'm not convinced the former JAS are actually heel anymore.

Pretty sure LFI had a somewhat face turn recently, regarding Vance, and that Rush isn't really either, just a vicious bastard.

Lauran Hibberd. Named because her dad spelt her name wrong on her birth certificate. Absolutely going to be a name in 2024. All she wants is a million Instagram followers and a top 40 album and at least one of those is happening. I've been a huge fan for a long time but she seems to be so much more confident and approachable on stage than she used to be.

Managed to get front row for her and Hobo Johnson as well. Live, he's fantastic, actually having a band to riff off as well as the audience, his music seems to mean more than the recordings. I don't know where his new music will go, I don't think he'll ever rediscover that initial buzz but it was fun to see him just enjoying what he was doing, riffing with the crowd and being confused by Welsh people.

Tramshed is also a fantastic venue that caters well for its disabled customers.

Now to sit in spoons until my half 12 train and not freeze to death.

10 minutes ago, kidzero said:

Who cares

Don't be a dick.

ICW is a weird one. They obviously got massive based off BBC and being able to run the Hydro but there was never a long game for them and WWE getting involved and stealing most their talent for NXT UK really didn't help.

The videos I've seen the last few months seems like taped shows for their "TV" is in front of a handful of people, I imagine genuinely smaller than some shows ran in cities/towns with local attractions. 

Were they also not hugely complicate in the Speaking Out Allegations and tons of different things came up much like they did with Fight Club Pro in Wolverhampton?

Its been a solid run and they've all done more than I expect they ever imagined to but Scottish Wrestling is very much hitting the doldrums and the whole "golden age" of huge crowds and interest in British wrestling feels close to being over post COVID 

After slacking towards the end of last year through a mixture of exhaustion, anxiety and money, I made it a goal this year to put myself into getting to more gigs, going back to doing what I absolutely love which is losing myself in the music and knowing I'm surrounded by like-minded people.

Got my first gig of 2024 this coming Wednesday and I'm super excited. I've absolutely loved the music of Lauran Hibberd for time and find her stage presence and lyrics so enthralling, that I'm super happy to see her live.

She's supporting Hobo Johnson who was a huge part of my playlist a few years ago and then just seemed to disappear. Super happy he's back, apparently he's been writing and performing new upcoming tracks which is great as well and the Tramshed at Cardiff is a favourite venue of mine as well to top it off.

It's a good start to 2024, got a lot planned so far and a lot of room to include more.

There are a lot of instances this season that I can pick a winner but I'm always one goal away, starting to wonder if it's possible to finish last but pick more correct winning teams than anyone else just never getting an actual score 🤣

And that's only knowing the bloody Celtic score haha.

Week 22 fixtures 

FA Challenge Cup Third Round proper

Gillingham 0-3 Sheffield United

Queen's Park Rangers 0-1 Bournemouth

Stoke City 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Middlesbrough 1-2 Aston Villa (17:30)

Peterborough United 0-1 Leeds United (Sunday 14:00)

Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool (Sunday 16:30)

Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester United (Monday 20:15)

Irish Cup Round 5

Crusaders 2-1 Ards 

H & W Welders 1-3 Larne

Scottish Women's Cup Round 3

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-4 Rangers (Sunday 13:00)

Ayr United 0-6 Celtic (Sunday 14:00)

Spanish Cup Round of 32

Lugo 0-4 Atlético Madrid

Espanyol 1-2 Getafe (16:00)

Alavés 0-1 Real Betis (19:00)

Rácing Ferrol 0-3 Sevilla (Sunday)

Eibar 1-2 Athletic Bilbao (Sunday 18:00)

Málaga 0-1 Real Sociedad (Sunday 20:00)

Tenerife 0-2 Las Palmas (Sunday 21:00)

French Cup Round 9

Lens 1-2 Monaco (Sunday 13:30)

Pontarlier 0-3 Olympique Lyonnais (Sunday 13:30)

Revel 0-5 Paris St Germain (Sunday 19:45)

All games take place on Saturday and kick off at 15:00 unless stated. Times are listed in GMT. 

6 minutes ago, Lorne Malvo said:

Besides, whose on the market right now who could match up to those two?

Obviously not on the same name level at all, but Mone would get the wrestling world talking and try and take some of the stink off the weekend. It would be a major coup for AEW if she has been chatting with WWE and they couldn't get it over the finish line. It won't make any major network news or do anything in the social media numbers close to Rock or Punk's return but it would directly be a "those at the top of their game right now want to work for us" that you feel like Khan is interested in parading.

Imbedding things on my phone is a nightmare, but if I had to mention something it would be Chase U's theme.

I realise it's supposed to have that university marching band, big game feel spirit, but every time it pops up on my playlist it makes me feel like I've just become a Pokémon champion on the Game Boy and it brings a real nice feel of nostalgia to my day.

Hook's entrance is currently my phone morning alarm, probably will be for a long time. There's no way to not feel pumped up slowly meandering into your day to that song.

4 minutes ago, andrew "the ref" coyne said:

Joey Samoey is my world champion. That's enough for me. #Don'tCallItAComback #MommaSaidKnockYouOut

Oh absolutely the reason I'll get up at 6 to watch it before work, skipping through dregs and adverts I'll be done by half 7, but you have to imagine there's something up their sleeve.

Are we expecting them to shit a brick and try and get something in place for this evening?

WWE has Rock and CM Punk back and an announcement teased for tomorrow morning in America for the press to get behind and AEW is coming off a PPV saved by 2 or 3 matches, covered in all the chaos and shit from Jericho and Tony's stupid hat and the antagonist and protagonist of their long running big reveal both being injured and unable to really progress it any further.

Where are we at on WWE releases being able to work for other companies from the last wave of sackings?

Do they push to get an 11th hour deal with Mone done so that she can debut tonight? It just feels with how much they are hyping it's 5 years of AEW and the first show of 2024, there's absolutely nothing major in the air from Saturday that can continue forward.

Gutted for Littler and it does feel like the turning of the tide was the chance to make it 5-2 he just couldn't land but it was exceptional darts from both once the nerves settled.

Happy for Humphries though, it's a credit to working hard on yourself that he was able to come back from the anxiety and panic attacks he was having to essentially be the best player in the world right now. He's been magnificent the bottom end of 2023, gonna be fun to see him in the Premier League coming up in this form.

I know we've complained about how drawn out the devil was in AEW but this Melo/Trick who's going to turn on who, who attacked who, let's keep putting Trick's chance at the title in peril because of Hayes and then not really confront him about it has dragged for what feels like months.

The women's division remains interesting and it's good that most seem to have some character basis to them, Stratton instantly tweeting a photo of Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie in overalls for The Simple Life was a nice touch on social media after and the vignettes next week should be funny.

LWO hopefully get a good showing in the Dusty classic and get to pull a few more highlight reel spots out.

The ceiling is high on Oba Femi, absolute unit.

7 hours ago, Vamp said:

Isn't Kenny pretty physically fucked too? Not as bad, obviously. I'm not sure he's the one to talk sense into Ibushi. I'm not sure anyone is. Ibushi has always struck me as a mad bastard who does whatever he wants. He's another one who seems to have an unhealthy love affair with wrestling and would probably be better off as far away from it as possible. 

Oh absolutely physically fucked but he had the wherewithal to take a few months off after losing the title to try and recover a bit. Ibushi tried to wrestle a 35 minute match on one leg. If anyone's concern would register to him you'd hope it would be Kenny telling his mate to look after himself for once.

I won't even lie, I'm beyond excited about the new Mean Girls musical movie being released on the 19th. 20 years since the original movie, it's been a massive part of cultural references throughout my friendship groups and I can't help but love a good movie musical.

Currently on a coin flip between Saint Agnes (seen before absolutely love) and Zebrahead (not seen since 2016 but always a delight) as my one gig out of Hereford in January. Trying to attempt to cut down on drinking (currently at home with the darts and an Irn Bru) so that I can get out to Cardiff/Birmingham/Bristol more for fun times.

It was really just sad to watch towards the end. Going 30 plus minutes on a broken ankle, probably injuring the other one, having no common sense to try and not bugger your body up any further. You kinda hope if he is as good friends with Kenny as is made out, he'll be the one to tell him to take an extended break, considering how battered his body was in this position not so long ago.

He just has the aura of not all being there, but a career of head drops and stupid stunts doesn't overly promise clear thinking towards what should be a natural end of your career.

Most interesting part of the show for me was the debut in ring of The Great Sakuya, Muta's "daughter" theyve been teasing through vignettes the last few weeks. Wasn't the worst match, if heavily overbooked but the look is just incredible and I'm excited to see where the character goes in Japan.

2 hours ago, Merzbow said:

I kinda like this even though it's bad.. it's 100% stealing from both Starfuckers, Inc and Wish by Nine Inch Nails though.

 

See, I absolutely love Saint Agnes live and this was great at 2000 Trees last year. There's a real chaotic energy to their sets and hopefully they continue to push forward in 2024 and get a little more recognition.

2, 9, 17, 27, 28

Its my birthday and for the first time in years a group of people sang happy birthday to me just after midnight and have arranged that we have drinks today technically so I'm not by myself.

Blessed by the best friends.

Hope you're all well.

Think Copeland wins the match against Christian tonight and is cashed in on instantly after, maybe a returning Jungle Boy?

The stipulation I'm sure read a title shot any time, any place so that kinda gives way for a cash in on someone who made a career out of cashing in at opportune times.

Week 21A fixtures 

Premier League

Aston Villa 2-0 Burnley

Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford

Manchester City 4-0 Sheffield United

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Everton

National League

Barnet 1-1 Southend United

National League North

Darlington 0-3 Scarborough Athletic

National League South

Truro City 1-2 Torquay United

Scottish Championship

Ayr United 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic

Scottish League One

Falkirk 1-0 Stirling Albion

Scottish League Two

Forfar Athletic 2-1 East Fife

Week 21B fixtures – New Year's Day and Bank Holiday Tuesday

Premier League

Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United (20:00)

West Ham United 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (Tuesday 19:30)

Championship

Stoke City 0-2 Ipswich Town

League One

Charlton Athletic 1-1 Oxford United

Derby County 2-1 Peterborough United

League Two

Crawley Town 2-1 Swindon Town

Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Bradford City

National League

Woking 1-0 Aldershot Town

Scottish Premiership (Tuesday)

Livingston 0-2 Heart of Midlothian 

Ross County 0-1 Aberdeen 

Had some weird fever dream last night that it will be Pac under the mask and that while MJF may be their scumbag he'll always be a bastard.

I didn't get far enough into the dream to find out who was the masked men but I'll be terrified if I wake up Sunday and find out I'm right 🤣