RedRooster

This is utterly mad. I was in the queue with about 6,000 people ahead of me - but after seeing this, I've left. Thanks for sharing, and saving my time. There's not a chance I'm paying £610 for these. Hopefully I (and others on here) have more luck if/when individual tickets go on sale.

I've never really bought the idea of Priest as a World Champion, even before he won the belt. That said, I think the only way his run has a chance of working would be to have a strong first challenger, as opposed to someone no one buys as a realistic threat. Jey can work as a challenger, I think, but only if the champion is strong. If Drew hadn't lost the belt, I don't see any harm in Drew/Jey as a title feud. Honestly, I think they missed a trick by not somehow transitioning the Money in the Bank briefcase to Dominic Mysterio, and having him become World Champion. Dominic vs. LA Knight in a feud for the fake world title could be a lot of fun, as far as crowd reactions are concerned. Dominic vs. Orton too, I'd like to see that. There's something very bland about Priest.

I completely understand why they’d release Grimes given his status on the card, but the fact he amounted to so little on the main roster baffles me. He was great fun in NXT, and his character should have been very easy to understand when he was called up; yet they never really established who he was. He’s surely a lock to return to TNA, where he was a really valuable part of their roster.

That's not going to happen - he's said recently (article from Wrestlezone) that unless something happens, he's never going to hang up his boots.

There's a period where I wasn't watching WWE so I may be wrong, but I think they're including tag title reigns in this stat.

She's fantastic, and I don't understand why they continually have her lose. She plays the character brilliantly, and there would absolutely be money in a pushed version of that character either as challenging a strong babyface champion, or as champion. 100% this, if you look at the participants in that match, there's pretty much no one else you could justify putting the belt on. Hopefully this will force them to build up the rest of the female roster a bit better than they have.

I totally agree - I've heard Wade Keller have a negative skewing opinion on Storm as champion; and while generally those things don't matter, we already know that Tony Khan pays attention to what the wrestling media says; though to what degree is debatable. I don't subscribe to the idea of her being a comedy world champion at all. She's a deranged world champion, who can be funny - and she's managed to turn what could be a character that could have worn thin in short order into something sustainable. She's my favourite act in AEW right now, and I would go as far as to say she's one of the best champions they've ever had in any division.

Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal (Wrestlemania 18) I’m not sure how many wrestling fans can trace their fandom back to match one, but that’s something I’m fortunate enough to be able to do. I’ve told the story before, but I started watching wrestling after buying a Smackdown videogame in Woolworths, and getting this for free. This was the first match on the card. It wasn’t my favourite match at that event (Undertaker vs. Ric Flair blew my mind) – but if my first experience of watching wrestling hadn’t been good, I might have switched off and given up on it. The match was a clash of styles, but it was good – and it immediately hooked me in. RVD’s athleticism blew my mind, and Regal played his part extremely well. I’ve never actually rewatched it, as I don’t want to ruin the perception I have of this match – but this is where it all started. Kurt Angle vs. Brian Kendrick (5-minute challenge, Smackdown 2003) I started watching wrestling television when I realised Smackdown aired on Sky One on a Saturday morning. The show had loads of great matches in that era, and it was a very easy watch. For whatever reason, the most memorable for me is this match – the premise being that Kendrick had to survive 5-minutes with WWE Champion Kurt Angle in order to earn a WWE contract. He fails, but this still one of the best short matches I’ve seen; and packs in a lot of action and story into its short running time, as Angle toys with his prey, before Kendrick mounts a surprising comeback – coming close to pinning Angle. With seconds to spare, Angle finishes the job. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and had me believing that the impossible was indeed possible – and that Kendrick might actually win. This is first wrestling match that gave me goosebumps, and the moment I went from casually enjoying to truly loving the sport. Brock Lesnar vs. Eddie Guerrero (No Way Out 2004) This was the first time ‘my guy’ became WWE Champion. When I started watching wrestling, I very quickly gravitated towards Eddie Guerrero. He’d been the person I loved to play as in the Smackdown videogames, and I was really curious as to what he was actually like as a character. Turned out that he was great in ring, charismatic and genuinely funny. I willed him on, cheering as he won the US title; feeling desperate to see him break the main event scene. I didn’t expect that to happen – and when it did, wow. I hoped that he’d win this match, but never expected it – even now, the match has aged incredibly well – and that end sequence is just masterfully booked. Michael Cole and Tazz really lift the match with some tremendous calls, that just make the whole thing even better. John Cena vs. CM Punk (Money in the Bank 2011) This was a difficult one for me – I’d started to fall out of love with wrestling at this point, and I needed something to hook me back in. The rise of Daniel Bryan was what kept me, but the starting point was undeniably Cena vs. Punk. I wasn’t – for want of a better term – ‘an internet fan’ at this point; not outside of recaps, at least; and I didn’t fully understand everything Punk said in the infamous Pipe Bomb promo. But I knew it was a big deal, and it really did con me into thinking he’d gone off script. I was totally compelled by the whole storyline, and had no idea what would happen when the bell rang on the match. The atmosphere was electric, the match was exciting – and the finishing sequence was incredible. I remember finishing the match, desperate to see what would happen next…and it was a little underwhelming, but I kept watching; only for Daniel Bryan to become my next ‘guy’. Had this match and storyline not happened, I think I’d have – at the very least – taken a break from watching, perhaps given up entirely. Hangman Page/Kenny Omega vs. The Young Bucks (AEW Revolution 2020) Once again, in the late 2010s, I’d fallen out of love with wrestling. WWE was dealing with the worst of Vince McMahon’s booking, and it just didn’t make me feel the way it once did. Then AEW came along. I wanted to love AEW – but the first few shows (pre-Dynamite) were a mixed bag; with standout moments and abysmal pre-shows. Even the first few Dynamites were mixed, before it found its groove. For me, 2020 and 2021 AEW is one of the best runs of any promotions ever, with great wrestling and compelling long-term storytelling, the best of which was the rise of Hangman Page – someone who had initially been written off as boring on these very forums. But once he discovered who he was as a character, he became one of the most complicated and interesting characters in wrestling. This match blew my mind – it told a brilliant story, enhancing what was going on behind the scenes – and it was a tremendous match on top of that, easily the best tag match I’ve ever seen. The dynamic between all four wrestlers was brilliant, and Hangman became a new kind of babyface – a flawed human being, who you willed on to overcome his demons and do the right thing. He remains, in my opinion, the most well-thought out wrestling character around. An honorable mention goes to Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania this year. I very nearly included it – at the moment it feels like my favourite ‘Mania main event ever, but I think a bit of time needs to pass before I consider it for a list of this nature – if I still feel the way I do about it right now, it’ll almost certainly bump one of the matches from here. I’m a big fan of Triple H’s booking, and the way that match integrates story probably makes it a good representation of my current tastes.

He’s the prowrestling.net guy.

The argument against her has generally come from critics/journalists; and it’s not so much against the character - it’s her as the champion. Jason Powell is particularly vocal about that, he likes the character, but not the character as champion. I totally disagree, I think she’s tremendous and she’s probably the best heel champion AEW has had to date, with any title.

This topic is more than a little inspired by the podcast My Perfect Console - basically, the premise of this is that guests choose five games that they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine - generally games that shaped them. I'm going to take that premise and apply it to wrestling. Choose five matches that shaped your wrestling fandom. I'd originally planned to call the topic 'My perfect wrestling card' in reference to the podcast, but the matches don't necessarily have to be 'perfect' - just that they've impacted you as a fan in some way. It could be that they made you fall in love with a certain wrestler, or a style of wrestling. Maybe it's a match that gave you an emotional reaction that you revisit when you've had a shit day, maybe it's the first match you saw live - tackle the challenge in any way you like. I'll add my picks later, so the initial post isn't overly long.

I don't mean to sound like a dick, but can you not just use your eyes and ears on this one? He's been getting great reactions. It may be that fans do turn on him as they did in AEW, but it's not happened yet. When they do, he has a sensational heel run in him.

She's 1, so later on today we'll be building things with Mega Blocks, reading stories and dancing to The Wiggles. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to do all of that without her stealing and throwing my glasses and/or phone.

I was - by pure coincidence, I hadn't planned this - on annual leave, so that made it pretty straightforward. I'd have been in the same position had I not been, though. If I wasn't a dad, I'd have been able to watch Dynasty later in the day - but childcare takes priority, as you can imagine!

It's a shame AEW is running more PPVs on a Sunday than it once did, I'd love to have ordered this one, but finding the time to watch it was always going to be a problem. Sounds like it was a good show, Jericho aside. If Hook really is leaving, sucking the life and momentum out of him in a way that gives Tony Khan plausible deniability would be an act of evil genius from the guy; so in the unlikely chance that's what's happening here, well done, Tony. It's nice to see Willow win a title, although it's really strange to see Mercedes going after the secondary belt instead of Toni Storm. I know that not everyone enjoys Toni as champion, but I bloody love her. She's one of the best characters in wrestling, and I don't think the gimmick brings down the title in any way. That said, I've no idea who you have beat her, if Willow and Mercedes are wrapped up in other things. Maybe it's time to bring Athena back to the main roster, and have her target Storm. I did watch the six man tag, and I'm utterly perplexed as to why Billy Gunn is being made to look as strong as he is. This deserves almost as much derision as the Jericho stuff - it's utterly insane that he's being booked the way that he is.

Khali probably pips him if you’re going by lack of talent, but at least his title run was relatively short, compared to Jinder’s six months of tedium…so…maybe?

On that note, I’m amazed that we’re approaching May, and Kamille hasn’t showed up anywhere. I do wonder if that’ll eventually happen with Aldis. He’d be a great addition to an active roster that probably does need freshened up slightly.

Is he definitely signed up? The fact he lost made me wonder if it was a farewell appearance of sorts, ahead of moving elsewhere. If they have re-signed him, what a miss for WWE. AEW too, though they don’t really need him.

Xia Li and Xyon Quinn have also been released. Jinder always comes across as a nice guy in real life interviews (in the ones I’ve seen, anyway), but he was mediocre at best as a wrestler. His dramatic descent down the card after his title run was telling. I can’t imagine Tony Khan will pick him up, but maybe there’s a place for him in TNA, MLW or even the NWA, as alt right as that’s become.

I’m totally with you on Swerve beating Hangman for the belt. The next match between the two being a mere title defence for Swerve just doesn’t feel like it does the feud justice. The thing that makes me think he probably will win is that Joe labelled him a ‘choke artist’ - so I think there has to be a middle ground; in that he wins at the PPV, then loses the belt quickly - so he gets one over on Joe, yet gives ammunition to that label and a mountain to overcome.

I wouldn’t be against Page winning the title on the Dynamite after Dynasty, in a way that sets him up as the top heel in AEW, and gives Swerve a mountain to climb before a longer title run. I think AEW needs to do something shocking and unexpected to spark interest, and this might do the trick. Page winning the title, then beating the shit out of Swerve rather than celebrate, continuing to obsess over Swerve and other opponents rather than relish the fact he’s champion could be a lot of fun. It would also allow for a Page/Omega rematch for the belt, with the roles reversed. As far as sparking interest in the product again, I feel like a heel Page as champion could be a strong option - you could do Page/Omega, Page/MJF, Page/Moxley, Page/Ospreay and the eventual Swerve rematch - all of which would produce compelling television.

Sounds plausible, although he still strikes me as an obvious to end Logan Paul’s US title run. Maybe Logan and Sami switching brands is the way to do that, setting up a fresh range of opponents for Paul including, if he stays put, CM Punk.

This made me laugh out loud. Another fun Smackdown. AJ and LA Knight work really well together. I’m intrigued as to where they’ll go with Knight after the draft. He’s still very over, and now that there are two World titles, the idea of a secondary World title reign should this remain the case doesn’t seem out of the question. Solo is doing a great job in his hostile takeover of The Bloodline. I can absolutely see this culminating in Roman eventually returning, telling Solo that he’d done a fantastic job in rebuilding The Bloodline and thanking him, only for Solo to tell him he didn’t do it for him, he ‘did it for The Rock’ (as brilliantly suggested by @Mr_Danger) and if that does happen, I’ll honestly have goosebumps. I’m all in for Rock/Roman at Wrestlemania next year, if that’s the plan. I still love everything Bloodline related, it’s so enjoyable. There was a point where I never thought I would feel positive about WWE’s booking again, let alone enthusiastic - but I’m finding myself feeling really excited about what’s to come after each show right now. (Aside from with NXT, with is still terrible.)

Last chance to submit your nominations this weekend, or to edit your votes. I’ve extended the deadline very slightly, from 5pm today until 7am Monday. Realistically, I won’t have time to start tallying therm until then, so I’m as well as to give people a little longer to cast their vote. Thanks for the enthusiasm, everyone - I’ll do my best to turn this into an enjoyable read once it’s done.

I still wish he’d pinned a statement on Twitter, but fair play to Tony Khan for his comments on the Nyla Rose situation from the AEW Dynasty media call. Not only did he condemn it, explicitly calling it discrimination - but he went a step further saying he didn’t think there should be discrimination against transgender people in general. It would have been very easy for him not to say that; he’ll get attacked online for doing so. Huge credit to the guy for that.