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I don't know that I agree, and that may be in part because of my own bias because of when I'd have watched them (I think I watched 8 broadly in the same era when it came out, but 10 I may have come back to in 97ish), but I'd say Hogan v Sid Mania was still that late 80s/early 90s WWE aesthetic, whereas by Wrestlemania X it felt like (with the benefit of hindsight) that they were starting to lay the foundations of the Attitude Era. Black became the primary colour, there was more natural light, they started to pack the crowd's in a bit more (probably the MSG effect, like you say). Wrestlemania 9 is still the maddest show. Fucking Roman cosplay in a car park. Love it.

These are the matches I reflexively think of whenever asked something like 'why do you like wrestling?' Bret Hart v Roddy Piper Flair v Macho Man Both from Wrestlemania VIII, the first show I have any real recollection of watching and even as a wee whippersnapper would watch these matches on repeat. I think for much of my childhood these four would be my favourite wrestlers, and the 'type' of wrestler they represent probably still is. Shawn Michaels v Razor Ramon The ladder match from Wrestlemania X. I could have picked Bret v Owen, to be fair, but another show I had on constant rotation and this match in particular stuck out as being so new and fresh. I don't think there is a bigger modernisation or jump in production values/style than between Wrestlemania 9 and 10, its like decades passed between them. Rob Van Dam v Jerry Lynn Living Dangerously 1999. The first match that showed me a world beyond WWE/WCW. I remember being completely enthralled, and would probably say that the matches listed before this got me into WWF wrestling, this match got me into wrestling. Triple H v Rikishi From January 6, 2000 on Smackdown. This was either the first Smackdown ever broadcast in the UK, the first Smackdown broadcast on a Saturday morning in the UK or just the first Smackdown broadcast in the UK that I'd seen. Not sure which. I'd have been 12, waiting to watch ByteSize or some rubbish on a Saturday morning round my mates house who had Sky, and then FUCKING SMACKDOWN CAME ON. This was the first shared experience I'd had watching wrestling, which in itself was special. We were going absolutely mad for Rikishi, bouncing around the room, screaming and chanting. Just a really formative memory for me. Honorable mentions to Undertaker v Mankind in HIAC, and the Samoa Joe v Kenta Kobashi chopfest in ROH. Out of respect for the format of the thread, I wont go into detail but bangers.

I doubt they'd do that, but I could see a world where they split the nights. Sort of like a 2024 version of when they did a Wrestlemania from multiple venues on the same night.

It was Freddie Prinze Jr's big idea, during his brief stint as a writer, and if I remember rightly at the same time they put Hade on ice they took Freddie out back and shot him. Seems like FPJ came in, they were starstruck so gave him everything he wanted... then realised that actually he wasn't what they wanted so threw the baby out with the bathwater.

One of the things UK people miss when they get all wound up about US non-competes, is that they're essentially notice periods or gardening leave, which we don't bat an eyelid at. The US get so wound up about them because they don't really do notice periods (when I worked in the States, my notice period was 'at will' but the courteous thing to do was offer a week or two), so these 'non competes' fill that gap in industries where talent poaching is common. But you get paid, and they very rarely lost longer than 90 Days unless you're a mega-baller. The UK style non-competes are far more pernicious, where you have an unpaid non-compete that lasts far longer than your paid notice. That's proper bullshit.

Good God this show needs a draft. Priest/Uso was naff. Damian Priest seemed unsure on the mic, and Jey is only tolerable as the energetic foil to someone with more gravitas. Essentially, I'm not sure Priest is more than a US title guy and Jey Uso a very good tag guy. Segment was cold, fans didn't seem bought into it particularly and it couldn't feel any further from a World Title feud. It feels like such a comedown of a banner feud after a Mania season where everyone was talking about how wrestling was cool again. Drew McIntyre is the best thing Raw has going for it. I hope CM Punk's arm is fixed sooner rather than later. Get LA Knight on the show, or Owens, or Orton. Give them the platform if Raw needs a lead star.

Look after yourself mate, nothing worst than feeling trapped in a job that you loathe. At least your work seem supportive of you, though? I've recently switched jobs, and nothing about the job or culture is as advertised and I'm trying to avoid panicking or making any rash decisions. Work, at its best, can be great and really enrich your life. At it's worst, regardless of who's to blame, it's an absolute nightmare.

Jey Uso on the mic gets a no from me.

I actually don't necessarily disagree with this, in so much as I don't know that he was the obvious solution to the problem they faced before giving him the title. Angle, Lesnar, Big Show were hurt, Eddie was running on fumes and The Undertaker didn't want to work a full schedule. Quite how they landed on JBL I don't know, but that they did is not really his fault. That said, for a guy that was just a pudgy member of a used-to-be goth, old school tag team, he completely revolutionised his act in what felt like ten minutes and actually got it over. He was a cartoon bad guy in an era where that's exactly what they wanted as they prepared the ground for a cartoon babyface (Cena) to be their top guy. He was Elma Fudd, waiting for Cena to come along and be his Bugs Bunny. He threw himself into the role with gusto, completely threw himself into mad angles like blowing a title up in a bin with the push of a red button or wrestling an inflatable alligator in his pants after being shot by a tranquilliser dart. His was a reign completely without ego, or a sense of the cool heel, he was just the bad guy, willing to show arse at all times. He discovered an ability to cut a completely convincing promo, being silly when he needed or violent when he needed, and he simply became the perfect foil for Cena when Cena became ready. The transition was maybe longer than they anticipated - in part, I think, because he was fun and had a bit of mainstream coverage so they allowed it to grow naturally so Cena could dethrone him at just the right time - but that's what he was, a transitional champion, and I'm willing to die on a hill that says he was one of the best. Smackdown was on its arse, its savior wasn't quite ready... and he kept the throne warm. It's top marks from me, lads.

On Ospreay/Danielson, I have been with my wife since I was 20. 17 years, that is. And throughout that time she has never once got into a wrestling match. Not once. She absolutely hates the stuff. She's spared the odd laugh for R Truth, Shark Boy or Curry Man, but I've never ever seen her engaged in a match. Until today. She loved it. She thought it was a bit too long, and I'll be engaging the divorce lawyers accordingly, but she really enjoyed it and was responding with OOHS and AAHS to the jumpy bits, and OUCHES to the bits where they mashed each others heads. Really made the match that bit more special for me. Seal of approval.

There's definitely an anti-Cody bent to social media comments sections. But, that's not real and is primarily made up of eejits. So, nevermind.

Lads, this is all very wholesome, but can we all discuss the way Danielson and Ospreay summoned goosebumps by backing into opposing corners towards the end of the match, realising they had nothing left in their respective lockers and just had to throw themselves at each other in a winner takes all, fuck-it-lets-go, finishing move battle to the death. It was as close as a wrestling match has ever got to a blockbuster movie. The two main characters, drawing their lightsabres or whatever (I'm not strong on Star Wars, sorry) and just going into battle one last time either for glorious victory or noble death. Amazing.

My point was more the ref screaming for a doctor, then going 'actually, just got to count this lad, then you can deal with the seizure patient'. That's odd, but didn't detract from the match. Just a weird footnote in history that the ref was terrified, but not that terrified. *EDIT* Watched it back. Incredible match. So many little bits buried within that reward repeat viewings. Danielson is the best ever.

Good show, I thought. I didn't love Okada/Pac like some seemed to. I couldn't get past how physically unimpressive Okada seemed, or how poor some of his facials were. Built nicely enough but didn't really grab me. Great seeing Adam Copeland having such a good time. Great signing for AEW. He'd be a good name on Swerve's record when time permits. Ospreay/Danielson might be the best match I've ever seen. It's certainly up there. Astonishing effort. As discussed, didn't love the ending angle really but not enough to detract from what was one of the best things I've ever seen. I think it completely cements Ospreay as a serious talent, and sheds any residual reputation of being a flip flopper. At least it should. His selling throughout was top notch, including the understated switching of the arms for the forearms at the end. Really good. A million stars. Danielson is a joy to watch. Let's do this again soon. A trilogy that gets settled at Wembley? Yes please. Ladder match was fun enough but I was mentally and emotionally exhausted by that point. No time for Jack Perry really, especially since he basically came in dressed as The Devil which was a bit confusing. Main event was fun enough, but all about the coronation. Right choice. An exciting World Champion, and the potential matches with MJF, Ospreay, Hangman, Okada and Omega alone are exciting; not least because they'll be indicative of a main event scene that owes basically nothing to WWE. I think thats when the company is at its strongest, held up by a foundation of non-WWE talent, with your Danielson's and Copeland's just adding a bit of seasoning.

Ospreay/Danielson was incredible, but I didn't love the ending. It wasn't enough to spoil it, obviously, but it didn't make a huge amount of sense and I wonder whether it went completely to plan, or whether the ref played his part properly. Danielson did his mad seizure/freakout, Bryce SCREAMS for the doctor... but then calls him off to allow Ospreay to hit his finisher and so he can count the three. Wrestling lore says the ref stops the match if someone's that hurt. It just sort of made the ref and the doctor look a bit daft. Then I assumed it was so weirdly panicked and odd he must be really hurt, and that made me sad for a bit. Sort of wish he'd just lost normally, the big weirdo. Still, have a million stars.

Ha, it takes a while to be fair. Walk to Alperton, delays on the Picadilly, stop for a kebab on York Way. I thought the atmosphere today was - in the main - really good.

Just got back from Wembley. Went thinking 'well we're going to get hammered, let's just have a lovely day' and ended up without a voice wishing all sorts of unimaginable things on the ref, VAR, Antony, Bruno Fernandez and Antony again. Mark Robins has made the last 7 years supporting Coventry so much more enjoyable than the 30 years I was alive for before that. What a day. Can't stand The Enemy, and think its a little weird to have a Club anthem about how life is shit, we live in a dump and we're never going to escape but... WE'LL LIVE AND DIE, WE'LL LIVE AND DIE IN THESE TOWNS 💙 ...I live in Camden. Shut up.

I will be monitoring this thread for the foreseeable future, checking for any JBL slander. Don't. Just don't.

The Logan Paul Levesque era needs to get tighter on security when it comes to fan signs. Five minutes into Smackdown and I'd already died laughing twice at 'I yeeted all over myself' and 'AJ Cycles' signs. The latter was in the front row, too. Phenomenal suit wearing by Solo. LOVE that he kept his handwraps on... it was like in a WWE game cutscene, where they layer an outfit onto the characters existing ring gear. You never know when you're going to need to thumb someone in the neck, I guess. Paul Heyman/Solo is a tremendous dynamic. Great stuff. It was a good episode, I suppose, but it absolutely reeks of that 'Post Mania, Pre Draft' season. I think Knight to Raw makes sense, but I also wouldn't be against moving Priest, Drew and Punk to Smackdown, and Cody, Styles and someone like Logan Paul to Raw. Really mix it up. I think Drew/Punk/Priest need to move as a package, because Drew/Punk when it happens will be the real main event programme on whatever show its on and Priest... God love him... isn't quite at main event level yet. I also want Cody as far away from the Bloodline as its possible to be. I'd draft him to Dynamite for a year if that's what I had to do.

Just catching up on Raw properly, and I think Sheamus might be on my list of favourite wrestlers - were I ever to sit and make a list. So glad to have him back. Raw desperately needs a draft, especially with Cody seemingly moving to Smackdown. Raw has a load of talent I love watching, but misses a bit of stardust with Cody and Rollins gone. I wonder if they shift LA Knight over and try and heat him up.

Booked Monday off work. Absolutely guaranteed that Danielson/Ospreay and Pac/Okada are shit now.

I'm sure it was just a throwaway comment, just something Jey Uso says, but I thought 'Go get it Uso' before Sami's entrance was weirdly moving. He wasn't the needy little gimp seeking validation but getting mocked anymore. He wasn't even Jey's mate he picked up after leaving for Raw. He was finally, after years of trying, an equal. An Uso. One of the guys. It just felt like a lovely little touch. Go get it Uso, indeed.

I was momentarily cheered by Cody saying he wanted to work both shows as Champion, which felt like a step in the right direction, but they seem to have shut him down on that.