On-topic Post of the Year

[HarmonicGenerator]

6 hours ago, JLM said:

Best Men's Wrestler

Bryan Danielson. HUGE POST WARNING: 

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 Bit of a Usain Bolt situation here, where it should be a toss up for me between Ospreay and Takeshita, but they just so happened to be up against the greatest of all time. That's not even including Swerve, who was spectacular this year as well.

Some of Takeshita's highlights just because I think the round-up is warranted: 

One of the best TV matches of the year against Darby in January. 

The mindblowing spectacle with Ospreay at Revolution and a cracking TV match with Swerve the same month. 

Multiple bangers in DDT in the Spring/early Summer including a slobberknocker against Minoru Suzuki in May. 

Then there was his INSANE performance in the G1 Climax in New Japan. Following his run in that tournament was easily one of my wrestling highlights of the year. Giving Yota Tsuji two of the best singles matches of his career and a career-defining victory in the rematch, elevating Yuya Uemura from nearly-man to main event prospect, gloriously beefy slugfests with Jeff Cobb (my favourite 10 minute match of the year), HENARE and Oleg Boltin, once again giving the latter a star-making win in the process. He also showcased a range I didn't know he had in him in such a short space of time. He was the heel outsider trying to beat the home team heroes against Uemura and HENARE. He was the cocksure blue chipper next-gen obstacle for a sentimental favourite veteran against Goto. He was the babyface underdog battling seemingly impossible odds against Finlay and Narita. He was the ultimate test of confidence against an El Phantasmo in crisis. He did it all, he had the New Japan crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. He elevated his own stock massively, brought the house down every night and elevated almost every opponent he faced. I cannot praise this run enough. He also took a night off from the G1 to have an excellent hardcore brawl against Masato Tanaka in DDT. 

Then in October he had the completely batshit triple threat match with Ricochet and Ospreay at Wrestledream. A week after that on BACK TO BACK NIGHTS he delivered two of the best indy matches of the year against Speedball Mike Bailey and then Josh Alexander. Two wildly different styles as well. Overwhelmingly physically dominant against the speedy and elusive Bailey, then the polar opposite against Josh Alexander, who is one of the rare opponents who is a physical and technical match for him. 

If not for Danielson, Ospreay and AEW's ever-inconsistent handling of him, he would be an easy pick for men's wrestler of the year. 

 

Danielson though, just to confirm this wasn't just All In live event bias and the fact that he's retired, let's recap the year:  

January

- Danielson/Okada 2 in the Tokyo Dome. I was higher on this than many. I loved the story of Danielson trying to break the Rainmaker arm and Okada trying to break the orbital bone. Danielson in his vicious bastard villain role he perfected during the Continental Classic and drawing great fire out of Okada and real concern from the Japanese audience. Ending was a bit abrupt and maybe these two never quite delivered the all-timer they should have, but this was still a cracker. 

- Danielson/Mox vs Kingston and Ortiz, with Danielson trying to rattle the newly unflappable Kingston and get into his head by hurting those he cares about.

- Danielson vs Yuji Nagata. Nagata many years past his prime, limited mobility, the classic "AEW guy vs broken down Japanese legend" format had people pre-emptively rolling their eyes that this was the Collision main event. So of course it was a belter. Again just beautiful in-ring story telling, with the two being dead even in the technical/grappling game and Danielson having to find another gear and beat him in the intensity/war of attrition game. A slightly trimmed down version of a classic New Japan heavyweight main event which managed to captivate an American audience and massively over-deliver. Great character work either side of this too, with Danielson entering as Eddie was still celebrating a win, then Danielson giving Nagata an almost comical amount of respect to Nagata after the match, showing that he DOES respect the greats and those who push him to his limits, just not Eddie Kingston. 

February 

- Danielson vs Hechicero. One of the most joyous TV matches of the year. An eye-popping spectacle, a magnificent showcase for the brilliant Hechicero and Danielson effortlessly flexing his ability to llave it up with one of the best in the world. The referee in this match sometimes could not tell if they were in a submission hold or a pinning combination, such was the tangle of limbs. Danielson showing panic and bewilderment at some of the stuff his submission wizard opponent was pulling out. This match made me an instant fan of Hechicero. Also a phenomenal call from Nigel here "He's realising Hechicero is one of the best technical wrestlers in the world, not a DEFENSELESS CLAM!". 

- ONE WEEK LATER he's in Japan again having one of the matches of the year against Zack Sabre Jr. in Osaka at New Beginning. Don't even know what to say about this one. I think it maybe suffered from being earlier in the year and on a a New Japan show in a year when they're not hot at all but it should be on all MOTY lists. It might be even better than their match from 2023. Beautiful, almost perfect professional wrestling. Silky, dazzling technical stuff from the two best in the world at it, but I felt this one had more venom and intensity to it than the first match too. Find a way to watch this one if you haven't seen it 

- Rounds out the month with quality TV match:  BCC multiman tags against Kingston/FTR and the CMLL boys and another over-delivering singles match against an ageing Japanese legend in Jun Akiyama. 

March

- Danielson vs Kingston at Revolution. Masterpiece. From my Revolution Review: 

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Kingston vs Danielson.

Before the match even started, having Lexy and Renee paraphrase promos  on their behalf was a wonderful touch. They've already said everything, they're both laser focused. Proper big fight feel before they were both in the ring. What a match. Hard to even know where to begin with it. The in-ring storytelling throughout this feud has been some of the best I have ever seen in pro wrestling and this was no exception. We've had Danielson goading Eddie into losing his cool, we've had Eddie making Danielson lose his cool. We've established that Eddie's strikes are one of his biggest strengths against Danielson.

This time Danielson is taking it more seriously than ever. He is not trying to wind up Eddie, he is not engaging in mind games. He is a better wrestler than Kingston. He is a better strategist and a better technical wrestler. He knows this, he has told himself this (perhaps NEEDS to tell himself this?) and he is going to dismantle Eddie and make him tap out. 

It's working, too. He picks apart the leg to slow Eddie down, then moves on to the arm to remove the threat of the Uraken and set up his submission finish. It is all going exactly to plan. Eddie is barely surviving his holds, he is forced to use the weaker left hand for his offense. However, once again, despite all logic and despite Danielson doing exactly what he set out to do, this fucking guy will not lose. The growing frustration in Danielson and the gradual collapse of his gameplan as it went on was a joy to watch. 

On Eddie's side, yes, the strikes are a big asset and he has relied on them in the past. However, the things he has that can't be out-wrestled or outplayed are his resolve and his FIRE. What was once both a strength and at times an achilles heel for Eddie has been channeled into his greatest weapon. He isn't losing to uncontrollable rage, but rather deploying the rage when he needs it the most, and when he has it under control it's something no opponent can plan or account for. 

Perhaps Danielson could be in the World Title picture and headlining on the posters and perhaps that might be a better business move for AEW, but as a fan I am glad he has chosen to do exactly what he's been doing on this run. Will Osprey might have more sizzle and razzmatazz, but for me Danielson is the best pro wrestler in the world. The Messi to Osprey's Ronaldo, for any sport ball heads. 

 - Danielson vs Shane Taylor from Collision. Seamlessly transitioning from his villainous bastard role against Kingston to underdog babyface against a physically dominant opponent. 

- Danielson vs Shibata from Collision. LOVED this match. Completely evenly matched in the technical/grappling game. Constantly trying to outfox each other and not quite pulling it off. I know there has been a lot of discussion about the "let's take turns to hit each other now" exchange and how it's over done, but this was one of my favourite uses of it. They knew they were heading for a time limit draw because they could not best each other on the mat, so they mutually decided to settle it via a face smacking tie breaker. A joy to watch, easily one of Shibata's best AEW matches if not the best. 

- Danielson/BCC vs CMLL All Stars in Arena Mexico. The HEAT for this match. My goodness. Danielson/BCC/Sydal going full heel for this one, and rightly so when Mistico and Blue Panther are two of the most beloved wrestlers in Lucha history. The modern day superhero and a bona fide living legend. One of those special events that makes it clear why Arena Mexico is a bucket list destination for wrestlers and fans alike. 

- BCC/Shibata vs Archer and The Righteous. Textbook Collision main event cracker to round off a frankly absurd month of work for our man. 

 

April 

- Bryan Danielson vs Blue Panther, submission match in Arena Mexico. One of the feelgood matches of the year here. Truly heart-warming to watch. The CMLL fans clearly overjoyed to have Danielson paying them another visit and to be witnessing a dream match. Danielson beyond thrilled to be there. He cannot contain his joy. Wrestling an idol in front of a rabid Arena Mexico crowd in the main event AND getting to be the dastardly American heel rocking the USA garb? How could you not love it. The American Dragon has never been more American. Panther is 64 years old, his limitations are there for all to see, and yet they go 25 minutes, the old man pulls out some moves nobody would ever have dreamt of seeing, and ultimately none of that matters anyway because the heat for this is beyond nuclear. This perhaps the match that best epitomises the joy of Danielson's retirement year. All In is my show of the year, him winning the title is my moment of the year, the match is my match of the year. However, the fact that he got to do stuff like this fills me with just as much joy. The best pro wrestler and, at the same time, a big old pro wrestling nerd living his dream. 

- More quality TV matches, with the highlight being the Bunkhouse Brawl with Claudio against Takeshita and Fletcher.

- Danielson vs Ospreay, AEW Dynasty. Near flawless pro wrestling match, with only the polarising finish maybe knocking off a fraction of a star or whatever it is that stopped it being utterly perfect. Beyond rabid heat for the start of this and it lived up to all expectations. A dream match on paper and a dream match in practise. Wonderful. 

May/June

Bit of a quieter spell here, partly due to Forbidden Door season derailing the promotion for a bit. Still some highlights though: 

- Bad ass performance in Anarchy in the Arena at Double or Nothing. 

- Danielson/Claudio vs Top Flight. This one stands out simply because I was engaged and entertained and at times rooting for Top Flight when my interest in the act had already fallen off a cliff. 

- Took time out of his busy schedule to give Satnam Singh the best match of his career and provide one of the best visuals of the year. 

- Danielson vs Shingo Takagi at Forbidden Door. This was hampered by the Owen tournament telegraphing the outcome but still managed to be really bloody good. Bryan heroically fighting from underneath with a head injury against his more explosive and powerful opponent. Slightly underrated match in my opinion, and perhaps lost in the shuffle of a preposterously long show. 

July

- Belting match with Pac on Dynamite in the Owen Cup. From my review of the episode:

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Tremendous opener from Pac and Danielson. Fantastic heat throughout, amazing chemistry, got a "holy shit" chant at the opening bell but managed to completely live up to that expectation. I was 100% sure Danielson was winning, but he is so good that I still worried for a moment when he was in the brutaliser at the end. Belting match; the show was so full of big emotional moments that it felt like a distant memory by the end of the night, but it was so, so good. Any other week this would have been a worthy main event and comfortably the highlight of the show. 

- Even better match with Hangman Page in the Owen Cup. Again, this one ended up being underrated due to circumstances. The sensational Hangman story and performance meant we were absolutely flabbergasted by the outcome and that definitely dominated the discussion, but this was a stupendous match and these two had incredible chemistry. 

 

August

- That tune up match against Double J! All of their interactions both in and out of the ring too. Sensational storytelling. 

-  Danielson vs Swerve, All in 2024. Match of the year, my sentimental favourite match ever I think. Again will go to my review for this one:

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Danielson vs Swerve

Being inside Wembley Stadium for the last 40 minutes of this show was the best pro wrestling has ever been for me. The highest highs I have ever felt watching it, the most emotionally invested I have ever been, and witnessing one of the career best performances from the greatest pro wrestler of all time. Perfection. That's without even giving Swerve his due. He is performing at such a level right now that in ANY other circumstance I'd want him to remain champion for the next five years.

The Danielson meditation video before he came out was out of this world. Starting off as a love letter to pro wrestling and then overlapping with the montage of his family. An amazing nostalgic career retrospective montage but also perfectly telling the story of a man having to choose between the two biggest loves of his life. The overlapping story of the character and the man have rarely felt more real than that. That's been the key to this whole thing for me. I totally understand the criticism that putting the career on the line telegraphs the finish, but this is one scenario where I could 100% believe he'd do it. He'd retire on the big stage, massively put over Swerve, not push his luck any further with his body and keep his promise to his daughter. Like, probably not because he can't help himself and there are more matches left to do and there's a big Washington show etc. etc I get all of that. But because it's Bryan Danielson, he COULD just call it in service of the big story on the big stage to pass the torch to Swerve, who would be an exceptionally worthy recipient of said torch.

As such, my jaded wrestling fan brain was out the window for this one. I was biting on EVERYTHING. Biting on near falls that were OBVIOUSLY not going to be the real finish BUT WHAT IF THEY WERE? What if it's that moment when Undertaker doesn't kick out against Brock and the collective life is sucked out of an entire stadium of people in unison? I was grateful to see that my entire block was standing for almost the whole match because I found it very very difficult to sit down.

Both entrances were PERFECT. First tear of the evening shed for The Final Countdown chorus in unison. Swerve felt like the biggest deal on this Earth for his. Bun B in the house for a brand new remix of Big Pressure? Outstanding. Swerve wearing the Jimmy Rave robe for his most important matches is the most lovely tribute, but isn't it the happiest coincidence that he looks magnificent in it as well. Then the extended and THUNDEROUS "Who's House?" call and response from Nana. Talk about a big match feel, god damn this was immense. Couldn't see it in the arena, but watching it back that top with the heads of his previous opponents mounted on spikes was the most Swerve thing imaginable too.

Distinctly remember going "oh fuck off!" and trying not to cry again during Roberts' introduction for Danielson and the cut to his family on the big screens.

The nervous tension at the beginning of this was something else. Bryan doing the big sprinboard somersault effectively broke the tension because he had the advantage and looked confident, so it was "safe" to start cheering again. Whenever he wasn't clearly in control he was in danger of losing; that was how it felt for almost the entire thing.

The cycle of Danielson rallying and putting together a big flurry only to be heartbreakingly shut down was done so well, helped by Danielson's look of ever increasing desperation. The big flurry of flying knees in the corner only to be shut down by a flatliner, kicking Swerve's head in into Cattle Mutilation, only to be destroyed with a vertebreaker. Hope into gut punch into hope into gut punch. Loved the contrast between Swerve and Ospreay there too. Ospreay drops Danielson on his head and the sight of the medical staff checking him over makes him question ever using the move again. Swerve drops Danielson on his head and chases the doctors out of the ring so he can follow up with the stomp.

The last of the "big rally into gut punch" heartbreakers was one of the best no-sells of a move I have ever seen. Firstly the new take on the pro wrestling "I'm sorry" was just beautiful. Danielson apologising to his family for refusing to stay down and not fully giving up wrestling for them just yet. Then the best Hulk Up spot, bloodied, manic, staring straight at his family as he powered through Swerve's kicks. Then he hits the Busaiku knee! We all lose our collective minds in the stadium, then the sound of elation turning into shock and then genuine concern that this is it for our hero. I have rewatched that bit so many times already. Similar to Hangman drinking Swerve's blood, it is so striking to hear a massive crowd of people go from cheering to a completely different emotion, in unison, over the space of 1-2 seconds. Flipping magical stuff. One of Swerve's finest supervillain moments to date, if not the best one yet. That near fall on Big Pressure there nearly ended me. I don't even know what noise I made. It was some kind of scream/howl/cheer hybrid. I thought my CFF would be laughing at me but he was right there with me by this point.

I 100% bit on the near fall after Hangman's distraction too. Again in most other scenarios I'd be cynical and suspect a false finish there, but in that moment I wanted it to be the win so badly I was willing to believe it. Then the last 5 minutes all hope of ever regaining my shit was gone. Welled up again after Swerve tapped. Glorious match, haven't felt an atmosphere like it. Ended up staying in the stadium util two thirds of the people had gone because I didn't want it to be over. Thankfully Danielson and family stuck around and the people continued singing and Yes-ing for a good spell after the PPV went off air. The "Yes" chants on the street coming out of the stadium were also tremendous.

Not a perfect show. Some of the undercard "good" rather than great, and Hook/Jericho and Mone/Baker were not All In-worthy matches. The high points were SO BLOODY HIGH though and they were peppered throughout the show (even Hook/Jericho had the Taz spot!), and the last hour I entered some kind of otherworldy pro wrestling nirvana that I will never forget. A Sting appearance followed up with one of the best wrestling matches I've ever seen that made me cry multiple times, ending with the euphoria of the result we all desperately wanted. Hard to beat that.

However, Swerve should have sold the shoulder more consistently in the middle third so I have to give it a rating of outlaw mudshow garbage. 

 

 

 The End - September/October

- vs. Jack Perry. One of if not Perry's best singles match. Suffered for me because I never doubted the outcome for a second, but still another top tier performance from the great man and also brought the best out of Perry. 

- vs Moxley. As I mentioned at the time, the heat for the opening bell for this match was something truly special. Truly spine tingling stuff. The heartbreaking outcome and the highly controversial plastic bag spot discussion overshadowing the feud have led to this match also being pretty underrated. It was very, very good. I was gripped for the duration. Mox was a vicious bastard, Danielson was at his emotive underdog best. 

What's mad is that the above doesn't even really factor in his promos and overall character work. That's just the matches. It doesn't even include that his go home promo on Dynamite in Cardiff nearly made me bawl my eyes out, or how he made me instantly forget about any reservations I might have about any booking/creative direction and get me fully invested in what he's doing next. I have never cared more about the outcome of a pro wrestling match than the All In Main Event. I remember saying at the time when we all wanted #JusticeforHangman that it it would only take one promo from Danielson to erase any doubts about the All In Direction. Then Supremo posted the very promo which I believe was posted the same flipping day. That's how good he was. 

So yeah. It's D-Bry for me this year I reckon. 

 

I may come back and fill in the rest but I'm a bit spent after that post. 

 

JLM with a late contender in the Awards thread (this can count as a 2024 post can’t it?) detailing Bryan Danielson’s amazing year. It’s in the spoiler tags

[Frankie Crisp]

15 hours ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

JLM with a late contender in the Awards thread (this can count as a 2024 post can’t it?) detailing Bryan Danielson’s amazing year. It’s in the spoiler tags

[RedTwoster]

Since there’s no 2025 thread yet and I don’t feel it’s my place to create one, I’ll pop this belter of a review from @Supremo in here. This will take some beating for my personal post of the year for the takedown of the MJF/Jarrett feud alone, but the whole thing is fantastic.

[RedTwoster]

@Dr. Alan Grant’s Royal Rumble reviews deserve a shout in this category when the 2025 awards come about - any of the reviews really, but here’s a link to his most recent one. Very entertaining stuff. 

[Devon Malcolm]

Been choke laughing at this ever since I read it.

 

[HarmonicGenerator]

2 hours ago, wandshogun09 said:

Saw the thread title and immediately thought of the Hollywood Blonds. Beaten to it but, yeah, they were absolutely fantastic. You know an act made an impact when something so short-lived is remembered as if it was a 5 year plus run. Granted a lot of that is because of what Austin went on to be and to a lesser extent Pillman too with the ‘Loose Cannon’ stuff. But the Blonds were legitimately great in their own right and Austin and Pillman as a team was only a thing for around 10 months tops!

They were incredible together. Can’t even remember the timeline now, if they were friends before they were thrown together as a team or what. But the chemistry they had both in the ring and as personalities was off the charts. I remember when I did my WCW 92/93 reviews on here, I had fond memories of their stuff going in and I knew I’d enjoy going back to it, but it still amazed me just how quickly they clicked as a team. They started teaming around the January of 93, I think. Weren’t even called the ‘Hollywood Blonds’ yet, didn’t have the matching gear or anything. Pillman was still in his tiger striped Bengals pants and Austin was in his standard ‘Stunning’ Steve trunks. They were chucked together as a bit of a makeshift team but the matches were quality from the off. I think by about March the whole thing was complete. The team name, the ring attire, the lot. 

And they looked the business. From what I recall Austin saying on one of his DVDs, this was all Pillman. It wasn’t WCW’s creative masterminds (shock!), Pillman came up with the name, the matching vests, the trunks with the stars on the cock and arse. Looking back, obviously WCW weren’t planning it at the time but putting Austin with Pillman was probably the thing that really made his personality come out more than anything. He always had potential but he was kind of lost in the shuffle in the Dangerous Alliance (another great shout for this thread) but it felt like he really became comfortable in his mic and heel work in that 10 months with Pillman. They were a spectacular pair of dickheads. Particularly opposite the Horsemen. 

This was a favourite of mine. As well as Pillman dressed up as Flair and doing ‘A Flair For The Old’. And Austin looking Arn Anderson up and down during one promo and going “The last time I saw a body like that, it had an apple stuffed in its mouth and it was roasting over an open flame”. They brought so much energy and fun to an otherwise struggling show at the time. 

They were the best thing in WCW by miles in 93. So of course, what did the geniuses in Atlanta do? They cut the bollocks off them, split the team up out of the blue and proceeded to do…checks notes…fuck all of note with either of them in 1994. Well, Austin had some cracking matches with Steamboat but anything he gained from that was shat all over by having him jobbed out to Hacksaw Jim in 35 seconds on PPV. And Pillman was back babyface, despite instantly becoming way more interesting and entertaining the nanosecond they turned him heel in late 92. No. He was back smiling and high-fiving and doing nothing memorable until becoming a Horseman himself in 95 and beginning the transformation into the ‘Loose Cannon’.

Even the way they split the Blonds up was a load of old arse. For those who don’t remember (and why would you? It was so forgettable), around October 93, Colonel Robert Parker was sniffing around and making it clear he wanted to become Austin’s manager. But he wasn’t interested in Pillman for some reason. Bear in mind, this is the same Col Rob who wanted to manage Van Bastard Hammer before Sid came in and crushed him at Slamboree! Anyway, Pillman got the hump about Parker messing with the team. So he attacked Parker on an episode of Saturday Night, which lead to Austin battering Pillman. That’s it. That’s it! Ten months of the hottest thing the company had going for it, thrown into a bucket of ice and killed dead.

Suppose you’re thinking ‘Oh well, bet they had a banging blow-off match at a big PPV at least’. Wrong.

This was it. They got 7 minutes on the Clash Of The Champions in November and Austin won after Parker interfered. That’s your lot. No big grudge rematch at Starrcade the following month. No revenge for Pillman. He just ate the loss like a chump and moved on while Austin moved on to Dustin Rhodes as if nothing happened. They had sod all to do with each other again until they rocked up in the WWF. And sadly, Pillman’s crash, injuries and subsequent self medicating scuppered any chance of them capitalising on their chemistry and history during Attitude Era WWF.

As you can probably tell, this thread has opened up an old wound for me. That period in WCW, for all its shit points, did have some gems. And none shone brighter for me than the Blonds as a team. The series they had against Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas was the highlight but there was also that 2/3 Falls match with Flair and Arn at the Clash and they had some really good TV matches against the odd couple but surprisingly enjoyable team of 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell. They even dragged something watchable out of Erik Watts (teaming with Bagwell) at Superbrawl 3. And there’s a one-off match against Flair and Steamboat from the Royal Albert Hall that I have to see (Vault, do your thing!). I find it difficult to believe there wasn’t more meat on the bone and more mileage in them as a team. Not forever. But some matches with Sting and Bulldog (who were teaming at the time) would’ve been loads of fun. More stuff with Flair and Arn maybe. I guess it wouldn’t have mattered by mid 94 anyway. Hogan would’ve seen to it that they’d be looking at the lights for him and Beefcake, no doubt. 

RIP Hollywood Blonds

Jan 93 - Oct 93 

They leave behind a bunch of fun matches, promos and this banger entrance theme from Turner’s stock music library (later used by Marty Jannetty, Blitzkrieg and probably 15 other wallies on Thunder in 99)…

This post has gone on longer than their run as a team! 

Wand on Blond(s).

 

 

 

[HarmonicGenerator]

I also enjoyed Supremo vs Charlotte Flair this week:

49 minutes ago, Supremo said:

They’ll write books about Charlotte Flair. The worst there is. The worst there was. The worst there ever will be. A fascinating case study of, “imagine HBK in 1995, but without any of the talent or work to justify the ego and unprofessionalism?”

It’s almost enough to feel sorry for her. Promoted and positioned as the greatest of all time, yet cursed with one of the most limited skill sets in the entire industry. A woman trapped in time. Taught a very specific match and promo type in 2014, which she’s never once deviated from or attempted to develop. Nor encouraged to. Boring and shit a decade ago, but positively embarrassing now. It’s 2025, Charlotte. Not every promo has to be this nasty, aloof, dickhead, meta burial of your opponent. You could actually work together and tell an interesting story beyond, “I’m the best and you’re a prick.” Eddie Kingston is turning in his grave.

It’s like the entire business has left her behind and she’s this tragic echo of distilled WWE in the mid-2010s. If Daniel Bryan came onto the scene now, Charlotte Flair would still be pitching that they take the piss out of him for being a short, vegan dork. That’s how the business works, right? Right?

Good for Tiffy. Forced to swim with sharks, so knocked the shark out cold. The fuck else was she supposed to do? This has been going on for years, nobody higher up seems to have a problem with it, so the only option she had left was to lower herself to this nonsense and start slinging shit herself. Felt like one of those YouTube videos where some poor kid is getting bullied, so decides to unleash hell. The Zangief Kid!

Funniest thing will be when they don’t even acknowledge what a train wreck this was, or how much the Charlotte problem has gotten out of hand. They’ll probably congratulate Charlotte on, “elevating,” Tiffy to her level.

Hoping for a Brawl 4 All match at Mania.

 

[HarmonicGenerator]

Back again, to nominate Supremo’s Mania Night 1 review. Which is in the spoiler tags, don’t look if you haven’t watched the show and don’t want spoilers

Spoiler

2 hours ago, Supremo said:

Night One was a perfectly acceptable, perfectly forgettable affair. I didn’t care about almost anything, and nothing felt big or special, but the action itself was fun enough.

Jey vs. Gunther was about as good as it could be. Solid, if unremarkable. Nice, feel good moment, but surely the clock starts now for how quickly Jey loses the belt. Wouldn’t be shocked if he loses by Backlash.

I love that it’s becoming lore than Gunther always bottles it on the big shows. Great little story. Makes his dickhead heel character even better, strutting around for twelve months like Billy Big Bollocks, conveniently ignoring the fact that he’s a Wrestlemania choke artist. Prick.

New Day vs. War Raiders will go down in history as a match that happened. Save us, Big E!

Jade vs. Naomi continued Jade’s WWE run of never being able to have a match as good as the Rampage matches she’d have with people like Anna Jay. It was fine, I just wish Jade was even half as good as her aura demands. For every incredible look or amazing moment of athleticism, there’s two or three moments where she stops and stares into space, trying to remember or figure out what to do. It’s like the Incredible Hulk stopping mid-fight like Homer Simpson to engage his brain. Kills the moment every time.

Jacob Fatu vs. LA Knight was great fun. His success ratio remains rubbish, but you’ve got to at least credit Knight for always being willing to try the silly, over complicated spots. They hit here and Jacob looked amazing winning the belt. Jacob and Gunther definitely sharing an Easter Share Bag of Malteasers backstage. Both quietly putting the beef back on, both looking much better for it.

It wasn’t the Butterbean knock out we were expecting, but Charlotte vs. Tiffy clearly had more than a couple of potatoes. Poor Tiffy looked like the end of Rocky 4! Bruised forehead. Busted lip. Teeth all fucked up. Wonder if that was Charlotte’s receipt for the remark about her divorces, or the fact neither woman was willing to wear their Away Kit.

”You can watch as much tape as you want of Charlotte Flair over the years, but she’s evolved. She’s evolved as a super star. She’s evolved as a competitor.” - Michael Cole. Hard disagree, Mike.

The El Grande Americano thing is so close to being great, but the constant whiff of MAGA keeps ruining it. I smiled at them bottling it during the ring introductions, trying to have their cake and eat it and talk themselves out of, “The Gulf of America.” Awful people and cowards at the same time. The worst.

Is Vikingo Fed-bound, then? He’s not signed to AEW? Genuinely jealous of people who don’t know who he is. People’s heads are going to fall off when he fills his special meter on Raw.

Hilarious that Lex Luger went to Wrestlecon because they offered more money. Hope he wore this shirt.

Does anyone know if any celebrities attended this show? Wasn’t sure if they mentioned it.

Absolutely wild considering how many ads they did have on the broadcast that on more than a handful of occasions the audio would dip and they’d cut to a wide shot, seemingly for them to add even more ads for the American audience. Can only imagine how bonkers those ads are, if they’ve decided they’re only suitable for the US feed. “Feeling down? Why not try some delicious alcohol and prescription drugs! Having a bad day? Have you considered a GUN?”

Best thing on the whole show was the CM Punk video package before his entrance. Imagine that video leading to a singles match for the Disputed WWE Title. Would’ve been incredible.

Punk vs. Seth vs. Roman was great fun in that WWE way, where it’s just a wild, daft video game, but I didn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything. I spent a solid half of the match getting distracted by Roman’s gear. I couldn’t decide which white was brighter. His boots, his Nintendo Power Glove, or his turkey teeth. All of them would pass the Daz Doorstep Challenge with flying colours. Brighter than the sun. Like he’d used a dozen bottles of Tippex in Gorilla.

A Wrestlemania main event built around Paul Heyman’s acting is not for me. Man’s doing a school play, thinking it’s worthy of an Emmy. What on Earth was he doing after giving Roman the low blow, too? Wiggling his arm around like he couldn’t get a car into gear. Made it look like Roman had the angriest cock in the world. Harley Cameron now only the second best ventriloquist in pro-wrestling!

Funny that Heyman seemed absolutely knackered after only delivering two low blows. The Penguin was so winded he had to spend the rest of the match sitting in the corner like Raven! The slightest physical excursion and he’s left on his arse like Vince tearing his quads. “Go home, lads. I’ve got a stitch.”

Ridiculously predictable finish that will undoubtedly teach a very bad lesson to all the kids watching. Threaten to stamp on people’s heads and then when you don’t actually do it, they’ll still owe you a favour! Worried about your grades? Tell your teacher you could have stamped on his head, but didn’t! Worried you won’t get all the birthday gifts you hope for? Remind your parents you could stamp on their heads, but haven’t!

I suspect Seth and Heyman will be fucking insufferable in no time at all.

“I am a visionary, I am a revolutionary…”

Anyway, that’s far too many words. I am a fan after all, not a critic. So just for Hunter, I’ll try and sum it up in as few words as possible.

4/10. Bret would’ve done better. With tears in his eyes.

 

 

[Gus Mears]

Supremo's love letter to Hangman Page, which I wholeheartedly endorse.

8 hours ago, Supremo said:

Hell yeah. The ultimate babyface in 2025.

“The son of a tobacco farmer who as a young man, worked alongside immigrants, during the summers of his youth. And in doing so, learned the values of hard work, collective action and, perhaps most importantly... respect for his fellow man.”

The whole thing was an absolute masterpiece. You could write a book on it. The level of thought and detail put into it is levels above anything I’ve ever seen.

The video of him watching the sun rise, the return of the old music, the camera having to spin to the babyface side. Excalibur’s incredible description of him. The gorgeous white gear. How fucking violent the fork spot was (you’ve messed with the wrong Cowboy Psycho, Mox!). The way all the run-ins only evened the playing field and absolutely no-one laid a finger on Moxley, proving Hangman could do it on his own.

It’s probably my favourite match ever. He’s my favourite wrestler ever. This thing with Swerve is probably my favourite storyline ever. Absolutely incredible that the same guy who was screaming, “HE CAME INTO MY HOME AND THEY CHOSE HIM!”managed to grow, change, turn it all around and then accept a helping hand from his forever nemesis.

When it’s good, it’s fucking great. This was as fucking great as it’s ever fucking been.

 

[HarmonicGenerator]

Supremo's latest love letter to the Hangman!

 

3 minutes ago, Supremo said:

Tha Champion of the Fucking World, Hangman Adam Page.

Of course he’s great in-ring, delivering absolute belters, but that’s never felt less important. In 2025, everyone is a good wrestler (except Karrion Kross). Everyone has good to great matches (except Karrion Kross). It’s everywhere else that My Cowboy leaves the rest of them in his dust. Acting. Character. Storytelling. Judged on those attributes, “best wrestler in the world,” doesn’t even cover it. He’s an evolutionary leap in what this medium could and should be. If you’re in this business and you’re not trying to take inspiration from Hangman then you’re a complete idiot. He’s the blueprint of the future.

When the goal of almost everyone else is to stumble across something that gets over and then spam it for as long as possible (“Yadadamean?”), this man is writing masterpieces. Intricate, gripping arcs where you can follow his character through struggles, growth and change. There’s no-one I’ve felt as connected to or invested in after watching this nonsense for over thirty years.

I had to go back and check that the cage match against Swerve was less than a year ago. Absolutely crazy how much character development he’s squeezed into twelve months.

At All Out last year, I was disgusted and ashamed at how far he’d fallen. He was a genuinely scary, broken man. For the rest of my life, I’ll remember that woman screaming in fear when he threatened to go back to attack Swerve as the credits rolled.

Fast forward a few months and I just felt pity on him. That flash of concern and regret, muttering, “what?!” under his breath when Christopher Daniels explained that their Texas Death Match had ended his career. Oh, Cowboy. What have you done?!

Then the slow realisation that his humanity was returning. The incredible promos leading into The Owen Hart Finals. The lost, broken, sad eyes slowly coming alive again, my belief in him returning as he started to believe in himself.

And then probably the greatest crescendo of all time. Probably my favourite match ever. Swerve handing him the chain gave me a genuine limp in my throat. He did it. He saved us. He saved himself. He saved Moxley’s garbage run with The Death Riders. The cowboy rolled into town and saved the fucking day.

And all of this is without even mentioning how he seems to be one of the few good eggs. Bluesky social media  handle on his graphic. Always refers to the belt as the, “Men’s World Championship,” to put both the men’s and women’s on equal pegging. Exists as a genuinely fantastic role model for young men, pushing that it’s okay to be vulnerable and empathetic. More vital than ever in this current MAGA nightmare we’re all living through. And away from the ring, when he’s not drinking his enemy’s blood, he spends all his time gardening. Because of course he does. He’s the best.

Also, funny. Exhibit 34:

So yeah, I quite like Hangman Adam Page. Right now, I’d argue he’s the Heel, Babyface, Match and Promo of the Year. So he’s the best wrestler in the world. It’s either him or Seth Rollins.

 

Edited August 29, 2025 by HarmonicGenerator

[air_raid]

EDIT - it made me sad, it shouldn’t have.

I shouldn’t have bothered saying anything, now it’s embarrassing.

Edited September 28, 2025 by air_raid
I am not a real American.

[gmoney]

"Just noticed"

[IANdrewDiceClay]

The Hulkster getting the post of the year award.

[tiger_rick]

12 minutes ago, NeverYield said:

A solid BFG i thought 

 

[BomberPat]

that was my feedback on Mark Rylance's 2016 performances too.