The Deadline fallout of episode of NXT drew 678,000 viewers this week, up 52,000 viewers from the prior week and their best number in a month. The show drew a 0.18 rating in 18-49, down 0.01 from last week, and placed #6 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
WWE and Warner Bros. Discovery resume negotiations over Raw TV rights
In what could be major news in a few weeks or months, PWInsider.com is reporting that WWE is back negotiating with Warner Bros. Discovery for the possibility of moving Monday Night Raw to either TNT or TBS come Fall 2024.
The story says that TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro, WWE President Nick Khan, and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque were in New York City at the WBD headquarters meeting with WBD’s Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer Bruce Campbell to discuss a potential deal. The meeting was held this past Monday and lasted several hours.
The door between the two parties was relatively “shut” up until a few weeks ago and WWE moved on from WBD discussions but everything changed when CM Punk returned to the company. David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery is said to be very high on CM Punk and Punk said in an AEW in-ring promo months ago when Collision launched that Slazav calls him “one bil Phil.”
WWE is still shopping around for Monday Night Raw and are hoping for a major media rights increase in the vicinity of $400 million per year for the show. Smackdown has already been set to move to USA Network next October while NXT is moving to network television on The CW Network.
WBD currently airs all AEW programming and this could present a very interesting scenario if they do indeed get Monday Night Raw. AEW’s current deal with WBD runs until the end of 2024 and Tony Khan said that he met with WBD officials two days ago, repeating the fact that the relationship between the two parties is solid. There are also unconfirmed rumors that WBD owns a stake in AEW but there was never any evidence of that.
Triple H and Nick Khan did go to Los Angeles the Monday following Survivor Series to meet more potential suitors for the show.
Tickets for Smackdown and Backlash in France to go on sale on January 12
Tickets for the Smackdown and WWE Backlash premium live event in Lyon, France will go on sale on Friday, January 12, 2024.
Only combo tickets will be available for sale at the beginning and it’s highly likely that most, if not all, will sell out pretty quick considering the demand there is for these two shows.
An exclusive pre-sale will be held a few days before and you can register your interest at https://www.wwe.com/backlash-2024-presale to receive the pre-sale code.
Smackdown and Backlash, to be held on May 3 and May 4 respectively, will emanate from the LDLC Aren. It’s the first WWE PLE ever from the country of France.
Dynamite TV Report for 12/13/2023
Venue: College Park Center, Arlington, Tx
This is just way too many matches. Especially with four of them being tournament ones across different leagues.
*****
Joe’s music welcomed us to the show as the big Samoan marched the ramp. Who’s he going to accuse? They ran through the whole angle from last week – Max left laying backstage.
You’ll be shocked to hear Joe was very popular. He’s come looking for answers. He made a promise to MJF that he’d keep him whole till the ppv but last week was made a liar. Potentially jeopardizing his title shot.
He saw a ‘certain beer brand that a certain Cowboy likes’ and smelled ‘stetson and disappointment’, searched high and low for Page, who ‘was missing’. He didn’t have to wait long tonight for Page who headed straight down. The announcers asked whether MJF was trying to frame Hangman.
Page said if there’s something Joe wants to accuse him of, ‘why don’t you just say it like the man I thought you were’. He said he doesn’t care about any of the BtYBB silliness or any of the whodunnit stuff.
Joe implied he’d already made up his mind about Page.
‘Well Joe, if there’s something you wanna do about it, why don’t you do it?’.
As he’s been doing for weeks and possibly months now, Roderick Strong watered down a main event segment by interrupting. Even if yelling ‘SAMOAAAA’ continues to be amusing.
Joe looked furious as Strong and the Kingdom hit the ramp, of course now sans wheelchair. He called Page his ‘young boy’ but that Joe ought to listen to Page. Strong painted Max as the Devil, with more detail this time:
Jay White asks for a title match – gets attacked, the Acclaimed lose a tag along with Max – get attacked, the goons were about to attack Max a few weeks back but conveniently didn’t when Joe saved him and then last week we never saw MJF actually get attacked. ‘It’s obviously Max, Max is the Devil’.
Page tried to interrupt, Strong dismissed him, Page whacked him with a right. Aubrey hit the ring and it seems this is our opener. Which is just preposterous. Even more preposterous, she called for the bell despite Strong attacking Page from behind while he was jawing with Joe.
The latter left up the ramp. It also felt like that segment ended abruptly, like it was halfway through rather than on a cliffhanger.
Hangman Adam Page vs Roderick Strong
Backstory: NONE
This’d better be a strong win for Page.
Who quickly took over with a flurry of chops across two corners. Strong briefly hit back before being pounded down in the corner, crowd behind Hangman. Though a brief ‘neck strong’ chant played as Page hit a fallaway and running shooting star with Strong kicked out of at barely two.
More chops and strikes until Strong hit a kick and stomped Page in the corner. Of course a backbreaker, Page out at barely one, Strong working a facelock on the mat, Page to his feet, whip reversed, big boot, snap suplex, kickout at barely one.
Noticeable uptick in kickouts that aren’t ‘near falls’ the last couple weeks.
Strong back to chops in the ropes, elevated to the apron, springboard lariat from Page which just about connected and a vaulting press which absolutely did. The Kingdom did the usual egregious interference which makes everyone but the heel look dumb to prevent an ourihara.
‘It was great teamwork, it really, really was’. Sometimes Tony Schiavone is so excellent at adding to heel heat and sometimes he just murders it.
Page took a backbreaker across the ringpost, crashing to ringside to bring the break. A little repetitive.
Strong worked the wrist mid-ring, Page to his feet, gut-shotting his way free, exchange of rights, Page ducked a back elbow, Strong ducked a discus, Page fought off a backbreaker, both smashed the other with simultaneous discus lariats. Page picking up post-break.
Both down, Aubrey at three as Strong got to his feet, smacking Page’s back with a right, one to the face, Page shook it all off to smash Strong in the corner, Stone Cold-like stomps – to the degree Excalibur called it a ‘Texas mud hole’ – crowd loud for that.
‘Cowboy S’ from the crowd as Strong got a boot up, ducking a lariat but hauled into a DVD for a near fall. This is edging toward going too long given the relative level of the guys. Page smashed him with a boot in the corner, set him atop the buckle, biting the forehead (which is becoming a little overdone), Excalibur said it showed a more aggressive Page, something he wouldn’t have done before the match with Swerve.
He has seemed generally more aggressive. Be a nice pivot for his character if so.
Strong avoided a moonsault, Page landed on his feet, pop-up powerbomb, Strong out at two. This has officially entered ‘good match’ > getting someone over territory. Strong hit a tiger driver, high stack for two but right into the Stronghold. Page got the ropes. Ohhh the drama, was sure he’d tap.
Taz was enjoying himself repeating the word ‘butt-tocks’. Speaking of, the Kingdom both hit the apron again for ages, Page fought them off, ourihara took both out, Strong blocked a Buckshot but was cradled for two, Page hit a deadeye to win.
At least he fought all the heels off single-handed but Strong is a comedy character and should not be pushing Page like this. Especially if the story is he’s newly focused.
Probly a good match; hard to care. Would enjoy a Joe/Page feud though, that’d be fun on-mic and in-ring. Two intense, believable guys.
Winner: Hangman Adam Page
Brody King vs Andrade El Idolo (Blue League)
Backstory: Match three for both, both are undefeated at 2-0
As he made his entrance, they showed Andrade battering Danielson Saturday and his shoving contest with Claudio. ‘The Modern American Triple Crown Champion’ is what Excalibur said Andrade wants to become. Just rolls off the tongue. They were at pains to make sure Andrade wasn’t considered a heel.
Collar-and-elbow, whip, clash of shoulders, no dice, Andrade to a headlock, grounding the bigger man. The announcers talked about Andrade gaining muscle (almost as if he’s headed somewhere which values it). King kept trying to suplex his way free, El Idolo maintained the headlock until being elevated behind Brody, though immediately snatched it back.
Even holding on through a belly-to-back. They are clearly intent on branding that ‘Modern American Triple Crown’ name. And branding is what it sounds like.
A few barks from an otherwise quiet crowd as Brody finally freed himself, shoulder block, senton splash, feeling his neck after the long headlock. Chop battle in the corner, Andrade in particular lighting up the big guy who barely registered them. Andrade tried to flip to the apron, was snatched into a choke across the ropes, slipped free, cross body from the top. For two.
King headed outside for a breather, El Idolo followed via moonsault. They mentioned that tie-breakers come into play if wrestlers are level on points after five matches i.e. if Andrade wins here and he and Brody are level on points, Andrade would advance.
He was bleeding from inside the mouth as King sent him sprawling to the floor with a chop.
Ads.
Back to a battle of chops and strikes, Andrade reeling to the corner, strong whip to the opposite buckle, crowd barking, Andrade up to intercept the cannonball with a low dropkick. But couldn’t lift big Brody via body slam, settling for a dragon screw instead, a second, diving forearm, kip-up, King down in the corner.
Chants of ‘Si! Si! Si!’ as he prepared a knee strike. King got up, Andrade ducked a lariat and hit a loose body slam straight out of Hogan/Andre. To the top, split-leg bagging two. TiA from a section of the crowd. Now back to ‘Si! Si! Si!’. Again, Brody was wary of the double knees, fleeing the scene, big lariat, Andrade out at nearly three. Barks starting again – can one of these guys finally hit their big move in the corner? Yes the answer as he crushed Andrade via cannonball. For another near fall.
Andrade slipped out of a powerbomb, back to exchanging forearms and chops, Andrade barely hit a boot, Brody ducked a lariat, nailed a big right, Andrade to his knees, coming back with his big back elbow. Cut off atop the buckle, falling to the apron, cut off again atop the buckle, Brody joining him up there seeking a superplex, Andrade dropped down to drive King’s head into the buckle via a sort-of ddt, El Idolo DDT, win.
The announcers noted that Andrade must have exposed the top of the buckle while up there. Possibly hinting at his recent actions being less honest than we thought?
Good action. Liked the story of the headlock and them avoiding the corner moves.
On his way to the back, Andrade eyed the titles and Excalibur again regurgitated the WWE-like corporate spiel. Gross.
Winner: Andrade
Renee with the Von Erichs. Cassidy, Danhausen and Trent rolled up, Cassidy asked the younger Von Erichs to tag with him on Rampage. Danhausen yelled ‘giddy up’ as they did a ‘hands in’ thing.
Cannot tell whether Danhausen was fake annoyed or actually annoyed at Cassidy tagging with other people. More importantly, I do not care.
And yeah if you tuned in for the advertised Von Erichs, that was your lot.
*****
Kenny Omega came out before the break. Jericho was just about done with his entrance as we came back. They replayed the attack on the latter by Starks & Bill. And Bill’s big boot to Kenny on Collision. Excalibur saw these weeks-apart attacks as ‘trying to take the challengers out by any means possible’.
Jericho welcomed the crowd back to the return of the ‘Golden Jets’. A very weak chant started, though the guys were generally over. Jericho said he’d spent three weeks thinking about what he’d say to the guys who injured his elbow, it was ‘Hey boys, get your sorry asses out here.’
Cue the champs’ first Dynamite appearance since maybe May?
Hence Starks asking ‘Did ya miss me?’. He said he has no issue with Kenny, thanking him for ‘this great place that we know as AEW’. As for Jericho, he just ‘sucks the life out of every single thing’. Making him wonder whether Omega can trust the vet. Look at what he’s done to all his prior factions. Bill emphasized that if Jericho ever attacked Omega, no-one here would be surprised.
‘Just sayin’.
Omega smirked and said even Jericho knew he didn’t trust him. Then reminded Bill of his time in the Firm, asking fans if they remembered – ‘Nooooo’. Omega agreed. It was ‘more like the Flaccid, something up your alleyway… ‘soft’?’. Crowd ‘oohed’ at that.
Kenny called himself the king of receiving beatdowns. He gets one almost every week. Then botched their name, calling them the Winnipeg Jets. But in so-doing coming as close as anyone has to explaining their name. He said they’d take their titles.
Starks laughed and said ‘You’re on’. He reminded Jericho of January when he beat him. Bill interrupted to say ‘twice’. Starks emphasized that they were the tag champs ‘without a name’ (those two are playing well off one-another).
Jericho said if they needed one he could help. Most of it was bleeped. Omega said he could do better. Then suggested ‘the Rick and the Dick’ (the last of which was also bleeped) before finally Jericho settled on ‘Big Billy Starks’. Which went down about as well as you’d expect. This is not good.
‘Well, that one fell flat,’ said Starks. Jericho actually agreed but repeated it and some of the crowd obliged via chant. Starks made fun of Jericho’s outfit. Jericho said Starks called him a vampire and if he were he’d seek someone with ‘more clout’ so seek his teeth into, then called him a ‘better dressed, more charismatic Enzo Amore’.
This. Sucks.
Of course the crowd ‘oohed’ at that, cause Insider. Omega continued the weird insider shots by saying at least Amore hyped up Bill and ‘didn’t take all the spotlight’.
‘Well I think you guys have taken the spotlight a little too far in my opinion,’ said Starks. Erm, yes.
Starks said they could make all the jokes they wanted, ‘No one cares anymore (about them), I don’t, he (Bill) doesn’t, everyone in the back doesn’t,’ he’s sick and tired of Jericho and Omega’s starting to piss him off too. If they think they’re better, ‘prove it, you two Winnipeg scumbags’.
Omega and Jericho made fun of being called ‘scumbags’, they are verging between dislikeable and lame here. Omega did his ‘goodbye/goodnight’ line. Before a tepid crowd.
This was utterly cringe. Rambling, incoherent and did nothing to build this match. Quite the opposite. Legit pissing contests don’t usually lead to good segments. An argument for scripted promos, and I hate scripted promos.
*****
They finally remembered last week’s show-closing angle, replaying Shayna Wayne helping Cage win (related, heard an excellent point last week – if she was so torn, why not just clock both?).
But yeah that was it. No follow-up, no promos, nada.
*****
Toni Storm came out with Mariah May. Storm’s joining on comms. Should be interesting.
Riho vs Ruby Soho
Backstory: Post-match, Riho interrupted champ Toni Storm last week for her annual title clash before presumably disappearing again
They showed Storm and Soho attacking and spray-painting Riho back in April. Ah, halcyon days of the Outcasts.
There was the weekly technical gaff when Excalibur addressed Toni who clearly wasn’t ready yet. She asked if they wanted her to do ‘color or play-by-play’. Taz said play-by-play since the others aren’t very good. Storm said ‘You’re Taz aren’t you?’ then called him the Tazzmaniac.
Luther ‘has the traveller’s gout’ so isn’t here.
As Soho and Riho locked up. Excalibur asked about the above attack, Storm didn’t know what he was talking about. Tony interpreted that Storm had trouble remembering anything before losing her title and Storm essentially agreed.
Riho hit a nice knee strike in the corner, bridging suplex for two, maintaining the grip into a second, Ruby fought free but took a stomp out of a cazadora and bailed. But came back to seek a German from the top, Riho hit a back elbow, Soho kindly held on to the ropes to take a stomp from upstairs.
Ads. Riho’s getting over like she usually does. Wrestles a nice pace.
Riho flying headscissors, 619, to the top, diving cross body for a near fall. Nice flurry. Storm compared her to asbestos as Soho hit a very weak thrust kick and killer saito suplex. For two. Storm said she was ready for her close-up and posed for the cameras.
Riho hit a forearm in the ropes, crucifix bomb, Soho out at two. Riho to the top, missing a stomp, No Future from Soho, Riho kicked out. Storm questioned if it really was Ruby since she’d changed her hair color, it was very amusing the way she said it.
As Soho hooked a front guillotine, Riho countered into a beautiful bridging northern lights for two, dragon suplex, running double knees for the win.
Riho always gets over and always looks good in the ring. Weird that she disappears so often for so long.
Storm wagged a finger at her.
Winner: Riho
Wardlow package. He’s been preparing for war. They showed footage of him smashing people. All total jobbers of course, guys we haven’t even seen on tv for months. He compared himself to the Archangel Michael in bringing the ‘Devil to his knees’. ‘MJF, your world is coming to an end’.
It’s about time for some developments here.
Rush vs Jay Lethal (Gold League)
Backstory: Match four, Lethal’s already out at 0-3; Rush is 1-2
If you wondered who was going to win, Lethal’s entrance mostly came during the break.
Rush’s leg is still wrapped at the thigh/hamstring. Quick start with lots of ducking and dodging before the obligatory chops. Excalibur re-emphasized that Rush didn’t even know what happened last week and was furious when he ‘came to’. Related, he doesn’t like doing jobs.
Lethal ole’d him past then hit his cartwheel dropkick before stopping to strut. Related, he’s lost every match. ‘If you’re in this tournament, you’re a big-time name here in AEW’ said Schiavone after aping the ‘top stars’ blather. I can accept water if you don’t tell me its champagne.
Rush walloped Lethal round ringside and Excalibur again had to cover for him not being counted out. After they read through the matches for Collision, Rush hit a snap powerslam for two.
Chop fight atop the buckle saw Rush plummet, avoid a dive, take a Lethal Combination to crickets. Lethal ducked a discus elbow, hit an enziguri, Rush stumbling back to the corner but belly to bellying Lethal into the buckle as he attacked. Lethal blocked Bull’s Horns, Rush snatched a sleeper mid-Lethal injection for the tap. The announcers framed it as a message after the way he lost to Moxley last week.
Fairly quick one, nice to mix it up at least.
But to say I was uninvested in this would be a massive understatement.
Lethal was upset after this despite Jarrett and etc. coming out to console him. A wild-eyed Rush celebrated with the fans and shook up a fan’s drink all over himself and the front row. Who all seemed to love it.
Winner: Rush
They recapped Mox’s post-match promo from last Wednesday. Swerve’s too. Good package.
Jay White vs Mark Briscoe (Gold League)
Backstory: Match four for both, Briscoe’s done at 0-3; White’s 2-1
It’s just wall-to-wall matches here. No palette cleansers.
Excalibur did a nice job making this seem important for White. And emphasizing that Rush would be rooting for Briscoe here since he needs White to lose. Schiavone went on and on about how ‘great’ all the matches tonight had been.
Briscoe attacked as the bell rang with a big leg lariat, chop, missed a double sledge, hit a big boot as a loud ‘Dem Boys’ chant kicked up. Rolling DVD, upstairs for the Froggy Bow, hit, White rolled outside to escape the pin.
Fast start.
Briscoe followed, somewhat using a ringside cable to attack White which the ref saw all of. He continued to beat White around ringside then hurled him back in, White fought off a uranage, took a couple shots, constant back and forth as Briscoe attacked and White escaped until being dumped over the ropes and crashing back-first against the apron.
Nasty spill.
White hurled him back in thinking Bladerunner, Briscoe used redneck kung-fu to escape, took a ddt but kicked out at two.
Ads.
Back to Briscoe fighting to his feet, exchange of rights, crushed against the ropes, took a running back elbow in the corner until countering via back body drop. White got his feet up but raced out into a big lariat, Briscoe psyching himself up, more kung-fu, chops and forearms, diving lariat, big boot-ing White off the apron then absolutely crushing him via Cactus elbow. Great camera work on that too.
Back inside, White slipped out of a powerbomb, series of chops, Briscoe immediately took back over, placing White atop the buckle but being fought off until landing a blow to the back of the head, crucifix bomb from atop the buckle, White just kicked out.
Briscoe signaling Jay Driller to another ‘Dem Boys’ chant; White countered via dragon screw before working over the leg. Briscoe hooked a cradle for two, White popped up to land a sleeper suplex, a second after ducking a lariat, crowd booing as White readied the Bladerunner, Briscoe slipped behind to dump White on his head.
To the top, second Froggy Bow coming, White knees up, Bladerunner, win.
Really good match, Briscoe’s had himself a nice tournament. Would really like to see White stop selling all match only to sneak wins. Especially against lesser opponents.
He temporarily joined Mox and Swerve atop the standings on nine points. Schiavone assumed White would want a tie in that match; Excalibur corrected that he needed Swerve to win.
Winner: Jay White
Jon Moxley vs Swerve Strickland (Gold League)
Backstory: Match four for both, both are 3-0
Swerve was very over, plenty of tv time left as he walked the ramp. ‘Holy S’ chant before the match even started. Anyone care to bet against Tony Khan joining in backstage lol?
Warily they circled, milking the moment, crowd loud. It’s a testament to Strickland that fans see this as such a big deal. This is what more of the tournament should’ve been.
Finally they locked up, Swerve tripped him down into a mount, Mox countered, both grappling against the mat, Mox looking for a submission. To their feet, to the corner with another strong grapple. Swerve broke, Mox landed a love-tap of a headbutt, mind games beginning.
Again they grappled to a rope break and Swerve reciprocated. Back to it in the middle, Mox hammerlock, Swerve slipping out into a headlock, duelling chant as the youngster drop-stepped, rolled Mox through, handspring tejeiras. Incredibly smooth.
An irritated Mox headed for a breather.
Back in to what he knows best, a fight – exchange of forearms, now to chops, Swerve backed to the corner as Excalibur admitted he was ‘the people’s choice’ in the gold league. So seems they’re admitting defeat on him being a heel.
Whip out, Swerve reversed it, took a big boot but kicked Mox’s ankles out before springing up to nail a ddt from the middle buckle. Crowd ‘oohed’ at that. Count of two with a delayed cover.
Mox again sought solace outside, Swerve followed, firing rights, introducing Mox to the ringpost then choking him against the barricade with his boot. A ‘Swerve’s House’ chant started as they returned to the ring, Mox nailed a big lariat out of the corner, punches atop the buckle, head bite, stalling piledriver for two.
Wrists captured, Swerve avoided the stomps by dragging Mox through the ropes but was trapped in the apron skirt, Mox raising it twice into his crotch, or ‘yambag region’ per Taz. Then had his taped shoulder hammerlocked and rammed into the steps as the break beckoned.
Back to Mox wrenching back on the shoulder, Swerve fighting free but immediately smashed down via lariat. Excalibur announced we were past ten minutes. Suspicious.
Swerve nailed a turn-around forearm, backbreaker, trying to fire himself up, pair of running forearms, another in the corner, snapmare out, diving elbow to the back, chop to the chest, Mox countered via throw; Swerve looked for his rolling flatliner but rolled right into a cutter for a near fall.
Gotch-style piledriver for the same. Swerve down on the mat as another dueling chant played. To his feet, Mox hit a couple kicks but rebounded off the ropes into Swerve’s flatliner, Strickland maintaining his grip through into a suplex, Mox popped up but was smacked back down via something like a shining wizard using the boot r/t the knee. Another close call.
TiA from the crowd as Swerve went BCC with wrist capture stomps and H&A elbows. Mox armdragged free, Swerve right back via house call, to the top, Stomp cut off by Moxley just shoving Strickland off the top to the floor.
Ref counting him down, Mox happy to take the win, Swerve back in at nine, right into a curb stomp for a very near fall. Fifteen minutes passed as Mox rained blows down, into the choke, Swerve blocked the grip, Mox transitioned into a cross armbreaker on the injured shoulder. Swerve got the ropes with his foot.
Mox went for a chair, Swerve vaulted over onto him, Mox ended up on the chair which conveniently set itself up, Swerve hit a stomp off the apron, another coming inside, hit, the announcers all said he’d won. So of course he hadn’t.
Mox got a sloppy counter out of a JML Driver to win. Out of nowhere. Swerve’s left shoulder was nowhere near the mat either. Right in camera view. As Taz acknowledged. So possibly that was intended to give Swerve an out?
Good but not nearly as good as I expected. Might be a case of expecting too much.
Presumably this’ll now be our semi. Where Swerve finally conquers.
Mox slumped against the announce desk holding up four fingers. And they showed the updated standings. Mox now on 12, all-but through to the semis.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Outside, Hangman was in a fight with the goons, he lost despite fighting valiantly. The Devil got out of a car, the goons powerbombed Page on the windshield. Hasn’t this dude suffered enough lately?
Glad they ended with something different because that was a wrestling-heavy show with few breaks.
*****
I called last week’s ep a poor show. Not because it was offensive or awful but because it was just a bunch of matches on a show which missed so many easy ways to advance stories. This was essentially the same. Despite ending with a decent cliffhanger.
_________________________________________________________________________
Next Collision:
- Andrade vs Claudio Castagnoli
- Daniel Garcia vs Eddie Kingston
- Brody King vs Bryan Danielson (‘A massive one,’ per Excalibur)
Thumbs Up/Down
- Fewer predictable finishes than usual
- Andrade vs Brody
- Briscoe vs White
- Swerve vs Mox
- Hangman being involved at the top of the card again, given a focus, he and Joe had a nice back-and-forth
*****
- No update on the world champion
- Tag title segment
- Did you know there’s a ppv in 2.5 weeks? Understandable if not
- Despite supposedly having the whole tournament planned out we’re not getting things announced ahead of time
- Both of which suggest they’re not exactly thinking ahead
Appreciate you reading. Have a good week.
AEW’s Top 25 of 2023 – #23 & #22
Welcome to Day Two of Wrestmas. Let’s get right to it.
- ‘Did you win this…?’
Christian Cage has his daughter ejected, Collision, 08/05/23
Meltzer: N/A
That little girl looks so uncomfortable. Was my first thought as we headed backstage to Christian Cage one Saturday in early August. Pinned tightly against his side, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere else. As her father talked about realizing he’s a role model for children.
And proved himself the ultimate hypocrite not only in referencing Darby Allin ‘mentoring eighteen-year-olds who don’t deserve to be here’ (that’d be one Nick Wayne, more recently the son Cage ‘always wanted’).
But in what came next.
As the restless and uncomfortable child fixed her gaze on Cage’s gold and asked to hold it. Presumably most wrestling parents would find great joy in such a question. Not Christian.
‘Did you win this?’ he asked sharply while clutching Luchasaurus’ TNT Title. ‘Nobody touches this title but me.’
Visibly irritated, he ordered her to go find her mom before yelling in the direction of security that she wasn’t credentialled. As multi-time father Tony Schiavone looked disgustedly at just the worst P.O.S. he’d ever seen.
I can do without some of the cheap heat and most of the dead relative stuff, though even that’s become almost tongue-in-cheek. But there’s no doubting the stellar 2023 Christian Cage had as a character. And this might have been the pinnacle.
Or was it? Guess you’ll have to come back each day to find out 😉.
- Bash his Nuts!
FTR vs Better than You Bay Bay, Collision, 07/28/23
Meltzer: 4.25*
At the height of Double Clothesline Mania, Collision opened with the #1 contenders promising to do three things: bash Harwood’s nuts in (Max), Double Clothesline (both), then become the new champs.
And of all the things I might’ve disliked about MJF’s babyface character, his very simple psychology was not one of them. He’d promise the crowd a bodyslam. Ditto a dive. He and Cole talked up the Double Clothesline, teased it in every match. And guess what? Fans went wild for all of these very simple things, because turns out they like to feel involved in the product. It’s satisfying to route for your team/wrestler/side to do something then see them succeed.
‘Fun too,’ to quote Homer Simpson.
So when Max tagged in against Dax and vowed to ‘bash his nuts in!’, the crowd took up the chant as MJF tried a legsweep and elbow to the groin. But missed. And kept missing throughout. It’s all about the anticipation.
As the action picked up after the break into a very good tag packed with cut-offs, hope spots, big moves, counters and near falls. Until, finally… in a brilliantly orchestrated sequence, Harwood landed in a shattered dreams position in the ropes, the ref believably distracted – because if FTR are going to do this silliness they’re going to do it right – and MJF punted his nuts in.
Though it wasn’t the finish. That came when the world champion sacrificed himself to save his new best friend from a Big Rig and was rolled up. In one of the best pieces of storytelling the company did all year. So well done that I’m thinking it’s too low on the list. The lifelong loner finally had a friend except it made him ‘soft’, cost him a championship. So how would he respond?
Not well. At first. Repeatedly yelling ‘I blew it!’ until Cole told him ‘they’ blew it and helped him up. Even so, Max couldn’t fight his inner devil, he readied a belt shot, Cole offering his back, almost anticipating it – ‘Do what you gotta do’.
Instead, they hugged and the crowd cheered.
BtYBB was/is hit and miss. But on this night the recipe was right. A little silliness amid a serious clash and almost heavy post-match angle which added depth to both characters and their relationship. And with the perfect foils in the ultra-serious FTR, holding tag belts given credibility after two stellar scraps in recent weeks.
It added some 200,000 viewers as the show peaked.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for #21 and 20 tomorrow.
Winter Is Coming Dynamite live tonight on TBS
Dynamite tonight is the Winter Is Coming episode and will feature a total of four Continental Classic tournament matches.
Three matches from the Gold League will take place including Jon Moxley vs Swerve Strickland which is likely to main event the show, Jay White vs Mark Briscoe, and Rush vs Jay Lethal. In the Blue League, there will also be Brody King vs Andrade El Idolo, with both men still undefeated.
Also scheduled for tonight are Roderick Strong vs Adam Page and Riho takes on Ruby Soho.
Plus, Kevin Von Erich and his two sons Ross and Marshall will be appearing on the show as the event is being held in Dallas, Texas and will be doing some cross-promotion for The Iron Claw movie.
Dwayne Johnson to portray UFC star Mark Kerr in new movie
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be portraying two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament champion Mark Kerr in the upcoming movie The Smashing Machine.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Benny Safdie will be directing this movie from A24, the same company behind The Iron Claw, and Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions will be producing it. Safdie also wrote the script.
The movie is based on the 2002 HBO documentary which has the same name, detailing Kerr’s career as a mixed martial artist and his addiction to pain killers.
“Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life,” said A24’s Noah Sacco.
Punk/Rollins segment on Raw destroys all other quarter hours in viewership
In quarterly hour ratings released by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, the CM Punk and Seth Rollins in-ring segment outdrew all segment in terms of total viewership and 18-49 demo.
The fifth quarter with Punk and Rollins drew 1,881,000 viewers, more than the average of the whole show, and 300,000 more than its nearest quarter, which was the opening one with Drew McIntyre and Jey Uso. The segment between the two also had 814,000 viewers in 18-49, the highest-rated quarter of the night in that demo.
Raw’s third hour dragged the whole number down, with Cody Rhodes vs Shinsuke Nakamura closing the night with just 1,255,000 viewers.
Kushida signs with TNA Wrestling
TNA Wrestling announced that Kushida has signed a deal with the promotion.
The former six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion made his debut for the company last year and wrestled multiple times with Impact Wrestling, with his last match coming at the Impact Wrestling 1000 episode back in September. Since then, he moved back to Japan where he resumed his career for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Kushida had a three-year stint with WWE as well but he never made it out of NXT, winning the NXT Cruiserweight title once while there. He left WWE in 2022.
The 40-year-old also has one AEW appearance under his belt, a match against Darby Allin in January 2023.
CM Punk backstage at NXT during whole taping
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling is reporting through his Select service that CM Punk was backstage at the NXT tapings last night at the WWE Performance Center and hung around backstage for the duration of the whole show.
Punk flew from Cleveland to Orlando after Raw and was also active behind the scenes at NXT, talking to the talent and giving feedback after their matches.
NXT star Lola Vice also posted a photo with Punk backstage, with Punk once again wearing a Bret “Hit Man” Hart hoodie. Punk remained in Orlando according to PWInsider.com where he trained at the PC today and held talks with NXT talent.
CM Punk is obviously trying his very best to change people’s perception about him and showing that he has really changed, at least for now.
Raw rating for 12/11/2023
Facing two NFL games which drew a combined audience of nearly 20 million viewers, Monday Night Raw this week drew 1,466,000 viewers, down 66,000 viewers from the prior week.
The show started with 1,536,000 viewers in the first hour and then increased to 1,544,000 viewers in the second hour, but the third hour killed the show dropping to just 1,320,000 viewers. This was the least-watched third hour of Raw since September 18.
Raw was #4, #5, and #7 in the top 50 cable chart among the 18-49 demo, with 0.49, 0.49, and 0.42 ratings respectively for an average of 0.46, down 0.03 from the previous week. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
Winter Is Coming to have five-minute overrun
AEW President Tony Khan announced on social media that tonight’s Winter Is Coming themed episode of Dynamite will have a five-minute overrun.
“Thanks to our great partners at TBS, we have an overrun of 5 minutes planned for tomorrow night live on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite!,” Khan wrote on X, adding that they are “excited” to get an extra five minutes for Dynamite.
The now-annual event is taking place from the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. Tickets are still available for purchase as attendance is currently hovering around 3,000.
CM Punk to wrestle at Madison Square Garden Boxing day live event
Shortly after it was announced that CM Punk would be wrestling at the Kia Forum live event in Inglewood, California, the former two-time AEW World champion was also added to the Boxing Day non-televised live event show from Madison Square Garden.
As things stand, his return to Madison Square Garden will be his first WWE match since January 2014 and he will also be taking on Dominik Mysterio at this show.
The MSG event has sold over 11,000 tickets for this annual Christmas week show while the Kia Forum show is at around 9,000.
Collision rating for 12/09/2023
Collision on Saturday night drew 455,000 viewers, up 4,000 viewers from the prior week and the best number the show has done facing a WWE premium live event. Collision drew a 0.14 rating in 18-49, the same as the previous week and placed #13 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
Lexis King enters the NXT Men’s Breakout tournament
Lexis King inserted himself in the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament after he attacked Trey Bearhill with a steel chair when all the participants of the tournament were announced on stage.
In a later backstage segment, Ava informed King that the rest of the stars in the tournament wanted him in and that he would be taking Bearhill’s place instead.
The tournament started yesterday with Oba Femi defeating Myles Borne and Riley Osborne defeated Keanu Carver in the opening two matches. King will go on to face Dion Lennox in the next match and Tavion Heights takes on Luca Crusifino.
AEW’s Top 25 of 2023 – #25 & #24
The Twelve Days of Wrestmas
Since it’s December I felt around my sack (mind out the gutter please) and pulled out the best twenty-five things from AEW tv this year: two for each of the first eleven days, three for the twelfth. Could be matches, promos, anything that lived up to the hype… or even Tony Khan’s announcements. Thank you, here all week.
Only things I actually watched count so nothing from Rampage after June for example. Times are tv-time roughly minus ads. Meltzer ratings are just to give an idea what critics thought, not because they’re the be-all end-all.
If I’ve ranked your favorite #20 then here’s permission to be pissed off; most of these were very close, I’ve tied myself in knots and learned valuable lessons about ranking as I go. What I can say definitively is nothing would change my top 3. The order of 2 and 3 though… Knots.
Without further rambling, here are 25 and 24. Since we’re descending. Like Santa’s sleigh (*ticks off obligatory Christmas simile*).
- Darby Allin wants a Fight
Darby Allin vs Minoru Suzuki, Collision, 07/28/23
Meltzer: 3.75*
On the last Saturday in July Darby issued an open challenge for a ‘fight’.
There are undoubtedly better matches relegated to the Honourable Mention section below. But the story used to go that during Brock Lesnar’s nomadic phase Vince McMahon didn’t like advertising his champion. Because he loved the ‘ohhhhhhh’ from the crowd when that guitar twanged.
And yours truly is guilty of similar pleasures. So when a different guitar riff brought a similar ‘ohhhhhhh’ from those in attendance, and a look of ‘FFS, anyone but him,’ from a waiting Darby, I was his second name.
And Allin rudely didn’t even wait for kaze ni nare to finish, knocking the vet off the apron then almost killing himself with his bullet tope before somehow just simply getting back up. This is, after all, the guy who had to be talked into doing the pre-Everest training after initially insisting it was all a mental battle anyway so why bother.
A stiff, pretty good match followed which mixed the ring and the outside, dives and strikes, building to a brilliant last couple of minutes with each looking for their finish; culminating in Suzuki snatching Allin out of a Coffin Drop into the choke, only for the youngster to bridge his legs to sneak the pin after seven minutes.
And providing a rare-in-AEW clean win over a credible opponent, en route to the #1 contender’s clash with Christian Cage in what was AEW’s best-booked feud of the summer.
Fun match; fun moment.
- An Homage to Canadian Stampede
CM Punk, FTR & Ricky Starks vs Bullet Club Gold, Collision, 06/24/23
Meltzer: 4*
At its outset Collision brought a refreshingly different feel to AEW television. And this clash was worlds away from the current Saturday night product – notably because of Punk’s presence and the loud, passionate crowd. Even if they were booing.
But also because these guys were taking their time in more traditional main events. In this instance a well-worked pacey tag which had a clear objective: make us want to see CM Punk fight wrestle Jay White.
And since they were over the border, White played the part of Steve Austin during that famous ten-man in July ’97 – taunting, avoiding and playing mind games with Chicago Phil until finally they clashed. And things got very physical while they quickly teased finishers.
Before going old school: Punk cut off for a long time in the heels’ corner, really milking the hot tag – to a wildly popular and very babyface Ricky Starks.
Building to a series of high spots leaving everyone outside. Except of course for Jay White and CM Punk. The latter of whom was then left laying via uranage, there was one for a returning Starks too who after running through the Gunns ran into a Left Hand of God from outside and a Bladerunner as Jay White finally did something notable on AEW television.
As for White and Punk, disregarding politics, behaviour, rights and wrongs, it’s a shame we didn’t get that match. They told a great story here and made Jay more relevant in about eighteen minutes of action than he’d been in the previous four months. Which is what wrestling matches are supposed to do – elevate talent.
Honourable Mention (no particular order)
- CM Punk vs Ricky Starks 8/5 Collision – Like the above, a more traditional main event with two dudes trying to one-up the other, making things feel personal. A little clunky in places
- Vikingo & Komander vs Aussie Open 8/2 Dynamite – A very fun tag which contrasted fluid speed-moves and double teams vs stiff shots and double teams but was just a little on the short side at seven minutes, even if it did feature a breathtaking stepping-stone destroyer from Komander
- Nigel McGuinness’ ‘site for sore eyes’ joke – had to
- Mark Briscoe vs Jay Lethal 1/25 Dynamite – A good match rich in emotion commemorating the death of Mark’s brother. Briscoe somehow kept things together while repeatedly looking for his brother’s finish until finally landing it on a visibly cut-up Lethal. In a between-the-ropes story perfect in its simplicity
- Andrade vs Buddy Matthews 6/17 Collision – A large, boiling crowd in Chicago for Punk’s return saw these two just blister one another for nearly ten minutes
- MJF vs Samoa Joe 9/20 Dynamite – A strong world title match taken down a notch by babyface champ MJF spending most of it working like a heel. And winning like one too
- Jon Moxley promo 1/3 Dynamite – A single camera caught the former champ on a stairwell, covered in blood, venting, lurching at the lens while red pools collected on the steps beneath. To tell Adam Page that he might be a ‘great wrestler’, even a ‘great man, BUT YOU ARE NOT THE SAME ANIMAL AS ME!’. So he’d see Hangman at ‘Texas Death’
- MJF vs Adam Cole 6/14 Dynamite – Later in the countdown there’ll be an MJF match I previously underrated. A second viewing of this had the opposite effect, possibly not helped by knowing ahead of time that it was a long time-limit draw. With some shoddy booking: Cole never came close to defeating the champ without help from the ref yet this was sold as if he’d been screwed, starting some drunken summer-long booking around the promotion’s centerpiece
- Bryan Danielson vs Ricky Starks 9/23 Collision – If anyone out there ever thought it’d be fun to wrestle the Dragon, just check this out. Don’t know if Starks ticked him off or if he felt a ‘welcome’ to the main event scene was necessary, but Danielson spent this kicking the absolute crap out of Ricky with fists, feet, bins, chairs, chains and finally a knee. Despite not being totally my style with all the weapons, this was one of the hardest cuts
- Kenny Omega vs Jeff Cobb 3/29 Dynamite – As was this. Really enjoyed it at the time and watching it back only reminded of the well-done story of Omega’s injured ribs preventing him from lifting the bigger man until finally using the ropes to hoist Cobb into the One Winged Angel after a great finishing sequence
- Bryan Danielson vs Karl Fletcher 10/7 Collision – This got better as it went: stiff, smooth wrestling, lots of submissions and cool transitions into them before Danielson finished Fletcher with Sabre’s Clutch ahead of his clash with Zack
- Kenny Omega vs Vikingo 3/22 Dynamite – This will surely be controversial, one of the few tv matches all year to bag 5* and a breathtaking collection of big moves from the AAA champ. But as with many lucha clashes, it had its holes: the opponent waiting for their foe to balance before performing the next dive and such. And, say it with me, ‘I’m an asshole’, so this just didn’t feel like a contest. Dudes killing themselves also takes me out and Vikingo bounced after missing a 630 like a god damn basketball
- Orange Cassidy vs Claudio Castagnoli 11/1 Dynamite – In watching this right after Orange/Swerve from the summer, two things stood out: 1. The in-arena darkness & lack of atmosphere just a few months later was glaring; 2. It just wasn’t as good. So with limited spaces left… to the cutting room floor with you! (feel free to use that one Toni)
- Kenny Omega vs Kyle Fletcher 10/18 Dynamite – This was just a little bit better than the Aussie’s clash with Danielson: a little quicker, a little more athletic, a few more big moves and a few more ‘ooohs’ from the crowd. But still wasn’t quite good enough to make the cut
- Brian Cage vs Claudio Castagnoli vs Nick Jackson 9/27 Dynamite – Even I’m surprised to see this here because I loved it. About eight minutes of Nick Jackson using the other two as a playground, zooming around the ring into cool, creative moves before a very receptive crowd which was on its feet by the end
I did try to watch everything good but it’s possible I missed one or two. Guess we’ll find out as we go. Thanks for reading, check out #23 & 22 tomorrow as Wrestmas continues.
CM Punk added to non-televised live event in Inglewood at Kia Forum
WWE has added CM Punk to their last non-televised live event of the year, a big one at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on Saturday, December 30.
Punk will be taking on Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio on this show, the first one that Punk is being advertised for during this WWE Live Holiday Tour loop. The Raw brand will also be at Madison Square Garden on December 26 so it will be interesting if Punk is added to that one as well.
Over 9,000 tickets have been distributed for the this Kia Forum show, making it the second largest house show during the Christmas/New Year week. The MSG show is so far over 11,000 tickets out according to WrestleTix.
As of now, and unless he gets added to prior shows, this match against Mysterio will be Punk’s first match back in WWE in over 10 years. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com.
Jade Cargill’s mother passes away after battle with cancer
Jade Cargill announced on social media that her mother passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer.
“You put up a good fight mom. But God has bigger plans for you. I’m so proud of you,” Jade wrote in a touching post, adding a photo of her holding her mother’s hand. “I know grandma and great grandma was there waiting, elated to bring you in. It’s never goodbye, it’s see you later. YOU taught me that.”
The 31-year-old has been training at the WWE Performance Center ever since she signed with WWE in late September and has yet to officially make her debut, although she has made brief appearances on all three WWE brands.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0wpdLFLcMI/
Rampage rating for 12/08/2023
Rampage on Friday night on TNT drew 341,000 viewers, down 7,000 viewers from the prior week. The show did a 0.12 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.02 from last week and the best number in a month. The show was #17 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
Hulk Hogan gives his stamp of approval to LA Knight!
After donating $1,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan was interviewed by Santi Zap during a charity stream and mentioned that he’s a big fan of LA Knight.
Hogan said that Knight is a rising superstar and loves to watch him on television.
“LA Knight has a lot of old school in him, you know? He goes in there and he grinds and he stays on it. But his cadence is what attracted me,” Hogan said.
The Hulkster compared Knight’s “Let me talk to ya” to his iconic “Let me tell you something brother,” saying it has the same vibe and he got it down perfectly.
“And man, the application, the practical application, the way he nails things. His placement in the ring, his timing is impeccable. And he’s a heck of an athlete,” Hogan said, adding that Knight is also a “good looking kid” built like a Greek god.
Knight has been super over with the WWE crowd over the past few months and his merchandise usually is at the top of best sellers along with that of Cody Rhodes.