2024 Pro Wrestling Thread

Interesting in the context of the original Meltzer/Cody bet

Its easier to get 10.000 once than average 10,000. Maybe Meltzer was more right than we thought, in retrospect.

Then again they must get 10k plus for every PPV right? Its the TV that seems to be struggling

 

Now, AEW announces a four-week residency at an "e-sports stadium" (basically, a glorified convention hall) in Arlington, Texas, for Collison and an ROH PPV.

 

One aspect that I think they’re struggling with is this: Who is their top guy/gal who makes you say “ I absolutely need to buy a ticket to see this guy (or gal).”

No disrespect to Swerve, who has a lot of potential, but he’s not a top guy at this point. He’s defending his belt against Christian Cage, who, while having an entertaining run, is 50 years old. He won the belt from Samoa Joe, who is 45 and whose peak was 10 years ago.

Christian’s real-life buddy Edge, er, Adam Copeland has had an amazing comeback and is putting on a great show, but he’s also 50.

MJF is hurt. Omega is sick. Darby just came back again and is such a wild card. No idea where Hangman is. Jericho is ancient. Okada and Ospreay will do some amazing matches, but will they draw beyond the diehards? Orange is a fun midcarder. Danielson and Moxley have had their moment on top already. For the women, they’ve been meh on Mone. Storm is fun as hell, but not going to draw in too many people. There’s some other young women who have a lot potential, but they need a lot more time.

That’s one of their main problems. They don’t currently have a draw that says to anyone beyond the diehards, “take my money!”

 

MJF is the only one who moves the needle like that right now. And, they should go all in on Ospreay.

A big part of their problem to me is the older guys, with the exception of Danielson, are more interested in putting themselves over one more time than putting the younger guys over.

Maybe that’s Tony’s booking, though.

 

I think they also run the same towns waaaaaaay too offen.

I havent been to a WWE show since before the pandemic. Even they dont have anyone I feel like I NEED to see.

 

And TV kinda sucks to watch at the arena. AEW does a lot more wrestling so its probably better than an E show, but if I was gonna go I’d want to go to a house show not a Raw. AEW doesnt have those

 

The foundation is really well-done; just tons of talent that can have a really good or great match on any given night. But yeah, they haven't had that talent "pop" in a way that you need if you're going to be a more serious competitor against the WWE. Cody left for WWE, Omega got hurt, Orange probably isn't a true top guy, more of a Kofi or Jeff Hardy-like guy that can be on top in a transition or peaking way. However, it's pretty much impossible to judge who that person is going to be, until you give them a chance and see if it happens.

 

I kind of think this concept is somewhat overrated. How many guys did Jericho put over, over the years? It's definitely important for the older talent to be willing to lose, but ultimately it is on the younger talent to take advantage of that opportunity. Audiences act kind of "smart," and they can tell if you truly haven't gotten over vs. an older, more established star. (The most extreme example of this would be Stone Cold vs. Jake Roberts; I do think it's easier if you're a heel.)

 

Speaking of Jericho - and I am self-admitted longtime Jericoholic - his Learning Tree gimmick is shit. I can't tell if he's in on that joke the way he talks to the crowd or not, and as lousy as he looks in the ring today he could always make up for it on the mic but this isn't doing it for me.

 

I think the Edge-Christian thing is a good example of what I mean. Is Luchasaurus (Killswitch, whatever) better off now than he was before he was involved in the Edge-Christian TNT title program?

Also, why are two 50-year-olds feuding over a title anyway? Even if it’s a secondary title?

Jericho got Orange Cassidy over. Hook? Not so much. Jake Hager? Not so much.

Almost everyone Bryan Danielson has worked with is now in a better place. See also, Darby Allin and Sting (and Punk).

 

Jericho also helped MJF get over.
Maybe not every angle has clicked, which seems like the nature of the business, or maybe he's just run his course at this point, but I don't think it's because he's desperately trying to stay relevant. Almost everything he's done since his initial world championship run has been designed to try and get younger guys over. For fuck's sake, the man happily jobbed to Action Andretti specifically to try and give somebody a hot launch. It's not Jericho's fault that Andretti hasn't grabbed the proverbial brass ring.

Matching up Christian and Swerve seems like how, in WWE, new champions would always seem to have their first feud against Kane or Randy Orton (or, most recently, AJ Styles) — credible veterans who can still put on a good match, make the new champ look good, eat up a PPV match, and most importantly can absorb the loss without losing any cool points. It's not the most exciting match-up, but it's all right for what it is until they can set up a bigger feud.

Not having Edge-Christian one last time would've been a crime, honestly. If they hadn't gone there when Edge debuted, everyone would've been saying WTF? I'm not sure they elevated the other wrestlers involved, but that wasn't the point of that feud. It was to get one last banger between two legends while they can. Both guys are still attractions, so let them attract in a feud that makes all the sense in the world.

 

I don’t have a problem with Edge and Christian feuding. I have a problem with them feuding for a title and burying Luchasaurus in the process.

Also, there’s a difference between jobbing to someone and putting someone over.