2021 Pro Wrestling Thread

Yeah, apparently Vince and his people want NXT to go back to being strictly developmental instead of its own brand. Trips apparently isn’t too happy. Can’t say I blame him.

 

I just listened to Cornette’s podcast on Bobby Eaton. Holee shit. The first 8 minutes and the last minute are really difficult to listen to, but Brian Last got him focused enough to tell some awesome stories about Bobby for the majority of the show.

 

How do we evaluate Cody's time in AEW?

On the one hand, he seems to have taken on the role of being the mid-card star responsible for building up a lot of other young wrestlers. In that, I think he's been quite successful. From Darby Allin to Lance Archer, and now to Black, he's certainly helped a number of relative unknowns take big steps forward, and for AEW to start building its own stars. And, given his executive position, that's a hard role to take on. We've seen a lot of bookers succumb to the power in the past and put themselves over at the expense of others, and Cody doesn't seem to have done that.

On the other hand, when AEW started he was one of the faces of the company and the poster child for what it could offer -- namely, a chance for overlooked mid-carders like him to break out and show what they can do and become main eventers. In that, I'm not sure how well he's done. He's had some good, even great matches, but when you think of AEW's top stars I'm not sure he's among the first names you'd mention. You could even argue that some of the guys he helped build up have surpassed him. He still seems to be stuck in that mid-card role, whether by circumstance or by choice.

So has Cody had what you'd call a good run in AEW? Or has it shown his ceiling as just a strong mid-card guy who can get people over but will have a hard time sustaining a place at the very top of the card?

 

I think he hasn't felt a need to put himself in a top spot. That's why he had that match with Jericho that eliminated him from world title contention in the future (although I think that was just while Jericho was champ). I think he's been happy to be a builder behind the scenes and a stepping stone for the guys like Darby and Archer in the ring. He's had some good battles (with Dustin, Archer and MJF to name a few), but I don't think he's striving to be the top guy.

 

I think Cody kinda stinks. I mean I like his work but he hasnt made anybody, the jobs he’s done he gets the back after his vacations are over (Harper, Archer).

there’s been a hell of a lot more cringe (the whole Hobbs feud, anything Brandi does, everything QT Marshall) than good for him in AEW.

But I mean most of those opponents also suck and as the AEW roster expands will be after thoughts so maybe its not all on Cody. How many of his open challenge TNT opponents have disappeared from TV? He didnt exaxtly have Cesaro Owens and Zayn to work with like Cena did

 

I'm loathe to post things from Zombie Deadspin, but, I fear this piece on NXT is probably true: WWE will finally kill NXT

 

They're taking the music away from Elias? He certainly wasn't known for his wrestling chops, so look for him to join the other scores of friends on the waiver wire pretty soon.

 

been thinking about this and it just doesn’t make any sense. There’s no reason for anyone in wwe to think the things laid out here; Who have they hired for NXT that’s over 30 that hasnt been a smashing success?

Samoa Joe, main evented PPVs. Finn Balor? First universal champion. Kevin Owens? Main events PPVs. Nakamura? Title match at a Wrestlemania? Drew McIntyre? Face of the company. All that’s not worth a Bobby Roode and a Chris Hero? Bullshit.

social media was crapping on the Ciampa and Gargano for a decline in NXT. Which is false, NXT is still great, and neither of them were 30 when they were hired anyway

 

I'm waiting for them to hire Sarah McLachlan to sing Corbin's theme like those commercials she does for the underprivileged and abused pets.

 

That is a fantastic idea and I’m already imagining it. Show clips of Corbin’s losses in slow motion and all the times he’s looked pathetic.