offical wwe thread

[Arcademan]

AEW All Out PPV Results: 9-7-24

(4) KRIS STATLANDER (w/Stokely Hathaway) vs. WILLOW NIGHTINGALE – Chicago Street Fight

The bell rang 26 minutes into the second hour. Willow landed an early cannonball in the corner. She went for a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron, but Statland blocked it and then hit Willow across her back with a chair. Statlander then powerbombed Willow on the Spanish announce table, which collapsed out from under Willow.

Statlander put Willow on the table at ringside and then leaped off the top rope toward her. Willow moved and Statlander crashed through the table, although Statlander’s legs clipped Willow. Willow delivered a pounce, sending Statlander through the ringside barricade toward some conveniently empty seats in the front row.

They brawled up the aisle. Willow broke three light tubes taped together over Statlander’s head. (Recycle those, by the way.) Statlander came up bleeding from her forehead. Stokely fled the scene when Willow made a move toward him. Statlander speared Willow off the stage through two tables below.

Back in the ring, Willow grinded a chain in the forehead of Statlander and bit her forehead. Statlander caught Willow with a suplex. Statlander dumped hundreds of thumbtacks out of a black bag. Willow knocked Statlander out of mid-air and she did the splits on the tacks after an attempted axe kick. Willow delivered a Death Valley Driver onto the tacks. Several tacks were stuck in her back and thighs.

Willow and Statlander battled on the top turnbuckle. Statlander landed a Spanish Fly. She then wrapped her forearm in a chain and hit Willow with a discus lariat for a believable near fall. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” They stood and exchanged wild swings. They hit each other mid-ring and just slumped to the mat. They seemed to “share a moment” of warrior respect. Statlander then landed a tombstone and then wrapped the chain around Willow’s neck and mouth and pulled up on her. Willow tapped.

Stokley joined Statlander in celebrating afterward.

WINNER: Statlander in 15:00.

( A hard-hitting, well-executed intense bloody brawl with big spots and a decisive finish. Well done and an effective change of pace after the prior match that kept the crowd invested throughout.)

(5) KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. ORANGE CASSIDY vs. MARK BRISCOE vs. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA (w/Don Callis) – AEW Continental Championship match

A video package set the stage for the match. The bell rang 50 minutes into the second hour. After four-way action, Okada and Takeshita squared off. Cassidy stood between them and was about to make a big production of putting his hands in his pockets. They attacked him. Cassidy fought back and DDT’d Okada for a one count. Briscoe entered and went after Okada.

Briscoe and Cassidy took turns leaping off the ring apron onto Takeshita and Okada at ringside. Back in the ring they both went for covers at the same time. The ref counted both at once. Taz wondered if they’d share the title if they both won. Fans taunted Callis, which the other commentators needled him about.

After a whirlwind of action, including Orange and Briscoe finally going at each other, Takeshita and Okada squared off. Okada landed his a signature leaping dropkick. Takeshita fired back with a sitout powerbomb. Cassidy and Briscoe got back involved. Briscoe left eye was bloodied. Okada landed a top rope elbowdrop and then gave the crowd a middle finger. Briscoe countered a Rainmaker and set up a Jay Driller. Okada blocked it, but Briscoe took him down with a short-arm lariat. Takeshita kicked Okada.

Cassidy then gave Okada a leaping Orange Punch (that showed light). Takeshita blocked a Stun Dog Millionaire and gave him a German suplex. He played to the crowd. Briscoe entered and gave Takeshita a leaping Jay Driller. Okada yanked Briscoe off of Takeshita during the ref’s count. Briscoe fought him off and went for a top rope elbow, but Takeshita lifted his knees. Takeshita delivered a running boot to Briscoe, but Cassidy broke up the cover. Cassidy gave Takeshita a Beach Break. Takeshita came right back with a lariat and set up Raging Fire, but Okada intervened.

Cassidy rolled up Okada for a two count. He swung with an Orange Punch, but Okada ducked and then he hit the Rainmaker for the win. They showed Callis and Takeshita at ringside staring down a celebrating Okada.

WINNER: Okada in 16:00 to retain the Continental Championship.

(Chaotic all-action match, with some fun stretches of two wrestlers paired off. It delivered a solid mid-card match at this point of the show.)

(6) MERCEDES MONE vs. HIKARU SHIDA – AEW TBS Title match

A video package set the stage for the match. Excalibur said Shida wanted to be the first women to have held both of AEW’s women’s titles. The bell rang 13 minutes into the third hour. Mercedes went after Shida aggressively the bell. Mercedes took control a few minutes in and settled into a chinlock at 6:00. Shida stood and yanked Mercedes over her shoulder hard to the mat. Shida took Mercedes down with a head scissors. Mercedes took over quickly in the corner, but Shida reversed whipped her face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Mercedes came back and applied an STF. Shida reached the bottom rope to force a break.

Shida leaped up and landed a quick clothesline. Both were down and slow to get up. Shida rallied and scored a near fall after three Falcon Arrows at 13:00. Mercedes caught a Shida kick and delivered a Dragon Screw followed by a back stabber. Mercedes declared, “That’s why I’m the champion!” Shida recovered quickly and delivered a back suplex and a running knee for a near fall. Shida landed several kicks to the side of Mercedes’s head. The last one might’ve caught Mercedes stiff, as Mercedes said something to her as she cowered on the mat. Mercedes kicked out and rolled to ringside.

Mercedes grabbed a kendo stick. Shida yanked it away and brought it into the ring. The ref warned her not to use it. Shida wound up, but decided not to. She turned her back. Mercedes went after her, but Shida back elbowed her. She went for a top rope move, but Mercedes moved. Mercedes chop-blocked her knee and hit the Money Maker for the win.

WINNER: Mercedes in 16:00 to retain the AEW TBS Title.

(Not a lot of chemistry, flow, or crispness in this one. The final minutes felt like there was legit tension between them that got in the way of the flow into the climax. There’s not a lot of investment in Mercedes or Shida emotionally by the fans, either, which didn’t help.)

 

[Arcademan]

AEW All Out PPV Results: 9-7-24

(7) BRYAN DANIELSON vs. JACK PERRY – AEW World Hvt. Title match

A video package set the stage for the match. Exacalibur called this the first half of a double-main event of All Out. They cut to the parking lot where a blackened shuttle bus drove up with “Scapegoat” painted above the windshield. The Bucks greeted him along with security wearing helmets and masks reminiscent a riot squad. Nicholas said, “You got this.” They entered the arena. Perry made his formal ring entrance. Ross wondered what was up with the riot squad accompanying Perry. Danielson made his entrance to “Final Countdown.” Ross said when he first signed Danielson 25 years ago, he never dreamed of this.

Justin Roberts did formal mid-ring introductions. Excalibur said if this is Danielson’s last match as a full time wrestler, he seems at peace with it for doing things his way. Fans applauded as they approached each other. Perry wore black jeans and an arm wrap that said “Scapegoat.” Perry gloated after an early arm drag. When Danielson made a move toward him, Perry bailed out to ringside. Taz said Perry was trying to set the pace and he thought it was smart. the announcers talked about Danielson’s neck being taped up and that Danielson had enough neck issues he had to change his training and even calorie intake.

Perry took over for a sustained stretch with methodical but persistent attacks including at ringside. Back in the ring, he bit Danielson and then punched away at him in the corner. Danielson made a comeback. Excalibur said Danielson needs neck surgery before the end of the year and he’s wrestling on borrowed time. Danielson threw hard roundkicks to Perry’s chest. Danielson applied a Yes Lock mid-ring. Perry squirmed toward the bottom rope and finally reached it with his boot. Danielson released the hold.

Perry took over and applied an Cattle Mutilation. Danielson stood and back elbowed Perry. Perry delivered two full nelson suplexes. Ross said the match would be over soon if that continued. After battling on the ring apron, Danielson tossed Perry to the floor.

Back in the ring, Perry pulled Danielson into the path of the referee. Danielson suplexed Perry and then pulled on his arms and set up stomps. With the ref down, the Bucks charged into the ring and attacked Danielson. Excalibur said Dnaielson’s career cannot end like that. They delivered a spike tombstone piledriver that (wisely, probably) showed a ton of light (although if that was the plan, the camera should have had a different, more concealed angle). Claudio and Yuta ran out to chase the Bucks through the crowd.

Perry delivered a running knee to the side of Danielson’s head. The ref counted really slowly and Danielson kicked out before three. Danielson hit a charging Perry with a Busaiku Knee. Perry bumped half way across the ring after impact.

They stood in the ring and exchanged slaps. Danielson landed another Busaiku Knee for a near fall. Danielson sat up and smiled. Danielson grabbed Perry’s arms and stomped away at him. Fans chanted “Yes!” with Danielson’s encouragement. Perry sat up and extended his arms as if to sacrifice himself. Danielson charged with a Busaiku Knee for the win. Excalibur said the career of Danielson continues.

WINNER: Danielson in 28:00 to retain the AEW World Hvt. Title.

(This had a steady persistent intensity, but lacked urgency for most of the match, which was longer than it really needed to be by quite a bit. It was well wrestled, and Perry seemed sufficiently sinister in his nonchalant style. The crowd was into Danielson, especially as they teased finishes near the end. Overall, a good match, but there just was no doubt Danielson was going to win despite all the talk by the announcers about the condition of Danielson’s neck.)

-Fans sang “Final Countdown” as Danielson celebrated. Killswitch entered from behind Danielson and headbutted him. He turned to Perry as the announcers talked about their history. Then Christian Cage’s music played and he led Nick Wayne and Mother Wayne to the ring. Jon Moxley appeared at ringside and blocked their path. Claudio, Yuta, and Pac joined Mox. Christian and his cohorts turned and walked to the back. Danielson led the crowd in “Yes!” chants. Claudio entered the ring and raised Danielson’s arm, then gave him an uppercut. Mox put a plastic bag over Danielson’s head. (Come on, now. Seriously?) Pac then held Yuta back from trying to save Danielson’s life. Yuta cried in agony. Marina Shafir surveyed. Fans chanted, “This is murder.” Ross said it’s uncalled for. Mox released his grip as Danielson gasped for breath. Mox, Shafir, Claudio, and Pac left through the crowd. Yuta ran over to Danielson. The medical team gave Danielson oxygen. “Geez, what the hell just happened?” said Taz. Ross said whatever happened should never happen again. Excalibur said that was not professional wrestling.

( It might be nothing to give a second thought to in front of a few hundred fans at a CZW show, but AEW is really narrowing their audience with a suffocation angle with a plastic bag. There are so many reasons not to go there, including that it showed up the main event in a way. I mean, Hangman burned down Swerve’s house, and anything short of attempting to suffocate Swerve will seem like he doesn’t have the ruthlessness of Mox. Setting that aside, what is Mox’s motivation? I’m definitely curious to hear from him. How does Darby get incorporated into this, given Moxley calling him out. I like the idea of Pac and Claudio as definitive heels. Poor Yuta is probably going to be a victim of some brutal TV beatdowns now that he’s been left out of Mox’s plans. I’m not sad to see the end of BCC, which never found a groove that made sense in a way that got fans invested in their purpose, whatever it was.)

-They cut to Taz, Excalibur, Ross, and Schiavone at ringside. Ross said it has no place in their business. “Think about what you could have done if someone didn’t intervene?” an exasperated Ross said. The medical team carried Danielson to the back with Yuta’s help as he still had an oxygen mask on. Ross said, “That’s a game you don’t play… Are you kidding me?” Excalibur said the show must go on. Ross said it was sickening and embarrassing for pro wrestling.

 

[Arcademan]

AEW All Out PPV Results: 9-7-24

(8) “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE vs. SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana) – Unsanctioned Cage match

Hangman made his entrance first. Nana came out next and did his dance while drinking from a cup. Swerve joined him. Excalibur said he was tense and nervous for the first time in his career as an announcer, and he said he might be on edge because of what happened after the last match. Swerve charged at Hangman and kicked him before the cage was lowered. He beat him up at ringside, then threw him into the ring. Nana slid a table into the ring. As Swerve held Hangman’s head against the ring apron, Excalibur said the cage could decapitate him. The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. The cage got stuck about a foot or so above the mat. There were chairs, a bag, and a storage crate in the ring, too. Ringside workers finally cajoled the cage so it lowered completely.

Hangman took a staple gun out of the crate. He stapled Swerve’s chest several times. Swerve smiled and then grabbed Hangman and stapled his back several times, then executed a backbreaker. The camera zoomed in for the sickos to see Swerve pulling the staples out of his skin. Fans chanted “You sick f—!” Swerve took out old photos of his family in their family home. Swerve then stapled photos to Hangman’s cheek. Blood streamed out of the holes in Swerve’s chest from the staples.

Hangman went into a stretch of several minute tossing Swerve around the ring and into the cage. Swerve landed a House Call. Hangman landed a Buckshot. Swerve came back with chairshots to the back of Hangman. Swerve lawn dart tossed Hangman in a chair wedged in the corner. Swerve went for a cover and scored a two count, the first of the match. Swerve pulled a cinder block out of the storage crate. Taz said he got hit in the nuts with one once. Ross thanked Taz for informing them of that. Swerve tried to drive Hangman onto it. Hangman countered. Swerve countered and drove Hangman back-first onto the cinder block. That led to a near fall. The camera zoomed in on the scraped on Hangman’s back from the landing on the edge of the cinder block.

Swerve set up a table. They battled on the top rope. Swerve landed double knees onto Hangman through the table for a near fall. Hangman hit Swerve with a sudden Dead Eye for a near fall. Swerve jabbed Hangman with a wooden spike. Hangman powerbombed Swerve on the cinder block.

Swerve made a comeback and threw Hangman into the side of the cage with a release powerbomb. Then he connected with a House Call for a near fall. Swerve climbed to the top rope. He then decided to climb higher. Hangman got up and powerbombed Swerve to the mat. A “Cowboy Shit!” chant rang out. He then gave Swerve a Dead Eye for another near fall.

Hangman rammed the side of the chair into the head and neck of Swerve and then told him to beg for mercy. He did it again. Swerve sat up laughing and held up two fingers. He leaned into Hangman, then collapsed onto his chest. Hangman lifted Swerve and told him he was going to finish him. He yanked off his tooth grill. He then pulled out a hypodermic needle and stuck it into Swerve’s cheek. The crowd gasped. Excalibur said it’s a horror movie unfolding before their eyes. Hangman then smashed a chair over Swerve’s head. The chair broke. The ref called off the match, awarding Hangman the match via knockout.

WINNER: Hangman via knockout in 31:00.

( I do not enjoy this level of violence.)

 

[wataru330]

A hypo?
A bag suffocation?

Fuck AEW.

I hope their tv rights deal fails after this nonsense.

 

[herb]

Just the right level of violence for me

 

[wataru330]

It’s not wrestling as I like it. I don’t give two shits what anyone else thinks.

 

[famicommander]

I just want them to put a bullet in the ROH brand. Having the ROH World Champion losing midcard title matches on AEW cards is just disrespectful.

 

[jro]

I really like Cornette and Last's theory of WWE making no really we totally want to just make offers just to see how far TK will go to beat them.

TKO just come around on Mark Briscoe, he is the one guy that is awesome and would make $.

Edit, Moxley makes $6 M a year. Jericho is at $9 fucking million. Okada and Mercedes apparently both signed for about $4.25 M, which was enough to put the latter ahead of Becky Lynch, Charlotte, Rhea as the highest paid female worker ever. That world be great if she wasn't terrible. Seriously, the AEW women's division is awful as is and she only makes it worse. TK has Jamie Hayter on his roster and he just does this [hand wave] instead.

And now Swerve has re--signed for the bargain rate of around Okada/Mercedes money. Okay. He's much, much, much better than either one in actual wrestling or promos but jeeesssuuuss Christ maybe stop writing the guy into the most bizarre heel/face role of all time.

TL;DR, do NOT bother with AEW.

But it is sort of a unique way to watch a wealthy person light money on fire.

Also, I hope Janel Grant gets at least $100 million.

 

[Taiso]

The Hoffman Estates crowd was chanting 'This is Murder!' during the Danielson plastic bag segment.

Later, Swerve tried to kill Hangman with a descending steel cage and it was ridiculous.

There is heat and there is just nonsense. Imagine if Connor Macgregor tried to kill Khabib with a plastic bag after a UFC fight.

Also, I love how the security will rush to the ring to separate two wrestlers during a bog standard scuffle but when there is actual attempted homicide going on, nobody comes out to stop it.

Again, I know wrestling has dumb storylines but it's going too far in these cases.

The only way that a work 'works' is if you can suspend your disbelief.

Oh and the crowd was chanting 'This is Arson' as Hangman was burning down someone else's legally purchased (for storyline purposes) property.

You have to be in a weird place for this stuff to work. It has to be a little tongue in cheek and silly to play well. But when its booked as deadly serious, it falls flat. This isn't the 80s or early 90s anymore.

I feel sorry for guys like Will Ospreay who are booked as prize fighters and competitors to have to wrestle beside some of this absurdity.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE Smackdown moves to USA this week, RAW soon will be moving to Netflix (so I won't be watching it anymore) and NXT will move to the CW. Not happy with change

 

[Arcademan]

During WWE Monday Night Raw tonight, Raw announcer Joe Tessitore announced that Raw will be shifting back to a two hour format starting Oct. 7 and will remain two hours through its final three months on USA Network before Raw moves to Netflix at the start of 2025.

The move to two hours could simply be a push by USA Network, which is preparing for life after Raw, so they might want that third hour slot to be a place to premiere some of their new sitcoms, drama series, and other original programming with the large lead-in Raw provides before they lose access to those millions of viewers.

PWTorch sourcing indicates that a decision on the length of Raw on Netflix is not official at this time, and that Raw being two hours for the last three months of the year shouldn’t be taken as evidence of Raw on Netflix being two hours. That said, it sounds as if the length of Raw on Netflix hasn’t actually been finalized yet. WWE wants Raw on Netflix to ultimately feel different in key ways from what viewers are used to, but of course Netflix paid big money for an established successful franchise (you might’ve heard it’s the longest running episodic weekly TV show), so they don’t want something completely different either.

 

[Arcademan]

The last six weeks, AEW Dynamite has averaged a 0.55 in the 18-49 “coverage rating” (CVG) category, which is more valuable than a regular percentage watching of all homes with TVs when considering whether a show is performing better year over year, since it isolates the percentage of people who can watch who are watching. The same six weeks last year, it averaged 0.70. So compared to last year, Dynamite has dropped of 20 percent in terms of the percent of people with access to TBS who are choosing to watch.

In the last four weeks, which excludes competition with the summer Olympics this year in two weeks of that six week sample, the difference is 0.71 to 0.58, or a drop of 18 percent.

In total viewers (age 2+), the last four weeks have averaged a 0.45 rating compared to 0.52 last year in the same four weeks. That’s a drop of 14 percent (when using full ratings numbered not averaged to the nearest hundredth). So AEW is losing younger viewers at a higher rate than older viewers.

The most often reported viewership and ratings information reflects how many people are watching Dynamite who have TVs, without the context of the smaller pool of current cable subscribers to draw from year to year. That means a drop in viewership or key demo ratings can look alarming, but relative to the drop in homes with cable, the drop off can be deceiving.

That said, Dynamite is actually drawing a smaller percentage of 18-49 year olds and total viewers of any age (2+) with cable than a year ago over the last six weeks and four weeks, which is indicative of a certain percentage not watching even though they still have access to the show.

 

[GohanX]

The last six weeks, AEW Dynamite has averaged a 0.55 in the 18-49 “coverage rating” (CVG) category, which is more valuable than a regular percentage watching of all homes with TVs when considering whether a show is performing better year over year, since it isolates the percentage of people who can watch who are watching. The same six weeks last year, it averaged 0.70. So compared to last year, Dynamite has dropped of 20 percent in terms of the percent of people with access to TBS who are choosing to watch.

In the last four weeks, which excludes competition with the summer Olympics this year in two weeks of that six week sample, the difference is 0.71 to 0.58, or a drop of 18 percent.

In total viewers (age 2+), the last four weeks have averaged a 0.45 rating compared to 0.52 last year in the same four weeks. That’s a drop of 14 percent (when using full ratings numbered not averaged to the nearest hundredth). So AEW is losing younger viewers at a higher rate than older viewers.

The most often reported viewership and ratings information reflects how many people are watching Dynamite who have TVs, without the context of the smaller pool of current cable subscribers to draw from year to year. That means a drop in viewership or key demo ratings can look alarming, but relative to the drop in homes with cable, the drop off can be deceiving.

That said, Dynamite is actually drawing a smaller percentage of 18-49 year olds and total viewers of any age (2+) with cable than a year ago over the last six weeks and four weeks, which is indicative of a certain percentage not watching even though they still have access to the show.

This is some really creative accounting to hide the fact that their viewership is down for the last couple of years.

 

[Taiso]

AEW is in a bad place financially and I don't see any way out for them right now.

High work rates are great for the smarks but their TV product isn't even drawing audiences in most venues. The difference between WWE's television product and AEW's television product couldn't be further apart right now. When I watch WWE, the buz in the arenas is so obvious that it feels like an event. When I watch AEW, the only buzz I hear is the flies in the arena.

 

[famicommander]

WWE Raw going back to two hours is legit the smartest thing WWE has done in decades

 

[Taiso]

I don't even watch the third hour anymore. After Drew and Punk have their segment, I'm on to other things.

 

[GohanX]

WWE Raw going back to two hours is legit the smartest thing WWE has done in decades

There's a decent show in there a lot of weeks, it's just not 3 hours long. I always preferred to watch it on Hulu, they cut episodes down to 1 hour 30 minutes with nothing of value lost.

 

[zaneiken]

Giulia already looking infinitely better than Jade Cargill. They build them different in Stardom.

 

[famicommander]

Giulia already looking infinitely better than Jade Cargill. They build them different in Stardom.

Not really a fair comparison, Giulia had 7 years of in ring experience before she ever came to the US. Cargill literally made her pro debut on cable television, because AEW is fucking dumb.

 

[famicommander]

Despite all the hype about it being a "double shovel burial" it seems that the Netflix documentary still goes pretty light on Vince:

Netflix's Mr. McMahon Doesn't Fully Grapple with Vince McMahon's Legacy

Mr. McMahon, Netflix's new documentary series about Vince McMahon, fails to fully contend with the man's sordid legacy.

www.pastemagazine.com

Not shocking considering Netflix is about to start airing WWE programming.

 

[wataru330]

Fuck you, Vince.

 

[Taiso]

Fuck you, Vince.

Sometimes you're the villain and sometimes you live long enough to become the devil.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Fuck you, Vince.

Nothing you love would exist without that fucking creep. Fuck him, but he still deserves a spot on the Mount Rushmore of wrestling. Him, that piece of shit Hogan, maybe that even worse piece of shit Flair, and possibly Austin. Vince was still the greatest heel of the Attitude Era by miles. Which, let's face it, was the pinnacle of American pro wrestling by any possible metric. He just happened to be an even worse heel in real life.

 

[Taiso]

Austin
Hogan
Flair
McMahon

Yeah, that tracks for a pretty good Mt. Rushmore of wrestling giants. Maybe replace McMahon with The Rock if you want to go with guys who are/were primarily in ring performers.

There are better pure technicians than any of them but normies don't care. Those guys are the biggest names in the history of the business.

I'm still an Austin fan. He's still my favorite.

 

[SouthtownKid]

There are better pure technicians than any of them but normies don't care.

For a Mount Rushmore of best pure technicians, which four members of the Hart Foundation would you pick?