Oh yeah I'm not saying it's a bad thing, he's putting his own twist on a classic gimmick, that's very easy to get wrong.
I'm not asking them to go full Russo but some storylines and intrigue would only add to the appeal with the core audience. I don't think a wrestling company has to totally compromise themselves to attract the masses. Collision looked less indie because everyone on it looked like wrestlers. A casual flicking through the channels would've seen Wardlow vs. Luchasaurus and been impressed. Same as Andrade vs. Buddy - two ripped, athletic guys with interesting looks. The aesthetic was good in terms of production. But there was just not much going on in terms of storylines or characterisation. If the 'big matches' don't really mean much story wise, what incentive is there to turn in next week? The first of any shows needs to have good hooks to bring people back to watch. Nothing really was set up, besides two additions to a future tournament and a feud starting between Andrade and the HoB. Having good matches is great and all but good matches are a dime a dozen. The AEW hardcore fan has access to endless good matches these days with so much content from worldwide and the independents readily available.
Not sure that's very fair. There were few storylines on Collision because the majority of the matches on the card were about people returning who hadn't been there for a while (Punk, Andrade, Miro). It might well be the kick off to a couple of storylines though with FTR v BCG, Punk v Joe and House of Black v Los Ignorables.
Disagree - I think it would just be more good heel schtick for him (plus it is totally believable that Logan Paul would have the pull of the "higher-ups" to not have to qualify for the match).
I’m not talking about Dynamite. I’m talking about Collision. It was the first show and needed to hit hard. From an in ring point of view, it was great. No arguments there. From a storyline perspective, it was dull and uninviting. In a new time slot and with Punk’s return, maybe new or returning eyes would get on the product. If so, I don’t think they did a good job of hooking people back next week.
So was I. My point is you're judging it after one show which was built around returning wrestlers ( one in particular if we're being honest).
Sorry but I think you’re missing my fundamental point. You’re urging me to give it time. Casual fans won’t give it time. I’d consider myself a ‘hardcore casual fan’ and I’m not inclined to check it out next week. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Collision needed to deliver as it’s in a notoriously difficult time slot. It had good matches but wasn’t a good show.
Surely by the very definition, 'casual fans' won't give anything time. They'll just tune in casually. Which is fine.
He gave it up (stripped) and didn't lose it. So wasn't odd at all
I would be disappointed if wwe doesn't use him to his potential. There is a possible star in him. You can even have him go into a lengthy feud with Logan paul.
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We were told to wait and see about Rampage as well.
He's always had that kind of delivery dating back to this Impact days (51 seconds onwards):
40 shouldn't be that big of a deal. Out of curiosity I googled some big names and a lot of them these days are currently approaching 40 or even over it.
Yeah, that's fair. LA Knight does have more to his overall persona outside of good wrestling, so he'd be fine even if his athleticism starts to decline.
My mistake. I’d thought Moxley beat him (as it went from Mox to MJF) but forgot that Punk won the PPV match.
See, this attitude is held by a few people in the business and I couldn’t disagree more. AEW/WWE should constantly be trying to attract new fans and re-engage lapsed fans. I agree with the principle of pleasing the core audience but AEW take it too far. Look at all this Forbidden Door stuff. They’ve done a terrible job of introducing the NJPW guys - ‘oh everyone knows Tanahashi so everyone will accept it as a dream match’ is the mindset. Same with debuting talent from the indies. It’s lazy. It’s not hard to do some vignettes or segments that give us more meat on the bones of why we should care for these people.
It's also worth considering that at this point you may be tired of it. For me wrestling is the only long term interest that I tend to phase in and out of and I think that's in part due to overexposure to the way it's discussed online compared to how much of the actual content I consume. You can watch a 5 minute segment but then be exposed to many dozens of polarising views from people unwilling to budge from their standpoint and it just poisons the whole thing. In part that's my fault for looking at these topics but still, it can be a bit much. It's why I never enter the United forum on here
That's a really good point. I'm quite embroiled in the IWC through Reddit and wrestling news sites and it is draining. I'm also aware that I have my rose tinted glasses on for the late 90s/early 2000s era of wrestling. There was a lot of crap back then and a lot of it has aged terribly. However, my general point still stands. I find that content like LA Knight's stuff and the Bloodline (though sometimes it has dragged) remind me of what I love about wrestling and what I feel I see so little these days as compared to 'the good old days'.It's also worth considering that at this point you may be tired of it. For me wrestling is the only long term interest that I tend to phase in and out of and I think that's in part due to overexposure to the way it's discussed online compared to how much of the actual content I consume. You can watch a 5 minute segment but then be exposed to many dozens of polarising views from people unwilling to budge from their standpoint and it just poisons the whole thing. In part that's my fault for looking at these topics but still, it can be a bit much. It's why I never enter the United forum on here
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Juice is outshining Jay so far and it’s a sight to behold
I have to say that I agree with you here.
Just curious what you mean by this? Or an example of this you were after
Well I wasn't really after anything to be honest, I just tuned in because I was interested in seeing what this new show looked like due to all the drama and since it was a brand new show i think they missed an opportunity to spoon feed a brand new viewer (or a 30s/40s lapsed fan who is dipping his toe in AEW water on the back of an enormous legitimate backstage drama).
Edited to add ;
Nah this is fair. I've been in the bubble of watching so I mostly know what is happening and why. But even as a watcher, I don't know why that three on three happened except Tony khan said it would on a dynamite.
This is very true. Hook's another one that felt like he was going to be a sensation. He felt fresh and different, albeit super raw. I think the Danhausen stuff killed him and now he's just a generic guy. He's lost the edge he had.
See, this is funny to me. Rightfully, you're brought back by the controversy around Punk and the Elite. Although I have my doubts, I'm pretty sure that's 100% a shoot and that there's still real bad feelings on both sides. I get that Tony Khan doesn't want to inflame the situation too much but damn, there's one hell of an elephant in the room. Could they not all sit round a table and make money off this? It feels like they've brought back Punk in the most boring way possible when he should be absolutely on fire. Now he's in the Owen Hart tournament and apparently is feuding with Samoa Joe for no real stated reason at all. I don't get how they can make this guy feel inert already when he had so much attention and controversy surrounding him, such that it brought someone like yourself back to give it a chance.
100% agree. This Forbidden Door event is being heavily sold with a double main event, one of which is a longstanding feud and build.... because Omega has genuine interest in building a long-term feud with Ospreay and helping to build him up.
