Official WWE/ECW/WCW/TNA talk, or whatever v2

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Where are you seeing that reported about Black? I know he posted something cryptic on his Tumblr account (who uses Tumblr), but it might be related to his ongoing back injury.

Hate to say it, but this might be a career-ending injury for him. And Black doesn't like to perform at less than 100%, so I can see him being frustrated with his own situation.

I've seen multiple articles but this is one.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/news...ed-aew-release

[Ozy_Flame]

Thanks for that link. With Triple H back it would stand to reason some people would rather go back and work under him. Also, Black's wife Zelina Vega is still there, so I'm sure that plays a part in it too.

Who knows what's going to happen, but the House of Black is something I have enjoyed.

AEW could also stand to trim the roster and focus on their pillars as well as some of their select established stars. When the injuries clear up (Omega, Cole, etc.) they're going to need to re-focus storylines.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Where are you seeing that reported about Black? I know he posted something cryptic on his Tumblr account (who uses Tumblr), but it might be related to his ongoing back injury.

Hate to say it, but this might be a career-ending injury for him. And Black doesn't like to perform at less than 100%, so I can see him being frustrated with his own situation.

Could be his injury, could be that the whole house of black thing has been awful, and its time to move on to somewhere else.

I don't know what his relationship is with HHH, but the height of him actually being good and decently over was in NXT.

But with Tony talking about tampering, even if Black got his release, it'd be sometime before WWE would even look at him. And honestly, I would think there are other players that HHH would want first.

For Bobby Fish wanting to go, he's a guy that could probably make a bunch of money overseas, he's also not young, and might want to be able to call his own shots.

He did talk on a recent podcast of his about getting into it with Dax from FTR, but I doubt it has anything to do with that.

But who knows, with the chaos behind the scenes at AEW, it could shake some workers from the trees.

Meh, Tony should be doing cuts anyways.

[Ozy_Flame]

I don't think the House of Black stuff was awful, I quite liked it. I loved the Brody King/Darby Allin stuff.

I also don't think Black and Khan would agree on a release if booking was an issue, they are both known to talk things through. If he asked for his release it might be more deeper issue related or for something else - WWE, wrestling, or otherwise.

If I had to put money on it, Fish goes back to WWE as a trainer. I think HHH had him pegged as one. They're both Killer Kowalski guys.

[CaptainCrunch]

You know us, Ozy we disagree.

I never thought House of Black really got off of the ground and just didn't hold my interest, I thought it was silly.

Yeah Fish as a trainer, Fish over seas.

I'm intersted in how things shake out with HHH running things, and stories of backstage issues with AEW.

I'm still of the mind that the whole EVP was intriguing at the start, but I've always said that you shouldn't have the talent, booking or in a position of authority over the other workers. They need to tell guys like the Bucks and Omega etc that they're just talent, and go out and find some experienced bookers and talent relations people to step into those roles.

Hey, I hear Freddie Prinze Jr still has Wrestling wood.

[Ozy_Flame]

You are correct Cap, to each their own.

I'll have to see consistency in the Triple H/WWE product again before I can tune back in more regularly. I know it's improving but I think it has a long way to go before it can get AEW converts back in the fold.

I do agree with you though, I think AEW needs a couple of seasoned bookers and executives to manage the product a bit closer. I think Omega/Bucks need to pick a lane - either perform or VP. You can't do both without impacting the product. I do believe Rhodes was the only one who really got that, coming from a WWE background and growing up in the industry. That said, I don't see any slippage in terms of showcasing guys like Jungle Boy, Max Caster, Darby Allin, or Wheeler Yuta, the up-and-comers really do get their licks in.

I think AEW also needs a main event villain in the worst way. Fans just cheer for their big names. Even Omega coming out with Callis is getting the roof blown off.

[Ozy_Flame]

To that end, maybe JR needs to be providing more direction for talent relations. I suspect he's probably not interested in more than limited duties and input at this point in his career.

[CaptainCrunch]

I high speed on both shows, I'm not committed to either, and I've dropped NXT from my viewing habits.

Yeah, I would need one or the other to really show something hugely, but I'm a huge storyline guy, and I want my wrestling to look actually a little real.

I'm hyper critical about how bad actual matches have become. There's no real story telling or psychology in the match. They are more along the lines of two or 4 people rushing to get their stuff in.

On the monster heel thing, yeah they need one, they don't have one.

When Punk got injured and they did the interim championship thing (WTF?) Instead of angling to the whole Moxley vs Punk thing, because really Moxley has been a disappointment for me. When he left WWE complaining about creative and posted that video I was excited about him. We were going to get a what I hoped was a really creative guy. Instead for the longest time, we got a guy that just aped Stone Cold Steve Austin and did predictable matches.

What they should have done when Punk went out is turn Wardlow completely heel, find him a good manager. Make him an engine of destruction, and a complete heel and build a feud with Punk returning for the belt. Have him mow through the whole AEW locker room.

Instead of an interim belt, frack just have Punk hold onto the belt. Basically you could plant the seeds in a Wardlow turn by having Punk refusing to give up the belt, because Punk is a top guy and nobody is doing anything to be worthy of the belt. No interim belt. That could be an engine of real change with the top card all trying to prove that they're worthy of facing Punk when he comes back.

Hell you could even flip the script and have Punk go heel. (He's a more natural heel anyways). AEW demands he gives up the belt, Punk refuses due to his injury and nobody being close to carrying the torch, and he simply takes the belt home. Tony loses it and challenges his roster to find that one guy that can take the belt off of that arrogant SOB when he gets back. No tournaments, not stupid gimmick matches. Just ruthless bullying with Wardlow as a wrecking ball hurting people, crushing people.

Instead we get a same old Moxley Punk thing. Wardlow has really been booked poorly and confusingly, and AEW's upper card looks meh.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

To that end, maybe JR needs to be providing more direction for talent relations. I suspect he's probably not interested in more than limited duties and input at this point in his career.

I don't think JR is all that up on taking on additional work in the back office. He's 70 years old, the best part of their broadcast team, and they probably backed up a brinks truck for him to work a couple of hours a week at most.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I high speed on both shows, I'm not committed to either, and I've dropped NXT from my viewing habits.

What they should have done when Punk went out is turn Wardlow completely heel, find him a good manager.

I wonder if your high-speeding through shows is causing you to miss the crowd reactions. AEW fans are still insanely hot for Mox and Wardlow. Also, turning Wardlow heel right after he just turned babyface would have been very Big Show-esque.

[Ozy_Flame]

Sounds like Braun Strowman is going back to WWE. Ugh. No thanks.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I wonder if your high-speeding through shows is causing you to miss the crowd reactions. AEW fans are still insanely hot for Mox and Wardlow. Also, turning Wardlow heel right after he just turned babyface would have been very Big Show-esque.

Agreed on both

Wardlow has been involved in horrible booking since MJF and hes still over more than anyone outside mox, bryan, and punk in chicago

Mox I dont see the criticism at all hes been killing it every since he got back from rehab, his promo stuff has been the best it's ever been

[d_phaneuf]

Even the punk mox stuff, which I thought was incredibly stupid last week, and in general TKs booking of it isnt great, mox and punk both sold it last night that I'm extremely excited for the match sunday

Disagree on lack of aew story telling as well, now that card is finalized

The battle for the soul of daniel garcia is being done really well

Assuming dark order and hangman win friday the trio's final is basically long term story telling all the way back over a year

Jungle boy and christian has cooled down a bit from a few weeks ago but still has a good story behind it

Starks and hobbs is a classic partner turning on the other

Womens 4 way should be great, just please please please dont have britt win, toni or hayter make way more sense

Jade v athena been building for months on rampage mostly

Only real title match without a great build is the tag titles, I hope they give acclaimed the win and start swerve v keith now

House of black v miro, Darby, sting has been building for months

Ladder match should be incredible with the participants, I wonder who the joker is, no big names really out there right now as free agents, so maybe someone from njpw?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

E
Assuming dark order and hangman win friday the trio's final is basically long term story telling all the way back over a year

Only real title match without a great build is the tag titles, I hope they give acclaimed the win and start swerve v keith now

And the build to the Trios Title hurt the tag team title because they took the tag titles off the Bucks for it to make sense.

Really I would have loved to see FTR vs Bucks with all the titles on the line - that same match doesn't make sense with Lee/Swerve though.

Honestly probably would have made more sense to do the tag team title match between FTR and Bucks first, have FTR hold all 4 belts - and then have the Bucks bring in the trios title in the build to the next PPV at Full Gear.

[CaptainCrunch]

Sounds like Kyle O'Reilly will be gone for quite a while after getting neck surgery. Fish is gone. And Raj Giri has confirmed that Black has asked for his release siting injuries and his unhappiness with his booking.

There was a rumor that Miro was pushing for a release, but that one is unfounded.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Sounds like Braun Strowman is going back to WWE. Ugh. No thanks.

I like Braun, hope this is true.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Sounds like Kyle O'Reilly will be gone for quite a while after getting neck surgery. Fish is gone. And Raj Giri has confirmed that Black has asked for his release siting injuries and his unhappiness with his booking.

That's not entirely accurate. Something personal is going on (could be injuries or other). Booking is another reasons but not the main reason, or so it seems:

https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=162715

"There's also been a LOT of talk over the last 24 hours about the status of Malakai Black. Raj Giri of WrestlingInc.com is reporting Black asked for an AEW release, citing personal issues and his mental health but it has not been granted. We can confirm that in speaking to closes source to Black, there has been a personal situation weighing heavily on him and he's privately talked about taking a long, perhaps permanent, break from professional wrestling, in order to deal with the issues. Giri also reported that how Black has been presented has weighed on him, and obviously, he hasn't been in the top mix for some time while having a rep for being very creative and driven. Dave Scherer and I talked about this on today's We Don't Need No Stinkin' Name Show. It's a hard situation for all sides."

It also seems booking may have been talked through and smoothed over for now.

[Blaster86]

We're gonna do the Elite vs the Undisputed Era!...


Just kidding, no we're not.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

We're gonna do the Elite vs the Undisputed Era!...


Just kidding, no we're not.

Injuries have hurt AEW for sure too but part of that is the booking and match type.

Fewer random wednesday night spot fest blood fueds would be perfectly fine.

[CaptainCrunch]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1566112270471630851