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Yup, absolutely. He's great. I attended that one WWE live show in Vienna two years ago and the Caesaro pop was pretty impressive.

I wouldn't say that he feels like a jobber, but there certainly seems to be a very real 'glass ceiling'. His face/heel runs are mainly made by the people he's surrounded by. Oh and of course the stupid "superman"/"cyborg" terminology.

He’s always just somewhat ancillary. He’ll be involved in a Push, but never gets the benefits.

The dude is getting on in age, despite his ridiculous physique and ability. Surely Vince needs to finally give him the nod?

Because ever since I’ve been watching, he’s been Vince’s Favourite Second Fiddle. Almost like he’s an understudy for when others get injured?

Holy Hell, Paul White (Big Show) has joined AEW as a wrestler, commentator and ambassador.

Gotta admit, that is one of his turns I did not see coming!

Just hope that he gets a better finisher than the awful punch he had for the latter part of his WWE run when/if he gets back in the ring. Not his old chokeslam as his knees are buggered but some big, powerful slam or maybe even a sleeper where he physically lifts his opponent off the ground and you can just watch as they go limp in the air.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
He’s always just somewhat ancillary. He’ll be involved in a Push, but never gets the benefits.

The dude is getting on in age, despite his ridiculous physique and ability. Surely Vince needs to finally give him the nod?

Because ever since I’ve been watching, he’s been Vince’s Favourite Second Fiddle. Almost like he’s an understudy for when others get injured?

Yeah, I guess he's the 'good hand' personified? Wasn't Caesaro IC champ once? (apart from the loads of tag champ titles, but those don't count that much in wwe)


@A Town Called Malus: Whaaa---? Dang. Well, that's interesting to say the least. I don't have to see him wrestle, but he seems to be a good guy and surely can help on a lot of levels. Or he's just getting into AEW to have the Khans finance him another season of The Big Show Show. Well, it's all very interesting. At least he's a wrestler, not a celeb. I know that many people will complain that it's 'yet another old wwe dude', but really AEW really don't have many of those, and....well, at some point or another almost everybody worked at WWE. "Sure, on RAW you groan and roll yer eyes when Big Show appears, but on AEW it's an exciting prospect?" - WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL, I'm cautiously optmistic, because AEW seem to know how to utilize people.

As for the finished (not that I feel the need to see him in the ring) - i do like a good power slam. Power slams, power bombs.... just always impressive, simple moves.





Why I actually came here - just watching the second bunch of matches in the AEW Women's Eliminator tournament.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Sigur wrote:

@A Town Called Malus: Whaaa---? Dang. Well, that's interesting to say the least. I don't have to see him wrestle, but he seems to be a good guy and surely can help on a lot of levels. Or he's just getting into AEW to have the Khans finance him another season of The Big Show Show. Well, it's all very interesting. At least he's a wrestler, not a celeb. I know that many people will complain that it's 'yet another old wwe dude', but really AEW really don't have many of those, and....well, at some point or another almost everybody worked at WWE. "Sure, on RAW you groan and roll yer eyes when Big Show appears, but on AEW it's an exciting prospect?" - WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL, I'm cautiously optmistic, because AEW seem to know how to utilize people.

Seems he's going to start on commentary on a new AEW Dark show they're doing. I imagine his wrestling performances might be limited, bring him out for marquee match style stuff (Shaq vs Show, anyone?) though that is just a guess on my part.

 Sigur wrote:

As for the finished (not that I feel the need to see him in the ring) - i do like a good power slam. Power slams, power bombs.... just always impressive, simple moves.

Oooh, good call on a powerbomb. Someone with Paul's height doing a Last Ride style powerbomb (which he could do easily against the smaller dudes on the roster such as Allin or Stunt)? That would look really good. Power Slam would fit too but might be out due to the impact on his knees when delivering it.

Yup, the power bomb. That would be my finisher. Or a 450 leg drop. What ever.

 Sigur wrote:
Yup, the power bomb. That would be my finisher. Or a 450 leg drop. What ever.

Paul Wight busting out the Lance Archer top rope moonsault for the victory...

 Dysartes wrote:

 Sigur wrote:
Yup, the power bomb. That would be my finisher. Or a 450 leg drop. What ever.

Paul Wight busting out the Lance Archer top rope moonsault for the victory...

I mean, when he was younger in WCW I could see it. He was really athletic back then before they told him to wrestle like Andre for his feud with Hogan.

Maybe big guys have to just wrestle differently not to cut their careers short. Earlier today I listened to Don Callis talking about Moose, whom they decidedly told NOT to do the top-rope things and other many athletic things.

Let's be honest - no-one wants to see another Sid-style injury from a big guy coming off the top rope...

 Dysartes wrote:
Let's be honest - no-one wants to see another Sid-style injury from a big guy coming off the top rope...

It would have cost you nothing to not remind me of that

But you are right. Top rope moves are more risky on average for your big guys due to the greater mass. Bones can only be so strong and a bad landing for someone weighing 200lbs might be able to be walked off with a rolled ankle whereas a 300lb'er gets a fracture.

On the other hand, they look phenomenal when they are done well.

 Dysartes wrote:
Let's be honest - no-one wants to see another Sid-style injury from a big guy coming off the top rope...

^^^This. Never seen the video, but was told about it in detail, so I don't have to.

 A Town Called Malus wrote:
But you are right. Top rope moves are more risky on average for your big guys due to the greater mass. Bones can only be so strong and a bad landing for someone weighing 200lbs might be able to be walked off with a rolled ankle whereas a 300lb'er gets a fracture.

On the other hand, they look phenomenal when they are done well.

See the aforementioned Lance Archer top rope moonsault, or Dominic Dija-can't-spell-it doing a Spanish Fly with Keith Lee...

There’s also the increased danger for the recipient of such moves in the case of a botch.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
There’s also the increased danger for the recipient of such moves in the case of a botch.

Also true!

Lance Archer's rope walk does highlight the wierd attitude to some moves in wrestling though.

A move like that or say a suplex on the apron are a lot more dangerous than a move in the ring and probably hurt a lot more to take.

However in kayfabe terms they aren't presented as a big deal; no one wins a match with an apron suplex, no one is taken to the medical facility or does an injury angle after recieving one... Lance Archer's moonsault doesn't even look like it hurts the opponent that much.

So it's almost like, why risk doing them when they are not going to be presented as a big deal?

Contrast that to putting someone through a table, that probably hurts less than taking the move normally but it has always been presented as a huge deal!

 Kroem wrote:

Contrast that to putting someone through a table, that probably hurts less than taking the move normally but it has always been presented as a huge deal!

I think that is just part of the anachronism of wrestling. If something looks cooler or breaks something, then it must hurt the opponent more.

I have a bit of a pet peeve with superhero films which is similar to this. We see Superman, for example, able to literally punch though concrete, knocking chunks out of it. That means his fists are harder than concrete. Same with Zod.

So why do we see them swinging lumps of concrete at each other or swinging each other into buildings? Their body is literally harder than what they are using as a weapon! Just hold their head down and knee them in the face or get them on the ground and start raining fists!

That's a very good point. I think that there's this weird insistance that a wrestler can only win after applying their 'finisher'/signature move/etc. Even outside WWE this is a thing. I think they treat them a little differently in New Japan, but either way, they're very prevalent.


I think that a top-rope maneuvre by someone who usually doesn't do it (and shouldn't, because it helps the impact) helps elevating a big match. Like Kevin Owens' moonsault. Up to about a year ago or so I never recalled him doing that. Then in some big match he did and I was very, very impressed. Because a.) no matter what he does, I'm impressed, because Kevin Owens of course is the coolest and b.) I'd never seen him do it before and he's big lad.

Either way, it shouldn't be used in regular matches or as a minor move. Saves a lot of trouble without sacrificing much. Guys like Lance Archer, Keith Lee, etc. CAN do amazing things, but if not sure they probably shouldn't. For safety and for the smaller/more obviously athletic ("He's athlethic in an obvious way" is a phrase I have to add to my repertoire ) guys to do those things. That was one of the problems with 205 Live, wasn't it? At this point in time the proper big main roster dudes are so insanely atheltic and within the way a WWE match is built the cruiserweights couldn't bring that much new to the table at first (and without breaking their necks).

 Sigur wrote:
That's a very good point. I think that there's this weird insistance that a wrestler can only win after applying their 'finisher'/signature move/etc. Even outside WWE this is a thing. I think they treat them a little differently in New Japan, but either way, they're very prevalent.

Definitely agree, and this is why WALTER is my favourite wrestler right now. He has finished his big matches with a powerbomb, a top rope splash, a lariat and a sleeper hold so far. He doesn't have a finisher and because he makes every move feel like such a massive impact (and props to his opponents for selling superbly), you never know what move will finally do it but it feels like each one could. So you still get that reaction if the opponent kicks out (such as Tyler Bate at Takeover Cardiff) but you're also paying a lot more attention to the match as you can't just switch off until you notice the finishers start to get used.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Sigur wrote:

I think that a top-rope maneuvre by someone who usually doesn't do it (and shouldn't, because it helps the impact) helps elevating a big match. Like Kevin Owens' moonsault.

Or Lesnar's Shooting Star.

Finishing Moves are certainly more about running with a narrative.

They’re meant to be the big gun wheeled out to polish someone off. A sign that the match is about to be decided.

And fair enough. They’re part of the wider pantomime, just as the general changing of the upper hand during a match involves someone going from dazed to Crystal clarity in a couple of seconds.

But I feel in WWE they’ve been of reduced impact, as too many matches have (and sorry to pick on Roman Reigns, I like the dude!) “Superman Punch! That’s it, that has to be it! OH MY GOD KICKED OUT AT TWO AND A HALF! Reigns has to be thinking “what will it take to put this man away!”

Once in a while, used in careful moderation, it works beautifully. I’d point to Owens vs Reigns at Royal Rumble. Absolutely superb match. Having both just keep on going worked.

But you can now more or less guarantee such shenanigans at any filming.

It takes away their impact, defanging what should be a signal the match is about to end.

Which comes back to something even I as someone really not that well informed have been saying for a while - WWE’s problem isn’t with their talent. It’s with their writer’s room. They’re about as original and capable of innovation as Family Guy. Which is to day, not at all original or capable of innovation.

I think that's what they call too much hot shotting though, if you do the special stuff every week then it isn't special any more!

I think the pandemic has encouraged stuff like that though. Without a crowd both companies have been desperately trying to get people hyped about their matches, and they have greater freedom for backstage/ cinematic stuff instead of keeping it as a rare thing.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Which comes back to something even I as someone really not that well informed have been saying for a while - WWE’s problem isn’t with their talent. It’s with their writer’s room. They’re about as original and capable of innovation as Family Guy. Which is to day, not at all original or capable of innovation.

The key problem with with either the writer's room, Vince/Bruce, and/or a combination of the two. In the case of the writer's room, in the majority of cases, the writers have no experience with wrestling when they join - they're from the wider TV world instead. So they have some understanding of a narrative structure, but no idea how to use matches to explore it.

You get the odd writer who appears to get it - like the woman who was the lead on the Otis/Mandy stuff last year - but WWE don't always seem to recognise talent, given they let her go in the Mid-Pandemic Mass Cull last year. Maybe Stephanie was getting jealous...

Yeah, I think there's the big Vince factor as well, but the point about the writers probably coming from a wrestling fan place at best I think is very valid too.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:...They’re about as original and capable of innovation as Family Guy. Which is to day, not at all original or capable of innovation.

And about as capable of writing humour. (I just couldn't let this one pass )



...but on to nicer things: I watched the third round of the AEW Women's Championship Eliminator Tournament yesterday. A wholly nice experience. Loved the Sakazaki/Mizunami match.

I'm going to say it - Shaq delivers a mean powerbomb.

Heyhey, tomorrow we'll have the honour to watch AEW Revolution (if we choose to do so). How about some predictions?

Here's mine:

Riho & Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker & Rebel - hard to care, I'll go for Dr.Britt Baker and Rebel.

Casino Tag Team Royale - a tough one, because they do have a nice tag teams roster, don't they. Btw, where are TH2? I like them too!
Anyway, I think the thing on Dynamite on which they only played the entrance for PAC and Phoenix was ruse. Well, going by the numbers I'd love to see Dark Order work together. It would blow everybody's mind if people who are pals actually worked together in a battle royale for more than 2 seconds, don't you think? I'd like to see Stu Greyson and Evil Uno win this. Would cement the Dark Order as a "family" and further their storyline.

AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (EXPLODING BARBED WIRE DEATHMATCH) - wow. I'll say Kenny Omega wins this. Moxley is the death match dude, but Omega BUILT the bloody thing. He's the one with a plan and he's got Don Callis with him. And possibly the Good Brothers.

Matt Hardy vs. Hangman Page - Hangman Page. It'll be good. What I'd actually like to see is have the Khan family donate the fantasy amount of Hardy's income for Q1 to some charity.

Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor vs. Miro and Kip Sabian with Penelope Ford - Jeepers, I do not care much. The person I care most for in this match is Chuck Taylor actually. Don't get me wrong, I really like Orange Cassidy, but I'm not sure where they can go with him. I do hope for Miro to be a dangerous heel again though. The fixation with Charles is a good beginning. Drop the silly video games, drop the stupid outfits. Oh, and I think that Cassidy and Taylor win. Split Sabian and Miro up.

FACE OF THE REVOLUTION LADDER MATCH - This one's tough to call due to the "TBA". I guess it's going to be Shaq? I think it's the first time they're doing a PPV on a Sunday instead of a Saturday, so maybe that's due to his scheduling? Who I'd like to be TBA would be Jade Cardill. Either way, I'm hoping for a Penta win, but I think that Lance Archer will (and should) win this one.


STREET FIGHT between Team Taz and Darby Allin/Sting. Even if it wasn't Sting's first match; simply due to the build-up I can't see Team Taz win this one.

AEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Yeah, the Young Bucks got that one. Not terribly fond of the build-up, but oh well.


AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - I LOVED the Women's Eliminator Tournament. I greatly enjoy Ryu Mizunami and Hikaru Shida is a very good women's champ. Not the most exciting wrestler in the world, but I really like her presence and she carries the belt like a champ. I think Shida will keep the strap, as much as I'd prefer seeing Mizunami (I'll be cheering for her anyway).


Really looking forward to that show.

We interrupt your usual programming for a Lame To Fame.

Turns out Ayesha Raymond is a friend of a close friend.

We now return you to our usual programming.

Psyched by the Christian Cage AEW announcement!

Really looking forward to his final run, on his terms (presumably and hopefully)!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
We interrupt your usual programming for a Lame To Fame.

Turns out Ayesha Raymond is a friend of a close friend.

We now return you to our usual programming.

That's cool. Closest I got to to being part of wrestling was taking a drunk picture with a local wrestler and touching a ring. Which isn't all that close, I suppose.


@Alpharius: Yeah, seems like he recoded an Oral Sessions podcast with Renée Young. Looking forward to that.

I'm in wait and see mode about Christian; he's definitely the guy you don't remember from Edge and Christian but he could still be good?

Thing is he is famous for TLC matches, and I don't think AEW needs more gimmick matches XD

 Kroem wrote:
...
Thing is he is famous for TLC matches, and I don't think AEW needs more gimmick matches XD

That's true, at least the PPV was pretty heavy on those.



A few thoughts on Dynamite:
.) Maki Itoh sang her song! At least the first part. In a great, surreal moment. Weirdos like me are happy, people are happy because they got a memorable debut. She isn't that amazing in the ring, is she. But that's okay. She will be. Btw, that finish looked nasty on Itoh's part. I'm pretty sure she didn't quite do as Thunder Rosa wanted there.
.) The Bomb was adressed twice, and the storyline has been advanced. Both in perfectly okay fashions. Moxley and Kingston als dudefriends has a lot of potential.
.) Speaking of dudefriends - the saga of Best Friends and Miro/Sabian goes on. Still with the video games and a gimmick match that doesn't get me excited.
.) Now the Hangman Page thing... especially these days the thing of "someone got a lot of money now and they spend it in fun ways" is NOT a good story to go with, especially for a babyface such as Page. I think he mentioned financing a grant or something like that, but overally, I hope they don't go on with that, because it's a bad look.



.) Next week is going to be really good.