Eight years ago I started writing about pro wrestling. Obviously I don't write as much as I used to. Other projects (like Boardwalk Times take up a majority of my time). But I still love using this blog to occasionally discuss the world of professional wrestling and give predictions for PPV's. 

And we got some exciting things in the works behind the scenes here at ZWrestleTalk. So thanks for reading these past eight years. 

Now let's blog!

AEW is coming off an incredible hot streak. They had The First Dance which featured CM Punk debuting, that lead to All Out which is arguably their greatest pay-per-view of all time. All Out saw the debuts of Ruby Soho, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson. AEW has become the place where talent aspire to be. 

Just last night on Dynamite we saw a new chapter begin in AEW. Brian Pillman Jr. is going to get a shot at MJF. Malakai Black continues to be a force and he will face Cody Rhodes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. MJF/Wardlow is going to be a longterm story it seems. CM Punk wants a piece of Team Taz. Britt Baker/Ruby Soho is heating up and so is Anna Jay/Tay Conti verse Allie and Penelope Ford.  Adam Cole's arrival feels important as The Elite continue to dominate. The Dark Order is falling apart (more on that later). Bryan Danielson wants to fight Kenny Omega, yet we don't know when that dream match will happen. Jon Moxley is feuding with New Japan. A lot of good stuff is happening in AEW. They clearly have momentum. Hopefully, they won't squander it. 

AEW should wait a while before its next "big" signing and I don't think it should be Bray Wyatt. Although it certainly looks like he will be the next big signing as The Dark Order needs a leader and one of Brodie Lee's friends taking up the mantle makes sense. I personally think AEW should hold off on the temptation to sign Bray Wyatt. Yes, I'm not a huge fan of Wyatt. I used to be a bigger fan of his but I just felt like he never could back it up as a in-ring performer. Wyatt was custom made for WWE, I don't really see him fitting in AEW and I think he would flame out super fast. 

AEW should wait until they can sign Kevin Owens. Have Tony Khan collect former NXT Champions like Thanos collects Infinity Stones. Because you know more of them will jump ship it's a matter of time. 

But now that you have a talented roster assembled in Kenny Omega, Britt Baker, Lucha Brothers, Adam Cole, Hangman Adam Page, Andrade, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Darby Allin, Jon Moxley, Jungle Boy, Lance Archer, Luchasaurus, The Young Bucks, MJF, Malakai Black, Orange Cassidy, Santana & Ortiz, Ricky Starks, Sammy Guevara, and a stronger women's division than they had a year ago. I know that was a lot of listing but I just wanted to highlight just how good AEW's roster has become. 

But now is the time for AEW to focus on expansion of its brand and businesses. I have some ideas. Most of them are probably already in the works because the people behind AEW are smart. 

• AEW should be negotiating with WarnerMedia first off for expanded TV rights (find Rampage a better slot), streaming rights (HBO Max), and details regarding the four TNT super specials.
• AEW should really partner with WarnerMedia and both organizations should find synergy opportunities (comic books, live events, TV shows, movies, etc). 
• AEW should keep a close eye on its video game division. It's the only thing that is keeping them from being profitable. It's a huge investment and wrestling video games are hard to make and not usually runaway success stories. But it's hard to bet against TK at this rate. 
• AEW Dark moving into Universal Studios Orlando is a good move. But I would love it if AEW ever goes to Full Sail. Just for the giggles of it all. I know some people...
• AEW needs to continue to find mainstream opportunities and book creative venues. Arthur Ashe should be an interesting show. Also, I'm definitely going to remember Tony Khan's comment that he talked to Jerry Jones about wrestling...
• A year ago, I was practically begging AEW to abandon its $50 PPV model. But I would like to say I was wrong. Yes, I think AEW should consider a full-time PPV move to HBO Max or another streaming service down the line but currently I can't blame them for charging $50 a PPV especially when they are as good as All Out. 
• AEW's theater strategy for its PPV events is brilliant and I hope to see them continue that into the future. 
• AEW needs to cement its relationship with New Japan even further. As AEW should tour around the world starting in 2022. 
• One final expansion idea for now and it builds off that first idea... AEW with its move to TBS should really push for Rampage at two hours in a better time slot, Elevation as a one hour show on TBS, and Dynamite to remain Wednesdays at 8 but with the option to run over... which would lead to more unpredictability. I feel AEW after constant rating success and noteworthy buzz it would make sense to push for these type of things. Heck, if  I'm WarnerMedia I would lock AEW fast. You don't want 2023 to come around and get into a bidding war against other suitors. Plus AEW having Dynamite,  Rampage, and Elevation would look to outsiders like they have the same scale as WWE. 

I am excited for AEW's future and it feels good that the product is finally getting its moment. I remember when people scoffed at the idea AEW would ever be able to attract top talent but now they are the destination. 

Although AEW is currently dominating the headlines. I just want to make one thing abundantly clear... And everyone should already know this but...

WWE won't be going anywhere.

They are still that billion dollar, 800 pound gorilla. Have they gotten lazy from a creative standpoint? Of course! They have been on a creative decline for a while. The pandemic didn't help. AEW utilized the pandemic better than WWE. It's also not a good sign that WWE's return to live crowds only gave them short term hype. RAW has been consistently terrible. SmackDown has been fine and even good at times. But the frustration sets in when you realize they have a loaded roster and all the time, production values, and talent to put on a good wrestling show. Yet the company drifts away from what brought them to the dance. Some seem to think WWE sees more value in the "E" than it does in the middle "W." 

WWE will always be synonymous with the word wrestling. So why not embrace that? AEW is calling itself the home to professional wrestling. Bah gawd! Do something about it you're World Wrestling Entertainment. You conquered territories and defeated Ted Turner in the 90s while monopolizing the entire industry until AEW arrived.

Also old school NXT (pre-let's try to destory AE NXT) was some of WWE's best work in years. Fans got to see the future now and they were thrilled with incredible matches and the potential storylines when their favorites got to the main roster.  WWE can still do pro wrestling. Instead of spending money on Riddle's goofy bird CGI use that money to create a set that can be used in a brawl or on things to make cool moments. WWE's goal is to make stuff memorable, and things can't be memorable when everything feels the same. Maybe WWE plays it too safe because of the family audience but the lack of unpredictability hurts the product. 

WWE is struggling creatively (outside of Roman Reigns). Mightly, I may add but there is one aspect they aren't struggling and that is business! And some may say well that's all that matters. Well, not when you're a fan of the actual product they put out. 

Love him or hate him, Nick Khan has done an incredible job in his role. He's the Chief Revenue Officer and he has found ways to clear cap space and let go of talent that would never be used. Sure it's an unpopular decision to release a dozen from NXT, Braun Strowman, and Bray Wyatt but in reality WWE and Khan saw people they no longer needed and true businesses don't keep around people just to keep them around. Years of roster hoarding came to an end, and Nick Khan clearly  isn't afraid of competition. 

Khan constantly is finding new ways for WWE's brand and revenue to expand. Khan also seems to have a grasp on localization and content creation for WWE. Nick Khan still has to bring back the 7/11 Slurpee cups though!

Khan's new approach has seen the announcement of Money in the Bank coming to Allegiant Stadium over July 4 weekend in 2022. Imagine telling someone a couple years ago WWE's 5th major PPV would perform in a stadium just like WrestleMania? WWE also launched an audio network with The Ringer. The benefit of that still remains to be seen. Nick Khan has also seen WWE get more invested in the worlds of sports betting, NFT's, and scripted content like The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon. WWE despite lacking creative in its actual wrestling product is clicking on all cylinders outside the ring. Nick Khan and WWE also are seeking big paydays for international rights but it looks like they are running into some competition from AEW. 

The above is just another reason why you can't be complacent. Back when WWE got its major U.S. TV deals was pre-AEW. Actually WWE's massive TV deals was one of the reasons why Kevin Reilly of WarnerMedia at the time listened to Tony Khan's pitch on AEW. 

​WWE's complacency and "smartest people in the room" mentality has caused Jeff Hardy to become a bottom of the card talent which is INEXCUSABLE especially when you consider a lot of casual fans and mainstream people know and respect him, Keith Lee to lose all momentum, Karrion Kross to be exposed, Samoa Joe to be fired and awkwardly re-hired, Adam Cole up and leaving, Bryan Danielson up and leaving, and mismanaging talent left and right. 

But the good thing. This is all fixable for the most part. WWE still has a good roster. Now it's time they tell good stories and are allowed to put on good matches. 

It's still weird to me that eight years ago I (dare I say poorly) wrote a blog about Cody Rhodes in WWE and it launched my wrestling website ZWrestleTalk. Eight years later, Cody Rhodes is the EVP of AEW. A promotion that is currently dominating the pro wrestling landscape.

It's just crazy to think about. Now, I can't promise ZWrestleTalk will make it another eight years and I know posts on here have been far and few between. But I'll keep doing this even if it's not a lot until it's time to move on. Let's just make it to 10 years on September 9, 2023. That would be a cool milestone right? And hey maybe between now and September 9, 2023, I'll write a few more non-PPV prediction posts? Cool? Cool. 

As always thanks for reading. 


Well once again thanks for reading my eighth anniversary post for ZWrestleTalk. It's been fun and it is still fun. Be sure to check out our archives and stay tuned for our PPV predictions throughout the rest of the year. We are also working on a couple things behind the scenes here at ZWrestleTalk. Feel free to comment below or tweet at us @ZWrestleTalk on what you want to see from us in the future. 

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Wow, it has been seven years. 

Seven years, writing about the world of professional wrestling. I still enjoy writing about pro wrestling. Usually I like writing about the business and how storylines could improve. I also enjoy doing monthly PPV predictions for WWE PPVs.  It's honestly weird to think about how long I've been doing this. I've covered a lot over the years. But I have to say this may be the weirdest year in wrestling yet. Let's take a dive into our topics for today. 

I use to love NXT on Wednesday nights. I think it is now time for NXT to move to Tuesdays for a couple of reasons. 

• They will get better ratings on Tuesday nights. That's all that should matter. 
• They can focus on themselves again and not AEW. 
• They can build a better audience for NXT on USA, and they could use that as leverage in their next TV deal negotiations. 

​The move to Tuesdays would be a win for all sides. We could see a return to a more focused NXT. They also could rule the night. IMPACT Wrestling is on AXS TV, so they wouldn't be considered a threat. Yes, NXT moving to Tuesdays would also be good for AEW. At this rate though we just need interest in wrestling. As one of the only entertainment options that was still producing during COVID despite never stopping, wrestling didn't see a spike in popularity or ratings. 

At the end of the day, if WWE really wants to make NXT, the third brand. It will need a new night without competition so it can finally gain a size-able audience. At the end of the day NXT will make more money for WWE on Tuesday nights instead of facing off with AEW on Wednesdays (just because Vince wants to destroy its competition.)

It makes too much sense. And who cares if Being the Elite makes fun of you and says you retreated. WWE should focus on business decisions that make sense instead of trying to ruin one of its best products in order to compete. 

Let's now discuss the other company. After a disastrous ALL OUT PPV, I think it is time to discuss AEW's PPV model. WWE (their main rival) changed the game with the WWE Network. The era of paying $50 for a wrestling show is basically over and it doesn't even matter how much you like AEW. I love the company but it is hard to justify spending $50 on their shows. To be frank, any wrestling company these days even if WWE said they were going to charge $50 for a show I think most fans would be hesitant. 

AEW is a company that hypes itself on innovation and being a revolution. Then they need to figure out a better model for them and their fans. Sooner of later this model is going to collapse. So, they simply need to find a better solution. 

I think possibly lowering the price could see more overall buys. Instead of this $50 on PPV, maybe you make it $30 on B/R Live or another service.  But at the end of the day I think they need to strike a deal with HBO Max. The streaming service is struggling to find its place within the crowded streaming market. If they were to include wrestling PPV's like AEW that could help increase subscribers. They could even charge a price within the app or they could just make it free to the subscribers. This would help AEW solidify its relationship with WarnerMedia especially after the exit of executive Kevin Reilly. This would also help WarnerMedia/HBO Max with sports-centric content for its streaming service. Plus if you're WarnerMedia having the number two wrestling promotion in the world should be a great thing. WWE makes boatloads off a loyal fanbase, if AEW can replicate that this could be lucrative property for them.  

Also, this model would be helpful considering your fanbase won't feel like they wasted money if the show ends up sucking. That's why WWE is able to get away with so many duds on PPV's these days because the WWE Network allows them too. To me it is a hard sell to have people buy PPV's during an era where there is little to no audience. AEW needs to make a shift and having more people watch your PPV's should be the goal. I also get they want to make money too but I think they could find a better revenue option in this era. 

Let's finish this article with some quick hits about WWE's longterm strategy. 

• WWE should already be planning out its WrestleMania season. I know WWE wants to look to the NFL/NBA/NHL for guidance but those leagues may opt for less fans or even bubbles like they are doing now. 
• WWE can't effectively do a Royal Rumble without an audience. Unless they radically change the concept like they did with Money in the Bank. Broadcaster Arda Ocal even suggested WWE doing four Royal Rumble matches if they still can't perform in front of fans. Ocal even suggested a cinematic match for one of the Royal Rumble matches which could  be in the cards if the pandemic continues. 
• Speaking of Royal Rumble, you can't possibly do WrestleMania without fans again. The prestige of the event has already taken a hit due to having it at the Performance Center. Looking back on that event will be weird especially that the State of Florida should've let WWE operate in Amway Center so they could have more space to socially distance and to give WrestleMania a bigger feel.
• WWE has to continue to build SmackDown on FOX. It seems like the FOX deal hasn't been a success for FOX so far. WWE Backstage was canceled from FS1 after Renee Young made it clear she was leaving the company. It seems like WWE hasn't really found its place within the FOX world. Maybe that will change with football season on the horizon? 
• WWE has to continue to make stars. This is a given. We may never get another John Cena, Stone Cold, or The Rock but we need WWE to make stars on the level of Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Edge, Becky Lynch, The Bella Twins, and Daniel Bryan. People who can get over with a mainstream audience. Drew McIntyre seems to be one, Adam Cole and Keith Lee seem like sure bets if used correctly. NXT has a loaded women's division who could produce the next Becky Lynch/Ronda Rousey/Bella Twin type star.
• Maybe, WWE will be able to figure this out during the ThunderDome era but they should find a way to make RAW different from SmackDown, and SmackDown different from RAW. 
• Lastly, WWE needs a longterm strategy when it comes to booking. It has been clear that RAW has been autopilot for a while. Even if the episodes have been relatively good there hasn't been any urgency to make people watch the next week. That is something they can do better. All of these are connected though. 

That's the thing everything in this longterm strategy is connected to each other. If WWE books stronger they have a better shot at creating their next star. Which will help them with their TV deals. If they plan now for WrestleMania season the better it will come across when the world throws obstacles in their way. 

Well thanks for reading my seventh anniversary post for ZWrestleTalk. It's been fun and it is still fun. Be sure to check out our archives and stay tuned for our PPV predictions coming later this month. More on the way soon!

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NXT was once WWE's hottest brand. It was their best show. It had an underground feel, the best feuds, and stellar matches. Back in November, when the world was normal. NXT won WWE's Survivor Series event. Keith Lee became a megastar, Rhea Ripley was on the rise, Undisputed Era was still strong, and it seemed like the brand was legitimized as a true threat to the main roster.

Now let's fast forward to now. Things aren't so normal for NXT. A lot of NXT talent have overstayed their welcome and are now left with zero creative plans. NXT was built on cycling guys in and out. Once someone got over in NXT or had a title run their next step was the main roster but the "NXT on USA" era has complicated that. Both Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have been ready to move to the main roster even if they don't want too. Having Gargano and Ciampa fight for the millionth time in NXT left a stain on their incredible rivalry. The final fight was underwhelming and it has resulted in a heel Gargano that doesn't work at all and Ciampa with zero creative plans after jobbing out to NXT's only rising star Karrion Kross. 

That was just one of the many reasons NXT has started to lose its luster. NXT wants to compete with AEW but they no longer follow the formula that made it the exciting brand in the first place. Cycling in and out talent makes NXT what it is. Yes, currently the indies don't have any big free agents but NXT is deep enough to continue creating new stars. I mean a prime example of not knowing when to move someone up is Velveteen Dream. He wasn't going to win the big one in NXT yet they kept him down there when in all reality he was main roster ready. Now Velveteen Dream is riddled with accusations and even if he is cleared his career trajectory will never be the same. 

NXT's bright spot is its women's division. The women have the ability to carry the show, and it may be the deepest division in all of WWE.  That is one thing NXT doesn't have to change. Its tag team division is non-existent. It's clear NXT just doesn't care about tag team wrestling anymore. Maybe they've given up on it entirely after having some NXT teams turn out to be duds.  Outside of Karrion Kross and Scarlett. they haven't attempted to make anyone else into that next big NXT star. I believe this is due to the amount of NXT talent that is hanging around too long. You have Finn Balor who wanted to rejoin NXT but his run hasn't made a lot of sense. I don't think his run has benefited him or NXT in general. The only good thing Balor's return has done was making him a cool heel. Johnny Gargano is still there but he isn't the same Johnny Gargano that the fans fell in love with. 

I feel like eventually NXT will embrace the cycling in and out again. They did it with Matt Riddle. They knew he was ready and there was nothing left for him so they moved him up. Yes, there is also a downside to the cycling as it sometimes creates issues for the talent who move up too fast. Prime example is EC3 being called up too fast and never doing anything. The NXT to main roster transition is crucial for talent and if it isn't planned out well the results can be disastrous. It may also be a reason why Triple H is holding onto his prospects so tightly. 

NXT has some talent that in a normal world, this era of NXT would be headlined by the likes of Dominik Dijakovic (not in the shadow of Keith Lee), Cameron Grimes, Dexter Lumis, Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, and Kushida. These guys all appear on NXT but they don't appear as the NXT stars like the past generations of NXT. They haven't had the time to really shine yet because there is just too many guys. All of these guys have been underutilized but that's not their fault. It's because NXT stopped their cycling which makes things feel stale after awhile. 

Like it's cool to think of NXT as a show with a ton of talent and things should stay fresh right? But that just isn't the case and after awhile that excitement dwindles and people want to see new wrestlers and some of their favorites move on to new things on the main roster. 

There is still time for the pivot. NXT could finally move Ciampa, Gargano,  and the Undisputed Era up. Have Keith Lee have a swan song against Karrion Kross, and move him up too. I think right now the main roster could always use the talent. NXT just doesn't work as a long term brand for talent. It's a stop in the road. That's what makes NXT different from RAW, SmackDown, and AEW. NXT already has a couple disadvantages when it comes to competing with AEW, and it may get to a point where they are just happy to be stealing eyeballs away from the competition. 

Not to mention, not even a heated feud between Pat McAfee and Adam Cole would make NXT better right now. I don't think that would move the needle. Even though Cole's blowup on McAfee was super good. At the end of the day like most wrestling shows during the pandemic I think NXT struggles without the crowd at Full Sail. When you take out the crowd it's just a blank arena. Their competitor on Wednesday nights has the better set-up by far. 

I still love NXT so don't get me wrong. I'm also excited to see how the road to NXT TakeOver XXX goes. I just hope we see NXT of old shine through again. It's just sad to watch WWE's once hottest brand fall so flat in order to compete against another wrestling company. It doesn't even matter if NXT wins in the ratings war. I care about the overall show. Keith Lee vs Adam Cole was one of their biggest matches in history but in the end that didn't make us tune in next week or the week after.  I still believe in the fact that the only competition NXT should have is WWE itself. This may be the thought of NXT of old but I go by the old adage of "if it ain't broke don't fix it." 

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Well, ZWrestleTalk is six. That's really something because this site has gone through a lot of changes over the years but one thing remains the same. It will be the place for me and others to share their opinions on the fantastic and sometimes frustrating world of professional wrestling. 

Last year I spent a lot of the anniversary post covering ZWrestleTalk. This year we are going to focus on some hot topics instead. It's simply been too long since I've written about wrestling and a lot has happened that I can't always get to in my monthly predictions!

I'm still super curious to see how this will work.  We have heard numerous rumors about SmackDown on FOX. Even that FOX wanted "Attitude Era" WWE for SmackDown. The other rumor was that FOX wanted a sports presentation that felt more cinematic. 

Eric Bischoff, the main guy behind WCW, is taking over SmackDown as Executive Director. What changes will Bischoff bring? That remains to be seen. Yet the roles of Heyman and Bischoff will wield more power than previous positions. Please, let's not kid ourselves Vince is doing this so he doesn't have to micromanage shows anymore. He still might but at least on paper he has the creatives who could very well handle their own shows. I honestly don't blame him. Vince doesn't need to do the hustle anymore. 

I also have to assume Bischoff will be an on-screen character. He is too good not to use. I think utilizing mainstream talent will be the key for Bischoff's SmackDown. Similar to the SmackDown commercial that showcased a mix of legends and popular superstars. I wouldn't be surprised SmackDown be the home of the mainstream stars like Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch,  and Charlotte Flair. Granted, these mainstream stars aren't as recognizable as John Cena, Undertaker, The Rock, Rey Mysterio, and Stone Cold but if they have any bit of mainstream pub I'm sure FOX will want them. I give FOX credit for at least attempting to make WWE more mainstream again. 

This should also mean that WWE is calling Ronda Rousey to get her on that first SmackDown show. Rousey is still WWE's biggest female star. FOX needs the names. I wouldn't be surprised if they get Brock Lesnar too. WWE is going to need ratings help because the pressure of getting good ratings on FOX will be higher than it was on USA, SyFy, MyTV, etc. I can't imagine FOX cancelling SmackDown but I can see them moving it to FS1 if things ever went south. 

The timeslot of the show is 8PM on Friday nights on the main FOX network. The show will remain at two hours and still be live. I like the move to Friday. I think Friday Night SmackDown just works. It will make WWE's television watching schedule more spread out (somewhat). RAW will be on Monday, NXT on Wednesday, and SmackDown on Friday.  

SmackDown's success will remain on how different the show can be. The other task at hand. Which is very similar to Tony Khan's goal of AEW will be can the shows attract former fans of pro wrestling and create new fans of pro wrestling? It seems like FOX, USA, and TNT are all betting on WWE/AEW seeing if this turns out to be another wrestling renaissance like the nineties were. 

Bigger question remains... Will the set be different? I'm expecting an old school look to compliment that old school hybrid logo. 

NXT moving to USA Network is a calculated move. Is it necessarily a smart move? Yes, obviously from a business perspective it is. From a fan standpoint? It could end up damaging NXT pretty bad. Now that we know the show will stay at Full Sail University. That raises my interest for NXT on USA. The roster right now is absolutely stacked. There is only one issue I see with it.

Will NXT still remain as a true developmental brand? Remember some of these talents aren't ready and it doesn't matter how many indie promotions they were at before. WWE likes their wrestlers to be ready and have the understanding of how WWE runs matches and its production. There is a good chance some people may be overexposed. NXT's roster is deep but how deep will it be once this show really gets rolling. The show has the blessing of keeping wrestlers like Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Velveteen Dream, Io Shirai, Candice Lerae, Undisputed Era, and others.   Those talents are ready for the likes of RAW and SmackDown so having them establish NXT will be good. The bigger worry will be when NXT goes through the transition periods. After WWE does a drain of the brand to reload its main shows. What will be left? It's obvious WWE will continue to lock up talent but will it matter if they aren't truly ready? Obviously, the only people appearing on NXT will be people that are ready similar to now but still it will be interesting to see how the brand remains fresh especially when it goes through an inevitable rebuild after WrestleMania 36.

Heck, I feel like the move is very uninspired on WWE's end. This would have been nerve-wracking even without AEW being on Wednesday nights. Why screw a good aspect of the WWE Network over? Why screw up a great aspect of WWE? It makes sense why they are going to USA Network but it does make the WWE Network less special. Even if WWE is pulling a Hulu-like deal with USA where episodes of NXT are available the next day on the network. I get Vince doesn't like competition but he just legitimatized AEW in a big way. WWE fans can twist it but at the end of the day this looks like a panic move from WWE. 

Am I looking forward to the new two hour NXT? I mean of course but a part of me still wonders how this move to USA Network will affect NXT TakeOver's. If NXT starts losing its quality and they lose what made that brand special it will be an unforgivable mistake. 

AEW will be hosting another PPV event in November. This time it will be the first PPV during the TNT era. Full Gear is going to tell us a lot about AEW's production and its roster. This will be the first time AEW will have to do a go home show before a PPV. It will also mark the first time they get a chance to run a show a couple days after a big event. Something that Double or Nothing could've benefited from. 

The one thing I don't understand in their build to Full Gear. Why announce Cody vs Jericho for the championship? This feud has some serious potential. Why just announce it randomly? This could've been built through the weeks of television. Of course, AEW (Cody) backpedaled and said that "the card could change." It very well could but that just creates another issue similar to All Out. Moxley/Omega was going to happen then it was pulled because of Moxley's injury. It would look even worse on AEW if Cody/Jericho is advertised and they pull it without good reason other then that they announced it way too early. 

Then again this promotion is trying to be different. It seems like they may want to go the UFC route. Announce championship matches with the top talent. AEW may abandon the whole pro wrestling notion of doing true blue storylines and focus on the records of the talent. Which would take some getting use to but could pay off. 

I'm excited for Moxley/Omega at Full Gear. That match has serious potential and we have been waiting for it since Double or Nothing ended.  The rest of the card we don't know yet but I would assume we will be seeing The Young Bucks, SCU, newly-signed Santana and Ortiz, Britt Baker, Nyla Rose, Hangman Page, and PAC. I would also expect to see Shawn Spears and Tully Blanchard raising trouble again, and having MJF take on Spears at the event. 

The only thing that AEW is going to run into will be how often will they be running these $50 PPV events. Even though having to pay $50 for a PPV makes it feel like a bigger deal than just flipping on the WWE Network. At the end of the day it is still $50! I wouldn't be surprised if we get a clearer understanding of AEW's PPV model in 2020 because I have a feeling that the current model won't last too long considering you are competing against WWE Network which only costs $9.99 a month. Maybe WarnerMedia digs AEW and puts them on HBO or even HBO Max. That could be intriguing for wrestling fans. 

AEW on TNT on Wednesday nights doesn't have a name yet. I think we can all expect it to be called Wednesday Night Dynamite. That's what AEW trademarked even before they announced the company. Although the show will face stiff competition I'm hoping it puts up good ratings and gives us a true number two Wrestling company that we have desperately needed. Hopefully, it's a good enough alternative that it scares the 800 pound gorilla known as WWE. 

So, WWE is planning a draft to officially kick off the FOX era of SmackDown. The draft will start on SmackDown on October 11 and then it will conclude on the following RAW. WWE has abandoned the draft concept since its latest brand split. Instead they have done the "Superstar Shake Up" which was awful. Now it looks like WWE will be doing a real sports feel for its draft. Here are some simple ideas: 

• TRADES: Have Bischoff and Heyman or whoever in charge at the time of the show make picks and trades with the talent. This could be good for storylines and also a good measurement on how WWE values talent.
• Similar to real life sports drama. Have superstars hold out if they get drafted to a certain brand they don't like. 
• Create a free agency. It could be established immediately after the draft is over. 
  
• For the actual draft show, utilize the time to show the actual picks. I wouldn't mind this show to be lighter on the actual wrestling and heavier on the analysis of building a WWE roster.
  
• Also if they do the draft right this year they could reinvent it with NXT next year. 
  
•  The big key would be WWE creating trades that would create an insane level of excitement. 

I'm all for WWE going through changes. As it feels like WWE as a whole outside of NXT has really been dragging. Even though WWE is doing well financially it just feels like the entire company hasn't been as entertaining as it should be. I'm hoping with Heyman/Bischoff, FOX, and AEW will help change the way WWE has been. 

Well, the next time you'll be hearing from me will be for WWE Clash of Champions which is this Sunday. I'll probably also be back to discuss AEW's first couple weeks of TV. So, keep your eyes open for new posts to the site.

Thanks for reading!

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Well, I didn't expect WWE to exactly retaliate against AEW. I mean the latter just started. Certainly, WWE was going to try right? 

Nope, I was wrong. What a shame. The show is in a sad state. Yeah, Ricochet/Cesaro was okay but not memorable. Rollins/Zayn are an okay main event but the show as a whole seems bored. The "wild card" rule blurs the lines in a horrible way. "The Firefly Funhouse" is an attempt at doing something different. I personally think it's pretty bad but I know others admire it. The 24/7 Championship has massive potential but the lack of hardcore aspects and the same locations being used is disappointing. 

Sami Zayn directly mentioned AEW tonight. Something that we didn't think was going to happen at all on WWE television. That was a shocking highlight. Yet that is a bad sign. When your competitor is mentioned it shouldn't be the most groundbreaking part of the show. 

My writer Dom Bouchard has been tweeting up a storm. He's obviously disappointed in the state of the WWE. Here are two of his tweets that got some attention. 

Both were liked by who Dom tagged. Dom brought up the point that Kalisto is no longer used as a wrestler and that the luchadors in general are used as cheap jokes. Dom's second tweet basically confirms Road Dogg is going to work in NXT. Which is fantastic news for Road Dogg, as he will be a valuable addition to NXT's creative and development team. If you look at these two tweets it is hard to ignore WWE has morale issues. More for Kalisto than Road Dogg. The locker room isn't feeling appreciated. That's not good especially with the looming threat of AEW.

Overall, RAW's Memorial Day episode was brutally boring. Hey at least we get Brock Lesnar jamming out pretending his briefcase is a boombox? I'm sure SmackDown tomorrow will just be more of the same. The "wild card" rule sucks out all the fun. It really does. I use to get excited to watch SmackDown to see The New Day, Daniel Bryan, Andrade, and others. Now that feeling is gone when you realize RAW stars along with Roman Reigns/Shane McMahon will take up majority of that screen time. 

WWE has a lot of time to turn it around though. The FOX deal doesn't kick in until this fall. AEW doesn't start weekly TV until the fall. Will AEW affect WWE's viewership? Unlikely but still a new wrestling product could attract fans of old and new. 

As I end this depressing RAW review blog. One question remains for WWE. 

How can you make the product exciting and fun again? 

It will be fascinating to see how this plays out. 

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25. Killer Bees
A very underrated team and they were part of the golden era of tag teams.

24. Kendrick and London

The best team in the worst period for tag team wrestling in the WWE. They were fast and very good at double team moves. Lack of charisma killed their push. 
​
23. Wild Samoans 

The best heel team of the early years.Wild and aggressive and a very good gimmick. 

22. Strike Force

Tito Santana and Rick Martel were a very underrated team. They were fast and coordinated even though they had limited offense. They were pure white meat babyfaces. 

21. The Revival 

No worries they will keep climbing, they are the absolutely a throwback to a bygone era of old school. They are better athletes than you imagine and they are very good heels. 

20. The Bar

Same here, this team is only hitting its prime. Sheamus and Cesaro are also throwbacks and extremely strong and athletic. They are absolutely cool to boo.

19. Brain Busters
Arn and Tully had a very short run in the WWE but they are one of the best teams ever. Double teaming masters and good offense. Great heels all around. 

18. Natural Disasters

Earthquake and Typhoon were the biggest team and they were extremely effective heels. Earthquake was a great wrestler. 

17. Iron Sheik and Volkoff

Truer heels never existed. They were terrible in the ring but their gimmick back then was captivating enough to keep fans entertained for stories. 

16. Tony Atlas and Ricky Johnson

Strong guys and good wrestlers they were very good together. They played their roles perfectly

15. Nasty Boys

Sags and Knobbs were brawlers with a great gimmick and they had a good run, and were really entertaining. 

14. Money Inc.

The Million Dollar Man and IRS were very good mat wrestlers and meshed well together. They had a great run and were good heels.

13. Steiner Brothers

Even though they had a short WWE run this is one of the most athletic tag team ever. Scott was a beast, and he went on to have an impressive singles career which spanned from WCW, WWE, and TNA. 

12. Dudley Boyz

The ECW team wasn't loaded with talent but they had a good badass look and cool personalities. Their hardcore style and usage of tables lead them to become one of the best tag teams.  The Dudley Boyz also have one of the best tag team finishers in the game. 

11. Legion of Doom

Sadly they were past their primes. The limited but legendary Road Warriors were not as dominant and intimidating as they were in smaller men territories. 

10. The New Day

The most entertaining team of all time and all underrated wrestlers especially Xavier Woods, and they will go down as an all time elite team. 

9. British Bulldogs
 They came to the WWE and Dynamite Kid was already not as great as before. He was injury prone and the team suffered because of it. They had a good feud with the Hart Foundation then faded a little. They were innovative and exciting. The British Bulldogs were still able to be a top team. 

​8. Benjamin and Haas
Very good tag team, extremely athletic, and were not used to their full potential. That's why they are eighth on my list.  

As Brian James said on my podcast. "We never used tag team moves, we didn't dress the same, but still people loved us." They were successful with doing little but achieving a lot. The New Age Outlaws even proved their ageless abilities when they came back for another tag team run.

A badass team with more talent than being given credit for, and a very intimidating look and music.

Jeff at his peak was a wonderful athlete and could do amazing things in the ring. Matt was a solid mat wrestler and they were the best for a long time. Putting on countless classics. 

Even in their short period of time I'm convinced if they ever reunite these two singles stars could dominate the tag team division for years to come. They are already one of the best teams to ever do it. They are already on the list because talent wise they have more athleticism than everyone else on the list combined.

Legendary team and both guys brought something different to the table. They were great at double team moves. 

Hey they could have been my number one but they were my all time favorite heel asshole tag team.  Very talented and innovative and that's why they are number two on my list. 

Jimmy and Jey are now the greatest tag team ever, and they earned it through hard work and flashy moves along with great character development. Since Day One-ish the twins have been awesome. 

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Another WrestleMania in the books. The event started at 5PM on the east coast, and it finished early Monday morning. WrestleMania did go smoothly for the most part. Overall the card was really good despite being major predictable. I went 11-5 on my predictions, and that gives me a winning record. Yes, I have been watching wrestling for years so you would expect me to be on the money with predictions but still. It's crazy I had that good of a record. 

Being predictable isn't always bad. Yet some of the execution fell flat. Like Brock Lesnar has been a mainstay for years. He lost in such an awkward fashion. Daniel Bryan's match with Lesnar was far better. Brock Lesnar shouldn't be wrestling for two minutes at WrestleMania. I know some fans are glowing that the man who has kept the title hostage is no longer champion. I disagree because that payoff was horrific. Honestly if you wanted a slay the beast angle you just give Finn Balor the title at Royal Rumble.The Lesnar match just was bad, and I do laugh at fans that actually think Lesnar is "sexist" and that he was *actually* mad he wasn't the main event. I feel like these fans try to act smart but then they forget the commentary team doesn't discuss real details. Lesnar could care less about not main eventing. He makes money either way. 

The four kickoff matches delivered. Tony Nese winning is cool and 205 Live is becoming WWE's niche brand among the NXT's. Carmella winning the battle royal was a smart call. Still don't know why WWE treats Mickie James so bad. Hawkins and Ryder winning gold again is crazy. Then Braun is going to Braun. Still a lot of guys in that battle royal could've been used in better matches. 

AJ Styles taking on Randy Orton was fine. It had potential to be match of the but it didn't quite get there. Orton can still give fantastic performances, and Styles still matches up well and gets the most out of anyone. 

The fatal four way for the SmackDown tag team titles was exhilarating due to the amount of talent in that match. Considering most of the talent could've had their own WrestleMania singles matches. A lot of the players in this match will be in more significant roles at WrestleMania 36.

Shane McMahon taking on The Miz was a fun brawl. The Miz losing added an element of surprise. Falls Count Anywhere proves to be a well-done concept especially at WrestleMania. The IIconics won the tag team championships. Hopefully, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce hold the titles until next year. Make the new belts prestigious. This is where I do give WWE props from not putting the titles on Nia Jax and Tamina. 

Kofi Kingston finally overcame Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. The match had all the close falls and emotional cues. Kofi Kingston winning the championship was probably the best moment overall at WrestleMania. Not to mention Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan put on the best overall match at the event. It was really one of the only moments where I thought to myself. 

"This is something we will remember a couple years from now." 

Most of the WrestleMania results were happy. Also, this year's Mania was really good. I wouldn't say it is anywhere near the best ever. Maybe the event will age better with time. Despite the odd predictability. The event did provide some shining moments. Like the Ron Simmons cameo along with the Scott Hall and Kevin Nash segment. Plus the Hall of Fame class was so good this year that segment was fun to watch. 

Now back to the rest of the card. Samoa Joe put  Rey Mysterio to sleep. Poor Rey didn't deserve that. WWE should've called an audible. Have Samoa Joe face off with someone else. Then we got Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre which was fine with the ten minutes it got. I think fans were still reeling from Kofi that these next two matches were going to be whatever either way. 

Now the match of Batista and Triple H was fantastic. I get fans wanted it to go faster because there was a lot left on the card. I didn't care. This was a complete story. Batista came back and attacked Ric Flair. In the match they lived up to the "No Holds Barred" standard. Which is crazy to think that all the older guys do hardcore stuff (Shane, Batista, and HHH) and none of the younger guys do hardcore stuff. The match was a fantastic finale for Batista's epic career. 

Baron Corbin beat Kurt Angle. Which ended Angle's illustrious career. I guess Kurt Angle follows the dumb "go out on your back" tradition that I hate. Corbin has gained a big win on his resumè. 

Finn Balor taking on Bobby Lashley was truly whatever. It's sad to see the lack of care for The Demon character. It's also sad that match we have seen on RAW and countless pay-per-views was on the card at WrestleMania. 

The Main Event

Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey were the main event of WrestleMania. Even though the ref got the punishment. They botched the ending of the match. It was just terrible psychology. If Becky was suppose to end the match with Rousey tapping out a la to Daniel Bryan tapping out Batista. They shouldn't of attempted that cover. The poor ref went too fast, and it ruined the big moment. The rest of the match was alright. It wasn't earth shattering by any means. 

The match was alright. It could've been better. Overall it was a fun main event despite starting at midnight. 

WrestleMania 35 was a charismatic event despite being way too long. It had few memorable moments. Overall, it was good event but on the scale of WrestleMania it feels smalls. Maybe WWE is over doing it and that's why WrestleMania felt less special. The matches were good. Some of the booking wasn't as smart and WWE has the most stacked roster in the world yet they aren't utilizing it to its full potential. My favorite matches were easily Kingston/Bryan, HHH/Batista, and Miz/Shane. The key point is that storylines matter. That's why Rollins/Lesnar wasn't as exciting because the story was non-existent. We can even make the same argument that the main event forgot what made it the main event. 

WrestleMania 35 was a successful and grand watch despite being too long and forgetting what made WrestleMania special. Hopefully, WrestleMania 36 can continue the success of Mania but adjusting the overall approach. More storytelling and less matches would benefit the event. Make every match important and make every match feel like a dream match. 

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Even though TJP has been released from WWE. I felt the need of including him on my top 50. One of the best wrestler in the world in my opinion. A technical wizard that is also super fast. It is a shame he was never on NXT tearing it up with Ricochet and Johnny Gargano. 

​The enigmatic Nak is a guy who could be so much better, but he has a very bad work ethic and his saving grace is his extraordinary charisma and theme song. The most limited move set I have seen in recent memory. 

The dude has it all. Charisma, strength ,and talent. If he is taken seriously and used as more than just comic relief he has the potential to be a world champion. He has a very good move set and can be a heel or a face.

 One word to describe Cedric Alexander is spectacular. This kid has all the tools to become a main event babyface. A run on NXT would do wonders to help him get more recognition. He can fight, fly, and is an all around 5 star performer.

Devlin is from NXT UK. ​ This Irish bruiser has a chip on his shoulder and he is one of the most believable wrestler in the world. He has the ring savvy and the looks to become a very good upper mid carder.

The Celtic Warrior is a Hall of Famer who gets better with age. His move set is unbelievable, and his strength is out of this world. His brogue kick is absolutely devastating He is also very cool and charismatic.

The big has all the tools to become WWE Champion. All he needs is the chance to prove it. 

The lunatic fringe is a great workhorse and he has to rediscover his passion. When he is on, only a few can match Ambrose's intensity.

The huge WALTER is a very impressive athlete that really has the talent to be the new monster in the WWE. He is agile and his chops are so stiff, it hurts just looking at them.

Kofi Kingston is like wine he just gets better with age. He is the ultimate professional. Highly athletic and deceptively strong. He deserves a world title run and a main event push. 

The most underrated wrestler in the world. Kassius Ohno is absolutely amazing. His strikes are so believable. He can move well for such a big guy and can sell extremely well too.

Too easy. This man is so talented, and it is scary. He can fly and throw you into the tenth row. A freak athlete missing one key ingredient and that's charisma. Give him Lio Rush, and this man will soar to greater heights. 

Cole is a very good athlete. His biggest assets are his charisma and selling. Offense is a different story. If he wants to get to the top as a WWE champion. He will need to add to his superkicks.

The underdog is a wonderful wrestler. He is an artist. He can fight all styles and no one sells like he can. He has a very great arsenal of moves.

The RKO and great facial expressions along with his all-time charisma levels. Randy is winding down a very good career but he is still able to perform at a high level. His WrestleMania match with AJ Styles may be one of his bests. As Orton faces another indie darling. 

​ This man is the master of backbreakers and suplexes. Determined, fast, persistent, and a very underrated performer.Roddy will be a future NXT  champion.

 He is a future WWE champion. Big E is strong, fast, and charismatic. He will dominate for years.

 He is better than he ever was. This man is amazing. He is an ultimate pro, and he will go down as one of the greatest ever. He can still fly and wrestle as good as anyone.
 

 He doesn't do much but what he does he does well. He is a strong athlete and all he needs is to add to his arsenal. It gets old after a while. Still can be a world champion. I still think he needs some improvements. 

​This man is so unique, and he will be a main event act for years to come. His unique offense and kicks are devastating. His fade to black kick is the new RKO.

​The big strong boi is an amazing athlete and is only 22 years old. There is no limit for Tyler. He can be the most dominant wrestler of the next 15 years.

​The kid is the future of the WWE. The most charismatic athlete since The Rock, he has skills. Promo skills and an aura that makes him unique. Watching him is an  experience. If he rounds up his offense a little more, he will be the best in the world.

An absolute monster of a man. His offense is second to none, and he can dominate against all kinds of opponents.He will be WWE champion soon.

 This is a one of a kind athlete that can dominate for years. He is a striker and a master of submissions who can elevate his game if he goes solo. Future NXT champion.

Sky is the limit for this young athlete. He is a tremendous high flyer with a wonderful arsenal of moves. His promo skills are getting better too. His selling is top notch. 

Johnny Wrestling is the best fight from underneath wrestler in the world, and he keeps adding to his already good repertoire of moves. He is a good promo guy too.

Yes he may have lost the name "Cien Almas" but he hasn't lost his world elite talents. He will be WWE champion many times. The man has everything.The look, talent, and the manager.He is next level.

This man is NXT. He is the face that runs the place. The best heel in the business and a wonderful wrestler. His move set varies and he is also very quick.

The evil vegan is a master of the ring. No one is as passionate as Daniel Bryan, no one.He can still perform at a high level. He is a mat technician and a skilled high flyer.

​This kid is a next level athlete who has a unique look and the best offense of any wrestler in the world. He is a stiff striker and can fly with the cruiserweight's. The future is now with the bruiserweight. Dunne should be the first from NXT UK to be on the main roster.

The Kingslayer and future Beastslayer is without a doubt the man in the WWE. The best athlete, the best wrestler, reliable and he's a workhorse. He is a great babyface and can sell like a champ. He is the face of the WWE for the next few years.

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The rumors surrounding Dean Ambrose are interesting, to say the least. For several weeks now the rumor mill (and WWE itself) indicated that Dean Ambrose would be gone from WWE after WrestleMania. The man was not renewing his contract, no matter how much money they'd throw at him, and that left him to be a free agent.

The prospect of this man moving to AEW was definitely something I was looking forward to. He's a unique character in that it's impossible to force a certain character trait to his name; much like Becky Lynch or Kevin Owens. 

When they're allowed free reign is when they do their best work and become the most appealing version of themselves for the WWE audience. 

Forcing the Lunatic Fringe angle on Dean post-SHIELD, and this new Bane-esque villainy did not do the man any favors. Personally I think it hindered him. He was best in the SHIELD and for some time after the breakup (plus his run as champion on SmackDown) when they weren't forcing him to be an absolute lunatic. When he just did what seemed to work best: a silly, sassy smart ass that really liked to hurt people, was more entertaining.

Now the rumors of Dean leaving are disappearing as a result of Roman's return.

As much as I'd miss Dean in the WWE and the prospect of a SHIELD reunion at any moment, I feel like this could be another downfall. Unless WWE were to give him a run that doesn't hinder his character and were to provide a compelling story, it would be okay. But now we'll miss out on all of the possible feuds and stories to take place in AEW.

Ultimately, I just want a good run for Ambrose.
And someday Cesaro as WWE Champion before he retires, but that's a conversation for another day. 

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