In this WrestleTalk News, is CM Punk misunderstood, Survivor Series success, and a shock angle
on Dynamite which Oli will be reviewing.
While CM Punk seemingly became public enemy number one towards the latter stages of his
AEW tenure there seemed to be two chaps that remained close friends both on screen and
backstage with Mr. Brooks.
That being Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler of FTR.
United seemingly by their reverence of Bret Hart, the trio frequently shared the ring
together and posted buddy buddy pics on social media, an anomaly seemingly as so many did
not enjoy Punk’s presence in the company.
Now, while we are yet to hear from Punk properly (aside from some jokes during his CFFC commentary)
we have finally heard from one half of FTR, with Dax giving an interview with Fightful’s
Sean Ross Sapp, where he was asked about his thoughts on Punk.
“He had his door always open, invited people in, watched matches of the young wrestlers
that asked him to, stuck around until the end of the show, and anybody who had questions,
he would answer the questions.
He loves wrestling — just like me, unabashedly is a professional wrestling fan.”
Dax went on to say that he still speaks to Punk every day, and whatever he chooses to
do in life he hopes it brings him “happiness and joy”, because that’s what he deserves.
A somewhat glowing review, and very different from the other stories we’ve heard from
the AEW locker room of Punk being a ‘cancer’ and nobody liking him.
Two days ago it had been reported that Andrade, who according to the Wrestling Observer is
currently suspended from AEW, had undergone surgery for a torn pectoral.
An injury Andrade himself confirmed happened during a six-man suplex spot during a trio’s
match with The Elite in August.
Now a further update on Andrade has been given by none other than his father-in-law Ric Flair,
who spoke on his podcast providing more insight into how serious the injury indeed is saying:
“It’s to be determined, I don’t know.
I know it was a bad tear, he’s going to be out for a while with it”.
While discussing Andrade, Flair also spoke on how he believes AEW have booked his son-in-law:
“I like the stuff with Matt Hardy but I don’t think they use him properly, myself.
I’m going to be, obviously, biased.
I think he is a much better singles performer than he is in a tag match.”
Given Andrade’s injury and controversy surrounding his last actions in AEW he finds himself in
a similar spot to Punk, still under contract, injured, but unclear whether they will be
seen in the company again.
I guess 2023 will provide the answers we all crave at some point.
After decades of being the ugly duckling of the big four PPV’s Survivor Series got a
much needed War Games infused shot in the arm this past Saturday, providing a solid
show with a truly excellent conclusion.
And it looks like the renewed interest in the event has paid off massively for WWE as
Fightful have reported that this year’s event has become “the most viewed Survivor
Series on record, jumping 46% from the 2021 edition of the show”, which came courtesy
of an internal memo from WWE.
Not only that but it was also reportedly WWE’s biggest ever live gate for both Survivor Series
as well as the city of Boston, with merch sales also rising by 20% from last year.
It was also noted that fan ratings of the event were up by 48% however, as noted by
Fightful it is unclear how this metric was measured exactly.
Nevertheless it’s abundantly clear that Triple H’s changes to this year’s event
in comparison to the stale brand warfare editions of the past has been a huge W for WWE.
If you’re enjoying the video, please give it a like and if you haven’t already, subscribe
for more news!
We upload daily
wrestling
news videos.
It’s Thursday, you know what that means.
My review of AEW Dynamite… in about 5 minutes.
Jon Moxley opened the show saying there are only three certainties in life.
Death, taxes, and Jon Moxley.
I’d also add: Jon Moxley never getting a vacation.
He said he’s the best wrestler in the world, and was presumably about to start trashing
MJF, but he was interrupted by the shock return of Hangman Page, making his first appearance
since their World Championship match a month and a half ago, which ended in that horrible
concussion.
Mox immediately brought that up after they got in each other’s faces, asking you sure
you want to do this after last time, while tapping at his head.
Mox felt more heelish here.
I’m ready for a fully heel Moxley in AEW.
This sparked a terrific pull apart so fiery, Mox misjudged where the ramp was and totally
stacked it off the side.
Another week, that would’ve been funny.
But here it just added to the chaotic intensity.
They were shown brawling backstage later on too, which led to Moxley being sent home from
the arena.
AKA, a William Regal return plot device!
After that great opening segment, we got a back and forth, hard hitting, technical wrestling
exhibition match of FTR’s Dax Harwood vs Bryan Danielson.
Both men are so talented, they managed to create what felt like a months long blood
feud despite no story going in.
It was just two tough bastards seeing who’s tougher.
After trading two counts in small packages, Danielson made Harwood tap in the Crossface
to a standing ovation, where they both hugged after.
Claudio Castignoli and Wheeler Yuta had a sit down interview with the JAS to build their
respective matches.
It was a bit clumsy, but Jake Hager was wearing his hat, so five stars.
Now Samoa Joe is a heel, he can be what I always want from him: a no selling, ass kicking
monster.
He welcomed AR Fox to the company, following his signing, by rightfully beating him with
a Muscle Buster in five minutes.
Wardlow then cut a promo on the tron promising he’s coming for Joe, which he finished by
saying ‘Wardlow’s World’.
It’s a lame catchphrase for many reasons, but mostly because it makes me think of a
rubbish cartoon theme park for kids.
We got a vignette from the Book of Powerhouse Hobbs, where he went to the shops to buy some
milk.
Protein!
And then we got the most anticipated segment on the show: MJF finally speaks following
his World title win and heel alignment with William Regal.
Wearing a suit with ‘I’m better than you’ written into the pinstripes, a more PG version
of Connor McGregor’s famous ‘f you’ design, Max cut a lengthy promo.
It had to be, as he had the following loose ends to tie up, explain his and Regal’s
plot, three months of feuds to set up, debut a new belt, and turn even more heel at the
end.
He wrapped up the Firm storyline by pretty much going, eh, who can be bothered?
He explained the Regal approached him after the Firm beatdown, so under three weeks before
the Full Gear turn, and said he wanted to make him the greatest villain ever.
Not the best masterplan reveal, but we’re moving forward, remember, we’re focusing
on the optimism of the future.
He debuted his own hideous burberry print AEW title belt, which I actually found offensive.
And said his boy Nick Khan and The Game, Trips, are going to help him in the bidding war of
2024.
But the biggest part was the ending…
Max got the crowd to cheer for Regal, which was an odd change considering he’d spent
the previous ten minutes blasting them with cheap heat.
It was all a neat misdirect, as he then decked Regal in the back of the head with the brass
knucks.
MJF turned on Regal just eleven days after they first became an act.
It was a shocking moment, not just for the turn, but because Regal has been presented
as someone who if he takes a bump, will immediately die.
AEW dealt with the fallout perfectly.
Max left through the crowd as the medical team tended to a scarily unconscious Regal
with blood pouring from his mouth, while a distressed Bryan Danielson never left his
father figure’s side.
AEW often just cut to the next segment with a jarring change of tone, but here they let
the impact breathe, and even continued it after an adbreak - all adding to the perceived
seriousness.
The angle also perfectly builds another part of Max’s promo, where start of an Edgar
Wright movie style, he set up the next three months worth of feuds - namedropping Eddie
Kingston, Ricky Starks and Danielson, for whom the Regal angle will bring a very personal
motivation for their feud.
Stepping outside of kayfabe, though, it poses an interesting question over Regal’s future
in AEW.
In a week of rumours that Triple H wants Regal back in WWE, could this have actually written
him out of AEW completely?
And ultimately, while shocking, what potential for a longer MJF/Regal partnership has this
wasted?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below.
Ricky Starks beat Ari Daivari in a squash match next, to build him for the MJF match.
He wants to win the Diamond Ring too, to take everything Max has.
Ethan Page also said he’ll take the Diamond Ring.
It’s the women’s quarter hour time!
It really is the old AEW!
Britt and Jamie had an interview segment about an interview segment to set up another interview
segment.
Willow Nightingale really got the crowd into her by overcoming both Tay Melo’s interference,
and beating Anna J.A.S.
Ruby Soho made her return in the post-match and beat up Tay for breaking her hand.
Jade Cargill’s character has run out of things to do, so she’s feuding with Lil
Bow Wow.
This fell flat and was comfortably the worst thing on the show.
And the main event saw match three in the best of seven trios champions series between
The Elite and Death Triangle.
They all started brawling during their entrances.
This doesn’t feel like seven distinct matches, it feels like one epic continuous match, just
with a week here and there between the chapters.
This was insanely good.
If anyone tells you, oh but it’s all just high spots, where’s the psychology - they
really are being disingenuous to prove a fixed set of beliefs they already have.
This does have stories underpinning the crazy stunts.
PAC vs Omega, the character dynamics between Death Triangle, and who’s comfortable with
cheating, both teams becoming increasingly familiar with each other’s offence, and
thus having even more creative counters.
This was spectacular.
Matt Jackson got his knees up in PAC’s face off a Black Arrow to make the series 2-1.
What did you think of Dynamite?
Let me know in the comments.
The MJF turn on Regal, Hangman’s return, excellent matches in Dax vs Danielson and
the trios main event.
This really is AEW returning to its best.
This week’s Dynamite is 85%.
Is William Regal actually leaving AEW though?
Watch me and Tempest debate that now…