In this WrestleTalk News, details of Edge’s return have been leaked, there’s confusion
over whether SummerSlam is rated TV-14 or PG, Oli’s review of Fyter Fest Night 2 and
more.
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Edge was on a high earlier this year, forming the very cool Judgment Day faction, sorry
The Judgment Day, and after proving themselves as a capable force with Edge getting a win
at WrestleMania Backlash, he was then kicked out of the group and replaced with Finn Balor.
Yep, makes perfect sense to me.
Since then, The Judgment Day have done precisely nothing, aside from Balor now wrestling in
tights instead of trunks - ooh spooky - however there have been several intriguing videos
playing showcasing memorabilia from Edge’s feuds in years past, such as items relating
to wrestlers like Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle, The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, etc.
It was already known when these vignettes first launched at Money in the Bank that these
were related to Edge, and most likely hinting at his return, and now more details about
that return have been revealed.
Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live mentioned that he’d heard that Rated R Superstar merchandise
had already been made ahead of his return, meaning that more than likely, that old character
will be making the return with Edge.
Weirdly though, since that gimmick is more typically heel, it’s unclear whether he
will be this time.
Wrestling tradition should dictate that Edge would be a babyface upon his return, because
although he was a heel through and through, he got betrayed by some other heels, so now
he should be a face, right?
Wrestling logic is sometimes very stupid.
Edge is also slated to return at the Rey Mysterio 20th anniversary special Raw this week coming,
so we won’t have long to wait before we see for ourselves.
And if Edge is becoming Rated R once again, it seems WWE might be changing their rating
soon too.
There was a report last week from Andrew Zarian that this past week’s episode of Raw was
going to revert to its TV-14 rating, which was later corrected as the memo outlining
this change was reportedly prematurely sent out.
This confusion has now continued, as Andrew Zarian once again pointed out that SummerSlam
was listed as a TV-14 event on the Peacock app - so is this the premium live event where
the rating is going to change and set the precedent going forward?
No.
Because as of right now, the rating has been changed back to a PG rating for SummerSlam.
It clearly looks like WWE wants to make this rating change before long, but who knows when
it’ll actually happen.
Stay tuned to wrestletalk.com for the latest, and stay tuned to this channel for more opinion
pieces from this guy about the TV-14 rating and if it’ll actually help.
Spoilers: it won’t.
On this week’s episode of NXT 2.0, Axiom debuted, the newly repackaged A-Kid.
He’s a superhero, who also does math.
Nothing more terrifying than math.
While the debut certainly got people talking, certain fans and one indie wrestler noticed
a striking resemblance to their own gimmick.
The indie wrestler Razerwyng noticed the looks were shockingly similar, and has even been
taking jabs at the getup since the look for the gimmick was leaked last week, and I mean,
yeah they’re basically the same aren’t they?
It’s not just the black and gold attire though, as the signature pose was even essentially
replicated, so there’s not much space for WWE to claim ignorance on this one.
Not the first time WWE have taken something from the indies and won’t be the last.
And now hot tag to Oli.
It’s Thursday, you know what that means…
my review of AEW Dynamite [Fyter Fest] Night 2… in about 5 minutes.
They’ve got a fancy new LCD entrance [Fyter Fest].
This guy is wearing a shark hat in the crowd.
[Fyter Fest] There’s a Shark Cage to promote Shark Week.
[Fyter Fest] It’s Fyter Fest Night 2, I don’t know
what that means.
Darby Allin continued his mission to replace Spike Dudley as the human definition of ragdolling
in the show’s opening grudge match against Brody King - in an effective telling of really
big tattooed guy vs really small facepainted guy.
It’s like uncle Gary at my fifth birthday all over again.
But despite Darby being heavily protected in AEW, King beat him relatively clean again
with a sickening Gonzo Bomb.
And while this has done wonders for Brody, it seems like Darby’s losses are to actually
build a Sting match - with him coming out in the post-match, falling into Malakai Black’s
trap.
But then out came Miro, wearing sunglasses inside at night not just because it’s cool,
but with different coloured lenses to tease that he may or may not be about to join the
dark side.
Allow me to put my Axiom hat on for a second.
Miro will stay good to team with Sting and Darby because they need a third man for a
House of Black six man tag.
Wheeler Yuta and Jon Moxley vs the Best Friends felt like picking up where we last left the
actual Blackpool Combat Club before they were heavily diluted in the Kingston/JAS feud.
They had a really good match, telling the story of how much Trent hates Yuta, and Chuck
eventually joining him.
I even thought the Best Friends might get an upset win with their Piledriver Party,
but Yuta got the pin to build his ROH Pure title defence this weekend.
As many, many of you pointed out, I made a mistake in my criticism of Swerve in our Glory’s
title win last week.
I said they should’ve won it at Revolution, which would’ve been difficult, because they
weren’t even a team then.
I, of course, meant Double or Nothing.
Nevertheless, my point still stands.
But I’m all here for the follow up.
I love Keith Lee.
I love Strickland.
As did the crowd, welcoming them with ‘You Deserve It’ chants.
Just like Wardlow before them, though, the Mark Sterling curse hit - preventing an actual
first feud being set up, booking a comedy cake in the face, also here’s a celebrity
rapper getting physical spot sports entertainment segment.
I would’ve preferred something serious that would’ve started a new story.
Butcher and the Blade beat up the Dark Order until Hangman Page made the save backstage.
Hangman is inexplicably underused right now considering how lacking in top stars AEW currently
is.
Luchasaurus squashed both Varsity Blondes, in a handicap match plus Christian.
Christian tagged in to get the pin, gloriously out working absolutely no-one, and then got
on Luchasaurus’ shoulders to celebrate.
Almost summoned by the visual, Jungle Boy’s music hit in a genuine big surprise.
Luchasaurus stood to one side, letting him chase Christian out the arena.
I still think Luchasaurus turns on him though.
Ricky Starks beat Cole Karter in five minutes for his FTW title.
I love that Ricky is getting frequently featured on the A-show, as he’s fantastic.
I would’ve preferred a more decisive victory over the unknown Karter here though.
Afterwards Ricky made an open challenge right now, which Danhausen answered.
But Ricky heeled it up, saying the match will be next week.
FTR might just be the hottest act in the company, draped in gold and super over with the crowd.
They had to build their ROH tag title match all by themselves as TNT won’t allow the
Briscoes on their network, which allowed Dax to deliver one of the best promo lines of
the year.
He told a story about a five year old girl with a hole in her heart.
She worked hard, and three years later, the doctor said it had healed itself.
That girl is Dax’s daughter - so this Sunday, he’s going to fight like an 8 year old girl.
That is poetic badassery not seen since ‘I’m Mary Poppins, y’all’ in Guardians of the
Galaxy Vol. 2.
With Leilia Gray not cleared to compete, Kris Statlander was banned from ringside.
But the late change didn’t affect Jade Cargill and Keira Hogan vs Athena and Willow Nightingale
one bit, with their collective charisma providing a hugely enjoyable match - specifically everything
that Nightingale does, and an awesome Athena and Cargill double kip-up spot, building their
eventual title match.
Hathaway distracted Athena though, letting Cargill pin Nightingale.
And the main event saw the barbwire everywhere, all of JAS in a Shark Cage, final chapter
feud ender singles match between Chris Painmaker Jericho and Eddie Confessed Murderer Kingston.
Only… it was only the barbwire match they properly delivered on.
Everything Jericho and Eddie did, I loved.
From Kingston just immediately stealing Justin Roberts’ barbwire wrapped mic and unloading
on Jericho, to the multiple brutal spots ripping open their flesh.
The in-ring singles action was great.
I thought the booking sucked.
First up, the Shark Cage.
Tay Conti and Sammy Guevarra should’ve been in there as members of JAS.
They weren’t, which meant Tay beat up Ruby Soho for the key and let them all out.
Well, actually, Anna Jay ran down and turned heel to help Conti take out Soho.
Meaning Tay could’ve just been in the cage all along, and it’s Jay alone who lets them
out.
Also Tay couldn’t actually unlock the cage, meaning JAS had to squeeze through the bars.
This meant one of the main draws of this match - Kingston vs Jericho alone, the way this
story started, and separate from the huge team matches of Anarchy in the Arena and Blood
and Guts since - was gone, as everyone started interfering.
Eddie’s gang ran down to brawl too, which is becoming an overused AEW trope.
After a few exciting near falls, Eddie had Jericho in a barbwire wrapped Stretch Plum,
but Sammy made his return, helping Jericho win.
An unsatisfying end to this months long feud, made even worse by Kingston beating up both
guys afterwards and standing tall.
Begging the question: why not just have Kingston win the match?
It should’ve been a clean, albeit blood soaked victory.
This was a deeply unfulfilling end in a bad way, not the brilliantly blue balling finish
of Blood and Guts.
At the end of that match, Eddie had the most interesting character beat of the year.
This booking has squandered it.
What did you think of Dynamite?
Let me know in the comments.
AEW currently feels like it’s in a holding period until its biggest stars return.
Punk, Omega, Danielson, MJF.
There doesn’t feel like much long term direction to dig your teeth into right now.
And the meatiest one we did have, Kingston’s further descent into madness, was overbooked
into nonsense.
This week’s AEW is 70%.
Do Seth Rollins and Riddle have real life backstage heat?
Watch on to find out more…