August 25, 2025 • 40 mins
AEW Forbidden Door London highlighted MJF and "Timeless" Toni Storm as top main event stars through stellar booking. MJF’s gripping AEW World Championship loss to "Hangman" Adam Page showcased his magnetic presence, while Toni Storm’s submission win over Athena for the AEW Women’s World Championship reinforced her dominance.
Beyond the intense Lights Out Steel Cage main event, where Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Will Ospreay defeated Death Riders, The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd, most championship matches—like Kyle Fletcher’s TNT title defense, Mercedes Moné’s TBS four-way, Zack Sabre Jr.’s IWGP title bout, Kazuchika Okada’s Unified Championship win, and BrodiDo’s tag title victory—served as exhibition-style showcases, emphasizing AEW’s global star power over deep storytelling, with MJF and Storm shining brightest.
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Beyond the intense Lights Out Steel Cage main event, where Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Will Ospreay defeated Death Riders, The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd, most championship matches—like Kyle Fletcher’s TNT title defense, Mercedes Moné’s TBS four-way, Zack Sabre Jr.’s IWGP title bout, Kazuchika Okada’s Unified Championship win, and BrodiDo’s tag title victory—served as exhibition-style showcases, emphasizing AEW’s global star power over deep storytelling, with MJF and Storm shining brightest.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-is-real-wrestling-podcast--1559158/support.
Contact KOP for professional podcast production, imaging, and web design services at http://www.kingofpodcasts.com
Support KOP by subscribing to his YouTube channel and search for King Of Podcasts
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Podcasting since two thousand and five. This is the King
of Podcasts Radio Network, Kingopodcasts dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
After AW Forbidden Door, AW destines to go ahead and
focus going forward and close the door on those juveitial
delusional detractors.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
WHOA editn't the name.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
You more request and believe it or not, Whether you
like it or no, like you learn to love it
because you have listened to wrestling and really it is
the best day going to day.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
WHOA but worldwide leader of podcasting excellence, the King of
Podcasts Radio Network probably presents the Wrestling is Real podcast
because Wrestling Dave Zus.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Wrestlers are a podcast on a Sunday night, and this
is King of Podcasts here to recap AW Forbidden Door
London here on the program, and we'll take a little
mentioned about NXT keat Wave also going on tonight. Of course,
it's besides the point that w would also count a
program on the same day as Forbidden doorlind And but
(01:08):
of course because they were in London and NXT wanted
to go on another show, they decided let's just go ahead
and make sure we have the focus going on to
something else. Besides, so NXT people are going to hope
that they get the headlines from the wrestling world after
the fact. But forbidden to word, tonight was a pretty
good show. Dead catch it throughout the day. I was
(01:28):
out working Uber, but I still had it on my
phone or I was catching it all throughout. And there's
a couple of takeaways to get from the show itself.
First of all, when it comes to the direction of
the company and what all EAT Wrestling's doing, just keep
going with it. They're gonna have to figure somebody out
now in terms of who was going to be the
(01:50):
best fit to help mainstream the company, because right now
what they have in place is good for the existing
fan base they have, but to find a way to
go ahead extern no further, that's the biggest problem right now,
and that's for a lot of wrestling companies as we speak,
which is why there are some companies that have decided
(02:10):
to go ahead and partner up with somebody else. I mean,
for instance, when it comes to TRIBAA or TNA, to
see them go ahead and make in roads to connect
to because of the ability of what they're able to
go and do to get broadcast deals and get exposure
from a lot of different dowlets. I mean, it's a
(02:30):
publicity machine. It's the media machine, there's.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
No doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And AW does not have that kind of media machine
and not at all. And I'm wondering if there's certain
things that can be done to help solidify that, because
for Tony Kahn, after the broadcast deal was finalized last
year with Warner Brothers Discovery, eventually he'll have HBO Max
(02:57):
where his paper views are going to being available aside
from Amazon Prime and other places. I think it's just
for him. It's just trying to find what are the
top main draws that can help draw interest to them,
and there are some that they have so far.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That I think is utilize pretty well.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Of the mainstream draws I can say right now that
I really look at that can supersede outside of the
wrestling bubble are MJF who we now saw from the
bump from Happy Gilmore and Tomas Tony Storm, who's done
quite a bit going on the red carpet, going to
(03:37):
certain events for movies, and just those two stars are
indicative of the AW brand. AW I feel like actually
has an identity fully fleshed out and they're not afraid
of being campy, being you know, poking fun or I
(03:57):
mean poking fun, but just like puking fun at each other,
being humble to each other, and just making good matches
based on storylines. They storytell on that brand, and they.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Do quite a bit of that.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
There's a lot of storytelling within that is created from
make believe. Of course, it's what wrestling has always been.
They still tie in and tap into the traditional sense.
They also really do stick into the whole extreme bit
of things when it comes to their lights out still
cage match we'll talk about in a minute, but I
mean it's a big, a big top carnival feel of
(04:37):
like everything gets in there. There's something you're gonna like
out of those matches of what they're doing, and that's good.
And it's not so much of a sports based kind
of feel too.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
It.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I mean, you know, you have a lot of stars,
a lot of talent that is being utilized. Whether you
don't like the way they're being utilized or who's being
put on top, well, that's on the pencil of Tony
Kahna where he decides to go. And for the most part,
I don't have much of an issue of who he
decides to go and push and who he doesn't, the
(05:09):
direction of the show, the way it was booked tonight.
This is what's indicative of their pay per views. They
do a pretty good job tonight. I didn't put a
whole lot into the fact that I thought it was
gonna be three matches. I really cared about at the
end of the night, And that's exactly what it was,
because the first several matches in the main card, we're exhibition.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
And when I've talked.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
About Forbidden Door in the past and what they've done
with these shows is that it is partly where they
are focusing for the most part on showcasing their talent
in the sense that they are going up against talent
from other brands, whether it's New Japan, Stardom or CMLLO.
(05:55):
So these things all make sense of what they're doing
with it and what they decided to go and go with.
In all the matches they had to night, they had
a very pack zero hour, and then you had several
callbacks throughout the night, You had a couple of return
you had a return that was very important.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
And for the most part, you know they have a
lot of talent.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
They're trying to put in and they're trying to incorporate,
and you know, for some people they're gonna ask themselves,
why is it as certain factions and groups are not
being focused more on the main card because they were
so prominently used in w in a certain sense. But
Tony conn in a way he has his basis for
who he decides the book and or who decides the
(06:41):
position first. So you put Cope and Christian together and
bring that team together, whether there's still a whole lot
of animosity between both of them, they made that point
very clear. And then Kill switching Kip saving the same
way here also doing with things and Christian had to win.
People were happy about it.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
They saw the reunion.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
They're still not necessarily at you know, in favorites with
each other, but they're trying to work it out, and
we'll let that get you work because of course there's
more to come with them taking care of a FTR
down the line and other things of course they're gonna try.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
To work on.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
And then we get to the focus of four matches
coming up, or actually with three matches really that they
got my attention that were absolutely exhibition matches because no
one was going to lose their respective titles, but it
was something about the direction of who they're going to
be gone. Now in some cases it's one or the other.
(07:43):
So first off, Kyle Fletcher Protostar and going after Heiromo
Takahashi T and T title. Good match. But for Kyle Fletcher,
you could just see in this match, the way he's
positioned Don Cows out there, whoever he gets to go
(08:03):
into Company and stuff with, you could tell that they're
just starting to work their way. Kyle Fletcher's getting elevated
really quickly. He is at the level where I feel like,
even outside of the whole association with will Osprey, I
think even just him being associated in the family Kyle
Fletcher and all the work I've been doing, either in
the company or in New Japan or wherever, he's getting
(08:24):
built up to a certain level. He's elevated. He's gotten
a great push, his look is great and in aw
that's a star that I think has been made because
I didn't think Kyle Fletcher was going to be that
kind of star coming out of a tack team that
he had with Ossie Open. But it's there, and I
never thought I would see Kyle Fletcher to the level
of where I thought Will Osprey was. It's amazing, but
(08:49):
call like it is. Kyle Fletcher has become a star
in this company. Like I look at him completely different
that I did it from the beginning, and I don't
know what it was the big difference. I mean there
was alsously the optics change, you know, cutting his hair,
giving him mc gimmick, total ego change, did a transition
(09:13):
from tag team to solo star and being a singles
competitor and just really looking good with that TNT title.
Now of course everybody's gonna go ahead and get worked
up over Mercedes Wine and now she's got nine belts,
she's won. At this point, she's taken on partner for
(09:33):
will Ostpray Alex Windsor, which I just realized that was
that today. Then Bozilla, who's like a real I mean
at twenty one years old, badass female wrestler here that
just really looked menacing and very intimidating out there and precifity,
and this batch had a whole lot going around with it.
(09:53):
But Mercedes Wine getting the win, after all, you know
you're going to go in and win. I mean, there's
no there's nothing where they going to have her completely
going and have a downfall where all those bolts are
going away. Everybody's gonna get caught up with her anyway,
because of the fact that she's out there with all
these belts and the constant focus on her. Yeah, I
(10:13):
know everybody's all worked up in this out about her.
That's okay whatever. I'm not caught up on it. I'm
not worried about it. But I think what they've done
with her from the beginning, trying to get her worked
out and just trying to get her character right, the
Mercedes wan mad character has worked out really well. I
think they found a way to get themselves in the
(10:34):
right direction to go ahead and move forward, and you
know her direction. There's just a lot of animosity because
she's not the Sasha Bank's character before the fact that
you know, how dare she find her way when she
was let go from w right because of the fact
that Naomi came back and spent one year in Impact
(10:56):
Wrestling stand out knockout talent as a knockouts champion, comes
back and then works with the company again, but Sasha
didn't make their return back. Even after Vince McMahon wasn't
there and that Sasha just had different aspirations for herself.
She felt like she wanted to be like an Eddie Guerrero.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
She wanted to go.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Ahead and explore the world in other organizations to work,
and she did. And now she's been out there trailblazing
for herself and she's doing great Enterprime and I'm glad
for her because if you would have ever seen her
go back to the FED, I don't think she would
even have the level of where she is right now,
(11:33):
because it's obvious that in w right now, there are
certain talents that are not going to get the main focus,
even Becky Lynch not getting the type of focusation before,
Like if you best at thirty year old mark, you're
not their I mean, because they've moved on to other
talent they had from NXT that have been brought up
and escalated and that's where they're focusing on. Like there's
(11:55):
still might be a place for secondary story a lines
for Bailey or Becky Lynch and others like that to
win secondary titles, but that's really where they are.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
They're not going after the main titles now, that's not
what they're focus is on.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
There's been a lot of talk where New JAPANPI Wrestling
has had a bit of a stagnation, and also they're
at a point where they don't have the talent that
they have right now in the roster has not been
getting renewed or a lot of fresh faces there from
what looks like Zach Saiber Junior right now is the
current World heaviweight champion. Him and Nigel McGinnis was a
(12:34):
dream match. I mean, the thing is for Nigel McGinnis
is like Brian Danielson was, who, by the way, was
great on commentary tonight and all the matches he was in,
and for him, it's nice to see Nigel McGinnis just
get back into the role here and get some of
these matches that he probably would have never gotten anywhere else.
That's the part that I really enjoy is that he's
back out here wrestling again. Him and Daniell Garcia. Obviously
(12:56):
there's something there with an attachment that we're gonna see
more of. But I enjoyed seeing Nigel out there. But
Zach Saber Junior he's going to win anyway. We kind
of figured that too. All exhibition matches, that's fine. Brodido
only title change of the night where Brodie Kick and
Bandido beat hears Indkitt and FTR, but str took the pen.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
That's obways to the point.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
And there was a lot of talk over the week
about herson to get asserting creative control. We talked about
that at the end of the podcast on Wednesday, kind
of figured that would be here, but WEDR there's a
lot of direction for them to go and work on.
And now obviously we see that the Hurston again now
has to deal with Ricochet and Gates of Anagony and
that's gonna be a focus on there. So they're gonna
(13:42):
move off to other feuds for themselves as opposed to
detack team titles and talk about quite a team to
put together where Brodie king Hill worked some time over
Ring of Honor and then Bandino being Ring of on
a World champion and you put this team together, they
mesh really well. I mean, for Brody king Man, what
(14:03):
a nice way to go and turn things out where
he's gotten a lot of times where he's got to
be out there for a singles taction, but to put
him here in this tag team and for the text
team to go and just mesh.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
So well great. I've really enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
But they've put some time into it. They put them
in that elimination tournament and it worked out really well.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I liked it all.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Then we move forward and look into some of the
pillars they have right now within the company, because when
you look at stars they've had out there that main
event level and can always be kind of pushed right
now in the right position for Forbidden Door because Okada,
of course prominently a main event talent, the main event
(14:46):
champion in New Japan for all these years, but right
now unified title has been made important combining the continent
international titles, and Okada feels very important with this title,
And of course the attachment to Don Kalas also helps
a lot. But I thought him as were Strickling, really
worked well together, and Swerve feels like a main event
(15:07):
star without the belt. And at this point, because hang
Man Out of Page holds the aw World title, we
won't see Swart Trickling into that mix again, but I
think we will again eventually if and when MGF wins
that title back. That's a few we haven't gotten to
yet where Swarre, Strickland and MGF face each other off.
(15:29):
That is a feud we're expecting I expect on the
line at some point. I know they've had like their odds,
but like really it's the MGF had them page. Storyline
has to continue because we got that going on, and
that's gonna be the workout for that. But very good
match with O'Connor strickling tonight as well, and of course
with Athena almost a thousand days as Ringovannor world champion
(15:52):
into the role here catching a contract against Tomlins Tony Strom.
By the way, Tony con making points at the press
conference post show press conference for Forbidden Door about plans
for what they're gonna do with the belts going forward
or the world title matches and the contracts for the
Casino Gatland matches. He says that he wants to see
(16:15):
where the holders of the contracts will be given at
least one week's notice ahead of time, rather than being
able to cash in any time that they want. They'll
want to do the money to make the type of deal,
and that he does want to use the lize of
the simulation that's being used in other places, with a
change also being made to offer proper promotion of the
title matches ahead of time to protect the integrity of
the championships themselves.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Quote.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
I think that I want AW to be different, and
I've been listening to feedback and voice of the fans,
and I think people want the championships in the sport
of progresting that have integrity. Reven the best year in
the history of AW, and I think a lot of
it is what we're listening to listen to the fans
that we care about the sport and we want the
fans to be leaving what we're doing. Yeah, he's listening
to the fans that are not pushing back and constantly,
(16:59):
you know, they're just going with the wind blows. I
guess there are fans right there that are very fickle.
The juvenile, delusional fandom will try to go ahead and
persuade AW to go away. That they want because they
want it booked WE style with former WE talent. They
(17:19):
want this to be booked like WCW. They want them
to be booked like the previous TNA. That's what they
want is that, well, maybe these stars could work better
somewhere else. Meanwhile, it's like they could care. Sometimes they
really don't care too much about some of the talent.
That aw brings in that wouldn't have gotten a chance
to be in this point anywhere else because for the
(17:42):
most part, yeah, there are talents they have in the
company that came from the w right, but there's a
change in what they're.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Trying to go and do with them.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Because for right now, I mean Berdi King Bandita would
never been looked at. I don't know if they would
have and looks by right o'catta, of course they looked at.
But ever since o'cott has been here, I've enjoyed what
they've done with him, his attachment to the elite, to
his attachment to the don Kalis family, his title run
(18:16):
in the Continental Classic, and going here as unified champion.
I like where he's been right here. When you look
at stars, they've had it where I mean, look Adam Page,
I don't think whatever been looked at by w whatsoever.
And look where he's been. Like I said, he didn't
give me that kind of vibe fifteen years ago if
he would have told me this inclear day's ring of honor.
(18:36):
But look at him now, BONAFI World Champion and fantastic,
fantastic role with plenty of talent to go up against him,
and he's had a lot of great matches. He's really
has made a great name for himself in there. He
is a pillar, it's been a company. He has really
(18:56):
found himself. It's great stuff. MGF. We'll get to in
a minute again where MJF. He's one of a kind
generational talent. You get a diamond of ref like him,
and the way he's come from, where he's come from
has been amazing. Well we'll talk about that very shortly. But
I feel like when you get a chance to go
(19:19):
ahead and reposition a Mercedes Monet or a swear Strickland,
where you know with Mercedes money, is her going a
completely different direction because she was in that nxt we
umbrella for so many years, and for her chance to
go and completely just change the game and go in
some other direction. It's been a wonderful ride to go
(19:42):
and see her go through. And that's the thing where
I don't expect if somebody leaves we that I feel
like I need to go and see him go back. No,
I never feel like that, And I really don't care
for the case of where everybody feels like, well they'll
just do a better job if they were only in
W which that used to be like the kind of
talk wcwda's T and A days it doesn't matter. The
(20:05):
thing is AW does not need to be caught up
and any of that noise that goes on here where
the fandom that he's listening to are not the ones
that say, well, you know, they'll be happy if you
have somebody from W that you're pushing, but then they'll
be unhappy when it's not and they're being they feel
(20:26):
like they're being cast aside, and like there are certain
stars they would lovely go and just see again. It's
just like they don't care for the success of the company.
They would care just to see something that's a better
alternative when W has been failing in the past, which
was at the beginning of their run. And now you know,
this whole facade of thinking well is creatively going so
(20:49):
well because the social media numbers are showing it, the
gates of attendants are showing that, you know, the broadcast
deals are showing that, sure you can go and play
that all you want, but creatively they are not as
rich as you think. Okay, but with all the good
(21:09):
that W has, they need to be doing something more
with it, and this is why we're aw I feel
like they are creatively flourishing right now with what they're
doing on their roster because you've got storylines, you have
things that are going on where they are moving towards
the story and they're just not building on some past
(21:30):
or relationship, past history. Certain times, of course they do,
but it's not just everything. Like you get to see storylines,
you get to see recaps, you get to see emotional
invested interest, which I can't say happens in the way
that it used to be where W was the best at.
But they're not into the soap opera storytelling. They're not
(21:53):
into the sports entertainment stuff. And that's honestly what.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
We're all built up on.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
I mean, for other companies to go and do that
kind of thing where TEENA wants to do it, or
MLW wants to do it, or and WA wants to
do it, where they just kind of build off the
storylines that are just you know, based on okay, past
history or whatever else, that they don't have to go
and build some intricate, woven storyline with story arcs and
a beginning of the middle of an end. They don't
have to go and do that with W that's when
(22:22):
they are their best because all these other companies outside
of WE have always been given the track record because
their wrestlers get to wrestle and get to wrestle in
open style with plenty of different move sets that is
completely different and exciting and interesting. But in the years
(22:42):
of W when they were kind of limited to the
amount of moves you're allowed to do, and even the
W style now and the main roster is still hindering,
hampering and minimizing the amount of things that creatively anybody
can do in a ring. What used to be that
would make up for it was that's a storytelling. But
this current regime now under Triple H, Bruce Pritchard, Paul
(23:05):
Haman and the others, they've taken that away. And we're
gonna talk about that on Wednesday, because there's something more
to that. The last rematches of the pay per view
we get into where Thomas Tony Storm, this character, I mean,
so well done, and I thought the way the Athena
positioned herself to kind of play off and make fun
(23:26):
of the Thomas Tony Storm character was a great way
to go. I've enjoyed the last couple of few. Listen,
I've enjoyed some of the fews that she's had since
Mariah May left and became Blake Monroe. I'm sorry, I
just don't feel much when it comes to the Blake
mon Roe character and what they've done with her over there.
But ever since the Hollywood Ending, I've enjoyed Tony Storm's
(23:48):
run here. I mean consistently, whether it's began Bain or
the Mercedes Benet feud or now here with Athena, I've
liked it.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
I've liked it.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
There's no shortage. I am not tired of this Tony
Storm character. I thought she had a great match with
Athena tonight and there was some plunder going on throughout
the night. But I think they're not gonna do anything
with Athena in terms of the aw title until she
drops the Rig of Honter title, and that's where they
(24:20):
are at the moment, because Athena is still is very
important holding on that Rig of Honor title as it
is for Ree of Honor.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
I just wish they had another place to.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Go, like it's it's not easy to go ahead, and
I'm not gonna go and go and follow on our
club to go and see what's going on, not going
out of my way for that, especially when it's just
the kind of programming there is when I got enjoy
programming that's new and fresh and like it is every week,
but still it's like I don't have more room to
take another show like that and just kind of continue
(24:49):
for watching. It's just it's very tough. But she's been great,
and Athena for herself, I love the role she had
to here, But for what it came to is that
there was a lot of things that happened plunder wise
that allowed Tony Storm to win and to continue to
(25:10):
be champion here, like who does she have next? And
does Athena continue her.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Feud with her?
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I don't know what they'll figure that or enough. And
you know, honestly, you could have finished for Bridden North
tonight with hangman and a page and MGF and I
would have been just fine with it, because I thought
the way they set that up was fantastic. MJF Man,
I was telling myself, he is a combination of Rig Flair,
(25:36):
Roddy Piper, and Larry Sibisco to me, all in one,
and I love the way that the commentary decides to
go and work off of MJF with Brian Daniels just
she's just sitting all over all night. The crowd, by
the way, that's the other thing I must say that
with MJF I appreciate a lot. That's why he's my
favorite wrestler right now of all the of all the
(25:58):
rosters right now, is just a standout to me. For me,
no need for appreciation. Okay, the crowd, it doesn't matter
who crowd there is. Again, you're going to a London crowd,
which could be very much where w crowd's right, they
were all kind of like singing along and always adding
(26:19):
a little more hooglianism to the atmosphere of the event
tonight and a sold out jam packed almost nineteen thousand
seeded o to Arena tonight. But I must say that
MGF consistently the heel and he goes out there and
the crowd shits on him like the heel he is,
And that tells me everything that you need to know
(26:40):
about MGF. Sticking the character, sticking the storyline, absolutely knowing
positively one hundred percent who his character is. He knows it,
he lives it, and that's just how it is, and
it's a fantastic character. Thirty one minutes for this match.
I loved it because Paige MGF had had great matches before.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
The whole thing on the Diamond Dynamo ring.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
The way the stipulations were still were made important because
of what was done to lead up to the story,
because it's all used the finagling that MGF does to
make sure he gets what he wants before the match
comes out so he can have the best chance of
his favor to win, which was no DQ no count out,
and the fact that regardless the counting out of this qualification,
(27:29):
he would lose the title, which is why that Paige
was tempted by MGF to take that dynamite Diamond ring
that was given to him just to get shot at
MGF because he wanted to do it beyond purpose. Ref
rumps to Bryce Remsburg and so much more. And it's
(27:54):
just those two in the ring and it was just
awesome and MGF takes the pin. This story doesn't end.
There's gonna be more to these two. I'm sure of it,
because that contract is still valid for MJF. He's gonna
catch it again. How's he gonna do it? That's the
part we don't know yet, but it's great. MGF has
(28:16):
been memorable and he's had his tone a little bit
as a face, which was a great run into the
being the heel once again and finagling his way.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
And it just works.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
It's fantastic because his storylines are very intricate, and you know,
what kind of bullshit is this guy? He is like
a JR. Ewing of this of this wrestling promotion. What
kind of bullshit is MGF gonna do to get himself
to what he wants in a match or get out
of a match, or fangel her way or is cheat
(28:50):
his way to win? Because that's the part we're getting.
That's the essence, that's what we want, that's what we
expect from this guy. That's wrestling because no matter what,
the crowd is responding just to the right hangman at
a page tows credit amazing main event star babyface, and
people are just over the moon with this guy more
(29:13):
than ever, like this run again now is champion. It
has been great for him, and especially here with his
MGF feud that he has right now. It's great stuff.
And then we move forward into the fact that when
you see the screw ups that MGF is not able
to get through at the end of the match because Hangman,
(29:35):
in A Page's character, he's just not your typical babyface
where he's able to go ahead and smash the contract
case into mgs's face after Hangman and a Page got
a shot of it himself where mgf's got in the
air fall. But then there was the screw up, the
screw job of Page getting to do the same favor
(29:57):
back and using it with a buckshot are to go
and get the win. It was a great finish, awesome finish,
great way to finish up that match, and you know,
the MPF still has his turn, and of course Excaleros
had to go in and say it he still got
that contract though it doesn't matter what. We'll hear him
on Wednesday and he will start rolling up once again.
(30:19):
And so we get to the next paper view which
will probably all out and awesome like this. That's just
great storytelling the great way there is. And there's a
lot of me said about the match they had after
with the lights out still cage match. A lot of
little things nuances in that match as well that I liked,
and of course with the kind of plunder Dyke match here.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
You know, it's like.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
I could have gone without the match, but it was
a pretty good match. Nevertheless, now Omega and Bushi together,
that's a great think thing.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Tana Hashi.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
The story about him being his last match in London,
last match in the UK before he retires, awesome stuff.
Will Osbury getting out there in front of his home
crowd because it's a sanctioned, non sanctioned match. Of course,
he said he was injured, he was gonna have to
take time out for surgery. And the way they set
up right here to go forward. Somebody actually put up
online and talk about the fact that in this match
(31:17):
it was quite the way that here's what's what he
said to.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Quote, what a beautiful ending.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
The Forbidden Door gave Will Losbury a sitting off worthy
of him everything he's given. The fans merely turned up
the heat on the Death Riders. Perfect storytelling. Time gets
Farewell directed to the ankle that the other reason he
now needs surgery wrestling at its finest, and that was
the set up at the end of the match to
get the heat back on the Death Riders that they're
not done yet. And the stuff with the Young Bucks
(31:46):
and getting screwed over with the entrances every week had
been hilarious. No thumbtags or nails or anything like that
except a bag of gummy bears that's hilarious too, and
again poking fun of each other and just goofing off
the campiness. I love that shit. It's good stuff. And
(32:11):
I think there's something we said about Gabe Kidd being
in the role here as well as the Mercenary basically
and the Death Riders and being a part of these
matches where he's not necessarily a main roster member. He's
not full time, but he has used so well in
these matches here. And then you get Darby on coming
back and ridiculous moves for him going out there with
double tables and this and that. Like just the things
(32:33):
that are doing out there incredible. But I enjoyed it all,
like it was really well done the whole night. But
something to be said about where Tony Storm and MGF
really fit the bill here as just two standout stars
that I see that just come across. But again, there
(32:54):
are other stars within this company that are being built
partly because of the fact that these stars were able
to go and have their own creative leeway to kind
of build and have some input into what their character
is going to be. And they've been moving forward and
been doing a great job with it, and it's been great.
They going to see that AW gives you the kind
of resting I want. And you don't have to like
(33:16):
what Tony Kahn books, But I don't need someone to
go ahead and book the way I want. Okay, listen
with TNA Tommy Jimier books a certain direction. I don't
necessarily care for that. Sometimes either it's okay to disagree
with some booking decisions, that's fine, and then it get
caught up and really feel like, oh, well, if they
just can't do this, then I don't want to watch.
(33:38):
Like there are just some people that just have personal
animals with this company just because they wanted to be
somewhat involved a little more inside with the company, I
guess and whatever, Like the bias is so apparent and
in that case, I just can't listen to certain people
that just got to go ahead and just rail on
(33:59):
to Connor real on AW because you don't like them.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Okay, but there are some.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
People that have a bias that's like it's like derangement syndrome.
It's just you don't like and as it never done
a different TDS out there, let's just call it it's
Tony derangement system syndrome.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
It's fine if that's how you want.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
To feel, But man, you make it so clear and
you make it so obvious that there's no objectivity you
could possibly have because you are so apparently stuck with
TDS right now, and it's like there's no way for
you to come in here, and you're not willing to
go ahead and be completely honest about it. It's just
(34:39):
what you're gonna feel.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
But for me, I don't need.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Wree's direction bullying talent bullying promotions out here to deal
with them. Either they're gonna work with us or they're
gonna be against us, these kind of things. I don't
think the AW as an entity is trying to get
themselves into some kind of war with any other promotion.
I think they've been trying to do their best. I
think Tony KHN has really been trying to do his
(35:04):
best to avoid conflict because he doesn't need to get
into a war with them, because he's just trying to
think is he to build his business what he has
and keep doing that because there's money to be made
as the number two promotion in the world, which is
what he's trying to do. He's made relationships, is what
he's trying to go and do. But man's the direction
that's going on out there. You know, it's a parent
(35:28):
when you have a pay per view like this. In
a way, I think is probably better off that because
of the juvenile, delusional fandom and they're apparent Tony Kahan
the arrangement syndrome, that maybe his best that for w
W fans they get something to watch for themselves on
(35:50):
the nights that AW has a pay per view only
for the sole fact that then they can just focus
on the stuff they like and they can leave AW alone.
Because I think at the end of the day, whatever
W decides to do to counter program AW, first of all,
why are you doing that and giving them integrity? You're
(36:14):
recognizing them as being competition to you, which I thought
they weren't in competition to do in the first place.
Right that now you have a purpose to try to
go and destroy the company at all costs, by all
means necessary for what for AW. Don't let the noise
get to you, keep doing what you're doing, and just
keep trying to find the stars that are going to
(36:36):
help you build a company to a mainstream level. Who's
your stone, gold, Who's your rock? Someday that will come
out there and they will circumvent past the wrestling bubble
and catch the attention of a mainstream, a young, mainstream
audience like the Attitude era did, which is what every
other wrestling promotion is trying to do. I did not
(36:59):
watch NXT heat Wave, but it was going on tonight
Lowell in Massachusetts and a venue that Aw's run many
times in the past I think even a pay per
view as well in the early days. Lola Weis is
now the number one contender for the NXT Women's title
after beating Jada Parker and Klownie Jordan, Dark State over
Hank and Tank for the NFC tag team titles. I'm
not watching that interesting point. Knockout's World Title triple Threat
(37:25):
and Ash by Elegance defeated Mashall Slamovich and j C.
Jane to become the new Knockouts World Champion. Ash by
Elegance pinning Masha Slamovich did not pin JC Jane, of course,
that's not surprising. At all, Ethan Page Chelsea Green in
a mixed tag match over Tavian Heights and Tyer may Steele.
(37:47):
You get Blake Jordan over Jordan Grace by pinfall in
a grudge match, and Ethan Page Chelsea Green beating Tayvean
Heights and Tyer may Steele and Oba Femi tossing Evans
into a table. I think he did it the night
before on NXC last week on TV, and then he
does it again tonight and Opa Femi retains the NXT
(38:10):
Championship and that's what they had the night for that
one of the last things is gonna be featured over
on Peacock. I guess they've got NXTV. Pap per view
is going to still be on Peacock for the time
being the PLS, but we know that Clash in Paris
is gonna be the last pay per view on Peacock.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
And then he moved on to.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Russell Palooza and three or in a in four weeks time,
same time as All Out Weekend, and here we go.
But I'm telling you, when it comes to w yeah,
you want to keep counterprogramming. I think people are starting
to realize and at least I know on this podcaster's
(38:48):
vision that W and AW and the direction, there might
be fans that might look at both brands, and of
course there's always been a loyalty and a buy as
towards the brand they've been growing up and loving all
these years with W in the first place or the AW.
(39:08):
You know, it's fans like me that were w CW
fans back of the day or ECW fans, and we
like the alternative promotions. We just didn't watch W on
a regular basis. That wasn't the end all be all,
because you know what it came down at the end
of the day is because for me, I would do
a thing where when I watched wrestling, I would watch
(39:32):
W for storylines and I would watch other wrestling programs
for more wrestling. Because when I watched Nitro watch a
lot of matches raw, I could stip through it just
to get to the storylines I wanted to get to.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
That's how I did it. Anyway, that's it.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
We'll come back this week when O the Wrestle Is
were a podcast because wrestling needs us
Podcasting since two thousand and five. This is the King
of Podcasts Radio Network, Kingopodcasts dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
After AW Forbidden Door, AW destines to go ahead and
focus going forward and close the door on those juveitial
delusional detractors.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
WHOA editn't the name.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
You more request and believe it or not, Whether you
like it or no, like you learn to love it
because you have listened to wrestling and really it is
the best day going to day.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
WHOA but worldwide leader of podcasting excellence, the King of
Podcasts Radio Network probably presents the Wrestling is Real podcast
because Wrestling Dave Zus.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Wrestlers are a podcast on a Sunday night, and this
is King of Podcasts here to recap AW Forbidden Door
London here on the program, and we'll take a little
mentioned about NXT keat Wave also going on tonight. Of course,
it's besides the point that w would also count a
program on the same day as Forbidden doorlind And but
(01:08):
of course because they were in London and NXT wanted
to go on another show, they decided let's just go ahead
and make sure we have the focus going on to
something else. Besides, so NXT people are going to hope
that they get the headlines from the wrestling world after
the fact. But forbidden to word, tonight was a pretty
good show. Dead catch it throughout the day. I was
(01:28):
out working Uber, but I still had it on my
phone or I was catching it all throughout. And there's
a couple of takeaways to get from the show itself.
First of all, when it comes to the direction of
the company and what all EAT Wrestling's doing, just keep
going with it. They're gonna have to figure somebody out
now in terms of who was going to be the
(01:50):
best fit to help mainstream the company, because right now
what they have in place is good for the existing
fan base they have, but to find a way to
go ahead extern no further, that's the biggest problem right now,
and that's for a lot of wrestling companies as we speak,
which is why there are some companies that have decided
(02:10):
to go ahead and partner up with somebody else. I mean,
for instance, when it comes to TRIBAA or TNA, to
see them go ahead and make in roads to connect
to because of the ability of what they're able to
go and do to get broadcast deals and get exposure
from a lot of different dowlets. I mean, it's a
(02:30):
publicity machine. It's the media machine, there's.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
No doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And AW does not have that kind of media machine
and not at all. And I'm wondering if there's certain
things that can be done to help solidify that, because
for Tony Kahn, after the broadcast deal was finalized last
year with Warner Brothers Discovery, eventually he'll have HBO Max
(02:57):
where his paper views are going to being available aside
from Amazon Prime and other places. I think it's just
for him. It's just trying to find what are the
top main draws that can help draw interest to them,
and there are some that they have so far.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That I think is utilize pretty well.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Of the mainstream draws I can say right now that
I really look at that can supersede outside of the
wrestling bubble are MJF who we now saw from the
bump from Happy Gilmore and Tomas Tony Storm, who's done
quite a bit going on the red carpet, going to
(03:37):
certain events for movies, and just those two stars are
indicative of the AW brand. AW I feel like actually
has an identity fully fleshed out and they're not afraid
of being campy, being you know, poking fun or I
(03:57):
mean poking fun, but just like puking fun at each other,
being humble to each other, and just making good matches
based on storylines. They storytell on that brand, and they.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Do quite a bit of that.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
There's a lot of storytelling within that is created from
make believe. Of course, it's what wrestling has always been.
They still tie in and tap into the traditional sense.
They also really do stick into the whole extreme bit
of things when it comes to their lights out still
cage match we'll talk about in a minute, but I
mean it's a big, a big top carnival feel of
(04:37):
like everything gets in there. There's something you're gonna like
out of those matches of what they're doing, and that's good.
And it's not so much of a sports based kind
of feel too.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
It.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I mean, you know, you have a lot of stars,
a lot of talent that is being utilized. Whether you
don't like the way they're being utilized or who's being
put on top, well, that's on the pencil of Tony
Kahna where he decides to go. And for the most part,
I don't have much of an issue of who he
decides to go and push and who he doesn't, the
(05:09):
direction of the show, the way it was booked tonight.
This is what's indicative of their pay per views. They
do a pretty good job tonight. I didn't put a
whole lot into the fact that I thought it was
gonna be three matches. I really cared about at the
end of the night, And that's exactly what it was,
because the first several matches in the main card, we're exhibition.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
And when I've talked.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
About Forbidden Door in the past and what they've done
with these shows is that it is partly where they
are focusing for the most part on showcasing their talent
in the sense that they are going up against talent
from other brands, whether it's New Japan, Stardom or CMLLO.
(05:55):
So these things all make sense of what they're doing
with it and what they decided to go and go with.
In all the matches they had to night, they had
a very pack zero hour, and then you had several
callbacks throughout the night, You had a couple of return
you had a return that was very important.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
And for the most part, you know they have a
lot of talent.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
They're trying to put in and they're trying to incorporate,
and you know, for some people they're gonna ask themselves,
why is it as certain factions and groups are not
being focused more on the main card because they were
so prominently used in w in a certain sense. But
Tony conn in a way he has his basis for
who he decides the book and or who decides the
(06:41):
position first. So you put Cope and Christian together and
bring that team together, whether there's still a whole lot
of animosity between both of them, they made that point
very clear. And then Kill switching Kip saving the same
way here also doing with things and Christian had to win.
People were happy about it.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
They saw the reunion.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
They're still not necessarily at you know, in favorites with
each other, but they're trying to work it out, and
we'll let that get you work because of course there's
more to come with them taking care of a FTR
down the line and other things of course they're gonna try.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
To work on.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
And then we get to the focus of four matches
coming up, or actually with three matches really that they
got my attention that were absolutely exhibition matches because no
one was going to lose their respective titles, but it
was something about the direction of who they're going to
be gone. Now in some cases it's one or the other.
(07:43):
So first off, Kyle Fletcher Protostar and going after Heiromo
Takahashi T and T title. Good match. But for Kyle Fletcher,
you could just see in this match, the way he's
positioned Don Cows out there, whoever he gets to go
(08:03):
into Company and stuff with, you could tell that they're
just starting to work their way. Kyle Fletcher's getting elevated
really quickly. He is at the level where I feel like,
even outside of the whole association with will Osprey, I
think even just him being associated in the family Kyle
Fletcher and all the work I've been doing, either in
the company or in New Japan or wherever, he's getting
(08:24):
built up to a certain level. He's elevated. He's gotten
a great push, his look is great and in aw
that's a star that I think has been made because
I didn't think Kyle Fletcher was going to be that
kind of star coming out of a tack team that
he had with Ossie Open. But it's there, and I
never thought I would see Kyle Fletcher to the level
of where I thought Will Osprey was. It's amazing, but
(08:49):
call like it is. Kyle Fletcher has become a star
in this company. Like I look at him completely different
that I did it from the beginning, and I don't
know what it was the big difference. I mean there
was alsously the optics change, you know, cutting his hair,
giving him mc gimmick, total ego change, did a transition
(09:13):
from tag team to solo star and being a singles
competitor and just really looking good with that TNT title.
Now of course everybody's gonna go ahead and get worked
up over Mercedes Wine and now she's got nine belts,
she's won. At this point, she's taken on partner for
(09:33):
will Ostpray Alex Windsor, which I just realized that was
that today. Then Bozilla, who's like a real I mean
at twenty one years old, badass female wrestler here that
just really looked menacing and very intimidating out there and precifity,
and this batch had a whole lot going around with it.
(09:53):
But Mercedes Wine getting the win, after all, you know
you're going to go in and win. I mean, there's
no there's nothing where they going to have her completely
going and have a downfall where all those bolts are
going away. Everybody's gonna get caught up with her anyway,
because of the fact that she's out there with all
these belts and the constant focus on her. Yeah, I
(10:13):
know everybody's all worked up in this out about her.
That's okay whatever. I'm not caught up on it. I'm
not worried about it. But I think what they've done
with her from the beginning, trying to get her worked
out and just trying to get her character right, the
Mercedes wan mad character has worked out really well. I
think they found a way to get themselves in the
(10:34):
right direction to go ahead and move forward, and you
know her direction. There's just a lot of animosity because
she's not the Sasha Bank's character before the fact that
you know, how dare she find her way when she
was let go from w right because of the fact
that Naomi came back and spent one year in Impact
(10:56):
Wrestling stand out knockout talent as a knockouts champion, comes
back and then works with the company again, but Sasha
didn't make their return back. Even after Vince McMahon wasn't
there and that Sasha just had different aspirations for herself.
She felt like she wanted to be like an Eddie Guerrero.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
She wanted to go.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Ahead and explore the world in other organizations to work,
and she did. And now she's been out there trailblazing
for herself and she's doing great Enterprime and I'm glad
for her because if you would have ever seen her
go back to the FED, I don't think she would
even have the level of where she is right now,
(11:33):
because it's obvious that in w right now, there are
certain talents that are not going to get the main focus,
even Becky Lynch not getting the type of focusation before,
Like if you best at thirty year old mark, you're
not their I mean, because they've moved on to other
talent they had from NXT that have been brought up
and escalated and that's where they're focusing on. Like there's
(11:55):
still might be a place for secondary story a lines
for Bailey or Becky Lynch and others like that to
win secondary titles, but that's really where they are.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
They're not going after the main titles now, that's not
what they're focus is on.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
There's been a lot of talk where New JAPANPI Wrestling
has had a bit of a stagnation, and also they're
at a point where they don't have the talent that
they have right now in the roster has not been
getting renewed or a lot of fresh faces there from
what looks like Zach Saiber Junior right now is the
current World heaviweight champion. Him and Nigel McGinnis was a
(12:34):
dream match. I mean, the thing is for Nigel McGinnis
is like Brian Danielson was, who, by the way, was
great on commentary tonight and all the matches he was in,
and for him, it's nice to see Nigel McGinnis just
get back into the role here and get some of
these matches that he probably would have never gotten anywhere else.
That's the part that I really enjoy is that he's
back out here wrestling again. Him and Daniell Garcia. Obviously
(12:56):
there's something there with an attachment that we're gonna see
more of. But I enjoyed seeing Nigel out there. But
Zach Saber Junior he's going to win anyway. We kind
of figured that too. All exhibition matches, that's fine. Brodido
only title change of the night where Brodie Kick and
Bandido beat hears Indkitt and FTR, but str took the pen.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
That's obways to the point.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
And there was a lot of talk over the week
about herson to get asserting creative control. We talked about
that at the end of the podcast on Wednesday, kind
of figured that would be here, but WEDR there's a
lot of direction for them to go and work on.
And now obviously we see that the Hurston again now
has to deal with Ricochet and Gates of Anagony and
that's gonna be a focus on there. So they're gonna
(13:42):
move off to other feuds for themselves as opposed to
detack team titles and talk about quite a team to
put together where Brodie king Hill worked some time over
Ring of Honor and then Bandino being Ring of on
a World champion and you put this team together, they
mesh really well. I mean, for Brody king Man, what
(14:03):
a nice way to go and turn things out where
he's gotten a lot of times where he's got to
be out there for a singles taction, but to put
him here in this tag team and for the text
team to go and just mesh.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
So well great. I've really enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
But they've put some time into it. They put them
in that elimination tournament and it worked out really well.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I liked it all.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Then we move forward and look into some of the
pillars they have right now within the company, because when
you look at stars they've had out there that main
event level and can always be kind of pushed right
now in the right position for Forbidden Door because Okada,
of course prominently a main event talent, the main event
(14:46):
champion in New Japan for all these years, but right
now unified title has been made important combining the continent
international titles, and Okada feels very important with this title,
And of course the attachment to Don Kalas also helps
a lot. But I thought him as were Strickling, really
worked well together, and Swerve feels like a main event
(15:07):
star without the belt. And at this point, because hang
Man Out of Page holds the aw World title, we
won't see Swart Trickling into that mix again, but I
think we will again eventually if and when MGF wins
that title back. That's a few we haven't gotten to
yet where Swarre, Strickland and MGF face each other off.
(15:29):
That is a feud we're expecting I expect on the
line at some point. I know they've had like their odds,
but like really it's the MGF had them page. Storyline
has to continue because we got that going on, and
that's gonna be the workout for that. But very good
match with O'Connor strickling tonight as well, and of course
with Athena almost a thousand days as Ringovannor world champion
(15:52):
into the role here catching a contract against Tomlins Tony Strom.
By the way, Tony con making points at the press
conference post show press conference for Forbidden Door about plans
for what they're gonna do with the belts going forward
or the world title matches and the contracts for the
Casino Gatland matches. He says that he wants to see
(16:15):
where the holders of the contracts will be given at
least one week's notice ahead of time, rather than being
able to cash in any time that they want. They'll
want to do the money to make the type of deal,
and that he does want to use the lize of
the simulation that's being used in other places, with a
change also being made to offer proper promotion of the
title matches ahead of time to protect the integrity of
the championships themselves.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Quote.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
I think that I want AW to be different, and
I've been listening to feedback and voice of the fans,
and I think people want the championships in the sport
of progresting that have integrity. Reven the best year in
the history of AW, and I think a lot of
it is what we're listening to listen to the fans
that we care about the sport and we want the
fans to be leaving what we're doing. Yeah, he's listening
to the fans that are not pushing back and constantly,
(16:59):
you know, they're just going with the wind blows. I
guess there are fans right there that are very fickle.
The juvenile, delusional fandom will try to go ahead and
persuade AW to go away. That they want because they
want it booked WE style with former WE talent. They
(17:19):
want this to be booked like WCW. They want them
to be booked like the previous TNA. That's what they
want is that, well, maybe these stars could work better
somewhere else. Meanwhile, it's like they could care. Sometimes they
really don't care too much about some of the talent.
That aw brings in that wouldn't have gotten a chance
to be in this point anywhere else because for the
(17:42):
most part, yeah, there are talents they have in the
company that came from the w right, but there's a
change in what they're.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Trying to go and do with them.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Because for right now, I mean Berdi King Bandita would
never been looked at. I don't know if they would
have and looks by right o'catta, of course they looked at.
But ever since o'cott has been here, I've enjoyed what
they've done with him, his attachment to the elite, to
his attachment to the don Kalis family, his title run
(18:16):
in the Continental Classic, and going here as unified champion.
I like where he's been right here. When you look
at stars, they've had it where I mean, look Adam Page,
I don't think whatever been looked at by w whatsoever.
And look where he's been. Like I said, he didn't
give me that kind of vibe fifteen years ago if
he would have told me this inclear day's ring of honor.
(18:36):
But look at him now, BONAFI World Champion and fantastic,
fantastic role with plenty of talent to go up against him,
and he's had a lot of great matches. He's really
has made a great name for himself in there. He
is a pillar, it's been a company. He has really
(18:56):
found himself. It's great stuff. MGF. We'll get to in
a minute again where MJF. He's one of a kind
generational talent. You get a diamond of ref like him,
and the way he's come from, where he's come from
has been amazing. Well we'll talk about that very shortly. But
I feel like when you get a chance to go
(19:19):
ahead and reposition a Mercedes Monet or a swear Strickland,
where you know with Mercedes money, is her going a
completely different direction because she was in that nxt we
umbrella for so many years, and for her chance to
go and completely just change the game and go in
some other direction. It's been a wonderful ride to go
(19:42):
and see her go through. And that's the thing where
I don't expect if somebody leaves we that I feel
like I need to go and see him go back. No,
I never feel like that, And I really don't care
for the case of where everybody feels like, well they'll
just do a better job if they were only in
W which that used to be like the kind of
talk wcwda's T and A days it doesn't matter. The
(20:05):
thing is AW does not need to be caught up
and any of that noise that goes on here where
the fandom that he's listening to are not the ones
that say, well, you know, they'll be happy if you
have somebody from W that you're pushing, but then they'll
be unhappy when it's not and they're being they feel
(20:26):
like they're being cast aside, and like there are certain
stars they would lovely go and just see again. It's
just like they don't care for the success of the company.
They would care just to see something that's a better
alternative when W has been failing in the past, which
was at the beginning of their run. And now you know,
this whole facade of thinking well is creatively going so
(20:49):
well because the social media numbers are showing it, the
gates of attendants are showing that, you know, the broadcast
deals are showing that, sure you can go and play
that all you want, but creatively they are not as
rich as you think. Okay, but with all the good
(21:09):
that W has, they need to be doing something more
with it, and this is why we're aw I feel
like they are creatively flourishing right now with what they're
doing on their roster because you've got storylines, you have
things that are going on where they are moving towards
the story and they're just not building on some past
(21:30):
or relationship, past history. Certain times, of course they do,
but it's not just everything. Like you get to see storylines,
you get to see recaps, you get to see emotional
invested interest, which I can't say happens in the way
that it used to be where W was the best at.
But they're not into the soap opera storytelling. They're not
(21:53):
into the sports entertainment stuff. And that's honestly what.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
We're all built up on.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
I mean, for other companies to go and do that
kind of thing where TEENA wants to do it, or
MLW wants to do it, or and WA wants to
do it, where they just kind of build off the
storylines that are just you know, based on okay, past
history or whatever else, that they don't have to go
and build some intricate, woven storyline with story arcs and
a beginning of the middle of an end. They don't
have to go and do that with W that's when
(22:22):
they are their best because all these other companies outside
of WE have always been given the track record because
their wrestlers get to wrestle and get to wrestle in
open style with plenty of different move sets that is
completely different and exciting and interesting. But in the years
(22:42):
of W when they were kind of limited to the
amount of moves you're allowed to do, and even the
W style now and the main roster is still hindering,
hampering and minimizing the amount of things that creatively anybody
can do in a ring. What used to be that
would make up for it was that's a storytelling. But
this current regime now under Triple H, Bruce Pritchard, Paul
(23:05):
Haman and the others, they've taken that away. And we're
gonna talk about that on Wednesday, because there's something more
to that. The last rematches of the pay per view
we get into where Thomas Tony Storm, this character, I mean,
so well done, and I thought the way the Athena
positioned herself to kind of play off and make fun
(23:26):
of the Thomas Tony Storm character was a great way
to go. I've enjoyed the last couple of few. Listen,
I've enjoyed some of the fews that she's had since
Mariah May left and became Blake Monroe. I'm sorry, I
just don't feel much when it comes to the Blake
mon Roe character and what they've done with her over there.
But ever since the Hollywood Ending, I've enjoyed Tony Storm's
(23:48):
run here. I mean consistently, whether it's began Bain or
the Mercedes Benet feud or now here with Athena, I've
liked it.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
I've liked it.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
There's no shortage. I am not tired of this Tony
Storm character. I thought she had a great match with
Athena tonight and there was some plunder going on throughout
the night. But I think they're not gonna do anything
with Athena in terms of the aw title until she
drops the Rig of Honter title, and that's where they
(24:20):
are at the moment, because Athena is still is very
important holding on that Rig of Honor title as it
is for Ree of Honor.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
I just wish they had another place to.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Go, like it's it's not easy to go ahead, and
I'm not gonna go and go and follow on our
club to go and see what's going on, not going
out of my way for that, especially when it's just
the kind of programming there is when I got enjoy
programming that's new and fresh and like it is every week,
but still it's like I don't have more room to
take another show like that and just kind of continue
(24:49):
for watching. It's just it's very tough. But she's been great,
and Athena for herself, I love the role she had
to here, But for what it came to is that
there was a lot of things that happened plunder wise
that allowed Tony Storm to win and to continue to
(25:10):
be champion here, like who does she have next? And
does Athena continue her.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Feud with her?
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I don't know what they'll figure that or enough. And
you know, honestly, you could have finished for Bridden North
tonight with hangman and a page and MGF and I
would have been just fine with it, because I thought
the way they set that up was fantastic. MJF Man,
I was telling myself, he is a combination of Rig Flair,
(25:36):
Roddy Piper, and Larry Sibisco to me, all in one,
and I love the way that the commentary decides to
go and work off of MJF with Brian Daniels just
she's just sitting all over all night. The crowd, by
the way, that's the other thing I must say that
with MJF I appreciate a lot. That's why he's my
favorite wrestler right now of all the of all the
(25:58):
rosters right now, is just a standout to me. For me,
no need for appreciation. Okay, the crowd, it doesn't matter
who crowd there is. Again, you're going to a London crowd,
which could be very much where w crowd's right, they
were all kind of like singing along and always adding
(26:19):
a little more hooglianism to the atmosphere of the event
tonight and a sold out jam packed almost nineteen thousand
seeded o to Arena tonight. But I must say that
MGF consistently the heel and he goes out there and
the crowd shits on him like the heel he is,
And that tells me everything that you need to know
(26:40):
about MGF. Sticking the character, sticking the storyline, absolutely knowing
positively one hundred percent who his character is. He knows it,
he lives it, and that's just how it is, and
it's a fantastic character. Thirty one minutes for this match.
I loved it because Paige MGF had had great matches before.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
The whole thing on the Diamond Dynamo ring.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
The way the stipulations were still were made important because
of what was done to lead up to the story,
because it's all used the finagling that MGF does to
make sure he gets what he wants before the match
comes out so he can have the best chance of
his favor to win, which was no DQ no count out,
and the fact that regardless the counting out of this qualification,
(27:29):
he would lose the title, which is why that Paige
was tempted by MGF to take that dynamite Diamond ring
that was given to him just to get shot at
MGF because he wanted to do it beyond purpose. Ref
rumps to Bryce Remsburg and so much more. And it's
(27:54):
just those two in the ring and it was just
awesome and MGF takes the pin. This story doesn't end.
There's gonna be more to these two. I'm sure of it,
because that contract is still valid for MJF. He's gonna
catch it again. How's he gonna do it? That's the
part we don't know yet, but it's great. MGF has
(28:16):
been memorable and he's had his tone a little bit
as a face, which was a great run into the
being the heel once again and finagling his way.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
And it just works.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
It's fantastic because his storylines are very intricate, and you know,
what kind of bullshit is this guy? He is like
a JR. Ewing of this of this wrestling promotion. What
kind of bullshit is MGF gonna do to get himself
to what he wants in a match or get out
of a match, or fangel her way or is cheat
(28:50):
his way to win? Because that's the part we're getting.
That's the essence, that's what we want, that's what we
expect from this guy. That's wrestling because no matter what,
the crowd is responding just to the right hangman at
a page tows credit amazing main event star babyface, and
people are just over the moon with this guy more
(29:13):
than ever, like this run again now is champion. It
has been great for him, and especially here with his
MGF feud that he has right now. It's great stuff.
And then we move forward into the fact that when
you see the screw ups that MGF is not able
to get through at the end of the match because Hangman,
(29:35):
in A Page's character, he's just not your typical babyface
where he's able to go ahead and smash the contract
case into mgs's face after Hangman and a Page got
a shot of it himself where mgf's got in the
air fall. But then there was the screw up, the
screw job of Page getting to do the same favor
(29:57):
back and using it with a buckshot are to go
and get the win. It was a great finish, awesome finish,
great way to finish up that match, and you know,
the MPF still has his turn, and of course Excaleros
had to go in and say it he still got
that contract though it doesn't matter what. We'll hear him
on Wednesday and he will start rolling up once again.
(30:19):
And so we get to the next paper view which
will probably all out and awesome like this. That's just
great storytelling the great way there is. And there's a
lot of me said about the match they had after
with the lights out still cage match. A lot of
little things nuances in that match as well that I liked,
and of course with the kind of plunder Dyke match here.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
You know, it's like.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
I could have gone without the match, but it was
a pretty good match. Nevertheless, now Omega and Bushi together,
that's a great think thing.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Tana Hashi.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
The story about him being his last match in London,
last match in the UK before he retires, awesome stuff.
Will Osbury getting out there in front of his home
crowd because it's a sanctioned, non sanctioned match. Of course,
he said he was injured, he was gonna have to
take time out for surgery. And the way they set
up right here to go forward. Somebody actually put up
online and talk about the fact that in this match
(31:17):
it was quite the way that here's what's what he
said to.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Quote, what a beautiful ending.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
The Forbidden Door gave Will Losbury a sitting off worthy
of him everything he's given. The fans merely turned up
the heat on the Death Riders. Perfect storytelling. Time gets
Farewell directed to the ankle that the other reason he
now needs surgery wrestling at its finest, and that was
the set up at the end of the match to
get the heat back on the Death Riders that they're
not done yet. And the stuff with the Young Bucks
(31:46):
and getting screwed over with the entrances every week had
been hilarious. No thumbtags or nails or anything like that
except a bag of gummy bears that's hilarious too, and
again poking fun of each other and just goofing off
the campiness. I love that shit. It's good stuff. And
(32:11):
I think there's something we said about Gabe Kidd being
in the role here as well as the Mercenary basically
and the Death Riders and being a part of these
matches where he's not necessarily a main roster member. He's
not full time, but he has used so well in
these matches here. And then you get Darby on coming
back and ridiculous moves for him going out there with
double tables and this and that. Like just the things
(32:33):
that are doing out there incredible. But I enjoyed it all,
like it was really well done the whole night. But
something to be said about where Tony Storm and MGF
really fit the bill here as just two standout stars
that I see that just come across. But again, there
(32:54):
are other stars within this company that are being built
partly because of the fact that these stars were able
to go and have their own creative leeway to kind
of build and have some input into what their character
is going to be. And they've been moving forward and
been doing a great job with it, and it's been great.
They going to see that AW gives you the kind
of resting I want. And you don't have to like
(33:16):
what Tony Kahn books, But I don't need someone to
go ahead and book the way I want. Okay, listen
with TNA Tommy Jimier books a certain direction. I don't
necessarily care for that. Sometimes either it's okay to disagree
with some booking decisions, that's fine, and then it get
caught up and really feel like, oh, well, if they
just can't do this, then I don't want to watch.
(33:38):
Like there are just some people that just have personal
animals with this company just because they wanted to be
somewhat involved a little more inside with the company, I
guess and whatever, Like the bias is so apparent and
in that case, I just can't listen to certain people
that just got to go ahead and just rail on
(33:59):
to Connor real on AW because you don't like them.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Okay, but there are some.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
People that have a bias that's like it's like derangement syndrome.
It's just you don't like and as it never done
a different TDS out there, let's just call it it's
Tony derangement system syndrome.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
It's fine if that's how you want.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
To feel, But man, you make it so clear and
you make it so obvious that there's no objectivity you
could possibly have because you are so apparently stuck with
TDS right now, and it's like there's no way for
you to come in here, and you're not willing to
go ahead and be completely honest about it. It's just
(34:39):
what you're gonna feel.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
But for me, I don't need.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Wree's direction bullying talent bullying promotions out here to deal
with them. Either they're gonna work with us or they're
gonna be against us, these kind of things. I don't
think the AW as an entity is trying to get
themselves into some kind of war with any other promotion.
I think they've been trying to do their best. I
think Tony KHN has really been trying to do his
(35:04):
best to avoid conflict because he doesn't need to get
into a war with them, because he's just trying to
think is he to build his business what he has
and keep doing that because there's money to be made
as the number two promotion in the world, which is
what he's trying to do. He's made relationships, is what
he's trying to go and do. But man's the direction
that's going on out there. You know, it's a parent
(35:28):
when you have a pay per view like this. In
a way, I think is probably better off that because
of the juvenile, delusional fandom and they're apparent Tony Kahan
the arrangement syndrome, that maybe his best that for w
W fans they get something to watch for themselves on
(35:50):
the nights that AW has a pay per view only
for the sole fact that then they can just focus
on the stuff they like and they can leave AW alone.
Because I think at the end of the day, whatever
W decides to do to counter program AW, first of all,
why are you doing that and giving them integrity? You're
(36:14):
recognizing them as being competition to you, which I thought
they weren't in competition to do in the first place.
Right that now you have a purpose to try to
go and destroy the company at all costs, by all
means necessary for what for AW. Don't let the noise
get to you, keep doing what you're doing, and just
keep trying to find the stars that are going to
(36:36):
help you build a company to a mainstream level. Who's
your stone, gold, Who's your rock? Someday that will come
out there and they will circumvent past the wrestling bubble
and catch the attention of a mainstream, a young, mainstream
audience like the Attitude era did, which is what every
other wrestling promotion is trying to do. I did not
(36:59):
watch NXT heat Wave, but it was going on tonight
Lowell in Massachusetts and a venue that Aw's run many
times in the past I think even a pay per
view as well in the early days. Lola Weis is
now the number one contender for the NXT Women's title
after beating Jada Parker and Klownie Jordan, Dark State over
Hank and Tank for the NFC tag team titles. I'm
not watching that interesting point. Knockout's World Title triple Threat
(37:25):
and Ash by Elegance defeated Mashall Slamovich and j C.
Jane to become the new Knockouts World Champion. Ash by
Elegance pinning Masha Slamovich did not pin JC Jane, of course,
that's not surprising. At all, Ethan Page Chelsea Green in
a mixed tag match over Tavian Heights and Tyer may Steele.
(37:47):
You get Blake Jordan over Jordan Grace by pinfall in
a grudge match, and Ethan Page Chelsea Green beating Tayvean
Heights and Tyer may Steele and Oba Femi tossing Evans
into a table. I think he did it the night
before on NXC last week on TV, and then he
does it again tonight and Opa Femi retains the NXT
(38:10):
Championship and that's what they had the night for that
one of the last things is gonna be featured over
on Peacock. I guess they've got NXTV. Pap per view
is going to still be on Peacock for the time
being the PLS, but we know that Clash in Paris
is gonna be the last pay per view on Peacock.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
And then he moved on to.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Russell Palooza and three or in a in four weeks time,
same time as All Out Weekend, and here we go.
But I'm telling you, when it comes to w yeah,
you want to keep counterprogramming. I think people are starting
to realize and at least I know on this podcaster's
(38:48):
vision that W and AW and the direction, there might
be fans that might look at both brands, and of
course there's always been a loyalty and a buy as
towards the brand they've been growing up and loving all
these years with W in the first place or the AW.
(39:08):
You know, it's fans like me that were w CW
fans back of the day or ECW fans, and we
like the alternative promotions. We just didn't watch W on
a regular basis. That wasn't the end all be all,
because you know what it came down at the end
of the day is because for me, I would do
a thing where when I watched wrestling, I would watch
(39:32):
W for storylines and I would watch other wrestling programs
for more wrestling. Because when I watched Nitro watch a
lot of matches raw, I could stip through it just
to get to the storylines I wanted to get to.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
That's how I did it. Anyway, that's it.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
We'll come back this week when O the Wrestle Is
were a podcast because wrestling needs us
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