Well, I don't know how that could've been any more disappointing.

You had great talents like Ivelisse, Faby Apache, Jazz, and others and didn't let them actually do hardly anything. Most of the actual wrestling was pretty damn sloppy, and the non-signed talent came off as more impressive than the actual talent on the roster.

Mercedes vs Rho or Hikaru would have been so much better. Nyla is not nearly ready enough for prime time.

The last four were so messy. There was nothing promising that made me look forward to the inauguration match 😞

Also, the camera work is so bad. Brandi was doing something pretty impressive and they cut away right as she pulled off her stunner.

Aug 31, 2019 23:35:25 GMT surrender said:

The last four were so messy. There was nothing promising that made me look forward to the inauguration match 😞

Also, the camera work is so bad. Brandi was doing something pretty impressive and they cut away right as she pulled off her stunner.

I actually thought Mercedes was pretty good ! Especially when she first came in and was destroying everybody. Agree with you about Bea, Britt, and Nyla though. 

I don't know why they didn't just do a tourney once TV started for the belt. The battle royal + a random singles match with no build just seems lazy. 

In other super disappointing news

This is a real bummer she was one of the talents I was looking forward to seeing more of on the roster.

Well that match has been a failure twice. And I actually think it got worse. There were even less memorable moments then the first one.

Hikaru vs Riho was kind of disappointing too, to be honest. Like nothing about it was bad , but it was underwhelming at the same time. Riho's offense seems to consist entirely of double stomps, runnings knees, and rollups it's not really impressive. I came away being more impressed with Hikaru. The match felt short and never really got out of first gear.

Io vs Candice was leagues better, while Becky vs Nattie and Trish vs Charlotte were also better. Bleh night overall.

Aug 31, 2019 23:56:37 GMT dex said:

In other super disappointing news

This is a real bummer she was one of the talents I was looking forward to seeing more of on the roster.

Hoping it isn't anything serious like depression because I had always wondered how odd it was that she was being pushed so well as a top face in the company and then fall off the face of the earth.

I'm thinking AEW's strategy of working around the language gap for the joshi's by not really having storylines for them and just letting them wrestle is not going to work in the long run, especially if the talents they use are not good enough in the ring to let their ring work speak for themselves like someone like Meiko can. The crowd did not seem invested in the match at all.

Sept 1, 2019 2:36:45 GMT dex said:

I'm thinking AEW's strategy of working around the language gap for the joshi's by not really having storylines for them and just letting them wrestle is not going to work in the long run, especially if the talents they use are not good enough in the ring to let their ring work speak for themselves like someone like Meiko can. The crowd did not seem invested in the match at all.

Why is this a problem. Maybe its not you, but I feel like in WWE one of the complaints of the japanese wrestlers is they try an make them talk. So they're minimizing their weaknesses by having them not speak. 

Also, their tv show hasn't even started yet...

Didn't see the match but knew Riho would probably win. Not particular happy with either pick for the first champion.

Sept 1, 2019 4:41:44 GMT nazzer said:

Sept 1, 2019 2:36:45 GMT dex said:

I'm thinking AEW's strategy of working around the language gap for the joshi's by not really having storylines for them and just letting them wrestle is not going to work in the long run, especially if the talents they use are not good enough in the ring to let their ring work speak for themselves like someone like Meiko can. The crowd did not seem invested in the match at all.

Why is this a problem. Maybe its not you, but I feel like in WWE one of the complaints of the japanese wrestlers is they try an make them talk. So they're minimizing their weaknesses by having them not speak. 

Also, their tv show hasn't even started yet...

Because 
A.Crowds in the US care more about a match if they have an emotional connection to the competitors, and care about the outcome. Exhibition without any kind oa  story don't allow for that You don't need to have the talents talk much to tell a story. NXT was able to have entertaining segments with Asuka despite her not being a fluent English speaker. Io's successful heel turn is another good example.  
B. Riho imo isn't impressive enough of a worker to get by on just her wrestling ability. Compare her work in AEW to Io, Kairi, Asuka, and Meiko's work in WWE.  Even Hamada's short TNA  stint had he r looking more impressive. Riho isn't bad just bland and repetitivem a lot of her stuff is a little too light and not impactful enough  for my taste too. 

Definitely predicting that Kylie ends up in WWE.

Sept 1, 2019 7:40:31 GMT Dukezilla said:

Definitely predicting that Kylie ends up in WWE.

according to rumours I'm predicting she ends up in a pscyhe hospital

Sept 1, 2019 8:50:01 GMT nazzer said:

Sept 1, 2019 7:40:31 GMT Dukezilla said:

Definitely predicting that Kylie ends up in WWE.

according to rumours I'm predicting she ends up in a pscyhe hospital

Wow, I'm a terrible person


www.prowrestlingsheet.com/kylie-rae-released-aew/#.XWuKly5KjIV
apparently she asked for her rlease. too bad, and I hope she ends up ok, this seems troubling. 

Looks like theres some backstage drama already in the AEW women's division

Sadie and Bea have a history from working together in Japan.
@admin  they need to sign Jazz and use her parole officer skills to maintain order.

This whole thing has just gotten messy, and unfortunately not in a fun way. At this stage I think I'm pretty close to checking out.

Yeah what’s going on?? AEW was supposed to be a promising answer to WWE’s lack of creativity but none of their matches have been memorable, the talent pool is a bit shallow, their headliner names aren’t worth much and the hens are literally fighting. Also, what happened to Yuka Sakazaki in the Casino Battle Royale?

Sept 2, 2019 4:34:45 GMT surrender said:

Yeah what’s going on?? AEW was supposed to be a promising answer to WWE’s lack of creativity but none of their matches have been memorable, the talent pool is a bit shallow, their headliner names aren’t worth much and the hens are literally fighting. Also, what happened to Yuka Sakazaki in the Casino Battle Royale?

She isn't actually signed to AEW she was just loaned out by TJPW from Japan.  That is a problem with relying so heavily on Japanese talent who aren't committed to staying in the US close to full time, they aren't going to be available all the time. In this case TJPW had  a show on the same day, or rather the next day in Japan. 


Riho for example is going to wrestling for AEW for one week of every month.  Hikaru Shida is the only one signed full time but she isn't even moving to the US full time untilNovember. It just seems like they haven't thought a lot of things through. 

Sept 2, 2019 3:37:52 GMT @admin said:

This whole thing has just gotten messy, and unfortunately not in a fun way. At this stage I think I'm pretty close to checking out.

You're gonna check out because of a backstage rumor?

Sept 2, 2019 15:45:27 GMT nazzer said:

Sept 2, 2019 3:37:52 GMT @admin said:

This whole thing has just gotten messy, and unfortunately not in a fun way. At this stage I think I'm pretty close to checking out.

You're gonna check out because of a backstage rumor?

The guy who reported it is pretty credible. 😕 Everything he reported has been right.

Sept 2, 2019 16:09:50 GMT surrender said:

Sept 2, 2019 15:45:27 GMT nazzer said:

You're gonna check out because of a backstage rumor?

The guy who reported it is pretty credible. 😕 Everything he reported has been right.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. 

I want to emphasize the word 'backstage' aspect of this thing. You seem to care enough about this product to give it a chance, the company has had a grand total of what 4 shows (5 if you count all in), they haven't even started their tv show yet, and you're gonna check out becuase of some backstage stuff? 

Any word on Kylie's reason for asking for a release?

Sept 2, 2019 15:45:27 GMT nazzer said:

Sept 2, 2019 3:37:52 GMT @admin said:

This whole thing has just gotten messy, and unfortunately not in a fun way. At this stage I think I'm pretty close to checking out.

You're gonna check out because of a backstage rumor?

Not just because of that, but the whole combination of the last few months. I'm really shocked at how quickly I've gone from "wow this could be really cool" after Double or Nothing to logging in on Monday, seeing the reaction to the Battle Royal and not even having the enthusiasm to bother finding a video to watch. 

But yes Bea seems problematic and not someone that I am going to be at all compelled to watch - a nasty person by all accounts and not nearly good enough in the ring to make up for it. Her concussing Britt, and with having to struggle around the ring for the next 15 minutes in that tag match at the previous show left a bad taste in my mouth. The booking and match making has also been largely unimpressive, I think they've done a fairly poor job of establishing the division and putting over any of their talent.

Oh, and I'm also now way out on Cody for scaring his dog half to death with fireworks. 

Sept 2, 2019 23:37:56 GMT @admin said:

Sept 2, 2019 15:45:27 GMT nazzer said:

You're gonna check out because of a backstage rumor?

Not just because of that, but the whole combination of the last few months. I'm really shocked at how quickly I've gone from "wow this could be really cool" after Double or Nothing to logging in on Monday, seeing the reaction to the Battle Royal and not even having the enthusiasm to bother finding a video to watch. 

But yes Bea seems problematic and not someone that I am going to be at all compelled to watch - a nasty person by all accounts and not nearly good enough in the ring to make up for it. Her concussing Britt, and with having to struggle around the ring for the next 15 minutes in that tag match at the previous show left a bad taste in my mouth. The booking and match making has also been largely unimpressive, I think they've done a fairly poor job of establishing the division and putting over any of their talent.

Oh, and I'm also now way out on Cody for scaring his dog half to death with fireworks. 

Wait? You didn't even watch the show? 

Sept 3, 2019 0:09:28 GMT nazzer said:

Sept 2, 2019 23:37:56 GMT @admin said:

Not just because of that, but the whole combination of the last few months. I'm really shocked at how quickly I've gone from "wow this could be really cool" after Double or Nothing to logging in on Monday, seeing the reaction to the Battle Royal and not even having the enthusiasm to bother finding a video to watch. 

But yes Bea seems problematic and not someone that I am going to be at all compelled to watch - a nasty person by all accounts and not nearly good enough in the ring to make up for it. Her concussing Britt, and with having to struggle around the ring for the next 15 minutes in that tag match at the previous show left a bad taste in my mouth. The booking and match making has also been largely unimpressive, I think they've done a fairly poor job of establishing the division and putting over any of their talent.

Oh, and I'm also now way out on Cody for scaring his dog half to death with fireworks. 

Wait? You didn't even watch the show? 

Yes, I trust Dex's opinion enough and the matches don't sound worth watching. 

I make it one good match so far out of eight(?) - and that was a Joshi showcase rather than something that actually reflects the promotion -  that's not a good enough strike rate to keep my attention when you also don't have any "must watch stars" below the age of 40. 

I want this to be a success, don't get me wrong - but there's enough women's wrestling available now that I don't need to watch if they're not delivering a good enough product.

AEW had the buzz going but they’ve totally fucked it with the last show. They’re meant to be new and fresh but they’re totally turning into TNA v2 except Cody has a really rich backer. It’s really fun watching all the different fanboys/‘Smarks but we don’t get wurked’ fight over it on Reddit btw.

@admin ,
If I'm being honest I could see other people being higher on Riho vs Hikaru more than I was, so you might want to check it out. There was nothing outright wrong with it, I just came into it with high expectations as t it was the first important Joshi vs Joshi match in a major promotion in a long time. But it didn't come off to me at least as being better than your standard western women's ppv match. Like if they weren't Japanese I think the general consensus would be that it was just solid/ok.

Heres a highlight video of the match 



The BR was complete shit though.

The women's division could be an insight into the rest of AEW's potential challenges. 

As I mentioned in the other thread, AEW's mid-card and of course, the women's divisions could make or break AEW's growth and more importantly, it's ability to replenish the main event and maintain momentum. AEW has maybe 8 guys worth talking about, and maybe 3 that are true main event talents and not a single female talent worth talking about. It's all fun and games hiring your friends, the ' best ' independent talent and ticking a few SJW boxes - but you now need to get them over, they need to be able to deliver, consistently. And most importantly, need to be engaging. 

And nothing says, zero care factor like a battle-royale. 


On another note, I want to use Joey Ryan as an example. The gimmick is essentially a circus act. Meaning, he can roll into any backwards town and work the same basic match and play up the same gimmick against anyone. It doesn't require months of build, or a back story. It's just a man with a magic dick. Fortunately, Joey Ryan moves onto the next town untelevised, and performs that same act in front of a new crowd, and it's OK. AEW potentially has a roster full of workers like this, albeit no magic dicks, who have created an act that works in front of a small crowd, with appearances few & far between to make the heart grow fonder - yet now have to be engaging, refreshing and carry a program long-term. It could be a real challenge for AEW, and could really highlight the genius that is NXT/PC. 

So I am going to double down on my opinion that AEW women division isn't that good. I wanted to wait before I said it until I saw Riho vs. Hikaru Shida. And I was expecting more for Hikaru even if I already knew she lost by this point. She did way to many weak knee strike and trying to hype someone's power while they are struggling to hold up someone under 100 pounds isn't impressive. And Riho spamming roll ups and no damage pinning moves don't look that great when you are as small as she is. I know smaller wrestlers do those a lot but for some reason I just don't buy when she does it. It could just be I just don't Riho. Saying all that I think this has been the best women singles match in AEW short history.

I am guessing Hikaru was the heel in this match other wise I think she could have got over great with that type of crowd if she went back outside and gave the guy back the foam hand she knocked off the guy.

I don't know if they are going to do anything with these two statements. But Omega has a hand in the women's division booking. And the announcers keep pointing out Riho is his favor mixed tag partner.

Sept 2, 2019 23:37:56 GMT @admin said:

Oh, and I'm also now way out on Cody for scaring his dog half to death with fireworks. 

When I originally heard about this I assume Pharaoh was already on stage when the pyro went off. Cody's group were still in the tunnel so the dog wasn't as close as I imagine. The entrance was pretty cool and really didn't need a pyro so probably didn't even think about most dog hate fireworks. He did try to calm the dog down onstage. But after the dog was scared Brandi should have just took him backstage and let someone hold him until she came back.

Interesting... Kylie Rae is back to wrestling at another promotion