Not too many people left in the indies that are not in AEW. AAA is a different story. FTR dropping the AAA titles the same night Lee announces he is going to NXT may be telling too. Mix that with Nakamura being allowed to work Noah and Anderson working NJPW looks like HHH is rapidly doing outreach to other feds.

If I was Tony I would be getting scared here. His one major advantage was WWE demoralized the roster. Letting guys work outside of WWE, moving back to pushing guys who can work and fixing a lot of the booking insanity seems to have fired up the roster again. I suspect a lot of people will be returning. Sure Miro is counting down the days. DB and Mox also likely will return. MJF def is jumping and I assume they will be eyeing Starks, Darby and Wardlow. Jericho I assume will end his career in WWE as well. Tony gonna have to make insane deals to beat out letting guys go to HHH.

Think too when most of these contracts are up will be when wrestling gets another boom as there is a lot of talent that could return to WWE to make it feel like the old WCW vs WWE days when big names coming in every few months.

I'm pretty sure Mox committed long term not that long ago so that's one less headache for TK, but HHH gaining power certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons as far as the AEW locker room is concerned.

I hope NXT can strike a balance. As nice as it is to see darlings like Roxane Perez and Wes Lee achieve success what draws me to NXT is watching new acts sink or swim.

As an aside that Kevin Owens-Austin thread in r/SC just reminded me how crazy the start of '22 was. For a brief second we all thought both Sami and Kev were crazy for turning down AEW and at best they were just comfortable. Owens gets a once in a lifetime opportunity and Zayn has become one of the most over acts in the industry.

Dec 29, 2022 4:59:38 GMT RT said:

Dec 29, 2022 4:27:13 GMT c said:

Oh shit, HHH got Dragon Lee coming into NXT.

For anyone unaware, Dragon Lee is an excellent signing for NXT. He’s got insane talent and has had great matches over the past few years in NJPW, AAA, and ROH. He also recently competed in the Trios tournament partnering with Dralistico & RUSH in AEW.

Strangely enough, Dragon Lee also just won the AAA Tag titles tonight off FTR with Dralistico.

I never seen his promos but he work is good. The next Rey is already a Rey just someone needs to give him a singles push. A health Rey Fenix would be money in the right hands.

Haven't been following main roster (like, at all) but any reason why Santos Escobar can't be the guy?

Dec 29, 2022 14:21:26 GMT c said:

Not too many people left in the indies that are not in AEW. AAA is a different story. FTR dropping the AAA titles the same night Lee announces he is going to NXT may be telling too. Mix that with Nakamura being allowed to work Noah and Anderson working NJPW looks like HHH is rapidly doing outreach to other feds.

If I was Tony I would be getting scared here. His one major advantage was WWE demoralized the roster. Letting guys work outside of WWE, moving back to pushing guys who can work and fixing a lot of the booking insanity seems to have fired up the roster again. I suspect a lot of people will be returning. Sure Miro is counting down the days. DB and Mox also likely will return. MJF def is jumping and I assume they will be eyeing Starks, Darby and Wardlow. Jericho I assume will end his career in WWE as well. Tony gonna have to make insane deals to beat out letting guys go to HHH.

Think too when most of these contracts are up will be when wrestling gets another boom as there is a lot of talent that could return to WWE to make it feel like the old WCW vs WWE days when big names coming in every few months.

I wholeheartedly agree.

I also think someone like MJF is smart being the aggressor. WWE will sign this guy in a heartbeat and he knows it, and it's only a matter of how much TK is willing to pay to ensure that doesn't happen. Either way, it's a win for MJF.

Chris Jericho's ego will ensure he is back for his eventual HOF induction. He's likely all ready penned his Undertaker style Ted Talk in readiness.

Curious how Tony will react to losing MJF. I do not see any way Tony keeps him after paring him with Regal on air. He either gonna have to offer him Punk money or watch him leave. And offer him Punk money, everyone else will want Punk money. I do not see Tony taking it well though losing him, as he will likely be the first guy WWE rips away. Sure Cody left but that was a much different story than simply losing a bidding fight.

If you lost MJF and Ricky Starks in a single year, you'd be emotional.

When we talked 'pillars', these two guys are the top young guns. And if that exchange from a few weeks back between Starks and MJF is anything to go by, those two guys are light years ahead of the rest of the young lions on that roster.

Anyone who can cut a strong promo is def getting raided. Top Flight as well. Anderson gonna be pushing hard for his star students. Kids likely have a decade of high flying before the wear and tear sets in. But before then, they are basically the new Hardyz.

Aren't those guys injured every other month?

No, Darius had a torn ACL, then was in a car crash. Dante did some solo stuff, but mostly worked Dark or Rampage while his brother recovered. Darius came back hot though. Tony may keep Darius an extra year though due to the injury in an attempt to lock both down long term.

But in the ring they are one of the greatest high flying team tags working today. Tony will likely push them real hard in the near future. Expect another feud between them and the Acclaimed.

Dec 30, 2022 9:48:02 GMT NATH45 said:

Aren't those guys injured every other month?

Yes, Dante got injured around mid-year and had another close call recently.

Dante was one of those guys we were saying back in 2020 was going to be onto bigger and better things. It's '22 and he's still having to remind us how good he is against the BCC.

I’ve been following Dragon Lee on socials for a while so it’s kind of a treat to see him hit it big with WWE. He’s talented and he’s JACKED, instant marketability. I think the only thing that *could* hold him back is he’s a bit short (but not as short as Rey) and his English isn’t there. Then again, this is now Triple H’s WWE and he is going to NXT to “develop.” I just hope they let him keep his name!

Yeah Lee def is the guy to replace Rey as THE luchador of WWE. I assume in NXT they will work heavily on his style. He will have to tone things way back for WWE.  Which is good for him, as he does work a true high risk style.

Neat part of his contract, he will still allowed to do the Legends of Lucha Libre book series, so he will be doing publicity for it with RUSH.

Reported the reason he signed with WWE over AEW is AEW has too many guys that are not getting TV time. And even if he teamed with his brother, he was not sure if he would be used well. Assume the plan is if he is a success to bring RUSH to him.  Sounds like WWE had no interest in him until AEW used him.  Then he was from an unknown to a must sign after his one match.

Noise is that HHH is not done in AAA either.  I REALLY hope this means Vikingo is on their radar.   Vikingo got a work vista finally for the US and started to work here.  

She did it!!! She finally did it!!! Kiana James put her hair in a bun!!!

But in all honesty, that was a really good women’s brawl. Excited to see who Roxy’s first contender will be.

I mean I tallied off a bit due to football but the fuck is this guy watching? :lol:

I really hope Jinder Mahal is down in NXT for good and gets to feud with Breakker for the belt.

The Modern Day Maharaja is one of the best heels of the last decade in all of wrestling. 

Jan 11, 2023 1:20:13 GMT Blindy said:

I really hope Jinder Mahal is down in NXT for good and gets to feud with Breakker for the belt.

The Modern Day Maharaja is one of the best heels of the last decade in all of wrestling. 

Mandy Rose-like career resurgence?

Jan 11, 2023 1:21:27 GMT Michinokudriver said:

Jan 11, 2023 1:20:13 GMT Blindy said:

I really hope Jinder Mahal is down in NXT for good and gets to feud with Breakker for the belt.

The Modern Day Maharaja is one of the best heels of the last decade in all of wrestling. 

Mandy Rose-like career resurgence?

Yup, agree with that. Veer and Sanga are going to benefit off of him with more emphasis in NXT under HBK. Give em Jinny and watch the views go in the millions on a weekly basis in India. 

Women's Battle Royale, lets see some LoLa V.I.C.E.

Did Elektra Lopez just encourage one of her battle royale opponents to be selfish and go into business for herself?

not that I'm against it but when did a rando diner become a regular location in NXT

2023 is a good year! T Strat is back baby. @aaron

Someone's spray on tan ran all over the other wrestler and I'm not sure whose it is

should -- um, should the rest of the show be cancelled?

clearly these are unsafe working conditions

like, twice in one match. and now you're gonna have your entire women's division working in that ring and hoping at best it's just that one rope that's unreliable

Damn STevie Turner coming stateside, good news surrender?

is it just me or do the announcers seem to not know like 1/3 of the entrants in this match

dr rick has clearly never seen a trash can that has never been cleaned

shit's gross, yo. i fully support occasionally cleaning your garbage receptacle

zoey stark went F L Y I N G there

oh no they're gonna break up toxic attraction?

THey are def. turning Dolin face

Oh god really? :lol: