aew 2021: don callis’s sunglass game is on point

i overslept so am watching on an hour delay (currently on the tag match)

but yeah this has all been unbelievably good, i'm in a state of total awe at how good everything is. has there been a PPV in the modern era where they've had a crowd so completely onside? cheers for the faces, boos for the heels. the pop for the rope break in the opening match, the duelling Moxley/Kojima chants, singing along for the surprise after match 2, the Bucks getting "asshole chants".

ahhhhh jesus this is just all so great, i've said it before but it's just a miracle that this company exists.

unnecessary spoiler tag, initially there were actual spoilers but actually i hope ahoyhoy and any other Britisher rassle fans go into this one blind

my only complaint is that i held a pee for an extremely long time because there wasn't enough time!! i gave up during punks entrance!! ill have to watch it back later

if that was really the final Chris Jericho entrance i'll be very sad. but also fucking HUUUUUUGE lol, this show is an all-timer

i'm also realising now in real time that i just do not want Jericho to go, i'm not ready

post final match spoiler jaw literally agape. expected the other guy. love it

post final match lmfao they fucking got me again

truly the best wrestling ppv i’ve ever seen

lucha bros vs. young bucks was match of the night and...year????

lol they gassed that crowd eh

otoh holy shit what a fucking ending

best wrestling company ever, it is extraordinary how hot they are right now

strongly considering using my day off to re-watch that from start to finish, what a show

Good morning everyone.

I woke about 4. Skipped in between matches, the big show, half the Jericho match, half the women’s title and most of the battle royal, just so I could get it all in.

Pretty good damn show, ey?

Fucking loved Moro-Kingston. Genuinely never seen that cheeky ref confusion finish, it seemed like such smart pro wrestling after 15 mins of them knocking the piss out of each other.

The cage match was my match of the year. Poor Penta’s little girls having to get involved though; they were having none of their dad being covered in blood.

Who turned up after the Mox match had me smiling like a fucking child.

I try not to be too pervy when it comes to women’s wrestlers but damn Ruby Soho is like an instant crush. Never paid attention to her in the fed but everyone seemed very excited. The finish to the battle royale was smart, I liked it.

Didn’t care for Jericho v MJF but I did like the countdown fake out. I’m just ready for Jericho to go away at this point.

Was starting to get tired during Darby and Punk but they hooked me at the end. Noticed Punk was already acting a bit heelish. No gross elbow drop, so all good for me.

The main event was good, the end was fucking killer. The everyone’s already dead fake out line had me in fucking stitches. And then to see the show end with a dinosaur and Luke Perry’s son who thinks he’s Tarzan lifting the arm of my favourite ever wrestler just made me happy I’m a way that only pro wrestling could do.

Great fucking show, 10/10. Best wrestling show in years. So fucking hyped about Wednesday. Ridiculously hype about Full Gear already. Love you guys. Going back to bed for an hour.

my review of last night: yes! yes! yes! yes! yes! yes!

i didn't have high expectations for the women's battle royale (felt a little bit like a "i have no idea what to do with the women's division" booking decision) but it was so good, especially ending with rosa and ruby soho

lol sorry i guess that's a spoiler. hard to not spoil this show, it was so special

destination unnnknown
ruby ruby ruby ruby soho

rewatched the punk/darby match, really masterful slow build to the more outrageous spots at the end, and they both looked so awesome in the ring

I’m gonna rewatch this tonight in full.

I'm so pleased that Rancid gave their blessing to her being Ruby Soho, since I've just been singing her name to that tune for years already.

God, what a show, from top to bottom.

There were so many moments that filled me with joy, honestly. Happy to see Yuta show up. He was born in Hawai'i, so I must always cheer for him. Also great moment of seeing Orange Cassidy screaming encouragement to Statlander. Was happy to see Emi Sakura, Big Swole, Kiera Hogan, Abadon, Diamante, Thunder Rosa, and all the women in the Battle Royale. So good. Kojima entering with that NJPW logo was super surreal and Suzuki coming out after (and the Kaze Ni Nare from the crowd) was electric. CM Punk's first match back made me feel about 10 years younger. Kenny with the blue hair got me feeling some Cleaner vibes. I've never been that big on Adam Cole, but MAN even I got hyped at his debut. And, of course, the return of the American Dragon.

I loved Abadon’s Luna Vachon hair.

same

Ruby mouthing “I’m back?” to Bryce Remsburg at the end got me.

Dude, I cried from the moment that music hit, and I didn't stop crying.

That final two, though. Woof, I am HYPED for that eventual singles match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a0fcLE1U0Q

if you wanna kill time before dynamite, last night's dark had: 1) a really impressive, fun, and intense three strikes match between big swole and diamante, a storyline they've been building up on dark over the past month; 2) an internecine dark order match between evil uno and alan v angels witnessed by a very confused and emotional crowd; and 3) max caster's return rap

oh yeah and lee moriarty vs. joey janela is a good time

I watched half of it before I needed to walk Willie. It was quite fun, loved Taz and Excalibur on commentary. Maybe I need to tune in more often. God damn I now need to find 4 hours a week for this.

All Out was an incredible PPV and I think people comparing it to Bash At The Beach are right to do so. Having thought about it though, Double or Nothing is still my favourite of their shows from this year. Revolution would be up there too if it wasn’t for the sparklers and sonic rings. What an incredible run they are having.

And Full Gear could be even bigger!

last year's full gear was my fave aew ppv until all out. really hyped for this year's

i did somehow miss last year's double or nothing which i think was the consensus best aew ppv before, mostly for stadium stampede mk 1

I didn’t see the first Stadium Stampede either. Must track that show down.

every time i watch dante martin wrestle i fantasize about a top flight vs. lucha bros match. soon hopefully

Rewatching the AO main event, I love how great Kenny is at selling a fuckup. Also had that lucha/YB not been so godtier, I mean good lord the gauntlet Christian went through with KO.

Just watched Dynamite and, I presume it’s a fuck up cos I’ve seen no one else say anything about it, but Mox needs to learn that a straight arm/pointed hand aimed at the crowd looks like a nazi salute. Really threw me off at the end but I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, it’s not like he’s In the Jericho family.

Ridiculously excited for Punk v Team Taz and Danielson and misfits v The Elite. Hope Hook is Punk’s first loss. Oh and Hangman needs to come sort his boys out.

pac vs andrade was so good holy shit

I love how AEW can turn something stupid (intentionally or not) like the Suzuki Incident into a surefire barnburner next week. And that’s not even the hyped main event it’ll lead.

last night was really good except for i hate the dan lambert bit (and really hated jericho's counter-promo)

i know i'm supposed to hate it but i hate it

anyway, the card for next week's dynamite + rampage at arthur ashe is ppv quality and i'm gonna be seeing it live... with maura!!!!

So jealous. It could genuinely be the best night of free wrestling tv ever.

So strange to think that even after two years of excellent shows, it only now feels like AEW seem to be hitting their true hot streak.

Lambert is doing great a great MAGA Cornette tosser thing but it just seems so weird that it’s for a lower card tag team. Surely he needs a bad ass mma wanker to make it work. Currently it just seems like being paid to be an arsehole on tv for no reason, soz men of the year.

xxp enjoy! I’m breaking my Covid hermit protocols to be there also!

Yeah that is awesome, those two cards are completely stacked and getting to see Danielson wrestle omega live on a stage that matters is the stuff that UK fans can only dream of. I hope they sort out their ongoing timing issues and give that one the time it deserves! Incredibly jealous, hope you both have an amazing time. I’m sure you will, what a show to see live!

Dan lambert I’m torn on. On the one hand I recognise that he is deliberately designed to piss me off and he is undoubtedly an incredible promo. Otoh I go to AEW at least in part as a refuge from that kinda chud bullshit and I’m not mad on his working that angle, even for heat. As ahoyhoy says, I reckon it would work really well as a top angle with a serious contender behind him but as a semi-serious midcard thing designed to get the supremely fuckin useless jake Hager over… enh

*should say “you all” rather than “you both”

So jealous!!

Street Fighter: The Movie truly lives on in AEW talent pic.twitter.com/khnlVjxCi6

— Will  (@WilliamRBR) September 16, 2021

ruby and britt promo on rampage last night is Peak Wrestling, to me

that promo was so fucking great - watching it i was just like "oh i get it now, the problem with the women's division was just that it needed ruby soho in it"

that promo kinda lost me with the banging a guy in the back zinger -- he just got here! she's had the title for months! some great little bits in there nonetheless tho, the look at me bit was nice

this is the best night of my life

I’ve only watched up to Black-Homelander but I am very jealous. How was it there?

The opener was incredible and yet they seemed to only tease what they could do. It was 5 star and yet some how just a movie trailer.