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Showing posts with the label Payback

Payback 2023 - Matches of Interest

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How’s It Going, Enthusiasts? So, this is a weird Payback given it’s on the back of sudden loss. It’s hard to feel enthusiastic about it so soon after the fact but, at the same time, we can’t mourn forever. This show will have the delicate task of making us forget for a while. With that said, I advise they simply try to do their jobs and have a good time. Some things are just out of one’s hands, so to speak.   Given that, I’ve got just 3 matches that have my full attention. It doesn’t mean the other matches aren’t interesting, it’s just they either have to prove to be or should be. Either way, what’s there to talk about?   The first match I’m looking at is LA Knight vs. The Miz. This is interesting for all sorts of reasons. Mainly because it can be argued that they are one and the same. The only difference is that we’re more familiar with The Miz. The kicker is that they’re the same age, so naturally, Knight has the shorter shelf life. It’s unlikely he outlasts The Miz. More

SmackDown Reminds Us That This Is a Go-Home Show...

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Happy Friday, Enthusiasts!   It’s the start of a 3-Day Weekend and we have Payback to look forward to tomorrow. There’s space to make it quite the weekend. Before we get to that, there are a few things going on in the Wrestling World. Nothing too exciting but enough for some conversation. Shall we start the chat?   First bit of business, The CM Punk Saga continues and more tidbits have been added to the drama. Word has it that Punk may have chewed out Tony Khan after and there’s footage of the Jack Perry confrontation given that most of Wembley Stadium is fitted with cameras.   CM Punk was set for AEW’s follow-up PPV, All Out, in Chicago this Sunday but whether Punk or Perry will be in attendance has yet to be confirmed. What’s going around is that Punk informally quit but I don’t know how seriously to take any of it. It’s bordering on ridiculous if it’s real so I’m going to stick to my “shot-work” hypothesis. We’ll see if they turn it into something entertaining.   In

RAW Brings Us Back to the Payback Schedule...

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How’s Everyone Doing? It’s completely understandable if you still don’t know how to feel. Life can throw a mean curveball and a person just has to take some time to digest the implications and associated emotions. Take your time. There’s no real rush. However, in Sports Entertainment, the show must go on and so it shall. We’ll start with the Realm of AEW as CM Punk is CM Punking as his new locker room foe appears to be Jack Perry. Rumor has it that there was a kerfuffle that wasn’t backstage at their PPV, All In, this past weekend that had Punk landing Perry in a chokehold but the story keeps changing so it’s hard to say what provoked the showdown and all that.  Again, personally, the frequency of the tiffs seems too unprofessional for me so I still feel these are “shot works” so to speak. Works meant to seem real is another way of thinking about it. Word currently is that both Punk and Perry have been suspended while an investigation is conducted. So, yet again, Punk may have to take

RAW Keeps Payback in Its Sights....

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  How’s It Going, Enthusiasts? Hope everything is well. We're drying out over here in Southern California but fortunately, my area didn't lose power so it's more or less business as usual. So, there’s a whole lot of the usual going around so, this shouldn’t be a long post. Let’s just run it down, shall we? New speculations are flying about CM Punk and whomever rubs him the wrong way. This is the main reason I can’t really take it seriously. If this was in the real world, this would simply be unprofessional. Doesn’t mean ridiculous shit doesn’t happen in the workplace but we’re more encouraged to squash it in real time. Punk would have outed himself the “troublemaker” if this was in a typical 9am-5pm setup. That said, I’m doubling down on this all being fodder for feuding and hope this eventually all gets settled in the ring be it on any of their shows or a PPV. At least that way, we’ll expect it to light up from time to time. I could chat about other things but they don’t e

SmackDown Will Approach Payback When It's Good and Ready....

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  Happy Friday, Enthusiasts! How is it going for everyone? Good? Hanging in there? It’s all you can do, right? Well, there’s some things to talk about today. Shall we just dive right into it? So, the first bit of news that has the grapevine buzzing is that Cash Wheeler of AEW’s Tag Team, FTR is facing legal repercussions for brandishing a gun during a road rage incident that occurred last month. Bad timing, as FTR is on the card for the next PPV, All In, coming up at the end of the month. As of now, the legal implications do not interfere with Wheeler’s ability to travel but it has to be admitted this isn’t the greatest look. We’ll see if AEW feels the need to make any changes given these circumstances. In the WWE Universe, we have have come to realize that Lacey Evans has parted ways with the company. I think in her case, they needed to pick a lane and stay in it. I didn’t mind her Southern Belle persona when she first came on the scene. It could have served as a conservative gimmick

RAW Feels It's Time for Payback....

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How’s It Going, Enthusiasts? Did you have a good weekend?  Mine was restful. Expected it to be a tad more eventful but it looks like those twists and turns are coming this week. Thankfully, all my wrassling action happens on Mondays and Fridays 😉 As for the Wrestling World, there are few things going on. We can have a decent chat so, let’s get into it.  First item of business is that it appears CM Punk is “staying in character” and he took the end of last week’s Collision to rag on Hangman Page. This was more or less a work so no need to get huffy that Punk is back to his old ways. If anything, it kinda reinforces my feelings that all the previous kerfuffle came from taking a work too seriously, in my opinion.  Word is that Page was told to steer clear of the night’s venue which to me, I hope, is just talk to play up the work because if they’re really handling Punk like this, no progress will be made. Punk may move merch but humility is what’s needed in a situation like this. He need

Summer Slam's Payback Is Complete! RAW Now Wants You to Think of Clash of Champions...

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  Hello, Enthusiasts! How is this Monday treating you?   Well, did you catch Payback?   To be honest, it was a lot cleaner show than I was anticipating.   Though the creative issues are still there, WWE is at least making the most of what is working which couldn’t always be said in the past.   There’s still a lot of work to be done but for the first time since I’ve started watching again, it appears that they’re actually going to take a shot at doing it. So, there were some pleasant surprises at Payback, the most underrated of which was probably the opening match with Apollo Crews and Bobby Lashley.   This was the best display of wrestling for the night.   I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised but I certainly wasn’t expecting Lashley and Crews to come out and set the tone but they did and popular or not, they established themselves as true forces to be reckoned with in the WWE Universe.   Kudos to them! Also, a little side play from Buddy Murphy continues to prove interesting.

Here We Are...Payback!

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How Goes It, Enthusiasts? Good I hope.   So, right into Payback are we?   Well, I’m not sure what the reasoning is but I suppose it doesn’t matter. As usual for PPVs, I’m not going to comment on every match but I will give my 2¢ on the ones I find interesting so, naturally, I feel I have to start with the Women.   Again, they prove to be a blatant display of a lack of creative direction.   All this talent and WWE has no idea what to do with it.   It is a shame but let’s see what comes to pass anyway.   The biggest indication of this lack of direction is how the 2 obvious Tag Teams aren’t in the hunt for the Tag Team Title. Proof again of how Popularity rules in the WWE Universe.   The IIconics and the remainder of the Riott Squad are in a shits & giggles match that apparently gets Kick-Off status as Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler are pasted together to give Bayley and Sasha Banks some people to fight with.   What is that all about?   Well, it shows you who’s popular is all.   Not k

SmackDown Contemplates What to Call This...Summer Slam-Payback, Maybe?

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Happy Friday, Enthusiasts! I hope it treats you well.   So, what’s circulating in the WWE Universe?    I found it interesting that Wade Barrett found his way back to the WWE halls.   One of the aspects of the WWE Universe is that it is strangely forgiving.   Those who have left often can return…that is if they did so under the right circumstances.   And even in those difficult cases, with the right amount of apology and humility even the most outrageous can be forgiven.   I think CM Punk is a prime example.   When he left it seemed as if someone could get fired just by saying his name, now he’s back on the payroll.   The WWE Universe is the land of many chances. In Barrett’s case, it looks like he’s helping out with kids in NXT.   We’ll see if he ever challenges Baron Corbin to get the King of the Ring Title back. As for tonight’s Fallout/Go Home Smackdown , we have Roman Reigns’ return to television to look forward to.   I’ll admit I am one of the many who have missed his presence

Summer Slam Nailed It! Can RAW Continue the Trend...

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H ow Are You All Doing, Enthusiasts? Enjoy Summer Slam? Before we get into all that, let’s get the current WWE Universe news/rumors out of the way.   So, it looks like it’s official.   Renée Young is leaving the WWE for greener pastures and I have to say, we were lucky to have her for as long as we did.    Her sweet disposition and lovely form could easily charm anyone and I’m sure she’ll find success wherever she ends up.   Naturally, there’s speculation that we may see her on AEW, making it easier to maintain her marriage with Jon Moxley but personally, I think she can do better.   There’s word that FOX Sports may have some plans for her and I hope that’s so, FOX or ESPN.   She should do some real world work, really build her resume and once she’s done some fit for real Journalism, maybe we could again be so lucky to be graced with her presence.   May she find the best in her future endeavors. Now, let’s get into Summer Slam.   It was actually a solid show.   It was like 90% dece