Markin' 4 Rasslin'

Current Wrestler, talking wrestling and my behind the scene thoughts in shoot and working form.

[markin4rasslin]

Everything Going Wrong Could Mean Everything Goes Right? Danielson for TNT title, MJF Run, Fantasy Booking.

Everything is blowing up it seems in the world of AEW. There’s a fight among the EVP’s (actually really bad), your champions who is 1 of maybe 3 people who draw you over a million viewers, talent wanting released, WWE looks greener, there seems to be nothing but negativity coming down the pipe if you are Tony Khan. 

But, what if all this is calculated for a short loss for long term profit? If there is anyone who can tell a story, it is MJF and CM Punk. MJF had to be ok getting buried to “prove his point” on CM Punk, everything else is just icing on the cake to get the EVP’s out of the way? Then with the EVP’s out who can take over the booking? What about none other than William Fucking Regal. When NXT was at it’s highest, Regal was the GM. Regal needs to be your end all be all, this is what you’re doing, how you’re going over/under and has the balls to say no, this doesn’t work on this show, “ Bucks you’re putting over FTR whether you like it or not because I am booking the GD show!”

Can we also drop the 6 man titles? That along with the two women’s titles, 3 men’s titles, and tag titles that's a fill show of title defenses, not even counting ROH titles. Keep those title off of AEW, this isn’t ROH, Build your characters. 

Women's Title: Toni Storm, perfect feuds with Jamie Hayter (should be champion), Statlander, Soho (after being re-packaged) 

TBS Champions: Jade Cargill booker her and Athena better, Britt would be perfect with a body guard no longer Hayter, probably Nyla? 

The Overseas.. Title.. I think: Pac, put him with anyone, build up your lower cards, maybe throw Hook into the mix, Kyle O’Reilly, Adam Cole, Scorpio and Ethan Page. Hell Even Kip Sabian which we are seeing on Dynamtie!

TNT Title: This is where it get’s interesting. Wardlow... the Momentum is gone. but you have Hobbs but Danielson is the guy! the heavyweight title has too much going on right now. make your Mid card title legitimate. Danielson, then you free up Wardlow to go after the heavyweight title and have people like Starks chasing the title with Hobbs always in the way, then Miro v. Danielson. Lordy

Tag Titles: Give them to FTR and then just let them be the greatest

AEW Heavyweight Title: CM Punk v. MJF is trilogic.. thats a word. who else is in that mix? Danielson with the TNT title, then costing Mox a title against MJF to open that feud as well? Then MJF Wardlow, Claudio, Miro, Hobbs, Malakai (have too to keep him) 

This is just fantasy, but if this lineup was on your tv EVERY DAMN WEDNESDAY, you would be tuned in.  

[markin4rasslin]

Media Scrum Planned? 2 Million Viewers on the way?

Just a theory, but did Khan see the writing on the wall? Did he notice, shit, Cody was right, I should have listened to him. Did I give the wrong people (i.e. Bucks and Omega) too much power? Then hear comes Punk, who doesn’t take shit, will speak the truth and piss the ego’s of the EVP’s off sooo much, action has to be taken against them? 

This is a theory that has legs, no one cares about the Elite other than their niche fans and fanbase. Me personally, cannot watch a spot fest match they put on, is looking forward to a fresh Dynamite with endless possibilities. It sucks MJF is the real loser in all of this but what if this was a scenario that played right into Punk and Khans plan? 

This makes Punk an instant heel, MJF is being buried again, this adds another excellent chapter into the feud. MJF said he would show you who the real Punk is, and now the “chips are down”, both hands have been shown. Who is going to take the jackpot. My vision, this is MJF and Cm Punk giving AEW their first 2 million person viewership if done right? 

[markin4rasslin]

Hit Row Needs Swerve

I was never the biggest fan of Hit Row in NXT but they grew on me. It was one of those slow burns where the flame eventually took fire and went off!! Then, “budget cuts”. 

We can all agree Swerve was the best, not saying Top Dolla and.. shit I am sorry I forgot the other dudes name already after watching tonight but all I know is they were saved by the Street Profits. I do not like Swerve a lot in AEW, definitely not in Swerve in my Glory.. my goodness, they need to end already. We can all put biases aside and after watching Hit Row tonight, they are not ready. 

This isn’t a burial, just facts. they were ehh... they need that top performer, leader, but unfortunately.. he is held captive in AEW at the moment and much like Malakai Black.. who knows hen that could be. 

[markin4rasslin]

War Raiders Returning

It’s obvious isn’t it? Just look at their match with the New Day that just happened on Smackdown (9/2/2022). The Viking Raiders are awesome!! But they are nothing like when they were the War Raiders in NXT. 

Yes, under Triple H, the Viking Raiders can be just as heavily booked as the War Raiders. but just remember all the NXT Takeovers, “WAR! WAR! WAR! WAR! WAR!” My gawd they were so over, Ivar cartwheeling, Erik being a fucking menace. I would love to see in my #FantasyBookingMind the Viking Raiders go on a losing streak and need to find their edge, bring the pillage, bring the WAR to WWE. I feel like that would be a natural way to bring them back to their roots and War Raiders would just be THE tag team, with the Street Profits, Hit Row (honestly not sold on them..) the Uso’s, the possible KO Sami Tag. it’s going to be awesome by the time Wrestle Mania comes around!

[markin4rasslin]

Baron Corbin Deserves His Glory

Can we all agree Baron Corbin is amazing? Coming from someone ho used to HATE the character of the lone wolf just shows how great he is. When you think of someone who makes gold from golden shit.. really, who else could have pulled off Sad Corbin, Happy Corbin, everything he has been given, if you set your ego aside he is amazing. 

On top of his in ring work, if you notice he is the safest worker out there, you can go on youtube and watch plenty of examples of how he has taken care and saved opponents on top of just watching him in the ring tonight against Nakamura, or Ricochet. He is probably, in my opinion, the best locker room guy because you know he is the traditional heel. Go out there, get heat, sell for the baby, and go under to make them look better than they are. This is just a short, appreciation, lets not take Baron Corbin for granted post. 

[markin4rasslin]

Absolute-Ly Shelved

Ricky Starks is different in all the greatest ways you can think of as a Pro Wrestler. His New Orleans Themed Jazz music entrance is one of a kind, his charisma is bar none, his work and presentation is must see, his promo’s make you believe everything he is saying. Yet, he is running in quick sand to no fault of his own. 

We assume he is being the constant professional, doing what he’s told and making gold from pig shit. You split him from Hobbs? That is fine but how are we capitalizing on it? The factory is doing some lame pull between them? Hell no! 

If you’re using the Factory, have Hobbs go after the TNT title, but this is a perfect world where AEW hasn’t absolutely buried Wardlow’s momentum, and have The Factory interfere causing Wardlow to lose and Hobbs to win keeping both strong and now Hobbs has the help without ever really wanting or needing the help. Now you are free to have an un-buried Wardlow going after the big prize, with FTR by his side going after the Big Prize (if the EVP’s knew what was best for business of course). 

Now imagine, baby face Ricky Starks going up against Hobbs, with help he wont turn down because it makes him even more unstoppable. The story you could stretch out, hell even Hook could help near the culmination and imagine that pop!! but ala, Ricky, Hobbs, Hook, FTR are just buried under bad booking and they deserve allllllll the TV time on AEW because without them, the program is average at best. 

[markin4rasslin]

Strowman Controlling His Narrative

We all see it, we all feel it, we will all witness the return of Braun Strowman the Monday after Clash at the Castle. First reported by PW Insider, WWE and Strowman have seemed to come to terms on his return and I am interested to see what Triple H has up his sleeve. 

As I have said, I believe and would put money on Bray returning at Clash at the Castle, his name is Triple Khan, he is not gonna pull a Bryan Danielson/ Adam Cole situation. You let the audience and fans breathe, and what perfect way than to have Brays forgotten son return and help run the Wyatt family. 

You can say Braun’s run under Vinny Mac wasn’t the best, had more downs than ups, why not use that. Why not “Control His Narrative” and use Bray to help get him on track. In a previous post I speculated how you could separate the titles and not unify them. Well holy fuck! imagine, Bray going after the Heavyweight Title and Strowman in now in the mix for the Universal Title. The family, the same as the blood line controlling both Heavyweight Titles on each show, but still not holding both titles together hostage. 

I am not booker of the year, but the possibilities here are fucking incredible. Thankfully Strowman saw through what AEW was doing, waited it out with EC3 and who knows, EC3 was ok in NXT, but EC3 and La Knight could renew their TNA Rivalry, and imagine using Control your Narrative to bring EC3 in to be the charismatic muscle man of the group to help lead the Muscle Man Dance Program? I would be for it!

[markin4rasslin]

FTR and Malakai Set For WWE Return

The writing is on the wall. Who in my eyes, was presented as a dope ass, smaller mma version of the Undertaker in NXT and THE BEST, THE TOP GUYS who can’t get booked on TV for being better than the EVP’s.. seem like things are swinging in the direction for a WWE push when their time is up. 

The only problem is, they are being held hostage by Khan for no reason other than to put over Alex Fucking Reynolds (no relation to Seth Fucking Rollins)  and play patty cake with everyone other than the EVP’s because the Youngbucks don’t know how to do what’s best for business because they think this shit is REAL!! Wrestling is 100 percent real but you smart marks know what I mean.

FTR, their contracts were set to expire Summer of 2022, the only problem is AEW is obviously exercising the company option for another year so the Summer of 2023 is in the very possibly future for FTR. Holy shit, why would you not jump ship, and please bring MJF and Wardlow with you! Then there is Malakai.

My boy, you have 5 years left on your deal. WHY!! why sign a 6 year deal!! i get it, the money, you never know what will happen. But in the entertainment business, you cannot tie yourself down that long because, as we have seen, it can change like that and you are left with your dick in hand. 

FTR and Malakai are just a handful of people who have started hot and due to bad/lazy booking are done. Malakai from running rough shot over Cody, who did his damn best to put him over just to have Tony snipe him out of the sky. To FTR coming in to win the Tag Title just to have the Bucks put themselves over to win because that proves they are better.. righhht???

It seems FTR will be back sooner than later. Way sooner than Malakai. Maybe there can be a buyout due to how he is being used right now, he isn’t worth keeping. It is the sad truth, but we cannot water down WWE with EX-WWE/AEW guys either. we can only pray and hope the booking gets better and less hot shot.. but lets be honest, there's a better chance AEW folds before Malakai’s contract expires. 

[markin4rasslin]

Bray Wyatt Returning

No this isn’t click bate, just straight up an opinionated fact jack! Triple H is on his damn game (pun intended). It is all in the news Bray and WWE are coming to terms on a deal, the same way Sasha and Naomi are negotiating but we believe have already signed due to their appearance back on the WWE Talent page. (good job whoever put that up and ruined the surprise)

But they seem to be playing things close to the chest and I would too. He was a.. no, IS a true MEGA STAR when booked correctly. Everything from the Firefly Fun House, the muscle man dance, The Fiend, the presentation, and that was all under Vince McMahon until “budget cuts”.  Will we get the fiend, the eater of worlds, or some new cult leader? Do we even give a shit? NO! under Trip’s, whoever Bray is will be Money. 

Now to Clash at the Castle. We have already seen WWE under Triple H use back stories from NXT i.e. Theory and Gargano. Roman cost Bray the title when he returned while we were in the Thunder Dome Era. It makes to much sense for Bray to have signed, and they not fuck up the kayfabe return by adding him to anything WWE and he be the one to cost Roman. This frees Roman up to lose the titles (I believe Heyman will put a clause in there it was for the Universal Championship not the Heavyweight) setting up Rollins v. either Drew or Roman. 

I will get into Kevin Owens and Sami in another post, but WWE could pull something with Owens and Sami taking the straps or Raw straps from the Uso’s, this causing Roman to lose the Heavyweight Title to Bray and setting up some family rivalry to have the Rock Intervene to have their WrestleMania match.

Once again all too good to be true, with WWE playing the long game now, Rock and Roman could be a long story to the 2024 WrestleMania, with Cody returning by the Rumble presumably, you put him against Rollins who will probably have the title off Drew if everything goes to “My Fantasy Booking” plans. Not only are the possibilities endless, but so much you can do from one match setting up the tag titles, a family feud, Rollins, Cody, Riddle, Orton.. It is fucking insane and this is when pro wrestling is lovely!

[markin4rasslin]

AEW Just Dropped THE BALL

This is it. If you listened to the most recent Jim Cornette Experience, not only can you get knowledge of the business, but the set up of feuds, how to promo, shit tons of advice for any wrestler willing to take that information and use it in your wrestling life.. and AEW listens but they do the EXACT OPPOSITE!!

Go to youtube, type in Jim Cornette, CM Punk Jon Moxley Review.. he Gives two scenarios. 

1. Punk said fuck this, I am taking my ball and going home because you do not know what you’re fucking doing.

2. Punk is actually hurt and Mox will issue an open challenge and the HEEL you should have had claim the interim title accept, and win to have something for Punk to chase. 

You’re living under a rock if you don't correlate MJF with the heel. Just imagine, MJF has the title and Punk is chasing the title he never lost and only MJF.. ONLY MJF, is talented enough to make you hate him and drag out the story with Punk like we have seen before. Punk and MJF had THE BEST FEUD in AEW history and honestly will never be beat. Now imagine a title in that picture and my lord.. I would tune in just for this feud, that Tony would put on first and not keep me watching the whole show just to see Punk and MJF verbally assault each other. 

BUt.. alas, AEW looked like they were on the right track. MOx comes out, issues the open challenge.. and Punk accepts. What in the ACTUAL FUCK are we doing here? WHy were you beat in 3 minutes Punk? why do you deserve a rematch? non of this makes sense? Why have the Young Bucks book the tag division. 

You had the ability to have PUNK v. MJF. Wardlow (before you killed his momentum probably because he was more over than any WWE talent or Kenny), FTR against literally anyone like... STARKS and FUCKING HOBBS!!! Throw in some sprinkles of people who can work and make me believe something you have a show I want to watch and now your show on top of the Pay Per View has gone from I’ll watch if nothing is on to nahhhhh I’m good. 

which sucks because I love wrestling, I used to love AEW but let’s be honest. it’s not good, there nothing to get you hooked, you’re just watching choreographed gymnastics, hot shot matches with no feuds or feuds that are.. why the fuck should we care?  

[markin4rasslin]

Dom. Mysterio.. is equivalent to Daniel Garcia

This is a safe space, let’s be honest. Dominque Mysterio sucks. Not in ring ability, it is actually up to par, but lets look at Road Dawg in DX. If you have the character, the charisma you can cover up your lack of in-ring ability (even though he really wasn’t lacking but the Armstrong blood is strong with the ability). Dom has no charisma, the character is literally the son of Rey who was just walked in, and in the fans views. He was walked in, and seems to have not improved or try something new at all other than that fucking mullet. 

Not only that, it is like Daniel Garcia in AEW. NO charisma, NO character, just bland (Dom atleast has flashy gear) and are being pushed down our throats. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. It seems. 

Dom. is obviously turning on Rey and Edge at Clash at the Castle to join Judgement Day. Lets see where Papa H take Dom as a character. Who knows, Vince could have held him back and turning him heel, trying something new with judgement day may be what he needs to be refreshed and revamped to unless some character.

BUT... if it doesn’t work, what do you do? At least Dom has a chance, Daniel is in a pointless feud with Jericho because he is leeching the spotlight from everyone he can (MJF, Mox, Daniel, Yuta, Bryan Danielson, etc..) On top of that, AEW does not develop, the hot shot booking, no stories, 14 hour pay per views.. I don’t wish unsuccess on anyone. but right now DOM and DANIEL are taking TV time from Starks, Hobbs, FTR, Ziggler, among others.  

[markin4rasslin]

Raquel & Aliyah Were the Correct Pick for Champions

Putting the Titles on Raquel and Aliyah were the only move WWE and Trip’s had for long term booking. We get it, the “correct” move would be to have Dakota Kai and Io Sky win in a perfect world, but this isn’t a perfect world, this is wrestling and the booker (Triple H) is thinking more long term than the former. 

You have to look at everything that happened, WWE social’s are pushing the video that Dakota Kai wasn’t the legal member to get pinned. This sets up a perfect storm for them to have an axe to grind. 

Also, do you want Kai and Sky (love it) to get beat clean? I get Raquel and Aliyah are not the fans favorite pick, but were the only “legit” team to put over at the moment. Because it is inevitable Sasha and Naomi are coming back, to reclaim the titles they never lost, against a team that is really inferior compared to the team of Sky and Kai. Now you have a team that never lost feuding with a team that wasn’t legally pinned. It is beautiful and there are more ways this could go, but you have to look at who is coming back and protecting the money match for a bigger pay per view. 

Think about it, do you want Sky & Kai v. Sasha and Naomi at Clash at the Castle? or have them return at CATC to set up a potential Hell in a Cell, Royal Rumble and Wrestle Mania feud? you cannot give everyone a Super Bowl every week, you have to make these matches mean something and what most viewers consider boring i see as a set up for a HUGE pay off comparted to the outlaw, lazy, hot shot booking that used to happen and we see in AEW. (personal Opinion).