Ramblings of an Englishman

It’s the August bank holiday weekend and as such it’s time for AEW to bring itself to the UK. Change of tactic this year with no All In and no Wembley we are at the O2 for Forbidden Door. First issue, fuck you Coldplay. I don’t care for the ceo guy suing them for his own actions ruining his marriage I care for the fact I don’t get All In that was a great show. However, I will concede that show was right to happen early in the year the change of world title couldn’t have waited until now. Speaking of timing I know people have issues with the build and the lack of New Japan talent. Look, I get it but if you’re complaining about that you know the reason. All of New Japan’s best talent is locked in the G1 which has only just finished, STARDOM are still mid 5 Star Grand Prix there’s a lack of cross promotion. I mean what do you expect when everyone is locked up? Should AEW have moved a difference show here? Maybe, but I feel they are using the good will of the UK (and Europe) fanbase for th...

I remember sitting down last year talking about G1 Climax 34 and talking about my excitement for it. I spoke on how it was the time to establish a new order with your new generation but should you want a year solid hands like ZSJ and Shingo were available. As is know last year ZSJ won the G1, the belt and the WrestleKingdom main event. This made it seem like this time the ace of a new generation would be crowned. However, for the first time since 2010 and Satoshi Kojima an ‘outsider’ (despite being a contract performer) in Konosuke Takeshita and people are not happy. First of all this isn’t a slight on Takeshita. You could argue he was the best wrestler in the tournament and one of the best in the world right now, this isn’t about him but what it means.  Well, what it means is Gedo had a year to build up his new ace and new generation, fumbled it and decided a guy who lives in a America and only does the major shows was the pick. In my opinion this isn’t how it should’ve gone, I do...

Haven’t done one of these for a while. As with the being interested in writing the right subject has to come to light. The last one I done was on Master Wato and what I would do to evolve him into the (one of) the top players in the junior division of New Japan. While Gedo has gone in a different direction I won’t be deterred and instead I’ll look towards another one of my favourites in Hologram. Making his AEW debut roughly this time last year and remaining undefeated since we have seen Hologram become more a part of AEW programming most recently being part of All In’s multi man match with The Costco Guy. However, I did feel at one point we were on the verge of more a Holoverse if you will. Before Hologram got injured and also took some paternity leave it was uncovered that AEW had trademarked ‘The Clone’ and ‘El Clon’ for future use. Trademarking the Spanish phrase as well led many to believe we would get evil Hologram but alas to this day we still haven’t. So much like Beast Mortos ...

Feels weird to actually do this for an All In instead of being there. I can only hope that Tony Khan as by way of a gesture of good will books Master Wato and Hologram at Forbidden Door. Anyway, although it’s earlier in the year we’ve reached the biggest show in the AEW calendar. While other companies look to throw together shows in the name of counter programming and throwing their women’s roster under the bus putting them running the same time as a Beyoncé concert literally right across the road I has to be said this year AEW has been superb. Not everything is a hit and I’ve been vocal in the first quarter on how I have not liked the Death Riders but things are hitting, feelings are restored and in front of the biggest crowd they have had in America AEW looks to makes more history. A strong card with a lot of big matches I’ll be covering my thoughts one by one as ever. I’m writing this the Thursday before All In who knows seeing as the pre show starts at 6pm UK time I may even have t...

As we roll into the late May bank holiday it means it is time for Double or Nothing. Moving out of Vegas this year voluntarily I think it is a good move. With that dogshit Wrestlemania taking place there, it being an expensive place and the fact tickets didn’t really move as expected last year it makes sense to start moving this (and All Out) to other venues. However, in relation to the PPV I do feel it now has lost some importance. What was the name of the initial AEW PPV and a show normally steeped in the memory of that it now just feels like a set up show to All In. It feels like the Royal Rumble (without the big spectacle match) to All In’s Wrestlemania. I mean the main event tonight is for a title shot at a bigger show it just relegates Double or Nothing to below All In which I mean it is clearly just by venue choice but still. Personally, I’d switch Double or Nothing and Dynasty in the calendar letter a show with less brand name/significance be the building PPV and have Double or...

I've had a rough weekend so end the Mox world title run for me please. It seems just yesterday that Revolution was aired and now we are back with the next PPV. 2025 remains a strong year for AEW with public perception/good will towards the public increasing. The reported 1 million domestic viewers a week I think has caused Tony Khan to set up his game in relation to creative and the shows which I think has paid off. This card features a good amount of well booked feuds which leads to a good show. On top of this the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament starts. What is the spring tournament for AEW I am in favour with having a 16 person bracket per tournament. Get more people in I feel everyone should be looking to be in this if the winner gets the biggest title match of the year. Either way onto the show.  Hey this pre-show from what is announced at least by Sunday morning works out as some fun stuff built up so I think for once I'm actually breaking it down. Zero Hour Nick Wayne and...

2025 when it comes to wrestling featurs a large shift in terms of the way it is viewed. Raw has been moved largely worldwide to Netflix with more moving that way for large sums and AEW now splits its broadcasts live between TNT or TBS and the MAX App in America as part of a new bumper TV deal. You could argue wrestling is hot again or that because it is a constant of posting content that TV deals that are for mega money are being signed for wrestling companies. AEW feels refreshed this year after a stop start 2024. I don't share the large negative feeling towards 2024 in AEW some have I do think this yar shows a company firing great show after great show. I don't know what the cesspool that Twitter/X says but Bluesky is largely positive on shows now. I think this is done in realtion to the change in feuds it does feel like top stars are facing top starts and while I still don't really care for the main event world title agnle this show has 4 superb feuds on the card itself ...

2024 was yet another year of fun live wrestling events I attended. It was a year of real quality throughout the 4 shows I was able to go to in which the top 5 matches I've seen live was turned on its head and given a new running order. In order to determine the best matches I saw live this year I took a step back from immediate thoughts and rewatched them all recently in order to give a full breakdown on what was the best match. For this list the events I attended (in order) were as follows. RevPro: High Stakes - 18.02.2024 - Crystal Palace National Sports Centre RevPro: 12th Anniversary Show -  24.08.2024 - Copper Box Arena AEW: All In 2024 - 25.08.2024 - Wembley Stadium NJPW: Royal Quest 4 -  20.10.2024 - Crystal Palace National Sports Centre To start with though I wanted to cover a few honourable mentions. If this was a top 10 these matches would've made it: 10th: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. SANADA 9th: Cut Throat...

As we are days away from 2024 ending we have the final AEW PPV of the year in World's End. As someone who's real interest differs between in ring or promos being what I am more interested the Continental Classic came around at a good time for good in ring action. It's really the only time AEW likes booking star vs. star on TV and has thrown great matches like Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin and Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe. That's not to take away from other matches on the card but my main interest going into this was the tournament conclusion. As someone who's enjoying The Death Riders I do also like the evolution to the story actually featuring the bigger stars and not just Mox squashing the lower card. I do expect this to move into Mox vs. Omega again but we will see. Again, I won't be going over the preshow matches as they are just thrown together last minute and don't add much so I will just go over stuff in and around them I want to talk about. It is od...

Another year, another Full Gear. It's weird that I really don't remember much of last years show outside of the Texas Death Match and people really hating the main event. Regardless I've quite liked the build to the show I know I feel like that isn't a common thought. The Mox title run I have enjoyed but I have to be honest I still see the main event as a filler for Darby to win the belt a Worlds End but we will see.  Again the pre-show seems thrown together last minute with just a good match for the sake of a good match (which I am fine with) so not real need to comment on it. I will speak on 'The Costco Guys' it is a thing I don't understand but if it leads to more people watching the show and buying tickets then it is a plus for AEW in the end. It might not be for me but I can't disagree on doing this considering the potential reach. Main Card: AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) (c) vs. The Outrunners (T...

Moving onto the third PPV in roughly 9 weeks I'm beginning to feel burned out on these reviews. I'd be honest combined with Grand Slam there has just been no time really to build to this show outside a few matches. A lot feels thrown together last minute but I expect this is a good card the talent on the card normally deliver but I won't be covering the build on TV just the matches. Zero Hour Much like All Out I won't be breaking down match by match. It is good to see Atlantis Jr enjoyed him in World Tag league the other year and hope to see more, I'd watch more CMLL but I ain't paying all that Youtube premium stuff. Anna Jay seems better but I still think she needs more of a Japan run, do STARDOM have a tag league? That would be also a benefit. I think it is time for The Acclaimed to be done again if they ain't turning or winning the belt then what is the point time for Bowens singles run. Speaking on tag teams I love The Outrunners give them a sustained ru...

As we head into September we find ourselves 2 weeks removed from All In ready for All Out. I really feel that these PPV's are too close together it's only been 2 weeks and I still yearn to go back to Wembley. I feel there's not enough time to fully build a card and it honestly relies on two or three key feuds that didn't get a blow off on All In. Lukcily I feel these are strong feuds with added matches that you can expect quaility. AEW is a company that works it's best bell to bell and with PPVs that is what you get so let's break down the card and see what I enjoyed.  Zero Hour Breaking from tradition I won't break the buy in show match for match. This is largely as these were thrown together last minute so I'll just say a few things about what I liked. Beginning with before any matches I want to start with how great Hologram and The Beast Mortos are, I guess we are getting a Hologram extended universe if The Clone/El Clone trademarks are anything to go...