Another week, another square circled ride of varying elaborate degrees. After these White Rabbit QR code dives I don’t want no more complaints about having to “Google a wrestler you hadn’t heard of.”
Don’t take my words incorrectly, the way Wyatt’s return has been executed is an interesting enough distraction deep dive in itself. However you can’t tell me it doesn’t rely on some internet effort from the viewer themselves. Paired with the fan footage sharing of house show happenings, it’s an idea I’m genuinely intrigued by. The fact it puts some onus on the fan to dig into it, like you’re uncovering a secret clue.
But Googling ‘Bandido’ is too much effort.
Back to the ride as round and round the wrestling rollercoaster we go. SmackDown drawing strong, AEW struggles, Monday Night competency; everywhere you look plenty to talk about. So let’s not hang about and instead reali- bloody hell, Extreme Rules is next week?
Better dust of my WH Aftershock mic, this wrestling just doesn’t stop turning!
Monday Night RAW
September 26th 2022
RAW Sets Up The Extreme
It’s been a long time since an Extreme Rules PPV had a card actually befitting the name. Finally the true nature of the show returns!
I bloody checked, 2017 was the last time the event had four stipulation matches and it’s another four year jump back to 2013 to see it again. Turning match concepts into annual PPVs maybe wasn’t the best fit for Vince McMahon’s unique storytelling methods. From 2009 to 2014 the show had gone from every match having an “extreme” stipulation, to maybe a few if they felt the vibes.
A new dawn, a new day. After last week’s strong character outing I entered expecting announcements left and right, “Oh aye, folk are setting up to get a tad extreme.” Or to at least have stipulation thrust upon them. As had become the semi-unnatural way come the late-2010s quick drive down to Extreme Rules: a B PPV with a few short builds not necessarily warranting escalation.
Until last year’s show completely bucked the trend and just delivered a standard B PPV. Turning the Extreme Rules match titular with its sole main event outing on an otherwise nothing show. The less said about that one the better.
However, we’re now in WWE’s new era of competent character continuity and effort to make their universe a shared, lived in world. With that has come infinitely more natural escalations of feuds for the event, momentum planted to fruit at the perfectly right time. It’s almost as if shows don’t suddenly appear out of nowhere and you can indeed plan for them ahead of time.
The best example in Riddle and Seth Rollins reaching their hatred apex, interference left and right as an ultimate feud settler is written in the Fight Pit. Initially introduced as a specific fit for the Matt Riddle character back in 2019, it’s an absolutely perfect match call-up to enhance the lad’s character. Leaning into the man’s competitive legitimacy as his stock continues to rise.
The shift from ‘lots of -1s taking away’ to ‘+1s enhancing’ has really started to hit on this quick road to Extreme Rules. Still nothing crazy, but I love it when a competent plan comes together.
Friday Night SmackDown
September 30th 2022
Extreme Motivations
Very similar notes to RAW this week. A perfectly entertaining show of character development and match set-up for the upcoming Extreme Rules event. Getting us that bit closer to an increasingly solid card with its foray of stipulation specials.
The strongest character arc continuing to belong to Sami Zayn. His dysfunctional relationship with Jey Uso driving a greater and greater wedge over time, this week a lovely addition as the man confronted the Canadian after the events of last week. The now official Honorary Uce finding new confidence now that he’s officially received Roman’s backing.
As great as he feels though, Jey’s there as an antagonist to constantly remind us this current state is only temporary. Sami Zayn in The Bloodline won’t last forever, he has Roman’s for ear now but how long will that last? Especially against the continuous protests of his own blood in Jey.
Over time the man’s paranoia is sure to seep in, increasingly so as Roman’s reign hits Rocky terrain. Once his hold over WWE feels less secure and that fear of losing starts to creep in… we’re perfectly set up for Jey’s words to suddenly start to speak some sense.
The arc is all there, ready for the switch to be flipped at the right time. Kevin Owens the final piece of the puzzle, his inevitable title match on the road to WrestleMania sure to be the catalyst. The rekindling of the relationship with Sami the fuel for both his reinvigorated confidence and Jey Uso’s conviction to get him kicked out of The Bloodline.
QR codes and internet dives are a nice distraction, but it’s nothing compared to the actual character and wrestling convergence when it’s done so, so right.
AEW Dynamite
September 28th 2022
Topping The Pizza
Moxley? Jericho? Danielson? Nah, Philadelphia “want a the pizza.”
I feel like one of the minority that thought this week’s show was perfectly fine. A solid episode adding pepper and spice to the Grand Slam aftermath slice. An AEW speciality in cooking up these building weeks that manage to maintain their major moments. The future intrigue across the board weaved so eloquently, you can’t help but get excited for the picture we’ll one day see before us.
And they did all that with a hurricane depleted roster.
So when I ultimately go online afterwards, gaze upon the opinion of the masses, I’m surprised to find I am in the minority here. I’m not saying it was AEW’s best show, but I’m not exactly crying end times.
In one AEW Championship eliminator match we danced: Mox vs Juice, Mox vs Hangman, MJF vs Yuta and the ultimate Mox vs MJF title match. One of the major benefits of stretching out feuds between PPVs is that you can spin this many webs on the road. Instead of having to drive straight and true, you can veer and take the scenic route.
Both MJF and Daniel Garcia’s arcs playing out in such captivating flows. Both segments receiving the two best reactions of the night as AEW proved they still have the ability to tell these longer stories in spite of how this Summer played out. 2022 may have started white hot, but as we enter Autumn the mix of bad luck and choices has somewhat bit their momentum.
Tonight showed me they still have that ability to enhance those lengthy builds.
Friedman doing wonders in elevating Wheeler Yuta’s character ahead of their match last week. The crowd popping huge for the Blackpool Combat Club lad popping up in MJF’s box for a wee kerfuffle. After Daniel Garcia also received a great ovation for finally stepping up to Jericho and proposing he tags with Bryan Danielson. Two characters on the verge of their point of elevation, a couple of lads with the crowd so invested in what they’re serving.
I wish I could say the same about the women’s division. Still somewhat stuck with their one segment per show, this week giving a whole chunk of time with Storm and Deeb putting on a banger of a match. Unfortunately none of it took the conversation attention, as the set up that preceded it drew all the ire.
Saraya a tad rusty and nervous (which is perfectly fine and understandable) led an introduction that many quickly compared to the ‘Stephanie McMahon introduces the NXT women’ segment from 2016. In the process making the idea feel somewhat dated given the numerous strides and accomplishments in women’s wrestling since that date.
Add on top of that the minor nervy word stumbles and badly delivered jab “ha you’re name rhymes with shit” at Baker. Saraya also being English didn’t help, but that quality of insult brought back too many school memories. My school year wasn’t packed with the quickest of wit.
On that, a university classmate swore he went to school with her. I’m not sure I believed him. That’s right, it’s been 10 years but I’m calling you out, Kieran!
AEW Rampage
September 30th 2022
Scissor Me Timbers
Everybody loves the new AEW Tag Team Champions! Given a big ol’ special segment for next week’s Dynamite, alongside a title win following up on this event as a wee little showcase. Who would have thought the missing piece to catapult the act into the massively over entity they are today would have been Billy flipping Gunn?
“Scissor me, Daddy Ass!” too over a catchphrase to ignore. Also the perfect timing to give the fans a crowning moment for some home-grown stars, after the rockiness of the Summer it can act as a nice reminder what the company is capable of. Pair this with Daniel Garcia’s break away and MJF’s ultimate figurehead rise, AEW feels like they’re getting on 100% the right track for Full Gear.
It may take that road to get there though. As I don’t really have any other notes for this show though. Yeah, some solid little matches building character and whatnot but we’re not talking anything landing as super-necessary viewing.
A massive asterisk given the hurricane, but with Rampage on a whole I’m fast reaching my sole task being just trying not to repeat myself. When that happens I know I really don’t have a lot to say.
Jamie Hayter vs Willow was an absolute delight though. With the former really nailing her in ring flow of ‘beautiful violence’. There’s a reason some fans were calling on her to join the Blackpool Combat Club.
RAW Grade – Competently building
AEW Dynamite Grade – Perfectly fine in less than fine circumstances
SmackDown Grade – Sami Zayn’s arc continues to be great
AEW Rampage Grade – The Acclaimed are so over
Comment below. I’ll be here to reply and chat this weird wrestling world.
Toodles, chaps.
Contact Imp:
Twitter – Follow @TheDamnImplicat
Email – theimplicationsyt@gmail.com
Previous columns
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