Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHalpert
I feel oddly vindicated for my stance that it was a massive mistake to have Kenny dethrone Okada instead of Naito at WK. At the time I argued that Naito was as over as anyone could have ever hoped for, it would have closed his arc well, and it was the right stage to do it at. Instead they had Okada win, Naito cooled off a bunch, Kenny's reign didn't really amount to much, and then he took all that build up and bailed. I'm not surprised NJPW doesn't want to partner initially.
I also don't expect much from AEW. Their top draws are Omega and Jericho, but it falls off of a cliff after that. Their idea to let the top wrestlers be the bookers is also awful (I remind you it was a nightmare back in the 90s/early 00s and their one show had booker Cody main eventing and winning the title doesn't give me any reason to think the same mistakes won't be made).It doesn't help that I can already tell it's going to be full of the type of fans that make NXT crowds so awful.
At the same time, if it's a success that would be nice. Anything to make Vince break out of his paint by numbers method of tv that's plagued the last decade.
To be fair that event was projected to be a one time thing and the title was a different situation--ie, cody chasing his dad's title backstory (the old nwa title) and he had to win given the crowd so I don't get your hate there. Also no obvious main event (omega vs pentagon? isn't so great in chicago).
You're right though, the good thing is they're not doing what TNA did and bring in every WWE great from 10-15 years ago--ie, way, way too late hogan/nash/hall/etc. Also tag division won't suck, but they don't have star power. It's Jericho and the second draw is the Bucks then a gap to Omega then a large gap. The worst part is there's no obvious big name to get other than AJ Styles in a few months since everyone who's a pal of theirs is getting PAID these days. TNA has been good for stretches but with only a few people anyone's heard of. WWE took almost everyone worthwhile. (at least that wasn't a LU person since some of those are boned atm) But I'd give Tessa Blanchard whatever just to get her so...
Everyone else who isn't going to clearly bolster the tag/women's division is just filler or enhancement at this point (ie the ziggler/ambroses aren't going to move the needle so they should just job if you're gonna bother with them). Randy Orton has nothing left to do in WWE so I spose that's a possibility but he's cooled off so much I'm not sure he's a draw much at all at this stage. Nakamura's only worth it to NJPW.
Anderson/gallows probably headed there since they're up this year too and well they've done all of mostly nothing in WWE.
NJPW already has a partnership with ROH and well they ended up taking everything and leaving on both of them so gl with that.
They can't make the mistake of turning it into "what would happen if the NWO had their own company instead?" and just non stop them going over and over and whatnot.
Last edited by wheatrich; 02-09-2019 at 04:38 AM.