Gunther is back on top, John Cena and CM Punk are getting a final go-round as a nostalgia matchup, R-Truth has the fire again, Nikki Bella is stuck in 2015, and more!
However we got here, I'm stunned by how much I'm digging this Ron Killings run. I know "at least it's different" is a depressingly low bar to clear, but it's been so awesome seeing a bottom-of-the-ladder comedy guy rediscover the fire in his eyes. And yeah Cole and Barrett's "Woooooah, lemme back up here" reaction when Ron pulled out the scissors was awesome.
I also have no problem with Jey as a transitional champion. Hell Mick Foley is my favorite wrestler of all-time and he never held a world title for more than a couple weeks, nor should he. Kids watching today are going to remember this run as something truly legendary in 10 years, the same way Millennials talk about Jeff Hardy's 2008 on TikTok.
Re: Punk in Saudi Arabia - Yeah, “no ethical consumption under capitalism” and all, but it’s still kinda disheartening to see.
Re: the women’s 4-way and Kairi in particular - Also disappointing because Kairi was maybe my favorite of the “Stardom Three” and she seems so diminished now. I don’t know if it’s the miles and the injuries or if she’s just firmly in check-cashing mode, but it’s sad to see, especially when Iyo (and Mayu in Japan) are still capable of tearing it up.
However we got here, I'm stunned by how much I'm digging this Ron Killings run. I know "at least it's different" is a depressingly low bar to clear, but it's been so awesome seeing a bottom-of-the-ladder comedy guy rediscover the fire in his eyes. And yeah Cole and Barrett's "Woooooah, lemme back up here" reaction when Ron pulled out the scissors was awesome.
I also have no problem with Jey as a transitional champion. Hell Mick Foley is my favorite wrestler of all-time and he never held a world title for more than a couple weeks, nor should he. Kids watching today are going to remember this run as something truly legendary in 10 years, the same way Millennials talk about Jeff Hardy's 2008 on TikTok.
Re: Punk in Saudi Arabia - Yeah, “no ethical consumption under capitalism” and all, but it’s still kinda disheartening to see.
Re: the women’s 4-way and Kairi in particular - Also disappointing because Kairi was maybe my favorite of the “Stardom Three” and she seems so diminished now. I don’t know if it’s the miles and the injuries or if she’s just firmly in check-cashing mode, but it’s sad to see, especially when Iyo (and Mayu in Japan) are still capable of tearing it up.
I'm firmly in the "injuries and miles" camp. Firmly in her Randy-Savage-in-WCW era, which is doubly funny given her finisher.