The Wrestling Thread: AEW Dynasty

[KK]

I take it FOX were just muting the hell out of Rock’s SD promo last week then.

[KK]

That PRIME logo in the centre of the WWE ring. WANKERS.

Vince McMahon must be turning in his grave.

(I will say this though, somehow KSI and Logan Paul’s selling is better than many wrestlers that do this full time)

[Return_of_the_STAR]

That PRIME logo in the centre of the WWE ring. WANKERS.

Vince McMahon must be turning in his grave.

(I will say this though, somehow KSI and Logan Paul’s selling is better than many wrestlers that do this full time)

Yeah it’s awful. I have no problem with them sticking some prime adverts on the ring apron, on the barriers, flashing up on screens but the centre of the ring

[Johnny Ryall]

UFC have been selling canvas space for years so it’s inevitable.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

UFC have been selling canvas space for years so it’s inevitable.

Yeah I knew it was coming, I just don’t like it.

[KK]

Imagine if for some unforeseen circumstance it has to be blurred out in the future.

AEW has had sponsorship on their canvas, but it’s been in the corners (and sometimes you can barely make out what it says - it wasn’t until a high shot on Rampage this week that I realised it was for ‘Wooooo Energy’).

Best way to do it I think is the WCW method, where you put the PPV logo on the mat and underneath put the sponsor. Hopefully SmackDown was just for the lols and the PRIME logo isn’t going to be so large on PLEs.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Imagine if for some unforeseen circumstance it has to be blurred out in the future.

AEW has had sponsorship on their canvas, but it’s been in the corners (and sometimes you can barely make out what it says - it wasn’t until a high shot on Rampage this week that I realised it was for ‘Wooooo Energy’).

Best way to do it I think is the WCW method, where you put the PPV logo on the mat and underneath put the sponsor. Hopefully SmackDown was just for the lols and the PRIME logo isn’t going to be so large on PLEs.

Yeah I hadn't really thought about that. Hopefully it's not just plonked in the middle like that and that was just for effect with the RKO.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Lee at has been added back onto the superstar roster part of WWE.com and the rumours are he’s coming back tonight.

[KK]

If Lesnar is back, and unless the new regime has lost their mind, it must mean they’re pretty confident there isn’t much involvement from Lesnar in the whole McMahon scandal.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

twitter.com/TheRock/status/1768687422093611487

[Return_of_the_STAR]

At this rate Rock is going to be heavily cheered at Wrestlemania.

[Prototype]

They are so obviously going to get the heat on Rock and Roman by having them cheat to get a pin over Rollins.

Bloodline rules is the only way to ensure the crowd is behind Cody on night 2.

[KK]

Hollywood Rock theme.

This whole thing so far has felt more like a build to Rhodes vs Rock at Mania; Roman has taken a back seat.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Hollywood Rock theme.

This whole thing so far has felt more like a build to Rhodes vs Rock at Mania; Roman has taken a back seat.

Yeah it's great isn't it. And yes it really does feel they way but I think it's intentional.

They are so obviously going to get the heat on Rock and Roman by having them cheat to get a pin over Rollins.

Bloodline rules is the only way to ensure the crowd is behind Cody on night 2.

Yeah that's my assumption. Plus I want to see a bloodline rules match.

[KK]

Does The Rock somehow leave with the WWE title at WrestleMania and then proceed to go around Hollywood never defending it, later building both to a match with Rhodes and Reigns. Apparently Rock's got filming commitments coming up post Mania (ruling him out of the Saudi show in May).

I don't really want heel Rock to end, so how do they drag this out for at least another year, where Rhodes ends his story...but doesn't. Cody surely has to beat Reigns at this point.

[GrinWithoutaKat]

I think they are heavily signposting that Rock is going to turn on Roman at Mania, so I'd say enjoy the heel run while it's here. Could be in the tag match, but I think they want him involved in Night 2, so probably they win the tag match and we get Bloodline rules, but Rock turns during that. Then they might both take a bit of a break, and build up to the eventual Rock vs Roman match.

I think they should be really careful that it doesn't come across as Rock winning the match for Cody though. It needs to be more him stopping the usual Reigns/Bloodline shenanigans to let Cody pick up the win he himself as earned.

It's no doubt great for business that he's back, but he's also showing up their current roster as being nowhere near his level. Last thing you want is for it to also feel like he, the guy that stopped doing this full-time 20 years ago, is the guy that ultimately ended this record setting title run.

[ITSMILNER]

Looking at the AEW roster now, if they can get the likes of Omega and Hayter back fit, All In this year could be a banger of an event

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Wow RAW this week was honestly the best it's been in a decade. Watchable all the way through. Some great segments with Rock/Cody and Punk/Seth/Drew. Rock turning up unannounced this week was a great touch.

Wrestlemania is shaping up to be amazing this year. High hopes for the raw after mania again.

Rocks return really has shook things up. It's really feeling full on attitude era without the casual sex stuff.

[GrinWithoutaKat]

They have really upped their game with the camera work in the last year. Something so cool about that shot looking straight down the entrance aisle, as he walks out of the darkness with the lightning bolts going down the screens either side of him.

I'm not sure I'm fully feeling the Rock's booking though. They've still not really cleared up what is meant to have happened that night on Smackdown where Cody seemingly stepped aside for the Rock, and why the Rock went from hinting we wanted to be Head of the Table at the start of January, to then being in cahoots with Reigns a few weeks later. If he turns on Reigns at Mania and reveals that was his plan all along, does him beating the crap out of Cody now make sense, in character? Feels like it's more the immense star power at their disposable that is making things come across so well, rather than the actual writing.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

They have really upped their game with the camera work in the last year. Something so cool about that shot looking straight down the entrance aisle, as he walks out of the darkness with the lightning bolts going down the screens either side of him.

I'm not sure I'm fully feeling the Rock's booking though. They've still not really cleared up what is meant to have happened that night on Smackdown where Cody seemingly stepped aside for the Rock, and why the Rock went from hinting we wanted to be Head of the Table at the start of January, to then being in cahoots with Reigns a few weeks later. If he turns on Reigns at Mania and reveals that was his plan all along, does him beating the crap out of Cody now make sense, in character? Feels like it's more the immense star power at their disposable that is making things come across so well, rather than the actual writing.

There's been some great camera work but I found this one a bit unwatchable to be honest.

twitter.com/Maffewgregg/status/1772608196730908697

Who knows what the original plan really was with rock etc but one thing I would say in wrestling is plans change every week and always have. If they get it right then just enjoy the ride.