What's going down?
Hey everybody, welcome to brand new episode of what's going down here, wherever you get your podcast.
My name is Kenny, joined as always by Mr Finley Martin and Finn, the rain has hit Glasgow.
So it's not a sunny dispossession, otherwise, how is it going where you are?
Yeah, pretty gray here. It's pretty gray day, but you know, what can you say the reservoirs need the water?
They do, do you need the water on to prevent wildfires? You know, we just need it.
The plants need it, the insects need it, we need it, it's all good.
Yes, but it's not a, we still have a sunny dispossession with wrestling because there's loads going on.
We will be talking about raw on Thursday, along with the money in the bank preview.
We did a power slam, but today we're going to concentrate on smack down for a bidding door.
So let's dive into smack down, Finn. I guess we didn't have Roman Reigns on the show this week, but we did have the Usos sort of give their explanation as to why they feel how they feel.
What's going to happen at the bloodline, several water money in the bank?
And that would then lead us to, in the main event, Solos Sakura taking on Shamus, and afterwards the Usos came out to a double super kick solo.
And put them down, having the Usos double Usos splash to just kind of keep things tied in the long where Roman was away.
How do you think that the Usos did this week with the follow up as their explanation?
I mean, it felt like a bit of a low key promo from Jimmy and Jay.
And it actually felt like a bit of a bee episode of the program.
And nevertheless, it still did very well in the viewing figures.
2.354 million viewers tuned into smack down Friday night in the States.
So many, it was actually did well, just shows the power of the bloodline storyline, I think, because it was really kind of a bit of a,
an okay show, but it wasn't a blockbuster episode of Smackdown by any means.
And I mean, if someone were to say, do I need to see Smackdown?
I would say, well, no, not really.
You don't really need to watch this show. There was nothing on this that was essential viewing.
And yet, it still did pretty well in the viewing figures.
So yeah, Jimmy and Jay, you know, said they've been in the trenches with Roman,
you know, but then they've been this loss of respect and that became a problem.
And although it did feel like they were trying to, you know, put all the heat on Paul Heyman,
saying that yeah, we can forgive family, but we can't forgive this guy who's on the outside.
He's a snake.
So they could never forgive him.
So it seems when this whole thing ends, it'll be Heyman who's blamed.
You know, because we know there's going to be a reconciliation one day.
Who knows when that might be next year, probably.
We'll have to wait and see.
But Heyman was definitely, he was getting the daggers.
He was getting the blame for everything, wasn't he?
Basically.
Yeah, he was basically the kind of the scapegoat that was being used.
Because, you know, in theory, I mean, Roman Reigns really is the guy calling the shots,
but you know, so is that he, Roman is their family.
They don't want to think badly of him.
So they are making Heyman the real scapegoat here in the situation.
Exactly.
Well, he's a convenient enemy, isn't he?
You know, so we can just blame it or you mean that's it's like in life,
we often find people to blame for our woes or things that go wrong,
who may not actually be responsible for the things that have gone wrong.
But, you know, because we don't love them instinctively,
we just want to, you know, put all the heat on them.
So that's what we do with human beings.
Yeah.
So, I mean, yeah, I'm worth it.
It was a bit of a bee episode in terms of the storytelling with the bloodline.
I mean, I guess you can't really have every week the blockbuster stuff.
So, I don't think it's going to hurt the story by it kind of happening that way.
Oh, no.
No, definitely not.
I mean, you can't rush it.
I mean, it needs to take its time.
Last week was mega.
So this week needed to sort of calm down a bit.
And then we know this Friday's Smackdown is going to be huge.
Because Roman Reigns is going to be there.
We're going to go all out on Friday to really deliver a mega Smackdown.
Because obviously it's money in the bank the next day.
We've got the big ask a Charlotte match.
I'm not sure that's Friday.
But I mean, we should mention, because it kind of came out after we recorded PowerSlam.
And I noticed a bit late now that I guess worth mentioning.
Obviously, there was reports that Vince McMahon had made a lot of changes to Smackdown.
And one of which was the advertised match with daily and shorts,
for the spot and money in the bank in London.
Now, I don't want to be a hypocrite here.
So I'm not going to sit and say that I endorse Vince McMahon making last minute changes.
But if Vince McMahon's last minute change is going to stop shots even being a money in the bank,
then I okay that change.
Yeah, I will deal with that change.
But I mean, all joking aside, it isn't great when you've got a match advertised.
And it's all been built.
You know, Bailey's doing local media for the show and all that.
You just kind of scrap it in the last minute and replace it with Charlotte and Lacey Evans.
So, I mean, that wasn't ideal.
But I guess, you know, hopefully Triple H and NetCan and Cole can kind of, you know,
and whatever way they can massage Vince to try and invent some not to, you know,
pull advertised stuff.
Because that's the thing that you used to happen a lot before.
Yeah, it did.
I mean, the thing is it's like false advertising was something that people used to really
complain about, you know, 20th, 25 years ago.
It seems to be tolerated a lot more now.
And I don't think it happens quite as much as it used to.
And I'm not quite sure why Vince did that because they could have just done a Charlotte Flair
Asker angle backstage in which Asker attacked Charlotte Flair and then Bianca said what she said.
And at the same time, delivered Bailey versus Chelsea.
I mean, it wouldn't have been a long match.
It would have been two and a half minutes tops.
So I'm not quite sure why that was cancelled.
I don't think that many people were upset about it outside of probably shots his household.
Really, because I mean, I think we knew that Bailey was going to win.
And yeah, I mean, yeah, endorse the decision to cancel the match in a sense,
but not in another sense because it had been advertised and there was a stipulation at stake.
Well, to me, it was, yeah, I didn't really want to see the match,
but I think they should have still delivered what they'd promoted and advertised in advance.
Yeah, I agree.
Well, let's talk about the other stuff once Matt didn't happen.
And we did have the match for the unification of the WWE Women's Tag Team and NXT Women's Tag Team Titles
with Ronda Rosy and Shayna Bay's, I guess, Ayodhaw and Albert Fire.
I mean, I was enthused by the fact that Albert Fire and Ayodhaw were not jobbed out here
and were made to feel like, you know, were they contenders to Ronda and Shayna?
So I was happy to see that part of it.
I don't think it was a shock who was going to win.
But, you know, we've dragged Ronda Rosy over Hot Coals on this podcast,
I bet her lack of enthusiasm, I bet her lack of enthusiasm for her storylines.
What did you make of them winning the, are you to find the titles here?
I mean, to me, Ronda Rosy and Shayna, they need to be collectively known as either the heat killers
or the mood records because that's what they do to the audience
and that's what they do to me when they appear each time.
And Shayna used to make a lot of excuses for her
and she just seemed so sluggish.
Everything she does is kind of half-speed
and it's like she lacks confidence and I don't know why
because she's been doing this for a long time now.
She's teaming with a pal.
There is even, she's receiving the biggest push yet on the main roster.
She should be overflowing with confidence.
You know, she should be out there beaming.
Yeah, the company's behind me at last.
You know, they can't bury me because I'm teaming with this woman
that the panel is money to.
I just felt like the match should lasted longer.
There was a little sort of burst at the end where Albert Fire basically took control
and it looked like it was turning into a match to remember
and then it just ended with a double submission.
So I didn't sort of disagree with you there Kenny.
I thought fire and dawn were treated pretty woefully here.
I thought they got ten minutes.
They got ten minutes and they were thin.
It wasn't a complete job out.
I mean, it wasn't.
It wasn't, but I mean, and then what happened,
then what happened right afterwards?
We got Raquel Rodriguez at ringside watching
and they immediately turned the page from Fire and Dawn
onto Rodriguez and Liv Morgan.
And isn't that embarrassing?
We thought Liv Morgan was going to be sideline for months
and she's back already how upsetting.
Well, actually, it's really good for her.
But it's the same for me because I wrote something in the magazine saying,
oh, she's going to be out for ages and she's back.
Actually, you know, that's me being really selfish.
It's obviously great that Liv's back.
I'm glad she's sure.
A good reaction from the crew.
And by the way, I'm just, just, just a clarifying thing.
I was just trying to say something
that wasn't me, Betty and Ronda Rosy.
I tend to do every week in this podcast.
I was trying.
Yeah.
I mean, what's based on Mary?
And the thing is, you know, fire and dawn,
it seems like they're already out of the picture.
I hope we have them challenging Raquel and Liv next week
and say, listen, you know, you've got to be us before we, you know,
we should receive the first shot, the tie-offs.
You know, not you.
So I'm hoping we're going to get a match between fire and dawn
and Raquel and Liv Morgan, which actually could be pretty good.
No, I'm just checking this because I don't want to,
I don't want to upset you unnecessarily.
But let me just double check because I think.
Yeah.
It's already been announced on WB's Twitter that money
in the bank, Ronda Rosy and Shayna,
there's a little bit of defend the tie-offs against Liv Morgan
and Raquel Rodriguez.
Right.
Okay.
I mean, you know, that's disrespectful to fire and dawn.
So.
Yeah.
I mean, I am with you and Shayna, though, because Shayna is someone
who I, for a long time, has really been kind of championing
and even she was in the team and I had a jacks.
I was like, you know, it's Nia.
It's the one that's not bringing it.
And it's like, I mean, Shayna's still not bringing it.
And she's in a team with Ronda.
I mean, Ronda's a charisma vacuum at the moment.
But, you know, Shayna should be bringing her own.
Because I mean, the promo afterwards was a bit messy
because Raquel's there doing a stupid smile that she always does.
And she says, we never lost the titles.
And then Shayna and Ronda did this whole bit where they're like,
who's we?
Well, you know who we is.
She lost her and Lev were the tag champs.
It was pretty obvious which she means.
So then Ronda and Shayna just looked at it.
It's going, who's we?
And of course, Lev's music hits.
So they get the pop.
But, yeah, I mean, I think, I mean, if Ronda runs in Shayna,
because they're going to NXT and have some matches,
is that something you think would be beneficial to them?
Yeah.
Well, I mean, it would be if the matches laid out well.
And I think they would down there.
There'd be more enthusiasm for Rousey and Basler
because they have big names,
even though they're not very good in the ring anymore.
They have big names.
So they would provoke a response in NXT.
But I mean, you watch this match.
There's a spot where Dawn is on the top rope.
And Basel has to shove Dawn off the top rope to the floor.
And Basler did it so half-heartedly.
You know, it's such a weak shove.
And it's just sort of tippy-fied up performance.
It's just sort of...
She just doesn't feel like she's got an enthusiasm for it anymore.
It's like she's going through the motions.
So, yeah, I feel for Dawn and Fire.
I hope they're still...
You know, a future for them on the main roster
since they've only just arrived.
And I hope they can come back from this.
We'll see.
I mean, I thought they really tried here.
You know, the XNX tears.
You know, they really tried to make this into a watchable match.
And we've seen worse from Rousey and Basler.
And I wouldn't say I was expecting more from this because I...
I now know what to expect from Rousey and Basler.
I've managed my expectations accordingly.
And that's how you get through a lot of parts.
That's how you get through a lot of parts of wrestling.
It's actually how you get through a lot of parts of the life as well, I've learned.
So, hopefully, Fire and Dawn, you know, their day will come.
Yeah.
So, what else were on Smackdown?
We did have Ellie Knight getting a victory over Rey Mysterio on the show.
I mean, they're still...
He's still a heel, but the fans love him.
I mean, do you get the sense that...
I mean, it was a good...
At least, Ellie Knight is getting a win here.
Because, you know, it was only five weeks away.
There's losing to Xavier Woods.
But, you know, he's beating Rey Mysterio.
Do you get the vibe that WWE are...
Are good at turning baby face?
Or is this one of those...
You know, therefore, that's what he's going to be presented as.
I mean, I don't know.
I mean, if he doesn't win any money in the bank,
I think a lot of people are going to be very upset.
If it's Logan Paul, he leaves with a briefcase.
I think there's going to be a...
I'll probably not a mass walk out, but people are going to be really upset.
It feels like...
They built him up to the point now where we can trust WWE to do the right thing with Knight.
I mean, what was very...
What was very noticeable to me about this match?
Knight scored the win with Blunt Force Trauma, which was great.
But it fell apart really badly before the finish.
And this seldom happens in Rey Mysterio matches.
Will Knight get the blame for that?
That is the possibility.
So, I was very fearful when the match went to PC.
Isn't even though Knight scored the pin.
It's like...
Ray's such a reliable, dependable guy.
And his matches just don't fall apart.
And yet this one did.
But yeah.
I mean, to me, Knight,
if he doesn't win money in the bank,
may perhaps at that point will turn in babyface.
And that will counteract or counterbalance some of the disappointment of him not winning money in the bank.
So they've got that in the back pocket to use.
You know, they've got that even reserve.
So maybe that'll save him.
But yeah, I want to believe that Knight's going to win.
I don't want to believe Knight's going to do well,
because I think he deserves able.
We'll have to wait and see, you know, Logan Paul's in the match.
And maybe Logan Paul's only agreed to participate in winning the bank,
you know, under uncondition that he wins.
And we didn't do the first time someone has used their...
Stair muscles.
Yeah, yeah.
The one thing he wants to bring up from SmackDown was Charlotte Evans.
Charlotte defeated Lacey Evans.
And then ask her upset after afterwards.
But we found it backstage from Adam Pierce.
We spoke to Bianca Belair.
She was barred from ringside next week.
And they ask it in Charlotte match.
The risk is too high for one of them to try and bait Bianca into getting physical.
And he said she should trust him that she would get a shot at the winner.
And Bianca said, you know, trust you.
Like a trust you last time, which got bumped from the line.
So she shook her head, no, and walked away.
Which is kind of a good hook of, is Bianca going to play ball and stay away?
Does she not?
I think that's a really good sort of cliffhanger for the match next week.
I think we can say that Bianca will be involved.
Yes.
Level.
I don't believe there's going to be a finish to the ask her,
Charlotte Flair match has in a pin-off submission.
And if the race Bianca will be involved, but Bianca will cause the defeat.
So yeah, Bianca, I think, you know, she's showing pride.
She's showing dignity.
She's showing a spine.
She's showing that she's not going to be pushed around by Adam Pearce anymore.
She's, you know, mad as hell.
And she's not going to take it anymore to reference that amazing movie from the mid 70s.
I probably don't want to listen to his podcast has even seen network.
If you haven't seen it, watch it.
It's actually amazing, amazing movie, just all about ratings.
And when, you know, when you were actually outbothered about ratings,
you watch that film.
You're like, yeah, well, I understand now why these people are so concerned about ratings
because we're wrestling ratings obviously matter.
But yeah, Bianca's going to be involved this Friday.
And, you know, I'm actually for the first time in a very long time.
I'm interested to see what Bianca Belair is going to do next.
And I really hope they do the heel turn with her.
Because I think it's time we'll see if she can pull it off.
I think she might be able to.
And, and maybe she can become champ again as a heel.
It's going to be a different character for her.
I think the baby face version of her character has gone as far as it can.
And I think that time now is for her to do something completely different.
So I'm lopping that's going to, you know, that story line is going to progress this Friday.
Let's move on to EW presents for bed and door on Sunday.
Or can I just quickly just mention sorry, can I just mention the rest and wallet effect?
Yeah.
Yeah, wasn't a good appearance for Grayson.
And pretty deadly added rough night as well.
They were out there too long and the audience were not reacting.
And, you know, I was so relieved when street profits came out to basically save the day.
And that then led to a match that deadly won.
And, but yeah, I'm hoping that Grayson Waller, because he's guest on.
Gris Waller effect this Friday is Logan Paul.
I'm hoping he's going to have a good night there because Grayson Waller is struggling Kenny.
Yes, yeah.
Yeah, I think he's just he's getting.
He's getting outshined by guests.
Whether they're good or bad, which is a strange dynamic to be in.
I mean, because at the moment he doesn't really seem like a wrestler.
He kind of seems like a.
He seems like what the miss was when the miss was.
I had started on Smackdown.
And he was kind of doing that hosting thing for tough enough.
For the deer search where it was.
Yeah, not a great night for old Grayson.
Right.
Okay, so for Bidden door.
And let's talk about some of the big matches for Bidden door took place on Sunday.
They'd set up on dynamite last week.
I'm not in collision.
Sorry, they set up on collision.
That.
Tana hashi and.
M.J.F. would open the show with M.J.F saying that you know the only the only way he's agreed to turn up is if he opens the show.
So get Tana hashi and M.J.F.
Who opened the event for the AW world title.
They went about 15 minutes.
Tana hashi also wrestled the night before on collision against where I've strickland.
So if I wanted to ask you because I'm I've seen some Tana hashi stuff.
I obviously see I see his match with Jericho.
It wrestled came in 2020.
I think I've seen a couple of his matches and I do not remember him being anywhere near as banged up as he is.
I mean, this was to me was a tough watch because he couldn't do a lot in the match on Saturday or in the match on Sunday.
What did you think of was it a wise choice to have this open the show given Tana hashi's limitations?
No, I don't think so.
I think Tana hashi now should be booked exclusively in tag or six man matches.
I mean, he used to always been an amazing shape.
He kind of looks a little bit out of the shape.
He was really struggling with the turnbuckles when he's climbed to the top rope to do his high fly flow and he's the top rope stuff.
And M.J.F. was having to wait for ages while he climbed up.
Yeah, he looks to me like he needs a rest.
And I think it was out there too long with M.J.F.
It was sort of strange as well at M.J.F.
The World Champion was in the only match.
I thought he made him look kind of second match instead of the top guy.
So I don't think this match really flattered either.
No, I mean, you can't.
And it's weird to imagine because when I saw Tana hashi on Saturday, I was thinking I was sure he was in better shape than he was in the match.
And I mean, don't think it's he's going to go into the G1.
Yeah.
I mean, big gas, big expectations.
I mean, maybe that it matches will be short because he's obviously not the top guy anymore.
He was for many years.
You know, we had him number one in the PS 15.
Is it 2012? I think it was.
I think it was number two in 2013.
I mean, he was a guy that we featured all the time in the magazine.
It was for a while to me, the best wrestler in the world.
And no one stays at the top forever.
And it's.
You can see he's trying.
But I mean, it was he's he's been through a hell of a lot.
I mean, there's a lot of miles on the body clock.
It's that simple.
And I think MGF in a sense was a good opponent for him because MGF did, you know, a lot of crowd working stuff.
He did the walk out gimmick, you know, the crowd baiting.
So there wasn't that much of a demand for Tanahashi to perform physically.
So he could just, you know, react and interact with MGF's heel work.
Yeah.
But still strange to see MGF in the opening match when he's the world champion.
Very strange.
And two things that I'd said to son.
I'd said, I think when I was talking to Robert on Patreon, but it was just something that I occurred to meet on Saturday at Collision.
I think it kind of Sunday.
Maybe just kind of confirm it.
I mean, you look at something like shameless and dirty.
Shameless.
I think is like six months younger than Tanahashi is.
But Tanahashi has done so much more hard hit in wrestling in his career.
It's just a different ball game.
You know, he's he's got to go out.
He's over his career.
He had to go out there and have really strong style matches rather than something that's shameless.
So obviously he's battered.
It kind of reminds me.
It's not the same thing.
But he kind of reminds me a little bit of the undertaker at the end for people were kind of going.
He's just not got it anymore.
Like he just not got, you know, because the undertaker in his early 40s was doing some of the best stuff in his career.
And by the end that was just kind of, you know, punch kick punch.
He just couldn't seem to get a second gear.
And that's what it seemed like to Tanahashi to me.
Yeah.
I mean, I thought the ending as well as weight with MGF.
He won't have to, you know, down in my diamond ring shot.
He just felt like a, you know, second match heel finish.
And I felt kind of disrespectful to Tanahashi really.
So this American style sort of, I mean, I know there were obviously weren't America.
They were in Canada.
They were in Toronto.
Toronto.
But I mean, you know, I mean, like an American style finish to the match.
And yeah, it was, yeah, strange start to the show really.
That's what that was my year reaction to it.
And I guess you know, maybe part of the week finish is just that Tanahashi really couldn't do anything.
You just couldn't, I mean, I don't, I don't know his moveset well enough to know what, what has, you know, his finish it is.
Or his, his different finishes sequences would be, but you haven't seen him.
And you're right when he was going up to the top rope.
It was just like this guy.
Tanahashi.
Yeah, he can't do that.
And the next match in America, they were trying to cover on common two by saying it's different.
Turnbull calls.
And I thought that was actually pretty, yeah.
It was really good job making excuses for him there.
But I said, hold on a second.
I'm like, why was Tanahashi?
Why did Tanahashi wrestle the previous evening in a,
they're really pointless match.
We serve Strikland.
You should just be use sparingly and, you know, just feature him.
You know, in a six man.
So he has to wrestle for a few minutes rather than for 15.
Well, so CM Punk's first singles match back was against.
Satoshi Kojima.
And they opened the first round of the own heart cup tournament Toronto.
We're not fans of CM Punk on this evening.
And he played up to that.
He actually the night before on collision after he'd been booed in the main event of the eight man tag.
Off air took the microphone said, you know, I accept this loss from my team.
You know, I need to take responsibility for it.
I'm going to try hard to eventually win something just like your Toronto Maple Leafs.
You know, I did burn.
He's laughing.
So, you know, you seem to be kind of having fun with it.
But what did you make of the match for him and Kojima?
He goes over 13 and a half minutes and advances to we assume to face Samoa Joe,
who will probably beat Rodrick Strong this weekend.
Yes.
Yes.
The invisible man Rodrick Strong.
Yeah.
He was on TV, presumably to put Samoa Joe over.
And yeah, I thought Punk did really well here, playing heel.
At one point, you know, he did the Hogan ear cup and then like a leg drop.
And I thought this was very sympathetically booked because Kojima's recently been doing this
a long time over 30 years, I think.
And he's a veteran, just like Tana Hashie.
So there was a lot of rest spots in this.
He wasn't required to do too much.
And yeah, I mean, Punk won with the GTS.
I mean, I thought the match was okay, all things considered.
I mean, actually really quite entertaining with Punk healing it up.
You know, a response to how the crowd were reacting to him.
And yeah, Kojima still looks in good shape physically.
I mean, he's obviously been doing this a very long time.
He's actually just like Tana Hashie.
You know, there's, you know, he's done a lot of miles in the ring.
So he's had a lot of ring time.
But I mean, I thought, yeah, I thought it was okay.
I thought it was, I thought this was good.
Really enjoyed it.
So we're not going to cover all the matches just because of time.
But I did want to touch on Sonata, obviously defeated Jungle Boy as everyone I sent he would.
But the big story was the post match heel turn from Jack Perry on hook.
Which I thought was actually so really well by Taz on commentary afterwards.
But this was this felt of the time for Jungle Boy.
He had to turn heel.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Well, I've been calling this for a while.
Calling for this for a while as people know.
And he was a strange choice.
Wasn't Jack Perry as the world champion contender?
I mean, no one took him seriously as a challenger.
We seem like people really knew who Sonata was.
And you know, you think, well, why isn't Sonata in the main event and then viewing the match and viewing Perry as a challenger.
This match was actually booked in exactly the right spot on this card.
And like Perry kicked out.
I mean, it wasn't very good.
I mean, it seemed like there were some communication problems.
Maybe it didn't really feel like it had any flow.
I really built to anything.
You know, of any consequence.
I thought Sonata's moon star moonsaults.
Mootow, cagey mootow style moonsault finish.
I just had a came from out of nowhere.
Right. So now Perry kicked out of a poison runner and a shining wizard.
And he just felt like.
People weren't ready for the finish.
There was no great drama before Sonata scored the pin.
And you know, it didn't feel special all in any way the match for will tell much.
But I've got to say the heel turn afterwards by Perry on hook who was Perry's second ringside.
That's been long awaited.
That's been proven he did that for months.
I mean, Perry's just.
His demeanor is just as this sort of spoiled brat.
And I'm really pleased that was one of the big moments for me on this show.
The fact that he finally turned jungle boy heel.
And that was the right thing to do.
I hope the unveil and you character for him on dynamite or collision.
I'm not bothered which.
And and then he can really find his fate and.
And sort of plot new courses.
He obviously is going to be wrestling hook up first.
I didn't want to ask you though.
Do you do you think.
Do you think they should have him go back with Christian?
No, they're all on the hillside or would you keep them apart?
Yeah, well, I've I've written that and I've said that.
And I think that would be a good spot for Perry to admit that he was wrong.
That he Christian.
You best and he needed his counsel and needed his unanimous.
A father figure, you know, send Perry out there, you know, and assume he needs to do something with our hair.
We need a total image.
You know, he needs a repackage at all rebrand.
Get rid of that entrance music.
I mean, it's to be jungle man.
It's not jungle boy.
Yeah, jungle man.
You get rid of the jungle boy thing as well.
That's like a baby face name.
You know, if you need to do that.
You know, just get rid of that.
Or not carry on.
Come up with some other name for him.
I don't really care.
But there's going to be a change to the packaging and the presentation.
And, you know, if he needs a week or two weeks of them to come up with that, to perfect it, then do it.
You know, don't rush this.
I think they've done the right thing at last.
You know, don't squander what you've done.
You're taking time, getting right.
Obviously, we've got the big,
and Ishi in Eddie Kingston over at the White Pell Combat Club.
The t-cash the shot to Ishi, my gods.
I mean, they don't go easy on each other in this one,
but the next match wanted to ask you a bit more.
Can I just say something about his match?
I mean, I didn't sit through the whole thing.
So, I mean, yeah, I mean, either I actually first half of it
was really good.
He showed a lot of restraint, a lot of discipline there,
but then the Jungbooks came in and the final,
you know, the last sort of five or six minutes,
it was totally over the top.
I mean, it was sensory overlord
and they were doing so many big moves and false finishes
that I think they just peeked early
and Ishi finally pin you to it
and is she a drop brain booster?
And it's just like, you know,
there was so much in this match
that unfortunately, it had a detrimental effect
on Tony Storm and Will and Nightingale
in the very next match.
This is why, you know, your pace shows.
So, you don't totally overdo it in certain matches
because then, I mean, we always remember from the old days,
don't we?
When the Divas match was always when it didn't,
when it was not considered a priority back in 2002
or whatever in WWE or WWE F.
The Divas match would usually be put on
just before the main event, wouldn't it?
And there's no chance.
And it just felt like Tony Storm and Will and Nightingale
were really badly let down here.
That's because they just did so much in this eight, man.
And I think it'd be done less.
I think this match would have been more memorable.
And, you know, the great tragedy, of course,
is that they do the work so hard in these matches,
but you just end up kind of shell shocked by the end
because you've seen so much.
Yeah, I mean, it's that famous,
I always think of that land storm quote
where he says, you know, you're a chapter in a book
where you're on a wrestling show.
You need to know the chapter that you're in
because the show suffers if you don't know what's coming next.
You know, if you know that the women are coming next,
like maybe leave something for them,
leave them with something.
But listen, one of the,
let's move on to one of the big matches.
Kenny will make it a well-awesome
with the IWGP U.S. championship.
This match went almost 40 minutes.
And in the end, it was Austria got the wind on cows.
Was it there with Austria?
And they were bleeding.
There was loads of stuff.
There was a tiger driver, which just looked brutal.
Is it tiger driving 91? Is that what it's called?
The, maybe 97.
97 where Omega just landed in his head.
Yeah.
But yeah, I mean, they really went through it.
What did you think of this one?
Yeah, I mean, so it was a long match.
I mean, this should have gone on last.
We can say that now.
100%.
Yeah, we heard it like double juice.
One place was ejected early through interfering.
Then he came back out shortly before the finish.
I mean, Austria used a screwdriver
that was given to him by Don Callis.
And then hit the storm breaker.
But Omega put his foot on the rope,
on the bottom rope to break up the pin.
So that's quite surprising.
And then Omega kicked out of Austria's one winged angel
at one.
And I just thought, wow, Omega's just turned into John Cena.
I mean, I'm sort of on here because the audience loved this.
The audience loved this match.
And this match should have gone on last
because it was a match.
They clearly were most looking forward to.
And he just made it really, really tricky
for the six men in the next match that followed
and for Daniel Sinanokada in the main event.
So again, I was having flashbacks to the eight man here
because these guys just again, 40 minutes.
I mean, it's like on nearly 40 minutes.
It's such a long match and it did so much.
And the audience were really into it.
And you know, if you're into these type of matches,
then this was a superb example of this type of wrestling
with the big moves and, you know, the executions really crisp.
And, you know, it's a brutal match
and they're doing everything, they're giving you everything.
They're not holding back the not-shot change in you at all.
But in a sense, the short change in the people
who have to follow them.
So, you know, it kind of might sound like I'm knocking
these guys for delivering so much.
And I'm really not.
I'm kind of knocking AEW for not putting these two on last.
Especially given that Omega is also Canadian.
So, you know what, he's gonna be the home town boy.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm with you.
I just thought the match was tremendous.
I really enjoyed it.
You know how difficult I find 40 minute matches,
but I thought they did enough.
I mean, they did more than us, but I thought they,
I think where they delivered for me was it
did feel like a fight.
It felt like a big fight they were having.
So, yeah, I thought it did really well.
I understand what it's getting on the toilet for it is.
So, yeah, they're now one a piece.
So, I guess they'll be a rubber match
down the road somewhere, wherever that will be.
But, I mean, the six-man tag, you're right.
The Sting Der Biao and Naito
against Jericho, Sami and Minoru Suzuki
really suffered.
And I mean, the Sting matches are usually presented
very well.
Yeah.
Obviously, there was the Sami Guevara spot.
And it just...
Now, which one was that?
Was that the Kota spot or was that the table spot?
The table spot.
Right.
Yeah, the table spot.
Because I guess Sting was meant to move
but then he couldn't get the way in time.
And I mean, it just, it was a bit of a mess.
Yeah.
But again, I mean, it's like, when you're in there with Sting,
I'm not trying to blame Sami Guevara here,
but when you're in there with Sting, you need to be careful.
You know, we saw that for the Brian Cage
multi-man match.
Sting is a 65-year-old guy who is incredibly able
to do the stuff that he's able to do.
So, you need to be respectful to that
and not just trying to do as much crazy stuff
as you can, because then you're actually
ruining the Sting magic for the fans.
Yeah, you shouldn't be doing.
No.
No.
It shows a, it shows an imiturity in how you are as a wrestler.
Because if I was a wrestler and I was a hero
and I'm in there with Sting, my job,
I know, is to make Sting look really good.
Not so.
That's the guy.
A legend shine.
Yeah, that's the gig.
That's what you're there to do.
And if you make them look good, you look good.
If you make him look bad, then you look bad
because you've exposed what everybody else has worked
really hard to not expose.
Absolutely.
And there was also a dodgy spot there where Sting
had the scorpion on and then Samy did this cutter
off the top rope.
And he actually landed on Sting.
And I think that was the start of the problem.
And I think he, I think Sting was disorientated after that.
Yeah, yeah, that was the beginning of the end.
Yeah, and that was probably about the mid-point
of the match there.
And then later in the spot where Jericho pulled the table
out, set it up, placed Sting on top of it
and then ordered Samy to nailing with,
I think you see the 630, the 630, I think he's moved, isn't it?
From the top rope.
Which is like, to me, that's a finishing spot.
That's not just a spot that you throw out there
in the middle of the match.
No.
And Samy didn't really want to do it.
And that's the story is that Samy and Jericho
were heading for break up, which all makes sense
because Guerrero went to the face.
But like Sting didn't move.
And was that because he would kind of be not loopy
or wasn't withy?
I don't know.
Well, that was odd for Sting to blow that.
And that looked bad.
And then the match really kind of fell apart towards the end.
Um, yeah, in the end, night top in Suzuki
it was felt like a bit of a light loss to finish.
And like, but there was, I mean,
Darby Allen really tried the fans were quiet.
The fans were exhausted, fatigued after the near 40 minute
match they've just seen.
And so they were putting a position
which was pretty much an impossible spot.
And they tried really hard, um,
at least, you know, when they weren't screwing things up.
And yeah, it was just a disappointment, really.
This match should have been on earlier.
And I think had it been on second,
I think people would have loved it.
Yeah, 100% I agree.
And also, you know, Sami needs to learn.
Like, have more psychology in your craziness.
Yeah, because your craziness is, is, is, is not help.
It didn't help you.
I was really disappointed in that.
And I, yeah, I didn't enjoy it.
And many of it time, Brian Daniel sent in Okada.
Um, Tony Khan paid for the rights for one night
for the final countdown, which was, uh,
which was great to see.
If you were very happy to hear that,
obviously this theme back in the day.
Yeah, you're back in Okada.
Are you?
I would have to wonder how much money
changed hands back in the day.
Well, Tony Khan did say that, um,
the cost to use this song for this night
and in perpetuity for future viewings
cost almost as much as a wrestler's contract.
I mean, I assume he means a lower level contract.
But like, I mean, if that is worth,
if that's how much he costs,
then I understand why he's not,
why he's not paid for it full time.
But, you know, exactly because, I mean,
I mean, this is like a nod to Brian's
free WWE days.
Yes, this was, you know,
this was the track he used in Ring of Honor.
I mean, obviously he never used it in WWE ever.
Um, and like, it was really,
he did it for the hard cause.
And, um, he was, you know,
this little bit of nostalgia.
Well, if it cost that much money,
I mean, I wouldn't have paid the money out for it
if he's going to cost you six figures to use a track.
So, uh, I mean, I guess,
because I guess the sad thing is to use the track
because you would think Daniel Sonukara
is going to be, you know, the match of all matches.
But unfortunately, 10 minutes in Danielson Fox's arm.
Um, like, I, he didn't break it,
but like, it's partially, uh,
I can't remember what the injury is.
I mean, he's arms, he's out six,
eight weeks because of the arm.
And that had a bit 10 minutes in.
And then, so I was watching the match,
and again, there was a fatigue there,
but in the end, Danielson's track put on is,
he's putting the label lock on,
he's trying to do all this stuff to O'Kara
to try and make him submit.
And then he basically like puts O'Kara,
like takes all of O'Kara's limbs kind of a waste
that he can't do in and O'Kara taps.
And it was a really quiet finish.
It was.
And I saw something on Twitter,
and even I know this from sort of my
small minute of the Univocada that,
the last few minutes in O'Kara match
are usually really hot.
Oh, yes.
And this wasn't,
I mean, I can't believe that we're saying
this match was a bit of a disappointment.
I think, I mean, the injury obviously is a big factor,
but yeah, it's just, I mean,
I was way more excited about this match going in
than I was Austrian Omega,
but I think Austrian Omega was able to deliver so much.
And this, unfortunately, due to the injury
and maybe show placement just didn't feel
like it lived up to the height.
Yeah, I think so.
I just don't think he could follow it.
I mean, you know, as I've already said,
Omega and Osprey was the match
that this crowd wanted to see
and was the match that should have closed the show.
I mean, there was some bright points here.
I mean, you could tell these guys are both really good,
but it just seemed like you're having difficulty.
Well, it didn't seem like you could clear.
They were having difficulty sustaining any sort of real heat
from the audience or really building any momentum.
As you said, Danielson suffered the forearm injuries
can be out, I think he said six to eight weeks.
And I know a cadre is one of these people
who at the beginning, you look at him and you think,
you know, what's all the fuss about?
That's often the reaction people have to a cadre.
And then the match gets going
and he builds and builds and builds and it escalates.
You know, and it just likes this building block match
where everything's all connected.
And like by the end, by that home straight,
you're like, wow, this guy's tremendous, isn't he?
He's awesome.
He's outstanding.
He's a one.
And he just felt like he didn't reach that point
where the match really erupted for factors
we've, you know, already mentioned.
Well, it's a five or a show at this point as well.
So people are...
Yeah, I mean, really long show.
I mean, crowd just exhausted.
And this is typical of AW.
So why you need restraint when you're laying a show out?
I mean, this is a 14 match show, wasn't it?
Including all the matches on zero hour.
I mean, that's a lot of matches.
And like a lot of long matches, but the finish.
Yeah, it was a bit totally unexpected.
People were just stunned that a cadre tapped out.
And I almost feel like they should have called
a cold and unordable.
Kenny and just had our cadre go over
and used the, you know, worked in the forearm injury
into the finish.
And then that was built to a, you know,
psychologically, I would have made sense.
And they could have built a rematch in
you, Japan, and then possibly a rematch
it forbidden all next year, if Danielson's still around.
And that would have been a shock,
but it would have made sense afterwards.
So you could have told a really good story
based upon the injury.
Yeah.
Where did he go now?
So Danielson's out for six to eight weeks.
And yet he beat a cadre when he was injured.
So where'd you go next?
Yeah, I mean, it feels like the last, I mean, to me,
I think next year at Wrestle Kingdom,
you got to do Danielson no cadet again
and just put it, I mean, I would imagine
that they don't want this to be the memory of them wrestling.
They want a match that is worthy of kind of whatever
they want and hopes.
So I think they will do it again,
but yeah, you're right, I mean, I don't,
they went with the finish they had, the Danielson,
I mean, you know, they protect him,
you know, either be done a really good job
making sure he didn't get into any wrestling matches
that would harm him at any point.
So that he was ready for this
and then he's in this for 10 minutes
and the arm thing happens.
It's just very bad luck.
Yeah, I guess also when you're in your 40s,
injuries happen a lot more.
It's more likely you're going to get injured.
Your body doesn't heal as fast as it used to.
So yeah, we'll see where they go.
But overall, I thought last year's forbidden door
was a better show than this one.
And I'll disagree with you on.
I mean, I mean, you probably are right.
I think because last year there was such low expectations
with what the card was,
but I think there was such high expectations for this one.
And I think the problem was that a lot of the matches,
it was a very good show.
So I'm not ragging on the show.
But I think last year there was a lot more kind of
hidden gems for me that I've, you know,
the Jericho match last year,
the multi-man match that was much better.
Yeah, I just enjoyed enjoyed that one more.
I don't know why.
Yeah, for some reason, I don't know why,
but whenever I think of last year's forbidden door,
I just think of the Adam Cole injury.
And I don't know why it's not like Adam calls,
you know, my favorite wrestler anything.
I just put such a downer on the show.
And it was obviously so serious.
And obviously accidental.
These things happen.
But that's some reason my last memory
of forbidden door 2022.
I mean, I think the show there's so much on it,
so much action.
I think had there been fewer matches that were slightly
shorter and the show had been rearranged.
I think it could have been one of the great shows ever.
So hopefully, for hopefully next year,
they can learn, you know, give us, give us
a lot of matches.
We've seen this for a long time.
You know, they still just like,
it's what they just still stack up these events.
They do it every time.
So I mean, the, the, the, the weird thing was for,
for, for non forbidden door shows,
they have got much better with the pre show,
just having a match.
One match, and that's it.
But it's like with this one,
he wants to get everybody on the show.
And I said, everybody doesn't need to be on the show.
Just put the people on the show who,
you know, who, you know, we don't need a
stugation match on the show.
No, it's a suggestion, but anyway, listen,
that is the forbidden door review.
We'll be back on Thursday to talk raw,
build to money in the bank.
Big weekend ahead, Finn, with money in the bank,
in London.
Yeah, yeah, it's my thing.
So, yeah, but as always,
inside the Rocks Magazine.com,
it's where you can pick up our new issue,
with Seth Rollins on the cover,
and Patreon is where you can get more of us.
And we just recorded a bad blog to those
in three of you that will be up soon,
where we take our hair out and watch that show.
And much, much more.
So, Finn, I hope you enjoy your next couple of days.
And I look forward to speaking to you
on Thursday when I'm in London.
Indeed, indeed.
Have a good trip down, Kenny.
Thank you very much.
Show, not show.
Oh, it's probably not fair.
It's lined up when you're there, I imagine.
It's probably not just smack down.
I'm money in the bank.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've got a press morning Friday as well.
Gonna be talking to the LA night, I think.
So, that should be interesting to speak to him.
And yeah, we'll be doing plenty of stuff.
So, yeah, thank you so much, everybody.
For all your support, we'll talk to you soon.