The Post’s Joseph Staszewski brings you around the world of professional wrestling every Tuesday in his weekly column, the Post Match Angle.
What a weekend!
WWE delivered one of its best shows of the year with Clash at 🤡the 𝓰Castle and NXT Worlds Collide was a fun appetizer for an AEW All Out that didn’t wow, but certa🎶inly di✃dn’t set the company back in any major way.
So, what does it all mean?
It means we are in for a heck of a pro wrestling ride and it reinforced the fact the industry is so much better when there are two major companies fighting at the top. This isn’t the “Monday Nigꦰht Wars,” because their television shows aren’t going head-to-head, but it is clear AEW and WWE are going to push each other in every way for territory, eyeballs and buzz. It’s a reality the pandemic delayed and Vince McMahon’s retirement accelerated.
It’s been a long time since pro wrestling has been this interesting — and we are are only getting started.
If there was a winner of the weekend it was WWE. That’s mostly because Triple H is bringing the company on par with the way AEW has endeared itself so much to the modern pro wrestling audience that wanted an alternative — but on a grander scale because of the company’s endless resources and ability to hold stadium shows like it did in Cardiff, Wales.
Finishes to matches are cleaner, the storytelling is more reality-based and raw, the wrestlers are being given more freedom on the mic and in the ring and the announcers get to complement that in a more organic way. Like Tony Khan is for AEW — and unlike McMahon was previously for WWE — Triple H is more accessible and transparent to the media whether it be his sit-down with Ariel Helwani or doing a press conference with a number of the talent after Clash at the Castle. These are things AEW did well and made it feel different and more refreshing than what WWE had recently become under McMahon. What Triple H is starting to do now makes the industry leader so much more intriguing as it looks to continue to flex its muscle. Bray Wyatt, Sasha Banks and Naomi are still all out there for potential returns as well.
AEW isn’t going away and won’t back down – not from trying to directly compete but to ke🍸ep WWE getting back on track from stunting its growth. Khan, who said AEW will gross more than $100 milli𝔉on this year, felt like a man hell-bent on delivering big things and has a chance with Grand Slam and Full Gear fast approaching.
He was, however, frustrated that WWE ran both Clash at the Castle and Worlds Collide for the first time on the same weekend as his biggest PPV. He said he was surprised by it, but didn’t think “that’s a coincidence.” Khan, who insinuated the move impacted PPV buys a bit, went on to compare AEW to Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1980s, which WWE often counter-programmed against, before throwing out a warning shot.
“When I compared myself to Jim Crockett Promotions this weekend, I think I got a taste of the same medicine Jim Crockett Promotions took [from WWE], but I have a lot more f–king money than Jim Crockett did. I’m serious. I’m not gonna sit back and take this f—ing s–t,” Khan said.
Khan has never lacked fire, resolve and the deep pockets to get things done, but it feels – unless this is all part of elaborate game to turn fans against CM Punk just as MJF returns – he needs to get his house in order first. Punk’s post-All Out rant on Colt Cabana, the company’s executive vice presidents and “Hangman” Adam Page felt so counterproductive just as AEW needs to come together after a show that wasn’t as well received as its past PPVs because of some fixable booking issues in the mid-card. It also took some attention away from MJF’s return, especially with reports from multiple outlets that Punk, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega got into it physically backstage following his comments.
But all of it does make so much about AEW that much more intriguing as fans wait to see if any of these potential real-life issues continue to pour onto their screens and into the company’s storylines. Punk flat out called MJF, who was treated like a superstar in a memorable return and the potential to be big business for the company, a “prick.” You don’t think Max is going to verbally skewer Punk for everything that’s gone o🎉n? It will be up to AEW to harness that as fuel to propelജ it forward and not see it be roadblock that drives it off course. And who doesn’t want to watch to see how that all turns out?
It’s why pro wrestling hasn’t been this interesting in a long time – and we’re just getting started.
Back in The Game
First off, Ariel Helwani did a very good job with his Triple H interview ahead of Clash at the Castle. Second, Triple H came off calm and calculated, knowing he will make mistakes but it’s clear he’s fully in control of a WWE. He has a vision of how he wants the company to evolve.
Third, the “Black and Gold” NXT continues to be a “developmental” brand when it fits the “Wednesday Night War” narrative WWE wants because they lost. Fourth, he is not wrong – at least in public perception — in his explanation of the difference between a WWE Superstar and a pro wrestler. He compared it to being a cage fighter or UFC fighter and a pro football player and an NFL player. Lastly, if the “promo” he cut about getting the Rock back for WrestleMania in Hollywood doesn’t get “The Great One” there, I don’t know what will.
The most sobering part of the interview, however, was Triple H talking about the heart issues that put his life in danger last year, not realizing his family’s history of heart trouble and the 15 hours of surgery it took to get his defibrillator to work correctly. It puts a whole lot in perspective.
The 10 Count
While WWE and Triple H doing a press conference after the Clash at the Castle is a refreshing thing I hope continues, I have really mixed feelings about what Roman Reigns pulled. The Tribal Chief, the face of the company was asked a legit and harmless question by a media member. Reigns, in character, then asked the media member to acknowledge him, which he did and then still refused to answer his question before walking out. Never breaking character, It created a cool moment/video for Reigns and the company – which I guess is their right to try if they are holding on of these things. Still, ideally, you want these pressers to be as out of character as possible and media members shouldn’t be disrespected in that way. It’s a rare chance to give people a look at the real people behind the characters, don’t abuse.
So how do you follow up, MJF’s big return at All Out. You have MJF cut a promo. Punk comes out to meet him face-to-face and then the AEW champion is attacked by MJF’s new group. It prompts FTR and Wardlow to come to Punk’s aid. Now you have FTR vs. The Gunns and Wardlow vs. William Morrisey for the TNT title and some other cool combinations.
Happy to see Queens native and Archbishop Molloy alum William Morrissey getting what looks like an extended stay in AEW after truly turning his life around after struggles with alcoholism. Morrissey wasn’t officially given the graphic and All Elite status, but he appeared to be part of the new group around MJF and that’s not a bad place to be.
Dominik Mysterio officially joining The Judgement Day and turning on his dad Rey and Edge finally gives the group some much-needed bite back — especially with Rhea Ripley absolutely killing it in the role as his “papi” after “making him a man.” Still, at least for Day 1, Dominik feels like the good kid trying to act like he belongs with the bad kids just to spite his dad — and maybe that’s the point. Also, please stop the Eddie Guerrero-Chyna comparisons. This isn’t the same thing
A few weeks back, Mickie James hinted she may be moving toward retirement in the ring. It’s now become a major angle in Impact as James announced her last rodeo as she will fight to from the bottom to regain the Knockouts championship with any loss along the way ending her in-ring career. It’s and an excellent way to use her and makes all of her matches must-watch. It would have been so much cooler in WWE, but it puts a big spotlight on Impact women’s division, which hold up again any in pro wrestling.
From Trish Straus to Kurt Angle to at least the start of John Bradshaw Layfield now with Baron Corbin and Bret Hart, it’s been refreshing to see the way legends are being used in WWE now and hopefully it brings more back.
Was I the only one🦹 who thought Tyson Fury was going to try to drop Roman Reigns when he got into the ring?ܫ ;
Last week’s episode of NXT💦 reminded me of the later seasons of “Glee”, where group members from previous years who had gone on to bigger and better things returned to William McKinley High. Seeing nine NXT stars back gave off he same vibe.
The two biggest winners from Worlds Collide — a solid overall show, but not as good as All Out — are undisputed NXT women’s champion Mandy Rose and her main counterpart Bron Breaker as they are the unquestioned faces of the brand now. But they match everyone well remember is Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricochet. I’ll never be able to un-see that springboard crossbody and never want to.
It is good to see Braun Strowman back in WWE, but unless you are bringing Nicholas back too, I’m not sure what long-term good having him run through the entire Raw tag team division does.
Wrestler of the Week
Roman Reigns, WWE
Just as it looked like his time as champion was getting stale, Reigns delivered an excellent main event match for the second straight pay-per-view as he defeated Drew McIntyre at Clash at the Castle. By doing so, he likely clears the road of any major threats to his reign between now and WrestleMania 39 — meaning he will approach 1,000 days on top. Also, Reigns calls himself the “Head of the Table” of the Anoa’i family for a reason and now cousin Solo Sikoa can now eat a little bit better with his main roster call up to the Bloodline.
Match to Watch
Daniel Garcia vs. Wheeler Yuta, ROH Pure Championship (Dynamite, Wednesday, 8 p.m., TBS)
Not only are these two of the top up-and-coming talents in the promotion, the match has major storyline implications with Garcia not being backed up by the Jeric🔯ho Appreciation Society. The Buffalo native with be wrestling in fr🌜ont is home crowd with his standing in the group in question after the event at All Out. Where will AEW take this?
Honorable Mention: Edge vs. Dominik Mysterio (Monday Night Raw)
Around the Ring
- AEW announced the Full Gear pay-per-view will be Nov. 9 at Prudential Center and a live Rampage the night before. It’s the company’s first East Cost pay-per-view.
- WWE announced The Undertaker’s “1 Deadman Show” will be coming to Philadelphia on Oct. 7 ahead of Extreme Rules. Tickets go on sale Sept. 6.
- Jon Moxley vs. Nick Cage’s championship vs. career match will happen at the GCW Fight Club at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City on Oct. 8-9.
