Good Evening fellow wrestling fanatics, it’s your favorite analyst of the industry we all love with a special installment of “Wrestling with Lenny”!
Since WWE took the week off in light of an apparent steroid scandal, AEW was the only competition that PWI and HCW faced this week. Therefore, our usual “Top 10” will instead be cut in half to provide my quick thoughts on the week that was and to pave the way for some of my predictions for AEW’s PPV “Genesis”!
5. The Love v. Star Treatment
If you want to make me happy as a viewer, one of the things you need to do is a call back from time to time as the moment requires. Referencing the past of the competitors in the ring is both a nod of respect to their contributions leading up to that moment as well as a show of appreciation to the dedication of the viewer to the business.
This week, AEW tickled my fancy here by thoroughly reminding us about the awesome history that Athena Star and Angelina Love have in sports entertainment. I smiled ear to ear when they acknowledged that Love was a pioneer in her own right by taking center stage in making women’s wrestling more than a beauty contest in Mmouse Enterprises starting with her historic title run in the Fifth Era (which was one of the few bright spots of that lost era).
Star will always deserve her flowers given what she has done for the past two decades to elevate the involvement of women in the squared circle, and the match was no exception. Both women gave it their all, reminding us from bell to bell why they fit perfectly in this main event match, and Star was the rightful victor here.
What makes me happy is that while Love lost, she was not hurt by the loss. She looked strong throughout the match, and the viewer can tell that management remains in her corner to a large degree. It may have not been a passing of the torch, but it was a great enough showing for Love in Star’s retirement tour.
4. Owens Wins the Challenge
Kevin Owens was the only one to prove me wrong in my predictions for this particular night of action. I was 3-1 overall, but was not mad about my misguided call. As I noted last week, Owens will absolutely be champion one day soon. I just thought Starks was more in line with BWM Inc.’s vision for their first PPV in over 3 ½ years.
The match itself was everything that you could have asked for in a bout to determine AJ’s next challenger. Like the Love v. Star match later in the night, neither competitor left this bout in a weaker position than they came in with. Starks will have plenty of opportunities in the months to come and Owens will most certainly give AJ the fight of a lifetime, but more on that later.
3. Heyman Sells the Match!
Paul Heyman is one of a select few in professional wrestling who can make you believe in any match. Not that Darby Allin was insufficient as an underdog opponent for Lesnar, but Heyman made us believe on Monday that the battle today will be just as important as any title match tonight. Allin needs to win this as much as Lesnar does, and I am looking forward to seeing how this culminates.
Ever since Allin shocked us all by costing Lesnar the AEW Title at Starrcade, Brock has been on an unstoppable warpath. Will Darby be able to shock us all again or will he become the latest of Lesnar’s many victims? Brace yourself for an impending classic!
2. Outsiders Prevail
Kevin Nash and Scott Hall came out on top over the Jurassic Express (as I predicted), and now they will challenge for the Tag Gold tonight! I know that some reading my predictions last week thought I was crazy for picking Nash and Hall over the boy and his dinosaur, but I could see the writing on the wall here. What’s funny is that I stated last week that the only way I could see Hall and Nash losing is if Hogan’s distraction played a part. You know what happened instead? Hogan’s distraction helped his buddies win!
Now, I do think there are different dynamics to consider in the title match tonight, but we are going to get to that shortly!
1. Static Equals Big Twist
From the start of the broadcast and throughout, we kept experiencing “technical difficulties”. If we have learned anything in this business, it’s that “technical difficulties” usually equal something big coming up! And boy did we ever experience something of an incredible magnitude!
The interruptions were revealed at the end of the show as being the product of the Harlem Turtles messing around in the production truck to hijack the show so that Master Splinter could reveal the big secret that we robbed of hearing a few weeks ago. What did Splinter have to say? Well, he revealed that Benny has been experiencing a highly-probable bout with dementia since 2008.
Splinter emotionally explained that EWA’s infamous erratic status starting in 2008 was a byproduct of this secretive battle, and that Benny’s countless attempts at re-branding was almost inevitable as a result. I grew emotional myself reading this, because dementia does – in fact – run in our family. Our Grandfather – the famous and beloved “Tugboat” Willy – suffered from it. Our father showed signs before his untimely demise. Mickey even potentially exhibits evidence of such with his propensity for violent outbursts and self-destructive delusions of grandeur.
The assertion that my baby brother suffers from such an ailment is not unrealistic. No, it is to be expected, and as one experienced observer recently quipped upon hearing the news: “it all makes sense now!”
It does. It truly does. Our insanity as a family could be a product of this affliction. I, Vinnie, Mickey, and Benny could have all inherited from our parents and grandparents. What can be done?
Well, to be blunt: we need to be removed from our positions of power. The age of the Mouse Family needs to come to an end after our dominance over the past 27 years. Do you hear me Mmouse Enterprises and BWM Inc.? End this now!
And now, I offer my predictions for AEW’s Genesis!
Genesis will only be the 3rd BWM Inc. PPV of this era, and it will be the first since No Boundaries over three and a half years ago! So, what can we expect from this upcoming blockbuster?
- Knockouts Championship: Sasha Banks defends against Rhea Ripley
My prediction here has not changed in the slightest. Sasha is NOT dropping this title just yet, and as much as I like Rhea, it would be a major shock to me if Banks dropped the title here. Now, if it were April and this match were taking place after an uninterrupted run for AEW up until then, I would pick Rhea, but we are not there yet. Rhea will be back in this spot soon, but I don’t see Sasha dropping this title unless Rhea is set to defend against Rousey sometime in between now and Independence Day.
- Crimson Car Match: Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, Adam Page battle the Inner Circle
If it weren’t for the Bloodline, I would pick the Inner Circle to win, but Roman’s band of Island Misfits will absolutely play spoiler in Jericho’s attempt at reigning supreme in this first time that this match has been fought in this way. Omega, Danielson, and Page will win, but the seeds for their implosion will be sewn here. Their unit is a temporary one, and their common pursuit of AJ’s gold will get the best of them, and even almost cost them the match!
- Darby Allin tries to survive Brock Lesnar
Lesnar is out for blood, and Allin is entering this as your stereotypical David to the Titanic-sized Goliath that is Brock FUCKING LESNAR! However, despite Heyman making me believe that Allin is in real danger, I can’t help shake this feeling that Darby is going to pull off the upset. Yes, I am gambling and saying that Darby will pump the brakes on Brock’s attempted re-ascension. Lesnar may send Darby to the hospital after, but Darby will eventually leave his near-death bed as the victor.
- Tag Team Championship: The Usos defend against The Outsiders
Kevin Nash and Scott Hall experienced a sort of upset victory last Monday, but the gods are not likely to smile upon them twice within a week. UNLESS this match takes place before the Crimson Car Match. If that happens, then I can absolutely see Proud and Powerful getting some payback in costing the Usos this match (only to have the Bloodline respond in kind during the Crimson Car Match). This match is the only real tossup of the night for me, because it is positioned uniquely to intersect two major stories unfolding in AEW. Should be good either way!
- Television Championship: MJF is forced to defend against Cody Rhodes
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is the greatest new talent of this generation, and I will weep about PWI losing him until my tear ducts are bled dry. MJF’s latest brutal beatdown of Cody’s father had me on the edge of my seat with joy and had me more excited than ever for this bout! Cody is on the run of a lifetime, but I have faith in my friend with the beautiful scarf!
Since this is the first time that MJF is being forced to defend this title directly, everyone is betting that Cody will beat him. Yet, I strongly believe he will put all of his detractors in their places. He DOESN’T LIE WHEN HE SAYS HE IS BETTER THAN YOU!
- MAIN EVENT, AEW Championship: AJ Styles puts the belt on the line against Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens has impressed promoters around the world this entire era. He has challenged for world titles before, and while he came up short in the past, he never left you believing that he blew it. No, Owens lives the creed “Fight, Owens, Fight!” AJ Styles has his work cut out for him and this will be a true barnburner.
Last week, I was pretty confident that Styles would retain over Starks, but my confidence in AJ’s retention has now taken a massive hit. AJ’s title reign has unfortunately dragged on due to false starts and restarts in AEW since 2022, and that is not his fault. Still, that fact weighs against him as he defends against an insurgent and deserving challenger. Owens will be a great world champion…but not yet.
That’s correct. I do still believe that AJ’s odds of retaining are still enough for me to predict in his favor here. It’s very close, however, and there is a really good chance that I wake up 24 hours from now with pie in my face, but that’s the awesome beauty of this industry!
So, I hope you are as excited as I am for Genesis and the week ahead! Before the Final Showcase on Monday, I will post a new update with a preview for that incredibly important show and maybe even my immediate thoughts on Genesis!
Thanks for reading!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 