As bittersweet as it may be, this will be the final time I offer predictions in this era, the third-longest era in history (behind only the Second and First Eras), the Sixth Era of Professional Wrestling. The next time you read anything from me, it will be both a review of what we saw in the final week of the industry in this era as well as a preview of the impending Seventh Era.
So, with a lot riding on the final days of this era, let’s get right to the things we saw from this past week…and beyond.
THE ABSENCE AND EXPLANATION OF WWE
Well, it wouldn’t be a legitimate timeframe in this industry without at least one participant company…not actually participating. To be fair, we were never really led to believe that there would be anything from Murrey Entertainment in this final stretch, and now that we know the serious medical condition that the Chairman suffered – to which he even alluded the last time we saw him on television – I feel even less inclined to tear into the boys and girls of the E.
We did see a couple of developments from them, though. Firstly, with Murrey incapacitated, Miss Elizabeth revealed that she will be serving as the acting head of the company heading into the next era, and we even received the list of WWE’s exemptions for the upcoming draft. Murrey Entertainment is the first to disclose this information for this installment of the draft, and we will review that next week!
THE GO-HOME DYNAMITE (5.20.24)
First Segment (Opening Shot of Sami/Introduction/6 Man Tag/Starrcade Challenge)
OK, now we move on to a sort of blended version of Volumes past and present as I share my thoughts on each segment of the competition from this past week!
This first segment proved to be one of the most impressive of the show, boasting the second-highest rated segment of the night for AEW with an impressive 7,355,209 viewers tuning in to watch!
AEW really mastered the cold open in this era, and it really shows here as we get a suspicious and even ominous phone call between Sami Zayn and some mysterious figure. Sami urges this person to be ready to “pull the trigger” and while I was first left thinking that this was Benny, I was quickly proven wrong as he entered Benny’s office shortly after hanging up! Something – in retrospect – tells me that this was DIRECTLY connected to the close of the show, but more on that later.
We have our standard “welcome everyone” from the commentary team and we are off to the races with MJF revealing that Wardlow will be replaced – as a punishment – with Logan Paul in our opening 6-man Tag bout! The match itself is pretty much what I expected (and predicted last week) as Team Maxwell defeats Roman and the Usos thanks to the help of High-Minded!
After the match, we are gifted with an interesting twist with the Doobie Brothers agreeing to stay out of Roman’s business at Retribution in exchange for a match at Starrcade to finish this rivalry once and for all! Feeling backed into a corner, the World Title challenger begrudgingly agrees and we head to a commercial break!
I personally enjoyed this segment a lot, and am very much looking forward to the Bloodline versus High-Minded at Starrcade!
Second Segment (Tag Champs with Styles and Danielson/Splinter & Benny/Acclaimed v. SCU)
After the break, we return to see Omega and Page (a team which seriously reminds me of Teo and Attitude, for what it’s worth) as they chat it up with their old chap, AJ Styles. Bryan Danielson enters the room pleading with the boys to forgive him, but they are all having none of it! Styles refuses to ever forgive Bryan for his past crimes and the tag champs are right there with him. Danielson – who is slated to take on Styles in an Exemptions Battle – angrily responds that everyone will regret this decision and I am left with a smile on my face for a great bit of character development!
Splinter then confronts Benny with a last ditch effort to convince him that Sami is not who Benny thinks he is. Splinter wants Benny to know that Sami will turn on him once he has a clear shot, and Benny retorts that he respects Sami for his ruthlessness! Splinter gives up and my hindsight is now connecting all of the dots!
Finally, we have a funny new “rap” from The Acclaimed as they prepare to have a good no-brainer match with the criminally underutilized SCU. Like I said last week, there was no chance in hell that SCU was winning this match, but it was fun to watch.
Third Segment (Heyman & Roman/Banks with Young for Starrcade challenge/Exemption: Banks v. Nia)
Roman causes Heyman to shit himself as he storms into the room demanding to know why Heyman was nowhere to be found as High-Minded disrupted the opening bout. Heyman collected himself and reported to Roman that he had good news: MJF will have to take on Roman with no outside interference! Normally, this would cause me to worry, but we will get into why I am not the least bit concerned when the predictions come up. Anyways, Roman is satisfied with this news and we move on to Sasha Banks.
Banks is livid that management would “risk” losing her to the draft by making her take on Nia Jax tonight (more on that in a second), but her immediate focus in this interview with Renee Young is Starrcade…and Alexa Bliss! Sasha speaks with authority as she issues a challenge to Alexa (which Lana and her crew learned about in time for Lana to ask Alexa about it a little later in the evening, and the rest is history). With that, we have our first official Interpromotional Match in the history of Starrcade, and the first Interpromotional Match since From Dusk Til Dawn 5 years ago!
While I did enjoy the next match, I wasn’t able to get too into it because the outcome was never in doubt for me. Look, AEW has done a great job with Nia…but that development has been on their exclusively-internet-based program. There was just NO chance in hell that a former and highly-coveted Knockouts Champion was going to be sacrificed here. Now, if they had put someone like Star in this with Sasha then I would have had to take notice.
Anyways, a decent segment – largely carried by the Roman/Heyman section as well as Sasha’s challenge -, and a great match, but it was nothing spectacular.
Fourth Segment (Taz with Cody, Gunther, and Swerve/Exemption: Styles v. Danielson/Contract Signing-Official Total Anarchy Stipulations-Armageddon Attack!)
Following our second-to-last commercial break, we are treated with an ok interview segment, as hosted by Taz. Had it not been for the star-power represented here this section likely would have had fewer viewers, and it could have sunk the show to a risky lower rating overall. It’s not that I hated this, but there was nothing really significant about the interview; well, save for some uncharacteristic aggression exhibited by the TV Champion. As you will soon see, I am looking forward to this match, but I almost felt like we could have done without this part.
What we saw next was a fantastic match between AJ Styles and Bryan Danielson. I admit that I was wrong when I predicted very boastfully that Styles was absolutely going to win this match, but that was inspired by some previous knowledge that BWM Inc. has REPEATEDLY told Mmouse Enterprises over at least the past 16 years that Styles was a lifer there. So, yes, a very shocking match which earned the second highest rate of the night for AEW, but I am a little perturbed about one tiny detail.
The detail which appears to render this match completely moot is a comment I overheard from an anonymous source of mine over in BWM Inc. pertaining to Styles being at risk. They may have not realized that I heard them utter this under their breath, but when I shared my shock about the match’s outcome, they snidely remarked that Sami/Benny still have the option to exempt Styles anyways. While true, this does lead me – at least as a fan – to lose trust in any illusion of risk posed by a match with these supposed stakes. If AEW is going to just go ahead and exempt Styles, then what was the point of this bout outside of a one-off ratings ploy?
Don’t get me wrong, I am no opponent of ratings ploys, but there is a risk of losing the shock factor with the crowd if matches like these don’t actually have concrete consequences. This is just my opinion, but I think a match like this should guarantee exemption for the winner and EXCLUDE exemption for the loser. Just saying.
Finally, we have the actual Main Event of the show, and the highest rated part of the night overall wherein Splinter and Sami make their Total Anarchy: All Elite match official – complete with Splinter’s seventh stipulation for that match, which involves fucking Lumberjacks!! – and the incredible twist wherein Armageddon straight up mashes my brother into smithereens!
The show came to this shocking conclusion as Armageddon looked down in disgust in himself, and now those dots have finished connecting! Armageddon not only talked again, but apparently he learned how to use a cell phone to chat with Sami earlier to help fulfill Splinter’s betrayal prophecy!
Excellent storytelling, if you ask me! This segment earned AEW THE highest rated segment of the night – with a jaw-dropping 7,386,667 viewers glued to the television -, and carried the show to victory over Global Conflict V!
“RETRIBUTION” PREDICTIONS (5.26.24)
AEW TV Title Match: Cody Rhodes © v. Gunther v. Swerve Strickland
Now, let’s move on to my final predictions for any event of this era.
Like I said moments ago, I am looking forward to this match. Each man here will be secure in the exemptions list for the draft, and with good reason: they are all top-targets.
The build for this bout has been quite great – even with that afore-referenced “okay” interview segment -, and it legitimately feels as if any of these guys can win. Gunther is a man who is seriously becoming a frightful opponent for everyone who stands across from him. Cody has been a fantastic champion, and he has quite often felt like a guy who could drop this belt at any moment.
Yet, now, I think that Cody really will drop the gold, but I don’t think that Gunther is the guy. It isn’t because Gunther would be some terrible champion, nor is it because I think he isn’t ready for such a position in AEW. Instead, it is due to Swerve momentum since coming over to AEW.
Swerve had THE best debut-build of anyone in the past year, and was in contention for best of the era, and he has also had a history as the most underappreciated superstar throughout the era out of all three men.
Remember that Swerve started in HLW back in 2022. PWI badly wanted him though, and by the time that HLW became AXW, there was already a deal being negotiated to bring him here. This was despite Swerve barely ever being featured by his initial home!
In PWI, he was more prominently featured, and even in a decent feud with Santos Escobar and Legado Del Fantasma, but that all took place in the Ascendant Class. After his debut season, Swerve never had a chance to move up to the main roster of PWI before he was soon sent to the HCW roster.
It was from his relative obscurity in the renewed Hardcore Championship Wrestling that BWM Inc. rescued him and gave him the build we have seen since. Simply put, it is just Swerve’s time to become a champion for the first time in his career.
And you know what? It’s also time for Cody to move on to bigger and better things, so there’s that.
AEW Tag Title Match: Page & Omega © v. The Acclaimed
The match with what might be the weakest build on the card should be no means be overlooked. Omega & Page have been decent champions and their stock in the draft is definitely raising, but I feel like the newcomers are poised to steal the show and the gold here.
Then again, they could be getting ready to come oh-so-close to winning it all, only for the resilient champions to overcome, but I think that is less likely. At some point within the next two months, Omega and Page are going to drop the titles.
We’ve already seen some seeds planted for jealousy within the team, and I think that the collapse of Page & Omega will come as a result of losing the gold, not the other way around.
You honestly can’t go wrong with either outcome, though, as either one works.
Brock Lesnar v. Sting
Lesnar’s yearlong saga with Darby and his merry band of not so merry men will come to a close at Retribution. Unless there is some interference from Darby or Roman, this is destined for Lesnar to defeat Sting in sound fashion.
Now, don’t misread what I am saying here: Brock isn’t going to win in some “flawless victory”, as Sting will give it his all tonight. Lesnar will have to fight to win this, but when he does it will all give us a big bow on top of the whole thing to finalize this story.
It has been a great way for AEW to introduce us to Darby Allin – a man who PWI briefly had via the draft last year until the historic trade which brought Randy Orton on board -, but as I have said numerous times up until now: this final stretch has been more about getting Lesnar to Roman than it has been about Darby or even Sting.
And I, quite frankly, can barely wait to see Lesnar versus Roman!
AEW Knockouts Title Match: Bianca Belair © v. Miss Athena Star
Miss Athena Star is NOT winning the Knockouts Championship. This is her farewell, or at least the last stop before a farewell at Starrcade. Besides, Bianca is on fire with her reign, and it would feel kind of forced to depose her for the soon-retiring legend at this point.
Instead, this match will primarily serve as a means both as part of Star’s farewell tour and as a legitimizer for the reign of her champion opponent. Remember that I foresee Star versus Living Dead Girl next month at Starrcade, so that’s another key factor in my reasoning behind not seeing Star winning.
Of course, I could be wildly wrong in my assessment, and we could be seeing preparations for one last and very brief reign by the most famous women’s wrestler outside of Amazon.
I just don’t see it happening. End of story.
AEW World Title Match: MJF © v. Roman Reigns
Do you ‘member when I said that I was not afraid of the rule that MJF couldn’t have anyone interfere on his behalf? Well, it’s because I – for starters – trust my lord and savior and will never doubt him again, and – for two – see this as a way for the bookers to finally prove that MJF can win a big one without any perception of needing help.
Yes, I see SOMETHING happening (likely in the back) to set us up for Roman versus Lesnar, but the no interference stipulation almost guarantees that Lesnar will not make an appearance in this bout.
This will be a fantastic match, but the man who is probably the most-sought after of this or any era is far from dropping the gold tonight. Mark my words!!
Total Anarchy: All Elite Match: Sami Zayn v. Master Splinter
To close the book on BWM Inc. in the Sixth Era – an era wherein they were again plagued by absenteeism -, we will have a high-stakes first of its kind variation of the Total Anarchy Match: dubbed “All Elite”.
Bear in mind that this will be Iron Man Rules – in addition to six other stipulations, including the new Lumberjack Rule -, and the winner decides the fate of Benny and Sami as it pertains to whether or not they reinstate the Board of Directors and comply with their decision.
Before last week, I found myself thinking that Sami would find a way to win here, but Armageddon changed all of that. You see, the deck is stacked too much in favor of Sami Zayn heading into this historic match, which will also decide Splinter’s fate pertinent to a permanent retirement from in-ring action.
Now, maybe AEW didn’t think that we would catch on so quickly. Maybe they think that we (I) wouldn’t connect those dots so fast. If this is the case, then Sami is absolutely winning as Armageddon turns on his fellow Splinter-jacks (gross) and destroys everyone in pursuit of reluctantly helping Sami win.
However, I think that AEW counted on us connecting the dots here. In THAT scenario, Sami will watch in horror as Armageddon double-crosses him. Sami will expect the monster to lay waste to the other side when the time comes only for Armageddon to turn on him and present him on a bloody, barbwire platter to Splinter for one last major victory!
…but then I have to consider one more thing: Benny is likely not going out like this. Sure, it would be a poetic conclusion for him to be taken out by his infamous bodyguard, but I foresee that he will have some resolution with everyone before it is all said and done, and we will probably have THAT in a year.
If this is what’s happening, then Armageddon will be turning on Team Splinter and setting us up for about a year of tyranny under Sami’s thumb.
This match has everything that you want in a Main Event, and dare I say that it has me more excited than any other bout on the card (sorry, my lord)!
ARMAGEDDON 4: MICKEY’S ENDGAME
Premier Title Match: Seth Rollins © v. Carmelo Hayes
Lastly, let’s touch base with the FINAL event in the history of PWI or HCW (and maybe even the UWA and/or MDC): Armageddon 4!
The show will kick off with Seth Rollins seeking to end the era as a champion as he takes on the newcomer: Carmelo Hayes.
Hayes won a Massacre 6 Match last week, toppling other top prospects along the way, and joined Ted Dibiase’s posse immediately afterwards. If Mickey wins the Final Battle, then the winner of this match would make for a top pick-up for either WWE or AEW, unless Mickey really does go through with his epic plan to troll the industry with the Possible Wrestling Association. Sheesh!
While many have questioned the introduction of this strap this late in the era, I – again – will remind you all that this and the International Title are actually continuations of the era-long legacy of the Premier Athlete Tournaments Roulette.
Anyways, Seth has floundered a little over the past 6 months, and it feels like retaining the title here might be his last gasp effort to maintain relevancy.
It will be a fun way to start the show, though, and I think onlookers will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the efforts of both men.
International Title Match: Charlotte Flair © v. Paige (2)
Charlotte Flair won the final Women’s Premier Tournament (the only one in the finale of that tournament to compete in every single round, including the qualifying round), and she has since enjoyed a decent reign as the inaugural International Champion.
Paige, though, just came out of the proverbial wood-chipper after surviving as the piñata for Becky Lynch and AJ Lee in THAT story’s build. Both of these women are going to look for an incredible outgoing victory, and I think this has the potential to be one of the MOTN candidates after all is said and done.
Tag Team Title Match: The Neck-Breakers © v. The Young Bucks (1)
Hans Gustav and Mr. Kennedy are both enjoying the highest point in their respective careers, and their surprise pairing enjoyed a shocking victory over the former Tag Team Champions, Nick and Matt Jackson.
All four men have been riding high in this final stretch of the era, and I can’t see this tag match being anything short of a classic. This is especially the case when you consider that it could well be the final match involving the longest lineage for any title in industry history: as it connects back to The Quests becoming the first USWA Tag Team Champions 27 years ago!
Ultimate Career Match – One Last Match: Teo (8) v. Attitude (2)
I could write a book about this one, but I won’t for the sake of moving this thing along. Teo and Attitude have had the most iconic story in the history of this business, and it has been getting told ever since 2002!
From their humble beginnings and initial breakup in the old UWF to their many promised bouts throughout the Third Era. From their critiqued bout at the inaugural From Dusk Til Dawn through their time feuding in HCW, to their ok payoff at the end of the Fourth Era. From their separation in the maligned Fifth Era, per the 2011 Draft, to their return to being one another’s thorn at the last From Dusk Til Dawn in 2019. From their barnburner of a World Title v. Career Match at Motivation 7 through to Alexa bringing Attitude back, their championship reunion, and up until now, this story has been one hell of a rollercoaster ride!
The man who has their hand raised in the end will one hundred percent have to be recognized as the better man, because the other will never see action again! What a way to end it!
Extreme Title Match: Jesse Hash © v. “The Hero” Crock
Speaking of stories told since the Third Era, no two men changed the game in terms of comedy quite like Jesse Hash with “4:20” and Crock with his “Crock Show”. Back then, it was practically a dream to envision a match between these guys, and while we technically had a bout between them back when Hash became the Extreme Champion, that was barely a minute of action between them when you consider all of the shenanigans.
Now, these icons of comedy and former world champions each, will go toe to toe in one of the last remaining Dream Matches, and with Crock and Hash each feeling more relevant than they have in years, I think there are few things which can compare to how exciting this all is!
Duct Tape Man Quatro?: Aiden English Faces His Final Challenge: The Alpha
While not technically a match, per se, Aiden English’s era-long quest to belong…somewhere…has brought him this final challenge in his new pursuit of, er, wrapping Duct Tape all over his body.
Becoming convinced that he will have purpose among Uno, Dos, and Tres as Quatro, Aiden English has been caged and told that he will have to face his final challenge in pursuit of being accepted: as he confronts someone or something called “The Alpha”. Heaven help us.
Women’s Title Match: Alexa Bliss © v. Jade Cargill (1)
Under the influence of the demonic spirit of Sister Abigail, Alexa Bliss was a constant source of frustration for the rising Jade Cargill. They last fought at Rising back in December, and Jade found herself on the shelf for a few months as a result.
Upon returning, Jade found her way back into the title picture after overcoming Alexa’s attempts at screwing her over and winning both the Death From Above match and the challenge posed by Agramon.
As part of this same trajectory, Alexa reclaimed the Women’s Title thanks to her being influenced by Abigail, and even accepted a new match against Sasha Banks next month. Now, though, Alexa no longer has the influence of Abigail and the champion finds herself in a position to live with the consequences of what her possessed actions wrought!
Undisputed Title Match: Randy Orton © v. Matt Cardona (1)
In any other show, this would easily be the Main Event, but even without that key descriptor, this Undisputed Title match will truly give us the Undisputed Champion of the era, in my opinion.
Orton was the first EWA Champion both of the Fourth and Sixth eras, and Matt Cardona was – in my opinion -, the most prominent new era champion (save for MJF, of course). Cardona helped put HLW/AXW on the map, and paved the way for Murrey’s re-ascension via the birth of WWE.
On top of that, it should be noted that Orton has yet to defeat Matt Cardona. That’s right, the Undisputed Champion just went through hell last Monday in two incredible matches all so he could defend the title against a man who he has never beaten in one Matt Cardona.
This will be a fantastic way to end the era for this title, and probably end the lineage altogether….but it all depends on the Main Event!
MAIN EVENT – THE FINAL BATTLE – CAPITAL CARNAGE MATCH:
WINNING TEAM DECIDES THE FATE OF ALL FACTIONS INVOLVED –
Chairman Mouse, FRED, Rhyno, ??? (Team PWI) v. Ted Dibiase Sr., Giant Gonzales, Rip (Team MDC) v. Scott Nash, Slammu, Dragonfly (Team UWA)
Speaking of which, the most important main event match in Mmouse Enterprises and Brown Inc. history, perhaps even wrestling history, is the upcoming battle to determine whose vision of the future comes to fruition.
Over the past week, a lot has happened and changed the story heading into this, and I think it should not be understated that each faction has a realistic shot at winning.
Just look at the slate of superstars participating in this alongside a leader of their respective faction:
Rip, who yes, lost to Slammu last week, has been a beast since his debut decades ago, and has shown that he hasn’t lost any steam in the intervening years. You can guarantee that he will internalize all lessons learned from his loss last week and be gunning for his brother.
The Giant Gonzales almost needs no introduction, as he became the ONLY man who may ever defeat both Armageddon and FRED a couple weeks ago, and has a renewed sense of purpose as it pertains to helping save the industry!
Let’s not forget Slammu here, as the most-celebrated champion in the history of Mmouse Enterprises, and one of the beloved stars in industry history, he has made it his primary mission to defend the industry from Mickey’s twisted vision, and he is looking to ride his wave of momentum right into realizing that outcome!
We can never forget what the greatest superstar in history has brought to the table over the decades, as Dragonfly shocked everyone backstage when he agreed to join Team UWA in this final showdown. Would he prefer to be defending the Undisputed Title? Sure, but he apparently made peace with that and has set his sights to free the industry from Mickey, as he finishes what he started upon helping Ted Brown resurrect HCW!
Rhyno, Dragonfly’s most infamous foe, has made it clear that he feels compelled to kill the companies and the industry that he has loved so much: out of “mercy”. Adding to his determination will be the fact that he will be opposite Dragonfly in this bout, as he no doubt would like to get this win here at the expense of his greatest foe.
With FRED, you can count on one thing: total destruction. FRED will absolutely be gunning for Gonzales and Dragonfly, but he is a bit of a wildcard here, as he is the hardest one to control in this battle!
Leading the UWA, Scott Nash has been in this position before. After a coin toss between him and Ted Brown, Nash was determined to be the best man for this role, and now he looks to save the UWA and the industry from both his half-brother and a potential new tyrant in Ted Dibiase.
Regarding Dibiase, the iconic first world champion is dead-set on building a new era in his image. He stole the show during the Draft Negotiations, and wants everyone to know that that was a sign of things to come in the Seventh Era. However, he has to win this match first…or at least someone has to stop Mickey.
Lastly, we focus on my brother, Chairman Mickey Marcus Mouse Junior. Even before he was possessed by Sister Abigail’s demonic witch soul, he was evil and ruthless. Now, there’s no telling what he will bring to the table in this, the match that he envisions as the final showdown of professional wrestling, and a match which he insisted on including himself and the other leaders!
Everything is riding on the outcome of this, the Final Battle, which will turn out to be the last match in the Sixth Era of Professional Wrestling!
That’s it for me today, I will see you all next week as we review the era and prepare for the new!!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 