Mission 007 – Exploring the emerging paradigm for the Seventh Era
Hello everyone, and welcome to the seventh mission of our quest for truth! It was quite the week in professional wrestling and we are going to look into the biggest moments (at least, as I perceive them)! Let’s get to it.
Lexis plays with Karrion
This rivalry between Lexis King and the man who wants to dethrone him is far from over, and I couldn’t be happier! Karrion conquered the Ascendant Class of PWI, but he arguably peaked with his awesome initial feud with then-Commissioner Slammu. After he was called up, he won the Premier Tournament in 2023, but that was about the gist of it (between you and me, this was in large part a consequence of him being a relative ratings drag in those days, so management thought it was best to keep him away from the spotlight too much).
Now, Karrion has found a new home in WWE and he is resuming his torment of the locker room and he is thriving! His latest target is the NXT Champion (still confused as to how King remains the NXT Champion despite throwing it away in the most epic way possible, but I digress, he is gold nevertheless), and this has carried NXT in consecutive weeks to being the better show between it and Raw.
I really loved Karrion’s recent destruction of Jeff Jarrett and the hint that Kross and King are bound for another showdown. Whenever it happens, the payoff will be grand!
Knoxville & Pete
So, something happened to Pete when Murrey’s weedeater became a temporary piece of his headgear. I’m thinking that the brain damage has done for him what a run-in with Alexa and some follow-up brain damage has done for AEW’s Toni Storm: a complete career rejuvenation!
Pete has been seen decked out like some common pimp since his return and has partnered with the man who betrayed Johnny Lawrence, Johnny Knoxville. This pairing is one with a lot of potential, and holds the key for WWE bringing back some of that classic comedy that we all know and love from Murrey Entertainment!
The Rock & Jey Uso
The WWE Champion has largely been absent from WWE programming since Starrcade, but he recently learned that his cousin Jey is looking to become a single’s star and challenge him for the gold!
I am not sure yet what I think about this brewing Bloodline civil war in WWE, but there is room for growth here, and while I am far from sold on the idea that Jey will dethrone the Rock, the company most certainly has time to make me a believer.
After all, with the brand extension, WWE has ensured that half of the roster will not be a threat to the Rock, but that doesn’t mean they are out of options. They just have their work cut out for them. Time will tell.
Murrey’s Headstone Leak
I had no idea when I turned on Raw this week that I would see a crime being committed, but there it was, and I now feel like an accomplice to grave desecration.
Word has it that Mickey’s Estate is considering pursuing criminal charges through the Memphis Police Department, but there is a chance that this could be calmed down in exchange for extra tax payer-funded security at the memorial.
Anyways, I felt like an accomplice because I fell out of my chair laughing in utter disbelief. Murrey has fallen off of the deep end as of late with rumors spreading around the wrestling punditry that he is slipping mentally and clinging to the glory days of competing with the late-chairman of Mmouse Enterprises.
Let’s not forget, though, that Murrey has a long and heated history with Mickey. From Mickey forcefully getting the rights to Murrey’s event names during the rise of USWA in 1997 to the implosion of LWF and failed partnerships via the early days of UWA and then WWO. Murrey’s path from 1997 through 2005 culminated in Murrey working for Mmouse Enterprises, where he became little more than another servant in the mad mouse’s empire.
Part of his humiliating servitude to Mickey involved the 4th Era-segment wherein Murrey was portrayed as someone who took “fucking the competition” to a new low when Mickey unveiled a life-size sex doll of John Brown that Murrey was said – by Mickey – to have vigorously banged (this allegation has NEVER been denied, to be clear).
Then came the rise of Murrey – courtesy of the fractured Mmouse Enterprises Board of Directors – to the status of Chairman of the Board at the outset of the Sixth Era after Mickey attempted his hostile takeover of the company. Murrey succeeded for a time in keeping Mickey from corrupting PWI, but that only last a little over a year until Mickey won back full control and summarily and publicly fired Murrey.
The last thing Murrey was able to do to Mickey was briefly get revenge by leading the WWE to becoming the number two company for about a year in the Sixth Era until the global conflict led PWI to retake that spot by era’s end. So, in essence, Jeff has unfinished business as it pertains to Mickey, but he can’t let go of it…even if his arch nemesis is dead and buried.
It’s truly fascinating to see. Even if tragic.
Balor prepares for Styles
What hasn’t been tragic, though, has been the career rebirth of Finn Balor since the beginning of the year. Finn continues to confirm the theory that an encounter with the Fiend leads to a major beneficial transformation for the person targeted, and now he stands poised to challenge AJ Styles for the World Heavyweight Championship!
No, I don’t believe that Finn is going to win the gold…yet. What I DO believe is that Finn and AJ are going to give us an unforgettable series of matches through to the end of summer. Can’t wait!
P.S.: the trade which brought Styles to WWE has ruffled a few feathers amongst the leadership of Cash Mouse Entertainment. I’ve been told that ULW will have something in store for the business as a “partial response” to this development. No clue as to what that entails, though. Stay tuned.
Asuka’s World
I can’t mention AJ, though, without highlighting THE most prominent woman in the industry right now: the WWE Women’s Champion, Asuka!
Asuka embarrassed the new World Heavyweight Champion by eliminating Styles in an intergender battle royal, and only continues to appear unstoppable as a result. I honestly don’t think it is possible for anyone to depose her at this point. She own WWE, and basically the whole industry right now. Prove me wrong!
Where’s Athena?
From the most prominent woman in the industry to the most invisible women’s champion, Athena Star – one of the greatest women’s talents to ever step into a ring – has essentially vanished from our screens, and I am having a hard time figuring out why that is.
I guess that Sasha Banks has been getting groomed as her successor, and the past month has mostly been about the new Hardcore Title and Sasha’s momentum coming out of Starrcade, but I’d like to see the Knockout’s Champion every once in a while.
Maybe it’s possible that Athena’s absence has been intentional, or perhaps she has been kind of lost without her two biggest foils: Rousey and Living Dead Girl. Regardless, I am eagerly awaiting her return, and I am confident in saying that most of the fandom would agree!
The Love Story
One thing a lot of us watch through our fingers is the image of Lady Love appearing on screen and reopening Pandora’s Box…er…I regret saying that.
It has been over 20 years of this mysterious hold that Lady Love has on a massive section of the wrestling locker room, and we are still nowhere near close to discovering why she holds this power…as that is just as mysterious as the whereabouts of the child she and Ric Venom supposedly produced in horrific fashion at Sundown on July 4th, 2010.
With the locker rooms of ULW and AEW swooning over her again, Love has declared that her hairy boobs belong to one set of eyes alone: “Midgey”. The lucky guy…
She pledged herself to Midget Hogan for life with a proposal heard around the world (and I don’t mean that because of the airwaves, internet, and word of mouth, but because of her booming voice).
Will Midget Hogan forgive her for tickling the fancies of countless men in this business again and accept her proposal? I suppose we have to stay tuned to find out!
AND NEW TV CHAMPION!
One of the most satisfying title changes of all time happened on Monday, and I hope that in no way sounds like a jab at the now-former TV Champion, Swerve. Swerve was a decent champion, but it’s clear to me that the TV title was a mere roadblock for him entering world title contention. Though, he will absolutely pursue a rematch for the title he lost when he recovers.
Rather, the title change was immensely satisfying because we both put gold on Gunther once again and debuted his most outspoken loyalist, Ludwig Kaiser!
Together, Kaiser and Gunther represent a truly threatening force that should put the entire AEW locker room on notice, and I can’t stress enough how exciting this is. To say that I am looking forward to their next appearance would be a massive understatement.
Danielson and Rhodes steal the show!
Do you know what else is an understatement? The title of this section!
Holy shit, Cody and Bryan tore that house down, and I never wanted it to end. To think that they were battling for the right to lose to Will Ospreay at Aftershock.
I’m now conflicted on whether I want that to happen, because Danielson came out of this incredible battle looking on fire and inheriting a newfound wave of momentum that could take him straight to a second world title reign!
Still, there isn’t a chance in hell that Will loses his debut match. It’s not as if Danielson will need to win that match, but I hate to see him get such a great push – even if for a millisecond – only to lose his steam to yet another top project of AEW management.
It’s almost like Danielson is the Good Luck Chuck of professional wrestling. Oh well.
Last note here: Cody also left this match still strong as ever. He didn’t need to win it to remain viable for world title contention, and it also protects him from eating a pin from a newcomer just when he is headed for the main event scene himself.
Who will Dom Choose?
Someone else who seems poised for the main event scene is the one and only Dominik Mysterio. Dom made the jump from WWE to AEW at Starrcade and captured the Gold Rush contract, but there is a big mystery hanging over him: who will he choose in his pursuit of gold?
I am a big fan of this guy, and he has great potential, but he is destined to lose if he chooses to pursue the world title. However, his fortunes may not be much better if he elects to challenge Gunther.
This puts him in a dilemma, for sure. I am assuming that the contract is at least good until the next Starrcade, and it would be fine to have him wait that long, but realism leads at least this observer to assess his chances at success, and those chances are not great as things stand right now.
Don’t fret, though, as I am very sure that AEW can make me a believer in Dom’s chances soon. I just don’t see it right now.
Sami’s Many Irons in the Fire
Now, we come to analyze how in over his head the current AEW Champion and co-chair of BWM Inc., Sami Zayn, is. From Johnny Lawrence, Xolo, MJF, Logan, and Lesnar to Liv Morgan, Megan, and now Danhausen, Sami is bound to lose his sanity before this is all said and done.
For weeks we saw technical glitches and even a fire interrupting not just Sami, but his ability to ensure a steady schedule. Now, we know that it was all part of the build to the arrival of the former thorn in Murrey’s side…Danhausen.
Wait a minute…
I just thought of something. Murrey has been especially crazy as of late, and even asserted that Mickey had some mystery puppet master who happened to be a “closet fascist”. He called this person “Dan” and said that they have an “OnlyDans”. Is this Murrey lashing out in freefall or is he trying to make a veiled attack on DANhausen?
I guess it’s possible that Murrey felt Danhausen was an agent of Mickey’s sent to destroy him. Remember when Mickey protested Danhausen being signed by WWE in violation of the available talent pool? I wonder if there’s a connection there…ANYWAYS…
This past Monday, Sami conquered one foe – Mr. Johnny Lawrence – by having Johnny’s make believe love interest, “Ali Mills” (as played by Elisabeth Shue), kidnapped and tortured for distractive purposes. Then, he suddenly found himself a victim of a VERY EVIL new foe…Mr. Danhausen.
When you remember that Brock Lesnar is waiting at the end of this month to get his long-awaited rematch for the gold, you have to conclude that all of the chickens are coming home to roost for ol’ Sami.
I am definitely not going to overlook the brewing story involving Liv Morgan and Megan Mouse here, as I think that will play out in a way which either costs Sami the title or sees Sami betray his wife in favor of the harlot that he so desperately wanted to sign from ULW.
Also, don’t forget that Splinter is bound to rear his furry head at some point as well. As Lenny pointed out, Splinter unfairly lost his match against Sami, and that broken foot is NOT going to be forgotten for good.
The Emerging Paradigm for the Seventh Era
Finally, let’s assess the current state of the industry as the Seventh Era settles in. After a month and a half of action and ratings, it appears that the current status quo is that BWM Inc. presently sits atop the industry (just as it had left the Sixth Era), Cash Mouse Entertainment rests in a close second place, and Murrey Entertainment rebuilds in third.
As my counterpart in AEW said earlier today, this paradigm is NOT set in stone, and ULW and WWE remain viable threats to AEW’s place on top. That’s what makes this era so different from the Sixth and any other era…save for the Third. It remains ANYBODY’s ballgame.
It is very possible that we conclude the next six weeks seeing WWE surge to become the top promotion, putting Murrey in the driver’s seat for the first time in almost 30 years. Likewise, we could be sitting here listening to gloating by Triad Member Dibiase about the success of ULW.
The fact, though, is that AEW is undefeated so far in the brand new era. However, that streak has never been promised, and the danger of experiencing their first loss since May looms very large in the not-so distant future.
This era is off to a truly exciting start…and there is sincerely no end in sight!!
With that, I am afraid that we have reached the conclusion of this installment, but don’t worry, I will have a preview for Extreme Aggression posted by tomorrow morning!
Until our next Quest, this has been Johnny with yet another mission!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 